Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Girls Camp 2012: THE SLIDESHOW
Here is our fabulous, wonderful slideshow of Girls Camp 2012. When I watch it makes me miss these girls like crazy. Hope you enjoy!
Girls Camp 2012: I am His Daughter
We used this video in our workshop "Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful."
Girls Camp 2012: Handouts
I'm trying to upload some of our handouts. Here's what I have so far:
Taken from this site.
Found this on pinterest with no link to a source. If you know where it is from, please let me know so I can link it. We used this for Cinderella Day devotional.
A "spiritual directory assistance card" we made for their scriptures was found here at beginnings new. Sorry I could not seem to upload the image here, but it's a great handout.
Awesome bookmark found here at Holy Handouts.
Found this on pinterest with no link to a source. If you know where it is from, please let me know so I can link it. We used this for Cinderella Day devotional.
A "spiritual directory assistance card" we made for their scriptures was found here at beginnings new. Sorry I could not seem to upload the image here, but it's a great handout.
Girls Camp 2012: The Hundred Dresses Program
Can I just tell you how much I loved this program? I got the basic idea from Jennifer Hawkins (another Florida girl) over at Beehive Messages here, and then turned into our own to meet our girls' needs.
We began by keeping all the girls out of the Grand Hall and at their campsites before the program began. We had the stage decorated with the three white dresses, lights dim, and reverent music playing when they came in. We never do Wish Fairy, etc on Friday evening as it wouldn't be appropriate. We save our last fun stuff for Saturday morning before departure.
We asked certain leaders to please bring one or two dresses from any time in their life that had a special meaning for them. They held these dresses one at a time and gave the story behind them. I have to tell you, there were some really tender moments. Stories often contained hardships overcome, joys and sorrows. One young leader worked her way through college and showed us the dress she wore to graduation. One waited and waited until she had permission from her parents to be baptized and showed us the dress she wore to her baptism. Some were their children's or grandmother's dresses along with those stories. The Spirit was really strong, and I loved what each person added. I have to say that I do preside over and guide the program on the last night, but I do my best to make sure I am not the only one talking. I try to really pray and feel the inspiration for what Heavenly Father wants to happen.
We had the girls broken into four groups and read "My Wedding Day." I wisely did not choose myself as one of the readers as it was hard to get through without losing control. The girls really loved the stories. We had chosen three girls to sing the song, "What Heaven Sees in You," which follows the theme of the three white dresses. We tied this all into our overall theme, Happily Ever After. After this, we directed the girls to quietly (have ward leaders help with this) move straight out the double door outside. I had asked one of the priesthood leaders to start and maintain a fire and set up the sound system. We went into testimony meeting. I always give the intro, with a brief set of instructions on what a testimony is and to keep it within a certain time frame. The girls all had their lanterns with the little fake candles inside lit. It was a lovely, lovely evening. When we finished testimony meeting we all held hands and sang "Walk Tall" and had our closing prayer.
At this point the YCLs quietly go back to the ward areas and give their final devotional. This is always a special devotional as these YCLs have bonded with their girls and the girls trust them. They also feel the spirit and are more willing to share and discuss on Friday night than Tuesday night.
I always feel pretty exhausted at this point. With the exception of Saturday morning, camp is over. On this night there wasn't much sleep though. We had a serious bear problem...more serious than the girls were ever aware of. We had to do a lot of patrolling with rangers and take precautions. Glad that part is over.
I always have leadership meetings with the ward leaders each night. Friday we pass out cleaning assignments and checklists. They cannot leave until they are inspected and signed off. The goal is to clean up, break down, and get the heck out of there as soon as possible.
We began by keeping all the girls out of the Grand Hall and at their campsites before the program began. We had the stage decorated with the three white dresses, lights dim, and reverent music playing when they came in. We never do Wish Fairy, etc on Friday evening as it wouldn't be appropriate. We save our last fun stuff for Saturday morning before departure.
