survived camp

I'm home from a week at Girls' Camp. We went to Catherine Creek State Park. Our stake has a lodge and campground there. We use this facility every year. It seems like every time I go there, some new improvement has changed it. We were celebrating 101 years of Girls' Camp and 50 years of camp at the Lodge. This year's theme was Stand in Holy Places. Our theme was from Dr. Seuss--" Oh the places you'll go". Places like church, camp, the temple, college, etc. 101 acts of random kindness-for the 101 years of Girls' Camp. We had a Horton tree, where campers could post anonymously, on Horton pictures, the act of kindness they performed.
(I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful 100%)

Tuesday night we did paper bag skits. A bag filled with random props and the campers make up their skit right there. Wednesday we had reunion night. Campers from past decades camp to tell us what their camp was like. Ladies from the forties through current time came and shared their stories. It was fun to hear the different ways camp was carried out over the years. One lady shared about a dozen photos from the camp in the forties and fifties.
Back then there was only one small cabin and not even designated campsites. Today we have a two-story Lodge with a small industrial kitchen, a shower house with 6 showers, 12 toilets, 6 sinks, and two large handicap bathrooms with showers. We have a basketball court, a volleyball sandpit, an open pavilion with electricity, a small cabin for the caretakers to live on site, and the original cabin plus a storage cabin. There are 15 designated campsites that are numbered and equipped with fire pits, grey water stations and 1/3 have water pumps nearby. There is an amphitheater with a flagpole, fire pit, and electricity and two light poles. The camp has several specific gathering areas for small groups to go for reflective time, as well as several well marked trails. We have a bell tower to call everyone together and there are still the old outhouses. We have a swing set for the younger campers in the big meadow.  Of course the creek for water fun and there's a bridge to cross the creek.  It's a pretty nice campground.

Thursday, we did a skills fair with 10 stations to play/review first aid and other camp skills in fair-like games. That evening we had our testimony meeting. Normally we are all together for one large testimony meeting. This year they divided the group into 3 smaller groups. Each went to one of the reflective areas and held their own meeting. It made them shorter, but I'm not sure if I liked it any better that way.

Monday the stake leaders and YCL's (youth camp leaders) came up early to prep for the rest of the campers. We set some things up, made posters, and such. In the afternoon, we went up to Medical Hot Springs to swim in the hot springs there. It was fun, but murky. We played some games that the YCL's would teach later in the week. The YCL leader brought up the movie 'Horton hears a Who' for the girls to watch that night.

 The director was in the tent across from mine. She's an insomniac. She puttered around all night long. Her light kept me awake til 1:30 am. I woke up at 5:00 am. I only had 3.5 hrs of sleep and by 2:00 the next day, I was bushed and getting a headache for lack of sleep. When I woke up that first morning, my air mattress had deflated. I tried to put my cot in the tent to replace it, but it was too long. I decided to move into the little cabin instead. That night, not only was I up off the ground, but I didn't have the light to contend with. I slept so much better.

On hike day, I went on the third year hike. It is all about compass work and orienteering. I understand how to use a compass, but I didn't quite understand the orienteering part. Oh well, another year maybe. The middle of our hike took us up a steep hill. That was the hardest part. When we reached the top, we ate our sack lunches and did a compass activity to insure the girls understood how to use the compass. It worked out  good, then we headed back to camp. I'm so glad I got to go on the hike. Every year I've been up here for camp, I always end up being sick, or hurt something or it's that time of the month. It always keeps me from going on a hike.

summertime happenings

Marissa just moved into her new house in Princeton, Texas. Emily vacationed in  Florida with Andy's family. Rachelle's car broke down. Sean worked on knives, while Paul and I traveled to Utah for family vacation. Tanner is busy serving his mission in Netherlands. That was some 4th of July.

We had a good time renewing friendships with extended McDaniel relatives. The reunion was held in Murray, Utah this year, under the direction of Uncle Earl. Thursday was relaxing after the drive. I crocheted while Paul went golfing. We had dinner with Diane's family, a barbecue. Then we went to fireworks at the Jr. High school field. It was a  good fireworks display. Friday we did picnicking at Southwood Park in Murray for the majority of the day. Dinner on our own, then back to Janice and Dave's for ice cream and visiting. Saturday was the traditional breakfast at the church, but I was at the Salt Lake temple. Megan Bedard was getting married to Scott Nelson. They are in our singles branch, and they invited me to attend since I was in the area then. After the wedding and pictures, I drove to the church. Had a bite to eat, but they were pretty much done, do I drove back to Diane's  house. I took a nap. Then when Paul and Jon got back from the golf tournament, we headed up to Murray for dinner. They made reservations at a place  called 'The Gathering Place'  in Gardner Village. It was a quaint little, old town village of shops. Dinner was catered buffet. It was excellent. On sunday, we traveled back home to Oregon.

Now I'm getting ready for Girls' Camp which is next week. Much to do yet.