Day Camp, resident camp and troop camping

There's never been a more exciting time to attend Girl Scout camps or summer events! 

Girls can investigate and solve camp capers using science, take a midnight hike, learn to cook, tackle high-adventure courses, and laugh with new friends as they roast marshmallows over the campfire.

This year Girl Scouting marks its 100th anniversary and proudly celebrates its place in history as one of the first organizations to encourage girls to build their leadership skills through outdoor experiences.

Camp builds valuable life skills that can benefit girls throughout their lives. They learn to be more independent and self-reliant, how to work with a team, and how to take action to protect the planet's nature resources.

Day camp is a great choice for girls new to camping and outdoor education programs. Resident camp builds on the day camp experience by giving girls more options, overnights and adventures. Troop camping at one of our beautiful properties is a great way to earn badges and patches, or for teen girls is can be a great opportunity for a relaxed weekend getaway that allows you to forget about the stress of high school for a little while.

Benefits

By participating in camp programs, girls discover new ideas and skills. They face challenges and celebrate their successes when they accomplish something they may never have dreamed possible prior to their camp experiences.

Imagine seeing the elated look on a girl's face when she learns that she's passed an important swimming skills challenge after previously struggling to feel comfortable in the water.

Once girls have a basic introduction to these powerful outdoor experiences through Girl Scout camps, they can advocate for themselves and others both locally and globally on issues that impact our environment. Girls gain the confidence and skills they need to take action to make the world around them better than they found it.

Numerous studies and research confirm the value of camping and outdoor education.

In fact, according to Chicago Wilderness (an alliance of organizations that champions biodiversity and its contribution to the quality of life in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the Chicago Metropolitan region), "Unstructured play outside—child-centered, exploratory, imaginative play—is important for wholesome, balanced development of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical aptitude."

Research has demonstrated that outdoor play helps children manage stress and become resilient. Natural spaces stimulate children's limitless imaginations and foster creativity. Children who connect with nature may be more inventive and better problem-solvers due to the hands-on learning that the outdoors provides.