Camp 2011

I'm so behind...gah. 

Young Women Camp was amazing, as it always is.  It was an interesting experience this year in that I wasn't the leader over the 2nd year Youth Camp Leaders but instead, I'm in the Stake YW presidency.

Stake YW Presidency: Mel, Lisa, and Karla

I was also the pseudo-camp secretary because the previous one got a new calling a few months ago.  So in addition to doing my stake stuff, I also did stuff like collecting receipts, getting the camp booklets printed, took the headcount each night AND I had to be the camp photographer.

YW camp director, Meesa

Can I share something with you?

I almost despised being camp photographer.  Why? 

Ohhhh, lots of reasons.  (Tell me SOMEONE said that like Savannah in "Savannah Smiles." Please?)

Reason number one:  I prefer to take pictures when I want to, not because I have to. 

Anytime I was in the middle of doing a million other things, someone would call me on the walkie talkie and say, "Jeanelle, come get a photo of this!" Then I'd have to drop everything and run to take a picture of the sun coming through the trees and then try to remember what I was doing before I got pulled away. My brain just doesn't work like a real photographer's.  And that's okay...

Not a terrible nature shot - go figure.

Reason number two: I'm kind of a crummy photographer.  Case in point: this photo of one of the levels.  Notice my friend Lisa off to the right?  Yeah, I probably shouldn't have had her in the photo since she wasn't in that level.  Especially since this is the picture that each girl and leader in that level got to take home with them to help them remember their wonderful year at camp.  Instead they are probably saying, "Why is Sister Clement in our ding dang picture?"

2nd level campers with an extra.  So embarrassing.

Reason number three:  I like taking pictures of people I know and love or of people whose parents I know and love.  It's actually hard to take pictures of people you don't know well or don't know at all.  You think "did I get a picture of her already?"  Or you feel guilty for taking the millionth picture of the Robinsons because you know and love them so much.

My other family: Becca, Steve & Emily

But want to know what I loved about camp this year?

1. I loved meeting this girl.



BFFs

 Sharon was our craft lady and besides having a PhD in crafts, she was super fun and we clicked right away.  Love.  Her.  (even though I'm old enough to be her, ugh, MOTHER.) We also established the first ever gum wall at camp (uh, YEAH we did!)  It was a hit.  (Hopefully some of you have seen the Seattle gum wall...)
 

Oh and I have to post this blurry photo because it makes me laugh every time...Sharon and I were going to pose like this, belly to belly, in our stake photo but chickened out. Oh how I loved laughing with her, Melanie, Lisa and everyone else in the stake level that week.  Camp completely fills my bucket every year.

2. I loved being a Stake person instead of being in charge of a level. 

Mel, Mindy, Elizabeth and Quinae - we all shot guns!

Don't get me wrong - the last four years were the best ever and I would go back to doing that job in a heartbeat but this year was a nice change.  I loved that I had time to actually talk to people. 

darling Leah

I loved that I had time to get to know girls in all of the levels.  I loved that I had a TON less stress. I also loved being able to just LOVE the 2nd YCLs instead of telling them what to do all the time. So nice!

Lindsey, Jenn & Paige

I also REALLY loved wearing wings (we were fairy godmothers.) And seriously? I think I'd like to incorporate this particular hairstyle a bit more in my every day life. 

the stake board on our way to the polar bear dip

3. I loved doing something that pulled me out of my comfort zone.  I can't go into details about it because it's kind of a secret thing and I know there are camp girls who read my blog...but I was grateful to be asked to do something that was difficult for me.  I had an amazing spiritual experience because of it and I will be forever grateful for that "stretch."

4. I loved bonding with this simply beautiful girl. 

Lovely Lilly

I mentioned her here in my trek blog but Lilly and I made a soul-to-soul connection at camp.  We frequently would look at each other and just start crying.  I know with everything that I am that she and I were supposed to meet on trek and we were supposed to be at camp together. I'm so grateful she came to camp - she had such a great experience being a 2nd YCL and she was so good for the younger girls.  I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for putting special girls like Lilly in my life.  I love getting that taste of being a mom during that week at camp...I'm so blessed.

