Written by Council Historian, Rose C.
“Day camp is an adventure in the out-of-doors. Camp by the day – home each night. Brownie, Junior and Cadette units of troop size, plan hikes, cook over an open fire, learn songs, play games, develop skills and relax under trees. A trained staff provided by the council join the girls in creating a program of fun, adventure, and learning.” (Lone Tree Area Girl Scout Council 1972 summer camp brochure)
The earliest information we have about day camp in what is now our council goes back to the 1940s. In the early years and into the early 1970s Day Camp was run by volunteers in each district, neighborhood, community, council, or service unit. They were held in forests preserves and parks.
Transportation was by bus or the girls walked to the park in their neighborhood. Girls brought an unbreakable cup, a sit-upon, paper & pencil, pocketknife and the handbook appropriate for the level they would be in next fall. Lunch was normally a sack lunch unless the unit decided to cook their lunch then girls would divide between themselves what ingrediencies they would bring to cook their lunch. When the girls cooked their own meal, they also brought a mess kit, silverware and a dunk bag to hang their cleaned dishes in to dry. Major equipment for cooking, crafts and buckets was brought to and from each day by the volunteers.
Day camp always started every day with a flag ceremony, followed by crafts, singing, hiking, games, cooking, nature study, storytelling and much more.
Each unit had a caper chart so the girls would rotate responsibilities each day. Some of the responsibilities were gathering wood for a fire, cook the meal, wash the cooking utensils (girls washed their own dishes) and getting water to keep by the fire.
Some day camps were one or two weeks long. Also, some camps had a theme like Wagon Ho!, Super Summer Sampler, the Wild West, Kaleida-Scout Summer, Fun in the Sun, Mosaic of Olympics, Let’s Explore Nature, and World of Fun. This led to theme weeks like Fine Arts, Playhouse (drama), Let’s stay (planning a campout and staying overnight the last two nights), Vagabond (biking), Paddlers (canoeing), and Program Aide (now CIT).
In the 1970s some of the councils moved their day camps to their camps and hired a staff member to be day camp director. South Cook Council started hosting day camp at Camp Palos in 1969 and when The Friendship Center was built in 1992 day camp was offered at both sites. Lone Tree Area to The Wild Rose Program Center in 1972. DuPage County Council to Camp Greene Wood and Von Oven. In the 1990s DuPage County Council also offered what was called S.W.A.P.S. (Summer Weather Activity and Program Specials). These programs were designed for Junior Girl Scouts and older. These activities were short-term and badge-related and held throughout the council. Other councils continued to have day camp run by service units with volunteers staffing the camp.
Today, day camp is weeklong and is held at Camp Greene Wood. Also, some service units have their own day camp run by volunteers. They are held in parks, community centers and forest preserves. Hours are 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with Camp Greene Wood offering before-camp and after-camp programs.
The camp is open to youth entering grades K-12. Adult volunteers are welcome at all camps.
Information about 2026 Summer Camp is out now. Take time to read through all the opportunities available to make new friends, learn in skills, adventure in the out-of-doors and just have fun.
Summer Camp Registration Opens on February 2, 2026, at 6:00 a.m.!