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T.T.T. Society empowers Mt. Pleasant girls through camp experience
Mt. Pleasant girls return from Camp Bear Creek with muddy shoes, new friendships, and lasting confidence thanks to T.T.T. Society
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — The women of Mt. Pleasant’s Chapter DD of the T.T.T. Society believe that a week at camp can change a girl’s life. This summer, six girls took off for Camp Bear Creek in Wyoming, Iowa, from Mt. Pleasant. While not all of these girls embarked on this adventure thanks to this specific chapter, all of these were sent by T.T.T. Society chapters in the area.
These girls returned from camp with not only muddy shoes and sun-warmed memories, but with something far more lasting: a new sense of confidence, independence, and belonging.
Founded in 1911, the National T.T.T. Society was built on the idea that girls, when given space to grow and explore outside their everyday surroundings, will rise to the challenge and carry those experiences back home with them. Through local T.T.T. chapters, women invest their time, talent, and treasure to send girls to camp and walk alongside them every step of the way.
“They don’t just put the girls on a bus and send them off,” said Krystle Evans, mother of camper Lakelea Evans. “They invest in relationships, make the girls feel special, and help them connect before they ever leave town.”
For Lakelea, that care made all the difference. A bit shy and unsure when she first learned she’d been selected, she admitted to feeling “a little bit anxious” at first. But through the thoughtful preparation provided by Chapter DD — including a group registration night at Pizza Ranch, a personalized shopping trip, and a style show at the Methodist Church — she started to grow excited.
By the time she left Mt. Pleasant on June 8 for a week at Camp Bear Creek, she had friends she trusted. Soon after arriving at camp, she quickly gained a counselor she would come to adore. Throughout the week, she also found the confidence to take on something new.
At camp Lakelea climbed a rock wall — nearly reaching the top — and performed in a talent show with a cheer routine, where she stood atop her teammates in a human-pyramid pose. She sang songs, played games like “Frogger,” and made fast friends.
While Lakelea did not cry when she left for camp, her mom says, she did cry when she left camp for home.
Fellow camper Ariel Konen said she was most proud of learning to shoot a bow and trying out sling shots for the first time. But what she talks about most is the joy of creek stomping — and the games she hopes to play again.
“The secret agent game and the candy game were so much fun,” she said. “If I could go back, I’d do more creek stomping. Definitely.”
For Emarey Hart, creek stomping became a turning point. At first hesitant to go down the mudslide, she eventually took the plunge — then couldn’t stop.
“There was this mud slide which was so fun but it also took me a while to finally go down because I was scared, but I finally went down and I thought it was fun,” Emarey shared.
“Half the group was trying to convince my new friend to go down the slide and then after a while she did,” she said. “After everyone went down the slide a couple times we had a competition on who can get the most muddiest so everyone started rubbing mud all over themselves.”
It was the longest Emarey had been away from home, but she said her counselor, who reminded her of a family member, helped her adjust.
“They kept us so busy, I didn’t even have time to miss my parents,” she said. “Although I still missed them — a little.”
Emarey learned how to shoot a bow, conquered the camp’s climbing wall, and memorized songs she still finds herself singing. She met close friends like Charlotte and Hailey and said she’d tell next year’s campers to expect great food — and a lot of fun.
All three girls agreed that the pre-camp shopping trip was a favorite part of the journey. Each camper selected her own clothing and supplies, paired with a Chapter DD mentor who guided the process.
Their choices were later showcased at the style show, where they shared what they were most excited for. It wasn’t just about preparation — it was about building relationships and trust.
Chapter DD’s thoughtful approach is part of what sets T.T.T. apart. Local chapters handle every detail: from fundraising to packing, from group meals to sending notes home. Nationally, the organization sends between 250 and 300 girls to camp each year, but the work is always personal.
For Krystle Evans, it was clear how much the experience meant to her daughter — and how intentionally it was created.
“The way they go about everything, it’s amazing,” she said. “It’s not just a week at camp. It’s a gift.”
That gift began in Mt. Pleasant, was nurtured on a muddy trail in Eastern Iowa, and came home on a bus filled with stories and laughter.
Asked what she would tell a girl chosen to attend camp next year, Lakelea didn’t hesitate: “You’re going to learn a lot of things. You’ll have a really great time.”
“You might get homesick but it’s also a lot of fun.” Ariel agreed.
For the women of T.T.T., that’s not just the outcome — it’s the mission. One girl, one week, one life changed at a time.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
