Girls Camp 2025

 For the past several years, girls camp has been in a different place.  That makes planning and anticipating so hard.  But, we finally hit on the right place!  The lodge at Ensign Ranch.  One of the priesthood leaders who came up said it felt more like a "wellness retreat," and that hit the nail on the head.  

We had a great theme, (Doubt Not, Fear Not) and a great symbol, the sunflower--a heliotrope that follows the sun (AKA the SON Jesus Christ.)  We sang "Let Us All Press On," about 50 times (we did it in different ways--pointing at different groups, and doing the wave), I sang "Rise and Shine" horribly to wake them up.  It was just such a good week.  The food was awesome, and the cooks (Chunie & Caroline) came up with a fun twist to do "doubt not fear not" food sampling several times a day.  It was mostly delicious (I wasn't into the anchovy or squid--but other than that yum!) 

Seriously Sarah--getting this pic of Peak Norton (last day--pretty tired!)

Rescue carries during our camp skills relays

Sarah killing it at archery

3 in the target

Derek shooting too (I also shot!) 

 

We did a human pyramid for my "organize yourselves" Come Follow Me lesson.  Haha.  It was pretty fun.  We did not succeed in a full pyramid.  

The pickleball tournament was super fun.  They have 3 courts and a bunch of supplies.  Sarah got to partner with Chunie and they took 3rd. 

Derek served as tournament director so I could take photos.  (Until a light sprinkle caused me to put my camera away.) 

With very little experience--Sarah did pretty well--and got better each game I think. 

All the things in the schedule went really well.  The number of things on the schedule were just right (with some free time for ping pong, air hockey, and extra crafts.) 

One of our key goals was unity--and the girls did come together really beautifully, all 14 of them. 

I felt inspired to ask the people leading devotionals to tell a story of Jesus that helped them realize they could look to him and get to know him--which helped them doubt not and fear not.  Each devotional took this in a bit of a different direction.  It was so fantastic. 

The stained glass art that the girls did was beautiful.  (Lisa and I both felt inspired to do stained glass!)  They shared some of the truths they had learned about the Savior in their art. I also gave them each one of the screw up shirts--where they did the yellow logo on the yellow shirts.  Keep looking for Christ.  He is there and will help you doubt not and fear not.  Even if you can't discern him at first. I just felt like the Lord was with me--with all of us.  

It was so fun to be there with Derek and Sarah (Derek was there Tues even-Friday even).  Sarah was a good YCL.  She did a great job helping us move things along.  

Anyway, of course I have some thoughts for next year, but overall, I want to do this again. Same place, same staff. And we'll have a new crop of 1st years!