Camp Juniper Knoll Stories Over the Years

This year, we’re celebrating 100 years of Camp Juniper Knoll (JK). In honor of recognizing this legacy camp, former campers, current campers, camp staff, and friends of Camp JK have shared some of their favorite memories. Read on to explore how this camp has impacted Girl Scouts throughout the years.

To submit your Camp JK story, click here.

To register for our Camp JK Birthday Party on September 7, click here.

Debbie M., former camper, current camper, and volunteer, shared:

“My first memory of JK was in 1972 when my troop went there for the first time. We were in Voyager (gone), and it was dark, the leaders couldn’t find all the tents, and it was raining most of the weekend. We learned to cook on an open fire in the rain. We burnt our spaghetti but ate it anyway. Stan made us clean out every pot before we could leave, even if we knew we didn’t use it. And some of us continued going there after that for years. I still do and plan on it for a long time. My family has had four generations attend JK, and three generations will be at the 100th. It’s one of my Happy Places.”

Denise U., former camper, shared:

“In the Summer of 1986, my troop, Troop 433 of Illinois Prairie Council, camped for a weekend at Juniper Knoll. It was memorable for the friendships that were solidified as it was the first camping trip this Girl Scout Senior Troop was taking. It also became memorable as it was during that trip in the late hours when we all squished into one platform tent that we decided we wanted to visit the Juliette Low Birthplace in Savannah. After a year of planning and fundraising, our troop made that dream happen by traveling to Savannah in August 1987. That dream would not have been possible without Juniper Knoll!”

Denise added, “Troop 40172 grew up at Juniper Knoll. I was the leader of this troop, which traveled from Girl Scout Daisy to Girl Scout Ambassador, spending many outings at the Promise Center. After spending time in the spring on weekend outings, sometimes with all the troops from Fairview School in Hoffman Estates, we started spending weekends during winter break cooking, baking, watching movies, and decompressing from high school.”

Natalie S., former camper, shared:

“So many trips to, and great memories from Camp Juniper Knoll. My first camping trip ever was to Camp Juniper Knoll with Brownie Troop 762 led by Peggy and Katie. I was born and raised in Chicago, new to Girl Scouts and camping. That first trip opened up a whole new world and I was hooked for life.

Happy Birthday, Camp Juniper Knoll!”

Katie N., former camper and camp staff, shared:

“My favorite camp memory was meeting my life long best friends there. We met one summer and as campers and have continued to grow into young adults while enjoying many summers together at JK. We always cherish the moments and memories together and look back on all of it fondly.”

Tracy B., volunteer, shared:

“I’ve been a Girl Scout leader since 2012, and was a Girl Scout as a kid who loved to go to Girl Scout camp in the summer. I have a deep understanding and appreciation for what a special place like JK is. I have fond memories of taking my troop to Juniper Knoll over the years, from Spring time “mom and me” trips with our service unit, where one year it got down into the 20s overnight as we slept in Yurts, to winter trips when the troop was older and we stayed in Promise in January.

The winter trips are most memorable, as we cooked and baked to our hearts content in the sun-filled kitchen at Promise. We had an Iron Chef type of competition of sandwich making and shared/baked family cookie recipes. We snowshoed among the barren trees and made snow angels on the icy lake after a snowstorm–simply magical. We earned badges through activities like book making and wood carving, painting winter scenes with watercolors and making friendship bracelets. We made s’mores by a campfire despite the bone-chilling cold. One of my warmest memories is when one of my scouts, who has a medical condition that confined her to a wheelchair and a breathing machine–and who also couldn’t speak, went sledding. A few of the girls (with the help of the other girls’ mom) gingerly placed her in a plastic sled and pulled her around the gently rolling hills in the front of Promise. Even though she couldn’t speak, you could hear her unmistakable squeals of joy as the girls ferried her around the snow. The freedom and friendship of that moment are seared in my mind, and was probably one of the most rewarding things I experienced as a leader. This was a time when cell phones were owned by just a few of the girls — and attention was being challenged. The opportunity to just “be” at camp, have a safe social space to interact with pre-teen/teen peers, and try new things and spread the wings of independence were priceless.

My two daughters also have special memories of JK as campers over many summers the past decade. My oldest, Winnie, went full circle this 100th anniversary year as a first-time counselor–one of the youngest at 18. I’m so proud of her, and thankful to JK and Girl Scouts for providing the opportunity for her to grow as a person and give back to others in her latest role. I appreciate how camp allows her to develop her independence (even now as a young adult) and share her knowledge and love of nature with the next generation of campers. JK has been a big part of her life–a comforting constant as she has grown up and the world changes.

It’s also been a place where my youngest daughter has grown up as a camper. She learned to canoe, kayak, and now sail. She’s gone to camp without knowing anyone and has made new friends. She’s learned so many life skills–socially, emotionally, physically. JK has given both my girls, and also my troop, the space to develop their confidence, character, and courage. It is a special place — and I’m truly grateful for it, and all the people who make it possible for it to continue to thrive for the next generation. We need a place like JK now more than ever. Happy 100th Juniper Knoll!”

Roxanne K., former camper, shared:

“I went to JK many times while I was in Girl Scouts from age 8 to 17. It was my favorite place to go in summer, and I spent many weekends there too. I learned swimming, canoeing, sailing, and so many more skills. JK will always have a special place in my heart.”

Barbara S., former camper, shared:

“Over the many summers I spent at JK in the late sixties and early seventies, I learned many things about friendship, teamwork, diversity, strengthening myself, etc. I loved camp songs, campfires, s’mores, open fire cooking, swimming, boating, sailing, quality time being in and listening to nature. Hearing the gong at 7am. Singing taps at night. Gaining pen-pals from different places in Chicago than from where I lived.
One of my biggest camp accomplishments was overcoming my fear of water and eventually becoming a white cap swimmer, earning all my advanced red cross swimming cards. I also treasure my canoeing and sailing skills learned at JK. All the water safety skills developed me to later become a lifeguard at North Avenue Beach for a few summers and a competitive swimmer in high school and college. But to this day I still sing the camp songs we sang around campfires and in the dining hall.

