troop camping

Find the #GirlScoutCampLife that works for you

gswnyblogLeave a comment

Camping with Girl Scouts of Western New York goes beyond the well-known day camp at Camp Piperwood and resident camps at Camp Timbercrest and Camp Seven Hills. We actually have four more ways to get girls and adults outside during the summer for camp.

Beyond the regular camp experiences for girls, we have Troop Camp Adventure, Specialty Programs Camping, Troop Camp, and Service Unit Camp Out Day Camp.

Troop Camp Adventure

Troop Camp Adventure is the perfect setting for leaders who want to take their girls troop camping without the responsibility of providing program, meals or having experienced/certified adults. At Camp Timbercrest we deliver all of that for you. All troop leaders have to provide is the necessary child to adult supervision ratio. You and your girls can participate in as much or as little programming as you choose.

S.P. Camping (Specialty Programs)

With S.P. camping, troops can now get the best of both worlds of troop camping and specialized programs such as ropes course, archery and boating. Troop leaders will have the freedom of troop camp with the comfort of knowing that pre-determined specialty program options and times have been scheduled for you and your girls. Leaders are expected to provide the necessary girl-to-adult supervision ratio and an adult with CPR/First Aid certification. Leaders are no longer required to have taken Troop Camp Training, but are required to comply with the Safety Activity Checkpoints for Camping (page 39 of the Safety Activity Checkpoints 2018, available at gswny.org). S.P. Camping will take place at Camp Seven Hills – Lakeside and Camp Piperwood only.

Troop Camp

Leaders can bring their girls to camp for a fun filled outdoor adventure. Whether you rent a lodge, cabin or tent unit the opportunities that await you are endless. With troop camp, leaders provide their own programs, meals, supplies and certified adults. Troop camping is available at Camp Windy Meadows and Camp Seven Hills – Lakeside during the summer months.

SUCO (Service Unit Camp Out) Day Camps

Service units can bring their girls and leaders to camp for a fun filled outdoor adventure day camp program. How you ask, by operating a SUCO (service unit camp out) event for a maximum of four days only. This is a great way to offer fun and engaging day camp activities to your girls. If you are interested in learning more about this fantastic opportunity to provide volunteer run mini day camp programs for your service unit please contact Janet DePetrillo, Director of Camp Administration for specific information. Service units can operate their mini day camp programs at Camp Windy Meadows and/or Camp Seven Hills – Lakeside or another approved off council camp site during the months of July-August 2019.

Visit our website to learn more and view the 2019 Camp Guide for Troop, SP, and SUCO Camp.

Girl Scouts Go Outside: The Girl Scout Difference

gswnyblog1 Comment

Girl Scouts don’t go outside. That’s the major difference between Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, right? Boys go camping while girls sell cookies.

giphy

For all the seasoned Girl Scouts out there, you know how ridiculous that is. First of all, we don’t just sell cookies. Cookie season is about more than everyone getting their fill of their favorite cookies. It’s the largest girl-run business IN THE WORLD. Through it, the girls learn goal-setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

Second of all, Girl Scouts go outside. A lot.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience has four pillars: STEM, life skills, entrepreneurship, and outdoors. Going outdoors is so important to us that it forms one quarter of our foundation. At Girl Scouts of Western New York, we make sure there’s plenty of outdoor programming for our girls.

Summer Camp

We have three different sites where girls can attend programming over the summer, not including our volunteer run Camp Windy Meadows in Niagara County. Whether girls decide to go to resident camp at Camp Seven Hills or Camp Timbercrest or day camp at Camp Piperwood, we have options throughout the council to make sure all our girls can go to camp.

Troop Camping

Whether you choose S.P.P Camping or Core Camping, we have options for our troops. We even offer troop camping training so our co-leaders are ready to take their girls out!

Outdoor Progression Series

Through our Outdoor Progression Series, Girl Scouts can start at the Daisy level and move through a three-level system to become master campers. Each level is designed to teach new outdoor skills until the girls compete in Skills and Chills at the Ambassador level!

Trailblazer Program Series

Similar to our Outdoor Progression Series, this takes girls from Daisies through Brownies and teaches them the skills they need for safe hiking and backpacking. Volunteers are invited too!

Camp Adventure Club

If a Girl Scout wants even more outdoor experiences, she can join Camp Adventure Club for more opportunities like practicing the seven skills of Leave No Trace, learning more outdoor skills, and forming lifelong friendships.

Ropes Challenge Course

Starting at Challenge 1, all levels are welcome to participate. At Challenge 2, it begins with second year Brownies and beyond. From Challenge 3-5, it’s only Juniors through Ambassadors.

These are just the group and series activities. All year long our council is active in a number of other programs, like Me and My Favorite Gal Overnight, Archery Clinic, Earthworks Intro to Winter Wilderness Survival, and more! Check out our 2018-19 Program Guide to learn more about how Girl Scouts get outside!