Stuff I don't want to forget

Stake YW Presidency.  Love my pigtails with mismatched scrunchies!

I'm back from camp, physically exhausted and in dire need of sleep but I wanted to write down a few thoughts before the details leave my mind forever.  It was a wonderful week filled with faith-promoting experiences, a whole lot of laughing and hardly any sleep.  It hurts a little to think this was my last year as assistant director but I know I'll enjoy a little more time to myself next year and feeling a whole lot less stress.

I never want to forget the night that I woke up to a voice telling me "now" and seconds later, I heard one of the girls having a nightmare.  She was trying to get out of her bunk, crying, and not sure where she was.  I spoke to her through the darkness of our longhouse and calmed her down until she was able to go back to sleep.  I'm so grateful for the prompting to wake up at just the right time.

I want to always remember the transformation of one of the girls who started the week not talking to anyone and separating herself from everyone else.  By the end of the week, she talked more, participated in everything, helped whenever asked and willingly prayed in front of a large group.

I want to remember welling up while watching my girls lead our camp song.  It starts out rough at the beginning of the week as they figure out their roles and gain confidence but by about Wednesday night, they are working together, a tight-knit and cohesive group.  The camp song (one that the girls write themselves) talks a lot about friendship and special things about our camp.  Seeing them singing together made my heart fill with joy.

I want to never forget how wonderful it was to be reminded how much Heavenly Father loves us.  Two of my girls prayed to find a pair of glasses lost by one of the younger girls in the river.  They prayed two separate times and before long, found the glasses in the murky river. I love that Heavenly Father reminded us that He hears and answers prayers - even for small and simple little things like a lost pair of glasses.

We do a special program for the girls and I never want to forget the look on their faces as they realized all that we had planned for them.  I never want to forget what it felt like seeing them be touched by the spirit that was present.  That moment of looking into their light-filled faces totally made up for every bit of stress I've felt over the last year. 

I want to always remember hugging one of the girls when she asked if I could be her mom.  She had just realized that I don't have any children and this sweet girl doesn't have a mom in her life.  I of course gladly accepted.  She promised to call me the next time she needed me at three in the morning and I promised to always answer the phone.

I never want to forget walking through the camp and singing to the other levels and realizing that this was one of my last opportunities to do that and crying my way through the songs.

I want to remember the laugh the girls made up using my last name:  shawshawshawshawshawshaw.

Even though we camp in stake-wide age-group levels, we do ward testimony meetings on our last night.  I loved ours but want to remember how I was dying to get back to the girls in my level so I could tell them how much I loved them and how grateful I was for each one of them.

I want to remember coming back from brushing my teeth on the last night and the girls surprising me with a little photo album they'd made just for me.  I thought I'd cried every tear possible but, um, no.

I never want to forget that moment on our final day when we were done with clean up and the girls had been given their tickets to leave.  But instead of rushing off to find their rides home, we all stood in a circle looking at each other, not wanting to leave.  A couple of girls left but then nobody else moved from that circle.  We talked about the reunion party we are planning, laughed a little and continued to just stand there, soaking up that last bit of togetherness.  Then I suggested we say one last prayer together and we did.  We hugged and then they all slowly left.  I've never in four years worked with a group of girls who were more tight knit.  I've always had amazing 2nd YCLs.  Always.  (And if you're one of my former 2nd YCLs, you KNOW I thought you were amazing too!) But this group of 14 girls was different than any other.  There were no cliques, nobody was mean to the girls who were different, everyone got along and they all understood the significance of this being their last year attending Young Women Camp.

It was such a gift from my Father in Heaven to be blessed with this special group of young women for my last year in this role.  I truly am blessed beyond measure.

Good and bad: pre-camp edition

Good: my friends Bret & Tammy had me over for dinner tonight and then Bret packed my car.  Remember last year?  Bret has mad car packing skillz.  I left their home feeling completely peaceful and ready for camp (well, I still have to pack the bathroom bags and finish writing my leadership training for Wednesday AM but other than that, I'm ready to go.)  Tammy isn't my assistant this year and I miss her.