Happy 100, Camp Juniper Knoll!!”

Wendy J., former camper and camp staff, shared:

“My first memory is of boarding the Greyhound buses in downtown Chicago for the ride to camp. After that it was swimming (many years a red cap), yachting (rowing), campfires, cookouts, hiking, games, kapers, trading post, singing on the steps before meals and lifelong friends.

Later there was canoeing and then sailing as my swimming improved. The dreaded tip tests. A canoe trip down the Fox River, camping at Scuppernong and Nataqua, and more friends.

The staff were energetic and fun. Foreign staff added a new perspective. Camp director Ness pulled it all together to deliver a high quality traditional Girl Scout camp program.”

Carol M., former camper and camp staff, volunteer, and council historian, shared:

“As a Senior Girl Scout, I attended Metro Planning Board’s Senior weekends (1962-1965). At one, we were taught a song “The Ink is Black, the Page is White” written by Senior Girl Scout Tracey Polk, who later sold it to Three Dog Night. Our song fests were on the beach are at JK with a floating campfire out in the lake. Friendships made across the city that I still cherish.”

Meet the Innovators, Leaders, and Everyday Champions: Celebrating the 2024 Gold Award Girl Scouts

This year’s Gold Award Girl Scouts are innovators, leaders, and everyday champions. To achieve the Gold Award, Girl Scouts must commit over 80 hours to leadership, project management, and community service, making lasting, meaningful changes locally and beyond.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is thrilled to announce that over 50 Girl Scouts have earned this esteemed award by addressing crucial issues like mental health, education, environmental sustainability, cultural awareness, and more.

Read on to get to know the Class of 2024 Girl Scout Gold Awardees by exploring the themes of their inspiring projects.

2024 Gold Award Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to the following Girl Scouts for earning a Gold Award Scholarship to help fund their service projects:

Emma C.
Sydney K.
Abigail K.
Dorothy L.
Naomi L.
Kara M.
Ella M.
Kameryn R.
Jamyriah S.
Vidhi S.

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Amelia D. – Amelia’s Gold Award Project was creating a location-aware iOS walking tour app to make the history of Lemont, Illinois, her hometown, more accessible. The app features 31 historic sites spread over three different walking tours. Each tour has an audio component, picture, and description.

Angela M. – Angela’s Gold Award Project involved re-recording and digitizing concert music from the high school library. The music was then entered into a spreadsheet that listed the individual songs by title, composer, and band.

Danika B. – Danika’s Gold Award Project was born of the desire to create a leadership guide for children’s choir organizations to help promote community and belonging amongst its members. Following the shutdowns of COVID-19, Danika saw the need for reconnection. She wanted to bridge the leadership gap by creating a guide that could be used specifically for the choir she had been a member of for 11 years but more broadly for any children’s music organizations that seek to create a system of leadership for their older students.

Dorothy L. – Dorothy’s Gold Award Project allows community members, students, and visitors to learn about the town’s history with my seven trail walk signs since her town’s History Museum is not always open. Along with the signs, she also created a Munster History patch with requirements and a shadow box for a local girl (Tagalong Girl Scout) who passed away from kidney cancer at six years old.

Ella M. – Ella’s Gold Award Project collaborated with the local library to emphasize diverse books for teen library patrons and the broader community. The creation of both physical shelves and online recommendation lists comes in the wake of rampant book bannings around the country, which attempt to limit the availability of diverse books. Combating book banning begins at a local level. As the library is a public avenue of reading for young people and teens, her project implemented and sustained a cognizant approach to curating diverse recommendation lists.

Children Care

Tanvi C. – Tanvi’s Gold Award Project was making activity booklets for inpatient pediatric patients. They were fun and educational booklets, one about the jungle and the other about the ocean.

Madelyn D. – Madelyn’s Gold Award Project involves the hospital where she am also a patient, Lurie Children’s Hospital. Madelyn wanted to give back by having a toy drive at an event in January at her former elementary school. The toy drive was a big success, with over 100 toys and gift cards donated to the children of Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Laurel M. – Laurel’s Gold Award Project gave homeless Chicago children access to educational toys and therapeutic skills. Laurel teamed up with Revive Center for Housing and Healing to do this. She created three large cabinets that hold the toys and can make a safe, enclosed space for the children while their parents get help at Revive Center for Housing and Healing.

Anna M. – Anna’s Gold Award Project was to partner with the Will County Chapter of Project Linus to make blankets for children who have been abused, lived in abusive situations, or are seriously ill and in a hospital.

Lillian O. – Lillian’s Gold Award Project was a dance shoe donation bin for her local park district dance program (Oak Lawn Park District Infiniti Dance Company). Lillian noticed kids would come in every two weeks complaining of tight-fitting shoes because their parents could not afford to keep up with their ever-growing feet. Now, parents can donate gently used dance shoes and ask for them whenever they need them.

Civic Engagement

Ilona E. – Ilona’s Gold Award Project was the product of a lifelong involvement with their community’s Farmers’ Market. Applying STEM principles, Ilona created an easy-to-use, sustainable database for the Experimental Station to recruit and maintain a volunteer infrastructure essential to the continued success of this Farmers’ Market. She also identified and implemented some structural improvements to give our community a safe and comfortable space to gather and browse at the market.

Veronica H. – Veronica’s Gold Award Project aimed to support and enhance the Riverside Brookfield Music Department. Veronica shared her voice at several school board meetings to tell the community the importance of staffing music educators, cleaned and redecorated the practice rooms, and volunteered for a semester to assist in classroom operations in a choir class. As a result of her project, she was able to provide a better educational experience within the music program and Riverside Brookfield High School as a whole.

Abigail K. – Abigail’s Gold Award Project aimed to help grieving individuals and families by teaching the community to crochet bereavement blankets for a local funeral home. In her project, the community and young Girl Scouts came together to learn the commitment and determination it takes to support others while undertaking the skill of crocheting. Both aspects of this project gave participants a skill and perspective that will last a lifetime.

Oliva L. – Oliva’s Gold Award Project honored first responders in my community. Olivia designed and constructed an honor garden to recognize the contributions that first responders make every day.

