Grow in His Light

Youth Camp Leaders & Youth Camp Specialist Guidebook

OAKTON STAKE YOUNG WOMEN CAMP

2012

Grow in His Light

Youth Camp Leaders & Youth Camp Specialist Guidebook

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Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 2

CAMP THEME .............................................................................................................. 2

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES & ATTRIBUTES ................................................................................ 2

TESTIMONY ................................................................................................................. 4

LEADERSHIP TRAINING ....................................................................................................... 5

WEBSITE TRAINING .................................................................................................... 5

CAMP WEEK ............................................................................................................ 5

TRAINING MATERIALS .................................................................................................... 5

EXAMPLE ................................................................................................................ 5

LEADER .................................................................................................................. 5

TEACHER ................................................................................................................ 6

FRIEND .................................................................................................................. 6

COORDINATOR ........................................................................................................ 6

MOTIVATOR ............................................................................................................ 6

RESOURCES AND IDEAS ...................................................................................................... 6

FLAG CEREMONY .......................................................................................................... 6

MORNING DEVOTIONAL ................................................................................................. 7

DAILY THEMES & CABIN CHATS ......................................................................................... 7

SCRIPTURE TIME ........................................................................................................... 8

GROUP UNIFYING ITEM – FLOWER ..................................................................................... 8

TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITY (PLAN FOR OPENING) .................................................................... 8

CHEER ................................................................................................................... 8

MOTIVATIONAL IDEAS (LIMIT $10) .................................................................................. 8

BEACH BALL ACTIVITY ................................................................................................ 9

RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES & TEAM BUILDING IDEAS .................................................................... 10

CAMPER INFO ................................................................................................................ 10

CAMP MAP ................................................................................................................ 10

SCHEDULE – CAMP AT A GLANCE ...................................................................................... 11

DRESS STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................................. 11

PACKING LIST ............................................................................................................. 12

CERTIFICATION AREAS .................................................................................................. 12

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................... 13

ASSIGNMENTS ............................................................................................................. 13

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General Information Congratulations for becoming a Youth Camp Leader and Youth Camp Specialist for the 2012 Oakton Stake Young

Women’s Camp! We hope that you are excited and anxious to learn!

The following pages provide an overview of general camp information as well as specific leadership training for your

role as a Youth Camp Leader (YCL) and Youth Camp Specialist (YCS). Each role has a set of unique responsibilities

that will help make the camp a great experience for all the Young Women.

Please take time to read it before camp. This is also available at http://growinhislight.wordpress.com.

Camp Theme

The Oakton Stake Young Women Camp Theme & Scripture are:

Theme: Grow in His Light

Scripture: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth

more light, and the light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” – D&C 50:24

Roles & Responsibilities & Attributes The YCL and YCS share responsibilities, but are also unique. Shared roles include:

Participate in Pre-camp leadership training to prepare for camp responsibilities.

Develop leadership skills by planning, organizing and serving the other campers.

Serve as teachers/trainers to younger level campers.

Evaluate the camp experience following camp.

Unique responsibilities to each role are provided below:

YCL Responsibilities YCS Responsibilities

Work closely with the assigned Level Leaders to carry out teaching responsibilities. Note: contact your Level Leaders prior to camp to review the responsibilities that you have been assigned to teach and ask them for help

Responsible to know where all your Young Women are at all times, remind them safety at camp, never go off without telling a leader where they are, and to take a buddy with them

Arrive at camp prepared with ideas/supplies for cabins in case of rain (uno, cards, letter writing, drawing, games)

Plan/prepare teaching assignments prior to camp

Plan games that will strengthen the friendship bonds within level, especially on the first day

Assign level camp manual when required certifications are taught

Prepare inexpensive gifts, candy or cards to pass out to the young women

Responsible for conducting the evening firesides

Prepare, prior to camp, for 15-minute group scripture study and cabin chats

Conduct flag ceremonies.

Responsible for leading portions of the evening agendas.

Responsible for leading various activities that keep the camp running during the camp week

Crafts (assist)

Sports (assist)

Service project (assist)

Kitchen/Food (assist)

Certification (assist)

Outdoor cooking

First aid

Hikes

Attend cabin chats with group assigned

Assist Stake Young Women Presidency

Assist Stake Camp Director and Assistant Camp Directors

Assist with registration and check-in/check-out

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This section includes more information about what you should do to prepare for your roles and responsibilities.