Bad: Mom and I rinsed my cooler out with bleach and even though I was careful, I got bleach on one of my favorite black shirts.  Dang.

Good: I've been having trouble with CDs that I make on my computer...they don't always play anywhere except on a computer.  I had to make a total of 8 CDs for camp tomorrow and I made them all last night and then checked them this afternoon and every last one of them worked.  Such a tender mercy from Heavenly Father - truly.  I didn't know what I was going to do if I couldn't get working CDs (I bring the music for our camp song and for our YCL song plus a bunch of other stuff.)

Bad: I haven't been sleeping and I'm beyond tired.  I know I'll be fine once I get to camp but going into this week exhausted is not a great idea.

Good: I have such amazing friends who have just bailed me out all over the place with camp prep this year.  I have camp gear (both personal and YCL supplies) spread out to four different people because I don't own a big enough vehicle to take up all of the stuff (why they don't issue vans with callings like this, I will never know.)  Kim took a bunch of stuff in to get laminated for me when I couldn't get there on my day off.  Shanda has made labels and other handout-y things that I needed. Then we have Kara (private blog or I would link.)  That Kara has been just totally heaven-sent!  She's one of my former Laurels (Kim's oldest) and she just had a baby girl a few weeks ago.  She cut out name tags, wrote on all of my friendship beads and made my timeline (pictures later) 

Here's a picture of me with Kara's new baby Lorelai when she was just two days old and darling Jonathan.  Jonathan is just good for my soul.  That boy runs and jumps into my arms whenever he sees me and calls me Jeanellie.  Love him (and everyone he's related to - you know who you are!)

And finally, a personal note to my ready to deliver blogging friends Holly & Janssen:  if you have your babies this week, you have my permission to name her "Jeanelle." 

A YW Camp Debrief

Camp was surprisingly wonderful.

As most of you know, my expectations were low going into camp. I struggled with the planning process because the 2nd YCLs I was working with weren't really into working. I felt like a failure as a leader because nothing I did or said would excite these girls into stepping up. On Friday, my friend Kim put the girls and me on the prayer roll at the temple and then on Sunday, I fasted for strength, inspiration and love. I also asked anyone who would listen to pray for me to have patience and to stay positive. My home teachers came over last Sunday afternoon and the one who is the grand poobah (stake pres) said he didn't worry even a second about the 120+ girls going to camp because there were leaders like me who were prepared physically and spiritually to lead them. Right then, I knew I was ready.

Here's my assistant Tammy and me after her husband patiently and kindly fit all of our crap into her van. Seriously, he is a packing god.

Despite not wanting to work prior to camp, they showed up Monday ready to get busy. They were exactly where they needed to be. They did whatever was needed with a cheerful attitude. It really was amazing. It was such a smooth day one.

Such cute shirts. Everyone looks good in lime green.

The YW arrived on Tuesday and we were ready. It was so wonderful to see the girls in my level band together even though they are all completely different and most of them aren't even friends outside of camp. On Sunday night, I had received word that a young woman from my ward would be coming to camp. She hadn't been to a single meeting but I knew she was creative and talented in both music and acting. I was thrilled she was coming because of her talents but mostly because I knew she needed to be there. She was literally an answer to prayer. She didn't just write the skits and roll calls (little songs the girls sing to announce they are at camp at flag ceremony twice a day) but she got all of the girls together and got all of them to contribute. It was really incredible to watch them all sitting together, creating. The most incredible thing is that I hardly ever had to remind them to do it. Here's a video of one of my favorites -- have you seen the Potter's Puppet Pals video on youtube? It's like that but with the YW values instead of "Snape, Snape, Severus Snape."

Everything went great and continued to until about Wednesday. Nothing terrible happened but Wednesday was just weird. We had some visitors who brought a different sort of spirit to camp and that caused some negativity in one of my girls. Thankfully, that mostly passed on Thursday. I even got an apology from one of the girls who was pretty negative earlier in the year which was a bit of a surprise but so wonderful to hear.

