Preview of Camp Skimino's Updated Health Lodge!

Camp Skimino has an updated Health Lodge! The update started in the Fall of 2019 when some amazing volunteers from Sentara Williamsburg spent their Day of Caring service hours at the camp taking down walls and tearing out flooring.  

It was quite a job to go down to the framework on this 42 feet by 24 foot building that was constructed in 1976. But they did it and their work made it possible for construction to start. 

GSCCC property team and volunteers dedicated a lot of hours doing the manual work and were helped with material donation by Commonwealth Building Materials who gave drywall, insulation, and other needed materials. 

The inside is now looking new and ready for campers when we open our camp for overnight stays again! And the building meets ADA standards (ADA means Americans with Disabilities Act that accommodates persons in wheelchairs).  Plans for renewing the outside are tentatively scheduled for fall. 

Check out these interior photos:

 

Gold Award Spotlight: Fire Safety at First Landing State Park

Our region is full of beautiful parks and historic landmarks. Some places, like First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach have both. Girl Scout Ambassador Ainsley earned her Gold Award by contributing to fire safety and park preservation at First Landing State Park.

First Landing has five historic cabins that were built in the 1930's

by the Civilian Conservation Corp. The cabins can be rented by visitors to the park and have fire circles for use outside. Unfortunately, bringing camp chairs or other portable camp furniture too close to a flame can easily cause them to ignite. In order to protect the cabins and grounds from fire damage, Ainsley created ten sturdy wooden benches for use around the campsites.

During her project, Ainsley worked right beside two benches that were under repair from previous fire damage. It was a reminder of how fast an accident can happen.

“The flames were contained quickly but could have easily damaged a historic piece of property. It’s a butterfly effect,” Ainsley said.

Ainsley did not stop there! To make a lasting impact, she designed brochures and a website that have blueprints and step-by-step instructions on how the benches are created. Ainsley’s project not only made the park better for visitors but she also has done her part to help preserve history.

Thank you, Ainsley!

Core Camp

A guest blog by Camile Peter, Chief Operations Officer for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast

Core Camp is a special chance for Girl Scout troops to come together for a sampling of all the various activities that make Girl Scout camp one of the most fun and valuable experiences ever! If your girls and troop volunteers are camping novices, core camp’s experienced volunteer staff will help all of you gain the skills and find all the fun and excitement that camp has to offer. If your troop has been to camp before, core camp offers a variety of activities that may expand your horizons, while making your weekend worry-free.

When I first came to the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, I was amazed at how great our camps are. I fell in love with all of our camps and quickly volunteered to lead many core camp weekends. I found it to be truly the best that camp has to offer, rolled into a weekend where someone else coordinates everything!

Here are some of the things that made many fond memories for my daughters and me, and that are still offered at today’s core camps: hiking, archery, nature activities, outdoor skills and orienteering, crafts, canoeing, ropes, flag ceremonies, closing campfires, storytime, skits and sing-alongs, kapers, s’mores and more! All you have to do is bring your troop, pillows and blankets. We will do the rest! Ok, you might want to bring a couple more things. We really will do the rest!

Outdoors Adventures Manager Tesi Strickland, aka Pickles, and our fantastic outdoor volunteer staff combine their years of experience to lead the way so that you and your troop will have a wonderful time. Of course, core camp would never be successful without great food, and you can count on Pickles and our volunteer staff to make sure that no one goes hungry.

New this year, we have added opportunities for your troop volunteers to receive outdoor training while at core camp. Just think – if your troop volunteers are already going to be there, why not attend one of the trainings offered so that your troop can continue their outdoor adventures all year long!

This year’s core camps are already on the schedule, so plan ahead and join us for a chance to experience core camp magic!

• March 9-11 (2 nights) at Camp Darden

The sky is the limit to the fun and good solid camp time you and your troop will have at our camps!

Register online, or contact us at customercare@gsccc.org for more information. We hope to see you there!

Summer Camp Recap

Summer camp has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun in Girl Scouts is over! If you haven’t already, it’s that time of year to renew your Girl Scout membership for another year of taking the lead like a Girl Scout! We can’t wait to see the adventure that will come this year. But first, let’s recap the highlights of summer camp this year:

Reaching New Heights

In June, guests gathered at Camp Darden to dedicate a new climbing wall. The 22-foot high wall was built at the camp this spring thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Obici Healthcare Foundation, and Girl Scouts from the Suffolk Service Unit donated funds to purchase the auto-belay devices for the climbing wall. Following the dedication ceremony, guests were led on a tour of camp and enjoyed lunch with campers.

