by Missy Thompson

STAFF WRITER

The only vivid memory I possess from Camp Wapiti in Settlement Canyon was from a sleepover with other members of my Girl Scout troop when I was 10 years old. A Porky Pig nightshirt hung to my ankles as I spent only one night at the camp's lodge telling ghost stories and being spooked by the darkness that encroached into the windows after lights out.

Ten years later, I made my way back up the almost unfamiliar road off the main Settlement Canyon Road to take photos and conduct interviews for an article I wrote recently. Little did I know that I would get my own up-close view of the Women in the Outdoors event.

But first, I must say how much Camp Wapiti has improved over the last decade. Before there was the unfinished main lodge and maybe one other cabin. Now the campsite is furnished with log cabins, nicer restrooms and even a swimming pool. If I ever wanted to spend time "outdoors," it would definitely be in that type of environment.

I may be a tomboy but I'm not the outdoorsy type. My family's idea of camping was going hiking in one of the national parks and staying at Super 8. We didn't own a camper or even a tent for that matter. I guess I was deprived of the whole camping experience. That one night spent at Camp Wapiti 10 years ago was probably the closest I ever came to camping and being in the outdoors.

Don't get me wrong, I like to go hiking, get dirty and eat around a campfire. But since my Girl Scouting days have ended, I have been camping twice. One of the two times probably doesn't count because I slept on an air mattress in the back of my parent's SUV.

As I made my way around the camp, I noticed many women who didn't look like they were made for the outdoors either. The shoes or the pants seemed out of place -- but their attitude didn't. The impression was that all who attended were good sports and wanted to step outside of their comfort zone. Unfortunately, I was asked to do the same.

Besides being a camping novice, I'm also a rookie gun handler. I had never shot a gun -- with the exception of one that sprayed water -- in my life. The idea of so much power hinging on the pull of trigger frightens me. For some, it's just a sport and for others it's self-defense. But for me it's down-right terrifying.

Luckily, I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The four other women in the class on rifle shooting were just as scared as I was. Taking the pictures and asking questions was fine, but when I was told I needed to experience shooting for myself I freaked out. Eventually, however, I faced my fears and bucked up to the challenge. (I also didn't want to seem like the reporter who wouldn't get her hands a little dirty.)

The instructor showed me the basic steps and pretty much dumbed everything down so I could understand. After three shots, I didn't hit a single clay disk. I was shaky and intimidated by simply pulling the trigger. Tears welled up in my eyes as I took off the vest and handed the gun over. When the camera was handed back to me it was welcoming to my trembling hands.

It was then that I realized I still don't like guns. They aren't as scary as I originally believed, but it's the thought of the person controlling the gun and their motives that frightens me. I could tell some of the other women felt the same.

I no longer have the same innocent thoughts about Camp Wapiti as I once did as a child. Now, I have the memory of pulling a trigger and being scared out of my mind with such a high level of power. I know that not all outdoor activities deal with guns. But the experience was a definite eye-opener on some of my personal values. The outdoors are definitely a fun environment to be in, especially up at Camp Wapiti, as long as the hunting and shooting are kept far away from me.

missy@tooeletranscript.com