STEP UP and bring someone with you

 Our theme for Stake Girl's Camp this year is a dance inspired theme:

 "Step Up" a.k.a. Set The Example Personally

(photos from our Step-Up camp can be found here)

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M O S I A H  1 8 :  8 - 9

 "…As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life - "

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CAMP KICK-OFF:

Last night was our Camp Kick-Off.  Can I just say that I am so excited for camp this year!  Kim, thank you for your ideas on introductions.  Unfortunately, I was too embarrassed to do "Evolution of Dance".  And due to waiting until the last minute there was really no time to put together the "SNL Cheerleading Skit".  Either of those would have been awesome.  We ended up doing a simple cheerleading roll call:

Ready?  Okay.

Roll Call!

I'm Sister _____.

*clap *clap

And I like _____.

*clap *clap

We all clapped together, as each one took a turn introducing themselves.

We said silly little things for what we liked:  pickles, hugs, floss, rocks,

dancing, 4th years (which obviously got a lot of cheers from the 4th years)

We ended by yelling out:

"Does anybody want to dance?!"

Then the music started.

Greg and Steve's "The Freeze".
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I was afraid it would be too cheesy, but the girls seemed to love it!  We were immediately surrounded with young women, dancing and freezing then dancing again.  Brie asked me later if I heard her yell out in the beginning, "That's my mom!"  I wish I had.  I guess I didn't embarrass her and Maddy too much.  :)

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YW CAMP
The following is what the Stake Camp Committee has planned for camp.  I am simply working with activities and crafts.  But you know how my mind works...  I love creating idea pages, I'll warn you when those ideas are about to surface!
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DANCE STYLE ASSIGNMENTS:

1st years:  Hula

2nd years:  Jazz

3rd years:  Swing

4th years:  Techtonic

YCL's/Seniors:  Hip Hop

Adult Leaders:  Cheerleaders

Cooks:  Salsa

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DAILY THEMES:

Tuesday:

Ballet

"Stay on your toes."

Helaman 5:12

Wednesday:

Break Dance

"Just move it."

Doctrine and Covenants 58:27-28

Thursday:

Interpretive

"Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful."

1 Samuel 16:7

Friday:

Line Dancing

"Don’t get out of sync."

2 Nephi 28:32

Saturday:

Step Up

"And bring someone with you."

2 Nephi 28:32

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WARNING:

Here come the idea pages.

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DECOR:

Wooden silhouettes of dancers for each cabin.  Painted black.  Possibly 4 feet tall.  Decorated by each cabin - to go along with their dance style assignment.  Maybe a few extra to go around camp.  I think it would look really cool.
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ACTIVITIES/CRAFTS:

• The craft cabin will not be called the craft barn or cabin this year.  It will be "The Step-Up Academy of Dance and Creativity."
• It may be a good idea to have "dance cards" to be punched as projects are completed.
• At the end of the week, if they complete a certain amount of projects and/or activities they will receive a certificate of completion.  This is what I created to go along with the theme:

• Possible craft ideas here.
• Buckets of Red Vine licorice twists with the labels replaced with "Let's Do The Twist!"  Anyone coming into the Academy is welcome to take a piece of licorice, but they must "do the twist" first.  :)

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ALL CAMP ACTIVITY:

Now for the activity for the whole camp.  Usually held at the end of the week.  History tells us that the all camp activity is all about fun! And a bit of competition.  Here are a few ideas running around my head:

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IDEA #1:  "So You Think You Can Dance?" Competition

• Take place at ampitheater
• Judges table
• Costume Boxes
• Hat filled with slips of paper with different styles of dances printed on them.
• In turn, each team will choose a dance style from the hat.
• IMPROV: They must choreograph a dance, create costumes, perform within a set amount of time.
• "So You Think You Can Dance?" count down a must!

IDEA #2:  "So You Think You Can Dance?" Obstacle Course

(a play on words/using names of different styles of dance)

• Ballet
• Break Dance (sling shot target practice, breaking plates - with letters on them spelling DANCE)
• Hip Hop (potato sack race, wearing bunny ears)
• Hula (hula hoop competition)
• Swing
• Line Dancing
• Fox Trot

IDEA #3:  Masquerade Ball

• To begin, everyone will create a mask, representing the teams (cabins/year) they are apart of.
• Then we will play one of the following:  steal the disco ball (steal the flag), quad soccer, dodge ball

IDEA #4:  Flash Mob Dance
(to a camp inspired "Step-Up Dance Mix" )

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PERSONAL PROGRESS:

• Knowledge #3

Memorize Article of Faith number thirteen and recite it to a parent, a leader, or another adult. Then visit a museum or exhibit or attend a performance that involves dance, music, speech, or drama. Using this article of faith as a guide, evaluate what you saw and heard. In your journal write your thoughts about how you can use this article of faith as a guide for all you do so the Holy Ghost will be your constant companion. Share those thoughts with a parent or leader.

• Individual Worth #5

Participate in a dance, speech, music, or drama performance at school, in your community, or at church. How did your participation in this activity strengthen your feelings of individual worth and self-confidence? Record your thoughts in your journal.

• Choice and Accountability #8

Under the direction of your parents or leaders, help plan and direct a youth dance or other activity that features appropriate dancing instruction and wholesome music, lighting, and atmosphere.

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QUOTES INSPIRED BY DANCE:

• It was Brigham Young who said, “If you want to dance … do it, and exercise your bodies, and let your minds rest,” and “If you wish to dance, dance; and you are just as much prepared for a prayer meeting after dancing as ever you were, if you are Saints.”

• Doctrine and Covenants 136:28  "If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving."

• "Instead of waiting for the storm to pass, dance in the rain."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• "We Could Have Danced All Night" - Ensign
• "Why Dance?" - New Era
• "Steps in Time" - New Era
• "12 Dancing Stakes" - New Era
• "QandA" - New Era
• "So You Think You Can Fancy Dance? - Native American Dance