Camp Fury Norfolk

For the first time ever, GSCCC hosted Camp Fury in partnership with Norfolk Fire-Rescue. Highlights of the week included rappelling inside Chrysler Hall, climbing an aerial ladder on a fire truck and learning forcible entry skills. Girls also learned about other non-traditional careers for women, as they spent an afternoon with the Norfolk Police Department and traveled to Naval Station Norfolk, where they met with the Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM-14).

A New Addition
In August, GSCCC dedicated a screened-in addition to the Sertoma Lodge at Camp Apasus, which girls can use as an outdoor classroom all year long. The addition was funded by the Norfolk Sertoma Club, which has supported Girl Scouts and Camp Apasus since the 1950s.

Great American Eclipse
Girls at Camp Outback had the chance to view the solar eclipse on August 21. With special solar eclipse safety glasses, the girls went outside and looked up to the sky to view the rare phenomenon. During the rest of the day at camp, the girls took part in activities related to the eclipse that were sent to Girl Scouts from NASA. For one of the activities, the girls observed and recorded the air temperature outside before, during and after the eclipse, and they talked about the power of the sun.






And, remember, we have outdoor opportunities for girls all year long with the Wild Things of GSCCC, the Colonial Coast Girl Scout Cavers and, of course, GSCCC.

A Visit to Camp Apasus

If you keep your eyes open long enough, you can see a lot in just a few minutes.  Today I had the honor of taking a few photographs at my daughter’s Girl Scout camp, Camp Apasus. I drove through the cemetery where two of my great grandmothers are buried, and I walked into the camp with my daughter. I saw a lot in those short moments.

I saw dozens of girls wearing shirts with printed expressions like “smart girl” and “kind is cool.” I saw girls running with reckless abandon – jump roping and hula hooping.  I saw some girls who could jump rope while doing twists.  I saw some girls who couldn’t yet jump rope.  I saw the girls who excelled at jump roping encouraging their sisters who couldn’t jump rope well with tips like “keep your head up” and “pick up your feet next time.” No competition. No embarrassment.  Just genuine encouraging and supporting each other.

I saw two girls cry after having a disagreement as a strong counselor calmed them down and helped them through the disagreement.  I then saw them hula hoop off together again, the dispute quickly forgotten.

I saw girls with different hair, build, color and age come together to make pretend boats out of sticks.

I saw a team of outstanding strong young women leading these girls. These young women have their priorities straight, and they lead these young Girl Scouts by example.

I saw the girls line up for the raising of the Colors, and then they reverently raised the flag earned by a deceased veteran.  I saw the girls remove their ball caps and cover their heart with their hands as they pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  They watched the flag with wonder and respect.

I was only at the camp for about 15 minutes, and I saw ALL of this.  I left there with a full heart, for I know these young girls and young women are going to be okay.  I know that just this one week at Camp Apasus is going to make a difference in all their amazing long lives. This camp is made of the stuff that they will look back on in 20 or 30 years and remember - remember the fun, the freedom, the friendships, the go-getting, the risk-taking, and the leading that they learned how to do.  

Thank you, Girl Scouts. Thank you for inspiring and encouraging this generation of girls to be who they are.  You’ve done your job here, as you’ve been doing since 1912.  Keep on keepin’ on! 

Yours in Girl Scouting,
Kelly McMahon Willette, Girl Scout Troop Leader and Girl Scout Mom

GSCCC Dedicates Addition to Program Center at Camp Apasus with Sertoma Club

A vintage Girl Scout song says it all, “Make new friends but keep the old.” It is a song that encourages Girl Scouts to welcome new members into their friendship circle while cherishing those who have become the strong links that hold that circle together.

On August 9, one of those links, the Norfolk Sertoma Club, was honored and thanked at Camp Apasus. The Norfolk Sertoma Club is a dedicated group of professionals with a common goal of helping people through supporting organizations such as Girl Scouts. Every year, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast holds “thank you” picnic – a tradition that started in the 1950s.

