Lorien's summer

We planned most of our summer around two big events for Lorien.  Girl's camp and Trek.  Girl's camp happened at the beginning of the summer.  Lorien was packed off with all of the other girls from church up into the mountains to sleep in the great out doors and bond with the other girls.

For part of her experience this year, Lorien and the other girls her age went out on a one night backpacking trip.  They had to load all of their supplies up and back.  Luckily, Lorien shared a tent with the girl in neon green so she only had to carry half of it up and back.  

Lorien said the overnight hike was her favorite part. 

They hiked up to a lake and got floaties to swim with--and then use as a pillow at night.  If you cannot tell from the pictures she loved her time because of the girls she was with.  Two of these girls were homeschoolers with Lorien last year.  They are fast friends and I am thankful for all of them.

The last event we worked around was Trek.  In our church (sometimes) the youth go off and reenact the daily lives of the Pioneers who traveled across the plains to reestablish their community in Utah.  I have mixed feeling about this whole reenactment.  Mostly, I worry that the reenactment will come across as mockery.  Pioneers fled their homes in the east under severe persecution.  They suffered illness, injury, hunger and death getting to Utah.  I have a hard time imagining how these pampered teens from modern days can reenact such a thing without coming across as whiny or insincere.  That being said, I have heard from many people who have participated in these Trek activities (I never have).  These people are full of positive stories and uplifting experiences.  So, I was excited to send Lorien off...and boy, was she ever excited to go.  

She was placed in a "family" the Hand-Carters.  She and her family pulled a hand cart loaded with their supplies all around the "wilderness" of a small forest in Northern California.  They slept under the stars and spent time with out electronics of any kind.  When she returned home she was filthy and so happy.  Will and I took her out for dinner to get the minute by minute break down of her Trek.  First and foremost, she wanted us to know she had "the best family".  Those were her parents down there "Ma and Pa Carter".  Will and I actually knew Josh Carter back in our single days in Boston.  It was a fun coincidence that Lorien was assigned to their family.  

She was glowing with pride in her self and her family while she told us about Trek.  She made great friends and had a powerful experience.  It might not have correlated with Pioneers but it did teach her about hard work and personal accomplishment.  She worked so hard and really bonded with the other kids.  I really think it was a great experience for her.  I am so glad she went (and even happier that she returned safely).