How it all began....

"Friendship defies age and ignores distance. It weathers the hard times and shares the good. Together we have found this. Our friendship has provided acceptance and understanding in a world that pushes people apart. But I will always remain with the memories of the times we have shared knowing how fortunate I am to be able to call you my friend."
                                                                               -Cindy Yrun

    In the 1920s, a woman named Miss Mary White had acquired, from her father, a large plot of land amounting to about 200 acres. Soon this plot of land high up in the Sacramento mountains of southern New Mexico became known as the home of Camp Mary White (CMW). This camp was the first Girl Scout camp on the western side of the Mississippi. Girls from states near and far came to CMW to experience its one of a kind atmosphere and unforgettable spirit. CMW served as a home away from home to the campers that attended it. Here, they participated in campfires, stargazing, hiking, backpacking, the wonder of making friends that they'd never forget, and so much more!
    Over the years, campers came and went, and over time, the camp had fallen to ruin and disuse. The structures began filling with eroding soil and animal waste, the trails became over grown from the lack of use,  facilities began to decay, and the only sounds that filled the lonely canyon were those of thunder and animal. This place, once filled with so much laughter and life, this place, that changed so many lives is the place that has captivated my heart from the tips of the towering pine trees, to the sweet stems of lemon grass along the forest floor. I have been to Camp Mary White for only two weeks total, and I can't imagine my life without it. So, this second home has become the focus of my Gold Award Project.
    One of the Camp Mary White traditions is that all of the girls have nicknames, and real names are not allowed to be used. My camp name is Quiver because I love archery. I love the brush of the feathers on the arrow... the feeling of the bow string taught behind my two first fingers... the vibrating jolt of the bow when the arrow is released... and the sound of the "thunk"  when the arrow hits the target and makes its mark.
     At CMW there is an archery range that is small and very close to the road and main building. When the camp had fallen to disuse as a girl scout camp, it was used for shooting game. The archery range now has multiple rebar poles sticking out of the ground that are hard to see and rather painful when you trip over them(go figure). So in my Gold Award Project, I want to move the archery range higher up the canyon to an area that is more fitting. This means that the archery range will be in a more distant location so that there wont be any stray arrow victims, the range is larger so that some of the girls can challenge themselves more, and restore the previous archery range to a nature site. Since CMW doesn't have any of the needed supplies for archery, I want to get donations from archery supply stores and other stores for needed materials like arrows, bows, targets, arm guards, etc..
     ... Here I go... Wish me luck! ... Also good luck ladies, meaning the other three ladies in my troop that are also going for the gold! We will be successful!