We asked certain leaders to please bring one or two dresses from any time in their life that had a special meaning for them. They held these dresses one at a time and gave the story behind them. I have to tell you, there were some really tender moments. Stories often contained hardships overcome, joys and sorrows. One young leader worked her way through college and showed us the dress she wore to graduation. One waited and waited until she had permission from her parents to be baptized and showed us the dress she wore to her baptism. Some were their children's or grandmother's dresses along with those stories. The Spirit was really strong, and I loved what each person added. I have to say that I do preside over and guide the program on the last night, but I do my best to make sure I am not the only one talking. I try to really pray and feel the inspiration for what Heavenly Father wants to happen.
We had the girls broken into four groups and read "My Wedding Day." I wisely did not choose myself as one of the readers as it was hard to get through without losing control. The girls really loved the stories. We had chosen three girls to sing the song, "What Heaven Sees in You," which follows the theme of the three white dresses. We tied this all into our overall theme, Happily Ever After. After this, we directed the girls to quietly (have ward leaders help with this) move straight out the double door outside. I had asked one of the priesthood leaders to start and maintain a fire and set up the sound system. We went into testimony meeting. I always give the intro, with a brief set of instructions on what a testimony is and to keep it within a certain time frame. The girls all had their lanterns with the little fake candles inside lit. It was a lovely, lovely evening. When we finished testimony meeting we all held hands and sang "Walk Tall" and had our closing prayer.
At this point the YCLs quietly go back to the ward areas and give their final devotional. This is always a special devotional as these YCLs have bonded with their girls and the girls trust them. They also feel the spirit and are more willing to share and discuss on Friday night than Tuesday night.
I always feel pretty exhausted at this point. With the exception of Saturday morning, camp is over. On this night there wasn't much sleep though. We had a serious bear problem...more serious than the girls were ever aware of. We had to do a lot of patrolling with rangers and take precautions. Glad that part is over.
I always have leadership meetings with the ward leaders each night. Friday we pass out cleaning assignments and checklists. They cannot leave until they are inspected and signed off. The goal is to clean up, break down, and get the heck out of there as soon as possible.
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| Girls are gone -- time for some fun before the clean-up. We took bets on if Downey could still fit in her wedding dress. |
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| Now we know why Downey's husband grabbed up this hot thing! |
Girls Camp: Friday afternoon workshops
This is one of my favorite parts of Girls Camp: the Friday afternoon workshops. We try to make these in as cool (temperature-wise) area as possible in order to make it as easy as possible to focus. We ask different speakers to come and present. I presented one class this year as a speaker had to back out at the last moment (to give birth -- rude!). Our classes this year were titled, "Making Your Own Happily Ever After," "Dare to Stand Alone," "Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful," and we also had a craft with a spiritual background. We rotated as wards in four groups. The classes were wonderful.
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| The girls made frosted glass lanterns. They turned them on during the nighttime outdoor testimony meeting which was pretty amazing and beautiful. |
Girls Camp 2012: Rapunzel Day; Solo Time
Rapunzel is our princess to wrap up the week. Rapunzel looks to the light. No matter what is going on in her life, she continues to look up and to focus on where she is going, her goals, and the future.
Friday morning we had Solo Time for the girls. One of our stake leaders prepared a packet for each girl. They spent time alone in a spot of their choosing to ponder the handouts in the packet, and to complete the assignment given. They also had a letter written from a parent included. This letter was a surprise to the girls and contained a heartfelt message for them. Several girls told me later this was one of the spiritual highlights of their week. I also was moved by how long some of them spent on the activity, they didn't just rush through but really pondered and took it seriously.
Friday is our spiritual day. We do allow them time to canoe, etc in the morning, but as the day goes on we become more spiritual in preparation for testimony meeting.
Friday morning we had Solo Time for the girls. One of our stake leaders prepared a packet for each girl. They spent time alone in a spot of their choosing to ponder the handouts in the packet, and to complete the assignment given. They also had a letter written from a parent included. This letter was a surprise to the girls and contained a heartfelt message for them. Several girls told me later this was one of the spiritual highlights of their week. I also was moved by how long some of them spent on the activity, they didn't just rush through but really pondered and took it seriously.
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