Adventure in Excellence

Contributed by: Sue in San Diego

Last night we had our "Adventure in Excellence" (YWIE that I'd previously shared with the list and I wanted to let you know how it went. In a word...GREAT!! We mailed invitations to the YW and their parents with this poem on the front:

A jungle safari sounds like fun
An Excellent Adventure, too
Through the Young Women Values one by one
Our Young Women projects we'll view.

We'll wind our way on the jungle grade
With our fearless safari guide
The RB Young Women are not afraid
They hold their torches high!


We requested everyone wear "appropriate apparel for a safari adventure or other tropical attire," and one of my counselors had a ton of great tropical safari decorations from having lived in Indonesia for a few years. We had vines hanging over the doors and the whole building had a real tropical feel to it. After a brief opening meeting where the Bishop handed out YW awards, my Laurel Advisor, dressed as a jungle safari guide, pulled out her Map Through the Jungle of YW Values and took the group on "tour" to the seven "Value Rooms" decorated by the 2-3 YW assigned to that room. In each room, the YW presented their projects, after which the safari guide would read a clue from the map that would lead to the next Value Room. The last clue led to the "Watering Hole" for refreshments.

Oh yes, one more fun thing, after leaving the RS room (where we began, the safari guide took the group through the cultural hall with lights out (she carried a flashlight to light the floor. In the background we played a CD with jungle sound effects including lions roaring, elephants, chimpanzees, birds, etc. It was great!

I'll give you an example of one of the clues from the map, and if anyone is interested in the rest, let me know and I'll post them to the list. This was SO MUCH more fun than the more formal evenings we've had in the past. The YW loved it and so did their parents. It was so much more relaxed and so much less stressful.

Clue #1
Here in the darkest jungles of life
Only one thing will see you through
FAITH in our Heavenly Father's plan
And in the Savior, too.


Clue #1
Here in the darkest jungles of life
Only one thing will see you through
FAITH in our Heavenly Father's plan
And in the Savior, too.

Clue #2
The jungle can be a dangerous place
Sometimes it feels like a test
DIVINE NATURE tells us we're never alone
With Heavenly parents we're blessed.

Clue #3
The jungle terrain might confuse you
You might just forget where you are
If you recognize your own INDIVIDUAL WORTH
You'll find your way from afar.

Clue #4
Like the greenery found in the jungle
Where all the wild things grow
The KNOWLEDGE possessed by your faithful guide
Will protect you from misery and woe.

Clue #5
To choose correct paths through the jungle
We must focus on signs all around
CHOICE & ACCOUNTABILITY are entirely ours
As we choose, so are we bound.

Clue #6
Like a beacon that shines through the jungle
GOOD WORKS seem to make our load light
As we share what we have with others
We gain favor in His sight.

Clue #7
The royalty of the jungle
Is not the lion at all
But the daughters possessed of INTEGRITY
Are Princesses who answer His call.

Clue #8
We've journeyed through the jungle
I think we've met our goal
And now it's time to end our trip
With a stop at the Watering Hole.

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