The Northwest Alabama Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program is reaching out to the young women of the future with Be Your Best Self Camp.

Girls in Pre-K through sixth grade are invited to the three-day workshop – Aug. 1-2 and Aug. 6 – during which they will learn stage presence, etiquette, table manners, fitness and body image, fashion modeling, social media safety and “a production dance number” that they will perform on stage Aug. 6 as part of the DYW program at the University of North Alabama.

Dubbed “High Heel Boot Camp,” the workshop has been held the past four or five years and provides an outlet for past years’ Distinguished Young Women participants to encourage young people to reach their full potential in everything from academics and fitness to morality, character and social/civic participation.

“We want them to be healthy, be involved, stay in school and be ambitious,” explained Franklin County Extension coordinator Katernia Cole-Coffey, who is helping to direct the camp. “Each young female needs to start out setting goals for themselves – do not wait until high school. You need to start out really young – set goals and have a path outlined to where you want to go and what you want to be.”

DYW Director Susan Hargett said the nationally-based Be Your Best Self Camp helps girls find inner beauty and self-confidence.

“It’s about helping them to build a better future,” Hargett said. And, “it’s just a lot of fun for the little girls.”

Aug. 1-2 activities will be held at the Hospitality House at Northwest-Shoals Community College, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the workshops and dance practice from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Aug. 6 performance will be held at 6 p.m., preceded by rehearsal at 4 p.m.

Dance theme this year is patriotic.

“They are going to get to do a little routine to a medley of patriotic songs,” Cole-Coffey said.

Cost is $30 for two days for the first child, and $20 for each additional sibling, or $20 to attend only one of the two days. Registration information, including name, T-shirt size, age, grade, school attending, county of residence, parents’ or guardians’ names, cell phone number and emergency contact should be mailed with check to Northwest Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program, 311 Lonnie Drive, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 by July 26. Cole-Coffey said girls may also register day-of.