Girls Camp - Fun

We managed to squeeze in some fun throughout the week too.  We did a few camp crafts.  I put together a nail/string art kit to go along with the theme "Love One Another," and Hannah Wright brought supplies for tie-dying.  Savannah put together some water games to cool off one day too, and there was bracelet making and hair doing here and there when we had the time.  Sister Petroff brought her boondoggle from the 90's and a few of us got into that as well.  One day the girls got to learn fire building and starting techniques and then we cooked our lunch over the fires they made.  And we hit up the lake for a few hours after the service project to cool off and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. 

Hannah helped teach how to start a fire with magnifying glasses.

Emma took on the crew with the flint and steel. 

And Savannah helped the girls with steel wool and batteries. 

Turns out these girls can't launch water balloons with towels very well.  Hahaha!  But it made us leaders look pretty awesome.

Savannah and Allie going for a canoe ride.  Allie threatened me about taking her photo, but I didn't listen. ;)

Girls Camp - Service

The second morning of camp we woke up to a little toad on our front porch.  We are the best leaders ever and thought it would be funny to put it in our girls' cabin.  There were some screams and squeals, but ultimately they loved the little guy.  Hahaha!  We were served a yummy breakfast by the Tames and the Jones' and then we all got to work clearing the campground of leaves, logs, and debris.  Some of us were harder workers than others, and those others were pretty good at catching lizards they needed to babysit instead of work, but overall we got the work done and the campground was looking great by time we were done with it.

We had one incredible kitchen staff and we ate G-O-O-D!

My little "wolves" getting the raking done.  These two love wolves and love to be wolves.

Addie and Aubree's little lizard.

Haley and Maya worked super hard.  We had a great discussion on how you raise hard-workers thanks to the contrast in other girls' work ethic.  Thanks Goettmans and Madsens for raising good ones! 

Anna Belle found her frog prince! ;)

Way to go first years!  

We also made sure to get in some chores each day.  Here our girls were doing a great job of cleaning the mess hall....

Girls Camp - Day 1

After our hike we came back to camp for a class from Sister Petrosky.  She talked with the girls about loving one another through our actions.  She had half of the girls blind fold themselves, and then the other half direct them through obstacles in the room, but they weren't allowed to touch them just tell them where to go.  After the object lesson she explained how it's easy to say we'll do something, but we need to use our "hands" and actions to show our love not just our words.  They all agreed how much easier it would have been if they could have guided their friends with more than words.  I think it got through to them and was a great visual.  Amy was a wonderful camp director and the girls sure took to her well.  We enjoyed dinner that night and Savannah's cute cabin of girls won the "Golden Dustpan" for the cleanest cabin.  Way to go girls!  We wrapped up our night with a devotional in our cabins and Elise Petroff (the other leader over 1st years with me) introduced the charm bracelets the girls could earn all week for different things we'd be doing, and she handed out their hiking charms they earned that day.  Luckily the girls didn't stay up TOO late that night and we were all tired from the days activities.

Haley Goettman and Melanie Tame being the cutest JCD's around!  So proud of those girls!

Our YL's did a great job decorating the cabins before the 1st years arrived!

Girls Camp - Hike

As leaders we went up on Tuesday to clean/prep the cabins for the girl's arrival.  I brought Savannah Bolinger and Haley Goettman up with me and we got to work cleaning and unpacking.  The camp site hadn't been used since before Covid, so we had our work cut out for us.  I was VERY glad I brought our shop vac, because it definitely came in handy.  We enjoyed a slower evening without all the younger girls to worry about.  The next morning the rest of the girls began to arrive.  By about noon they were all there and our awesome YL's helped them settle in to the cabins.  We kicked things off with the first years by fixing lunch and then going on a hike.  It was SUPER hot, and we were a little unsure of where the trail was, but in the end it was a great little hike with an awesome payout at the end of this amazing pond and waterfall.  It was a good way to break the ice and start to get to know each other.  Here's our cute crew....

Hannah, Savannah, Emma, Lucia, Emma, Anna Belle, Addie, Charlotte, Maya, Eliza, and Aubree

Proof I was there! ;)

Charlotte found an inch worm.

Such a pretty spot.

Kennywood

For years now the boys have been begging to go to Kennywood.  We've only been once when Tanner and Landon were little and they don't even really remember it.  Dean scored cheap tickets through the school, but we had to go before the end of June and between YM Camp, Girls Camp, our DC trip, birthdays, Father's Day, pool building, and super hot weather, we could only squeeze it in the day before Girls Camp.  The timing was NOT ideal, but we made it work.  I was nervous about motion sickness and wether the whole day would be miserable, but I took some medicine before we went and was able to handle things ok.  It was supposed to be non-drowsy, but I found myself falling asleep in lines and being left behind as my family moved forward!  Hahaha!  Tanner and Landon were extra adventurous and hit up every coaster they could.  They even went off on their own for awhile while Dean and I took Braddock and Bridger on smaller rides.  Poor Bridger was NOT adventurous, and even cried on a few rides, but in the end everyone had a blast and we made great memories together.  The second we arrived at the car to drive home, I was out like a light.  I slept through a stop at Wendy's for dinner and the whole drive home.  I managed to help Bridger into the house and then was out on the couch for several hours before I could get enough energy to get up and pack for Girls Camp the next day.  Dean was a rockstar and ironed decals on hats for me while I snoozed.  Guess I'll know not to take Bonine if I need to be awake in the future!  Haha!