My Own Camp Experience

Last week was another week for my two oldest girls to attend their summer Young Women's Camp up at MIA Shalom. I was able to remain involved in helping to plan the camp, including writing some fun cheers for the Adult Camp Leaders to perform at each flag ceremony. (Cheering about the inevitable clogged *biffy to the tune of 'Thriller', anyone? I love coming up with this stuff.) However, Baby X and I would not have survived without each other this time around so I remained here at home.

I was a bit melancholy as I rushed my girls out the door on Tuesday morning to board the buses that would transport them up to camp. As I stepped out the door I found a colorful bag waiting for me. I love surprises! I couldn't wait to get back home and peek inside.

Here is what I found:

A camp sweatshirt, a clipboard with each day's schedule and activities, a box of treats, a whole bunch of envelopes and a sweet note from my thoughtful friend Michelle who had put it all together for me.
Each envelope was labeled with a day and a time when I was to open it. Inside each one was a quote tag which corresponded with whatever was happening at that time. We collect these tags on keyrings each year. I was so excited that I would still have this year's tags to add to my collection!

Throughout the day on Tuesday I found myself looking at the schedule to see what was going on up at camp. By lunch time I decided that I was going to have my own camp experience! I tried to do something which corresponded with what was going on at camp right here at home each day.


I studied my scriptures during Scripture Study time. I let the kids play in the kiddie pool in our backyard during Waterfront. I watched some uplifting Mormon Messages during Golden Hours. I sang some songs with my kids during the Musical Morningside and Singing Around the Lake. The night of the Star Party I put on my camp sweatshirt and sat on my back porch to gaze at the heavens once my kids were snug in bed. I even did biffy duty daily! And throughout each day I opened my envelopes and enjoyed reading my tags.


When my girls came home on Saturday ElemenoB told me that camp was awesome - but she likes it better when I'm there. (Which of course totally made my day.) I could say the same thing about my week. It was awesome to feel the spirit of camp here in my home, but I am already looking forward to next year when I get to actually be there again.




*biffy = Bathroom In Forest For You. Or at least that's what the girls tell me.

Catching Up

Holy mackerel.

I have written at least 14 blog posts in my head over the last week, but I can't get them written out in the same way they play out in my mind.

So, until I am able to organize my thoughts into words, here is a little snippet of what I was able to enjoy up at Camp MIA Shalom all of last week - an amazing group of Youth Camp Leaders. They were an outstanding group of young women who worked together very well. This is a clip of the cheer they came up with for our last flag ceremony. (I love these girls!)



You see what I'm saying? Awesome.

Scout Camp

Coolister just got back from a week of scout camp. I had agreed to drive up to Scofield and help shuttle the boys back home this morning, and it was totally worth it - for 2 reasons.

First, the story of the Canoe Swamping Contest. In short, Coolister's team was doomed. But just before the main contenders were able to swamp Coolister's canoe, the struggle to swamp each other was brought to a halt. The scoutmaster watched from the shore and realized that Coolister had pulled out his negotiating skills to avoid defeat - and the other team was going for it. Coolister was telling them, "Look, guys - it's obvious we're the two best groups out here. So why don't we work together to eliminate all of the other teams and then battle it out at the end?" And it worked. They backed off, both teams swamped every other canoe, and in the end Coolister's team emerged triumphant.

I love that kid. He can talk his way out of anything. (Which is not always a good thing.)

Second, there is nothing in this world that can match the irony of a suburban full of smelly boys riding home from a week of camping as they sing along to Taylor Swift's song, Love Story. (Which THEY chose to listen to, by the way.) Seriously "....you be the prince and I'll be the princess..." they sang every. single. word. Loudly. It was awesome.

Ode to Camp

Girl's Camp, how I love thee! Let me count the ways...

1. How often does a person such as I get to spend time being silly with her daughter and daughter's friends for 5 days? Not often enough.
2. The opportunity to hang out with the most amazing group of YCLs (Youth Camp Leaders) and ACLs (Adult Camp Leaders) was simply awesome. I love you, Big Booty No. 5!
3. The new friendships that were developed over the week at camp are ones I will always treasure. 4. Mother Nature and I got to be pretty good friends. She shared a few thunderstorms with me...
5. ...and sent some forest creatures to pose for pictures. (and one to pretend it was a YCL and emerge from the forest within hand's reach on Brownie Hike night - in the middle of a wicked shake-the-ground, light-up-the-sky kind of storm.)
6. The chance to hike on 4 different occasions, and see some amazing sights! Not to mention good friends to enjoy it all with. (Cami, you need to wear "The Deb" more often. **Pound-fist-on-shoulder, flash ILY sign** )
7. Who doesn't love the re-creation of camping accidents with mud and ketchup?
8. The water fight I instigated at the lake was a soaking good time for all, even if some wouldn't admit it right off.
9. I decided that I could trust our ward's YW enough to do the "trust fall". And guess what? They caught me! I love C's face here...apparently I wasn't the only one screaming as I fell. 10. I love nature, and its beauty surrounded me throughout my 5 days of camp.
The last time I was able to attend Young Women's Camp was 7 years ago. I am hoping we will not remain strangers for so long this time around. Happy Trails, until next time!

SUPER FLASH: NEW INFO!!
Check out Cami's and Courtney's websites for more Girl's Camp fun!