Kara M. – Kara’s Gold Award Project taught her community the difference between Service Animals and Emotional Support animals. It highlighted the important “rules” that come with seeing a service animal in public, such as not petting them because they are working. Lastly, her project provided sources where people within her community can find information on how to obtain a service or emotional support animal.

Hailey M. – Hailey’s Gold Award Project built plantar boxes to grow different vegetables and herbs that could be given to the homeless community through a local charity, Eliza’s Angels. In addition, Hailey made a website that helps educate others about the issue of homelessness and helps them push to do something about it.

Marie N. – Marie’s Gold Award Project was to provide food for those in need by raising money for the material of a micro pantry, building and placing the pantry, hosting a food drive, supplying the pantry, and announcing the new pantry through social media and friends.

Sofi L.– Sofi Lynn’s Gold Award Project consisted of contributing to and building up a network of Community Fridges in the area around the city. A community fridge is a refrigerator accessible to the public that operates on the ideology of “take what you need, leave what you can.” It helps people access healthy foods and share excess food so it doesn’t go to waste. A significant part of her project was making information easily accessible so people could be informed about community fridges and how to locate them.

Jamyriah S. – Jamyriah’s Gold Award Project focused on welcoming asylum seekers within my community. Due to the rising health concerns in local shelters in the community, Jamyriah provided families with hygiene survival kits as a way to say welcome to our community.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Racial Justice

Emma C. – Emma’s Gold Award Project addresses the lack of an informative and inclusive sexual education curriculum in schools. Emma created a website with this information and rewrote the sexual education lesson plan regarding LGBTQ+ people, as well as a social media account to track the progress. Emma also presented a slideshow that covered LGBTQ+-related politics and gave resources to a local LGBTQ+ youth club.

Madison C. – Madison’s Gold Award Project is a women’s empowerment club she started at her school that aims to empower and improve gender equity in our school and community. The club has supported girls’ events and accomplishments within her school and community and promoted leadership and volunteer opportunities. The club host monthly meetings covering various topics, such as different types of feminism, women’s rights issues, and working to solve and help community problems.

Nooriyah D. – Nooriyah’s Gold Award Project focuses on building confidence, courage, and community for middle school-age girls through a mentorship program. Nooriyah collaborated with the Chicago-based non-profit MYTT (Mentoring Youth Through Technology) to develop the curriculum, based on academic research and feedback from girls, for engaging activities covering topics from diversity to creative expression to health.

Sophia W. – Sophia’s Gold Award Project is a website for parents in the Chicago area to find definitions and professional help for their children with disabilities.

Education

Campbell E. – Campbell’s Gold Award Project aims to bring education and awareness of our environment to their community. Campbell designed and interactive nature walk to teach people about indigenous trees and stimulate people’s appreciation for the natural world. These experiences will enhance observation skills. Nature produces countless opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and STEAM education.

Reese B. – Reese’s Gold Award Project involved building a little library for my community to use for free. Reese collected donated books of all different levels and genres and worked directly with the Willowbrook council to place the library in Farmingdale Park. Reese wanted to share her love of reading with her neighborhood and give everyone a chance to embrace the enjoyment of discovering new books and sharing their favorites with others.

Marina B. – Marina’s Gold Award Project aimed to provide extra support to incoming first-year students at my high school, Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS). Marina worked with feeder middle schools and the OPRFHS History Department to create a “Bridge Committee” where curriculums were exchanged to expedite students’ transition into History classes. Marina also designed materials covering school-specific academic supports and study techniques for different types of learners. By providing academic support to current freshman and future OPRFHS students, Marina hopes to help others by increasing the likelihood of success and improving the academic transition experience.

Honor D. – Honor’s Gold Award Project created a Vacation Bible School curriculum where children are introduced to a new bible story each day. Honor then applied these teachings to their lives and to help them create a foundation for their relationship with God. Honor also included daily themes which all of the snacks, games, crafts and activities of the day will be centered around.

Aine K. – Aine’s Gold Award Project was a digital newspaper that kept students at her school informed and interested in school events. It included four main sections discussing current school events, school sports teams, school art programs, and events promoting cultural celebrations within the school and local community. The newspaper will continue after Aine graduates through a club with 11 members.

Katherine K. – Katherine’s Gold Award Project was to build a library for a special education school. This school had never had a library before, so she created a safe environment for enjoyment through literature, games, and interaction.

Evyenia L. – Evyenia’s Gold Award Project aims to address sustainability and pollution awareness, specifically within the education system. Evyenia created a unit within the classroom where students could raise and care for zebrafish. This unique, hands-on opportunity allowed students to learn with real-life fish right in front of them. Also, it benefited students interested in pursuing an animal science field in the future.

Kiley M. – Kiley’s Gold Award Project addressed the lack of interest in reading for children in the summer and the lack of a library in her area. To help solve these problems, Kiley added two Little Libraries to two different parks in my community, making it more convenient for families to access books, as most people can walk to the locations where she put the Little Libraries.

Madeline P.– Madeline’s Gold Award Project mobilized high school students who can draw, write, speak a different language, and serve to create bilingual Spanish-English children’s books for grades K-2. Madeline made online resources for these books and printed 400 copies of 12 other stories to share with elementary schoolers.

Cae P.– Cae’s Gold Award Project increased education about LGBTQ topics in their high school. Cae created detailed presentations about LGBTQ history, people, and concepts related to specific school subjects, such as LGBTQ US History, LGBTQ Poetry and Literature, Transgender Medicine, etc. The presentations were shared with their school’s teachers and posted online for public use.

Sara P. – Sara’s Gold Award Project consisted of multiple interactive storybook walks that were available at a local park for families. Each walk consisted of a book set up on signs throughout a trail with activities to go along, and it was available for a few weeks at a time.

Elise R. – Elise’s Gold Award Project helps students get the SAT scores they want by offering study methods and tips on how to approach the test. The initiative was incorporated into the high school as a class.

