Girl Scouts and community leaders gathered at Camp Greene Wood for the fifteenth year of our premiere leadership program Camp CEO! Influential women making waves in their own careers met with high school Girl Scouts for a hybrid in-person and virtual week full of networking, leadership challenges, inspiring dialogue, and some fun in the sun.
At Camp CEO, Girl Scouts focus on self-awareness and self-discovery, learning public speaking, effective communication and collaboration skills, all while getting exposure to professional women in their community. Camp CEO mentor and SVP and Chief Customer Officer for NiSource Jennifer Montague shared: “During the week several senior executives shared our journeys with the girls and focused on exercises and topics ranging from leadership, teamwork, personal branding, listening with intention, networking and interviewing. Great fun!”
Girl Scout Courtney reflected on the experience: “The leadership challenge was amazing! It was so fun to be with girls I didn’t know that well, and by the end, we were the best trio ever.”
The Girl Scouts took away plenty from the experience; Courtney shared, “I learned that networking is a really great skill to have. Also hearing from a lot of the mentors that you should follow your heart [was] really inspiring.” Girl Scout Sydney added, “I always thought [networking] was something fancy when in reality it is just talking and meeting new people.”
Girl Scout Corrine continued, “I think Camp CEO provided me with many life skills. I learned that being a leader doesn’t mean being the loudest in the room; you need to be an understanding and adaptable leader that can help your whole team succeed.”
CEO/Founder of Driver’s Seat Tiana Clark shared, “I had a great time at Girl Scout’s Camp CEO. At Camp CEO, mentors like myself spent time with Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana teens engaging in discussion and activities around leadership, branding, networking, navigating challenging situations and everything in between! I had a blast!”
Managing Director and Head of Office for Marsh Julie Marcello added, “Loved being part of Camp CEO and joining all these great mentors and mentees. Full steam ahead for all these amazing high school Girl Scouts!”
Thank You!
We want to thank all of the incredible women involved in making Camp CEO a success, from our sponsors and community partners, to the mentors, to the staff, to the Girl Scouts themselves!
Open the door to amazing opportunities!
It’s not too late to join or renew your membership with Girl Scouts! Join today and get access to amazing leadership experiences like Camp CEO and so much more.
Another spectacular week of Summer Camp Revamp has passed, and this week, we’re inviting you to an exclusive Girl Scout movie premiere! All Movie Magic week long, the Summer Camp Revamp girls rolled up their sleeves and got creative, brainstorming, planning, story-boarding, and then executing their ideas!
Any good movie requires brainstorming and planning, and the girls got right to it this week by creating their very own story-boards, which are essential to the movie-making process. The girls envisioned their stories and then drew out the scene, etched out the dialogue, and started thinking about costume, character acting, and everything that goes into a film.
Girl Scout Grace showing off her DIY optical illusions
Many films, especially in the early stages of movie history, relied on eye-tricks or optical illusions to trick movie-watchers into seeing things that weren’t really there! The Girl Scouts practiced this time-old film making technique by making their own animations— in this video, Girl Scout Grace shows off her homemade penny spinner, thaumatrope (an optical toy made out of paper) and a flipbook!
Rolling out the Red Carpet
Every single Girl Scout in Summer Camp Revamp turned their film ideas into realities, with stop-motion animation, claymation, and other amazing techniques to bring stories to life. Every movie they shared with us was amazing! Check out these three Girl Scout movies to get a sneak peek:
Film by Girl Scout Jacqueline
“What’s in my Dance Bag” by Girl Scout Daniela
Claymation film from Girl Scout Lila
Great job to every single movie maker this week! Your work was fantastic and so fun to watch!
Girl Scout Member Moment
Girl Scout Troop 30029
This week’s Girl Scout Member Moment comes to us from Gary and Merrillville, Indiana, where Girl Scout Troop 30029 completed their Silver Award with an amazing service project for their community. Their original plan to host a Prom for the residents of Spring Mills Assisted Living Facility was put on hold a few months ago, but that didn’t stop these go-getter Cadettes from brainstorming their next big idea!
The girls, for the project they called “Caring for the Young at Heart,” came together for three weeks and sewed over 100 masks for the residents at their local assisted living facility. The girls had never used sewing machines, but after one day of practice and researching patterns, they caught on quickly, and the results were very rewarding!
The girls wanted to give back to older people in their community in particular because they seek to bridge the age gap between them. The girls’ yearly tradition of hanging wreaths at the facility over the holidays is a favorite of the residents, and the girls felt they wanted to continue caring for them as best they could. This was a fantastic way to do that!
Congratulations to Troop 30029 for earning their Silver Award, and thank you to troop leader Venita for sharing their story with us!
