Camp-a-Lot
Note, many of the ideas here were contributed by Melody in New Mexico
More ideas found at http://www.ldschurch.net/f/gifford/page105.html
Make signs for the camp such as "In Camp-a-lot You're Loved-a-lot"
Each ward/age group and camp area has a unique name
DragonHearts, Knights of the Brown Table, Sir Dance-a-Lot Castle, Merlin's Magicians, DragonSlayers. Stake Camp is The Royal Court and they camp at Our Royal Home
Or use values and colors to make the camp group names (Kingdoms): Knowledge are the Know-a-lots, Individual Worth are Worth-a-Lots, etc
The young women are all princesses, they stay at castles, fight evil dragons (influences of Satan), are entertained by Jesters (our YCLs of course), etc. We have designated all areas of camp with Renaissance type names: Flag is in the Royal Courtyard, Sports is in the Jousting Arena, Fires are taught at The Spit, Personal Progress Class is named "Princess Power 101," even the bathrooms are The Throne Rooms, etc. We will have Royal Criers who will present the Proclamation of the Day, taken from the Proclamation on the Family.
We've also made neat little wooden swords (about 12" long) with the values stenciled on them (one value per sword) tied with ribbons in the corresponding color, which we will present to each of the girls in a "knighting ceremony" of sorts: "Take this sword of knowledge (or individual worth, or faith, or whatever value) and go forth and conquer the dragons throughout your life" --something along that order. ~Melody
In Arts and Crafts ("The Gallery"), the girls will be making crowns with florist wire, little flowers and lots of ribbons. They are so pretty. They can wear them at camp, and then there is a little sign about being of royal birth that they can attach to their tiaras and hang them on their walls at home. ~Melody
OR make Lady-in-Waiting hats (Personal Progress talk--while you're waiting work on personal Progress)
Our YW Camp did something like this a few years ago. I wasn't there, but my daughter brought home the cutest "lady in waiting" hat that was simple and inexpensive to make. 1/8th of a yard of satin fabric could make 2 hats. The Satin could be purchased in the Value colors. Since some fabric stores don't cut 1/8th right at 4.5 inches, I like to cut the fabric down to 4" even. (it makes a better size band) Cut it in half along the fold so that you have 2 long pieces. With right sides together, sew along the long side to create a long tube. Turn inside out. Stuff with batting. When you sew each end closed (by turning in about 1/4" and stitching along the edge), insert the end of about 6 inches of 1/4" elastic so that you form a circle. This will fit on the girls' head. (You may need to measure to be sure 6 inches of elastic will make it fit around the girls' heads. If you think it will be too small, you may only be able to get one hat per 1/8 yard of fabric and make them longer than 22".) Then, buy 1 yard of tulle (it's very fine netting) in the same color as the satin, and cut in half lengthwise. Fold it in half over the elastic so that both ends are even at the end. Bunch it up over the elastic so it will cover it somewhat. Then sew it down just under the elastic, so it will stay on. You may wind some gold or silver string, cording or ribbon, etc. around the circular band to make it prettier. (Our Stake used that lace with silver in it that is very inexpensive, but I found some gold cord at Wal-Mart that was cheap and much prettier) So, you wear the satin band around your head and the netting hangs down in the back, if you can picture that. It was very cute and the girls loved them! When I made
some for dress-up they cost me about $1.25 to make, but I used some more expensive cording that matched my satin and had gold running through it and got 2 hats out of 1/8th yard of fabric. ~Nancy
Stories, Plays, or Poems to enjoy
Bedtime Story (Starring the Three Princesses)--easily turns into a skit with narrator
The Princess and the Pea--she couldn't sleep with even one thing wrong. We should live our lives that way--don't go to sleep with any sin or grudge on our consciences
We hope to impress upon our young women just how special they are and the royal birthright that is there--in a fun way. We plan to touch on our eternal family that started in the pre-existance, our present earthly families, and preparation for our future families.
We will start out with "Charm School" where they will get a
charm for their camp necklace before breaking into the Princess Power 101 classes. ~Patti
It would be fun to "Knight" the girls and give them a "Knight Shirt".
~Patti
We thought it would be fun to have a "sword in a stone" and as the girls realize
their Divine Nature they will be able to pull the sword out of the stone. We are
going to use a plastic sword in a paper mache stone and rig it so it won't come out of the
stone with a pin until they realize their divine nature. ~With Love, Patti
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