Activity Day--Day Camp Overview

Hi.  Here is a quick overview of what our stake does for day camp.  I hope this helps you plan your own.  Happy day camping!

Shedule

           1:00-1:15 Check-in (as each girl arrives, she checks in and gets assigned to her day camp group which consists of the girls her age from her ward.  Sometimes wards are   combined to make a good group.  Groups have 8-10 girls each.)

1:15 – 1:30 Welcome, Prayer, Flag Ceremony

1:35 – 2:05 1^st class     

2:10 – 2:40 2^nd class   

          2:40 – 2:55  Snack Break provided by Stake (The stake brings snacks to each   group which they eat and drink at the end of the 2^nd class and then they rotate to the 3^rd class at 2:55.  The stake picks up any leftovers and trash.

 3:00 – 3:30 3^rd class

3:35 – 4:05 4^th class    

4:10 – 4:40 Dinner  (Dinner consists of sack lunches the girls bring from home.  Bishops and their wives are invited to attend dinner and the campfire program.  Our ward always bought Subway for our bishop and his wife.)

5:00 – 6:30Campfire program (Each ward does a skit based on a scripture story that fits the theme. The stake leaders do a funny song and dance focusing on the theme.  We usually perform it once at the beginning, something short in the middle, and a reprise at the end. We have four themes that we rotate every four years.  They include Faith, Love, Home, Scriptures)

 Classes:  Each age group (8,9,10,11) rotates through 4 different classes that focus on the gospel standards.  Each ward is asked to staff 2 classes.  We provide the wards with a description of the activity and ideas to tie the activity in to the gospel.  We also provide a budget for some of the more costly classes. 

Some Class ideas:

Modesty, Manners, Sewing, Geo Caching, Rope Making, Self Defense, Fire Making, Leather Working, Sand Art, etc.  Each class is tied in with the gospel in some way.

Activity Day--Day Camp 2011

Hope you like this write-up of this years day camp.  Please leave a comment and tell us your favorite part of

Day Camp 2011.

**Also see Day Camp Overview to get a sample of how we run day camp**

Every year, our stake holds an activity day Day Camp.  This year, we hoped to have camp at a boy's camp in the canyon like they’ve had in year’s past, but because of the weather, we held it at a church building.  Although most everyone missed being out in nature, having Day Camp in a building worked out just fine.  In a way, it was nice to have every one so close to each other; each age group rotating in a different corner of the building.  The classes were also a little longer because rotating time was so short which was nice.  And the classes!  We have had many classes over the years, but this year it seems like the teachers were especially creative and committed to teaching these girls in a fun, hands-on way.   Each girl went home with memories and mementos of interesting and inspiring classes taught by people who love the girls and Heavenly Father.

At dinnertime, we were visited by the bishopric members from the various wards who came to eat sack lunches with their ward activity day girls.  They truly looked happy to be there and we know that the girls felt especially loved because these men took time to be with them.  Many of the bishopric members stayed to watched the skits after dinner.  The skits were so fun!  Each skit highlighted a different gospel story, Daniel in the Lion’s den, Nephi and the brass plates, the pioneers, the stripling warriors, Noah’s ark, Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego.  Some wards spoke without lines, some used well written scripts; many quoted scriptures; some sang lyrics; one ward used no words at all!  Every skit was unique and they each taught an inspiring and sometimes very funny lesson about faith.

Before the skits, the whole stake primary board danced.  Yep.  Pretty stupendous.  Six crazy women wearing leg warmers, waving pom poms, and being as silly as possible.  And if that wasn't enough, they did it again after all of the skits were done.  No kidding.  The first time they danced, we think their poor captive audience was in shock.  The second time, thankfully, they’d gotten used to the idea of strange old ladies making fools of themselves, and they cheered and sang along.  In the end, it was pretty  darn fun.  So that was Day Camp--the theme was faith, the lesson was learned, and we think the girls had a blast. 

Yearly Letter

One activity day group sends out a letter every year to the parents to remind them of their ultimate responsibility to get the program done, tell them of the time, address concerns, and review what the program is and what to expect from the leaders.  Great idea!  

Super Saturday

One ward has Super Saturday once every six months and work on the 11 year-old requirements together.  This also is a good time to encourage the girls to get their books signed and follow through.  Thanks for the great idea!

Summer Time Field Trips

One ward combines their Activity Day groups in the summer to do longer activities like visiting the temple, the family history library, temple dedications (they actually had three girls get baptized because of that activity), etc.  Thanks for sharing this great idea with us!

Implementing Primary Activity Days

Except for the new information on quarterly activity days, all this was copied from the Faith in God booklet.  Usually, if you have a question about activity days, it will be answered there.

Monthly Communications

You can pass along information to the parents of your activity day girls every month or so in order to 1) Let them know when and where you will be holding upcoming activities and 2)To let them know what Faith in God requirement will be accomplished at each activity.  This information can be in the form of a calendar, a flier, or an email.
Let me know your ideas about passing along information by clicking on "comments" below!

Dividing up Goals

Many wards divide up all of the goals in the Faith in God book between their activity days groups so that each group works on different goals.  This is a great way to ensure that each girl completes all goals when she is in activity days and that no one goal is repeated too often. 
Share your ideas about Coordinating Activity Day Groups by clicking on "comments" below!

Using Faith in God in Activity Days

Click here to see a great page entitled "Using Faith in God in Activity days" on lds.org.  On this page you will find lessons on the purpose of activity days, planning activity days, roles and responsibilities of leaders involved in activity days, generating ideas for activity days, etc. 

Understanding Activity Days

Activity days is active. 

·         Activity days is hands on. 

·         Activity days is a chance to build the girl’s faith by taking gospel principles learned at home and in primary and ACT on them. 

·         It is a chance to learn skills that will help girls grow into righteous and able young women.

·           Activity days includes food, games, field trips, and fun. 

·         While activity days does involve listening, thinking, and sometimes writing, it is not school—it should focus on learning through doing.  

·         Activity days is not a party; It should always implement gospel-centered activities that increase faith.

·         Activity days is a positive place where all girls and leaders feel welcomed and loved.

·         Activity days may well be one of Primary’s most successful tools for conversion, activation, and retention.  Girls who don't come to church still love to come to activity days!  Your activity may be the only chance they have in the month to be reminded that they are precious children of God!

Magnifying the Call

(Points taken from M Russell Ballard’s talk, O Be Wise, Oct 2006 General Conference)

·         To magnify is to focus on the girls and their needs. 

·         It is to use Innovation born of inspiration.

·         To magnify is often to simplify.

·         To magnify is not to embellish, complicate, or expand.  It is not to sap too much time, money, or energy. 

Orienting New Leaders

Orienting new leaders is key to insuring that our activity day programs continue to run smoothly.  The counselor over activity days  will want to insure that someone (typically the counselor herself or an experienced activity day leader or both) meets with each new leader to explain the activity day program to them and to fill them in on how your ward implements this program.   Having some one assigned to see that this orientation takes place with each newly called leader will help to insure that your ward will continue to have wonderful activity days now and in the future.  
Share your ideas on Orienting New Leaders!  Click on "comments" below.