Girls Camp -- Your Once Upon a Time is Now

One of the highlights of my summer was Girls Camp. Yes, I was the Camp Director again. We stayed at an amazing camp site. I had 2 amazing assistants and a group of amazing girls (including my Renae who turned 12 just 2 weeks before camp). The only thing that wasn't amazing was the weather. This picture was taken during one of the few breaks of sunshine that we had the whole week. It rained almost non-stop the entire time we were there. It was really tough...but we were tougher. These girls did amazing things -- like cooking, hiking, and certification in the pouring rain. And they did it in SUCH good spirits. You won't believe me, but it is true...I never heard a girl whining or complaining or wanting to go home. It was phenomenal. I love these girls so much and I am so glad I got to be their Camp Director.

 Cooking up some yummy chow

Look at those bright smiling faces!

 Renae starring in the Beehives skit loosely based on the Rapunzel story

The tent/pavilion that saved Girls Camp --

This was the only place that could fit us all and keep us out of the rain. It was our salvation.

It was a craft cabin/eating cabin/devotional meeting place all in one

 Eric was able to come up for a few days of camp. 

He was so helpful with cooking, fire starting, tarp putting up, tent taking down

....all that camp stuff that I still haven't mastered.

This is him by some dutch oven Monkey Bread. AWESOME!

 Getting ready to hike in our ponchos. It was cold and wet. We hiked for a few miles, 

but finally decided to call it quits because the trail was so muddy and hard to maneuver.

 A fun picture of Renae leading a song at a campfire program

One of our favorite things we did was have a Spa Party. After a few days of grime and dirt (this was real roughing it camp -- no cabins, no showers, no flushing toilets, no sinks) it was fun to do manicures, pedicures, and braid hair. I had just planned for this activity to last an hour or so, but the girls kept busy and entertained for a whole afternoon playing beauty parlor. By that point in the week I had learned to keep our schedule flexible. I got a manicure,a foot massage, and a intricate braid...it was a blast!

Many of our activities were not pictured (because of the rain or because I just forgot to whip out my camera) -- some of the highlights were river rafting, a light show at the river, testimony meeting, horseback riding, all the princess devotionals, lots of good food, developing friendships, fishing, late night chats in the tent, Bishop's Night, campfire songs...the list could go on and on. So even though it is a crazy amount of work...we had a wonderful time and I am so glad I got to be there. And so fun that I got to be there for Renae's first year at camp.