Girls Camp 2008

Challenge course on Monday. YCLs go and learn teamwork and climb something that they do not think they can do.

Climbing wall.

A picture from the lodge...a rainy morning at camp.

Everyone working together in lodge to certify. It was raining so we had to improvise.

The area where wards cooked and ate dinner. A pretty amazing sight to see...girls and leaders working together to prepare and cook dinner over a fire or cook stove. I ate very well at camp. The food was YUMMY!!!

Camp was a whirlwind this year...maybe that is a bad word to use because we had tornado watches a couple of times during our week at camp. It went by fast. The time and preparation before camp was well worth it. Camp ran smoothly and everything seemed to fall into place. I had time to think about making schedule changes because of rain and about safety procedures just in case we needed to find shelter.

The theme this year was...LDS: Like A Rock. LDS stood for Loving Daughters of Service. Our scripture was Doctrine and Covenants 6:34 "Therefore, fear not. little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." The rain and storms that we received during the week seemed to help us focus on our theme because the rain and the wind came but we stood strong and we were blessed. The girls did not complain even though there were a few inches of standing water in many tents and wet sleeping bags and shoes. Camp continued though there were obstacles. It mostly rained at night and in the morning. It was always dry and beautiful when we needed it to be. The spirit was strong throughout camp. We had mid-day devotionals...called Spiritual Zingers...this is when we would "zing" the spirit into the girls in the middle of the day. We had great campfire devotionals. The testimony meeting was powerful and the girls shared their witness and their testimony of the gospel and of Jesus Christ. The clouds parted and the sun was able to shine through while the stake president was speaking to us...it was an answer to many prayers. The girls worked together to keep the camp clean and to certify. All levels were able to go on hikes and to make fires when necessary.

I learned a lot this year while preparing for camp and while I was at camp. I am grateful for this calling. I love girls camp. I love teaching the YCLs how to be leaders and how to love everyone. I enjoy watching girls build fires, learn how to tie knots, complete service projects, put up tents, and sing camp song! I love watching testimonies grow and feeling the spirit on a regular basis. I love being in nature...I feel closer to my Heavenly Father when I am in nature. The young women have really strong spirits. They are amazing girls. I love working with them and getting to know them. (It is nice to know that there are some teenagers who are making right choices and striving to live the gospel in an icky world!...did I mention how strong they are??!!) Camp is a very fulfilling calling. I was discouraged at times...while planning and getting everything ready...my month long of back pain did not help. I learned how to delegate and ask for help...especially when lifting things! This was not an easy lesson but I had to learn...because I am not superwoman and I need help!! I am looking forward to planning camp 2009. Maybe third year will be the charm!!??!