Share your Story!
Whether you’re celebrating earning a Highest Award, gearing up for the next year of Girl Scouting, or simply enjoying the cooling weather, share what you’re up to with us in the comments below, tag us on social media @GirlScoutsGCNWI, or share your story with us on our website.
Girl Scouts Sydney and Siena completing their at-home obstacle course
The summer is flying by—we can barely believe it! Summer Camp Revamp is almost over, but the girls are taking advantage of every second.
During Mastering Mystery week, Girl Scouts from Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) have been taking fingerprints, collecting clues, and solving some perplexing Girl Scout mysteries!
Girl Scout Charlotte getting a closer look at the DNA of a banana
Did you know fruit has its own set of genetic information just like us? To kick off the week of mysterious activities, the girls did a fascinating science experiment extracting the DNA from BANANAS! Girl Scout Charlotte looks like she got a very close look– so cool! Looks like something we’ll have to try at home ourselves.
Special Agents Emmalyn and Cinnia with their DIY detective badges and notebooks
To keep themselves organized and “in the know,” the girls created their very own DIY detective badges and notebooks. Throughout the week, the girls were tasked with solving a mystery, so as they investigated suspects, collected fingerprints, and wrote their suspicions, this notebook was sure to come in handy!
Special Agents Hannah and Amelia investigating fingerprints
Everyone has different fingerprints with different patterns, and we leave them on everything, even when we can’t see them. Later, to build on their detective and sleuthing skills, the girls learned how to read and correctly match fingerprints. These forensic science skills were super useful when it came to narrowing down the suspects in the mystery of who stole the S’more supplies…
Special Agents Sydney and Makayla completing their obstacle course
To really make sure they were ready for anything, the Girl Scout Investigations Unit did some physical training too! Each girl created their own at-home “Mission Possible” obstacle course to strengthen their agility, strength, and sneakiness. Looks like the girls were more than ready for the challenge!
Thank you to every girl who shared their pictures with us this week! We’re so glad you enjoyed yourselves (and we hoped you solved the mystery!).
Girl Scout Member Moment
Girl Scout Brownie Melody B., from Troop 25507 in Chicago, IL, recently got a major shout out by CBS Evening News for her amazing community service in the past few months, and we got to speak to her about her project and what it means to be a Girl Scout during times of crisis!
Melody, in partnership with Dimo’s Pizza in Wicker Park, has been donating much-needed face shields to healthcare providers, teachers, grocery store employees, and private practices all over the Chicago area. When she learned that her hand-sewn facemasks weren’t effective enough for doctors fighting COVID-19, she reached out to Dimo’s, who recently started their own face shield initative. Soon enough, she was distributing their masks all over, even to her own pediatrician!
Melody herself was inspired to do this project by the Girl Scout Promise and Law: “I’m a Girl Scout,” she stated strongly. “We have to be helpful, caring and considerate.” Girl Scouts “teaches young girls to become leaders,” and she says she learned from Girl Scouts what is good for her and how to best help others. Her dedication to the community is clear—she told us she sees herself as a protector for her community, “keeping them safe.”
Great job, Melody, and thank you so much for talking to us!
Share your Story!
We can see you’ve been busy celebrating bridging, starting up socially distanced in-person meetings, and getting ready for the year ahead! We’re so excited to continue providing awesome experiences to help you feel connected, empowered, and ready for anything!
Another week of Summer Camp Revamp done, and one full of adventure! For Adventure Awaits week, Girl Scouts from Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) sharpened their survival skills, tinkered with their travel plans, and challenged themselves with cool new activities.
The girls started their week out by prepping their minds and bodies for the adventures ahead, and after a refreshing yoga and exercise session, practiced some very essential First Aid skills! Check out these Girl Scout’s DIY bandaging— looks effective!
After a crash-course on survival scenarios and quick-time First Aid, the girls delved into a lesson on plant identification and if you’ve ever been camping or on a hike, you’ll know how important it is to know which plants are which! Girl Scout Kristen, who shared the photos above, did a great job of identifying plants she found at her grandma’s house.
It is important to take notes from our animal companions, and to cement the lessons on survival, the girls tested out different wildlife adaptations that help animals in several distinct environments survive and thrive. To do this, the girls became birds for an afternoon, using different “beaks” to test out which is most effective for eating! Girl Scout Julia shared her pictures of the different “bird foods” she had to “eat” with her “beaks!”
The girls finished out the week by participating in our Summer Great Family Camp-In: check out their camping set ups! We hope you had fun!
Thank you to all the girls who shared stories and photos with us this week. It’s clear that Girl Scouts don’t get ready— they stay ready!
Girl Scout Member Moment
Girl Scout Troop 60775
For this week’s Girl Scout Member Moment, we’re sharing a story from Girl Scout Junior Troop 60775 from Flossmoor, IL, who are forging ahead and trying out in-person troop meetings since we all sheltered-in-place back in March. Their troop leader, Missie, was kind enough to share her experience and advice for troop leaders and Girl Scouts who may be considering meeting in-person this fall.
The girls have been meeting virtually since March, and this quickly became their “new normal,” everyone in the troop eventually getting used to being on screen. This transition was difficult for them, so the opportunity to meet again in-person was very exciting! The girls met up at their school’s community garden to complete the Gardener Badge, and, even though the meeting looked different than any before, they had a great time!
Missie shared with us some very helpful advice for anyone considering meeting up in-person in the future:
Only meet in outdoor spaces, and focus on activities that take girls outside, like geocaching or hiking. She says these girls are dedicated— as long as there’s no lightning and thunder, they’ll show up!
Space out the girls on sit-upons, and make sure everyone wears a mask and has hand sanitizer handy.
Consider providing the girls with activity kits to make sure no supplies are shared between them.
Stay updated with your local government’s guidance, check the CDC for pertinent information, and always reiterate safety.
If you or the girls aren’t ready to meet, there is nothing wrong with that! Keep reaching out to the girls so they know you are present and available. Gauge their comfort levels!
Don’t miss out on the last week of Summer Camp Revamp: Glowing and Growing week from August 10-14!
Grow your mind (and maybe even your own garden) for our final week of Summer Camp Revamp! Will it be yoga? Meditation? A gratitude journal? Or maybe some gardening that will help you relax during this glowing week! Come along and find out!
Whether you’re meeting in-person to go on a nature walk, or continuing completing badges over Zoom, we want to know! Tell us all about what Girl Scouting looks like to you on social media @GirlScoutsGCNWI or on our website.
Girl Scouts at Chicago Park District’s Eckhart Park
In this special edition of Summer Camp Revamp Rewind, we are sharing with you how one troop of 18 Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) are making the most of their social-distanced day camp!
GSGCNWI, in partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Eckhart Park, is excited to provide opportunities for girls in our community to stay connected virtually. The girls masked up and gathered to do all six weeks of the virtual Summer Camp Revamp, cultivating their own “new normal.”
The past two weeks have been busy for these girls as they get used to camp again—and they’re certainly enjoying themselves! Let’s get to know some of these super Girl Scouts a little better!
Meet the Girl Scouts!
Last week was GIRLapalooza, a week all about celebration and joy (read about it on our blog!) so what better way to close out the week than by completing the SuperHERo activity?
The girls, in their discussion groups, both talked about identifying their personal strengths. Some girls spoke about how hard it can be to talk about themselves, noting they often pay too much attention to the things they struggle with rather than what they’re already good at.
When it comes to sports, school, family, and friends, the girls all identified what their strengths are and where they could improve—and that’s important! After all, true self-confidence is not about thinking you’re good at everything, but having the ability to celebrate what you are good at and work on what you could do better.
What’s YOUR Super Power?
Girl Scout Rickayla told the group that her superhero powers come from “playing sports and talking to friends.” One of the things she likes the most about herself is that she is kind, and we can tell!
Girl Scout Ania is great at plenty of things: she plays basketball, football, and floor hockey, AND likes hip-hop dance, gymnastics, painting, and doing hair. Ania believes the source of her superpowers is her athletic abilities, “because of the amount of strength you get from playing.”
Taelor has a different perspective—she says her superpowers come from her heart and from her spirituality. She uses this superpower by donating resources to people without homes, and says, along with sports, dancing, and math, and she’s good at “showing love!”
Girl Scout Laylani knows her skills well: she says she’s good at math, floor hockey, coloring, writing, cooking, and keeping her things organized. She likes to create art and help others, and believes creating art can become her superpower because whenever she “draws or creates anything, it comes to life!”
Find your Super Strength
These girls know themselves well, and we are excited to see where their superpowers take them in the future! Interested in finding your own inner super strengths? Download the SuperHERo activity!
Thank you to all the girls who shared with us, and we can’t wait to see what else you get up to during Summer Camp Revamp!
Join us for Movie Magic Week!
Join us for Movie Magic week from August 3 -7!
Dive into the world of movie magic and become your very own director, producer, screenwriter, or set designer. Discover the tricks of the trade of filmmaking in order to make a cinematic masterpiece of your own!
It’s time for the Summer Great Family Camp-In! Join girls and families across Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (and the nation!) for another awesome at-home camp in, free to everyone and open to all!
Through a series of virtual experiences, we’ll walk you through everything—from setting up your campsite at home (indoors or out) to outdoor skills, art projects, and even a virtual campfire sing-along!
