10 years ago, I worked at Brighton LDS Girls Camp.
This is a camp up at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, and is for 12-14 year-old girls to come for 5 days to experience the outdoors, meet new friends, sing camp songs, and most importantly, become closer to their Savior and Father in Heaven.
It was an honor to work at such a place, and to have such responsibilities that I had.
"The counselors up at Brighton, they say are mighty fine..."To follow tradition, which is VERY long-standing, (established in 1921) my camp counselor name was Jasper. I was lucky enough to share a room with 3 other counselors for the first half of our summer, and Cheers was one of those. (we didn't connect at the reunion, but I will see her next week!)
"... A time to remember the beautiful things..."30 years ago, my mom was also a Brighton Counselor. Her camp name was Cracka', and when she came for her 20 year reunion, while I was still a counselor, she painted her name by mine in the cabin we both had been assigned to during our respective summers!
I loved Brighton as a 12 & 13 year-old, but really started loving it long before... My mom used to sing us to sleep with the sweet camp songs that sing of the mountains, friendship, the Savior, etc. I was destined to be a part of this wonderful legacy.
"... now I know that God has made this world for me..."I don't get told that I "haven't changed a bit," since of course I have. But, dang, this girl - Bay - HAS NOT CHANGED!! This is her same huge smile she shared with all of us as well as her young campers 10 years ago.
"God didn't give me much, just the green leaves of summer..."Tizzy was the first reunion from my summer of 2000. She (Liz) also graduated from East High School. It was great to see her again and share our memories of other counselors, catching and killing mice, the food, the campers... Seriously, it's amazing what things come back to you when you are with people you shared them with!
"I know a place where no one ever goes. There's peace and quiet, beauty and repose..."Okay, I had to do the zip line for old times sake!
"Walk tall you're a daughter, a child of God..."Horizon was probably one of the first people I met when moving my stuff up for that summer. She (Sarah) was one of the 3 roomates I had the privilege of living with. She was, and still is, so sweet and genuine. I was lucky to see her since her family now lives in Minnesota. (which is funny, because the 4th of our roomates' camp name WAS Minnesota!)
The wonderful thing about having reunions, which span many generations, is that the camp, like the Gospel, doesn't change. Sure, there have been some cosmetic work done, and the counselors change each summer... But the spirit of love and the beauty of the canyon will always remain.
"... the Gospel truth has come to me, I want to pass it on."At least for me, this camp was probably where my personal testimony of our wonderful gospel started to grow as a 12-year-old. As a 19-year-old, I can tell you that this is definitely where I felt the pure love of God for the beautiful girls who were in my care each week.
"Shadows creep o'er the earth, darkness falls anew. Winds are still, heav'ns are clear. Stars their lights subdue. Moon above and our love say good-night to you. Say good-night to you."
