LOVE, ROO

Hello, my name is Roo!
I have so many stories. I worked up at Brighton 4 different summers. Even though they were all different years, the spirit up at Brighton was the same. The love of our Savior is up there at camp. My testimony grew every year I worked up there. I sadly didn't have the opportunity to be a camper because I hadn't heard of Brighton Girls Camp until my cousin, Carebear, invited me to work there in 2011. That's when it all started.

In 2011, I worked as a kitchen staff member. Preparing food for 300+ was hard work but so rewarding. Getting up every morning at 6am prepping and cooking food, I would be exhausted but then having opportunities to go be with the campers with their counselors, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity. Joining them in Dutch oven cook outs, going on hikes, and most importantly, being a "brownie" up on brownie rock. So many staff members wanted to be brownie so they would join us.

In 2013, I worked up there as an SOS counselor. Which means I really wouldn't have campers every week. I would only be helping those counselors if they needed it. It was actually a miracle that I got hired that way because the very first week we ended up getting a whole new unit of girls, 13 girls actually. It was such a blessing to be a counselor for them that week. I actually had 3 opportunities to be a counselor during that summer. I learned very quickly how important red pine was. All summer long, I would climb up the trees just to get red pine!

In 2015, after my mission, I went back up to serve up at Brighton as a counselor. This time around, I felt like it was way different because I actually could hang out with my campers. I participated in the different activities that they were doing. I became really close friends with the campers. Some of them still talk to me to this day.

In 2017, I really wanted to work back up at Brighton again but felt like I couldn't. I had a really neat experience that I will always remember. So real quick, the reason why I felt like I couldn't was because I knew I was going to find my future husband sometime soon and I was afraid that I was going to not find him if I worked at Brighton. One sacrament meeting, I sang Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God with the young women in my family ward. When I sang it, I started crying in the very beginning of the song and I couldn't finish singing. I felt very strongly I had to work up at Brighton that summer. So I applied at the last minute and the Brighton Girls Camp Presidency was able to see me for an interview. I applied as an Assistant Director. I bore my testimony and shared with them that I knew I needed to be there that summer and I shared with them my sacrament meeting experience.

When I got set apart to be an assistant, Heavenly Father said that I would be able to find my future husband. Sure enough I did! I was engaged the whole summer while I was up at Brighton. That summer was the hardest but most rewarding summer. Lots of repenting (see the story following) lots of growing spiritually, and lots of wonderful opportunities. I got to lead the A and B hike, sunrise hike, and tell the girls that they are daughters of God - so fly like an eagle.

I would also like to share a truly humbling experience I had the year I was an Assistant director. My testimony really grew from it.

So it all started one Friday morning, early morning like at 2am. A couple of staff members and I took 80 girls to do the sunrise hike and I asked all the campers if there was anyone not wanting to do the hike. No one changed their mind so we went along with our hike. A mile into the hike, there was a camper who was complaining the whole time. We would stop every 15 minutes just to help her, but she wouldn't listen. She would just sit on the ground and did not want to keep going.

Long story short, once we got to the mountain where the sunrise was, we were literally 10 minutes away from the spot and the camper decided to stop and sit on a rock. And I remind you, she was already stopping every 15 minutes during this whole hike so I was already frustrated that she would stop one more time when we were basically at the top. She just needed to go just a little further. Well, when she wouldn't get on the rock, I told her that she better get her *** off the rock and keep walking. I started crying at this point because we were all having a hard time. She then swore back at me and then she finally got up.

Once she saw the sunrise, she came over to me and hugged me and apologized. She said that she was grateful that I put up with her and took her to see the sunrise. She was so grateful that she didn't miss it! I apologized to her too and we both said a prayer together. That weekend I repented and apologized to her again over Facebook and she did the same thing.

I will never forget my experiences up at Brighton Girls Camp. This camp will always have a special place in my heart. The campers I knew and became close friends with, will always have a special place in my heart. The spirit is always there up at that camp. Heavenly Father is truly helping and guiding Brighton. There is no other place, besides the temple, where you can feel Heavenly Father's presence so strongly.

ROO
2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 ​

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We are so excited to bring you more stories from Brighton Girls Camp alumni!

​Thank you to those who have already shared your Brighton experiences with us - look for your story posts coming soon. If you haven't shared your experience yet - please use the form on the right to submit. We can't wait to hear from you!

Please keep coming back to read the amazing stories from the people
who have had the blessing to be a part of Brighton Girls Camp!