Over the decades, club members have helped maintain the camp property by offering volunteer time for repairs and funding improvements and additions, such as the archery range and the camp pool. Recently, their generosity made it possible for GSCCC to build a screened-in addition to the Sertoma Lodge, a program center fully equipped with kitchen, showers and amenities for overnights. Now, girls using the lodge can also have an outdoor classroom experience.

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new addition was part of this year’s luncheon celebration. Girl Scout campers, alumnae, board members, and more than 30 Sertoma Club members attended.

“We were really excited to see the new pavilion,” Lewis Swartley, president of the Norfolk Sertoma Club, said. “My fellow Norfolk Sertoma Club brothers and I are honored to support Camp Apasus and Girl Scouts today and far into the future. We are committed to helping Girl Scouts in their mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character.”

After the ribbon cutting, GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller gave a few remarks.

“Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast is very fortunate to have such a strong relationship with the Norfolk Sertoma Club, which has supported this unique camp over the years,” Keller said. “Tucked away in a city environment, Camp Apasus is a place where girls can build important skills. Research shows that girls' outdoor experiences are positively linked to their challenge seeking, problem-solving and environmental stewardship. They get that here at Camp Apasus.”

GSCCC Board Chair Carolene Goodwyn-Harris also spoke to guests at camp.

“When girls get outdoors, they can begin to recognize their strengths in a new way,” Goodwyn-Harris said. “It is an experience that can impact them socially, emotionally and physically. Knowing that these outdoor experiences are essential for a well-rounded life, I am thrilled that we have friends like the Sertoma Club to support our efforts.”

After the ceremony, guests were invited to tour the entire camp. While the Sertoma Lodge is the jewel of the camp, there are other great things to see and do at Camp Apasus. It borders Mason Creek, off of Granby Street in Norfolk. Campers and visitors can canoe on the small body of water and take advantage of the five campsites on the property - three with platform tents, fire circles and picnic tables. Two other buildings near Sertoma Lodge are used for storage, one for craft and camp supplies and the other as a boat storage location. A covered pavilion across from Sertoma Lodge serves as an outdoor program and picnic space. During the summer months, an above-ground pool is made available to day campers.

Camp Fury Chesapeake

On Monday morning, 21 Girl Scouts were issued turnout gear, helmets, gloves and safety glasses at the Chesapeake Fire Department Central Supply Warehouse. The girls were preparing to spend the week taking part in Camp Fury Chesapeake, a firefighting and emergency preparedness camp hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Chesapeake Fire Department.

With stormy weather threatening their scheduled activities for Monday afternoon, the Girl Scouts made some adjustments and headed to Norfolk International Airport, where they watched an airport fire training demonstration and learned about the airport’s unique fire department and equipment.

Later in the week, the girls had the opportunity to put firefighting skills to the test at the Southside Regional Fire Training Academy in Portsmouth, where they climbed an aerial ladder on a firetruck, learned forcible entry skills using a Halligan bar, took part in confined space training and operated hose lines. For many of the girls at Camp Fury, the highlight of the week was rappelling inside Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.

Amber

Amber, who will be a senior at Western Branch High School next year, attended Camp Fury Chesapeake for the second year. Inspired by her first experience with the camp, Amber took an emergency medical technician training class during the school year.

“I thought that the class would be complicated, but it wasn’t, especially because I had gone to Camp Fury,” Amber said. “I am now planning to pursue a career as a firefighter.”

In addition to the firefighting experiences they had during the week, the girls learned about other nontraditional careers for women and met women who work in those fields. A panel of female scientists and engineers from NASA spoke to the girls about their experiences in the field of aeronautical engineering. They also welcomed guest speakers from the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office and a female commanding officer in the United States Navy. During the week, the girls also toured the emergency department at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and learned defensive tactics with the Chesapeake Police Department.

This is the second year that Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Chesapeake Fire Department have partnered to host Camp Fury. The concept of Camp Fury originated in Arizona, and Chesapeake Firefighter Paramedic Mandy George brought the camp to Chesapeake after volunteering at Camp Fury Hampton for a couple of years.

Camp Fury Hampton

Last week, a group of 21 go-getter Girl Scouts took part in Camp Fury Hampton, a summer camp hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue to introduce girls to nontraditional careers for women, including firefighting, and provide them with experiences to try new things, develop teamwork skills and build self-confidence.

