Yesterday I returned from a week at Young Women's camp, the event all girls between twelve and eighteen years of age who are members of our church attend each year. I loved it as a girl and I love to contribute now as a leader. I really believe in the many reasons this program is perpetuated. I especially love how different girls camp looks in each new place I attend--I've now been in four different states and everywhere I go the girls are amazing and definitely more capable than I was as a teenager. Here are a few images I don't want to forget.
We played games (this one was really hard).
And we hiked.
We talked about spiritual things.
And we followed meaningful traditions.
These were my girls--fifteen fourteen year olds and a few seventeen year-old youth leaders. I love them for their individuality and their goodness.
I love them for their creativity and sense of humor.
And they are strong and brave and they surprised me with their capabilities.
These are the only shots of me on the camera. Most of the week I was either trying the capture the girls in their glory or I was cooking. Not photographed are my fellow adult leaders (who were so amazing), one or two dutch oven mishaps, after-dark dish washing, some very intense daytime capture-the-flag, a very spiritual fireside, late-night s'mores with the other leaders and lots of laughing with the girls as they explained their lives to me.
Semi-rustic camping humbles them and they really become very teachable and quiet as the week goes on. Though they were exhausted, they were absorbent as they listened to the messages that had been prepared and as they learned the skills they needed to "certify".
Saturday at camp is always hugging day, so we did lots of that before loading up and driving an hour and a half back to our homes.
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