This weekend-long event is a combination of live programs, pre-recorded videos, interactive webinars, and breaks between scheduled activities so that you can participate with us and have time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air!
We encourage you to participate in any number of activities throughout the day or even join us for the full camp day! Choose the activities you want to participate in, including art projects, outdoor skills, games, camp cooking, and more!
Don’t forget to set up your campsite outside with a tent or inside with a fort and get ready for some camp magic.
Enter our Photo Contest!
Camp-In Photo Contest Winners from May
We are hosting a second Camp-In Photo Contest! Submit a photo of your at-home campsite and you may win a Great Family Camp-in patch for everyone in the photo AND be featured on the Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) Facebook page and blog!
Contest Rules
After you set up your awesome campsite, whether it’s indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both, take a picture of it!
Submit your photo through this form OR send them to our Outdoor Program Staff between Friday (7/24) at 6 p.m. and Saturday (7/25) at 6 p.m.
Here’s the cool part: YOU get to choose our winners! After you submit your photo, the Outdoor Program team will select the top 14 indoor finalists and 14 outdoor finalists. The photo contest finalist voted on starting Saturday evening (7/25) through Sunday (7/26) morning at 10:00 a.m.
Photo contest winners will be announced during the Great Family Camp-In: Show and Share on Sunday (7/26) at 11 a.m!
We can’t wait to see pictures of you cooking, doing art projects, learning outdoor skills, and getting outside. Share them and tag us on social media using #GCNWICAMPIN or post them right to our GSGCNWI Great Family Camp-In Facebook event page and Instagram!
Camp-In Schedule
Time
Activity
Virtual Location
Friday, July 24
6 p.m.
Campsite Photo Contest Submissions Open! Set-up your campsite, whether it’s outdoors with a tent, or indoors with a fort! You could be choose to receive camp-in fun patches for the whole family! Plus, be featured on our blog and social media!
Submit your photo through this form OR send them to our Outdoor Program Staff! The chosen photo will be announced during Sunday’s Show and Share webinar.
Saturday, July 25
10-10:20 a.m.
Kick-off & Opening Ceremony
YouTube Live Premiere
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Art Projects Choose between “Nature Origami: and “Recycled Crafts”
Webinars
12-1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Suggested Camp Activities Check out the activity packet for camp recipes and suggested activities.
On Your Own
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Outdoor Skills Choose between “Animal Tracks” or “Map Reading”
Webinars
3-4 p.m.
Camp Fun Choose between “Camp Games” or “Camp Rhythms”
Webinars
4-4:20 p.m.
Wrap Up & Closing Ceremony
YouTube Live Premiere
4:30-7 p.m.
Dinner and Suggested Camp Activities
On Your Own
6 p.m.
Campsite Photo Contest Submissions Closed
Submit your photo through this form OR send them to our Outdoor Program Staff! The chosen photo will be announced during Sunday’s Show and Share webinar.
7-8:15 p.m.
Campfire Sing-along Our camp-in would not be complete without a campfire and songs! The first forty minutes will be full of high energy songs before slowing down the pace to sing some favorites. Comfy clothes and s’mores are encouraged!
YouTube Live Premiere
Sunday, July 26
11-11:45 a.m.
Show and Share Share about your night of camping by reflecting with other participants to wrap-up the camp fun and reveal the photo contest winners!
Webinar
Please note: to receive access to webinar links you will need to first register. Webinar links will be emailed to those who register the morning of July 24. Soon the YouTube Premiere links will be available for all to watch along.
Summer Great Family Camp-In Activity Packet
Now you can download the Summer Great Family Camp-In Activity Packet, with camp recipes, game ideas, song lyrics, and more camp fun that you can do on your own or coordinate to do with your family, friends, or troop from afar.
Below are lists of the supplies you’ll need for each activity you’ll learn in the virtual experiences.
Art Project Option 1: Nature Origami
Let’s get crafty! Join Outdoor Program Team members, Caribou and Sprout, to create some nature themed origami. Use a variety of folds to transform your paper into plants and animals. Bring your imagination to watch your paper come to life in a fun way!
6-8 sheets of computer paper
scissors
ruler
pencil
coloring utensils
Art Project Option 2: Recycled Crafts
Time to get crafty and reuse recyclables to help save the planet! We will be making animals out of the recyclables you find at home. After this session you will have a completed art project and ideas for many more! Join Outdoor Program Team members, Nacho and Strike, to make one that works for you!
empty egg carton or empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls
scissors
markers
permanent marker
construction paper
newspaper or tablecloth
googly eyes, pipe cleaners, sequins or other decoration items (optional)
Outdoor Skills Option 1: Animal Tracks
Step into the world of backyard animal tracks! You will learn about where to look for animal tracks in your neighborhood and how to identify common tracks that you might find. Join Outdoor Program Team members, Nacho and Freddie for this packed session. We will make a field guide to animal tracks, play a matching game and even make our own animal tracks!
