ARISE & SHINE FORTH…. GIRLS CAMP 2012

In January, I was released as the YW’s president, and in the same breath, called as the camp director.  It was such a blessing to me to participate in this camp.  I loved spending time with the girls and their new leaders, and I loved planning and preparing for this adventure. 

Our theme was: S’more Shinin’: @ home. school. play.  Each day we focused on how the girls could shine some more (s’more) in their life in those locations.   

Justin got to go to girls camp with me!  I was the camp director and because it was ward camp,  we needed a priesthood leader with us, so he stayed in the room above the garage in the amazing cabin where we stayed!  It was on top of the mountain above Rockport.

When we arrived we split into groups and did mini workshops on how to “Arise” at home.  The girls learned about laundry, cleaning & cooking. What a beautiful view!  The first night we had a movie night on the big screen t.v.!  We watched Tangled & Princess Bride.  Below are leftovers from the snacks. Yes, we had to pull out the Tums….Early the next morning, we set alarm clocks to go off at 5:30.  I snuck (is that a word?!?!) downstairs while they were sleeping at 5 a.m. & placed 15 alarm clocks around the room.  I then went back upstairs and paced the floor eagerly anticipating them to go off.  At 5:20 the first one went off!!  The girls didn’t know what it was! They finally found it and turned it off, and went back to sleep.  One of the leaders said to them: “don’t get too comfortable…”  and then another alarm clock went off.  In the mean time, Just was out front setting up chairs and the polka-dot balloons.

We walked the girls out the basement door, around the side of the cabin and to the front drive where we had them sit in the circle.  There, we read the brother of Jared story in the Book of Mormon.  I love this story because it teaches how Heavenly Father provided the air for the brother of Jared in his barges, but The brother of Jared had to search for the light.  I talked to the girls about this concept and had Justin share with them some stories about women in his life who arise and shine forth.  I then had the girls write down something that they could do to acquire more light in their life.  They wrote it on a slip of paper, tied it to the balloon, and then we released the balloon into the sky as the sun came up for the day.  Beautiful setting.  A lot of girls camp for me this year was all about the food.  Because it was part of my responsibility as the camp director, it because a major focus for me!  (as food always is…)

One night we had hamburgers/hot dogs with french fries (you can get them frozen from Arctic Circle), veggie tray & chocolate fountain complete with strawberries, raspberries, bananas, kiwis, grapes, pretzels & marshmallows.  YUM!  One meal we Italian Chicken, scones, green salad & fruit.  Thumbs up to the meal…and below, Rylee faithfully making every scone in a huge pack of Rhoades rolls!  What a trooper!Brook, Kahia & Chelsea…love these girls!  They were my laurels…and will ALWAYS ben MY laurels… Love them!

For our service project, the girls learned how to cover a tennis ball with yarn (using kind of a knitting technique to do it).  These balls are then sent to 3rd world countries and given to children who really don’t have any toys.  YUMMY CHICKEN DINNER & SCONES!For the last night after Testimony meeting, we pulled out the annual pig troughs.  We fill them with ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, bananas & whipping cream and they can dig-in!  Some were civilized and used spoons…but some had fun with it and didn’t use their hands. Either way you eat it, it’s YUMMY!!

What a wonderful

girls camp 2012!

Iron Chef Competition

Our Mutual activity was an iron chef competition.  My nieces did something similar in their ward, and so we decided to give it a shot.  It was a blast!  The youth were so excited about their creations, and the leaders also seemed to have a fun time too (so bonus!).  I think everyone loves a little competition every once in awhile. 

We started out by dividing into 4 groups.  I had pre-assigned the groups and pre-assigned the house they would go to.  I had asked in advance 4 ladies from the ward if we could come to their house.  I then told them the food items the youth would be bringing so that they were a little prepared.  The youth were given a bag with 4 items:

• Bell Pepper (cut in 1/2 to save on cost)
• Strawberries (a few bagged together)
• cut up pieces from a rotisserie chicken
• a Hershey’s candy bar
• Secret Ingredient: Cream Cheese

They were to make an appetizer (1 serving size each), main dish and dessert.  Each item had to be used somewhere in the dishes and the secret ingredient had to be used in all three dishes.  The youth took their bag and headed to their house.  The ladies and other leaders with them then helped the youth create these dishes.  They could use anything in the pantry the host-house was willing to share.  They could also use recipes from there.  Mostly the youth did it all, creating, organizing, cooking– some more than others, of course.  They were very excited about their creations.  

(Here is the instruction page given to the youth.)

After a pre-determined time, we met back at the church and there sat the bishopric as the judges.  Each group presented their dishes and the judges then voted.  The awards were for:

• Best presentation
• best missionary meal
• best dessert
• most original
• Bishopric favorite (that was the grand prize)

The youth presented their dishes to the bishopric and told them what ingredients were used.  (They were so stuffed after!!)

So, each group won a prize and then one group won the grand prize.  I had Hershey's chocolate bars for that award. The other awards were little candy bars, homemade cookies & leftover and then bagged Christmas candy.  (Perfect time to get rid of some!).

