Happy Campers

by Stephanie Black

I’m thinking I’d better not spend too much time blogging. There are some other things I ought to be doing, because—urggh—it’s going to freak me out to even say this—there are only, like, six weeks until girls camp. Aaarrrgggghhhhhhh!! My blood pressure! Did I mention I’m stake camp director? For the first time? And that stake camp director was #2 on my list of Most-Feared Callings? (Relief Society President is #1). That when I’d look at the former camp director (who is as amazing as Julie is), I’d feel like I could NEVER do that? When the stake presidency gave me the calling, I was scared to death. This is a huge organizational calling and, as you know if you’ve been around the blog for a while, I’m not an organized person. Plus, I have a terrible problem with procrastination. I have trouble getting my library books back on time, and I’m supposed to be in charge of a stake girls camp? I think it’s pretty clear there’s something the Lord wants me to learn from this calling. I also think it’s clear He has a sense of humor.

But in the months since the calling, I’m already discovering that there are a lot of blessings associated with this calling, one of which is the people I get to work with. I have two fantastic assistants and a fantastic high councilor over camp. And our camp staff—wow! Right now, we’ve got 96 girls on the list for camp and over 60 leaders. Yes, you read that right. I’ve got over sixty wonderful stake members willing to take time off work, or arrange care for children at home, etc., and head up to the Sierras to serve as counselors, rappelling staff, waterfront staff, cooks, hike leaders, certification leaders, craft leaders, nurses, and campfire/activity leaders. It is truly awesome, and I’m so grateful for everyone who is willing to serve. I’m also grateful to have experienced leaders at the helm in the various departments, because I’m clueless. For example, I wouldn’t have a clue where to start planning food for 160 people for a week—the very idea completely freaks me out. But our head cook knows exactly what to do. I love her.

I figure the first year will be the hardest, since there’s such a big learning curve. Next year, I’ll feel a little less green. I hope.

Right now, we’ve got a couple of staffing holes to fill, and we need to finalize the counselor groups for the girls (our girls aren’t divided up by wards at camp; they’re divided up by camp year). Then comes . . . oh wowie . . . scheduling. Which group is at waterfront when, which group has KP duty when, and so on—all the scheduling that makes camp run smoothly. Each counselor will receive a set of laminated cards (to be worn on a lanyard), which contain the schedule for the day. I hope we can pretty well keep most of the schedule from last year and just alter things a little to accommodate any needed changes, because otherwise my brain might melt. Like, seriously, melt, like gray ice cream left in the sun.

Needless to say I’m behind on things, so I’d better go. Our kickoff “Back to Camp” night is next week . . .