Girl Scout Camps

[Anonymous]

Any feedback on Girl Scout overnight camps? I am trying to decide between a week at a GS camp vs a more traditional sleepaway camp. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would go to traditional camp. DDs did both and loved the traditional camp experience far, far more.

[Anonymous]

GS camps in the area are great, and for a fraction of the cost of other sleepaway camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go to traditional camp. DDs did both and loved the traditional camp experience far, far more.

Any sense of why? What are the differences?

[Anonymous]

My kids both went last year. One did a general camp and the other did a specialty camp. Neither camp seemed to be especially good.

Both kids were unimpressed by the activities and thought there was a lot of waiting around. For instance, they did archery one afternoon, but each kid only was allowed to shoot one arrow. It took a lot of time to get everyone ready and out of the unit to the activity, then there was a long safety training, all for 30 seconds of an activity. For the specialty camp, they only did the specific activity on one day and all the other days were just normal camp. (This wasn't clear from the description.). On top of that the group for the specialty activity was too big so it was a lot of waiting and not very fun because they didn't get to do much.
The rest of camp was lots of friendship bracelets and tie dye, both of which my kids have done a million times.

I'd try a different camp.

[Anonymous]

I thought they were fantastic value for the price. My DD had a wonderful time two different summers at specialty camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids both went last year. One did a general camp and the other did a specialty camp. Neither camp seemed to be especially good.

Both kids were unimpressed by the activities and thought there was a lot of waiting around. For instance, they did archery one afternoon, but each kid only was allowed to shoot one arrow. It took a lot of time to get everyone ready and out of the unit to the activity, then there was a long safety training, all for 30 seconds of an activity. For the specialty camp, they only did the specific activity on one day and all the other days were just normal camp. (This wasn't clear from the description.). On top of that the group for the specialty activity was too big so it was a lot of waiting and not very fun because they didn't get to do much.
The rest of camp was lots of friendship bracelets and tie dye, both of which my kids have done a million times.

I'd try a different camp.

.

Which location? (And if you're willing to name the specialty that would be appreciated, but I understand if not.)

[Anonymous]

My daughter has done May Flather the last few years and loved it. Plans to go again this summer. She has never mentioned the issues with waiting around for activities. I don't know if this is age dependent? My kid is 14, so she's with older kids and smaller groups. She didn't do camps as a younger Girl Scout because of Covid.

One of her good friends did a year of Girl Scout camp and hated it because she could not cope with the bathrooms. She now goes to a more traditional camp. So if you have a kid that will be bothered by not having flushing toilets, then it might not be a good choice for your family.

[Anonymous]

They LOVED it - Camp Potomac Woods.

[Anonymous]

Another parent of a child who loves May Flather here. She goes back every year and won’t consider any of the other locations. However, since its focus is on adventure activities, it is only for older scouts (I think it starts in 4th grade).

My only complaint about GS camps is the length — the one week programs run from Sunday to Friday, so they don’t get a full week. So if you want your child to experience more time away from home, this might be a reason to consider a non-GS camp.

[Anonymous]

On the bathroom issue, some of the camps have flush toilets and some have latrines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids both went last year. One did a general camp and the other did a specialty camp. Neither camp seemed to be especially good.

Both kids were unimpressed by the activities and thought there was a lot of waiting around. For instance, they did archery one afternoon, but each kid only was allowed to shoot one arrow. It took a lot of time to get everyone ready and out of the unit to the activity, then there was a long safety training, all for 30 seconds of an activity. For the specialty camp, they only did the specific activity on one day and all the other days were just normal camp. (This wasn't clear from the description.). On top of that the group for the specialty activity was too big so it was a lot of waiting and not very fun because they didn't get to do much.
The rest of camp was lots of friendship bracelets and tie dye, both of which my kids have done a million times.

I'd try a different camp.

.

Which location? (And if you're willing to name the specialty that would be appreciated, but I understand if not.)

One kid was at May Flather (older kid) and the other at Winona (younger kid). The older one asked to try a different camp. She's into adventure (backpacking, rock climbing, caving, kayaking, etc) so we're looking at other outdoor adventure camps. I don't think any GS camp is going to meet her expectations. They're really "intro" camps at best and not for a kid who really likes and is experienced at outdoor activities.

[Anonymous]

Any input on what the cooking/baking camps are like? How much of the time do they spend on it, and do they actually learn skills/make challenging stuff or is it all pretty simplistic? (For a 3rd grader)

[Anonymous]

My kid did May Flather and then, complaining about latrines, did Winona. She actually loved them both. (Coming back from May Flather, wanted to turn around and go back!)
I don't think the themes at Winona sound good, but as long as she's happy, I'm happy.
Also, she's not the only black girl there, which makes us both happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids both went last year. One did a general camp and the other did a specialty camp. Neither camp seemed to be especially good.

Both kids were unimpressed by the activities and thought there was a lot of waiting around. For instance, they did archery one afternoon, but each kid only was allowed to shoot one arrow. It took a lot of time to get everyone ready and out of the unit to the activity, then there was a long safety training, all for 30 seconds of an activity. For the specialty camp, they only did the specific activity on one day and all the other days were just normal camp. (This wasn't clear from the description.). On top of that the group for the specialty activity was too big so it was a lot of waiting and not very fun because they didn't get to do much.
The rest of camp was lots of friendship bracelets and tie dye, both of which my kids have done a million times.

I'd try a different camp.

.

Which location? (And if you're willing to name the specialty that would be appreciated, but I understand if not.)

One kid was at May Flather (older kid) and the other at Winona (younger kid). The older one asked to try a different camp. She's into adventure (backpacking, rock climbing, caving, kayaking, etc) so we're looking at other outdoor adventure camps. I don't think any GS camp is going to meet her expectations. They're really "intro" camps at best and not for a kid who really likes and is experienced at outdoor activities.

You should look at the GS Destinations for that. Camp Whiterock has some high adventure but it’s not going to be as advanced as what you get with the Destinations camps.