Girl Scouts to Offer Camping Experience for All Girls

News Report

Girl Scouts is celebrating 100 years of building girls of courage, confidence and character, and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida invites all girls entering grades one to 12 to celebrate with at camp this summer, whether or not they’re Girl Scouts.

Overnight camps are offered throughout June and July at two of the council’s camp properties, and day camps are offered throughout the eight counties GSWCF serves.

Non-Girl Scouts are welcome to register for summer camp, and many girls join each year through the camp pathway as part of the new-age membership model of Girl Scouts. Girls who join at the time of summer camp pay a one-time annual membership fee of $12.

GSWCF-owned Camps Dorothy Thomas, Scoutcrest and Wildwood are American Camp Association accredited.

Horseback riding, water skiing, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), healthy living, arts and crafts, and swimming are among the many activities offered at Girl Scout summer camps.

Can’t decide on just one? Not quite sure about sleeping away for a week? Girls can customize their camp experiences. All sessions include sports, nature exploration, arts and crafts, and campfires for a well-rounded camp experience.

Girl Scout camp sessions pricing starts at $75/girl for day camp and $175/girl for overnight camp.

Girl Scout summer camp programs encompass a rich history of 100 years of providing outdoor experiences for girls. Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912 on the premise that girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and spiritually. Under her guidance, she encouraged girls to get out of their home environments and into the open air. The first Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips and learned to tell time by the stars.

“One hundred years later, girls are still having a blast at camp,” said Kim Jowell, CEO, GSWCF. “One of my favorite times of year is going out to our summer camps to interact with girls. I see girls of all ages arrive at camp somewhat shy and hesitant about the days ahead, but after several days of the Girl Scout camp experience, they leave more self-confident, with new friends and truly exhausted from all the activities.”

Visitwww.gswcf.org/summercamp to view the 2012 Girl Scout Summer Camp guide. Registration for summer camps is available online atwww.gswcf.org/ors.