After a brief orientation, girls got started with firefighter training first thing on Monday morning. At Hampton Fire Station 9, they climbed an aerial ladder on a fire truck, rappelled four stories down a training tower, took part in fire extinguisher training and competed in a bucket brigade challenge. The following day of camp was also full of firefighting activities, from learning how to tie knots to how to carry ladders. They also took part in CPR training, watched a vehicle extrication demonstration and learned how to use a self-contained breathing apparatus. Highlights of the week included touring the Nightingale helicopter, taking a boat ride with the City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and staying overnight at Hampton fire station.

In addition to learning about firefighting, girls at Camp Fury spent a day with the Hampton Police Department, where they learned about forensics, internet safety, defensive tactics and homeland security. They also watched a demonstration by the K-9 unit.

“This was our fourth year doing Camp Fury in Hampton, and all of the girls who participate get an experience of a lifetime,” Jami Salvio, medic firefighter with Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and one of the lead organizers of Camp Fury, said. “I hope that Camp Fury taught them courage, confidence, character, respect and teamwork. Whatever they decide to do, I hope that they always believe that they can do anything they put their minds to.”

The concept of Camp Fury originated in Arizona and was brought to the Hampton Roads region by Medic Firefighter Salvio and Lt. Denee Nichols of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue. Since the inception of Camp Fury Hampton, Medic Firefighter Salvio and Lt. Nichols have helped fellow female firefighters start Camp Fury Chesapeake and Camp Fury Norfolk.

Camp Fury is designed to immerse girls in a supportive, all-girl environment where they can develop leadership skills and confidence as they embrace the unfamiliar, take risks and discover what they are capable of.

Join Us to Do S’more with Girl Scouts!

Families interested in learning more about Girl Scouts are invited to celebrate National S’mores Day with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast at the events listed below. Make your own delicious s’mores, try your hand at cool science and engineering activities and sign up to become a Girl Scout! Register to attend an event here.

Friday, August 4
6 to 7 p.m.
A Place for Girls
912 Cedar Road, Chesapeake

Thursday, August 10
6 to 7 p.m.
Camp Skimino
448 Fenton Mill Road, Williamsburg

Thursday, August 10
6 to 7 p.m.
Courthouse Community United Methodist Church
2708 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach

Sunday, August 20
6 to 7 p.m.
Camp Apasus
8420 Granby Street, Norfolk

Sign up for Girl Scouts, and you are in for a year of opportunity, excitement and new experiences! Staff will be on hand at each event to help you register. Girl Scouts is open to all girls in grades K-12, and parents and caregivers are invited to join the fun as volunteers.

Take part in your first Girl Scout community service project by bringing school supplies that will be donated to local schools through WAVY-TV’s Operation School Supplies.

For more information about Girl Scouts, visit www.gsccc.org or call 757-547-4405.

Meet Popsicle and Blossom, the High Adventure Counselors!

Blossom, left, and Popsicle

If you look up in the trees at camp, you will probably see Poppy Crawshaw and Tessa Coughtrey, also known as Popsicle and Blossom by their campers, they are two of the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s adventure counselors for our summer residence camps.

Poppy joined Girl Scouts as a Daisy and went on to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. She completed her Gold Award project in 2014 when she ran a basketball camp for 75 third, fourth and fifth graders at a Title I school. Her goal was to give kids a safe, healthy way to let out energy and frustration from their school and home lives. The elementary school where she did the program at is in a low-income area and 75 percent of the students are on free-and-reduced lunch. Poppy has always been inspired to give back to her community, which led to her decision to become a camp counselor for GSCCC.

“I became a counselor to give back to the Girl Scout community because they gave so much to me,” Poppy said. “I went to camp as a kid and looked up to my counselors as role models and I hope to be that for these girls.”

Poppy’s favorite part of camp is seeing the girls grow in just one week of camp. She knows how to follow the Girl Scout motto by helping girls grow in confidence by being surrounded by strong girls and women.

Tessa became a Girl Scout at the age of five. Twelve years later, Tessa earned the Gold Award by writing a U.S. History curricula for second, fifth and eighth graders around her hometown of Edenton, NC. The curricula was about the Edenton Tea Party, which was a major event in women’s history and is largely considered the first organized political actions by women in the United States. A total of 51 women signed a petition to stop using British goods during the American Revolution. Tessa continues to empower young girls as a high adventure counselor.