Friday we had a fantastic Bishop's Night program with the Bishops and Stake Presidency members performing Olympic events (volleyball, bobsled, rhythmic gymnastics!) and then we had our testimony meeting (done in individual wards.) We had a smaller group this year and 2/3 of them got up and said they didn't want to come to camp. But every single one of them said they were so glad they did. Phew. One of my girls said she hadn't realized what kind of influence she had as a youth camp leader and that made me so happy to hear...she got it!

One of my favorite things about camp is developing friendships with other women from my stake. We laughed so much all week which was so therapeutic and wonderful I love the women I served with so much and I hope we make more of an effort to stay close throughout the year.

I know I've said all year that this is my last year but I knew I wasn't done when we drove into camp. I kept looking at the 5th and 4th level girls all week and thinking "I need to do this for two more years." I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to do that but right now, I'm planning to go back next year. One of my friends, who also had a hard year and a hard group of 12 year olds had gone into the week thinking she was done but on Friday night, we stood together and cried and admitted we weren't done yet. She compared camp to childbirth (she's the mother of 4.) She said "when you're pregnant, you can't imagine giving birth again but once you deliver, you can't imagine NOT giving birth again."

So who's planning my baby shower?

A broken record

Camp planning this year is hard. So, so, so SO hard. If I haven't mentioned it a few dozen times already, I'm taking a break after this year. And like Forrest Gump once said, that's all I have to say about that.

Oh but will you please read this article from LDS Living?

The author of the article is one of my former young women who is interning at LDS Living this summer (so proud of her!)

The person she interviewed for the article is my dear friend who eight years ago convinced me that I, a non-camper who had only worked in Primary and Relief Society up until that point, could be a leader of youth. I loved reading the article and being reminded why this is such a wonderful program for young women.

Oh and it was 89 degrees today and probably even hotter than that at my house. Love it but it's stinking hot.

The end.

Phew!

I'm halfway through a crazy busy week. Work is seriously nuts plus I had Camp Kickoff tonight. I'm going to see High School Musical at a local high school tomorrow night. Friday I'm taking the day off and then my sister is coming to spend the night with me on Friday night. THEN Saturday is Callie's bridal shower so in between now and then, I'm prepping stuff for that. BUSY! I need a nap.

So after much fear and trepidation, Camp Kickoff turned out great. As I've mentioned before, the girls I'm over are not like any I've had in previous years. They are stepping up though and doing well. We had more of them there tonight than we've had at our previous meetings so that was wonderful. Our camp song (to the tune of Eye of the Tiger) turned out really fun and everyone seemed to like it. I already had one mom beg me to stick around one more year (to work with her daughter next year.) I will not succumb to peer pressure! Mark my words!!

Here's a picture of Tammy, my assistant and I tonight after kickoff. Someone made this lite brite YW torch several years ago and it works well now with our Olympics theme. Hilarious, no??

My week at camp, 2008

I never take enough pictures. I think the problem is I'm too busy doing other things to remember to take pictures. I did take some video though. And this is basically my excuse for a journal -- it got a little long. Sorry!

Nine of the most incredible 2nd YCLs ever! Top: Chrissy, Gianna, Jana, Katrina, Madalyn; Bottom: Lisa, Jennica, Kim & Megan. They're standing outside our longhouse, in front of silhouettes of themselves (they have clues on them and the other girls at camp are supposed to try and guess who's who. Check out the cool poster Chrissy made in the top right. Totally worth the ink, Kim!!)

As I said before, camp was great. We faced a lot of opposition though. One of our level assistants left on day one because she hurt her back. The assistant nurse left on day two because she had a family member become gravely ill. One of my YCLs left on day three because she became ill. Our camp director had to leave on Thursday because her grandpa died & she had to travel to the funeral and our stake cooks (along with their daughter who was the camp MC all week & one of my YCLs) had to leave Thursday because of a death in their family. All of that in the space of like three days!

We were incredibly short-handed but the great thing is, the 2nd YCLS were so totally with it. They made it easy for me to pick up the slack where it was needed because they had everything completely under control. They were doing things before I even had to ask and they were always where they were supposed to be. It was such a huge improvement on last year. HUGE! I feel so very blessed to have worked with them, to see them serving & loving it, to see them work together and get along.

