Drama Llama Poem for Girls Camp to read the first night to your girls to help set the ton and expectations of camp for the week.
Have you all read the Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney? We are in love with them at this house. I own most of them and just found out she even has a newer collection of board books which we got for the baby's first birthday. The llama books are great because they are so fun to read. Anna's writing style is unmatched in rhythm and meter; I love reading them out loud. Check them out from the library!
Anyhow, in preparation for Girls Camp I wrote a poem of sorts using the Llama Llama books for inspiration. I am super excited for camp. I love camp songs, food, skits, crafting, hiking, and not showering. The thing I am most worried about is the girls. Is that terrible? I'm just helping with camp; I'm not with the girls on Sunday, and honestly don't know many of them very well. I know I'll get to know them, camp equals serious bonding, but in an effort to get things started off on the right foot I felt this poem would be fun. I'm making a sign to hang at our campsite with a llama picture and "No Drama Llama Allowed" written on it. I feel like this will be a fun and light-hearted way to address inevitable issues. If someone is having trouble helping or whining, I can just say, "What is that? Is that a drama llama that I hear?!" I'll let you know how it works.
Llama Llama Camper Drama
A poem by Melissa Griffiths
Based on the Llama Llama book series by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama packs her bag.
Hugs her mama
And her dad.
Llama Llama
Goes to camp,
Without her mama
Like a champ.
Sure she’ll miss them this is true,
But at camp, there’s no time to be blue.
Get to camp and set things out.
But when llama’s asked to help,
Llama Llama starts to doubt.
Time to laugh and hike and play.
Wait a minute, what’d she say?
Help who do that?
No ma’am, not me.
I need to chat.
Can’t you see?
Gobble up dinner and laugh at a skit.
Bedtime already? Llama pitches a fit.
I have to sleep here
While you get a cabin?
Not with her and her,
They don’t stop blabbin’!
No electricity in there.
How do I blow-dry my hair?
After all your scriptures are read.
Wakey Wakey Leader Says
But I can’t, I’m feeling dead.
It’s too early, My hair's too curly,
I want to shower, come back in an hour.
I don’t like what is to eat
My tent really smells like feet.
I miss my ipad and my phone,
I bet my boyfriend’s all alone.
Clean the toilet?
No, not me!
This llama just won’t go pee.
Sneak off to another ward,
When llama starts feeling bored.
She was looking at me funny,
Cause I still sleep with my bunny.
I swear I heard them say my name,
While playing some ridiculous game.
We aren’t friends at high school,
So why should things here be cool?
She was rude and mean and ornery,
Where oh where is my dear mommy?
Llama Llama whines and pouts
Llama starts to fuss and shout.
Llama Llama full of drama,
She’s become a drama llama.
Drama llama runs the show
Because she wants you all to know
That she’s not happy, not one bit
This drama llama will throw a fit.
She’s not happy
You better watch out
Anything you do
Will make her pout
No one likes me
It’s not fair.
No one even really cares.
Dear llama llama, Don’t you know
That we all really love you so?
Little llama you’ll never see
All the hours we’ve spent
Preparing camp for thee
Long meetings and prayers were handled with care,
With hopes you’d grow a testimony to share.
We want you at camp
To learn and to grow,
We want you to go home
With something to show.
Drama llamas are no fun
And ruin the day for everyone.
Instead of crying and boo-hooing
Let’s talk and counsel and discuss,
So that camp's not spoiled for the rest of us.
When you come to camp
Leave behind the drama.
Don’t you know we are all sister llamas?
Forget what happened at school this year.
Help wash dishes like a good little dear.
When it’s time to wake up
Let’s do it with a smile.
We have a lot to enjoy this week
Like walking multiple miles.
When you are tired, thirsty, and hot
Don’t complain, we're all in the same spot.
Let’s work together
Me and you.
We’ll become stronger
That’s just what we’ll do.
We’ll learn and we’ll grow
And find strength in His light.
We’ll work harder together
By day and by night.
This camp is for girls who are kind and who care,
So let’s all remember
No Drama Llamas Allowed!
2019 UPDATE: This poem has been used a quite a few camps and the girls LOVE it! I normally have them get all comfy in PJ's the first night and tell them I'm going to read them a bedtime story. I bust out the book and they laugh but then the words are different than they have heard.
