Camp Trees

We live in Southern California and therefore we go to girls camp right smack in the middle of fire central. It's located up near Lake Arrowhead at a church owned facility called "Camp Hinckley". 2 years ago this is what Camp Hinckley looked like after the fires.

Thousands of dollars went into restoring some of the cabins that were completely demolished, but the effects of the burnt down trees are still everywhere.

Each afternoon of camp we go to the "sacred grove" to feel the Spirit while listening to the speaker. It was once a secluded space surround by trees, but now through there are more burnt limbs than anything else. This year one of the stake leaders decided to gather money to buy HUGE trees to plant (not those teeny little things that take 50 years to mature) and have the 3rd & 4th year girls plant them as their "help the environment" certification.

They had so much fun digging their holes while listening to a little inspirational music (we had a sound guy with his little itunes thing FULL of 8,000 songs... I planted myself down at the computer while playin some digging tunes for the girls. Who ever said Kelly Clarkson wasn't inspiring?)

I should've taken an after pic, but if you look hard you can see a little tree behind the maroon long sleeves girl. Little tree... it's way taller than she is! I think we planted 12 or 14 of those all around the grove. And you know I didn't think much of it until the last night when the camp host addressed the girls and stake to thank them. He was so touched that we would purchase the trees AND get all the permits required to plant them. Isn't that the coolest thing?!