Camp is an opportunity for kids to explore who they are, what they love and how they fit into the world. It is a chance to experience a community outside the family that is centered around the outdoors or other focused activity.
The best part of my job at the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania (GSHPA) is planning and facilitating summer camp. In the time I have spent with Camp Small Valley, I have seen girls become leaders and young staff members become experienced professionals.
Girl Scout Summer Camp is unique in that, with the exception of family camps, it is a girls-only opportunity. In our experience, a girls-only environment allows scouts to reach higher and discover more about themselves without gender-based peer pressure. They succeed in activities they wouldn’t associate with girls as much, like geocaching, survival skills, crime scene investigation, and strength-based challenges, like the climbing wall.
All girls, like all kids, are different. Our campers come from different backgrounds and locations across our 30-county council footprint, they have different interests and skills, and they range in age from kindergarten to high school seniors. From week-long sleepaway camps, to day-long mini camps, to collaborative family camps, there’s a camp experience for every girl no matter her comfort level or location.
Campers who may struggle with learning in a traditional classroom setting get the chance to learn through hands-on approaches like tie-dye crafts and games for elementary school girls; off-site trips to learning centers like the Wolf Sanctuary of PA and the National Aquarium in Baltimore for middle school girls; and leadership trainings and career development for high school girls through our Counselor in Training program.
Our campers experience activities and build connections that challenge them physically, intellectually, and emotionally. No camper or staff member leaves camp without experiencing some form of change. My wish is that all kids get to experience summer camp, and that many girls in our area become part of the magic of Girl Scout camp.
Sarah Monelli is the property and outdoor program manager for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. For information about Girl Scout Summer Camp, contact [email protected].