YCL (Primarily) & YCS Preparation Information

Before Camp: Plan with Level Leader

Meet with your Level Leaders to help plan and divide up responsibilities for

Daily Cabin Chats

Scripture time

Cheer (approval)

A group unifying item (some do bandanas or hats or other)

Plan opening team-building activity

Planning rainy day activities

During Camp:

You will have a group of Young Women to work with, bond with them, stay with them, help them succeed

Oversee and help carry out all group clean-up assignments

Work with leaders teaching the Young Women certification, crafts, sports, nature…

Go on the hike with your group

Give out notes of encouragement, goodies to your group

Conduct cabin chats each night

Conduct rainy day activities should they be needed

Make sure each day begins and ends with cabin prayer

Friendship acts for others NO PRANKS

Carry out any assignments for conducting and evening activities

Help Each Other Feel Loved and Accepted By:

Invite everyone in your group to participate in as many camp events as they can. No one should be in their tent during the day. If they are sick they need to go to the infirmary.

Teach and encourage and practice the art of not singling yourself and a friend out of the group. If you and a friend want to do something,

o Give open invitations for anyone to join

o Help the quiet ones join others o Help them compromise

o

Look for each other’s positive qualities and compliment them often, especially those who seem the hardest to reach

Help them meet new friends and include the new friends in their daily activities

Help them participate in all activities, if they sit around and do nothing, it will be difficult to feel accepted and loved by others. And if they don’t feel that love it will be hard to feel the Savior’s love

A pat on the back, a touch on the arm or a squeeze of the hand helps them feel loved, important and at ease

Laugh, have fun and smile with them

Remind them that the Savior loves them

HELP EACH OTHER GROW SPIRITUALLY BY…

Praying as a group every morning and evening

Including each other in your group and individual prayers

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Encouraging the Young Women to bear their testimonies by setting an example

Having heartfelt cabin chats with meaningful sharing times

Being accepting of other’s differences

The goals of the Young Women Camp are to help you:

Draw closer to God

Appreciate and feel reverence for nature

Become more self-reliant

Develop Leadership skills

Respect and protect the environment

Serve others

Build Friendships

Enjoy camping

Have fun

You have the opportunity to grow far more than any of the Young Women you will work with. Through this experience you can draw closer to your Heavenly Father and strengthen others in living the gospel. You will succeed in each of these goals as you prepare for and become the leaders of the camp.

Testimony

You will be responsible for sharing with your Young Women the essential elements of a testimony which include:

God is our Father in Heaven and He loves us.

Jesus Christ is His Son, our Savior and Redeemer.

Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and he was the instrument through which the gospel of Jesus Christ was

restored to the earth. He translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s church on the earth today.

This Church is led by a living prophet who receives revelation.

Dos Don’ts

Keep testimony brief.

Take bearing your testimony seriously and sincerely. Peer pressure shouldn’t influence you.

Pray for support and confirmation of your testimony before you bear it.

Talk about things you are striving to gain a testimony of.

Testify of the things you know by the power of the Holy Ghost

Tell long stories. Brief examples of how you’ve gained a testimony are fine (for example - how you gained faith in Christ).

Describe details of past sins and bad conduct.

Take too much time. Others might be waiting for a chance to share.

Talk only about family and friends. It is a time for sharing what you know and feel about the gospel.

Be embarrassed if you get emotional.

Be critical of others’ testimonies. We are all learning!

Read: Bearing Testimony, by Elder Jay E. Jensen, Of the Seventy (link on the YCL/YCS website)

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Leadership Training

Website Training

For all training materials and additional resources, visit http://growinhislight.wordpress.com.

Camp Week

The Youth Camp Leaders (Sister Wheatley and Sister Dyer) will conduct brief daily leadership trainings at camp for

the YCL/YCSs. The trainings will remain in keeping with the daily theme, but also allow time to share experiences,

help each other with issues that arise amongst the Young Women and provide possible solutions.

Training Materials

At the May overnight training, the leadership training focused on the principles below:

Example

Attitude is contagious

Being the bright light

Leader

What makes a good leader

What it means to be a youth camp leader

Gain respect and trust

How to lead without taking out agency

Creating a safe environment of love and trust for each Young Women.