From the top: Rebecca, Arielle, Lisa, Katrina, Kim, Megan, Jana, Ali, Michelle, Soana, Chrissy, Gianna & Jess (everyone except Jennica!)

As I said before, our weather was kind of crummy. It rained Wednesday. It was a drizzly, light rain but enough to be an annoyance and to have us grab our ponchos and trash bags to sit on. It also got really cold Wednesday and into Thursday. We woke up Thursday morning and it was around 40 degrees outside so we canceled that day's Polar Bear Dip. I've never been so cold at camp before. We had sweatshirts and jeans on most of the week.

My assistant this year, Tammy, really was fabulous to work with. She took care of so many things for me up at camp and I think if we get to work together next year, it'll be even better because she'll have a good idea of what leading the 2nd YCLs entails.

The chipmunks were everywhere at Ensign Ranch and so totally brazen. They'd run up the ladder to the lofts of our longhouse and then down and across our beds to get out. ICK! We contemplated making suicide traps but were reminded that wasn't part of God's plan. (Whatever! ha) I made the mistake of leaving one of my containers open and came back to find one eating the peanut M&Ms I had stashed in there. Tammy grabbed a broom and got it out. The M&Ms went into the garbage. Tragic, I know! One of the levels saw a skunk in their camp area so I consider us lucky to have only had the obnoxious chipmunks to deal with.

Re: the plethora of chipmunks, the second level girls made up a roll call (a little chant/song they do every morning & night, always different) to that song "Low" and part of it said "Chipmunks with the fur, with the fur." Ha! I need to get more of the words down because it was pretty funny. That group also had a roll call to the tune of "Bleeding Love." There are so many creative girls out there! Here's a roll call my girls did one day to "Good Morning Baltimore." (I played that song to wake them up in the morning.)


The 2nd YCLs do a skit about one of the YW values during each flag ceremony. I video'd some of them because they were so stinkin clever. In this one on Choice & Accountability, Soana is taking flamenco dance lessons but they're on Sundays and her parents are concerned. I really love the Saturday's Warrior type song near the end! (A couple of others are on facebook, if you are my facebook friend and want to check them out.)



The girls also write a new camp song every year that goes with our theme. This year's song was to the tune of "I just can't wait to be king" from The Lion King. The first couple of days, hardly anybody was singing. That comes from two things: the girls being shy and their not knowing the song at all. So the YCLs decided they needed to incorporate dance moves into the song and guess what? Everybody loved it and all started singing. More video for your enjoyment:

Because the camp director left, I was asked to give the camp stewardship report to the stake presidency & bishop's on our final night of camp. It helps that the stake presidency is made up of my home teacher, my former bishop and a guy I used to work with. I also do okay speaking in front of people, pretty much, but the challenge was figuring out what to say AND writing it out longhand. (sure made me miss my computer!) I was nervous but I think it came out okay.

So I have contemplated all year about whether or not I want to go back next year. Next year's YCL group is going to be a huge challenge. They are night and day from this year's group. I've decided that as long as I don't get released, I'm going to continue on but I will be firm & clear in stating our expectations of them. I will also invite them to really think and pray about whether or not they want to be 2nd YCLs and if they don't want to be, they will be asked to say so up front. I don't want to have to deal with the issues their leaders this year dealt with. I know they are good girls who love camp but I don't want to have to hunt them down when they aren't where they're supposed to be, I don't want to have to demand they give me their cell phones because they are texting in the longhouse and I don't want to have to pull them out of bed each morning or afternoon when they should be up and doing other things. I want them to have a great experience and to learn how to be leaders and to be there because they want to make the camp experience great for the younger girls, NOT because they are at camp out of duty or habit.

So there you have it. Camp is over, finis, done. At least it's done until October or so when we start meeting again to discuss staffing.

I'm home!

