Kickin' it at Girls Camp

Last month I was lucky enough to be invited to come up to girls camp for a few days.  I jumped at the chance.  I LOVE girls camp, and I know and love most of these awesome girls and women.

This year the theme was the Olympics, and every ward had to come up with a name for their "country."  The name for the Bermuda Dunes ward?  The U.D.B - The United Dunes of Bermuda.  Love it!  

And I love these cute girls and ladies

I was invited to come to camp to teach a taekwando class with my sister, Lisa.  Last year we came up to teach self defense, but this year, to go with the Olympics theme, they asked us to come up and teach just taekwando to all the girls.  We taught 3 classes.

I had a great time yelling at the girls and they had a lot of fun with it (I hope.)

First, we had to warm up, of course, so the first thing we did was send them running a lap around the outside of the lodge, then they took off their shoes and Lisa led them in stretching.

I showed them the basic stances, then taught them a few basic punches and blocks with a beginning taekwando form, 14 techniques.

Then Lisa taught them a few basic kicks.

Then we put everything together with some drills.  The girls did a great job, and they all worked really hard kicking and punching, and of course yelling!  Those girls were not shy about yelling at the top of their lungs.  It was awesome!

I think everyone had a great time and got a good workout.  I know I sure did!  It was exhausting.


At the end of each class we announced that we had a special surprise.  We brought a stack of wood for the girls to break - if they wanted to.  Most of the girls, actually, chose to come break a board.  That was pretty exciting!  Anyone who does taekwando will tell you that breaking boards is the best part of any belt test, and we gave these girls a chance to have bragging rights that they broke a board with their bare fist or foot.  We all cheered with each break.  The girls were thrilled.

Break it!  Yesss!

During a short break between classes, we decided to go out and watch the girls on the mobile climbing wall.  Sarah and Brittany from my seminary class were working it.

Lisa and I decided to give it a try.  Yep, I climbed that wall wearing my gi pants and taekwando shoes.

To the top.  But the best part was the descent.  Wheee!

Once we were done teaching our classes, all that was left to do was sit back and watch the craziness that is girls camp.

 My parents came up to help with a few meals.  I'm sure kitchen duty is fun, but I'd rather be breaking boards with the girlies, thank you very much. 

My girls, Madi & Mary (yes, I claim them, so there)

One of my favorite things about girls camp is the singing.  Lots of silly camp songs, especially before dinner.

There was more singing at the campfire program that evening.

That evening they talked about their experience rock climbing and how that could be a metaphor for life and the gospel.  I was really touched by the wisdom and insight of these young women!  It was a wonderful discussion and the spirit was really strong out there in the beauty of the mountains.

It made my night when Julissa, (bottom right) who was in my seminary class, stood up and said that when she was near the top of the rock wall she was afraid, and then, she said, suddenly one of the seminary scriptures that she had memorized popped into her head and it gave her the courage she needed to finish.  It was Proverbs 4:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart..."  She bore her testimony of putting trust in the Lord and how that scripture has sustained her.  That made me feel so good.  I really push the memorization in my class, and that is exactly why!  It was like getting a big fat paycheck for all the work I have done teaching that class. I love that girl!


I suppose Lisa and I could have gone home after our classes we done, but we were not ready to leave girls camp so soon, so we stayed the night.  I'm so glad.

Wednesday morning was an early one.  It was hike day, and we decided to join the fun.

It was a beautiful morning and a tough hike.  But the girls were troopers.

Mary twisted her ankle pretty badly, so Sis. Thatcher and I helped her down the mountain.  She is making her pathetic face for the camera.  Poor Mary.

Pretty views of Big Bear Lake.

More craziness back at camp.  Who are these guys in the mustaches, anyway?

Lisa and I were all set to drive down the mountain, but the silly olympic games had just gotten started, and we just had to stay and watch all the crazy antics of these nutty athletes and the crazy events, like the ping pong ball toss.

The cheering section!  Go team!

The egg and spoon race is always nerve-wracking to watch.

Then a cheer by the adult camp leaders.  Such grace and synchronization!

My favorite: the pantyhose-tennis-ball-knock-down-the-bottle race.  My niece Andi was hilarious.

This was by far the toughest team sport.  There and back, and if you step off, you have to start over.  Some of thee teams had to start over and over, and over, and over.  It was rough, but these athletes have trained their whole lives for this and they could handle it. I think it should be in the real olympics.

The best part of girls camp, are the girls, of course.

Camp was so fun, and I was glad to be able to spend a few days there.  But I always feel like I miss all the best stuff when I leave.  Maybe next year I will get to stay the whole week - maybe they will want me to teach a taekwando classes all week long, or something....

  Maybe.