Leah R. – Leah’s Gold Award Project focused on the lack of knowledge of flag care that America has overall as a country. Leah taught a class for younger girls about flag care, flag code, flag folding, and flag retiring. Leah then held a ceremony open to the public where we retired flags she had collected in a flag drive.

Kathryn R.– Kathryn’s Gold Award Project included making geometry videos for students struggling with the subject. My videos include examples, vocabulary, and basic explanations of the concepts.

Breana S. – Breana’s Gold Award Project was designed to foster a love of reading in people of all ages. To accomplish this, the Golden Mini Library provides free, easily accessible books in a variety of genres.

Hannah W. – Hannah’s Gold Award Project aims to provide the church with a local outside solution for sharing books and information with community members. Located outside the church near the preschool entrance and the community playground, the library provides literacy materials for young children. It includes advertisements for the youth ministry held at the church, upcoming events at the church, and more.

Elderly Care

Mikenna D. – Mikenna’s Gold Award Project focused on recording and preserving the stories of seniors and veterans in my community. Mikenna collected interviews with various seniors and shared them as a podcast series through her YouTube channel and website. The stories were then shared with wider communities to inspire future generations.

Stella F. – Stella’s Gold Award Project connected the elderly and elementary-aged children in her community. Through the project, children could express creativity, practice writing, and have fun making letters to older adults living in a local nursing home. In return, the residents thoroughly enjoyed receiving the letters and felt more connected to those outside the nursing home.

Environment and Sustainability

Esra A. – Esra’s Gold Award Project addressed the issue of animal rehabilitation to ensure the survival of native animal species. Esra built nest boxes for the Willowbrook Rehabilitation Center specifically intended for squirrels in need of rehabilitation so that they could be released back into the wild.

Courtney F. – Courtney’s Gold Award Project was aimed at people who want to become more eco-conscious but don’t know where to start or just lack knowledge about the environment that surrounds us. By writing excerpts about various topics about the environment, like how to become more eco-friendly during the holidays and what saving the bees truly means, Courtney was able to reach out to the community and share how we can grow into a green future together.

Larinda F. – Larinda’s Gold Award Project is designed to protect pollinators through habitat restoration and outreach. To combat habitat loss, Larinda partnered with Garden For Wildlife to document and grow native perennial pollinator gardens. Larinda focused on supporting our endangered Monarchs by researching at the Chicago Botanic Garden, distributing milkweed, and hosting my educational booth at the annual Schaumburg Monarch Festival.

Anna M. – Anna’s Gold Award addressed the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry. Anna held multiple presentations for my school and local Girl Scout troops, educating people on how to be more sustainable with their purchases. Anna also held a Thrifting Event that collected and sold clothing items from our community.

Emily P. – Emily’s Gold Award Project found me designing, installing, and developing a plan for caring for a pollinator garden at the Matthew Ives Memorial Track at South Middle School in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Sarah P. – Sarah’s Gold Award Project helped increase the population of monarch butterflies in my town by supplying several businesses with Butterfly Boxes. Milkweed was planted in the boxes to attract Monarch Butterflies, which will help with pollination and increase the area’s biodiversity.

Alysa S. – Alysa’s Gold Award Project aimed to promote the conservation of animals through the avenue of video games.

Health

Brianna J. – Brianna’s Gold Award Project focuses on improving self-esteem. For her project, Emma created a short story about learning how to overcome challenges, uncover more about oneself, and grow. She then worked to publish this story both online and have it available at local libraries. Brianna also presented my project to local Brownie troops, where she also did a storytime featuring her story.

Jada L. – Jada’s Gold Award Project educated and informed young adults, teens, and parents of individuals who may struggle with mental health issues in the form of a podcast. The podcast used her own personal experiences to create a connection with the listener on subjects like peer relationships, home life, and education.

Kameryn R. – Kameryn’s Gold Award Project involved creating a website to support teenagers in enhancing their mental wellness through physical exercise, healthy eating, and coping mechanisms. The platform provides valuable tools and techniques to empower teens to achieve and maintain mental well-being. The project focuses on promoting a holistic approach to mental health for adolescents.

Vidhi S. – Vidhi’s Gold Award Project focused on raising awareness about Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a lesser-known disease. Vidhi conducted informative presentations for various school clubs and contributed care packages to Lutheran General Hospital to support pediatric CF patients. This initiative aimed to improve understanding and aid for individuals affected by the condition.

Olivia T. – Oliva’s Gold Award Project is a platform where artists can share art dedicated to certain mental health issues. By sharing their work, Olivia is promoting student artists and connecting them to an online audience that will be exposed to new artists and educated about mental health issues. To further raise awareness about mental health issues, the platform will also direct viewers to sites where they can learn about the issue and donate to a related charity or organization.

Congratulations to the 2024 Gold Awardees!

We are eager to see how their Gold Award projects continue to live on throughout and even after their involvement in Girl Scouts.

Want to learn more about how you can Go Gold? Click here to get started.

Click here to look at the photo gallery below from the 2024 Gold Award Ceremony, which took place on June 2, 2024.

Come and Explore Girl Scout History

Written by council historian, Jane Doyle.

The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Historian Team invites you to come check out their new Program Space in the Vernon Hills Gathering Place. The atrium area was selected by the council as the best spot to showcase the displays of historical items and provide some self-directed programming for troops and individuals. The team has storage and workspace in this building as well as the annex in Joliet.

Each of the council’s gathering places has a display case – more than one in some locations – but only Vernon Hills offers activities and hands-on items every day.

As you enter the building, you are invited to come upstairs and begin your journey. At the top of the stairs, turn to your right and look for the table in the center of the room.

On the table will be a binder with information to help you explore the space.

The displays in the three cases will change at least twice a year, so you are encouraged to come back to learn something new. We have provided a scavenger hunt to guide you through the displays. Currently, the cases on the south wall feature Juliette Gordon Low, and some of the dolls in the collection. The large case around the corner currently showcases some of the wonderful scrapbooks that Girl Scouts and troops put together after their time at camp. Other shelves are highlights from the varied items donated to the collection. Did you know there were official Girl Scout cameras to take those camp photos?

