Girls Camp 2011: Mission Possible

August 8-12, 2011

The summer was pretty much gobbled up by Girls Camp. I was called as the Stake Camp Director in Nov. 2010, when I was released as YW president in the Angel Park ward and moving to the Flint Meadows ward. Planning for a huge Stake activity was a lot of work, but worth it! Thanks to these awesome ladies, I was able to keep my sanity through the whole experience. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a picture of my entire committee all together...someone was always busy doing their job!

L to R: Kari Garrett (Stk. YW Pres.), Deniece Cheney (Stk. YW 1st Coun.), Suzette Cottell (Service & Activities), Becky Packer (Hikes & Certification), and Me.

Here is a photo with Kim Hess (middle). She was over Music and the Thursday night program.

Not pictured are Shan Kettle and her assistant Melody Savage, who were in charge of all the food. They fed a little over 200 people 3 meals a day, and they always had smiles on their faces! What amazing women! The best thing about camp was working with all these women who love the Lord and the YW, and do what it takes to make camp a success. I consider myself so blessed to have been able to rub shoulders with these women and become friends with them. While it was one of the most stressful callings in my life, I will always cherish the memories I have of this week.

Our Theme was "Mission Possible: Live Like You Believe." The scriptures were D&C 58: 27-28 and the 13th Article of Faith. Since the 2011 Mutual theme was the 13th Article of Faith, I wanted to tie that to the D&C scripture to "be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness."  I wanted the girls to understand that they need to be proactive and seek for opportunities to be honest, true, benevolent, and virtuous, rather than filling their lives with time-wasting activities that don't result in good fruits or have any eternal reward.

This was our t-shirt. The eyes were to remind the YW to "seek."

Naturally, we had a lot of service going on all week as well as certification, hiking, spiritual programs and fun activities. I wanted the YCLs to do most of the leadership at camp, so we put them in charge of leading all flag ceremonies, teaching certification, helping in the kitchen, being hike leaders, and keeping their wards informed and on schedule. Jennifer Durtschi was our YCL leader, but couldn't come to camp at the last minute due to unexpected thyroid cancer treatments. But she did a super job getting all the YCLs trained and ready to be youth leaders at camp.

Our super-helpful YCLs made a bucket brigade to transport all the food from the delivery truck over the bridge to the kitchen

Here are some of the YCLs teaching first aid certification.

Sis. Cottrell had ongoing service in the lodge for a Title I school. I was excited to see how much service the YW were able to do in such a short amount of time. I hope they paid attention to how it made them feel. I hope they felt the ability they have to create something good in the world when they work together--that their mission IS possible!

Danika was a hike leader both days. Here she is at the top of the 3rd Yr. hike--Ogden Overlook. Becky, Whitney and Rebecca Crandall, and Lisa Day were some of the sisters from our ward who went on this hike. The rattlesnake we saw at the beginning of the 3rd-year hike was a bit scary! But everyone kept calm and we made it to the top.

I decided to prepare a "Spiritual Challenge" for the YW to complete while they were at camp. I got this idea from our Stake in Las Vegas. It required that the YW 1) memorize the camp scriptures, 2) memorize one longer or two shorter quotes from prophets, apostles, and the general YW leaders (they could choose from a pre-selected list I had prepared, 3) read a talk I chose from Sis. Dalton and tell a leader how they could use her counsel in their lives, and 4) do a random act of service for another girl. Once they passed off all the requirements and had their booklet signed off by a leader, they received a bracelet that I had stamped (these are what Kim had helped me work on).

Each girl received a Spiritual Challenge booklet to study from while at camp.

The L, I, V, and E were capitalized to remind them to "LIVE like they believe."

The YW astounded me with their willingness to do the service opportunities and the spiritual challenge. I thought they would participate begrudgingly because they "had" to. But they proved me wrong! I was pleased to see so many of them memorizing and trying to earn their bracelet. It was very rewarding having the YW come to me and recite one of the scriptures or quotes, or talk to me for a minute about Sis. Dalton's talk or the service they performed for another YW. Willow Brook ward had every person--even their Priesthood brethren--earn their bracelet (what great unification!).

