Young Women Camp

As Stake Young Women Camp Director, this Laurel Expedition would be my dream to plan and implement for the Young Women in my Stake.
Specifically, the YCL (Youth Camp Leaders who are 16-18 year old) or Laurels.

It takes a lot of "out of the box" thinking and support on the part of Young Women Leaders and Priesthood Leaders. A LOT. A lot that I would totally be up for!

The area I currently live in would not have the support or understanding for this need from the Stake Level and many of the Wards, It takes so much to change perspective and thinking of "this is the way we always do it".

As a people, we need to be much better at providing these opportunities for our boys AND girls. MUCH BETTER.

I love this. I love the leaders who made this happen!

Go Laurel Expedition 2017

Camp Planning Perspective

Camp 2017 is in the books and it was a remarkable year. One of the best I can remember. In the next few days, I will post photos and my thoughts on why it was such an incredible week.
For now, I am sharing this post I read a few years back and it rings true for me.

Planning Young Women Camp in different parts of the world takes a different approach for each leader. It is important to not compare your camp to others and to do the best with the resources and circumstances available to you and your Stake.
It is generally much more expensive and involved to plan a camp outside of the Utah/Idaho (Western USA) where there are more choices in low cost camp facilities.

My perspective is to do your best.

Enjoy this read from Mormon Girl in the Bible Belt. 
I totally get where she is coming from.

Happy YW Camp planning! Stay tuned for 2017 details.

Young Women Torch Activity- Camp Craft

The other hat I wear is Stake Young Women Camp Leader (you could easily adapt this to a Seminary project/gift - I made
  "Plan of Happiness" pillowcases 
for my Seminary students a few years ago. Attach a note that says, thank you for choosing Seminary over your pillow each morning...)
Our theme this year was, Go For The Gold.
Each year, I look for a craft project that is meaningful, not just something to fill time or keep the girls busy. Ideally, the project is something they will use when they return home and it will remind them of their Camp experience.
The project  for this year could be done for any Young Women activity, not just camp.
I purchased plain pillowcases and had a T-shirt company print our Camp logo  (similar to the YW Torch logo) on them.
Each girl received a pillowcase and had the opportunity to paint it however she desired. The girls were encouraged to sign each others' pillowcases, many did, but not all.
I had enough pillowcases for each Ward to paint and sign one for their Bishop. We presented them to the Bishops on Bishops' night.
Many years, there are a few girls who are not interested in making a craft or participating in the art/craft project. This year, EVERY girl wanted to paint a pillowcase for herself.
As the photos below show, each pillowcase was painted to reflect the wide interests of each girl.