New Beginnngs

Your Adventure Awaits

We celebrated our New Beginnings by using the Movie 'Up" as our inspiration.  We wanted the girls to leave with a feeling of excitement for the coming year - for all the great things we will be "Up" too in 2014.

Invitations

Our invites were rolled up and tied with a blue helium balloon.

Decorations
Our decorations started with three pieces of art work one of our YW, Megan Erickson painted.

She did an amazing job!!!

We also used balloons, maps, old suitcases and a globe to create the feeling from the movie.

The Program
We had our theme song playing while the YW and parents arrived.  Our theme song for the year is "This is the Best Day of My Life," by American Authors.  We love the upbeat tune and want each girl to realize each day can be the best day of their life.

Russell
I thought we couldn't use the theme "UP" and not have Russell make an appearance, so I volunteered and came dressed as Russell.  I found all the wilderness survival badges on pinterest and made the scout sash, ironed on the wilderness survival patch to my hat and flag.  (I think I looked pretty authentic:)

I hid out in the kitchen and once the prayer was offered I banged on the cultural door.  My Laurel President who was conducting, played Mr. Fredrickson.  We played out the scene in the movie when Russell firsts comes to Mr. Fredrickson's door asking if he needs any assistance.  We kept pretty much to the script from them movie and only changed the words to relate to the YW.  I even belted out "The Wilderness Must Be Explored - Qa Caw, Qa Caw - Roar."

Presentation of YW Motto and Logo
I then invited all my fellow wilderness explorers to please stand and recite the YW theme.  We then talked about several things a YW must do, and skills and tools she must use to help her be successful.  We used a walker with a sign with the motto "Stand for Truth and Righteousness" attached to it and then had a YW hold a torch to represent the YW logo.  They read the YW motto and explained what the YW torch represents.

We presented each of the class badges and explained their symbol and meaning of each one.

Value Presentation

  We had 8 of our Laurels dress up in Scout shirts and sashes. A YW came up with a balloon the color of the value and recited the scripture associated with the value and tie the balloon to the walker, then another YW came up and read the statement that goes with the value.  We had made Value badges and after the YW read the statement they stuck the badge on the YW's scout sash.

Introduction of New Beehives

We introduced our five new Beehives by having a Laurel interview them before hand and finding out all about them.  We introduced them by talking about the many qualities they are collecting on their journey and adventure into Young Womens.  We had mason jars etched with their names and added gold chocolate coins as we talked about each of their qualities.  We then presented them with the jar and encouraged them to keep adding to their jars.

Adventure Awaits - Calendar Items

We handed out upcoming calendar dates for YW and parents to be aware of.

Yearly Theme Presentation

I talked about our 2014 theme which is "Come Unto Christ" and told to the girls about four action-packed objectives that President Monson had given in a talk and if followed would help them reach their final destination.

1.  Gaze Upward

2.  Look Inward

3.  Reach Outward

4.  Press Forward

I then discussed how we would "Come Unto Christ," by learning about the atrributes of Christ found in 2 Peter.  I pulled each attribute out of my Russell backpack and stuck them on my scout sash as badges we will earn this year.

Other badges we will earn will be Personal Progress and Strength of Youth Badges.

I closed with a slide show I had created using pictures of Carl and Ellie from the movie while reading the book "Don't Look Back" by Mary Engelbreit

Adventure Books 
We made each of the YW their own adventure book (smash book) for them to use throughout the year, adding pages, writing about all the wonderful things they experienced and did this year.

Musical Number
We had a special musical number sung by two girls from each class and they sang "Coming Home" by Shawna Edwards


Letting Balloons Go
To finish the evening we gave each YW a balloon and marker and asked them to write something on the balloon - a goal, a wish, a dream for the coming year.  After they finished we went outside and everyone let go of their balloon as they said, "It's Up to Me"

Refreshments
We purchased cupcakes frosted in the value colors and arranged them on the table in the shape of hot air balloons attached to the "UP" house.  They were yummy and added to our decorations.

What a fantastic night!!!!!