BOOT Camp
Boot
Camp- Be of One Troop/Building Our Own Testimonies
by Eileen Daniels
AFTB (Army Family Team Building) - Wards were grouped together for half hour activities. One ward would host, and be in charge of the game or whatever the activity was. We did this several times during the week until each ward had the opportunity to do an activity with all the wards. This was a great asset in helping the girls in the stake get to know each other. USO Show ( Unusual, Silly & Odd Show) - This was our skit night. Each ward based their skit on something unusual, silly or odd. In between skits we had silly people tricks just called up from the audience. This was the most fun we have had with skits for a long time. They were very funny. Esprit De Corp...Spirit of Camaraderie - Wednesdays at our camp, are always friendship day. The girls are organized in to small groups that rotate through various activities for most of the day. The activities are both team building, getting to know you, and just plain fun types. I have some excellent references for team building games if you are interested. These are games where the whole group must work together to solve a problem, or accomplish a task. By the end of the day, the groups have really bonded, and made some strong friendships. After the games, we have destiny (of course the topic is friendship) then the girls are given a packet of instructions to follow, and sent on a "solo" time. We have done this various ways, but every year the girls say this is their favorite part of camp. Part of their solo experience this year, they received a gift, and a letter from their parents. The parents had picked and element of nature they felt best represented their daughter, then wrapped up either the item, or some representation of it. This was so incredible and really touched the girls. In the evening, we concluded the day with a spiritual campfire. At each of the games the groups played during the day, they received a token of some sort. At campfire, these tokens were combined in various ways revealing a spiritual message. Each girl received this saying on a little wall hanging. A copy of it is in your packet. One of the stake leaders would then talk on the principle, and light a candle next to the poster. At the end, the girls were asked to toss a pebble towards the light of those principles she felt she was already living, and keep in her pocket a pebble for those she felt she was not. We concluded with a song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "When You Are a Soldier". There is much more to this day, but that's it in a nutshell. It was an incredible day! Hike - The camp we go to does not really have great hiking areas, so this year we decided to do something a little different with our hike. In keeping with the theme, the hike was set up as a skills course. The girls signed up to go in smaller groups. The hike was maybe a mile and a half or two miles long. All along the trail, there were trip wires, booby traps, and items to find. If they tripped a wire, a card was attached to the end of the wire telling them what they had to do. There was also an ambush on the trail (jc's yielding water guns). It was really a fun hike. Closing Ceremonies - This is the night our ward and stake visitors come. We had prepared before camp testimony books to give to the girls. They included their parents, ward, stake and General Authorities testimonies. From this meeting, we separated into ward for testimony meetings. Don't Forget You PJ'S - (prayers, journals, and scriptures) - Each night one of the stake YW presidency would speak about prayers, journals or scriptures. Then once the girls were back at their cabins, each ward leader would do a devotional before the girls went to bed. Graphics: Stormi |