Just back from Girls Camp

I just got back from a wonderful week of camping with our church Young Women Camp. I had so much fun! I always enjoy girls camp. It's always such a great spiritual experience, and a lot of fun. I think I like it most because I'm with a ton of friends, both old and young, and can be around people anytime I want. It kind of reminds me of BYU, where I had so many LDS friends around, that I really just needed to walk out the door to go hang out with people. I just loved hanging out with the girls in the cook shack, or chatting with the nurses, or visiting the girls down in lower camp. Just so many people and so much activity. I probably couldn't really stand it for another week without some changes, but I always go away feeling like I'd like to be there all the time. And every year I just think it won't be the same without the girls who move on from Young Womens, and in a sense that's true, but it's still always fun to meet the new girls and leaders and make more friends. I've come back the past few years with many new Facebook contacts. No Pete, no Carol, no Marilyn, no Jill, Allison, Allyx, or Marie, but so many I get to know, like Carla, Garnet, Taylor, Amanda, and others, besides getting to know others so much more, like April, Linda, Sharon, and Vivian. It's just so great!

I got to drive home in a caravan with two friends, and when I got off the freeway and waved bye to them, it really hit that it was all over. And it's probably the last time I'll get to go with my friends, as I've moved to a new stake, so I teared up a bit. Plus I went home to an empty house, and there was no Jewely waiting for me (although there were two other wonderful doggies waiting for me). Going from being around over a hundred people for over a week and then down to just myself was a little much, so I had to go back to my old town to visit friends, even though I really probably needed a nap and a shower. Luckily I found some friends home and hung out for a bit.

I'll update later with some pictures. My camera ended up breaking on the trip, so I have to see if it's fixable or if I have to spend even more money on a new camera. I've learned that I can't go without a camera for long - too many memories I'd miss out on capturing. But now, back to work.

Finding things to do in July

I found out yesterday that if I go to Young Womens Camp this year, it'll be as a tent leader. And since I don't feel like going as a tent leader and they don't need me to go this year, I'm going to take the year (at least a year) off.

I've loved going to camp every year. It's a great opportunity to get away from all of the annoying things in the world and not be worried about what's going on in the world. It's a great spiritual experience and I've been blessed to go the past five years. Three of those years have been as a tent leader, which can be a lot of fun when you know the girls. Unfortunately, we only have one girl who would need a tent leader and I don't think I want to do the year she's in. I've had a lot of fun being in crafts the last couple of years. I'm not a crafty person, so it was a departure from me, but I had a lot of fun and found it so enjoyable working with the girls for a fun relaxing time at camp. I really want to go to camp sometime as a YCL leader (and yes, I know that means Youth Camp Leader leader). That would be an interesting assignment sometime, and I know my friend Teresa would like that. Perhaps next year.

In the meantime, I'll use that week off of work, the $75 fee, and gas money and instead make another run at Disneyland to use my Annual Pass. I'll miss the girls, and my camp t-shirt collection won't be complete (I still need green, orange, and the new color gold), but I'm sure I can entertain myself at 'the Land.'

Girl's Camp

Last week I was at our Young Women camp in Treasure Mountain (in Sierraville). It's such a great experience to be away from phones, Internets, TV, and just have some fun with 200 of your best friends.



There were a ton of mosquitos. I got to work in the craft shack again this year. It's a lot of fun, but I do miss being down with the girls. They all stay at lower camp, while most of the stake staff is up at upper camp. I really get to know the girls a lot when I'm in a unit, especially when we had our third year hikes. It was also weird this year because I didn't have any fellow 30-somethings with me at camp like I did last year.

I just really enjoy my time at camp. It's so great to be with so many who share my beliefs and where we can just be ourselves.

It is a little sad each year when another group of Young Women are there for their last year. This year, the girls there for the last year were the girls I first went to camp with as a third year tent leader. They went on the hike with me, and then most of them ended up being youth camp leaders for the third year hike the next time I did that year, so I really got to know them. I'm going to miss Leslie and Jill (already left for school before camp, so I didn't get to see them), Allyx, Marie, Kristen, and of course Allison. But every year, I find more girls that are just so much fun to be around. It's the great circle of life (don't worry, I won't break out in song - although I want to!).

Anyway, if you want to check out my pictures, I've uploaded them to my flickr account.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/byukirty/sets/72157606508894339/