Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked and Swam and Danced!

We are getting down to the wire for Girl's Camp. This year ALL THREE of the girls will be at camp and I'll be there too, as a Level 2 Camp Crafter - - I teach them all the stuff from the camp manual that they need to learn to pass off the level. We are going to a different camp this year. Our stake was newly created last June and so we have two sets of traditions to blend. We had difficulty finding a camp due to our late arrival (not born yet). We found a camp up in Georgia that is on a barrier island. It should be nice to have a constant sea breeze. The camp itself is in the salt marshes so there is no beach. The camp takes up the whole island (it is rather little) and there are no hiking provisions. So the leaders planned a pre-camp hiking activity at Anastasia State Park. We had a lot of girls show up and we all got our hikes passed off!!

I took my contingent on a 5-mile hike and we tromped around for 1 1/2 hours. It was hot, but the sea breeze really makes it tolerable. The girls were all very well behaved. I walked and they followed. I had a few other leaders along and they were interspersed with everyone else, then one lady brought up the rear. Morgan hiked along with the 4th year girls - Morgan is a 6th year Youth Camp Leader (YCL). Rozzie was with my group - the 3rd and 2nd levels went together. And Maddie went on her 1st year hike. Someone in their group had a camera and I found this picture on Facebook. here is Maddie reading a sign.
We gathered at the park at 8:30 (I had to leave the house at 7 to get there on time!!) and we were off to hike around 9. After the hikes, there was lunch provided by the camp cooks. And after lunch....beach time!!

We stayed at the beach until 1:30 and then had to leave so Rozzie could shower and primp for her 8th grade dance. The hike activity was a great success and I'm so glad to have the hike out of the way before camp!! We are all sunburned and everyone was talking about it at church today.

I mentioned that Rozzie had her 8th grade dance last night. Here is a close up of her beautiful face and gorgeous hair.

Here she is with all her friends as they get ready to go off in the royal mini-van. She had a grand time. They all went to Steak and Shake afterwards for Shakes (maybe some got steaks, but Roz did not). I guess this means she is ready for high school!

And for those who think we let the garden go, LOOK!! Not all of it is dead! Some plants died, others lived. The girls continue to water it and care for it. Progress is being made!