Any sunny Saturday, you’ll find Girl Scouts building courage, confidence and character in the great outdoors at Girl Scout camp. While their peers are inside texting and “surfing,” our girls are hiking down trails, paddling canoes and saddling up horses. It’s what makes a Girl Scout a Girl Scout—the opportunity to get outside and reconnect with nature, build authentic relationships with other girls and adults, and practice muscle-powered activities.

To understand what today’s girls are looking for; we went straight to the source. We asked—girls responded:
Swimming. Horseback riding. Zipline and rappel. Canoeing and kayaking.

Our challenge: Find a way to provide opportunities for 35,000 girls in 47 counties to experience the highest quality of outdoor camp experience.

The answer:
4 Four camps featuring programs and facilities for younger girls with proximity to our three population centers: Camp Daisy (Topeka), Camp Tongawood (West KC), Camp Prairie Schooner (East KC), Camp Winding River (St. Joseph), Camp Timberlake (will remain open with current programs until they are redistributed to other properties).

3 Three camps designed to serve as “Destinations” for older girls from throughout the council, each with a specialized program girls want: Camp Prairie Schooner--Challenge Activities; Camp Winding River--Horseback Riding; Camp Oakledge--Aquatics and Adventure.

Here’s what the opportunities will look like for girls:

STEP IN: Daisy/Brownie: Younger girls need day camping and troop camping opportunities that are closer to home and allow them to step into the great outdoors with familiar adults and shorter stays. Four campsites spread throughout the council will provide these opportunities for girls in and around the three major population centers: Camp Daisy (Topeka), Camp Tongawood (West KC), Camp Prairie Schooner (East KC), Camp Winding River (St. Joseph). Camp Timberlake will remain open until programs are redistributed to other council properties at some point in the future.

VENTURE OUT: Brownie/Junior: As girls progress, they begin to want adventure—trips farther from home and more exciting opportunities for extended stays. They are ready to meet new girls and adults and “venture out” into the world. Resident camping at Camp Oakledge will provide participation pathways that meet the needs and interests of girls—swimming, adventure and boating. Programs at Winding River will provide progressive horseback riding opportunities. Science, technology, engineering and math programs at Tongawood will inspire future biologists and engineers!

FIT IN: Junior/Cadette: Middle school is a time when Girl Scouts can have a huge impact. Life throws so much at our girls—and camp is a place where each one can fit in and find out who she really is. Cool camp counselors, camps that are farther away from home, and leadership programs designed just for tweens and teens will help us retain girls and make a critical difference in their lives. Camp Oakledge will be the destination for teens and tweens for resident camp and other events. Winding River’s programs will teach girls about leadership through equestrian activities.

LEAD ON: Senior/Ambassador: High school Girl Scouts may be few in number, but they’re mighty in impact and what they gain from outdoor experiences. From helping with day camps and other programs to becoming WIT, RIT and CIT, these young women are blazing career paths and building a lifetime appreciation for outdoor leadership. Trips, wilderness treks and specialized leadership experiences at Camp Prairie Schooner, Camp Oakledge and Winding River will give them what they need to “lead on!”