I arranged for Laurel Christensen to come be a guest speaker on Wednesday night. She works at Deseret Book, and is a director of Time Out for Women. I bought her book, "He Loves Us, and We Love Him," which is a book about the YW Values, and loved it so much I contacted her in February to see if she would come speak. I was shocked to have her say yes! She was, of course, a big highlight. She gave the YW and leaders a challenge to do 2 things: 1) before they left camp, to find a private place and kneel and ask Heavenly Father (out loud) if He knows them personally--because He can't afford for His daughters not to  know that they are His and that He loves them, and 2) try to learn what word Heavenly Father uses to describe her ("Heather is my most _________ daughter"--fill in the blank). I heard several reports from different wards that some of their girls took the challenge to pray audibly and felt they received an answer. I hope every single girl and woman that was a camp came away with a better understanding of who she is, and remember Laurel's statement that "young women who know they are daughters of God live a totally different life than those who don't."

Wednesday and Thursday we had different age groups assigned to different activities. Suzette had a "big" service project planned to help improve Camp Atoka and couldn't accommodate 200 people at one time. So I grouped the 1st/3rd Years together to stay at camp Wednesday morning and do service while the 2nd Years drove to Snowbasin to hike, and the 4th Years drove to the Weber County Ropes Course. I was sick with a terrible migraine morning and wasn't able to attend the ropes course (which I was very bummed out about). On Thursday we did the opposite: 1st/3rd Years hiked while 2nd/4th stayed at camp and did more "big" service.

In every aspect, the YW of our Stake continued to amaze me with their determination, kindness, and enthusiasm. I never heard any complaining. The spirit at camp was wonderful, and I feel extremely blessed to have been able to spend 5 days with these impressive young women and their leaders.

Here are some of the amazing things these YW accomplished at camp. I estimated how many combined hours were given by multiplying the time given in service by the number of YW who participated. It is cool to see how things can add up when you work together!

"Big" service combined project hours-320:
-Cleared and extended trail--approx. 300 yards

-Collected, carried up the hill, and planted 110 rocks on the trail
-Dug 80 step holes on trails
-Cleaned ashes out and lined 22 fire rings with 300 rocks
-15 hours of cutting weeds around camp

"Small" service projects completed (all of which will help teachers and students at a Title 1 school):
-Cut & bagged 36 school games
-Traced & cut 50 paper umbrellas
-Cut 2,300 Kindergarten sight word flashcards
-Labeled 250 Kindergarten scrapbook pages
-Taped 50 library pockets in books
-Taped 52 children's book covers to extend life
-Cut and assembled 50 paper telephones
-100 strands of yarn dipped in wax & strung on juice can lids (for Kind. students to use in lang. arts, math, and social studies)
-100 strands of yarn dipped in wax for Kind. students to make Christmas stockings
-100 holes drilled in juice can lids

Miscellaneous service:
-100 star wands for Festival of Trees assembled
-90 friendship bracelets braided
-10 "I Love You" hospital hearts made
-1 ping pong table repaired (complements of Bro. Hansen)

Other numbers from the week:
-2,550 meals prepared + snacks
-960 Certification/Small Service/Personal Progress hours completed
-611 combined miles hiked
-175 Spiritual Challenges completed
-Countless unseen kindnesses, acts of service, and volunteer hours in the kitchen
-Hours of sleep...3 :)

After camp we were asked by Kari Garrett to share our thoughts and impressions about camp for the Stake History. I wanted to include what Suzette Cottrell submitted because I feel like she had such a big part in shaping the course of activities with her service projects, and also influencing the attitudes of the campers through her positive attitude.


Suzette's thoughts...

"It has been 9 days since camp and I am homesick for camp, and have been since the day we came home. Being asked to serve on the stake committee was a great blessing to me. I made new friends that helped me laugh and enjoy the call to serve. Through all our preparations I have had a very calm spirit. I know the reason why is because of the desires of the hearts for those called to serve were strong and committed."

