Sometimes getting from idea to action only takes a spark of inspiration, and last month three tri-town girls got just that.

In July, Tori Monteiro of Rochester, Jaeda Lopes of Marion and Jendell Teixeira of Rochester participated in the inaugural Camp SPARK.

The camp is part of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts, a branch of the national nonprofit that educates students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. In piloting Camp SPARK, JA wanted to give 13- and 14-year-old girls an opportunity to interact with entrepreneurs and to inspire them to become innovators in their own right.

“Camp SPARK was designed as a unique opportunity for girls from diverse backgrounds to come together and tap into their inner entrepreneur through fun, hands-on activities that will encourage life skills like resilience, adaptability, perseverance in the face of obstacles, resourcefulness and open-mindedness,” said Caroline Paradis, Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts president.

Following an application and interview, 23 girls were chosen to participate in the week-long camp held at Bridgewater State University, where they met entrepreneurs, discussed issues relevant to the South Coast and worked on their own ideas.

Both Old Rochester Regional students, Lopes, 13, and Monteiro, 14, have good foundations when it comes to business. Lopes’ mother has started numerous businesses, including Adagio Arts and Wellness, and Monteiro’s mom owns the florist shop Always in Bloom, both in Marion.

Although she doesn't know what she wants to do yet, Monteiro does know she already has more background in business than most girls her age.

“I feel like where I’m living, I’m privileged to have resources to start something if I want to,” she said. Monteiro added that the camp gave her even more material. “I definitely have a lot more knowledge. I have resources and support.”

For Lopes, a highlight of the week was a networking event where each participant used business cards they designed earlier in the week as they interacted with entrepreneurs.

She also said being with like-minded girls lead to “a lot of bonding time.”

“We all have the same thing in common and the same goals, but we’re all so different,” Lopes said, who hopes to be a lawyer one day.

She knows that if she wants to start her own business she'll get plenty of support, but Lopes also knows sexism is still alive and well. That’s why she would like to see Camp SPARK give more girls the opportunity to dream big.

“I really they hope they continue it because it was a great learning experience, and I feel like young girls they get put down more than they get lifted up."