13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |'Girl Power' event held at State Fairgrounds

'Girl Power' event held at State Fairgrounds

Kris Kirschner/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - An event Saturday aimed to help girls navigate their way through their teen years to become confident women. For about 1,200 pre-teens and their families, it was a "girls' day out."

"I don't have many girl activities. This is just one I can go to to have fun with my friends," said 10-year-old Felicity Golston.

Saturday gave them a chance to play, cook - and mostly- a chance to grow at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

"They help you be, like, grown up and stuff," said another girl, Jacques.

Sponsored by Clarian, the "Girl Power" event is meant to empower girls by promoting confidence, inside and out. This is the third year for the event, geared toward girls age 7-14, using a number of ways to promote self esteem.

"How to take care of yourself," said eight-year-old Carmella Whipple.

"How it feels to live their life, how to keep your body safe," said eight-year-old Diane Houk.

The daylong event covered everything from nutrition to nurturing positive values and gives not only girls, but also their parents, a place to turn.

"It's one thing for me to say it, [but] for people on the outside to say it, is a much bigger impact on what girls are going through," said one mother.

"What they need to do is focus on what they're good at and they need to do it," said a doctor at the event.

A big fan of the event and guest speaker was WNBA star Tamika Catchings.

"Whether it's riding a bike or writing poetry or sports, finding that one thing that you can do," she told the group.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be drug-free," Golston said.

The hope is, what the girls learned Saturday will carry them not only through adolescence, but throughout their lives, growing them into confident, capable leaders.