I literally have hundreds of pictures from YW Camp, it is so hard to pick out highlights! This is a long post! Just a warning...
This is what happens in the days before camp at my house...it takes over!!
Our theme this year was "I am a princess, my Father is THE King"...it was a great theme with plenty of options! Here are the group signs I made for the lodge...
Oh boy...look at the vinyl weeding on the floor...and my trusted helper!! Anyone who knows me well at all knows that this hurricane of a living room is WAY out of character! The crazy, crazy pre-camp days!
This little vinyl sticker sure did take a while to weed...when you need 100 of them!
We go up to the Laurentian Environmental Center for YW Camp. The YCL's (Youth Camp Leaders - girls 16 and 17) come up the night before all of the other girls and we get everything ready!
Here is a view of the signs being up over each group's table. Then we got the wild hair to start decorating the taxidermy...
With a royal theme, it seemed like everyone (or thing) should have a crown!
And maybe even a wand...
Here are the YCLs getting brave while decorating!
This may have been my favorite...we even made the little mouse a crown! I blame my mom for my dark humor!
On the Friday before camp, we were out as a presidency gathering supplies and saw a mirror for free on the side of the road...one thing led to another and we had a new project...why not? It became the "Mirror Mirror on the wall...You're the fairest of them all" mirror. It also gives you a good shot of the shirts I designed!
We got everything set up and then the YCLs went to their cabin and Kari, Shari and I stayed up in the lodge...whooping it up! When we got back...we had been pranked!!
We ended up going to get the YCLs who were responsible and brought them back to our cabin to wake up Jaime (who wouldn't come with us to get them)! We had so much fun that night!!
The next morning we took pictures of the YCLs and then had copies made for them so they could take them home the last day. Here they are making a human crown!
Being sleeping beauties...
Camp Cinderellas...
Rapunzels...
And the little Little Mermaid! We really had fun with the theme...
Here is Jaime's best Little Mermaid impression...camp is a place for lots and lots of laughter!
Then it was time for everyone to arrive and really get things started!
Since our Stake is so big, we need both country flags and sing both National Anthems at each flag ceremony...one of my favorite things about our Stake!
Here we are...crowns and all...Teresa, Kari, Me, Shari and Jaime...some of my favorite people ever!
The priesthood likes to prank the Stake leaders...we thought we should prank them back...
Some of the cute girls from my home ward...
The craft project that we had each girl make for the devotional I was giving on the last night. See what all those vinyl crowns were for?? Totally worth it.
Kari at the devotional...
At the royal ball...these skirts were made out of trash bags!! So cute!
We had white gloves and rings for every girl! We started the dance off with learning a "Pride and Predjudice" style victorian dance and then we busted out the dance music for 2 hours. It is always one of my favorite activities...so much fun and the girls really let loose and have fun!
What camp would be complete without songs by the camp fire?
Or skits?
Yep...that's our Stake YW president busting a move...we made the priesthood come up after all the skits and dance to 'Dancing Queen' (we had done a routine to it as well)...they were learning moves from our queen of camp!
Here are our fearless 4th year girls...headed out to the island for their overnight camp out away from the rest of camp. Since it's Minnesota...they canoe instead of hike!!
Off they go...
This is Christian...he runs Laurentian...he is always such a good sport with us...he was happy to put on a crown and pose!
Kari in her full camp bling...yes, I said camp bling! If this isn't your idea of girl's camp, you have never had as much fun as we have camping!
Roasting marshmallows in a tiara...um hum...check!
CRAFT TIME!!! My favorite!!!
Wait, maybe 'Royal Raps' were my favorite...so hard to choose!
Wait, maybe the crazy 'Hunger Games' games we played...ahhh...how could I ever pick a favorite event?
Anyone want to spell with Spaghettios? These girls wanted to!
Okay...okay...this may really be my favorite activity! Being in the lodge - long after all the girls had gone to bed - with my friends! We are always self entertaining and the last night of camp was no exception. We laughed until we cried. Then caught our breath and laughed till we cried again!
YW Camp. It's a magical place. The Spirit is so strong, the fun is abundant, new talents, new experiences, new knowledge, new friendships, old friendships, testimonies strengthened and born. I cried myself through the last day of camp and teared up many times watching the girls through the week. Hundreds of hours of work...worth every minute! Every minute.
