Girl's Camp

I survived Girl's Camp - whew!  This is my second year as a stake leader over the 5th year YCL's and this year I had 17 fifteen/sixteen year olds.  It was such a good year, truly!  They were great girls and I loved them dearly.

I had one who had severe emotional disorders, communication problems and anxiety issues.  The first night, she was very disoriented and wandering around camp.  Her anxiety had got the best of her and I stayed up late with her and held a bucket while she threw up (I guess she always throws up the first night at camp, yet no one informed me of this?).  She ended up leaving the second night because her mom, who was at camp as a leader, had to go to the ER for high blood pressure, and the young woman didn't want to stay knowing her mom was headed home.  I was relieved since this young woman stressed me out the most at camp; however, I was pleased with how she responded to me and how easily I was able to communicate with her.  I know that I was blessed and that Heavenly Father was helping me know what to say and do to best help her.

That was my biggest "drama" of the week, which was a relief compared to last year.  Last year, a YCL who wasn't a member of the church had her shoes stolen and then a few of the girls accused another YCL of stealing them and bags were searched, etc.  Not fun.  Also, we had issues last year with girls not wanting to sleep with their assigned wards and people saying that I had given permission to move cabins when I hadn't.  It was a nightmare getting everyone back to the cabins that they belonged in (girls crying, leaders mad, etc.).

We did have an unwanted visitor this year at Camp Lomia and he just took over.  A bear appeared on the afternoon of Day 2 - we quickly rushed all the girls to the main lodge and made sure everyone was accounted for.  There was one girl missing, but was quickly found asleep in her cabin.  We said a prayer of gratitude that everyone was safe, but some of the younger girls were stressing out.  The Priesthood Leaders chased (for lack of a better word) the bear away and were all in their white shirts and ties since it was Sunday, which was quite the sight.  We were in cabins with doors, so I was not too worried.  I even went running with some other leaders early the next morning (we took a whistle just in case), and not 10 minutes after we got home, the bear was back in camp - right around the place we had ended our run.  He appeared at least 3 more times that day and kept trying to get into all the food that the girl's brought to camp.  Animal control was there all day trying to catch him.  He was a smart, confident bear - enough so, that the Stake felt that it would be best to pack up and go home.  We missed two nights and one full day at camp, which was slightly disappointing since we weren't able to bring it all together and make sure everyone got the right message, etc.  But the bear thing is a great memory to have!  We met for a few hours the next night at the Stake Center to wrap everything up and do skits.

Truth be told, I do enjoy camp!  Especially the other Stake Leaders who I work with, BUT it is a lot of work (especially in the few months before camp) and it is in addition to mine and Brandon's ward callings, which keep us plenty busy.  I need lots of help and support from Brandon (both before and during the week of camp) and my mother-in-law, Nancy, to help take care of the kids while I am gone.  I appreciate them both for all they did for me to make it possible that I could go!  The kids hardly even missed me, but I did miss them!

YCL's:  Rebecca, Lindsay, Ashley N., Ellen, Jezerea, Kelsey, Cami, Chanty, Deborah, Sister Jones, Juliette, Shannon, Ashley W., Mandy, Kealoha, Lydia and Michele (sitting)

Here we are growling like a BEAR!

Unwanted visitor (picture taken by my buddy, Lynne)

Preston Ward!  Top:  Melissa Sarager, Brenda Sibley, Gaby, Rebecca, Kimberly, Lori Ervin, Lexie, Bishop, Christina, Tyler, Kristen.  Bottom:  Kristen, Juliette, Katie, Sarah, Kyla, Shawna & Haley