The first and foremost question that needs to be answered is what is a Young Women Camp? Secondly, what is the reason and the motive behind doing it?
Young Women Camp, often referred to as Girl’s Camp by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a group activity organized by leaders over the Young Women Sunday school classes. The reason we do the Camp is to help the girls grow confidence in themselves as leaders, find deeper connections with other girls and leaders, and become spiritually closer to their Savior Jesus Christ.
This Year’s Young Women Camp
This year’s Young Women Camp was held at the Big Rock Candy Resort. The moment we got there, we all set up tents on the lawn of a rental house. The house was located right next to the Sevier River, also known as the Lazy River.
Before coming to the Girl’s Camp, we all had a Tuesday activity where we made personalized cards with our names on them. Once there, we clipped our names to a gift holder, where during any point of the day the girls could come by and drop off and pick up gifts that were put together by one of the “secret sisters” at the camp. This “sister” was to remain secret for the duration of Girl’s Camp.
After setting up the tents, we had a fun skit performed by our leader to welcome us to Girl’s Camp and a devotional, or spiritual lesson, led by the youth. After the devotional, the fun began! My group started the morning off with a bike ride, where we coasted halfway down a bike trail, and then huffed and puffed our way back up it. Talk about a workout!
When we came back from our bike ride, we played in the river. We even got our leaders to drop us off and have us float back down to our camping spot. It was so much fun!
When dinner was finished, we played games and made bracelets and ate indoor smores that were delicious. While this was going on, the leaders and the older girls helped with a particularly special activity: the Faith Walk.
The Faith Walk
Now, I have done the Faith Walk every year for four four years now, and no two courses have ever been done or portrayed the same way, but the idea of it is concrete. You are blindfolded and told no matter what happens you are to stay on the rope and not let go of it. At the very end of the course, if you hold on despite difficulties, your blindfold is removed to reveal a picture of Jesus Christ. This year’s theme is “Lean not unto thine own understanding,” and it was perfectly reflected in the Faith Walk.
Bullion Falls Waterfall
The next morning, we went on a hike that was a little bit challenging to climb up but was certainly worth it when we reached the top. The girls were given a bit of a riddle. Once deciphered, we were set on a path to look for five red ribbons, and at the fifth ribbon we would find a sort of treasure.
Once the treasure (tootsie roll and twizzlers) was found we were given a moment to ponder and seek out answers to any questions that we might have had. We then continued the hike all the way to the bottom of a majestic waterfall that we had come to see. The way down was a little steep, but luckily there was a rope in place to help us down and back out of the mouth of the waterfall.
Returning from our hike, we were left to choose whether we’d go rafting again or bike riding. Personally, I was sunburned to a crisp from the day before, so I went biking. This time we got to coast all the way down and get picked up at the bottom of the trail. In case you’re wondering, I preferred my second round of biking to my huffing-and-puffing first one! When the bike ride was over, the other girls went tubing and rafting down the river a third time. In the meantime, I listened to an audio book and took a nap.
When the bike ride was over, we found that our Bishopric, the leaders of our ward, had cooked and prepared our dinner. Needless to say, it was amazing. We were having such a good time that a little baby rattlesnake came by, wanting to join in the fun.
Young Women Camp Testimony Meeting
After dinner, we had a testimony meeting where all of the girls and the leaders had a chance to share what they learned and what they knew to be true. I don’t think my words are sufficient to even come close to the spirituality, heart and love that is shared at testimony meetings. It is just something you have to witness for yourself.
Leaving Big Rock Candy Mountain
The girls had to do their longstanding tradition of snipe hunting and chatting the night away before they could call it a night. The next morning, we had breakfast and started to take our camp down, with a last minute “secret sister” gift exchange and reveal. We had our final devotional, and then we left Big Rock Candy Mountain.
It was a great time! All teenage girls are more than welcome to come and just have a good time with other girls at the same time next year. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful week.
– by Ella Hughes (18) Panguitch
Feature image caption: Girls camp was fun, spiritual, and overall a great adventure for these young women-aged girls and their leaders.
Read more about Girls Camp in other stakes in Travelogue: Faster, Higher, Stronger through Christ.
Ella Hughes – Panguitch
Ella Hughes is a junior journalist and editor at The Byway. She has recently graduated from Panguitch High School and has written for The Byway for two years now. Her favorite topics to write about are history as well as present-day local events. In her free time she enjoys singing, watching movies, reading books, and spending time with her family she adores.
Ella is currently serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission.