I was told it would change my life. I was a sceptic, how could one summer change my life?
Boy, they were right.
I worked up at Badger Creek in Tetonia, Idaho. The job is a summer camp for LDS youth called OYA(outdoor youth adventures). Me and about 21 other people were in charge of taking kids through the ropes courses, horses, trek, relays, and general all around entertainment all the while teaching the gospel.
I was known as the crazy loud councilor, who only wore thrift store clothing, and often broke into an Australian accents.
The kids were the most amazing part. They all have amazing testimonies and would often teach me as much, if not more than I was trying to teach them. I made some really good friends, both fellow staff and kidlets in my groups.
Some highlights:
With one of my groups we wanted to play night games, but none of the other teams were ready. We decided to smear ash all over ourfaces and raid the other camps. We snuck up on them and sang Oh-A LayLay. Some groups joined in, others thought we were crazy!
The kidlets slept in their tents or teepees, but the councilors slept under the handcarts, or under the stars. Many a thunderstorm soaked our things, but it was always a fun adventure.
Right before my first OYA group arrived, Annalyse told me I should pretend to be from Australia. So I introduced myself from Manly, Australia. I was only going to do it until someone called me out on it, three days later and I was sick of talking in an accent. So during lunch I got up to make an anouncement. "I am not really from Australia(said in an accent), I am from Bosie Idaho(not in an accent)". Silence. Everyone was shocked and thought I was lying. It took the help of the other councilors to convince everyone. My group was a little upset at me, but they came around and they thought it was funny.
I had riden on a horse maybe ten times in my life. Mostly on the back of people, or being lead around. Part of the job was learning to work with horses; saddling, picking hooves, brushing, rounding up. This was one of those things in my life where I didn't know how I had gotten along without it. The first time we went riding I chose to ride Painted Lady, not because she was pretty like most girls would, but because she was tall and looked fast. We bonded. I chose her everytime I went on a staff ride. I caught on to riding pretty quick. Got the trot down, and was ready to run. I rode as often as I could. Jake and I would always go out and race the horses. It is amazing having a living breathing thing under you. I love feeling the muscles move as you go. I even learned how to ride bareback and got into a trot. I almost fell off when Lady trotted around a corner. Oh how i miss my Painted Lady.
The weekends were some of the funnest. Living with 21 of your best friends, there is always something to do. One weekend we wanted to go to Pack saddle lake. We went with some boys in our single's branch because they had a truck. They were also cool, so we weren't using them.:) Well they showed up with a motorcycle in the back of his truck. Five of us piled in the back with it. We went on the road of death. I was sure the truck was going to roll over or roll back down the hill. The truck dropped and the motorcycle landed on Micah's legs. We stopped and got it off her and checked her out. Meanwhile Erica is like " I like I cut myself and I think it's bad." She lifted up her pant leg, and lets just say ended up at the hospital with 14 stitches in her knee. I ended up riding the motorcycle in with mens size 11 boots, and my short overalls with a tie-dye shirt on. Can you say hick?!
Another weekend we made a giant slip n' slide. It was about 100ft long. We put on spandex pants and got ourselves all soapy. It was sweet! We ended with an aerobics class by the pond in our spandex outfits!
There are so many stories I could go on for days.
Badger Creek taught me so much about leadership and teaching. Valuable lessons that I will remember my whole life.
Remeber, You are a child of God!