Obstacles came to try and break us down, but each shoulder stayed to the wheel--true to the faith that our parents had taught us, and we all carried on. I witnessed the power of prayer as I saw, heard, and felt leaders all around me on their knees praying and desiring to be humble to the spirit. The Lord worked throughout the week through our preparedness. The feeling of "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear" was ever present. President Steele bore testimony to us on Monday morning before we left for camp with the YCL's that all would be well, if we would let the spirit lead the way.

"Our YCL's were a tremendous tool in carrying out their responsibilities as well as stepping up to all the occasions of need that arose. Being asked to coordinate service for our week at camp, I was immediately impressed to find a way to make us all sweat together in service and fun. I wanted each girl to see and feel that they can make a difference and that, if and when needed, they could do anything asked of them for a short time. My goals were largely met from day one with the YCL's. Energy for giving service began as soon as they walked into the lodge and saw the tables stacked with 'To Do's'."

"Projects of cutting flashcards and educational games and art projects were quickly being prepped. My eyes saw groups of hands working and faces smiling, as the room was filled with a busy hum of positive energy. Comments were being made like: "It would be so fun to be a teacher," "I can't believe how much work teachers have to do," "I remember when I was in Kindergarten, I loved my teacher," "This is way fun and easy,"  and "I can do this". There were girls even offering help for later: "Hey, if you need help after camp, let me know, because I have some U's that I need to work off." The girl's weren't the only ones enjoying the service. Leaders were so willing to do all they could do on top of all the other things they had going for the week"

  

"During the certification rotations on Tuesday the traffic in the lodge for service was continuous. Every 1/2 hour a new group of about thirty girls came with fresh energy and when it came time for them to rotate they could barely stand and lift their hands because they had given their all to service. Some girls were very tired from other certification classes, but when they saw how friends and leaders arose to the need of service they willingly followed and found a little more energy that they could give."

"On Wednesday girls were going on hikes as well as scheduled to take part in group activities and a big service project. I had planned to groom, cut and extend a short hiking trail that existed behind the lodge and to make improvements to 22 fire pits throughout the campsite by outlining the metal fire pit rings with rock."

"To accomplish this task I used what Brother Hansen had shared with us Monday night, with the YCL's, for Family Home Evening. His testimony to us was so inspiring to me and was the answer to my prayers for camp. To "Act as if", is a motto he discovered on his mission and has lived by ever since. He also shared with us his family motto: "BE Where you are supposed to be, WHEN you’re supposed to be there, DOING what you’re supposed to be doing". His testimony was constantly teaching me throughout the week as I strived to lead out in activities that I had never done before. With the help of my Heavenly Father, priesthood leaders, missionaries of the camp, and the hands of 80 girls or so, the "big service project" was completed a day ahead of schedule. I wasn't surprised; in fact, I had hoped to be able to accomplish all my ideas I had planned as backup projects in case I needed more. I had to remind myself that I needed to keep things balanced and not sour anyone on sweaty dirty work, but I also wanted to truly make a physical difference on the beauties of the camp."

"On Thursday, another group of about 80 girls extended trail to be double the original length. Rocks were transported up the trail and were planted on the trial to improve a hiker's footing on the steep inclines. Burnt ashes were dug out of all the fire pits. I again found a need for more service activities. I went to Elder Capron for ideas, and he sent us out with his wife cut out various prickly weeds throughout the camp. The power of service was truly evident by the end of our week. Each girl, young and old joined hands and made Camp Atoka a better place."

"I grew close to the Elder and Sister Capron and their daughter Roberta, and Elder and Sister Lieshman. The missionaries eagerly served us, and you could feel of their joy to do so. They commented several times how impressed they were with our stake and the quality of girls within. Our young women have high standards and their standards were shown to be real as they served when they were hot and tired, and then served again when they were asked to pull together and complete another project placed in front of them. While working with girls on the trail one had said to me how hard it was use the loppers to cut a limb off a branch. With my hands next to hers we did it together and continued to cut additional limbs. It wasn't long until we stopped and looked back on the trail and took a deep breath and said to ourselves, "Wow, what a difference we have made." Just as my motto says, 'On the HARD days I learn, on the GOOD days I live.' I know that with all the many blessings from stake girl's camp and all the hard work that so many put into it, there are many GOOD days in store to be lived."

And FINALLY...I just had to include a photo of our cute songbook!