Keeping control of the situation

Responsibility for Young Women – know where they are, where they are going, getting them to the next transition - happily

Example

Motivator

Coordinator Friend

Teacher

Leader

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Teacher

Preparing for evening cabin chats (using the template)

Importance of preparation

Using prayer to invite the Spirit

Searching the scriptures

Searching for topics under LDS.org and other media

Drawing out the Young Women – helping them feel the Spirit

Using an agenda

Working together with partners

Bearing your testimony

Friend

“Get to know Young Women” ideas on the first day of camp to help the group bond

Being kind

Being sensitive to the needs of individual Young Women

Coordinator

How to conduct a meeting

Using an agenda

Difference between early morning devotional (spiritual) and evening fireside (fun, generating excitement)

Role playing

Assignments for all conducting requirements

Motivator

Ideas for motivating the Young Women

Ideas for low cost, meaningful gifts

Resources and Ideas This section provides helpful information related to some of the day-to-day activities you are responsible for at camp,

including:

Flag Ceremony

Morning Devotionals

Daily Cabin Chats

Scripture time

A group unifying item (some do bandanas or hats or other)

Plan opening team-building activity

Planning rainy day activities

Flag Ceremony

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Each day of camp the morning will start off with a flag ceremony. A Youth Camp Specialist will lead the flag ceremony each day following the agenda below:

Day/Date

Bugle Call

Flag Ceremony (Level 2) – Group (TBD)

Roll Call – by level and group – Level 1 through Level 4

Announcements/Reminders

Prayer (including blessing on the food)

Morning Devotional

The morning devotional will be the responsibility of the Youth Camp Leader. The agenda should include:

YCL Conducting

Welcome

Opening Song

Chorister

Prayer

YW Theme

Scripture for the day

Introduce speaker (use bio)

Speaker

Journal Time

Closing Song

Announcements

Daily Themes & Cabin Chats

The daily cabin chats are a chance for the Young Women to bond as a small group while sharing scriptures, song and

reflect on the daily themes.

A cabin chat includes the following elements:

Theme

Scripture

Quote

Song

Handout

Activity

Sharing Time

Testimony

Prayer

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Each day of camp has a theme that applies directly to the overall theme of the camp. The daily theme will be

introduced at the flag ceremony and discussed further at the cabin chats. The daily themes are:

Day Theme Related Talks and Scriptures

Monday Experiment Upon the Word

Song: The Seed

Alma 32

A Living Testimony by Henry B. Eyring

Tuesday Believe

Song: We Believe – Sam Riddle version

Believe, Obey, Endure by President Thomas S. Monson

Wednesday Obey

Song: Arise

Believe, Obey, Endure by President Thomas S. Monson

Thursday Endure

Song: Strength Beyond My Own

Believe, Obey, Endure by President Thomas S. Monson

Friday Arise and Shine Forth

Song: Arise to the Mountain

Now is the Time to Arise and Shine by Elaine S. Dalton

Saturday Forget Me Not Forget Me Not by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Scripture Time

The daily scripture time is a time for Young Women to meet as a group, but individually read and study scriptures.

Please encourage your group to take this time to learn, reflect and write about their experiences.

Group Unifying Item – Flower

The overall camp theme contains flowers, but the YCL/YCSs get to select a flower to represent their particular

Young Women. The YCL/YCSs need to research and select their flower before camp.

Team-Building Activity (plan for opening)

The following are activities and ideas to help the Young Women get to know each other on the first day of camp.

Cheer

Needs to be positive in nature - cheer cannot reference any other group that may put others down.

Proper language.

If a word has two meanings and one of the meanings has bad connotation, pick another word to use.

Motivational Ideas (l imit $10)

Bandanas decorated anyway you want.

Make the same friendship bracelet for each person in group

Ask Young Women to bring an old pillow case for everyone in your group to sign.

Have a simple scrapbook (composition notebook) for each person at the beginning of camp so they can add t

it as camp progresses (everyone autographs it, put in pictures, make a pocket so notes can be put in). Have

group name, year and person’s name on front.