You’ll notice four mannequins wearing uniforms featuring the varied choices – and changes – Girl Scouts has produced throughout our 112-year history. These are for looking only, but under the windows you will find bins of uniforms to try on and pick your favorite! Each bin is sorted by level and has a binder with photos to help you put together all the pieces.

The three large black bookcases hold the book collection. The largest number of books are, of course, the handbooks that have shaped our Girl Scout program through the years. But you will also notice storybooks, guides for outdoor activities, songs, games, and in the right-hand case, books specific to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The bookends are official and serve a decorative as well as utilitarian purpose.

If you circle back to the north side of the space, you will find a case that holds books you can take out, read and use. Check the binder for suggested activities.

The wire baskets currently have large puzzles to assemble, camping gear and clothing to investigate, some dolls to play with, and paper dolls that can be dressed in historic uniforms.

There’s a Girl Scout trivia game on an easel, another easel holds a display of troop crests, and there is an opportunity to learn a bit about cookies and measure yourself in cookie boxes in the south corner of the space.

Before you leave, take your picture with Juliette and two girls who earned the Golden Eaglet. Learn more about the Girl Scouts Highest Awards in the binder.

We hope you will stop by our program space – bring your troop, bring your family, bring your Girl Scout friends. All are welcome.

The History of Camp Butternut Springs

In 1955, Dr. Axel Nogard, a retired dentist, owner of Butternut Springs, and nature-lover, wanted to sell 40 acres of his land near Valparaiso, Indiana, to Girl Scouts. The camping committee of Girl Scouts of Chicago saw this property as a perfect troop camping site with woods, hills, a creek, and several lakes that fed from a number of springs.  Ultimately, Dr. Nogard sold his entire 129 acres for $70,000, with negotiations completed in March 1956.  An additional 65 and 110 surrounding acres were added in 1963 and 1964. 

The house at the camp, built in 1918, became known as Spring House; with renovations inside, one room became the Infirmary.  An A-frame building became the Pack Out Kitchen (replaced in 1963), where summer campers came to get food supplies for their units, carrying the provisions in large baskets that fit on their backs.   

Another small building became known as Treasure Hut for its nature center (long gone now).  By the time of the camp dedication on June 11, 1957, three of the five planned unit houses had been completed.  The Wieboldt Foundation’s large donation supplied the name for that cabin unit.  A new caretaker’s home was ready in 1959, with a garage workshop in 1966.  By this time, more construction had brought sewers, water, and electrical lines into the camp, as well as a pay phone!  

During the early years, swimming and boating took place in the largest lake, which had been drained, dredged, and provided with a beach.  Eventually, a pool was built and dedicated on July 18, 1978, paid for by the Girl Scouts, selling over 300,000 boxes of cookies!  A new pool and pool house now replace it.

Butternut Springs, with its butternut tree near mineral springs that provided healing powers, is steeped in Native American lore.  Trail Tree’s path leads up to the unit house and passes the great deformed oak tree that marks a chief’s grave.  Legend has it that ill and injured Native Americans drank the spring water and were able to ride away on their horses; thus, the saddle formation was created by tying down the sapling oak.  Additionally, the land was used by Native Americans for burials, with 36 identified mounds, underscoring the camp’s rich cultural heritage.

Trail Tree

Other units had names related to their locations: Hickory Unit was named for the hickory trees; Running Water for the creeks that flow around it; Rock Road for the gravel roads that ran by it; and Primitive on the top of the hill where one might find arrowheads.  

In 1965, Mr. Roger Anderson and his wife Sis (a longtime Girl Scout leader, troop consultant, and advisor to Senior Girl Scouts) became the caretakers. The lake near the Ranger/Caretaker’s house was renamed Anderson Lake in 1984 to honor their dedication to Girl Scouts and 15 years overseeing Camp Butternut Springs. This continued the focus on nature and the outdoors that Dr. Nogard nurtured. 

Butternut Springs continued to grow. Beckoning Woods (Becky) was named in a contest because the woods are beckoning to campers, and McCormick Lodge (Mac), named for the McCormick family’s donation, was built in 1975.  A Gathering Place, program and troop center, and Trading Post now reside in place of Rocky Road. On the hill in the primitive area, Friendship Cabin was built with more units, and the outdoor spaces have also grown. The oval track and fitness field has areas for soccer, softball, volleyball, archery, a sledding hill, and a zip line.  A high ropes course and a climbing wall add to the challenges.  Four marked trails provide year-round adventures. To end an active day, a site for Girl Scout campfires awaits with the peace and quiet (and s’mores) of the night.

A Girl Scout Jewel - The Herstory of Robin Moss 

by Karen Schillings, Council Historian 

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of National Volunteer Week, held during the third week of April, to recognize the contributions of volunteers from across the country. We are very fortunate to have so many outstanding Girl Scout volunteers among us whose history has been important to the movement. As an example of such a volunteer, our spotlight for 2024 shines on Robin Moss, who has been involved with Girl Scouts since the early 1970s. When living in Moline, Illinois, Robin started her long association with Girl Scouts as a Brownie with her mom as her leader. Robin’s relationship with Girl Scouts would grow from being a girl member to a volunteer, to being a staff member, and back to volunteering. So, let’s take a look at some of the highlights of Robin’s herstory as a Girl Scout. 

Robin has some fond memories of her girl years, including her first time at resident camp, even though this initial experience started off a little rocky. You see, the girls were sleeping in platform tents, crawling with spiders. Robin was terrified of being in her tent. However, she had a very understanding camp counselor whose camp name Robin remembers to this day – “No One,” and this counselor knew how to calm Robin’s fears. No One brought Robin to her tent, and they sat together counting the spiders. This simple activity allowed Robin to confront her fears and find the courage to sleep in a tent alongside the spiders. It seems that “No One” should have been renamed “Some One”. 

When Robin was a Senior Girl Scout living in Fenton, Illinois, her cookie goal was to be the girl who sold the most cookies for Legacy Green Hills Council (now part of Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois). Fenton is a very small town of less than 600 residents, so she knew that she had to expand her territory if she was going to be the top seller. Robin convinced her mother to take her to other nearby towns to sell door-to-door. In the end, the 1981 top cookie seller for Green Hills Council was none other than Robin Moss. She had gained the confidence to do what she had set her sights on. Once she achieved this goal, she was asked to serve on the council’s cookie board.