“I love Girl Scouts as an organization, and it is the perfect thing to do while I’m off school for the summer,” Tessa said. “I’m an adventure counselor, and I love watching and encouraging girls’ confidence through adventurous activities. And, I’ve met some of my best friends here!”

GSCCC summer camps continue through August. There are still spaces to register your daughter for a week, or more, of fun and adventure at Girl Scout camp.

Girl Scout Camp Counselor Got Her Start as a Camper

Sarah Petengill spent many weeks of her childhood summers at Girl Scout Camp Skimino. At camp, she always admired her camp counselors, and she knew that one day, she wanted to be a camp counselor to be a role model for girls too. This summer, Petengill made her dream a reality, and she is working as the arts and crafts manager for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Throughout the summer, she is travelling to Girl Scout camps across the region-Camp Darden, Camp Apasus, Camp Skimino and Camp Outback-to bring her creativity, leadership and inspiration to hundreds of girls.

Last week at Camp Apasus in Norfolk, Petengill helped girls think outside the box in the arts and crafts cabin through a variety of projects. On Friday, the girls designed their own boats out of paper bags and craft sticks. This project not only allowed girls to use their creativity, but also required them to use their resources wisely so that their boat would float in a vat of water.

After a summer of fun and adventure with Girl Scouts, Petengill will be attending Radford University in the fall.

There are still spaces open for girls to attend summer camp with Girl Scouts. All girls are welcome. Find more information at www.gsccc.org.

Camp Fury Norfolk

This summer, for the first time ever, Norfolk Fire-Rescue and Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast partnered to host Camp Fury Norfolk, a week-long firefighting and emergency preparedness experience. The goal of Camp Fury is to introduce girls to firefighting as a career, give girls the chance to meet women in fields typically dominated by men and provide experiences for girls to try new things and build self-confidence and teamwork skills.

The camp kicked off on Monday, where girls were issued turnout gear and helmets for the week. They jumped right into firefighter training, climbing an aerial ladder on a firetruck, taking part in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) orientation, learning how to properly carry ladders and trying their hand at forcible entry. A highlight of the activities for the week was rappelling inside Chrysler Hall. The girls harnessed up and rappelled from the front of the stage into the orchestra pit. They also climbed up onto the catwalk and rappelled down onto the stage.

"Many of the girls at Camp Fury had not considered firefighting as a career for them before coming to camp," Norfolk Firefighter Paramedic Darlene Braun said. "We're showing them that they can be anything that they want to be."

In addition to learning about firefighting, the girls were also introduced to other public safety careers. They spent an afternoon with the Norfolk Police Department, where they watched a police canine unit demonstration, learned about a bomb robot and took part in physical training alongside female police officers. A tour of the emergency departments at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters were also on the schedule for the week, as well as a stop at Naval Station Norfolk, where the girls met with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 (HM-14).

Camp Fury Norfolk is the third Camp Fury offered by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Camp Fury will also be hosted with the City of Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue and the Chesapeake Fire Department this summer. Firefighter Paramedic Braun, who brought Camp Fury to Norfolk, previously volunteered at Camp Fury in Hampton and Chesapeake.

At Camp Fury, and at all Girl Scout camps, girls are immersed in a supportive, all-girl environment where they develop into go-getters, innovators, risk takers and leaders.

Camp Darden Climbing Wall Dedication

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast dedicated a new climbing wall at Camp Darden in Courtland on June 20 during a ceremony with campers, Girl Scout alumnae and friends from the community. The 22-foot high wall was built at the camp this spring thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Obici Healthcare Foundation. Girl Scouts from the Suffolk Service Unit donated funds to purchase auto-belay devices for the climbing wall.

Following the dedication ceremony, guests were led on a tour of the camp. Among the guests in attendance were Franklin Mayor Frank Rabil and his wife Lynne, and Tammie Mullins-Rice from the Obici Healthcare Foundation. John and Irene Field also visited camp for the ceremony. Irene is the daughter of the late former Virginia Governor Colgate Darden who donated Camp Darden for Girl Scouts to use.

