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Discover the Benefits

Girl Scouting values outdoor learning as a pivotal way for girls of all ages to expand their repertoire of skills, develop self-reliance and learn to take action to support the environment. Day camp and resident camp experiences build upon the three keys to leadership: discover, connect and take action.

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.

Through Girl Scout camps, girls also connect to people and ideas by learning the value of cooperation and team building. They develop friendships and memories that can last a lifetime.

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."