3 pieces of plain paper
coloring utensils (markers, crayons, or colored pencil)
black or dark brown marker
scissors
ruler
2 new sponges (thin with no scrubber side preferred)
1-2 colors of washable paint
paper plate or paint tray
newspaper or tablecloth
Outdoor Skills Option 2: Map Reading
Ready to go out on a new adventure? Map reading is a core camping skill to help you navigate a new place, trail, or city. Learn all about how to read and use a map with Outdoor Program Team members, Strike and Kat. You will learn about reading a map key, explore the basics of topography, and make a map of your own!
paper
pencil
coloring utensils
molding clay
example map (any map you have access to: a state atlas, neighborhood map, theme park map, or printed google map)
Camp Fun Option 1: Camp Games
Ready, Set, Go! Camp games from home! In this interactive session, we will participate in some fun and silly camp game favorites led by Outdoor Program Team members, Sprout and Caribou. We’ll cover some go to games like “freeze dance”, bring back favorites like “ship to shore”, and even try some new games like “farm master.” If you know you love these games or want to learn, this is your chance to give it a try!
water bottle
pencil
paper
Camp Fun Option 2: Camp Rhythms
Let’s make some noise, camp style! Play some favorite camp games, like pattern changer and 7’s, focused on making fun sounds. Then join in for a Girl Scout tradition as we work together to create a Lemmi stick routine. Outdoor Program Team members, Kat and Freddie, will help you have a resounding time!
2 Lemmi/Lummi sticks (or 2 sticks or dowel rods each about 7″ long)
water bottle
Show & Share
How did your night of camping in go? Let us know! Join in with other participants of the Girl Scouts GCNWI Great Family Camp-In as we reflect on Saturday’s activities, wrap up the camp fun, and reveal the photo contest winners! Listen to others share fun and a-ha moments about their night and even share yourself!
3 pieces of paper
writing utensil (dark marker preferred)
completed camp-in projects
props needed to show off your new skills
Check Out These Lead-In Videos
Get Your Camp Swag!
Can’t wait to see you there!
We can’t wait to see you all there, whether you plan on attending just one part, or the entire day of events! If you have any questions, contact us at customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
The first week of Summer Camp Revamp kicked off last Monday, July 6, to everyone’s excitement! Girls from across Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) got together to explore STEAM, Dreams, and Ice Cream, all from home, and from the looks of it, our girls were really in their element.
Read on to learn more about Summer Camp Revamp and what the Girl Scouts got up to last week!
A post shared by GSTroop55775 (@cookiesupergirls) on
The Summer Camp Revamp girls started the week with a webinar all about the Lifecycle of a Salad! They tracked the various cycles of vegetables, from harvest to food scraps, and discovered how plants and worms receive nutrients from the earth. They also had a little dinner party for themselves AND some worms by making delicious salads and composting the scraps! Check out Girl Scout Scarlett’s yummy-looking salad (and Sami’s empty bowl!).
A post shared by GSTroop55775 (@cookiesupergirls) on
Day 2 of STEAM, Dreams and Ice Cream week was all about harnessing science to make yummy foods! The girls also used the power of chemical reactions to make delicious treats, like ice cream, edible marshmallow putty, and more. Making ice cream by hand is a workout, but the results looked delicious!
The girls followed up those experiments by exploring weather systems and different creative art projects–– Scarlett made a rainbow in a jar, and they also experimented with lightning!
In Their Element
Girls continued participating in awesome STEAM activities like making slime, cooking homemade pasta, experimenting with soda and Mentos, and more! The girls loved working with these fun programs that got the outdoors and their brains working to come up with new scientific discoveries to make at home!
Girl Scout Member Moment!
While we keep up with Summer Camp Revamp, our Member Monday blog series is paused, but this week, we are featuring Girl Scout Brownie Troop 55567, who bridged up to Brownies this spring! Check out their amazing virtual Bridging Ceremony above! Congratulations to these girls for making their way up the Girl Scout ladder.
Join us for Mastering Mystery Week!
Interested in joining the Summer Camp Revamp fun? Join us for Mastering Mystery Week from July 27- 31! Follow the clues to solve a Girl Scout mystery! Use all your senses as we work together to crack codes, take fingerprints, and explore our surroundings.
Whether it’s this year’s Summer Camp Revamp or a visit to Camp Juniper Knoll many years ago, tell us all about your Girl Scout camp memories on social media @GirlScoutsGCNWI or on our website.
