Girls Camp Pt 3 - The BEAR!(long)

So Wednesday night after lights out. The Young Women were in their tents "supposedly" sleeping. Our one leader was getting ready to go to bed in her tent...the rest of us were sitting around the smouldering fire when we heard a noise." We all went silent when one leader said, "Does that sound like a bear to you?" I kind of laughed as our Stake President just the night before said there were no bears in that part of Utah...then we heard it again...This time another leader who had had experience with a bear at another camp stated that she indeed thought it sounded like a bear. I personally have no experience with bears so I trusted her and started to get worried as well, we all sat in silence as we heard it again (closer) at this point our camp director and the "experienced" leader, decided they needed to get the "priesthood" (their camp was about a 5 minute walk from where we were at so they took one of our two cars and drove to get the "priesthood brethren" that left myself and the Young Women President at camp to listen and watch over the girls. We then heard it closer and nearing our food tent. Without hesitation we both went to get the girls (food tent just right of the girls tents) we proceeded to tell them to quickly get their shoes on and to stay quiet and get in my car. They of course were panicking it isn't everyday you leaders tell you at 11 at night to get into the car...so they all piled in the car (on laps) and we were all scared...I proceeded to say a prayer and upon finishing one of the girls said, "where is my Mom" I told her she went to get the Priesthood with the camp director and then suddenly I realized that one parent of another girl was NOT there. (she was in her tent) I booked it toward the tent as she emerged running asking was just circled her tent...I told her to quickly get in the car as the other two leaders came back with three Priesthood brethren. (one with a gun and another with a machette) we then noticed our Stake President, His first counselor and other brethren too coming toward us from up behind our camp. They assured us they were taking care of the situation and to stay in the car...about 10-15 minutes went by and they came back and said they chased the bear out of camp and to return to our tents. We of course thought for sure the bear would return for our food. They can smell miles away and we could not fathom making our girls return to their tents and all four of us already were sure we were NOT going to sleep that night anyway...so the girls proceeded to get pillows and blankets to sleep in the cars. When about 15 minutes late our Stake President approached us and told us to consider it a training and to go back to our tents. That left us more confused (so was it a prank?) was it real and those things happen and trust our priesthood leaders that they know what they are talking about...needless to say we knew we needed to listen to our Stake President and convinced our girls to return to their tent (all 7 stayed in one tent that night) the four of us leaders conversed around our still smouldering fire...and discussed what he meant. We finally came to the conclusion that we need clear cut answers. So I escorted the one leader who had been in the tent and the "bear" circled the tent, she was very scared and I escorted her to the restroom. While the camp director went to the Stake YW leaders with the other ward across from us which were also worried still. And then one leader stayed with the girls. So the our camp director returned and said it was a prank. (our stake president of all people) he had learned how to make the sound of a bear with a #10 can and a lubricated string soaked in kerosine. (sp?)
We were all VERY angry but managed to go to bed (you have to understand the YW president spent three hours that day convincing a homesick camper to stay) and another one threw up in the bushes and all of them were ready to go home the next day... (along with us leaders) our YW President was already scheduled to leave that following day... so anyway...we woke up angry...NONE of us wanted to go to opening flag but all the girls were walking to go and all the leaders remained I figured I needed to be the one to go. So I went our cheer was not a happy one and technically non existent really. The SP came and apologized in the morning and then did so again at opening flag. For some reason the girls reacted much better than us adults the homesick camper was ready for her hike, the one who threw up was like it never happened and the girls were happy going back for breakfast. Needless to say ALL of our Young Women stayed at camp! I learned a lesson from them and forgave and also stayed and that night we decided for our cheer we needed to let our Stake President know we were okay...(he felt EXTREMELY bad...and was very concerned as we told him we were not sure our girls would stay)
So that night this was our "cheer" for closing flag (sung to The Other Day I Met a Bear)

The other night (repeat)
We heard a bear (repeat)
We were freaked out (repeat)
And really scared (repeat)
(and then repeated together...all vs likewise)

We quickly piled
Into the car
Sitting on laps
While breathing hard

The Priesthood came
To calm our fears
It was a "training"
It was not real

President Davie
We are okay
We will survive
We're here to stay

(then repeated it and yelled our ward name)

Needless to say our ward got the brunt of the prank as it was in "our" camp. But we got a standing ovation for that song. I think it made the girls feel really good.

Overall it was a learning experience (we know more about bears now and how they "really" act) and the girls bonded that night all stuffed in one tent). And we as leaders learned a lesson of faith and forgiveness as well.