For camp each ward was to come up with a team name, mascot and colors and to decorate a pennant. Some of the names they came up with included: Shelamen’s Warriors, Cruisin’ Q-T’s, Holy Mackerels, Angels, Shooting Stars, Rising Stars, Psycho-delics, Raz-ma-taz, The Oneders.

We collected pictures taken with digital camera’s of each girl and leader and also their stats…name, birthday, phone number, and hobbies. With all this information we made a set of nine baseball cards per person, that they could trade with others. Also in the ziplock bag was a couple pieces of bubble gum (cuz you can’t have baseball cards without bubble gum, right?!) The girls absolutely loved them! (WARNING!! This project took over 142 woman hours to do. But it was worth every minute, when we saw the girls’ faces).

Crafts: The girls made soap with different scents/exfoliating ingredients, small beaded bracelets/necklaces/rings, rubberstamped scrapbook pages, and made lip gloss. The girls raved that the crafts this year. They absolutely loved them! Tailgate party: Our first night, we had a band come up to camp (comprised of men in our stake). They played quite a variety of music.

The girls danced around with each other and their leaders. (This was a repeat activity from last year because the girls had such a good time.)  If I had to add something to this activity it would have been homemade rootbeer.

JC’s: Our JC’s taught all the certification classes and really did a great job. Small groups of them were assigned to each ward. They decorated the cabins for the ward, welcomed them, and gave them evening devotionals. Each JC was on some kind of committee…song, Positive press, awards, banner, giving tree, etc. They did a great job being a positive example to all the girls and were great leaders. They basically ran the camp.

Value Walk: This year we wanted to do something as a stake to set the tone for testimony meetings on the ward level. We planned a value walk.   We asked 7 leaders, either already attending camp or that would be there

Thursday evening, to share a personal experience relating to the assigned value. They also needed to have a small visual for the girls to see.  Each "station" had a 6 foot tall flag in the value color. The 7 flags and speakers were set around the small field. The wards rotated every 5 minutes to each value station. After the last one, all the girls and leaders got a candle and formed one big stake circle. Our Stake

President stood in the middle and all the Bishop’s came forward. The Stake President lit the Bishop’s candles and they returned to their ward and lit the girls’ candles. When all candles were lit, we said the Young Women’s theme at which point the stakies sang a spiritual song, "Pass it on", and then every two wards were assigned to sing one verse of a song.

The wards knew the order prior to that point, so they all sang when they were supposed to. It sounded incredible! After the last song they were dismissed to reverently go with their ward leaders to testimony meeting.

Pass It On song

It only takes a spark to get a fire going, Then soon all those around can warm up to its glowing.  That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it;  You spread his love to every one, you want to pass it on. I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I've found. You can depend on Him, it matters not where you're bound. I'll shout it from the mountaintops; I want my world to know, The Lord of l ove has come to me, I want to pass it on. I'll shout it from the mountaintops; I want my world to know, The Lord of love has come to me, I want...to pass...it on.

 Instead of skits we had a motivational speaker come give the girls some more insight on our theme "Attitude is Everything". She was so funny.    (The girls really did miss the skits, though.)

Game time: I wanted this year to really PLAY as a stake. Each morning after scripture reading, flag, songs and announcements we sang the spirit song (which was a riot) and then divided into two groups. Usually 1st and 2nd years together and 3rd and 4th years together. We played games like sponge relay, kookie kickball, sports equipment dress up, amoeba, capture the flag, and bedlam.

Spirit Song

(To be used to warm up the group before we play games-Everyone stand in a large circle and all participants are clapping and singing We have two to four inside the circle running around singing the song to the outside circle. On chorus they select a girl and dance with them. When chorus is over the selected girl goes inside the circle and the inside girl takes her spot in circle and the song continues

Here we go Catching the Spirit
Running around Catching the Spirit
Here we go Catching the Spirit
All around our girl's camp.

Chorus:

Front to front to front - My Baby
Back to back to back - My Baby
Side to side to side - My Baby
All around the girl's camp.

This was our introductory song when the girls came to camp: (The Stakies were named The Refs!)

When The Refs Come Marching In (Tune to When the Saint go Marching In)
oh when the refs come marching in.
That's when you know that camp begins.
Oh you'll want to be apart of it.
When the refs come marching in.

Oh there'll be crafts, Mother Nature too.
And the nurse who'll care for you.
Oh you'll want to be apart of it.
When the refs come marching in.

Our lifeguard swims and it’s a good thing too.
And our cooks will fill you through. (and through)-echo
Oh you'll want to be apart of it.
When the refs come marching in.

Our Stakies rock around the clock.
And our leaders are so hot! (lick finger and say - tsssss)
Oh you'll want to be apart of it.
When the refs come marching in.

There's just one left, and she's the best.
Sister Wygant our head ref.
Come with us and Catch the Spirit.
And if you'll cheer we'll end this song