Girls Camp!!!

Technically, I'm not in Young Women's anymore...crazy!  However, the stake invited graduated girls to come up to camp to help out with their wards.  So, I found myself in this awkward not-just-a-girl-but-not-quite-a-leader stage...I loved it! I was able to help out with Solo Time and some devotionals, but I still got to sleep with the girls and participate in all the games.  I didn't have to do certification or anything, either. Loved it!  I got to go to several meetings with the ward and help plan, and they were actually pretty fun!

The Fortress

Ward Theme: "Arise and Shine Forth Through Fabulous Friendships"

The "Fortress of Fabulosity"

Celebrating 100 Years of Camp

The Sleeping Arrangement 

 

 

One of the things we got most excited about as we planned Girls Camp was our "Fortress of Fabulosity."  I've been to four different Girls Camps at Cedar Mountain since I was twelve, but this was the first time that we didn't stay in tents.  Instead, each ward had its own little bunker.  As much as I love/prefer "roughing it" a little bit, the bunker was a lot of fun, it felt like a giant sleepover!  I came up a day late because of work, but I still got to spend two nights in there.  Each night was, of course, filled with boy talk.  I remember that, as a Beehive, the dating stories the Laurels told were totally enchanting.  When your twelve years old, everything in the boy world still seems so magical!  Well, it took me a little longer than most, but this year I was finally able to share a good story or two, and the young girls just soaked it up and enjoyed every little detail! It was fun to finally be on the other side.

This was also the 100th Year of Girls Camp in the Church, so the Stake asked each ward to do something involving the number 100 to help commemorate the event.  We decided to post "100 Reasons Why We Love Girls Camp" all over the outside of our bunker.  It looked cute, but boy, it sure was a pain to get the stickers off when pack-up day came around!

The Boy Flag

Morgan, Madison Stucki, Taylor Cooney, me, Rachel Milne, Olivia Brooks, Sarah Milne, Whitni Atkin

One of our favorite ward traditions is called the "Boy Flag."  Every year, we get a tablecloth that we designate for writing our crushes names all over it so that, a year later, we can pull it back out, laugh at old memories, and burn it.  Since my whole in between leader and girl stage gave me quite a bit of free time, I covered that flag!  I was writing between letters, inside of other hearts, on the corners, etc.  I know that, even though I'll be gone next year, they will think of me every time they see that flag, because I certainly left my mark!  Good times.

 Finding Neverland

 An extremely unattractive picture of me, Whitni

Oh, how I love my Whitella!  Because I came late and she left early, we only had about one day together at camp, but we certainly made the most of it.  During some of our down time, we decided to make a quest to find "Neverland" so we don't have to grow up and separate this Fall.  We found a lovely place that we claimed to be Neverland, but we eventually decided not to stay there because we both want to get married at some point in life.  We did a few dramatic little role plays there, though, so it was a good time.

Survivor Champions!

Our Fun Ward!

We played a "Survivor Game" the first morning I was there, and we had a total blast!  There were physical, spiritual, cheering, and eating competitions.  In the end, we came out on top. Go LV5!

 

Reflection

Final Time Singing "Light on a Hill"  (I'm in the white in the middle of the second row, and yes, I was crying!)

When we sang the Stake Theme Song one last time, I found myself in tears as I realized that this was my last Girls Camp. I looked around at all the amazing girls in my ward family and thought about how much I was going to miss them.  After the song, Taylor Stewart came up and hugged me and I lost all control.  She reminded me of another family I would soon leave behind: my teammates. 

 Camp "Little Thunder" on Cedar Mountain has always been the place I find myself just before embracing a big change.  First, with BH3 when I was twelve and adjusting to Intermediate School and Young Womens. Second, also with BH3 just before moving to Layton.  Third, with BH3 (as a guest) a year after returning from Layton and just after joining LV5.  Each time, I spent a little while reflecting on all that had changed and how far I had come.  It always touched me to see the way that Camp gave me the strength to face whatever change I was struggling with, or to reflect on all the blessings that had come to my life because of a recent change.  This year, I came to Cedar Mountain just before facing my biggest change yet: going out into the world.  Being up there really helped me realize the beautiful part that the Lord has played in leading my life in this direction and sending me trials that would make me the person that I am.  Before I know it, maybe I'll be back at "Little Thunder" as a full-fledged leader, wife, and mother, and I will more fully be able to understand the Lord's plan for me.