This summer, the fun of connecting with others, exploring new things, and receiving snail mail combine to create a one-of-a-kind virtual experience for girls! It’s camp, reimagined… it’s Summer Camp Revamp!
How it Works
Summer Camp Revamp offers six themed, virtual camp sessions led by our council teams and older Girl Scouts. Join us for all six, or pick-and-choose the weeks that you like best!
Each week girls will get 10+ hours of fun-filled activities through online meetings, video, and a printable activity packet for on-your-own exploration.
While activities are geared toward girls entering grades 2-8 this fall, girls in grades K-1 are welcome but may need additional parent/guardian assistance.
Older girls (grades 9-12) are welcome to join-in on weekly activities with younger girls. If you are an older girl or Counselor in Training interested in helping out with Summer Camp Revamp programs, let us know by June 29 »
Camp Supplies Delivered to Your Doorstep
Don’t feel like going to the store? Not a problem!
Each week you can add an optional activity kit that is FULL of things to enhance your experience, plus a few fun surprises! You can also order a general supply pack with materials you’ll use all summer. Learn more »
Shop Summer Camp Revamp
Just in time for Summer Camp Revamp, get your kit that includes everything you need to make your very own tie-dye t-shirt. Plus, order your fun patch! Order Now »
This program is free for all ages, and open to everyone interested in learning more about camping from the comfort of your own home—you don’t have to be a Girl Scout to attend. You’ll get to meet people from across the council, and learn some awesome camping skills!
Through a series of virtual experiences we’ll walk you through everything—from setting up your campsite at home (indoors or out) to outdoor skills, art projects, and even a virtual campfire sing-along!
THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL
Check back for YouTube Premiere links so you can watch along with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and the Campfire Sing-Along! Plus you can participate on your own through our activity packet!
What to Expect
Participants in the GCNWI Great Family Camp-In can take part in a variety of activities that you can choose to do on your own or with the other campers throughout the day.
Virtual programming will consist of a combination of live programs, pre-recorded videos and interactive webinars, with breaks between scheduled activities so that you can participate with us and have time to get outside!
The camp-in is presented by the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago Outdoor Program Team including Hannah “Nacho” Bovard, Lauren “Sprout” Somogyi, Kara “Caribou” Kastenholz, Katie “Katmandu” Young, Margaret “Strike” Gawlik, and Sam “Freddie” Lucheck.
Enter Our Photo Contest
Experience the fun of camp from your own home!
We know that you are all excited to camp just as much as we are and we want you to show it! When you enter our photo contest you will have a chance to win (find out)!
Contest Rules
After you set up your awesome campsite, whether it’s indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both, take a picture of it!
Here’s the cool part, YOU get to choose our winners! After you submit your photo, pictures of the photo contest finalist will be made available to be voted Saturday evening (5/23) through Sunday (5/24) morning at 9:30 a.m.
Photo contest winners will be announced during the Great Family Camp-In: Show and Share on Sunday (5/24) at 10 a.m.
We would love to see all of the other pictures you take throughout this event as well. Share with us by tagging @girlscoutsgcnwi on ALL social platforms and using the hashtag #GCNWICAMPIN.
We can’t wait to see pictures of you cooking, doing art projects, learning outdoor skills, and getting outside. Share them and tag us on social media using #gcnwicampin or post them right to our GSGCNWI Great Family Camp-In Facebook event page and Instagram!
Campsite Photo Contest! Set-up your campsite, whether it’s outdoors with a tent, or indoors with a fort! You could be chosen to receive camp-in fun patches for the whole family! Plus you’ll be featured on our social media and blog.
Submit your photo through THIS FORM! OR send them to our Outdoor Program Staff Chosen photo will be announced during Sunday’s Show and Share webinar.
10-10:30 a.m.
Kick-off & Opening Ceremony Start your camp day off right with an opening ceremony, snapshot of the day’s schedule, camp agreement, and FAQ! Meet your Outdoor Program Team hosts and get ready for some camp magic.
YouTube Live Premiere
11-11:45 a.m.
Art Projects Choose between “Salt Dough & Impression Necklace” or “Sit-Upon”
Webinars
12-2 p.m.
Lunch and Suggested Camp Activities Check out the activity packet (coming soon) for camp recipes and suggested activities.
On Your Own
2-2:45 p.m.
Outdoor Skills Choose between “Knot Tying Extravaganza” or “Letterboxing Adventure”
Webinars
3-3:45 p.m.:
Camp Fun Choose between “At-Home Circus Acts” or “Camp Games”
Webinars
4-4:30 p.m.
Wrap Up & Closing Ceremony
YouTube Live Premiere
4:30-7 p.m.
