Zions Camp

(Posted by Kimball)

The second week of June I went to Williams with the young men from our stake. There were about 35 ranging in age from 14-18. We planned out a whole week of games, hikes, food, and fun.

We started the week with some games on the first day and a night hike that tested EVERYBODY. It was about 12 miles round trip with an elevation change of 2500 ft up. We got everyone home and in bed at around 3 am. What impressed me was they all got up at 6 am to get to a scheduled service project for the city of Williams the next morning. Most of them did not complain.

The following is some of what happened.

As you can see, the area we camped was absolutely beatutiful!

Each quorum of boys were responsible to first build their "shelter" using some wood and tarps. No sleeping in tents on this trip, it was all about teamwork and group unity.

For some of the games they worked together to get things done.

This is the popular 10 foot wall. The record this year for 3 people was 10.5 seconds held by the Palo Verde priests. The record for 5 people was held by the adult leaders at 21 seconds.

We built some trebuchets from scratch with the help of Wiley Ahlstrom. The record there was set by the 2nd Ward at 125 paces or about the length of a football feild from endzone to endzone. They shot big grapefruit.

Brother Hansen built a human bowling ball for one of the games. I was the guinea pig.

Team working together to solve the problem at hand.

The boys did some service for the city of Williams by picking up trash for the Hog Rally the following day.

We ate very well the whole trip.

That bacon looks great! Day 3, bacon looks AMAZING! They looked like zombies.

Shannon Shultz made the whole eating experience top notch. Great cook. Great smile.

Some showed up with a bad attitude.

But the attitudes improved and everyone had lots of fun.

The squirrels in the Grand Canyon are not shy.

Bishop Hoopes overlooking the South Rim.

Kyle, Skylar, and CJ

We all had scriptures to memorize through the week that all focused on obedience. Tom Gassaway is passing off one here with Bishop Hoopes.

Wade Gable, Moroni Dominguez, and Tom Gassaway all resting after a long hike in and out of the Grand Canyon.

President Ricky King and his son Spencer.

After the week was ended we had an award meeting and then a testimony meeting. This is a group of tired young men and old men. Ironically, the whole meeting was surrounded by rain, hail, lightning, and thunder...just like the origonal Zion's Camp. It was a good time.