Oakcrest Finally!!!

Why haven't I posted about Oakcrest before now!?! I don't know... but here it goes. Sorry family. This is going to be a long post.

I had an incredible summer!!! I spent 11 weeks of my summer working at an LDS girls camp called Oakcrest. Oakcrest is similar EFY but it's only for 12, 13, and 14 year old girls in the Salt Lake Valley.


I have 11 weeks worth of experiences to write about, yet I have no idea what to write. Or where to start! I was SO excited to spend my summer at Oakcrest. I went as a camper when I was 12 and 13. Both years were great! I knew that by applying and getting the job I would have quite the experience. But I didn't really know what I was getting myself in to (but you never do right?). I had no idea how tired I would be. And I had no idea how much fun it would be! By the last couple of weeks of Oakcrest, I was ready to move back to P-town and start school. I remember one particular time I was sitting on a rock by myself, (I think my girls- meaning the girls that had me as their counselor- were at crafts) I was so happy to have a moment to myself. It was peaceful outside and I was exhausted. I thought, "I'm ready for this to be over. It's great but, I'm ready for a change". Then I thought, "You know what? Someday I'm going to miss this. I'm going to wish that I was back at Oakcrest. So I have to make the best of it now."


I do miss Oakcrest. Instead of worrying about homework, choosing a major, dating, roommates (or lack of roommates next semester...) I would be worrying about getting ticks, what I was going to teach for unit prayer, making sure my campers were hydrated, what the topic would be for scripture study in the mornings, making sure my girls were getting along, or homesick girls. Oh how I miss it. Now I need to remember that this is what I wanted when I didn't have it. I'm not saying that I don't love life because I do :) But I miss a lot Oakcrest.
Every Monday I would get 8-11 girls and I would be their counselor until Friday afternoon. Mondays we all start out as strangers and by the end of the week we're all best friends. Every week was full of activities such as arts and crafts, many gospel classes, hiking, family home evening, zip line, archery, all kinds of games, staying up late, singing crazy camp songs, parachute, pranks, going to the trading post, kick ball, cookouts, mudslide, obstacle course, skits, and so forth. We were always doing something! When I was a camper I remember how LONG the days were. It didn't change once I became a counselor. Mondays and Tuesdays were especially long.


I had so much fun! Who knew I could have so much fun with girls so much younger than me!? Every week I was crazy about my girls! Each week was very different but it was amazing how I fell in love with them. I always looked forward to Fridays because I got to go home and rest, but saying bye to the girls was hard!

I didn't have a camera for very much of the summer but here are a few picture of my cute girls

Here are some pics of the activities listed above

Singing on the stage

Playing kickball. All the campers vs staff. We never lost a game

Zip line

Pranks

Mudslide

Trading Post

Every Tuesday morning and Wednesday night we had cookouts. Me and another counselor (different every time) would build a fire and cook the food. As a camper I hated cookouts. As a counselor they were my fav! I don't know what it was about making a fire and cooking the food, but I was always excited about it. Sometimes it was really stressful and really hot cooking for 20 starving girls. I usually didn't get much to eat especially on Tuesday mornings because we were always in a rush. I singed my arm hairs many times and the watch I wore all summer will forever smell like smoke. It was great :)

My favorite meal of the whole summer! Yum Navajo Tacos! Doesn't that look like heaven? I think so :)
I loved playing and having fun but I loved teaching even more. Throughout the week I had so many opportunities to teach.

• Monday night Family Home Evening on the Atonement
• a trek about being beautiful in God's eyes
• the introduction of the Book of Mormon
• twice a week I got to choose 2 topics to studying for scripture study
• a trek where they were blind folded and then a lesson about life, prayer, the atonement
• the first vision
• every night before bed we had unit prayer around a candle. I got to teach about anything I felt they needed to hear.
• Moroni's challenge
  

If I had to choose what I missed most I think it would have to be teaching. I remember what it was like to be that age. It's such a weird time of life and I loved having the responsibility of teaching them important things. I was amazed of how the Spirit lead me to certain topics at certain times.



