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.

VIP Day at Camp Darden

On June 29, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast hosted local community leaders for VIP Day at Camp Darden near Franklin. CEO Tracy Keller led guests on a tour of the camp and shared information about Girl Scout outdoor initiatives. After the tour of the property, campers and guests gathered in the camp field for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new archery range, which was made possible by a generous donation by Carol and Thurston Watkins of Virginia Beach.

Carol, a Girl Scout volunteer, and Thurston attended the VIP Day to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Carol was a Girl Scout leader for many years until her daughter graduated from high school in 2014 and would bring girls on camping trips to Darden. After cutting the ribbon, Carol, Thurston and other guests shot some arrows to test out the new range.

“I remember how hot it was standing out here in the field, under the sun,” Carol said. “It is nice to be able to have some shade for the girls.”

Following the ceremony, guests joined campers in the dining hall for a Western-themed lunch, complete with songs and games, including potato sack races and pin the tail on the donkey. By the time rest hour rolled around for the campers, it was clear to the camp guests that Girl Scouts are building more than campfires at Camp Darden. They’re learning new things and developing leadership skills that will last them well beyond the summer.

Guests at the VIP Day included: Sammara Bailey with Franklin Parks and Rec; Bonnie Roblin, branch manager of the Franklin Library; Trish Tsitera, Holly Ledbetter and Sion Carr with Franklin-Southampton Area United Way; and John Fields, son-in-law of Colgate Darden, the former Virginia governor who gave the Camp Darden property to Boy Scouts, who used the property before giving it to Girl Scouts in the 1970s.

Registration is still open for girls to attend summer camp with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast at either Camp Skimino in Williamsburg, Camp Outback in Chesapeake or Camp Apasus in Norfolk. For more information, visit www.gsccc.org.

It's Time for Summer Camp!

Tesi Davis Strickland, the outdoors adventure manager for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, is packing up to head to Camp Darden near Franklin for summer camp. Strickland, who has served in a number of roles in Girl Scouts, both as a volunteer and staff member, will spend the summer overseeing fun and adventure for girls, managing staff and providing unique opportunities for girls to grow and discover in the outdoors. She will be managing four camp properties this summer but she says Camp Darden is her favorite camp.

“I remember as a little girl going to pick up my uncle from Camp Darden back when it was a Boy Scout camp,” Strickland said. “As a badge requirement, the Boy Scouts had to bring something back from the camp experience and my uncle chose to teach us how to make foil dinners. This foil dinner, or the “Darden Special” as we called it, became a family tradition for us.”

Although traditional camp activities, including singing around the campfire, canoeing and swimming remain at the core of the program at Camp Darden, other activities have been added. This summer, girls will be able to use a newly-constructed archery range that can be utilized rain or shine, and will have use of a new sailboat that was donated. Girls will also have a chance to fish and use the low-ropes course.

While all these activities are great ways for girls to build skills and have fun, Strickland says making friends and being in an all-girl environment are still the most important reasons why girls come to Girl Scout camp.

“Camp is a place where there is no competition and girls can feel free to be themselves and try new things,” Strickland said. “Most of my staff were campers as girls and know the value of the experience. They have worked their way through Counselor in Training programs and now some of them are in management roles. They continue to benefit from having women role models who oversee the Council’s camp program.”

Registration is open through June 12 for girls to attend Camp Darden. All girls, including those who are not currently registered members, are welcome to attend Girl Scout camp. Following summer camp at Camp Darden, sessions will be taking place at Camp Skimino in Williamsburg. For more information and to register, visit www.gsccc.org.

Currituck Girl Scouts Make Improvements at Camp Darden

Last summer, Girl Scout Cadette Kilani from Currituck spent a week at Camp Darden, a Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast property near Franklin, Va., riding horses, canoeing, swimming, learning archery and making new friends around the campfire. She spent an adventurous week in the outdoors and had a wonderful experience, but she also noticed that the bunk beds in her cabin could use a fresh coat of paint. Two weeks later, Kilani was back at Camp Darden with her fellow members of Girl Scout Troop 64, and they agreed. After their weekend at camp, the girls took action to contact the property department at Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and offered to paint the bunks.

