Not a fan of camping, but a fanatic about Girls Camp!!!

Gotta be honest - I don't know the appeal of camping.  It's okay if you do.  I just don't get loading up the car with your own sleeping gear, cooking implements, and clothing to cover every alternative.  It takes hours to pack up a cooler, pull the sleeping bags out, driving to the location, and setting up shop.  You come back smelling like smoke, dirt in strange places, usually sleep deprived, never being at the right temperature and almost always forgetting something.

But, I usually put all that aside for an annual trip to Darby for a Young Women Girls Camp.  (For those of you that aren't LDS - Young Women is the organziation for girls ages 12 - 18).  I serve as the Assistant Stake Camp Director.  This year, we did something unique - it was Ward Camp, but all the girls went to the same camp location at the same time.  Each ward created their own schedules and activities.  So, as a Stake, we had a very minor role. 

I got a late start Wednesday night and drove like a manaic.  I didn't even change clothes.  I figure the Lord was with me because I made the drive in like record time in time to make skits.  I noticed the Camp Director was not around and found out she left earlier in the day, which left me in charge - GULP!  Many of the girls had already been there three full days.  Fortunately, the mood was good - no major fighting or injuries.

The camp has had major upgrades the last few years.  Many of you that grew up going to Darby would be amazed.  No longer are there grungy grates in the showers, constantly clogged toilets, wobbly benches in the lodge, or squeaky beds in the cabins.  They have built wood stairs all over and flattened the area to prevent tent flooding!  However, there is no more cabin in the meadow (a tragedy), the small slide is gone (our ward's traditional picture spot) and all the old cabins with signatures have been torn down - sad because it was always fun to find my name and others in the crevases and corners.

The next morning, many of the girls left on hikes so I was up at 5:45 and sent four groups out.  My job was being home base.  Also not a huge fan of hiking, but in 90+ degree weather, it wasn't happening anyway.  After a short nap (unusual for me), I visited with one of the camp hosts for a couple of hours - a very nice lady from Shelley. 

My home ward invited me to have lunch - no cooking is always a plus.  Then I was invited to take some photos of the waterfight with the new bishop at the creek (a tradition that I was very glad to have back).  I decided to join in - it was cold at first, but then a welcome relief in the heat. 

Stake duties called... God has a funny irony - as punishment for always climbing up the side of the slide instead of taking the stairs when I was 12, now, I have to chastize the girls who do the same thing.  Being a leader is likely payback for all the things you did as a youth - talking back, being lazy, etc.  It's also hard to be the rule enforcer when you clearly broke so many of them at some point as either a youth, youth leader, ward leader and even a stake leader :-).

The last hike from Table Rock came back really, really late.  We had to push everything back and I was starting to get worried about things happening on my watch.  We've had bad things happen before on hikes.  Fortunately, everyone was good - a hot day made hiking take a little longer. 

Dinner with the 28th Ward.  They had a turkey and roast cook in a pit.  Yum!!!!  I don't think I've ever done that before.  The stars were AMAZING.  That night it was hard to sleep - there were actually warm winds in spots and a lot of snoring going on.

We got awoken at 6 am to find out we had no toilet paper (well, there was some, but...).  It's just interesting how much drama can occur when you MIGHT run out of toilet paper.  After putting on flag ceremony, we had a testimony meeting with the whole stake.  (Testimony meeting is a time where church members can share their beliefs with everyone to edify us all.)  It was great to hear so many girls and leaders and the diversity of both. 

After a great breakfast, it was time to pack up and go home.  It was hot so the girls were a little sluggish to get things done.  Fortunately, we got everything done by noon and on our way.  I drove a little less quickly - good thing as I discovered when I got home that I was missing my right contact lens!!! 

A good shower later and all the Darby Dirt, icky creek water and nasty sweat was downt he drain.  A little bit of heat rash, a couple of nasty blisters, a lack of sleep and a little sun - but no major problems.  The best part of the week is hanging out with great youth and getting my spiritual batteries recharges.  Great memories, good laughs, and a spiritual high are the paybacks for all the challenges of camping!