The Escalante Stake Girls Camp 2023 was a success! As the Young Women left Mary’s Camp they felt a whole range of emotions — some were sad to be leaving their new friends. Others were happy because of all of the spiritual experiences and fun activities.
For the Escalante Stake, girls camp is an opportunity that gives Young Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the chance to come closer to Christ, connect with others who share similar values, as well as participate in a lot of fun activities!
This year the theme for the Escalante Stake Girls Camp was “Faster, Higher, Stronger through Christ.” Olympic Style. Each age category was assigned a different color, with an ancient city from the New Testament. This gave the girls a chance to study the different miracles that Christ performed during his ministry.
Each day brought new activities. First, the camp was welcomed by the Stake Young Women Camp Directors, and sent to unpack and create their Olympic Flag. There was then an opening ceremony where YCLs (Youth camp Leaders) gathered each of the other camps and led them to the stage and gathering area. This is where they were put in different groups and started the activities.
All activities were in correlation with the theme so the teams had to compete for points to win the “Olympics.” It was a fun way to see how well the girls worked together. They played cornhole, volleyball, brain games, and also worked to keep their camps clean and arrive on time to activities to earn extra points.
Before too long it was evening time and the nightly activity commenced. All the girls gathered around the fire and became separated, while one of the leaders picked the girls individually to follow the lights other camp leaders were holding. At one point they grabbed hold of what was supposed to represent the “Iron Rod” — a source of guidance — and kept going. They were blindfolded while people tried to convince them to leave the rod. They were then placed on the ground after the activity and had to wait for the other girls to make their way there.
Michelle Lindsay gave a talk, and the girls went back to their tents for “Starlight and Whisperings” (where YCLs taught a lesson they prepared). Soon after camp became quiet and everyone went to bed.
The next day after breakfast, the girls prepared to go on a hike near Tropic Reservoir. Throughout the hike the Stake Presidency stopped along the way and described how each word in the theme (Faster, Higher, Stronger) was correlated with life and how we need Christ in these different ways.
There was a chopped challenge, where the girls made their own food for lunch, and then got ready to swim at the reservoir. Despite the freezing cold water, everyone enjoyed their time there. After getting ready for dinner, there was an activity where they painted a cover of The Book of Mormon.
Dinner was served, and the girls then prepared for the guest speaker and testimony meeting by gathering their chairs. Sadly the original guest speaker was unable to make it, but Bill Scolfield was a fitting replacement. Testimony meeting commenced and some of the girls shared their favorite parts about camp, life lessons they’ve learned with the help of God, and future wishes as well as what they believed they could do with Christ by their side.
The evening was ended with Starlight and Whisperings, S’mores, and late-night talks around the fire before everyone went home the next day.
During the morning breakfast was served, the girls packed up, and the awards ceremony began. The team with the most points was awarded gold, the second, silver, and the third, bronze.
It was an amazing and spiritual experience for many of the Young Women there. Hopefully they came away feeling like their relationship with Christ has grown, and knowing that they now had lifelong friends.
– by McKynlee Cottam (18) Escalante
McKynlee Cottam – Escalante
McKynlee Cottam is a junior writer, and sometimes editor, at The Byway. She is a senior at Escalante High School. This year she’s had the opportunity to be the school’s Student Body President and Miss Garfield’s Outstanding Teen. McKynlee loves to write about things that are going on in our county and world, as well as some fun out-of-hat pieces. She enjoys playing the violin, participating in basketball, and of course hanging out with her friends. The Byway has been a fun part of her life, and she hopes to keep contributing to it for some time!