This led to her being encouraged to apply to be a national delegate to the 1981 National Council Session being held in Houston. She was selected for this position and attended the Girl Scout Convention that fall. Robin continued to aim high, resulting in her earning the highest Girl Scout award at the time, the First Class, now known as the Gold Award.  

*This* *is Robin’s display of badges and honors she earned during her years* as *a Girl Scout.*

*Robin* *made this sampler as a girl member.*

Robin’s experience as a national council delegate led her to become a political science major at Western Illinois University (WIU). Her Girl Scout delegate experience also helped Robin to be chosen by the university to participate in the National Model United Nations. Isn’t it amazing that all the wheels were set into motion by a Girl Scout whose goal was to be the top cookie seller?   

Robin started transitioning from being a girl member to volunteering when she was a Senior Girl Scout. She began by assisting with a younger troop and by earning the Leader in Training. Afterward, when she was at Western Illinois University, she again demonstrated her leadership skills. Since there were no Campus Girl Scouts at WIU, Robin set out to change that and was able to get a chapter started. WIU continues to have Campus Girl Scouts to this day. 

In the summer of 1986, Robin moved to Chicago. It was during this year that the Chicago Council began planning for the 75^th anniversary year. Robin became a Junior leader for the Girl Scouts of Chicago (GSC) and then joined the 75^th anniversary planning committee. Eventually, she took a staff position as a field executive for Legacy GSC, but she also continued to be a troop leader. As a staff member, Robin was an innovator for the council and came up with a very novel idea. She realized that girls who were living in homeless shelters did not usually have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout. To change that situation, she decided to start a new program called Shelter Troops. Her creative thinking made it possible for numerous girls to be a part of our organization who would have never had the opportunity before. This program was so groundbreaking that it was featured on national news outlets and then duplicated in other councils. That’s called having a nationwide impact AND showing strength of character! 

Robin married Dan in 1988 and the following year, their son Robert was born. When the family welcomed their daughter, Robin looked forward to being Megan’s troop leader. She started a Daisy troop when the family was living in legacy Lone Tree Council. Then, when the family moved to Oak Lawn in 1998, Robin began volunteering as a leader for Legacy South Cook County Council (SCC) and had many adventures with Megan and the troop, including trips to the 95^th and 100^th anniversary Sing-Alongs in Washington, DC, and numerous camping trips. Besides being a fantastic troop leader, Robin was also known for her expert leadership as Association Chair (now known as service unit manager (SUM)) for Black Oaks, a position she took on in 2005. Robin’s association was always one of the most vibrant in the council, reaching its goals consistently.  

Another position Robin undertook was serving as a member of the Girl Scouts SCC Adult Recognitions Committee, a position she continues to hold with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI). She is fervent about making sure her sister volunteers are recognized for their service. She is always ready to do any assignment for the task group, whether it’s reviewing applications or being a presenter at one of the events. Robin is someone the task group can depend upon for anything that’s asked of her. 

*Robin* *attends an awards presentation at one of the 2023 Adult Recognitions Events.*

Given her political science background and her participation in a National Council Session (NCS) as a girl member, it should be no wonder that Robin also has a passion for the democratic process. She has been Chair of District 4 since 2008. On an even broader level, Robin became the volunteer coordinator of the national delegates to the Houston Convention in 2011 and has maintained that position to the present. The tasks that Robin performs include training new delegates for the National Council Session, along with making all the arrangements for travel and housing for the entire GCNWI delegation attending NCS. This was an enormous amount of work for one person, but Robin seemed to be able to get everything done proficiently, making sure all went smoothly at the convention. 

*Robin* *(middle row, 3^rd* *from the right) with the 2017 Girl Scouts GCNWI* *Delegation in Columbus.*

*Robin* *with Alaina Greene during the 2023 Convention in Orlando.*

It should likewise be mentioned that training volunteers is apparently in Robin’s green blood. She is not only an enthusiastic volunteer for LEAP, but she is also extremely devoted to training volunteers wherever and whenever she can. It’s not unusual for Robin to arrange training for just a handful of leaders. Her expertise is always greatly appreciated. 

*Here* *is Robin at the 2015 LEAP with Debbie Nawara and CoraLee Blazek.*

Since Robin constantly thinks BIG, it’s not surprising how she approached the Girl Scout 100^th anniversary. When the committee was planning the celebration for the 100th, Robin wanted to do something special on the actual anniversary, March 12, 2012. Many festivities were planned throughout the year, but Robin’s idea was to make that day special for Girl Scouts. To that end, she came up with the plan to have Promise Circles throughout the council’s jurisdiction. She and her committee developed a plan that could be used at any place girls could gather at 19:12 p.m. Her excellent leadership made it possible for 177 Promise Circles to be held. The Promise Circles were such memorable experiences, and Robin was in large part responsible for creating the format for them. 

*Robin* *at a Promise Circle on March 12, 2012.*

During her Girl Scout journey, Robin has received many accolades, including the Thanks Badge II, Women of the Century, and being inducted into the Girl Scout GCNWI Hall of Fame.  

*This* *is Robin in 2012 after being awarded the Women of* the Century pin.

Robin’s dedication to the movement has been exceptional. When there is a job to be done, Robin has no problem rolling up her sleeves and taking on the task. There are many other ways she has volunteered and continues to volunteer today, I hope these few described here will give you a sense of the treasure we have in Robin Moss, a Girl Scout of courage, confidence, and character whose herstory needs to be told. 

*Here* *is Robin with her husband Dan at the 2023 Tribute to Achievement.*

Girl Scouts Shined with Confidence at the 2024 Sneaker Ball

Our Girl Scout community kicked off Girl Scout Week at the 2024 Sneaker Ball on March 9, 2024.

Sneaker Ball was held at the Halls of St. George in Schererville, Indiana. It brought together over 350 Girl Scout members of all ages and their family members for a night of fun and friendship.

