Saturday, July 17, 2010

Strong Women of Courage is Girls Camp Theme

Thirteen young women from the Bloomington 7th Ward enjoyed four beautiful days at Bloomington Stake girls camp during the first week of July learning how to become “Strong Women of Courage.” Leaving on Wednesday, July 7, Emily Forsyth, Kendi Hansen, Elizabeth Larson, Aspen Erskine, Toshi Becker, Summer Simkins, Sarah Smith, Ashley Wilkes, Aleia Anderson, Wilson Wright, Kiera Wright, Jasmine Gerontes and Lisa Carson traveled together with Trudy Oviatt, YW President and Linda Felder, YW Camp Director, to Thunder Ridge Campground on Cedar Mountain. Once there, they were assigned to various tribes - two for each age group with a youth camp leader assigned - according to the number of years they have certified for girls camp.

Girls from all Bloomington wards enjoyed “getting to know you” games, decorated the exterior of the “bunkhouse” - actually a shipping container with fold down bunks; did “dirty” service which included sanding down and painting metal tables and doing general cleanup around the campground.

To reinforce the theme of Strong Women of Courage, the girls attended a series of stong women clinics then enjoyed a walk in the woods where they met and talked with such scriptural strong women as Emma Smith (wife of Joseph); Sister Monson (wife of President Thomas S. Monson), Esther (who was “born for such a time as this” and saved the lives of her Jewish countrymen) and Nephi’s wife, a daughter of Ishmael.

On Friday evening, the girls and their leaders enjoyed dinner from CafĂ© Rio, provided by Bishop John Goldhardt, who was called “the best bishop ever” and “divinely inspired” for his choice of fare.

The camp experience also included snipe hunting, skits and lip syncing, dressing up and lots of other fun. Outstanding devotionals and firesides also provided the spiritual experience for each girl - most who said they can hardly wait until next year.