Things I never thought I would miss:

• Pounding on the tables at meal times
• Wednesday hikes
• Waking up to that obnoxious music every morning!
• Sleeping in a cabin all summer
• Only showering once a week
• The not-so-cute picture on my table
• Having NO time to myself

My Biggest Trials:

• Homesick girls
• Being exhausted
• Being sick

Things I learned:

• Prayer is real! It's amazing what answers I received when I asked for them
• Fire building. I'm a pro
• Under pressure I can be VERY patient and calm (I received help)
• Happiness comes through serving
• You can fit WAY more than you think into a day
• Fanning the fire almost always works
• It is very possible to have a large crackling fire when it's raining
• I love being a leader
• A name is just a name. I was called Snooze all summer long. It was my name. I'm sure I would easily respond to it still.
• Life is much more simple when a dating life is not possible
• Some 12 and 13 year-olds can't be away from their mothers for very long
• I love to teach!
• If you ever feel sick just drink more water!
  

Things I don't miss:

• Flag ceremony
• Standing in line for a shower after mudslides
  
• Cold showers
• Being exhausted
• Telling girls to be quiet at night- I loved my sleep. Still do
• Going to bed at 1 or 2 in the morning and then waking up at 7
• Mice living in the same room as me
  
• Mondays
• Pounding on my door in the middle of the night
• Silly drama
  

There are a few things I hope I don't ever forget about Oakcrest. I had some incredible experiences and some very hard moments.


One time (I think it was week 6 or 7), it was closing ceremony. The girls were all ready to get on the bus, we just had to say goodbye. As I was singing up on the stage, I found my girls in the crowd. They were watching me. I was thinking about how I was really going to miss them. Then I had this profound feeling come over me that Heavenly Father loved those girls. It was incredible. As we went to the field to say our last goodbyes. We were all crying by this time. I gathered them all in a circle to say a few more things to them. Struggling to talk, I told them that they needed to be strong in this world. I told them to pray everyday and read their scriptures. I told them that I loved them. Then we all said our goodbyes. It was a very tender moment.


If you ever need a self-esteem boost, be a counselor at Oakcrest. My girls were crazy about me. I wasn't the craziest one that they all wanted when they came to opening ceremony, but by the end of the week my girls loved me. They would watch my every move. I remember I think it was week 2, I got back from taking a shower and a few girls were whispering, "She's so pretty".
Then one of them asked, "Snooze, do you have a boyfriend?"
"Nope. I don't."
"Well you should because you're so pretty."


I remember loving my counselors and thinking they were beautiful. I loved this because when I was teaching them, I felt like they could trust me. It was so much fun.


I also miss seeing the girls change throughout the week. I saw this happen many, many times. A stuck up girl would come. She would have this attitude that said, "I'm too cool to be here. No way am I doing that." I was scared of these girls at first because a whole week is a long time to be with them. But after a couple of them, I knew I could do it. Every time I had a girl like that she would change by the end of the week. It was hard, but it was one of my favorite things to experience!


I also learned a ton about service! I never had any time to think about myself and it was great! Life was so much easier! One week I was getting really sick, but I didn't have any time to worry about it. I had ten girls to worrying about. I had to make sure they were all eating and drinking enough. I had to make sure everyone was getting along. Wherever we went I had to make sure all 11 of us were there. I think I can better understand what my mom had to go through :) Anyway, once I got home that Friday afternoon, I was SO sick! Once I was alone, I felt horrible! It was easier being sick at Oakcrest, because I was so focused on others and less focused about my own problems. The first week after Oakcrest was over, I felt SO selfish! I wish I could go back...

Oakcrest was great! And I would love to do it again, but when I think about it, it doesn't feel like it will happen. I had quite the experience. I learned a lot about myself and I am SO grateful for the opportunity.

I have so much more to write about and more pictures but they'll have to wait. This far too long anyway...Sorry for any typos. I was in a hurry.