Can decorate Camp shirt, bring fabric markers (do a design on neck ribbing, put our group name on it, etc)

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Have a large beach ball with questions on it, you can play the get-to-know you game we played at YCL

training or throw a Frisbee and ask same questions to those who catch it (possible questions listed below)

Large rope so you can have jump-roping games with jingles and get-to know you prompts that you can chant

while jumping and letting people in and out of the jumping action.

Flip Flops (for bathroom runs) that you decorate with jewels, paint or rickrack ($1 store)

Candy to put with sayings for the day that you can pass out at Cabin Chat in the evening.

Decorate frame ($1 store) for 4x6 camp Picture that we will be taking and will hand out at the end of camp.

Pick a certain color that is your color and coordinate everything—bandanas, flip flops, etc. And also

provide ribbons (or cut-up strips of material) that they can tie to their journal, backpack or something that

they receive when they do a good turn or say something nice to someone, or show up on time to an event –

catch them in the act. See who can have the most ribbons at the end of camp.

The same sunglasses ($1 store) that will make you stand out from everyone.

Bubbles, large bubble blower

Thanks you notes so you can write each camper a note and tell how she added to your camp experience, or

have them available to write notes to their leaders, kitchen help etc. to tell them thanks for their service.

Glow bracelets so you can see each other at night at Cabin Chats.

Water bottles ($1 store)

Craft Sticks that you put sayings on and out at Cabin Chats.

Small books ($1 store) with name on hanging from clothes line in Cabin so people can write good things

about them inside the book (friendship, good traits, service they noticed that this person did, etc.)

Leadership tips: Love is always the answer; Open door policy-talk-get to know them personally; Teach

YW Values; Ask what you can do for them?; Publicly praise and compliment them (if you want someone to

change, point out when they have done the “changing behavior” with praise and compliments).

Beach Ball Activity

Here are the questions to write on the beach ball:

Who would you like to meet?

favorite thing to do in the summer

favorite movie

favorite holiday

Where were you born?

Favorite flavor of Jelly belly

Best Halloween costume

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Favorite dessert food

Where do you go to school?

favorite hobby

favorite weekend hangout

best school subject

favorite book

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greatest phobia

favorite thing for breakfast

Write them far enough apart so that their hand will land on one of the questions when they catch the ball.

Rainy Day Activit ies & Team Building Ideas

Ideas for rainy day activities and group

Activity Name

Description

“What animal am I?”

Have each member of the group think of an animal he would like the others to guess. Choose one person to start. Have her act out what the animal does until someone guesses what animal she is pretending to be. The first person that guesses correctly gets a chance to act out their animal. Be sure everyone gets a turn to be the animal.

“Guess Who” Have one member of the group think of a favorite or unusual scripture character (or choose another classification). One at a time the rest of the group asks questions about this character, taking turns around the circle. The first one that thinks they know it raises her hand and asks to answer the questions about the character herself. If her answers are right (the one who chose the character will know), she continues until someone else guess and then takes over answering the questions. If someone’s guess is wrong, and will be out of the game to sit by and watch until others know the correct character.

“What do you hear?”

Have all the group members close their eyes for one minute, listen, and note all the sounds they hear. After a minute have them open their eyes and name all the sounds they heard.

“Mother Goose Charades”

Divide the group into two teams, with one leader in each team. One team acts out a mother goose rhyme (or a fairy tale) in pantomime. The other team guesses what the nursery rhyme is. Then they switch roles.

“I’m thinking of something”

Give clues until others in the group guess the item they are thinking of.

“How’s your memory?”

All sit in circle. The first person starts by saying a phrase such as “One old ostrich” The next person must say a phrase such as “Two tree toads” and “One old ostrich”. Each time a member of the group adds a phrase and repeats all the previous phrases. If someone makes a mistake they are out of the game. Keep going until everyone is eliminated.

Camper Info General camper information is available on the website at http://growinhislight.wordpress.com, but is provided

below so you can prepare to answer the questions that the Young Women may ask before and during camp.

Camp Map

A snapshot of the camp map is provided below.

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Schedule – Camp at a Glance

The schedule is still in revision, but will be forwarded to you in June 2012.

