Girls Camp

I can't believe I am already three months post-Girls Camp. There is so much preparation that goes into Girls Camp that I really think it takes awhile to digest it all. I'm in the midst of putting together a slide show for the whole year and have loved going through photos and reminiscing.

Several months prior, Aimee, our camp director, did our activity for us and talked to the girls about anchors and making our anchors strong, strong enough that they cannot break. And what makes strong anchors? The basics. Scripture study. Prayer. Fasting. Worship at church through the sacrament. The gospel isn't hard. It just takes work.

Our theme for camp this year came from our youth theme: "Oh ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength."

The camp theme: Anchored in Christ. What a powerful theme to center all our activities around. Most ideas had to do with an anchor at sea. I also saw it as an anchor in bedrock while rock climbing. One morning I shared Elder Lund's story about the rock climber (see here) during our breakfast devotional. Christ is our belayer. There is no one else who can rescue us from our spiritual fall, no one else who can make us better people by changing our natures.

My young women are wonderful, funny, strong. I love them and I love hanging out with them.

They are sensitive to the spirit.

They are helpful and are some of Mel's biggest cheerleaders.

We also had an amazing group of youth leaders . . . and quite a lot of them!

They are willing to try new things like sun oven pizza and cookies.

I've already got some preliminary plans for next year. What I did as soon as I got home was make a list of what worked and things to remember. 'Cause you know, you think you'll remember stuff, but you don't. Paper and pen are more trustworthy with the details than my brain.

GIRLS CAMP CHECKLIST

*If you are called as a camp director, I suggest coming to activities before camp to get to know the girls if you are not in Young Womens

*Plan on about 3 to 4 activities geared toward gamp

*Plan on attending 4, possibly 5 camp meetings

*Utilize the YW leaders; they are willing to help

Secret Sisters: they like to fill out an all about me form to give to their secret sister. We hand these out at our CAMP KICKOFF, about 2 months before.

Tent Assignments: get input at CAMP KICKOFF as to who they’d like in their tent, but we make the final decision. Jr. leaders stay with the stake.

Cooking: a camp chef really helps with all the meal prep, but is not necessary
                *start buying 1 month in advance, 2 weeks, and then 1 week
                *have a sheet with meals and who is helping clean and prepare
                *do you want to use mess kits?
                *Jr Leaders eat dinner with us
                *Thursday night we have stake leaders and bishopric members eat with us

4^th Year Hikers: will need a lunch provided by the ward when they return from their overnight hike on Tuesday (presidency has made these in the past). They will also need backpacking tents and stoves.

Crafts/Games: they really like downtime as a ward to just hang out

Permission slips: try to get these filled out ASAP/reward for getting it turned back in within the week. Hand out at CAMP KICKOFF.

Packing slips: hand out two weeks prior with a flyer stapled to the front with times for gear drop off and meeting times (Meeting times: always meet at the church; just easier than meeting at someone’s house plus you're loading stuff into the trailer.)
                *BRING A COAT! – it still gets chilly even in July
                *BRING AN EXTRA PAIR OF SHOES – you will get your feet wet with water fights
                *BRING WATER GUNS for water fights

Camp manuals: new girls will need camp manuals;  some wards gather all the manuals and store them

Certification: let YW leaders be in charge of each group to make sure it gets done

Camp Kickoff: a couple of months before, during a mutual night, introduce the theme and get them excited for camp

Devotionals: do we want to use some time for devotionals/maybe use our Junior Leaders for this

Rides: enough to get girls up there along with the camp gear and enough to get ward plus junior leaders and 4^th years home with all their stuff

Snipe Hunt: 4th year girls in charge

Food Specialist
Certification Specialist
Decoration Specialist
Skits Specialist
Devotional Specialist
Music Specialist