Cordera Ward Girls Camp
This girls camp was pretty significant – the first and only girls camp with all three of my girls. Even though Katie already graduated she wanted to come and be a YCL one more time. Katie = 6th year. Emily = 4th year. Megan = 2nd year. Lisa = Beehive Counselor.
We LOVE GIRLS CAMP!!
We met at the Horspool’s house at 12:00 and drove up to our group campsite = Spruce Group by Lake Isabel – about an hour and a half south. The girls set up their tents, and spent forever getting their stuff all situated. Everyone brought up a sack lunch – so nice to not have to cook something on the first night. For FHE the Bishop took us on a walk and talked about how to learn and listen. Brother Gaskill talked about Walking in Meekness, which was really good.
Let’s get the hair wrapping started.
After breakfast of oatmeal and fruit we started our hike – which ended up being a LOT longer and steeper than we had planned. But it was great, and the girls did such a great job.
At the top of our hike, right in the middle of the pathway, we stopped for a devotional. Hanna Gaskill led the devotional and did a great job. We sang a lot of songs which brought the Spirit and was a highlight of camp.
Back at the camp the girls enjoyed some free time and then we jumped in our vans to do another little hike to some natural waterslides. The girls had a great time.
The YCL’s…
Love this marble track game…
We ate a Cafe Rio dinner and then did an IRON ROD activity – which was so great. We had a long rope tied to trees through the forest. Each of the girls were blindfolded and then several of the leaders helped them to walk through the trees and bushes to get them securely on the Iron Rod. That was my job – and I got emotional several times just guiding them to the rope – especially my own daughters. I felt strongly that it was an analogy of my job as a parent or a yw leader – to carefully lead them to the Iron Rod with instructions to hold on tight. Once all the girls were on the rope, my job changed and I began trying to lead them away from the rope. Some of them knew exactly what I was doing and wouldn’t come – one girl even jerked her arm away from me almost elbowing me in the stomach. I love the visual of the girls being so strong they are elbowing Satan to get out of the way. But I was able to lead quite a few youth away from the rope. The bishopric members then took them from me and guided them back to the path. It was emotional – especially as we had a discussion about it back at camp. Such a great activity.
Thursday morning we ate breakfast and then started our rotations. The YCL’s all let such great devotionals and games.
After lunch we headed down to the lake to swim and boat.
Getting water from this pump took some serious muscle!
Picture time – lots of pictures of Katie since this was her last year of girls camp and we were headed to college the day we got home from camp!!
Love these pictures… I got emotional watching Katie and the rest of the YCL’s sing songs with the girls on our last evening together. Not even spiritual songs – just silly loud camp songs – but there I was crying in the background as I thought about this being her last girls camp.
So grateful to be a YW leader and so grateful to be serving with such great women.
Jamie Horspool, Mindy Larsen, Megan Jackson, Kim Waguespack, and Tiffany Hale. Michelle Egbert and Tawny George were with us at the beginning of the week.
After dinner we had our Solo Time, where the girls spend some time reading their letters from their parents, read scriptures and write in their journal. It was Emily’s favorite part of Girls Camp. After it was over she said, “Why don’t we do this at home?” We gathered the girls after an hour and had a testimony meeting… always one of my favorite parts of girls camp. All three of my girls bore their testimony. Most girls did. Some did even twice – which was kind of funny. Then we drank hot chocolate and ate cookies.
The last night… The leaders slept and the girls (especially the first and second years) didn’t get much sleep at all. : )