Girl Scout family and friends arrived in their fanciest attire paired with their favorite sneakers. Besides dancing to the music by the fabulous DJ3Snapz, attendees could participate in many activities like creating a Flat Juliette, striking a pose on the 360-degree video booth, and learning about Girl Scout history from our council historians. Every attendee was given two raffle tickets to use to enter a drawing with prizes like a Chicago Cubs Swag Bag, a signed soccer ball from the Chicago Fire, Nike and Journeys gift cards, and more.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Sneaker Ball Fashion Show, where Girl Scouts strutted down the runway, confidently showcasing their stylish sneaker looks.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana thanks the Legacy Foundation for sponsoring the 2024 Sneaker Ball. Additionally, thank you to our in-kind partners: Albanese Candy, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Fire, DePaul Blue Devils, and Gary SouthShore Rail Cats.

Click here to view the 2024 Sneaker Ball photos.

Camp Juniper Knoll turns 100 years old!

Click here to join us at this historic birthday party celebration for Camp Juniper Knoll. Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Council Historian Carol Macola shares with us the early history of the camp.

On June 19, 1924, Camp Pleasant in Wisconsin opened for summer sessions for 620 girls, utilizing tents in two units and a huge waterfront for swimming and boating. It took two years of negotiations, with assistance from Board of Directors member Augusta Rosenwald’s husband, Julius Rosenwald, for the forty acres on Pleasant Lake to belong to Girl Scouts of Chicago and Cook County Council. As the result of a contest, the camp was renamed Camp Juniper Knoll (JK) for the 1925 summer sessions, along with an expansion to three units: Sunny Ridge, Sleepy Hollow (later Gypsy Hollow), and Frontier. That year, Juniper Knoll was also selected to host a National Training Camp for Region 7 (Great Lakes Region).

The camp grew rapidly, with the dining lodge (now Low Lodge), kitchen, storehouse, more sleeping tents, and a hospital tent in 1926. An annual camp scrapbook was put together, a tradition that continued for over fifteen years, with photographs, artwork, news columns, and poetry. By 1928, Book Nest was completed, along with a new boat landing for canoes, rowboats, and later sailboats.

An exciting guest came to Juniper Knoll during the summer of 1926 and helped with the waterfront: Olympic swimmer Johnny Weismuller, who went on to play Tarzan in the movies. (Second from the left in photo two.)

With more units, Girl Scouts were placed in units based on age, experience, and interests. Girl Scouts could be pirates in Treasure Island, Scotsmen in Bonnie Highlands, pioneers in primitive Frontier, Native Americans in Shining Waters (renamed Shonghela), or Robin Hood’s merry men in Lone Cedar (later Greenwood).

By the late 1930s, Treasure Island suffered erosion and had to close; the new Clippership took on the sea-faring concept, with a small lodge nearby named Clipper’s Cabin. A gong was hung in the meadow near Book Nest to call the girls to meals and to various all-camp events.

While swimming, boating, and outdoor cooking were scheduled activities, treasure hunts, song contests, dramatics, and nature arts were also routine. By the 1950s, a Camper Council with representatives from each unit planned a “backward day,” water carnivals, progressive dinners, circuses, an all-camp birthday party, and the last campfire for the session. Different units had hikes around the lake, canoe trips, overnights, truck trips (to Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay), and horseback riding at Horseshoe Bar Ranch. Some units put on puppet shows for other units; one built a seesaw, one lashed a swing, and others prepared games for camp participation. The ten-day sessions at camp were full of adventures!

In 1952-1953, property adjoining Juniper Knoll was purchased, originally with the idea of a second camp. Named Acorn Hill, it became part of JK, with its units: Wilderness, Citadel (for Counselors-In-Training –CITs), Natnaquwa (primitive unit), and Waterfront Primitive.

In 1963, Juniper Knoll hosted eight Canadian Girl Guides as part of a camper exchange. In 1968, the camp hosted three camping institutes for GSUSA and Region VII.

Juniper Knoll has changed over time. Voyager and Chalet were added to the units; Scottish Highlands was absorbed into another unit. By 1962, Sunny Ridge and Wilderness had been moved, and then Sunnyridge (new spelling) had been renamed Shonghela, as it was no longer on a ridge. Gypsy Hollow and Voyager succumbed to erosion problems. Embers was built as a staff house, but it was lost to a fire in more recent times. The waterfront was also moved from its location to Acorn Hill’s swimming and boating area, again due to erosion. Health Center replaced Growing Well. Promise Lodge was built, truly allowing for camping all year round. The old dining hall was named Low Lodge with the building of Bensinger in 1962, which has since been replaced with our beautiful new dining hall.

One hundred years later, the Low Lodge, Clipper’s Cabin, Book Nest, and the staff cabins still remain reminding us of where we started. Yurts and cabins are taking us forward along with tent camping and outdoor cooking. Pleasant Lake continues to be our prize as we add more water vessels, such as sailing paddle boards. Juniper Knoll has a historical past and an exciting future.

Bristol’s Sweet Success: Selling 100,000 Girl Scout Cookie Boxes and Making a Difference, One Box at a Time

Every Girl Scout Cookie box sold creates opportunities for Girl Scouts to learn, grow, and thrive. Each box is packed with leadership and life skills. Take the power of one box and multiply that times 100,000 and just think about the difference cookie boxes can make in the world. For one Girl Scout, she was on a mission to do just that.

Meet Bristol, from Troop 75466, who, on March 20, 2024, sold her 100,000^th cookie box over her seven years as a Girl Scout. As part of her thank you gift to the customer who purchased the 100,000^th box, Bristol created a special basket containing Girl Scout Cookies, cookie rewards that Bristol had earned, and a handwritten thank you note.

“I love being a Girl Scout because I love making the world a better place,” said Bristol. “I hand-deliver every box I sell, and I especially love hand-delivering to our hometown heroes.”

Bristol has been a trailblazer throughout her journey in Girl Scouts. She has been a Cookie CEO (top 5 cookie sellers in the council) each year she has been a Girl Scout. Every cookie season, Bristol raises her cookie goal and proves to herself that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.