“When children are involved in programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, the knowledge that they gain and the habits that they develop have a long-term impact on their health and well-being,” Tracy Keller, CEO of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, said. “We hope that the addition of the climbing wall will encourage more girls to come to camp, spend time outdoors and be active.”

The climbing wall will be used by thousands of Girl Scouts, as well as members of the public who rent the camp facility for recreation, conference and training events.

The climbing wall the latest improvement Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast has made to the camp to offer a variety of high-adventure activities for girls. Last year, an archery range opened at the camp, and a low-ropes course and new pool were added to the camp in 2013. Camp Darden also offers hiking trails on its 105 acres and a waterfront for canoeing and sailing.

Rock on, Girl Scouts!

Go-getter Girl Scouts of the Lynnhaven Shores Girl Scout Service Unit raised $10,000 that they donated to build a climbing wall at Camp Skimino, a camp located in Williamsburg and operated by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC). A check was presented to the Council’s Property Director John Morgan and Philanthropy Director Stacy Nixon on Friday, June 2, during an evening bridging program organized by the Lynnhaven Shores Service Unit Girl Scouts. The service unit is one of 23 service units, geographical service areas, within the council. Susan Ramsland, a lifetime Girl Scout who volunteers to oversee the unit and an avid outdoor program advocate, spearheaded the fundraising effort and led the ceremony, which included several girls from the service unit’s Girl Advisory Board, who carried the check to the podium.

This is not the first time that the Lynnhaven Shores Service Unit has united to raise money for improvements to Girl Scout camps. Last year, they funded the new archery range at Camp Skimino. Many members of the service unit attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the archery range, and it was an exciting moment for them to see all of their fundraising efforts come to fruition and put the new archery range to good use.

“While sitting in the dining hall with John after the archery range dedication, reflecting on what other things girls might like to have at camp, an indoor climbing wall was mentioned,” Ramsland said. “Several adults chatted about it that weekend and decided to see if that was something the girls would indeed enjoy at camp.”

Before the end of last summer, the Girl Advisory Board from the Lynnhaven Shores Service Unit held a meeting to make plans for the upcoming Girl Scout year. On their agenda was a discussion of the climbing wall, and all of the girls voted “yes” in support of building it. Ramsland informed the girls that the service unit would need to raise $10,000 to have the climbing wall built, and they launched a fundraising campaign.

With full funding for the Camp Skimino climbing wall provided by the Lynnhaven Shores Service Unit, construction can begin. Morgan is projecting that the climbing wall, an indoor wall that can be used year-round, will be completed sometime in August.

“We are committed to making sure we provide outdoor activities that are relevant to today’s girls and what they want,” John said. “Girls want to be challenged and they want adventure in a safe and all-girl environment and that’s what Girl Scouts is able to give them.”

New Troop Camping Badges

After rounds of voting, the category for the 2017 Girls' Choice badges was announced to be Troop Camping. What a great way to build go-get-‘em problem-solvers, encourage challenge-seeking and expose girls to new experiences as they grow their skills, confidence and character!

Daisies will get a first taste of the camping fun and excitement in their first-ever Girls’ Choice badge, and then the Brownie to Ambassador badges will build on that foundation.

The new badges are: 

• Daisy Buddy Camper
• Brownie Cabin Camper
• Junior Eco Camper
• Cadette Primitive Camper
• Senior Adventure Camper
• Ambassador Survival Camper

Requirements and badges are available online or in the GSCCC shops. 

We are Camp Skimino, the Mighty, Mighty Camp Skimino!

By Elizabeth Coyne, GSCCC Communications Intern and Camp Staff Member

GSCCC Outdoor Adventures Manager Tesi Strickland and
CEO Tracy Keller accepted the Bronze Award on behalf of the Council

Camp Skimino, a GSCCC camp located in Williamsburg, was recognized with a Bronze Award for Best Summer Camp by Coastal Virginia Magazine. The magazine held a reader’s choice contest from January 1 to the end of March. The camp will be featured along with other reader’s choice awards in their July/August issue. Yesterday, GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller and Outdoor Adventures Manager Tesi Strickland were on hand to receive the award certificate from Kathy Talmage, a representative from the magazine.

Elizabeth at camp last summer.