Throughout the week if girls are feeling whiny, unhelpful, or catty I'll make a casual "Is that a drama llama I hear?!" comment and they get the idea that maybe they could think about their attitude. It was an easy way to bring attention to their behavior without feeling naggy or like I'm calling them out to directly. It's worked well for the camps I've been at for sure.
Happy Camping friends! Hope you'll pop back on the blog and check out some recipes too.
Kristie Mathews
I love this! I'm going to use this at our camp this year! It's perfect! Thank you so much.
Megan Black
Thank you so much for this! It is perfect for my beehive lesson this sunday before we leave for camp!
Melissa
You are so welcome 🙂
Heather Rich
Life saver! I have struggled with our Stake Leader skit and this will be GREAT!
Melissa
Yay! Tell me how it goes! #ilovegirlscamp
Aubrey Fredrickson
Really cute! I've only been to camp once as an adult, but we definitely had a Drama Llama or two and it was definitely a problem. This is a fun way to open a discussion about the issue. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
This is fantastic!! Thank you for sharing!
Lisa Harward
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! I too would love to use your graphic. We are doing smashbook journals for camp and I think your graphic would be a fun thing for the girls to smash in their journals. Can you email me your graphic? liharward25@gmail.com
Melissa
You can just right click on the picture and save it to your computer... easy!
Devrea McCarney
I would love to use your graphic and poem and girls camp! Do you have this as a handout? Could you also send me the graphic! You are so incredibly creative...thanks! d_mccarney@hotmail.com
Melissa
Feel free to do some copy and pasting if you are using the poem for personal use but I don't have a handout of sorts.
Becky
b.r.i.l.l.i.a.n.t!!!!!!!!
Jennifer
Hi Melissa, can you please send me your graphic? This is a fantastic idea!
mcarter
LOVE IT! I love the llama, llama books and this poem says exactly what is needed. How did you present this to the girls? Did you make it into a book or just use the sign? Last year I wasn't at camp and they had so much drama, I don't want that this year so I plan on using this! Thank You!
Melissa
Yea!!! I'm glad you liked it. The first night of camp I had all of the girls come out to the main area with their PJ's and blankies and I told them we had a bedtime story for them. I read Llama Llama Misses Momma, first. Then I told them we had another story for them and read the poem so that they could see where it was coming from. It turned out so well! If we started to hear people complaining (read the service project LOL) The other leader and I would shout "oh, oh, is that a drama llama I hear?!" We never called anyone out on it, just kind of used it as a general check for attitudes and reminder to think about what they were saying. One other thing we did was each night the one other main camp lady (not their normal YW leaders) and I went around to each tent and "tucked them in". This was a way to help them go to bed, talk about the day, say goodnight, and discuss any issues. It was a wonderful bonding time and I would recommend it if you'll let me. Sometimes the drama llamas just wanted to have a voice and that night time talk was a great time for that. Good luck!
Kate
Wow! Soooo cute. Those girls are lucky to have someone so fun and creative. Good luck!
Matea_Bradshaw
Love it!!! Pinned it!!! Any leader could use this!!
Holly
Whoops, apparently I was logged in as Curt. That was really me. 🙂
Melissa
LOL I read that and thought to myself- since when does Curt say "super cute" ?! Too funny.
Curt Alan Smith
Super cute!!! You are so creative & fun! Those girls are in for a treat!!! Good luck & have fun!
Tara
I love it!!! I had no idea how bad teenage girls feet can smell until last week. 🙂 I almost passed out when we were taking down their tents, and I mistakenly walked into one of the tents before they had packed up!
Chrissi
Such a cute idea! We love Llama Llama in my house too- we have three of the books, plus a Llama stuffed animal. Such cute books.
Western Warmth
Hey Melissa, thanks for your post the other day. Glad *my* drama is almost over :). Just a couple editing things you might not have seen.
On the cover I think you mean parody?
Stanza 6 I think you mean "ma'am"
Stanza 24 I think you mean love (l missing).
Don't you just LOVE having an OCD friend! Feel free to correct my blog anytime now :).
This is so creative. I never think of cute things like this. Hope all goes well at camp!!!
Melissa
I do love editing! Thanks. Honestly, I'm terrible at it and have 97% of my posts looked at by my cousin before they go up. This one, of course, I didn't have her look at! So thanks.