Camp was amazingly great/wildly successful but also cold, wet and at times, almost overwhelming. I came home and slept 14 hours and I'm still tired. I have yet to unpack or do laundry and my living room looks just like it looked before I started packing (and I promise I left it clean when I departed on Monday.) I'll download pictures and video later but it was a wonderful week and the 2nd YCLs I worked with were truly incredible. I doubt I will ever work with a more "perfect" group of girls at camp ever again. I am almost overwhelmed by them and their willingness to serve. One of them also bore the most powerful and beautiful testimony I have ever heard before (let alone from an almost 17 year old.) The youth of the church just continue to impress and amaze me. Here's a pic of my YCLs that I stole from our photographer, the uber-talented Alison Jensen:

Gotta go because it's time for bed!!!

Packing for camp

You remember what my living room looks like, right? (Well, most of the time!) Here it is again:



Here is what it looks like today:


When you're over activities & 2nd YCLs and your camp is made up of roughly 130 YW and 45 adults, you have a lot of stuff. (Consider yourselves warned for when you get this calling.) I successfully pawned off at least a carload of stuff to other people who are going up. My assistant is coming over today and I'm hopeful she'll be taking at least 3/4 of my living room floor with her. Keep your fingers crossed!

Two Annoyances and a Wahoo

My keyboard must need cleaning because it skips things that I know I'm typing. So either I have typos all the time or I spend hours backspacing to correct the mistakes. ANNOYING!

My cable internet splitter has decided to give up the ghost. The only way I can have consistent internet is if I unhook the TV and plug the computer cable directly into the wall. ANNOYING! I have to go to WalMart or Radio Shack to get a new splitter, apparently. Thank you ever so much for all of the quality help, Comcast! (her voice dripping with sarcasm.)

Our final YCL meeting went really well last night. WAHOO! I was inspired by this blog entry to challenge both the 1st and 2nd YCLs to fast this Sunday, which is the day before we leave for camp. I made up a handout with a list of three things for them to pray for during their fast:

1. That our camp will be a holy place because of our actions & preparations
2. That we will be able to leave our worldly cares behind us for the week (we have a huge cell phone addiction problem in the 1st YCL group. HUGE.)
3. That we will be spiritually in tune so that we may receive promptings when those around us need our help

We only had about half of each group there but we emailed out the challenge to those who missed the meeting.

My 2nd YCLs are just amazing. They are such good workers. They finished everything I brought for them to do and then asked for more. I think we're pretty much ready.

Except for packing...ugh.

Six days in the woods; wearing flip flops in disgusting showers that have two temperatures: burning hot and ice cold; sinks that only have hot water to brush your teeth with; wearing closed-toe shoes all day and night; 5 hours of sleep per night, if I'm lucky.

Oh but then there's the whole spending quality time with fabulous girls and equally fabulous women; being embraced by the Spirit every single day; seeing the hard work and planning of 15 amazing young women come to fruition.

Sigh. It's basically heaven on earth. Even when it's not. ;)

And...I'm back!

Life got a little crazy busy last week. Monday-Weds nights I stayed up until midnight, IM'ing with my camp counterpart as we cleaned up the registration info. There were tons of discrepancies and that just bugs me to no end. My partner in crime is big on everything being formatted properly so she was teaching me all sorts of cool Excel tricks too. This was all to get us ready for our Thursday night final meeting with all of the adults who are serving at camp. Exactly one half of them showed up.

LAME!

I know it's summer but jeez. How much you want to bet that they will be the ones with all of the questions for the next two weeks and the ones wondering "why didn't you tell us such and such??" I meet with my assistant tomorrow and then have one more meeting with the YCLs a week from tomorrow and then camp begins on the 28th. So much to do... One of the ladies at church yesterday said bug repellent doesn't work year to year. So the stuff I bought last year and didn't use is no good? Anyone know anything about that? It doesn't have an expiration date on it...

Last Thursday, I began my 2.5 day vacation by driving an hour south of my house with my mom to pick up my sister Jenilee and her kids. They came in from Hawaii the week before to attend the funeral for her husband's grandma. We're sad Grandma F. died but we have had the best time having them here! I'll blog later with pictures and stories.