The YCLs (Youth Camp Leader) went up to Camp Hulaco on Tuesday to prepare for the other girls to come up on Wednesday. The trip up was good. Lauren and I slept half the way up. We were all excited!!
Car ride up
(Back to front)
Jessica, Miranda, Kat, Lauren, & Breanna
We were the first to arrive
We did a service project by working in the garden. We picked tomatoes, beans, and cucumbers.
After the service project we did the ropes course.
Lauren harnessing up
Me harnessing up
Ropes course buddies
Lauren on the swings
Clarissa walking across the log.
There were too many YCLs on the ropes course so I only got to do the repelling tower. Its way cool! The thrill of jumping/walking down backwards is amazing!
Rock climbed up
About to go down
Waiting to go down a 2nd time
Victory Pose!
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM!
Getting our creativity out by coloring with crayons:)
Clarissa and I had so many ideas for our ward t-shirts this year. Because our theme was "Once upon a time......." everyone chose their favorite princesses. She asked a young man from our ward to airbrush the princess on the shirt. To be honest, I was skeptical. I knew he did an amazing job, but I didn't know how well they would turn out. And we were short on time. But he delivered. 1 more story. Clarissa wasn't supposed to show me the shirts. I begged so hard. She caved, but she said I had to act totally surprised.
This is me acting surprised. I literally jumped up and down, basically screamed, and was laughing so hard I almost cried. I probably freaked him out, but oh well. I chose Merida as my princess. She is brave and I ADORE her hair.
I wrote our skit this year. It was kind of funny. I was having doubts, but everyone said it was really funny. Camp Angel vs. Camp Devil is the name of the skit. Its based off of Studio Cs, Shoulder Angel. The angel had to help the camper obey the rules of camp, such as, no wearing flip-flops, having good manners, and no pranks.
I was directing:)
As a YCL, I got to help out with 4th year certification. Here we are practicing carrying eachother
Woah! Um.....yeah
Kat was kind enough to carry me
I literally met Kat 3 days earlier. I didn't really know her, but I said we'd be partners. She is pretty cool!
(This picture is disoriented, but it looks so cool)
Stacie & Emily
Carrying Jessica off to safety
After certification we played some games.
One of my favorite things to do at Girls' Camp is help prepare the food. We had chili and baked potatoes.
Camp fire time! Its really nice to sit outside at the amphitheater and be surrounded by nature......and people
Emma & Jessica
Stacie & Kat
Emily (Angel) & Hanna (Devil)
Jessica & Miranda
Me & Rhys
Sariah & Hunter
Girl power!!!
Sister Kelly was our camp speaker. She spoke about 10 key things to make you happy. I don't remember all of them, but she referenced 2 Nephi 2.
Morning SUNSHINES!!
Thursday & Friday schedule was the same. We had classes or free time in the morning and afternoon.
Our first class of the day, ZUMBA!! This was my favorite class. I like to dance, I'm not good at it, but I like to do it:D
We'ze sweatin' like crazy
Pump IT!
Me trying to dance
Cool down time
Our adorable and amazing leaders!
Emily was smart and chose Princess Leia. She is so cute with her buns
2nd Class was scrapbooking
For certification we took the 4th years on a nature walk to the waterfall. It was beautiful.
This is an exo-skeleton of a spider.
Our 3rd class was "The Game of Life"
We talked about the obstacles we face and how we overcome them.
Okay, the reason why I have a wand sticking out of my shirt is because I was chosen as the princess. The necklace and wand had to stay with me throughout the whole obstacle course.
One thing I loved about the obstacle course is we were each given different challenges. 2 girls had to stay attached. I had to hold on to my princess items. Another girl had to jump rope to each obstacle. And the last one was totally blind and could only have 1 helper. Sis. Mills (the leader in charge) didn't say we had to stay and help others get over the wall (that wall is high). But we did. We didn't leave that wall till every girl got over. That's how life is. Some friends might leave you at the wall so they can get the prize, but your true friends will help you to the very end. You can always rely on your true friends. My bit of thoughts:)
Our last class was bracelet making. They had the value colors on it. But everyone's bracelet was different by one bead. We each got to pick out a bead that was unique to us. Mine looked like it had zebra stripes on it so of course I would choose that one.
Decorating our camp tees
For ward time we made princess dresses out of table clothes and duct tape. I went into total fashion designer mode. The dresses lasted about 45 minutes.
With our princesses (Hunter's dress didn't get finished in time)
Everybody clean-up!
These girls are amazing! Not one complaint. Such good sports even though we missed the first half of the camp fire.
We had a cake decorating challenge. The theme was, the YW values and something that makes us happy.
*Such sweet princesses*
More like weird princesses
On Friday we had free time! Rhys and I went up to lake to sun tan. We didn't get much of a tan, but we did play on the paddle boats. Our 2nd free time was spent on the ropes course. I didn't get to go on till the very end because we had 2 other wards with us. Just not enough harnesses.
Clarissa just came down from the repelling tower. That's Malory, she's pretty cool.
Hunter is really scared of heights, but I was so proud of her going down the tower.
Emily working the rock climbing
Peace from Hanna
Sis. Moss coming down the tower
Don't you just love my socks!? They make me happy. I don't know what was up with my hair, but I guess it was:).
My dad helping out.
{My thoughts and feelings from Girls' Camp}
2 Nephi 2:41 has a deeper meaning to me now. We were always talking about what makes us happy and how we can share our happiness with others. I learned that we can share our happiness (such as the gospel), but if they don't want it, you can't do much. I want everyone to be happy! Seeing others happy makes me even happier. The best experience was having Hunter there because all of us Young Women from the Dallas Ward got to share our happiness with her. And it was a true blessing that I'm really grateful for. And I'm really happy that I can share my memories and thoughts here so others may read them.
In Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on Your Happily Ever After he spoke on how our lives are like the fairytales. We have to overcome our "villain" (adversity) and work through things, but we will get to marry our eternal companion in our "castle" (the Temple) and live Happily Ever After (Endure to the End). {From his talk} "Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all--eternal life--and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own "happily ever after." But such a blessing does not come without a price.-----It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift." I remember listening to his talk at the Young Women's broadcast. I was amazed on how much he applied the gospel. I've been told countless times how I am a daughter of a King. I believe those words with all my heart. On the last night of camp this was actually the theme. A couple spoke about how they are having their "happily ever after." As a ward, we each wrote down qualities we want in our eternal companion. I know if I'm the right person, at the right time, in the right place; I will find the right person.
Girls' Camp is always an amazing week! Just the spirit everyone has. I hope I can go again next year. I got to be a YCL and the unofficial assistant to the camp director. I've been to Girls' Camp 6 years now. My dad has gotten to be there for every single one. I made new friends and grew closer with others. My testimony did grow, because of the examples and the study time I got to do. I wrote in my journal during that time and read from the Book of Moroni. I reflected on how I felt and the things I did to improve my life. Pres. Stapleton told us to not forget the friendships and the spirit that we had at Girls' Camp.
Keep it alive.
No comments:
Post a Comment