Girl Scout Troop 64 at Camp Darden

After much planning, Girl Scout Troop 64 finally set out to see their plan into action last weekend. They packed paintbrushes and tape alongside their sleeping bags and pillows and headed back to Camp Darden. The 11 troop members, along with their two leaders, spent the weekend adding a fresh coat of “Girl Scout green” paint to the bunk beds at Camp Darden.

“They felt that the buildings should be as beautiful as the property itself,” Jesse Richardson, leader of Girl Scout Troop 64, said. “The girls really enjoyed putting part of the Girl Scout Law into action by doing their part to make the world a better place.”

Girl Scout Troop 64 among the freshly painted bunk beds at Camp Darden

While at Camp Darden, the girls also made sure to have some fun. They celebrated the 13th birthday of a troop member, Kenzie Faytik, and were invited by some Girl Scouts in Virginia Beach to join them around the campfire for s’mores and songs.

At all levels of Girl Scouting, girls are encouraged to identify community needs, be resourceful problem solvers and take action to make a difference. The hard work of Girl Scout Troop 64 will be enjoyed by hundreds of girls who choose Camp Darden for their annual camping trips, as well as the girls who attend resident camp there this summer.

For more information about joining Girl Scouts or attending Girl Scout camp, visit www.gsccc.org.

Middle School Madness

This summer, GSCCC is offering a summer camp session just for girls who will be starting middle school in the fall. This unique camp, Middle School Madness, will be held August 10 -15 at Camp Darden.

During their fun-filled week at Middle School Madness, girls will learn how to navigate relationships, find true friendships, deal with social conflicts and gain self-confidence as they complete the Girl Scout Cadette It’s Your World—Change It! aMAZE! Journey. In the supportive all-girl environment of Girl Scout camp, girls will be able to openly talk with their peers, as well as supportive adult counselors, about their fears and concerns about starting middle school.

Girl Scouts will complete the aMAZE!
Leadership Journey at camp.

To coincide with the aMAZE! Journey, girls will take part in activities from the Girl Scouts of the USA Be a Friend First anti-bullying program, which gives girls a chance to explore thorny issues, such as peer pressure, stereotyping, gossip and cliques, by engaging in role-plays, creating writing, games and discussion exercises. Girls will also be encouraged to take on leadership roles with activities through Ban Bossy, a public service campaign recently launched by Girl Scouts of the USA and Lean In to support girls to be ambitious, speak up and take the lead.

At camp, girls will also be able to take advantage of all of the amenities Camp Darden has to offer, including canoeing, swimming, archery and a low-ropes challenge course. They will also explore the new adventures they’ll face in middle school, including changing classes and opening lockers.

Camp registration can be completed online here. For questions about this camp session email rebeccaf@gsccc.org. All girls, whether or not they are currently registered members of Girl Scouts, are invited to attend summer camp with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.

Camp Reunions Helped Make New Memories

Girl Scouts across the nation have had a busy year celebrating the centennial of Girl Scouting in the United States. Here at the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast, our most popular celebrations for alumnae have been camp reunions. The reunions have given former campers and staff members a chance to reconnect, share memories and participate in traditional camp activities.Generations of Girl Scouts came together and celebrated the tradition of sisterhood in Girl Scouts at these reunions - "Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout!" Many thanks to the Council's Archive's Committee for supplying historical exhibits for each event.

The camp reunions kicked off on July 25th at Camp Apasus in Norfolk where a thank-you luncheon for the Norfolk Sertoma Club, a long-time sponsor of the camp for over fifty years, also took place. In August, reunions were scheduled at Camp Darden near Franklin and Camp Skimino in Williamsburg. Hiking, swimming and S.W.A.P.S. were all part of the fun. You can see photos and videos from all the reunions on the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast Facebook!

Sing Along at Camp Apasus was led by the Council's Sing-Along Group leader Jo Bazar.

Camp Darden Sing Along on August 4. Favorite song - "Come September"

Camp Skimino Reunion, August 18.

The last reunion was at Camp Burkes Mill Pond on September 22. There was a pirate treasure hunt, outdoor cooking demonstrations, displays, canoeing on Burkes Mill Pond and a camp tour that included the old Mill House.