GIRLS CAMP: July 7-12 2003
By Melissa Green

The Girl Guides of Mary Immaculate

It was something that the Guides of Mary Immaculate (G.G.M.I.) and the Brownies of Our Lady of Mount Carmel had been eagerly anticipating for over a year. They knew it was going to be fun and probably the best week of their summer and it was finally here. It was the first G.G.M.I. Camp.

The ten campers came from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario to attend the five-day camp held in a wooded area near Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Welwyn, Saskatchewan. Father Gerard Rusak was the camp director.

	Raising the flags

The girls were divided into two teams, each team having a captain and an assistant captain. The captains chose a Marian saint who was their team's patron. They also selected a cry that they called out whenever they were lined up as a team.

The girls rose every day at 6:00 am. Each day commenced with the raising of the flags, morning prayers, and a high sung Mass. Breakfast followed immediately afterwards, during which the girls answered questions on a reading from the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe. When dishes and a general cleanup were done, the other morning activities commenced. These usually consisted of a short conference on consecration to Mary, chant practice, a game, and a craft class. In the afternoon there was another conference, chant practice, more games, a baking class, and some other big activity. Some of the big activities included building benches and crosses with lashings, first aid, cooking an ethnic meal over a campfire, and arranging flowers for the altar, Rosary and confessions, supper, skit practice, taking down the flags, compline, and a campfire took place in the evening.

Near the end of the week, the girls did a good action to show their gratitude for being able to use the church and its facilities for their camp. A thorough cleaning of the church from bottom to top constituted the good action.

Father Rusak, Girl Guides of Mary Immaculate and Brownies of Our Lady of Mount Carmel		Cooking an ethnic dinner

The six Guides and four Brownies had a wonderful time at camp. Good friendships were strengthened, fortified in the same faith, the same beliefs, and the same practices. Memories were made that will never be forgotten.

The summer camp also helped broaden the girl's knowledge. Life-skills were learned doing first aid. The girls were taught how to chant two new Masses. But most importantly, the girls learned more about their dear Mother Mary. May none of us ever forget how important she should be to us.

As the girls waved goodbye to each other, they were sad that the week was already over. But they knew that there was something to look forward to...G.G.M.I. Camp 2004.