Dinner and Suggested Camp Activities
On Your Own
7-8 p.m.
Campfire Sing-along Our camp-in would not be complete without a campfire and songs! The first forty minutes will be full of high energy songs before slowing down the pace to sing some favorites. Comfy clothes and homemade s’mores are encouraged!
YouTube Live Premiere
SUNDAY, May 24
10-10:45 a.m.
Show and Share Share about your night of camping in go with other participants as we reflect, wrap-up the camp fun, and reveal the photo contest winners!
Webinar
Please note, to receive access to webinar links you will need to first register. Webinar links will be emailed to those who register the morning of May 23. Soon the YouTube Premiere links will be available for all to watch along.
The Great Family Camp-In Activity Packet
Now you can download the Great Family Camp-In Activity Packet with camp recipes, game ideas, song lyrics, and more camp fun that you can do on your own or coordinate to do with your family, friends, or Girl Scout troop from afar.
Below are lists of the supplies you’ll need for each activity you’ll learn in the virtual experiences.
Art Project Option 1: Salt Dough and Clay Impressions
Let’s get crafty! Join Outdoor Program Team members, Kat and Sprout in making salt dough out of a few ingredients commonly found in your kitchen. Then transform your salt dough or preferred clay material into a one-of-a-kind nature necklace!
Make sure you can see your screen and have a large, clear space to work in that is covered in newspaper or can be easily wiped down.
2-4 objects found in nature (like an acorn or pebble)
Toothpick/Pencil
String/Yarn/Twine
Scissors
Art Project Option 2: Sit-Upon
Prepare for your next outdoor adventure by making a traditional Girl Scout sit-upon. Join Outdoor Program Team members, Nacho and Strike, to make one that works for you!
A sit-upon is a great tool to take outdoors with you when you are going for a picnic, singing around a campfire, or to have with you at your campsite. After this session you will have something comfortable and dry to sit on so that you can fully enjoy your time outside.
Two 20″x20″ squares of waterproof material twice (either vinyl tablecloth, shower curtain, or a reusable grocery bag)
Padding (options include 15-20 plastic grocery bags, pillow fluff, foam square, or a 1-2″ stack newspapers)
Scissors
Closure options: yarn or string and hole punch OR just duct tape
Marker
Ruler (optional)
Outdoor Skills Option 1: Knot Tying Extravaganza
Outdoor Program Team members, Nacho and Freddie will teach you knot tying basics, making a simple friendship bracelet and then walk through how to do some more advanced knots.
People often say knots are difficult, let’s bust that myth together in this interactive step-by-step tutorial. Whether you want to learn how to use knots in making jewelry, setting up camp, or going rock climbing we have you covered in this knot tying adventure for all ages!
Are you interested in treasure hunts and puzzles? Challenge yourself and your family by learning the international scavenger hunt of letterboxing with Outdoor Program Team members, Caribou and Strike.
You will practice coding clues, learn how to collect stamps, make your own stamp and log book, and even get tips on how to set up your own at-home letterboxing course.
Materials
Stamp (or make your own out of a recycled bottle cap or lid, Craft foam sheets, & Glue or tape)
4-6 Small notebooks (or make your own out of 5-10 sheets of paper, a hole-punch, and yarn)
Pen/pencil
Paper (for the clues, colored paper preferred)
Scissors
Markers/crayons
Ink pad (or washable markers)
Wipes/Paper towels
3-5 small plastic containers with lids (ex. food storage containers)
Camp Fun Option 1: Camp Games
Ready, Set, Go! Camp games from home! In this interactive session, we will participate in active and silly camp game favorites led by Outdoor Program Team members, Sprout and Caribou. We’ll cover some go to games like “4 Corners”, “Moo”, “Ship to Shore”, and more! If you know you love these games or want to learn, this is your chance to give it a try!
Materials
Just yourself and some space to move!
Camp Fun Option 2: At-Home Circus Acts
WOW your friends and family with a new skill, straight from the greatest place on earth, your home! Outdoor Program Team members, Kat and Freddie will teach you some beginner circus tricks.
Learn techniques for juggling and how balance & spin household objects. Circus skills are a great way to keep your body moving and your mind active, all while having a great time!
Materials
Water bottle
Space to move around
3 bandannas (or similar substitute)
Old toothbrush
Plastic grocery bag
Small cushion (that you can hold up with one hand)
3 beanbags (you can make your own out of 3 long socks, 1.5 cups of lentil, dried beans, or birdseed), 1/4 cup measuring cup, & 3 rubber bands)
Before You Camp, Prepare with These Camping Essentials
Learn tips and tricks to use a pop-up tent, set up a campsite, and get comfortable for an outdoor adventure in your backyard or out on trail, or even in your living room!
