Exciting things are happening at Friendship Lodge! Over the next few months, this beloved camp staple is receiving a major refresh to make troop visits and summer camp stays even more comfortable, accessible, and fun.
We’ll be sharing weekly progress photos and highlights, so check back often as Friendship Lodge transforms into its next great era!
Week 1
The front facade is already looking renewed with its brand-new green siding!
Week 2
The deck railing was sandblasted to remove old layers and prep for a fresh coat of paint.
The crew installed brand-new exterior doors, giving the lodge a cleaner, more modern look.
All outdoor painting was completed, bringing the lodge exterior to life with a polished finish.
Stay tuned! Our next update features some exciting inside surprises.
Written by GCNWI Council Historian, Veronica Pradelski
What better way to keep on enjoying your Girl Scout fun this summer, than to spend some time at our council-led camps.
Spending time outdoors with other Girl Scouts your age this summer is a great reason to attend camp. You’ll learn new skills and make new friends, especially during the warm summer season, when troops are usually not meeting.
You will have time for traditional activities, like exploring nature, making crafts, playing games and learning songs. You will also learn outdoor skills, like learning to cook over a fire, meal planning and budgeting for the food you will need for your meal.
All camp programs have different themes, you get to decide which one is right for you! With all the various activities at camp, you can sometimes earn a badge or complete some requirements for a badge that you are interested in earning.
Our council holds summer camps at three different locations. Camp Greene Wood is a day camp, and both Camp Butternut Springs and Camp Juniper Knoll are overnight camps. Some service units may hold a day camp in their area, run by devoted leaders who put together the planned programs for their camp.
As I am writing this article, it brings back memories of my time in the summer at Girl Scout camp, in the 1960s, in Chicago. The day started with an opening ceremony, and then you would go with your unit to work on what activities were planned for the day. We would plan our meals, write out a shopping list, and whoever was on cooking duty that day would go to the grocery store and purchase the items needed for our lunch meal.
We’d hike, make crafts, sing songs, and learn how to budget for our meals. It was a fun time, and I made new friends.
So, it’s not too late to plan your own summer camp adventure. Click here to view all summer camp offerings and find a program that interests you and make it a summer to remember.
Girl Scout camp is more than just campfires and crafts (though we love those too!). It’s a place where a camper who once said “I wasn’t interested in going outside” can suddenly discover “I want to stay here—I want to go camping, I want to stay outside!”
Whether it’s learning to cook over a fire, conquering the climbing wall, or simply feeling the breeze on their face, camp helps young people build confidence, independence, and mental resilience—skills that last far beyond the summer.
This summer, let your camper discover what they’re capable of at Camp Butternut Springs.
✨ Be sure to register your camper for the grade they will be entering in fall 2025. 🏕️ Save 5% on each program when you register for three or more council-led summer camp programs in one purchase. 💜 Need support? Camperships (financial assistance) and a payment plan are available to make camp accessible for all families.
Check out our skill-building programs below and click on each session to learn more and register your camper today. Hurry, spots are filling fast!
This month’s blog post will introduce you to an older-girl activity held at Camp Greene Wood from 1981 to 2003. It was simply called Cadette-Senior Jamboree and was a weekend of testing outdoor skills and plenty of fun. Attendance in the early years was limited to DuPage County Council troops. But word spread and participation was opened to other councils. Almost 500 girls participated in 1994.
The weekend began as troops gathered on Friday night. Tent set-up for the hardy, and cabin check-in for those first-timers. A walk around the camp to spot the event set-ups helped to prepare for the morning’s challenges.
The flyer from 1981 gave the following details: Each troop is responsible for its own food and camping equipment. Keep your meals simple. Bring a troop flag. A first aid tent will be set up. Each troop receives a ribbon for participating, each girl a patch, and a ribbon for the winning troop for each event.
Here’s a keepsake collection of participation and award ribbons collected by Troop 2675 from Illinois Crossroads Council who participated in Cadette-Senior Jamboree in the 1990s.
