Registration open for Madam President Camp

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- St. Joseph Quorum Initiative announced registration is open for the city's third Madam President Camp to teach young girls leadership skills.

The three-day camp offers a supportive environment where girls ages 11 through 13 can learn and practice leadership skills.

The five core camp themes include: leadership, civic education, activism, communications and self-discovery.

During the camp, girls will work with mentors who create meaningful connections between each girl and the curriculum.

The St. Joseph camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day on Monday, July 14, through Wednesday, July 16 at Missouri Western State University in Spratt Hall rooms 214-216.

MWSU and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce are supporters of the local Madam President Camp. The cost to attend is $150.

The Madam President Camp was founded in 2012 by female leaders Dr. Lee Smithson Burd and Pam Kelley, a Kansas City businesswoman.

In 2011, Smithson Burd attended her daughter's "princess camp" recital at school and was struck by wanting her daughter to receive a more empowering message that would encourage her to dream big and to see her value in the world.

Together, Smithson Burd and Kelley conceptualized the camp.

St. Joseph is the first camp to be held outside of Kansas City.

For more information on how to register, visit the camp website at www.madampresidentcamp.org/summer.