Teens With Meaning: The Summer Camp That Transforms Girls from the Inside Out
Laughter echoes down the hallway. Songs float up the stairs. My kitchen buzzes with voices, giggles, and the clinking of spoons. Even though February and March are the coldest months in Austin, they are—paradoxically—the warmest in my home. That’s when my house fills with light, life, and the beautiful chaos of six young girls that come from different cities in South America (Guayaquil, Guadalajara, Lima, etc.)
This year, it’s Sol, Dominique, Milena, Valeria, Nathalie, and Adriana—six bright and spirited girls who’ve come all the way from Guayaquil not just to practice their English, but to live an experience designed to help them grow—in confidence, in character, and in the deep understanding of their own worth.
Welcome to our Personal Growth Camp!
A Living Classroom of Love and Discovery
2014 is the third year of running this camp, that is more than just language immersion or travel. It’s a carefully designed experience that nurtures the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of each girl. For a few magical weeks, my home becomes their home—and also their classroom, their retreat, their studio, and their safe space.
We dive into everything from fashion and etiquette to photography, cooking, and personal development. The goal? To help each of these young women discover her unique strengths, develop real-world skills, and begin to understand that her worth doesn’t come from appearances or popularity—but from within.
Style That Speaks
In hands-on fashion and personal style classes, the girls learn to dress with confidence—discovering how to choose silhouettes and colors that enhance their natural beauty and reflect who they truly are. Style becomes more than appearance; it becomes a form of self-respect and a quiet way of telling the world who they are—without saying a word.
At Sephora, during age-appropriate makeup sessions, they begin to understand beauty not as a pursuit of perfection, but as a thoughtful expression of self-care. They learn that knowing when and how to use makeup is just as important as knowing why. And in the process, they start to see beauty as something that begins with kindness—especially toward themselves.
Creativity in Every Corner
With a local Austin photographer as their guide, the girls learn how to capture the world through their phones with creativity and purpose. They discover how to edit their photos with intention, how to tell stories visually, and how to see beauty in everyday details.
They also gather around my kitchen island for cooking lessons—whipping up fruit salads, learning how to bake flan, and most importantly, sharing stories, laughter, and a sense of community.
Grace in the Details
Through etiquette and protocol classes, they’re taught how to set a table, how to walk gracefully, how to speak with poise, and how to carry themselves with elegance in different settings—be it a theater, a church, or a dinner table.
But more than that, they’re learning how to carry themselves with dignity—how to treat others, how to listen, how to choose kindness even when it’s hard.
Where True Beauty Begins
At the heart of the camp is a course on Women’s Dignity and Human Virtues, paired with one-on-one mentorship and daily journaling. Each girl writes about her goals, her daily “highlights,” and strategies for growth. They’re encouraged to reflect, to dream, and to confront the inner voices that hold them back.
These girls arrive full of curiosity, and they leave glowing—not just because they’ve learned new skills, but because they’ve started to believe something truly life-changing:
That they are capable.
That they are seen.
That they are loved.
And that every small step of growth matters.
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