Why do we go Camping?

When I think about girls camp, so many memories come to mind. From getting lost as a first year to getting lost my last year as a leader (with the same person might I add). At girls camp I went hiking, fishing, canoing, quilting, rappelling, zip lining, did crafts, learned first aid, star gazed and did so much more. But girls camp is more than the activities, more than a week without electronics, more than a week without a flushing toilet or shower. Girls camp is about knowledge, relationships, and our testimonies. From Young Women Camp: A Guide for Priesthood and Young Women Leaders

it states that “Camp is essential to the Young Women Program. Camp is challenging but worth it!” The only things that we take with us when we die is our knowledge, our relationships and our testimonies. And that is exactly what girls camp is all about.

At girls camp, young women are given the opportunity to gain knowledge about the world around them. Girls camp is usually is the middle of nowhere. But this middle of nowhere place, gives us the chance to learn more about God's creations and truly enjoy them. We also learn to recognize the promptings of the spirit and learn more about ourselves. As I mentioned, my first year at camp I got lost. First day in fact. Me along with 4 other first years went on a hike with 2 of our junior leaders, without telling anyone. As we started this hike, I remember thinking that we should go back. I expressed my thoughts, but they were dismissed as I followed along the other girls. Many hours later past dinner and once it was dark we finally returned to camp, finding out they had been looking for us. Looking back, I can see that the spirit was whispering to me that we should turn around. I was able to learn to recognize the spirit speaking to me. Now 6 years later, I went to go on a hike with one of the same girls. As I got this feeling again, I listened to it and we turned around, saving us from getting even more lost than we were. When we put ourselves in opportunities where we are free from the sounds of world (tv, books, facebook, music) our ears can be more in tune with the spirit. We need to be able to recognize when the spirit is speaking to us to navigate through life.

In the Ensign in 1971 an article stated that “Life’s greatest joys and also its greatest sorrows come from the relationships we have with others. In fact, our existence is quite dependent upon this interaction with individuals and with groups of individuals.” Where is a better place to strengthen relationships with friends than where we are free from the noise of the world. At girls camp we can truly see people. We're not trying to impress people, we're there to have fun and feel the spirit. As a young woman in my ward I would sometimes feel like I didn't have very many friends, and feel as though I was left out. But as I remember girls camp, I was able to come closer to the girls in my ward. It was at girls camp that I realized that my relationship with one of my friends in my ward was a blessing to a prayer I had for many years before. The friendships I've strengthened at girls camp are those who I am still friends with today. But the most important relationship that gets strengthened is our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Everything we do at camp should lead us to come closer to Heavenly Father and Christ. The best example of this is looking back on girls camp this year and the Iron Rod activity. The spirit felt by the girls was so strong and showed them how our life should lead us to the Tree of Life or to Christ. As we come closer to Christ we strengthen our testimonies. Some of the most spiritual moments I had growing up took place at girls camp. All one needs to do is attending testimony meeting at girls camp to understand. The spirit felt is amazing. And a spirit that only exists at girls camp.

As we look forward to girls camp every year, we really should be looking forward to the spirit overflow that we are going to receive, the strength that our testimonies are desiring. The reason we have camp is to confirm our identity as daughters of God, recognizing and cultivating the spirit, keeping our covenants and preparing for our future roles. So as you help the young women prepare for girls camp, remember they are just camping in the woods for a week to come home dirty and sleepless, they are spiritually uplifting themselves to know who they are so they can live the covenants that they have made and stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things and in all places.