Girl’s Camp

This year I was the Ward Camp Director.  When the Bishopric member extended the call, I honestly laughed out loud!  Me? Camp?  Funny!

Then we had to figure out what to do with our sweet babies – they are sweet, but they are three busy, intense people.

But it all worked out and we prepped and prepared.  I was so grateful Becca was here!  She helped me so much!  I was working at the preschool the whole month before camp, so it fell to her to do the crazy shopping.  But she did a wonderful job and I’m thankful!

Bed treats

Bucket for secret messages           Lizzy and I cut out 100 pendants for the girls to write on!

And then it was here.  We loaded up a huge trailer and drove our full van to Camp Crescendo.

The girls ready for the 1st and 3rd Year hike.  It was grueling and Jessi, being allergic to all of Kentucky, had an allergic reaction where her throat started to close.  Fun times!

(Crazy mom took a picture of her baby itching!)

First Years                                                           Third Years

Of course, I thought it was beautiful!

Swimming, playing games, these are fun things we do at camp!

Canoeing and Paddle boats – surprisingly, Jessi’s fav was canoeing – getting out in the middle of the lake.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.  We loved it!

Jessi and I paddled right up to this – it’s an old cabin, so cool!

There were so many frogs everywhere – Sam was in heaven!

Sam’s favorite part of camp was the camp songs.  She LOVES to sing!

Our cabin

Beautiful girls of mine

Everyone at camp

Of course, we also had to certify!

First Aid Simulations (did I mention the frogs?)

The meals we ate in the cafeteria where down a long hill – I never felt guilty eating – I figured I worked it all off!

More songs (Sammi’s thing!)

And this being a girl’s camp, there were crafts!

More swimming and archery

Our ward chose to do a service activity where the girls copied down quotes from general conference and then wrote uplifting thoughts on post it notes.  I loved seeing them all over camp!

Flag ceremony every morning and evening. The girls sang a song every morning – so fun!  Our morning song! Blurry because of the humidity, but so sweet! 0:46 starts my favorite part!

The Stake cooked us a dinner – thank you Stake YW leaders and the Bishops joined us!

I was so blessed to be there that night!  There were talks by the Stake YW Pres and Pres Neil and a testimony meeting(and of course there was a choir number!). President Neil said something that the Spirit used to answer a question I have had for a while.  So grateful I was in the right place at the right time!

Bishop Bednar talking with our girls

Ice cream afterwards!    Two of the moms that came up to help us with our adult:youth ratio!

Certification Olympics – Using what they had learned, the campers rotated through stations.  Crestwood 2nd’s station was about constellations – super easy and super fun!  Build the constellation with skittles!

We did get hot, but honestly nothing like Texas, which was fine with me!

More canoeing and crafts

Tin foil dinners and Dutch oven cobblers (kinda of a fail – more like Dutch oven pudding, oh well)

Stake YW Presidency versus the Stake Camp Directors – Camp Directors beat them!

Skit night – The YCCs did their cheer, and then had a total dance party, complete with blue (wo)man!

Our ward had a fun skit mocking a Relief Society meeting. Super cute!

That night we had a faith walk.  It was explained to the girls to hold onto the rope and don’t let go.  There would be those who would try to tempt them away.  If they got confused, they should just stop, fold their arms, and bow their heads and an angel would come and help them.  They ended up at the tree of life.  What an experience!  So many lessons – for example, how close the angels were at all times and how they WANTED to help, but had to wait for us to invited them to help.  How easy it is to let go or be persuaded that you aren’t on the right track (Sammi was a terrific little devil!)  So cool!  Wow – if only we had eyes to see things as they really are!

Smores!

Attempts to stay up all night                                              Amazing ward leaders!

Our entire ward (including me!)

I am so grateful I was able to go.  It was a blessing.  I did spend a lot of time praying and thinking about what devotionals I should give, what I should say, how I could have the Spirit to be with me, and for the strength to do it physically.  I’m not as young as I used to be and sleep is my fav in the whole world!!  Seriously, by 8:30 I am in a full-on yawn attack every night.  I prayed and fasted that in the strength of the Lord I would be physically able to do it all – and I was.  I am so grateful!  Now the next day, that blessing was GONE and I could barely walk, but when I needed it, it was there!  I am grateful!

Girl’s Camp 2015 – Embark in the Service of God!!!