‘YES’ to a great camp
“I pretty much liked everything!” was the verdict of one girl on the 2025 YES Camp. “I loved all of it!” said another. “Everything was really amazing!” was another enthusiastic response.
30 girls, aged 10-14, from Hazelwood, Hillcrest and Ashley clubs came together at Linnet Clough activity centre near Manchester for four days of fun and formation. The girls had a packed programme including archery and rope climbing. Rafting proved to be a little more challenging, but everyone stayed afloat.
The girls kept on the move. A favourite activity was frisbee golf; completing a nine-hole “golf course” by getting a frisbee into a basket with the minimum number of throws. A quieter but very popular activity was a sewing project, where the girls made small pillows.
A great ground rule
There was no time for anyone to say “I’m bored” or “I’m tired”, which is just as well because any girl caught saying either of these things would lose precious camp points. A great ground rule which set the right tone for the camp. Afterwards one girl said that this was the best rule!
The formation theme for the camp was; Head, Heart and Hope. These topics were explored in three workshops. In the workshop on the head, the girls were encouraged to make a plan for self growth with the help of their mentor. But to do this effectively, first they had to know their strengths and weaknesses. A second workshop unpacked the idea of understanding the role of the heart and the ways to keep it free from anything that prevents its capacity to love. A final workshop took up the theme of the Jubilee Year. The girls heard that hope means cultivating an optimistic approach to life.
Mass each day was celebrated outdoors and the homilies focused on the Eucharist, confession and prayer, with stories from everyday life to bring these topics alive for the girls.
The girls were divided into three groups according to their age: Alphas were the oldest, Bravos the middle age group and Charlies the youngest. The Charlies won the YES prize for coming tops each time in the random room inspections.
Slug in the bedroom
This was definitely a time for practical jokes. There was a bit of war going on between the Alphas, who played sly jokes on the Charlies: knocking on the door at night, or placing a slug in their bedroom. The Charlies were not slow in responding!
Everyone joined in a great game which ran for the duration of the camp. Each girl had a name of someone at the camp, and an action that they needed to make the girl do before she “killed” her. This could be to make their victim tie their shoe laces, repeat the killer’s name five times in a row or go round the building five times. Quite a challenge!
The girls were accompanied by eight leaders, who catered for the camp. There was lots of high praise for the food. Get the food right and you’ve got everyone with you!
Show-stopper
No YES camp is complete without a talent show. A monologue, a dance routine and fun make-up were among the sparkling line-up of acts. Not to be outdone, the leaders performed a hilarious ‘synchronised swimming’ act, which brought the house down. The show-stopper was a tap-dancing display.
There’s no doubt that YES 2025 was a huge success. The camp aimed to help all the girls contribute to that achievement. Three girls were singled out for their particular contribution and they received YES prizes. Sofia from the Alpha group won a prize for helping discreetly. Casilda, from the Bravos, was rewarded for her appreciation as evidenced by the many, many times she said thank you! And Ruby from the Charlies received a prize for giving everything a go and talking to people she didn’t know.
Happy memories
Everyone went away with happy memories, new friends and a few definite ideas and plans to help them fulfill their potential as great women of the future.
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