Girls Camp 2008

Girls Camp is an annual gathering of all of the Young Women (ages 12-18) in our Stake (a regional boundary comprising of different wards/local congregations). This year there were around 215 girls that attended, plus lots of ward leaders, and all of us stake leaders. I was directly assigned to the Level 1 girls…the ones who were 12 years of age and who were attending for their first time. And I also was over 13 YCL’s (Youth Camp Leaders) who are girls that are attending camp for their 5th and 6th time and are old pros!

It is hard to describe the experience of getting that many girls and adults together for a week of fun, learning, faith-building, and outdoor adventures. And to add to it, our theme for the week was “Once Upon a Time” and everywhere you looked there was fairy wings, glitter, wands, and glass slippers! So fun.

I truly enjoyed every minute. I have always loved being with teenage girls. And these are good girls…making deliberate decisions to choose righteous endeavors. I enjoyed being in the outdoors. Swimming in the lake. Learning how to shoot a bow and arrow (my boys were so proud). I enjoyed staying up late and laughing. I enjoyed solving problems and dealing with conflicts. I enjoyed feeling the Spirit and strengthening my testimony. I enjoyed seeing into the hearts of these girls and getting to know them better. I enjoyed seeing them perform, serve each other, stretch themselves, learn, and share their own testimonies. I enjoyed being with great women of faith and character. The other leaders were amazing and gave so much of themselves. It was such an honor for me to be in that company.

I enjoyed it all…

The Level Leaders with our cone-head crazy hair! (We were imitating one of the girls who did her hair this way – it involves a bottle and lots of hairspray!)

I was especially thrilled to spend an entire week with Dana (although I think she was wishing I would have gone to bed earlier, since we shared a bunk).