It was super challenging to plan a girl's camp as I had never done so, nor had any of my other leaders. Add in the fact that we had to organize all the supplies for the girls and up until (literally) the morning of had no idea just how many girls were actually going to come, and you've got a stressed out Sydney. Luckily we all survived and I think everyone had a good time.
We ended up with 6 girls and 4 leaders. Thank heavens it was that ratio because I think I would have died had there been less adults. My first counselor Cassidi and I headed up on Tuesday morning with all 6 girls in tow and a priesthood leader pulling our supplies. Somehow we managed to be on time for something and set up camp. This was fun because I simply handed the girl's their tent and said, "Good luck!" I have to admit, for having basically zero camping experience, besides two years of girl's camp, my girl's were pretty good and had their tent up in a jiffy.
Though they still have a ways to go to be an old pro like myself.
After setting up we had a few hours of free time, during which we handed over the camera and were pleasantly surprised to find oodles and oodles of awesome pictures.
After our free time we had camp orientation and then got ready for dinner. As soon as we started we were hit with one of the biggest rain storms ever! Boo rain. Normally I wouldn't mind it at all if it rained while I was camping. Being in charge of 6 girls who need to eat kind of changes that, especially when the Stake leaders are screaming, "Get your girls to the cars!! It's too dangerous!" Women. I swear. This meant Cassidi and I had to make dinner all by ourselves. I had to stand with lids over the fire to keep it from going out, and Cassidi had to do everything else under the shelter of a kind neighboring camp's canopy.
Since it still hadn't let up by the time we were finished we simply ate dinner in the back of our well-used Volvo. Thank heavens there weren't any more of us.
Luckily the rain only hit us that one night and the rest of our days at camp were filled with beautiful sunshine. Wednesday we got to go to the lake. Very pretty.
It was the fanciest lake I've ever been to. They ship in white sand so it's just like sitting on the beach.
After the beach, I mean lake, we had more cooking, which was a challenge from then on because some of our stuff had been ruined by the rain so we had to rearrange things until our other leaders could bring more supplies up, and all of our meals were cooked in the fire, which was interesting since all of our wood had been soaked the first day. Somehow we managed.
We also had skit planning. Thanks Lisa for the random skit materials. Josh was with us for all of camp. :)
Then we had the awesome skit written by Jada herself. (The one fleeing the scene.)
We also had fun learning about the wild life. The girls LOVED the bugs... okay not really. You should have heard how loud they yelled at each other if they left the tent door open for more than a few seconds. "You're going to let bugs in!!!" :)
There was of course hiking. Ruka's hydrating before the big trek.
Finally we were joined by our other two leaders. We were so excited to see them that we had to break it down for the camera, and also try our best at the poses the girls usually strike. I think we did pretty good.
We had clearly been at camp too long...
Clearly...
After about the 30th time of a YW asking me where the garbage can was, (it was hung from the same tree the entire time.) I finally threatened to make the next one to ask run a lap since we were camped in a large group campsite in the shape of a circle. I really wasn't serious, but Desta was and the next person to ask ran it. Soon we also joined that up with, anyone who takes the Lord's name in vain has to run a lap, as this was a constant problem. We had about 6 laps run total, and the girls say they still think about it to this day and it helps them remember to not do it. Glad they learned at least one important thing at camp.
This is Desta informing them that they really are going to have to run. Notice the look of shock on their faces.
We also had singing in the trees. I wish I could have gotten a picture. Right after we finished and were heading back to camp we saw more fireflies than I've ever seen before. They lit up the whole grove they were in. It was seriously one of the most magical things I've ever witnessed.
There was also flag ceremony.
Crafts.
Pyramids, water games that us lucky leaders got to fill up thousands of water balloons for... no joke. Thousands. And much much more.
It was mighty stressful, but such a fun way of getting to know my girls better. They are so awesome.