Here are the results of the activity overall: I think all of the youth participated, they were proud of their creations and had to work together.  I think this can be called a success!

Beautiful Young Women Girls!

Last week we went to temple square for a mutual activity.  I took this photo of my wonderful advisor and dear friend Shelly with my 4 favs!!!  These girls are so dear to me and will forever stay in my heart.  It has been a joy to get to know them over the past three years as the Young Women President.  They have grown into beautiful, lovely, virtuous & compassionate women.  I am so proud of them and who they have become.  When I am released from this calling, I will miss these people the most.  I know, I know, I’m not dying or going anywhere, but when you aren’t with them every single week 2x’s, things change!

Girls Camp 2011 {Oh the thinks you can think}

This year was a stake girls camp.  Our ward had a lot of fun, I think the most fun of all the 3 years I have been the YW’s president. 

We wanted the girls to have a choice for the activities we were doing as a ward, and so we came up with about 15 different things they could choose to do.  We were the Thinker Bedinkers (based on the Dr. Seuss Book “oh the thinks you can think”, and then we focused on thinking about Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith & the Book of Mormon).  There was plenty of time to do them all, and they could do some things multiple times.  For example, we made jersey knit bracelets by looping them through our fingers. They were adorable, and we found them through my good friend Em, through this website:

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2011/03/v-and-co-how-to-jersey-knit-bracelet.html

The girls could then make as many as they like. One young woman made about 20 bracelets for the stake leaders.  We then gave them Seuss bucks for an auction at the end of the week) other choices included things like: 

writing: Joseph Smith was just 14 when he went to the grove. He decided at a young age that he was going to be committed! you can be committed now too! Sister Dalton said, "write a list of things you will always do and things you will never do. Then live your list." 100 Seuss bucks

Think about how beautiful you are: Put on glitter toes 10 Seuss bucks  (one ward came to our camp and washed our feet and painted our toe nails silver (our color))!

Think about your list...make a magnetic card holder & bottle cap magnet to put it on. 50 Seuss Bucks  (This was one of those recipe card holders with the sheet metal which the girls mod podged paper onto).

Think about Jesus Christ and how he served & loved everyone (not just his friends). Find something to do to serve someone OLDER than you. 40 Seuss bucks

Think about how music can increase our testimony of Jesus Christ. Listen to music at the listening station. 15 Seuss Bucks

Think about the scriptures & how they can strengthen your desire to choose the right. Memorize a scripture in the Book of Mormon that can remind you to always choose the right. 50 Seuss bucks

The book of Mormon is a journal whereon people have written their thoughts and feelings about Jesus Christ and the world around them. write your Answer to the following questions in your own journal. 1. Places I feel happy 2. People I admire 3. a time I was scared 4. a time when I have felt the spirit. 50 Seuss Bucks

Think about Joseph Smith going to the sacred grove to pray. Take a nature walk to find your own sacred grove & kneel down and pray. 50 Seuss bucks

Jesus taught that we should become as a little child. Think about this as you color in coloring books. 10 Seuss bucks

Think of someone you could thank - leave a note on their pillow. 40 Seuss Bucks

Think about how the Book of Mormon is important to your life. What answers can be found by reading the book? Do a Book of Mormon read by following the arrows in the book. 100 Seuss Bucks  (this was something I learned on my mission; it leads you through the book of Mormon answering important questions about why we are here, the purpose of life, etc. –all answers that can be found in the Book of Mormon.)

President Uchtdorf said: The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you. Think of how you can improve the world around you as you create a jersey-knit bracelet. 50 Seuss Bucks

Think about how you feel about the Book of Mormon. Write your testimony of Book of Mormon in your journal. 30 Seuss Bucks

I think the young women really enjoyed choosing what activities they would like to participate in.  They were upbeat and so positive about all of it!  Plus, they were thrilled to earn the money to spend at the auction. 

Here are all the wonderful leaders who gave up their week, found baby sitters, used vacation time, and were just overall amazing!  I put my counselor in charge of camp, and yes, she is 7 months pregnant!  She felt great the entire time and I couldn’t have done it without her!  Thanks Heather!

Girls camp would not be complete without a hike!  we had 2 3rd year girls and one first year girl going.  I talked 2 Laurel’s into joining us.  We had a great time!

Jenna, Hope & Brook getting ready for the hike.Sarah, Hope, Jenna, Kaylee, me & Brook

Bishopric night means the pig trough!  We spread out ice cream, sauce, bananas, whipping cream & cherries onto boards and the girls dig-in!  What fun – what a mess!  We love it!

a couple of the leaders put together a Jeopardy-style getting-to-know-you kind of game.  The girls had fun guessing who was who!

The wonderful week ended with our camp skit.  One of the Laurel’s decided to take on the skit for one of her 10 hour projects.  We had an activity where we wrote the skit (in Seuss-like rhyming) and then she directed us and came up with props, etc.  She did a fabulous job.  I think the girls were really proud of how the skit turned out. 

What a fabulous girls camp!  It was so positive and fun and lots of laughter.