For 78 Guilford County girls, their spring break wasn’t a chance to lounge around or watch TV. For three days they were at UNCG for the Active Girls Healthy Girls Spring Break Camp, being empowered and educated in an environment that was focused on inclusiveness and support.
The camp, part of the University’s Center for Women’s Health and Wellness (CWHW), is now in its third year and helps fourth through sixth grade girls learn healthy physical and mental wellness choices in a positive female environment.
“I love, love, love the camp,” said Deborah Ajuwa, 9. “I loved playing pickleball.”
In addition to pickleball, physical activities included basketball, volleyball, yoga, free play, climbing a rock wall, stretching, a nature walk and scavenger hunt at an area park, and — new this year — swimming and self-defense. Most activities were held at UNCG’s Kaplan Center for Wellness. The campers also learned about nutrition, good foods for the body, and mindfulness.
Counselors included a mix of UNCG faculty, staff, and students, including student athletes. The camp is designed to be female-focused, so the campers feel supported and uplifted, and can build confidence. They also learn things they can do at home, when they are no longer at camp.
The camp has grown steadily since its inception, with the largest number of campers attending this year.
“We take into consideration the feedback of the girls to add activity. The climbing wall was added last year (in 2025) because the girls walked by it the first year and kept asking if they were going to do that. Last year they kept asking if they were going to get to swim when they saw the pool,” said Dr. Jaclyn Maher, director of the CWHW. “And that’s the whole point of camp, to try new things that you may not otherwise try.”
Many of the campers said they were excited to get into the pool to swim.
For second-time camper Mara Brittain, however, basketball was her favorite activity.
She said she wanted to come back because she had such a great experience last year.
“I liked what we did the last time, and the people,” she said. “I’ve learned to eat more to be healthy, but not a whole bunch of junk.”
The campers weren’t the only ones who learned new things.
Nutrition undergraduate Sydney Caine volunteered to be one of the counselors. She said she learned how to play pickleball along with the kids.
“And it was nice to hear from the UNCG athletes on the athlete panel about their experiences in sports, because I’ve only played club sports,” she said.
Caine signed up to help because she wanted to make a difference.
“I wanted to do something to make an impact in the community, and make girls be more confident and healthier,” she said.
The Active Girls Healthy Girls is sponsored by the Dawn S. Chaney Foundation, the Greensboro Sports Foundation and Chick-fil-A.
Dawn Chaney said the program is vital to the health and success of young girls.
“As participants, young girls engage in physical activities that master agility and team spirit. Each girl has the opportunity to learn more about her body. She is invited to develop skills that deliver immediate achievement. At the same time, each girl engages her brain and is energized by learning that activity promotes health,” Chaney said. “This program provides opportunities for a diverse group of young girls. Active Girls Healthy Girls educates the body and the brain for the next generation of female leaders.”
Jill Jones, vice president of administration and community engagement for the Greensboro Sports Foundation, attended for the first time and said she was impressed.
“I was blown away by the camp. I’ve been around the middle school sports world for a while. It’s such a critical age for girls to be active and not be laughed at. The counselors were so supportive and engaging,” she said. “There was no grumping or standing around by the girls. They were so excited to get a fist bump, and it was so well-organized.”
By: Sarah Newell