Survivor: Young Women Camp

Just had a great week with 76 super young women at camp! Here I am at left in my cozy little first aid corner helping out a girl in distress. Doug made the privacy screen a couple of years ago.

On the other side of of this area I put together a happy little waiting area complete with church magazines and other books and activities. Doug thought all of the magazines should be dogeared and outdated so it would be more authentic. Has a little sign that says, "How's your spiritual health today?" and a Personal Progress book, FSOY, scriptures, etc., in case they need a little nourishment.

Gratefully most of the health issues I had to deal with were minor scrapes & cuts, mosquito bites, and blisters. And a leader who got heat exhaustion. And a girl who was stung by a wasp during the testimony meeting. I averaged about 15 visits each day, so had plenty to do.

But wait--there's more! The theme was "The Forever Strong Quest" Joshua 1:9 as the camp scripture. Here's the dining hall with our Young Women values banners lookin' great.

We had some neat activities with such as the girls starting their hike and then having to return to the dining hall for their scriptures (Lehi's journey), and programs in which they worked together to build boats, and had an experience with holding/not holding to the iron rod.

For that last one I was asked to be at the end of the trail after the Tree of Life full of sweet fruit (small bags of candies to pick) and lead the group in singing hymns. I accompanied most of the songs with my guitar, so I really enjoyed that opportunity. Now I have my annual finger calluses from pressing on the guitar strings, but they'll be gone again in a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately I didn't always have my camera with me at the right time, so mostly have pictures of "stuff" instead, but the girls were really great and tons of fun. And NO ONE even came to us during the week begging to go home this year--now that's got to be a first! They endured storms, heat, and tremendous humidity, and did a great job.

Tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. I will be at the church seeing the high adventure group off to upper Minnesota and a canoeing trip through the wilderness called the Boundary Waters. And then back to my day job...