Lehigh Valley Girls Rock Camp empowers girls, nonbinary/transgender youth through music and art
Written by Victoria Scialfa on July 28, 2021
Lehigh Valley Girls Rock Camp empowers girls, nonbinary/transgender youth through music and art
By Megan Frank
July 28, 2021
Girls Rock Camp isn’t a typical music camp. It’s a week-long empowerment program based on being in a rock band.
About a dozen Lehigh Valley Girls Rock campers met on Zoom last week to form bands. The camp is open to girls and nonbinary/transgender youth.
With guidance from a volunteer staff of musicians and artists, campers write and perform original songs together. Camp Director Felicia Lockett says the mission is even deeper.
“We’re all about building self-confidence,” Lockett said. “We have four main categories: Music, art, social justice and self-care. Our theme this week was caring is radical. And it’s all about how important it is to not only care for yourself, but to care for your community.”
Nine-year-old camper Wren Doncsecz uses they/them gender pronouns. They say the camp is a place for people to share their experiences.
“They gave you, like, a safe space,” Doncsecz said, “It did kind of make me wanna be, like, a musician.”
Shayla Dowdy, 17, has been attending for seven years.
“We’re learning how to be inclusive and to be able to really go out into the world and accept everyone,” Dowdy said. “You really find a level of confidence that you never knew you had.”
The bands make their debut July 29 at Becky’s Drive-In in Walnutport. The showcase runs from 8-9:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. There is a $10 suggested donation.
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