This spring, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Foundation proudly partnered with the Women’s Sports Foundation to support an innovative new initiative through the Girls Empowerment Program at Lazelle Woods Community Center, introducing teenage girls to the world of strength training and power lifting.
Led by Columbus Recreation and Parks staff member Kaitlyn Welke, the program was created to do much more than teach girls how to lift weights. It was designed to build confidence, create community, and help young women discover their own strength, both physically and emotionally.
The idea for the program came after Kaitlyn noticed a gap in opportunities for teenage girls, particularly within the homeschool community.
“I received feedback from parents that there were not many homeschool programs offered for teenagers,” Kaitlyn shared. “When I heard about the opportunity to offer weight training classes for girls, I immediately knew I wanted to create and lead my own classes.”
For Kaitlyn, the inspiration was personal. She remembered how intimidating gyms and weight rooms felt when she first started working out herself.
“I knew the times I was most confident in the weight room were when I went with a friend,” she said. “I wanted to create that same supportive environment for these girls.”
The program welcomed eight participants between the ages of 13 and 17. Throughout the session, the girls learned foundational strength training techniques, proper form, workout tracking, and goal setting. But the lessons extended far beyond fitness.
Participants kept fitness journals to document their progress and reflect on their personal growth. Weekly prompts encouraged self-awareness, confidence building, and peer connection through social-emotional learning practices.
Assignments asked participants to reflect on topics like their relationship with fitness, moments when they felt most confident, and the goals they hoped to achieve. The girls also participated in buddy workouts, collaborative exercises, and group discussions that helped build friendships and trust.
One of the most impactful aspects of the program was watching the girls grow more comfortable and confident in spaces that once felt intimidating.
“In the beginning, when we entered the weight room and there were other adults already using it, the girls were quieter and more reserved,” Kaitlyn said. “By the end of the session, they walked in like they belonged there.”
She recalled one powerful moment when several men were using the gym during class. Instead of backing away, the girls confidently continued their workouts and navigated the space together.
“One of the girls looked at a man waiting near the weights and confidently asked, ‘Do you need to get in here? What weights are you looking for? I can grab them if you need them,’” Kaitlyn shared. “Week one, they would have avoided the space completely. Watching them confidently hold their space made me so proud.”
The program also celebrated measurable physical achievements through a weekly challenge the girls called “Bar Goals.” Many participants began the session only able to bench press the 40-pound bar with assistance. By the end of the program, several girls exceeded their goals and were lifting independently with additional weight.
Beyond the numbers, the transformation was evident in the girls’ attitudes and relationships with one another.
Mothers of participants shared that their daughters were becoming more outgoing, building friendships, and growing in confidence. Some described how the program helped their teens reconnect socially after struggles with anxiety and isolation following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps the strongest endorsement came directly from the girls themselves.
After achieving their lifting goals, participants immediately began asking what would happen after the session ended and whether the class could continue through the summer and fall.
“We all hashed out summer schedules and decided to keep it going,” Kaitlyn said. “That was the most impactful feedback I could receive.”
For Kaitlyn, the long-term vision is clear.
“I hope this class helps the girls build confidence in themselves and their fitness abilities,” she said. “I want them to understand the positive impact fitness can have on their health and mental well-being. I hope they leave with friendships, confidence, and a healthy relationship with fitness that lasts a lifetime.”
Thanks to support from the Women’s Sports Foundation, this program is helping young women at Lazelle Woods Community Center discover that strength is about much more than what you can lift. It’s about believing in yourself, supporting one another, and finding confidence that carries far beyond the gym.