Girl Scout Camps To Host Open House Days

Girl Scout camps in Connecticut will be open for tours by prospective campers and their parents or guardians on Sundays, May 20 and June 17, from 2 to 4 pm.

The camping season begins June 24 for resident camp and June 25 for day camp, and runs through August 17. Girls entering grades 1 through 12 in the fall are eligible to enroll. Registration is underway for one and two-week sessions, or the whole summer. Bus transportation is provided from various towns to all day camp sites.

Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails Council Inc owns and operates seven camps in the state: Laurel Resident and Laurel Day Camps in Lebanon, An-Se-Ox Day Camp in Oxford, Carlson Day Camp in Bristol, Murray Day Camp in East Haven, Pattagansett Day Camp in East Lyme, and Yankee Trails Day Camp in Tolland.

Each camp session has a theme, with activities suitable for the age group. Examples include Summer Blast and Teddy Bear Picnic for the youngest campers, Passport to Adventure, Mission Control, and Nancy Drew: Get a Clue for middle-school age, and Horse Sense, Theater Action, and Crime Scene Investigators for older girls.

A typical day-camp day begins with a greeting and opening ceremony, followed by swimming, unit activity time, lunch, arts and crafts, nature or sports activities, kapers (chores — yes, girls do pitch in to keep their camp in shape), plus other individual or small group activities before a closing ceremony and dismissal.

Resident, or overnight, camp also includes dinner, evening programs, and fun unit activities.

Summer camp helps girls develop the self-confidence and skills they need to overcome the many challenges young people face today, and to succeed in the future. At camp, girls experience positive role models through female leadership, discover their own strengths, set and achieve individual and group goals, voice opinions and make decisions about activities, but most of all have lots of fun and take home memories that will last a lifetime.

To learn more about Girl Scout camp opportunities or to obtain directions to visit a camp on Open House Day, call Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails Council Inc at 800-922-2770 or visit GirlScoutsCTTrails.org, where a camp brochure can be viewed. For more information, e-mail questions to Camp@CTTrails.org.

Changes To The Girl Scout Organization

On October 1, Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails Council and the other four existing Girl Scout councils in the state will become a single unit, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, serving more than 55,000 Girl Scouts and more than 20,000 adult volunteers in the state.

Jennifer Smith Turner, a civic leader with extensive experience in nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors, was recently named as the first chief executive officer of the new council, which will provide programs and support throughout the state, including regional service centers and outdoor program centers (3,100 acres of open space used as camps).

The statewide Girl Scouts of Connecticut will be the largest organization serving girls and women in Connecticut. With expanded access to resources and ability to attract and support girl and adult members, Girl Scouts of Connecticut will offer the best leadership development program for girls anywhere in Connecticut.