It was no surprise to me that votes from the public brought recognition to Camp Skimino. As someone who worked as a camp counselor there, I totally agree that Camp Skimino is awesome! Camp Skimino has everything a camper could dream of, from belaying 25 feet off the ground on the wobbly bridge of our high-ropes course to water fights from canoes on Skimino’s man-made lake, Lake Adahi. Camp also has a nice, big swimming pool to cool off in after playing capture the flag on the field on a hot, sunny day. And, you can’t forget about the Camp Skimino amphitheater that sits right on the lake that we use for our opening and closing campfires, which are filled with friends, camp songs and of course s’mores! Camp Skimino is the perfect place for girls and their families to experience the outdoors.

Camp Skimino is full of tradition and history that we share with campers each summer. The local Girl Scout council purchased the 98 acres that is now Camp Skimino in 1955, and it officially opened for camping in 1956. Skimino, a Native American word meaning “smooth creek” was used to name the Girl Scout campsite after the first human inhabitants of the area.

This summer, Camp Skimino is hosting a week of resident camp for registered Girl Scouts and their families for only 25 dollars per person, per night and children under five stay for free. Families may stay for one to five nights and choose their daily camp activities, including archery and arts and crafts, or pick to go explore Williamsburg. Located only 10 minutes away from historic Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and all that the area has to offer, Camp Skimino is the perfect family holiday trip. Your family will be staying in platform tents, which is a large canvased wall tent with a wooden floor, complete with cots, mattresses and bug nets. Modern shower houses, complete with flush toilets and hot water for showers, are located near the tents. Meals are not provided. Families plan and cook their own meals or eat at one of the many family and fast food restaurants in the area. For more information, or to book your family for camp, contact customercare@gsccc.org. Come enjoy this beautiful camp that is full of history.

Camp Skimino provides year-round activities for Council girls and adults. It also provides lodging to Girl Scouts from all over the country as they visit the historical Williamsburg area. Other youth groups, businesses, and organizations utilize the site as well for retreats, employee events, and weddings.

Yorktown Girl Scouts Give Back to Camp Burke’s Mill Pond

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1381 from Yorktown recently spent the weekend at Camp Burke’s Mill Pond in Gloucester making an improvement to the camp. The girls put their sewing skills to the test as they made new sets of curtains for all of the windows in Treakle Cabin, the main cabin used by visitors to the camp. The troop members have camped at Burke’s Mill Pond for the past five years, and wanted to make the curtains as a way to give back to a place they have enjoyed so many times. Although much of their time at the camp was spent working on the curtains, the girls also had the chance to enjoy some traditional camp activities and time in the great outdoors.

Sydney, Harper, Zaria, Grace, Isabella, Aubrey and Hayden

In addition to their outdoor adventures, the members of Troop 1381 are active earning badges and giving back to the community. They have most recently completed the requirements to earn the Photography and Dinner Party badges. They also baked cookies that they delivered to first responders at a local fire station. The girls also enjoy activities. This year, they have been ice skating, rock climbing and even tried glassblowing. Before summer comes, the girls are planning to try a yoga class together and make appreciation gifts for Girl Scout leaders in the Yorktown area.

The troop members used proceeds from their cookie sale to purchase supplies to make the curtains. Fellow York County Girl Scouts, Troops 1084, 1097, 1306, 1443 and 4053, also donated help Troop 1381 offset the cost of making the curtains.

Mad Science at Spring Break Camp

In Girl Scouts, girls are always counting down to the next adventure they will go on together. With summer camp still a couple of months away, nearly 60 Girl Scouts are spending the week getting a taste of the fun to come when school lets out during Spring Break Day Camp at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast regional program center in Chesapeake.

The action-packed week has been full of activities for girls to spend time outside, take part in science experiments, let their creativity flow through art projects and make new friends. On Tuesday, the girls enjoyed an interactive workshop with Mad Science of Hampton Roads all about fire and ice. Foggy dry ice storms and playground balls floating in the air amazed the Girl Scouts as they learned about chemical reactions, air pressure and the states of matter.

“Our goal is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children,” Jen Marcus, owner and marketing director of Mad Science of Hampton Roads, said. “It’s really important to introduce girls to science, since there remains an issue of girls taking advanced science classes and pursuing science focused careers. That’s why I love to partner with Girl Scouts – we’re on the same page with this. I weave in stories about women scientists into the presentations and make a special effort to give them more hands-on experiences. When children learn that science is fun, they don’t see it as difficult or complicated.”

