Girls camp requirements

[RMGuy]

Recently I was having a conversation with some individuals regarding requirements for attendance at girl’s camp. One of which was that the girls must remove all body piercings except one pair of earrings prior to attendance.

I am curious as to everyone's thoughts here. Not just what you think, but why you think/believe what you do about it?

-RM

[Backroads]

I think it's a great idea.

Why?

1. My own girls' camp experiences were pretty rough n tumble. We had very strict rules about what we could and could not bring and we could only bring the bare necessities, junk food, and stuff with which to make fun crafts. There was no room for looking cute or wearing lots of jewelry.

2. I worked as a counselor at a Boy Scout camp that was also used for LDS girls' camps. It was even more rough n tumble than the ones I experienced.

3. Girls' camp has many spiritual moments. I do not believe body piercings severely affect one's spirituality, but there is something to be said for humbling one's self and taking part in the group mentality. I think the less-jewely approach is sensible especially for backwoods' camps and therefore there might be problems from the girl who wants to rebel.

[Madriglace]

We asked by the GA to only have one pair of earrings at a time ... when attending a church function this should be followed. It's all about teaching obedience.

Of course our area isn't like it was when I first went as a counselor at 15. We had a dry camp up on Mt Lemon outside of Tucson AZ. No cabins, no running water except in the cook cabin, not electricity. Those girls knew this and still they drug along hair dryers, electric rollers and all manner of stuff. Where the heck did they think they were going to plug them in ... a current bush?????? A year or so ago our girls went to a camp over near Ellensburg, WA ... they got to sleep in Teepees ... to cool.

[RMGuy]

Some of the questions that I encountered included:

1. Why are we going to hold the girls to a higher standard for girls camp than that required to attend the temple?

2. Are we going to strip search the girls to make sure that they comply. After all, it is pretty easy to tell if they have in a nose stud, but more difficult if they have a nipple pierced.

3. Are we only worried about outward manifestations? After all, many girls that probably have more severe sin problems including chastity, wow, etc. could easily attend camp and the leaders don't know. Why single these girls out?

-RM

[CookieC]

While I understand the prophet's directive to limit ourselves to one earring per ear, I'm not sure that 'enforcing' the idea at girls' camp is a good one.
In our stake, camp has proven to be a great way to fellowship less active and even some non-LDS girls. So, with this guideline in place, does that mean a young woman who is unwilling to remove her piercings but would otherwise come to camp be unwelcome?
Seems to me that camp should be more about fellowship and less about appearances.

[Backroads]

Originally Posted by Madriglace

We had a dry camp up on Mt Lemon outside of Tucson AZ. No cabins, no running water except in the cook cabin, not electricity. Those girls knew this and still they drug along hair dryers, electric rollers and all manner of stuff. Where the heck did they think they were going to plug them in ... a current bush?????? A year or so ago our girls went to a camp over near Ellensburg, WA ... they got to sleep in Teepees ... to cool.

Yes. A currant bush.

Sometimes, the weekend before Girls' Week, we would buy cheap extension cords in town then entangle them in various bushes. We would also buy socket covers and put them on trees.

Sadly, we had more victims than you would think.

[Bini]

When I was fourteen I went to girls camp. I don't recall having to remove my body piercings. I attended with multiple earrings, a nose stud, tongue piercing and belly piercing. Not sure if I would have gone if they called me out on them. At that point, I was already pretty inactive but decided to go because my younger sister was going and a good friend at the time. I think CookieC made an excellent point! We don't have to remove body piercings at church, why girls camp? If there are going to be rough activities, waivers should be signed by guardians.

[Maureen]

Originally Posted by Bini

When I was fourteen I went to girls camp. I don't recall having to remove my body piercings. I attended with multiple earrings, a nose stud, tongue piercing and belly piercing....

Wow Bini, you had all that at the tender age of 14! At that time, did you require parental permission to get those type of piercings? I remember a niece explaining to me what happens with a tongue piercing and I was shocked that she still went through with it. The process sounds very unpleasant.

M.

[Bini]

Originally Posted by Maureen

Wow Bini, you had all that at the tender age of 14! At that time, did you require parental permission to get those type of piercings? I remember a niece explaining to me what happens with a tongue piercing and I was shocked that she still went through with it. The process sounds very unpleasant.

M.

I got my piercings done in Asia and did not need parental consent. The nose stud was a cultural thing from growing up in a densely Hindu populated area. The others, trend mostly. And tongue piercings aren't painful at all. They also aren't a high-risk piercing if done properly. There's a specific place where it should be pierced. Belly and nose hurt more. But yes, piercings can cause scar tissue, even with ears.


All that said, I have removed all 23 body piercings, except for one in each earlobe After all, I'm not a party girl anymore, I'm a mother and I hope my examples will rub off on my daughter! .. Yeh, I know, good luck with that huh. Lol

[Blocky]

Makes me think of my sister who just got her upper ear pierced. I think if she was told to take it out before it healed she'd contemplate not going. I'd rather she go with the piercings than not go at all.