INDIANAPOLIS -
A local summer camp has turned into a hot ticket for young girls. It's a band camp that's teaching girls to rock.
Ten-year-old Sophia Lakstin has never played the drums, and with one week of practice under her belt she's ready to rock with 63 other girls who have become close friends.
"With girls just like you, they can have experiences like you and you can talk to them about anything you want," Lakstin says.
The girls 8 to 16 who are building friendships, bands and confidence through the non-profit camp, Girls Rock Indy.
"We want to empower girls, improve their self esteem, wipe out competition between girls, and teach them how to get along together and be each other's biggest fan," said camp organizer Sharon Rickson.
Fourteen bands have formed during this week's camp, and have even written original songs.
Musical mentors help along the way, but music isn't the only lesson.
"We do a lot of work with body image, self esteem building, we talk about ways women are portrayed in the media, and we do workshops on gender equality," said Rickson.
It's a lesson in empowerment and confidence put into action.
"It's good to be yourself," 13-year-old GiGi Miedema said, "Because you want to be different you don't want to follow everyone else. It's good to be different."
Sarah Ottinger, 14, agrees. "All the girls here really encourage others and it just builds your confidence."
Sarah and Gigi's band, No Direction, is headed down the right path (despite the name!)
They met at last year's camp and even won a local competition - as the only girl group.
"It's really fun to just to kind of be around a bunch of girls, who are actually like me," GiGi said.
Girls, who are learning to be strong young women.
"You can be yourself without having to look perfect," Sarah said. "You don't have to be perfect, just be who you are."
These are young women who can do anything they put their minds to.
"Hopefully what they get out of this they'll carry with them through their teens, and young adulthood, and grow up to be the most amazing women that they can," Rickson said.
The bands from this year's Girls Rock Camp have their showcase Saturday afternoon.
The show starts at 2:00 pm at the Earth House in Downtown Indianapolis.
Tickets are available at the door or online to help keep the non-profit running..
Sophia Lakstin, 10
Sarah Ottinger, 14
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