Keeping youth interested in organized sport can sometimes be a chore SA国际影视传媒� ask any parent who has ever signed their kid up to play.

It can be especially tough for girls. According to a 2008 study by the WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Sport Foundation, girls drop out of sport twice as fast as boys do by the age of 14.

And thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Emma Carey is hoping to make a difference.

The 15-year-old is a member of the national youth advisory council for Fast and Female, a charity started in 2005 by Chandra Crawford, a Canadian Olympian in cross-country skiing and 2006 gold medallist in Torino, Italy. Carey was named to the council in January as the NWT representative and since then, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been helping to come up with ideas that can be used as part of the program.

Carey said it was Kaylee Grant, her coach in hockey, who told her about Fast and Female and thought it would be worthwhile to look into.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e always wanted to help young girls in sports because I know how hard it can be to find female role models,SA国际影视传媒� said Carey. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e had some girls tell me they look up to me and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a real good feeling knowing I have that effect on them.SA国际影视传媒�

The focus of Fast and Female is to keep girls between the ages of eight and 14 active in sport and living a healthy lifestyle. Some of the goals include providing positive experiences and giving girls skills in leadership, teamwork and resiliency.

Carey said the council meets virtually on the last Tuesday of each month to talk and brainstorm.

SA国际影视传媒淟ots of girls drop out of sports because they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 confident enough or there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 any activities for them,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur job is to show them what they can do and achieve through sport and keep them interested and engaged.SA国际影视传媒�

And it isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just focused solely on one sport, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淚t revolves around all sports,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓very province and territory has at least one person on the council and they come from all sorts of sports: hockey, skiing, we have one whoSA国际影视传媒檚 in wrestling. No matter your sport, there are different perspectives and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what we want.SA国际影视传媒�

Something the council is doing right now is whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as the Silver Gummy Program, a five-week virtual workshop that began this past Saturday and will run every Saturday until May 14. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 designed to help break down barriers girls face in sport with guest speakers jumping in each week to talk about their experiences.

Carey said itSA国际影视传媒檚 another way to help build confidence.

SA国际影视传媒淓ach session, we break out into groups and talk about ourselves, share our experiences in sport and get girls engaged,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want to give them motivation and show them how sport can help them become better at life.SA国际影视传媒�

The workshops begin at 8 a.m. MDT each week and registration can be submitted through the Eventbrite website.