Camping, Astronomy Badge, & Justice Petal Meeting

We had perfect weather for our fall camping trip, even with a little overnight rain. Everyone worked together to set up camp, prepare meals, and clean up. 

Our friends, John and Kay brought a professional telescope and taught an astronomy lesson. We learned all about the planets, our moon and its craters, and constellations. Unfortunately there was a lot of cloud cover, so we were only able to make out Jupiter and its moons through the telescope.

St. Dominic was a Spanish monk who founded the Dominican order and is the patron Saint of astronomers. His mother had a dream that a dog leapt from her womb with a torch in its mouth, indicating her child would set the world on fire. His name means “The Lord’s dog.”  His feast day is August 8. Mary appeared to him and gave him the rosary to teach to the world. St Dominic refused the comfort of a bed, so we slept like St. Dominic while camping. We earned our Astronomy badge and learned that the flower for our justice petal, the aster, means "star."

The girls took turns leading craft and scavenger hunt activities. They also did a talent show and skits. We sang and cooked around the campfire. We built a swing and enjoyed relaxing in hammocks. 

Crafting

Swing building and painting

God's Eyes

Scavenger Hunt

Reverse the Curse Game. Don't be a potato!

For our petal meeting we learned about Blessed Mary of the Incarnation, born Barbe Avrillot. She lived from 1566-1618 in France. Marie was a wife and mother of six and known for her gifts of charity and healing. She bore the invisible stigmata, or wounds of Christ on her body and had physical disabilities. She is responsible for bringing the Carmelite order to France after Theresa of Avila appeared to her. Her feast day is April 18 and she is a patroness for the poor. We pray for her canonization.

Justice is a cardinal virtue and involves giving everyone their due. We also must remember to give God His due. We lift up our hearts to the Lord, for it is right and just. One way to remember to give everyone what they are due, is to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, like Blessed Marie of the Incarnation. Remembering the Golden Rule is also a great way to practice justice.To help us think about justice in new ways, we played games with rubber ducks. We thought about justice in terms of fairness, kindness, mercy, and sharing. May God Bless us to help us grow in the virtue of Justice.

Blindfolded duck hunt for Justice

When the first floweret of petals is complete, begin a new ring with the blue Wreath II petal that will be given with the next petal earned.

Verse: You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8

Blessed Marie of the Incarnantion, Pray for Us.

St Dominic, Pray for Us.