Welcome to Camp Esther
{Esther Element ~ Girls with Courage}
Who are we?
The “esther element” is a unique mentoring organization for ‘tween girls.
Our mission is to teach ‘tween girls how to discover their unique gifts, their true purpose and their ultimate responsibility…to become girls with courage that can overcome all obstacles.
A vintage transformation of an elementary school cafeteria.
Who is esther?
While you might recognize the name “Esther” as a biblical character, we do not teach her story from a theological perspective. Rather she serves as a historical role model for a ‘tween age girl. read more...
The windows were decorated with fabric, lanterns and elements of nature
The painting is Wednesdays project and the gratitude journals were part of the display until that project was completed.
Each day there was a proclamation and those quotes are on these strips of paper clipped with a close pin with a twig tied in the twine bow. The girls took these home on Friday.
My {4x4} gratitude journal!!
Amazing glittered and embellished name tags for each girl made by Donna
This was the conversation area. Fun pillows and rug for the girls to sit on
during conversation time.
Each of the bulletin boards were covered with brown craft paper and the girls were able to write on them with chalk.
Creating project number 1. Gratitude Journals. I cut 16 sheets of card stock for the pages and cardboard for the front and back cover. I then cut the holes and added the spiral. 24 books in all
Here are the books and how they were presented to the girls. in brown lunch sacks cut in half and sewn with black thread with a zig zag stitch and a Mod Podge close pin to hold the bag shut, and of course an oak tag.
The girls decorated the books with all kinds of embellishments.
Next craft T.A.T.T.L.E. Bracelets using Pop Tabs. {Tween's. Are. Talking. Trash. Listen. Engage.} Wearing these bracelets is a physical reminder to not try alcohol which is happening at the young age of 11 and 12.
The modern Esther Element Crest
Each girl painted the crest above in an 8x10 size with step by step instruction from an artist.
Here is the Esther Cafe' where water was served in Mason Jars and daily snacks could be found. The mason jar lids were painted with chalk board paint so the girls
could write their names on them.
The lunch table was covered in brown paper and we circled where the "plate" would go. Painted mason jars with fresh cut Hydrangea's lined the table. The bundled 1/2 lunch sacks were stamped with various quotes and sayings to hold the girls snacks.
Here is Donna during conversation time with the girls!!
Day 4 we packed 100 lunches for Must Ministries. There are children who count on the school lunches program and in the summer those lunches are still served. Esther Element and the 24 camp girls packed 100 lunches for those peers in need. They also decorated 100 lunch bags so each child had positive messages and fun pictures on their bag!!
Here they are - woo hoo!! The girls LOVED this project!
After packing lunches the girls learned how to decorate cupcakes using cut marshmallows dipped in colored sugar to create flowers on their cupcakes.
The cookies were pre-baked and then decorated by the girls and they were also added
to each of the 100 lunches.
Fresh Crayons - BLISS
The girls received a camp block that they Mod Podged their photos taken on day one to. Two sides were completed, one with the camp stuff and the other with the Esther Element quote, "Courage is not about becoming someone else, it's about defining who you are." ~ee
And last, but certainly not least, the "ee" Camp girls