S.T.A.R.S. Camp Kicks Off at OUZ

Muskingum Behavioral Health and OUZ collaborated to offer young girls grades six through eight a special opportunity.

The annual S.T.A.R.S. Camp focuses on building positive self image and the skills to have a future of success. Camp Coordinator and Prevention Specialist, Ronell Barnett explained the history behind getting things started.

“This camp actually started 12 years ago now. Initially a teacher, locally from Roseville, started it in her classroom and she just kind of developed it into a large summer camp for the girls and then two years ago she retired and we ended up taking it over.”

The camp offers 14 different workshops. Some of those include sewing, science and crafts. Barnett said S.T.A.R.S. stands for sensitivity, tolerance, attitude, responsibility and self esteem. She told us more about the goals of the camp.

“Basically we just want the girls just to kind of get a better sense of who they are. You know because we focus on middle school girls so it’s girls that have just finished sixth, seventh and eighth grade and you know we just want them to build on that self esteem, you know gain that confidence and kind of give them some direction on maybe like what they want to do when they grow up.”

The cost is $15 a girl. Right now Barnett said 44 girls are registered for the camp. The camp runs through the 11th of June and registration begins at 8:30AM each day.