Dress Standards and Guidelines

Dear Young Women Presidents, Camp Directors and Camp Leaders,

We look forward to a wonderful week at camp this summer. Young Women Camp is a unique opportunity for

young women to strengthen friendships and feel the spirit. We want to make sure that each young woman feels

loved and welcome at camp. As leaders, we have the privilege to help the young women feel of their Heavenly

Father’s love for them and to understand their infinite worth. It is important that each young woman understand and

is familiar with the guidelines in For the Strength of Youth. This is especially important for less active members or

friends of another faith who will join with us this summer. These guidelines are one of the many aspects of Young

Women Camp that makes it a safe and uplifting environment.

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Modest dress invites the companionship of the Spirit. Please communicate clearly with the young women before they

come to camp, so that they will pack properly.

1. Shirts that have sleeves—no tank tops, sleeveless shirts or camis.

2. Shorts that are knee-length—2-3 inches above the knee is fine; mid-thigh and

shorter is not.

3. Swimsuits that cover the stomach—modest one piece suit or tankini that

provides adequate coverage.

Other clothing requirements—Close toed shoes and long pants will be required for hiking and

participating in the cope course. Please make sure the young women understand this. Light

weight long pants will help them to be more comfortable if it is hot.

Observance of dress standards builds unity as a group and helps to create a wholesome

environment we desire at camp.

We remind you of our Heavenly Father’s love for each young woman. This love is conveyed through caring leaders.

If a situation arises that needs to be dealt with, please make an effort to speak with the ward young women leader. A

member of the Stake YW Presidency can also be of assistance.

Packing List

Grooming Essentials Suggested clothing Bedding & Misc Required Items

towel / wash cloth

beach towel

comb / brush

toothbrush / toothpaste

feminine hygiene needs

soap

shampoo

deodorant

chapstick

other personal items

5-6 pairs modest, knee-length shorts

5-6 shirts (no tank tops)

underclothing

pajamas

socks

Shoes - closed-toe shoes and socks

flip flops for shower/pool

1-2 pair long pants for evenings and COPE Course

hat/bandana

poncho/rain gear

swimsuit – see guidelines

sweatshirt / light jacket – cool nights

sleeping bag or bedroll

pillow Misc Required Items:

camp chair

sun block

insect repellent

scriptures (or copied pages)

flashlight/batteries ( required)

camera (optional)

canteen or refillable water bottle

medications

camp manual

pocket knife: required for Level 2

Cert ification Areas

We will also ask many of you to help with teaching parts of the certification program, including:

Hikes

Animals, plants

Fires

Outdoor cooking, nutrition

Knots, knives

Bedroll, shelters

Water purification

Emergency signal, disaster safety

Stars, clouds, compass

Environment, recycle

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Cert ification Requirements

The certification requirements are available in the Young Women’s Camp Manual at

http://www.lds.org/languages/youthmaterials/YWCampManual_000_2006.pdf.

Assignments

Adults will be responsible for leading camp assignments, but YCLs/YCSs may be assigned to assist in these areas:

Role Description

Certification Specialist

Largely a pre-camp duty, coordinating the leaders, instructional materials, locations, and schedule for certification trainings.

Food Specialist Coordinate breakfast planning, and buy and organize food, snacks, treats

Kitchen Specialist Access the fridge and freezer as needed and organize the mess hall assignments.

Evening Program Specialists

Work with an assigned youth leader to plan and carry out two evening programs at camp. There will be 2 adults for Tues/Thurs and 2 for Wed/Fri.

Level Leader Be an adult supervisor for a YW group of a certain certification level: Levels 1-4. Please specify if a certain level is desired.

Craft Specialist Arrange for craft activities to be available during free time for a few hours every day.

Spa Specialist Plan and carryout a “spa” station during free time at least one of the days.

Service Project Specialist

Plan and coordinate one or more service projects to be done at camp. (Camp Snyder has some available.)

Cleaning Supplies Specialist

Take into account what is in the storage shed and purchase additional needed supplies. Be responsible for taking, replenishing, and bringing home the cleaning supplies.

Sports and Games Specialist

Gather equipment and oversee the use of it for these free time activities (many in storage shed).

Tent Gear Specialist Prepare tents and tarps for camp. Air out and inventory tents post-camp.

Flag Ceremony Specialist

Work with youth and YCLs to carry out daily flag ceremony; keep track of flag.

Devotional Specialist

Get devotional speakers approved and assigned for four days. The current plan is to have the speaker present two identical 20-minute devotionals back-to-back.