Mad Science of Hampton Roads offers programs for Girl Scouts all year long. They will be at Girl Fest on April 29 at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Registration closes for Girl Fest on April 15 and can be completed online here.

Still to come this week, Girl Scouts will be practicing their aim on the archery range, making slime, exploring the world of engineering through LEGOs with BrickHeadZ, putting their culinary skills to the test during a cooking class and so much more. The girls are looking forward to Thursday night, when they will sleepover at A Place for Girls and have an up-close look at the sky with the Back Bay Astronomers.

Dorothy Morrison, a senior in the recreation management department at Old Dominion University, has been interning with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast since January to plan and organize the spring break camp. Her goal was to plan a week of fun and adventure for the Girl Scouts, full of time in the outdoors and opportunities to take part in engaging STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities.

Similar to the spring break camp, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast will be hosting Camp Outback, a summer day camp, at A Place for Girls from July 31 through August 25. All girls in grades one through eight are welcome to attend, and registration is open now.

Camp Skimino Family Camp

Spend the Fourth of July in the great outdoors during GSCCC’s Family Camp at Camp Skimino! Registered Girl Scout girls, adults and families are invited to enjoy Camp Skimino between July 2 and 7—stay for as many nights as you would like! There will be plenty of time to swim, hike, canoe, fish, take part in all-camp activities and enjoy nature. Or, families can take day trips out. Colonial Williamsburg, Water Country USA, Busch Gardens and other attractions are nearby—create your own adventure! Plus, Thursday, July 6 is parents' night out!

Families are responsible for their own meals. They can cook them at camp or take a short drive from camp to enjoy a Williamsburg restaurant. If you choose to cook at camp, bring your own supplies, but we’ll provide ice for your coolers at no additional cost. Each tent site has a screened in shelter with picnic tables and a refrigerator for all campers at the site to share.

Family Camp is $25 per person, per night. Children under five stay for free. Families will stay in platform tents with cots and mattresses for up to five people. Modern shower houses with hot water and flush toilets are located nearby.

Family Camp at Camp Skimino is the perfect way to enjoy Williamsburg on a budget. Explore this popular tourist destination without paying for a hotel. Spend a night or the whole week—it’s up to you!

Find more information and register for Family Camp here.

Keep the Girl Scout Party Going

Camp is over, but the party never stops in Girl Scouts! Have you renewed your membership for another year of fun? We just can’t wait for what the next year will bring! But first, let’s recap all of the amazing fun and adventure at summer camp this year!

Seventeen Girl Scouts started off summer camp “horsing around” at Grubb Grove Horse Farm. This new day camp experienced introduced girls to the equestrian world, from grooming to riding!

Girl Scouts enjoyed two weeks of overnight camp sessions at Camp Darden in June. During the second week at camp, GSCCC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new archery range at the camp. Activities at Camp Darden included horseback riding at nearby Ballyshannon Equestrian Center, adrenaline-pumping adventures and water sports and games.

Camp kicked off at Camp Skimino in July. Archery, canoeing, swimming and the ropes course were all part of the run. A highlight of the week was Camp Fury Hampton, an opportunity for girls to learn firefighting and emergency preparedness and be introduced to nontraditional careers for women.

As August rolled around, Camp Outback, located at A Place for Girls, started up. Girls enjoyed a performance from Atumpan- The Talking Drums and spent a lot of time outdoors canoeing, shooting archery, swimming, hiking in The Outback and more. During Camp Outback, Camp Fury Chesapeake took place for the first time. Favorite moments from Camp Fury Chesapeake included an aerial ladder climb and rappelling at Chrysler Hall.

Before the end of the summer, campers enjoyed two weeks of day camp at Camp Apasus. August 10, National S’mores Day, was a highlight for campers. They welcomed guests from the Sertoma Club of Norfolk, a longtime supporter of the camp, for a special luncheon. Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander stopped by for lunch, too. In true Girl Scout tradition, s’mores were on the menu for dessert.

The outdoor fun doesn’t stop with summer camp! Service unit encampments, troop overnights, outdoor adventure group trips and Council events are all on the calendar this fall. Get more information at www.gsccc.org.