So how did she sell 100,000 boxes?

With the support from her family, Bristol dedicates over 40 hours a week to reaching new customers. She spends 12 hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays at her cookie booth and reaches new customers by selling at high traffic truck stops providing the sweetest on-the-road snacks for travelers. With every cookie box sold, Bristol also takes time to engage with the customer and asks them if they would like to donate a box to hometown heroes.

From previous cookie season sales, Bristol and her troop used some of their proceeds to give back to the community. The troop funded the cost needed to provide a service dog for a veteran battling PTSD. We’re excited to see how Bristol and her troop plan to use their troop funds from this year!

Congratulations, Bristol, on this tremendous accomplishment. Way to Own Your Magic this cookie season.

Click here to view Bristol’s journey to 100,000 boxes covered by our local media outlets.

Girl Scout World Centers

It was at a World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) meeting in Holland in 1929 that the group decided they needed a permanent World Center where girls from many countries could meet and learn how much their lives were the same. American troop leader, Helen Storrow of Massachusetts agreed to finance the construction of the center on the condition it be built in Switzerland. With the help of Swiss Girl Scout, Ida Von Herrenschwand, or Falk as she was known, Storrow found a lovely, peaceful place in the Alps and Our Chalet construction began in 1931. It opened in 1932. The flat roof with stones on it prevents large sheets of snow from sliding off in the winter.

A trip to Our Chalet is enjoyed by older Girl Scout troops who have planned and saved for it for much of their Girl Scout lives. Visitors stay in the original building or the newer Stöckli. In summer they can camp in the woods. Skiing is a popular sport in the winter. Tours of the area include a visit to the woodcarver for handmade souvenirs and to the chocolate factory for a tour and wonderful Swiss chocolate. Evenings are filled with songs, games, and programs prepared by the staff. A birthday at the Chalet is celebrated at dinner with ‘Happy Birthday’ sung in the languages of the multi-national staff.

Girl Scouts visiting Our Chalet as part of their international travel trip to Switzerland in 2023.

Though Our Chalet was the first, WAGGGS now operates five world centers. In addition to Our Chalet there is:

Our Cabaña in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Pax Lodge in London, England
Sangam in Pune, India
Kusafiri, which doesn’t have a permanent home, but rotates hosting duties among several African countries.
Our Ark in London, England

Our Ark was established in London, England in 1939. It became a refuge for Guides forced out of Europe during World War II. In 1959, a new building was bought with a request for a penny from “Every Brownie, Guide, Ranger and Old Guide and every Leader and Commissioner.” In 1963 it was renamed Olave House for Olave Baden-Powell. The Olave House closed in 1991 and was replaced by Pax Lodge.

In the pictures above are many items from the woodcarver including a music box with “Our Chalet” and the WAGGGS emblem carved on the top, a Chalet scene on a coaster, a pin with the Chalet scene and dates 1932-2007 for the Chalet’s 75^th anniversary.

Girl Scout Volunteer Awards

Girl Scout volunteers show commitment, dedication, and share their time to help girls benefit from the Girl Scout program that Juliette Gordon Low started back in 1912.

Girl Scout volunteers are appreciated, and don’t look to be recognized. Many go above and beyond to help the Girl Scout organization continue its mission. It’s nice to recognize them for their dedication and to show them that they are a valuable asset to the organization.

One way to recognize Girl Scout volunteers is to nominate them for one of the many different Adult Girl Scout Awards. Some of the awards are Girl Scouts of the USA awards, and some are our own council’s awards.

One award, the Years of Service Award, doesn’t require a nomination. It is handed out at a service unit recognition event, or at a council wide recognition event. The council sends out lists to each service unit every year with the names of people that are eligible for a Years of Service pin that year. Years of Service pins are awarded in five-year increments.

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) Board Approved awards include the Appreciation Pin (instituted by GSUSA in 1976), the Honor Pin (instituted in 1987), the Thanks Badge (instituted in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low), and the Thanks Badge II (instituted in 1987). Each of these awards have different requirements as to how many service units or program delivery areas that the nominee has provided service to, in a way that furthers the council goals. Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II require exceptional and outstanding service to the total council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

The President’s Award is a group award for a service unit, who through the efforts of the service delivery team or committee, has made a significant impact toward the council goals and achieved one or more of the service unit goals and met the criteria listed.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) also have some awards created by our council.

The Hall of Fame award is for an adult member with 25 years or more of service that exceeds expectations for the service that the person had given and has a lasting impact on the Girl Scout organization.

There’s also the DAISY award (Dynamic and Incredible Staff of the Year), for people on staff that work for council and go above and beyond to meet the goals set by council to further the Girl Scout Movement.

Service unit awards include the Volunteer of Excellence (for partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience or for service of the councils mission delivery to girls and adult members), the New Found Treasure (for a registered Girl Scout adult with less than two years of service and has “hit” the ground running as they began working with a troop or service unit), and the Shining Star (formerly known as Hidden Hero), for someone who helps where they are needed and keeps accepting assignments to keep Girl Scouting thriving.

Our council also has community awards, that can be presented to people or businesses that provide space or other things to help promote the Girl Scout Movement.

The Girl Scout Enthusiast award is for people or businesses (eg. schools, stores, or park districts) that provide space for Girl Scout activities. This award is approved by the Adult Recognition Committee. The Girl Scout Hero award is for service provided at the council level for Girl Scouts. This award is approved by the Girl Scout GCNWI Board of Directors.

Nomination submissions are accepted year-round for these two community awards.

For more information on what is required to nominate someone for any one of these awards, go to Girl Scout GCNWI website here.

Remember, each award has different requirements and numbers of endorsement letters required before submitting an application. The website explains each award and what the requirements are, and there are examples as to how to choose a person to nominate and for which award. It also has answers to the frequently asked questions that may be on your mind.

Nominations have different deadlines, so be sure to check the dates that the forms are due. Then plan to attend, next fall, one of the Adult Recognition Ceremonies where you or someone that you nominated can receive their award.

Written by Girl Scout GCNWI Historian, Veronica Pradelski

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Blog

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