Excited to participate in the Great Family Camp-In, but don’t have a tent? No problem! Shelter building is an important outdoor survival skill, and we’ll teach you how you can build your own indoor campsite with sheets, blankets, pillows, and furniture!
Get Your Camp Swag!
Middle and High-School Girl Scouts Can Join The Fun!
Older Girl Scouts, Program Aides (PA), and Counselors in Training (CIT): We hope this first camp-in weekend will be the first of many future virtual camp-themed programs. If you want to keep your outdoor skills fresh and provide programming to other Girl Scouts, we encourage you to participate in the Great Family Camp-In weekend.
By joining in, you will get inspired to think about the ways that you can help us share camp magic throughout the summer. If you are interested in being involved and helping lead future programs, let us know! Send us an email with the subject line: “I can help with outdoor virtual programs!”
Camp-In Premiers
Be sure to check out our LIVE camp-in videos starting at 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.!
Catch you at Camp!
We can’t wait to see you all there, whether you plan on attending just one part, or the entire day of events! If you have any questions contact us at customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
Breaking Ground for new Troop Cabins at Camp Butternut Springs
Albert C. Hanna High Adventure Course at Camp Butternut Springs
Campers at Camp Butternut Springs
Canoeing at Camp Butternut Springs
Day Campers at Camp Palos
Grand Opening of the Albert C. Hanna High Adventure Course at Camp Butternut Springs
High Ropes Course at Camp Butternut Springs
Rock Climbing at Camp Butternut Springs
Rowing at Camp Juniper Knoll
Safe Sailing at Camp Greene Wood
Sailing at Camp Juniper Knoll
Girl Scout councils love to launch exciting, new program experiences for girls, and Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) is certainly no exception.
Recently, we celebrated the grand opening of our new high adventure climbing tower, zipline and high ropes course at Camp Butternut Springs, thanks to the generosity of philanthropist and adventurer Al Hanna. Seeing girls fly overhead, laughing and screaming with delight as they zoom by, is one of the best parts of what we do to fulfill our mission.
It’s the kind of experience we want more girls to encounter at our properties, especially our camps. But to bring to life the type of activities and amenities girls and volunteers tell us they want, we also must make difficult decisions.
It has been eight years since GSGCNWI announced the first phase of our initial Master Property Plan. It is now time to evaluate where we are today, and where we want to be in the future.
The objectives of Phase II of the Master Property Plan are to:
keep our focus on the evolving needs of girls;
thoughtfully and thoroughly align to our 3-year strategic plan;
acknowledge the council’s healthy financial position today, and keep our limited resources focused on the future;
reflect our readiness to invest in enhanced experiences for future generations;
transparently engage stakeholders in next steps and solutions;
reduce our need to divert dollars to deferred maintenance issues;
and shift to leased office solutions to keep focus on mission, not repairs.
Our focus on creating a master property plan began years ago, when we inherited a large portfolio of properties in 2008 after merging seven previously independent Girl Scout councils into one. We knew at the time that caring for more than 20 different camp and office properties would be too heavy a financial burden for us.
In 2011, with the help of a committee of volunteers and property experts over the course of two years of research, we made the difficult decision to retire and sell several properties. At the time, our overall economy was struggling and so were most nonprofits, including GSGCNWI. We simply did not have the resources to make any investments in property repairs or amenities between 2010 – 2015.
Then, between 2016 and 2019, we started to invest again. Using a combination of our operational budget and money we received from the sale of the properties, we have been able to put approximately $7 million into new or improved amenities at several of our properties.
Yet even with those improvements, we are still faced with a daunting deferred maintenance issue, with needed repairs and updates exceeding $30 million. Too many of our properties, some used far less than others, need significant attention just to be operational and safe.
After much consideration, and again with the guidance of girls, volunteers, and many others, we have decided to concentrate our resources on building enhanced experiences for girls at four primary camp properties that cover the full footprint of our council: Camp Juniper Knoll (Wisconsin), Camp Greene Wood and Camp Palos (both in Illinois), and Camp Butternut Springs (Indiana).
That means we will list for sale three camp/program properties (Pokanoka, River Trails, and Friendship Center). These properties have significant deferred maintenance issues and are not fully utilized by girls and families for myriad reasons.
We’ll also list two very tired, maintenance-heavy gathering places for sale (Homewood and Merrillville), and look for leased space that will represent those communities instead of owning property. And finally, we will review options for our Chicago space at 20 S. Clark since that lease expires in 2021.
Please note: Each property will continue to be open and in use until the property is sold. This may be a lengthy process, so programs will continue to be scheduled as long as maintenance issues do not prevent activities from taking place.