The events evolved over the years, but there were always outdoor skills – fire-building, compass, first aid, tent pitching – as well as art – designing the patch for the following year – food contests, and flag folding. “Most events are timed. Participation in each event is limited to a specific number of girls from each troop, except Tug of War which is by accumulative weight. Choose events according to your girls’ interests and qualifications.”
There were always weeks of prep to find the troop’s best candidate for each event. From Ann, leader of Troop 2675: “There was a LOT of strategy that went into the girls choosing which Girl Scout represented us in each event. (She knows her knots, she’s strong enough for the tug of war, she’s artistic for the patch design, etc.) We also practiced in the late spring, and they became pretty good at lashing and tent pitching.”
Cadettes competed against Cadettes, and Senior against Seniors. A Super Troop from each level was crowned on Sunday after the tug of war, and bragging rights were carried through the year.
In 1988, water events were added, and the troops traveled to Woodridge Lakes for the competitions. As with the land events, there were skills and fun competitions – canoeing on the lake, filling a bucket with a sponge and fishing for plastic ducks among them!
Recipes from the food contests were shared in the Cadette-Senior Gazette newsletter. In 1989, the theme was Hot Diggity Dog – among the entries – Minced “Weenie” Pie, Jean’s Jello Junk and Hot Pocket Dog.
Adults had a part in Jamboree. As attendance grew, each troop was asked to supply an adult (not a troop leader) as a judge for the Saturday events. And the troop leaders engaged in some friendly competitions as well. Again, from Ann, “It was an EXCELLENT way for them to learn skills, and then use them. AND of course, they relished the opportunity to make costumes for their leaders.”
The patch design contest each year showed talent and thought. Here are the patches in our collection. We are missing a couple of years – 1987, 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2001. If you have any of them – and are willing to donate them to the council collection – please fill out our Deed of Gift form, and mail it with your patches to GSGCNWI Vernon Hills Gathering Place 650 N Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Attn: Historians
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.
Unit HousePack Out Kitchen
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.
Pool built by cookies!
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.
Anderson LakeSis Anderson Girl Scouting for 45 Years
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.
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.
1926 Booknest1925 Johnny Weismuller1925 Low Lodge1924 Waterfront
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.
In August 2023, the Chicago Triathlon saw over 8,000 participants, who swam in Lake Michigan and raced through the streets of Chicago. The event’s mission statement, “YOUR ABILITY, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR TRI,” was evident in the diverse range of triathletes, from beginners to experts, children to grandparents, and even para-triathletes.
As a first-time charity partner, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) had a team of five, including four Girl Scouts and one adult, who completed the triathlon while raising funds to support our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
On August 26, the Girl Scouts arrived at Foster Beach with their supporters at 5:30 a.m. to take on the 2.82-mile (Jr. Tri- 7 – 10 years) or 5.64-mile (Sr. 11- 14 years) course, which involved swimming in Lake Michigan, cycling along the shore, and running to the finish line. Our adult triathlete completed an 18.57-mile course the following day, also featuring swimming, cycling, and running. The lake’s rough conditions limited the swim for the kids and caused the swim to be canceled for the adults, but team GCNWI overcame their nerves and successfully completed the race with smiles on their faces.
We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Alison B. (20:37), Robyn G. (29:24), Savannah T. (31:22), Isabella S. (33:17), and Kathy G. (2:13:27).
Our team aimed to raise $5,500 to provide access to Girl Scouts for all girls. If you would like to support Team GCNWI, you can still donate by clicking here. We are already preparing for the 2024 Chicago Triathlon, and if you would like more information on how to join our team or support GCNWI, please email LaTanya Gatewood at Lgatewood@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
Check out the amazing recap video by clicking here.
Over 120 Girl Scout friends and families participated in the inaugural S’mores Day Fun Run held on August 12, 2023, to support Family Partnership’s annual giving campaign and celebrate National S’mores Day!
The 1.2-mile course around Camp Greene Wood weaved through the scenic fields and wood trails of the camp, allowing runners to enjoy nature and get a tour of the camp in a unique way.
The run was followed by some fun activities, including crafting of s’mores-themed bead buddies and marshmallow catapults led by Camp Greene Wood’s CITs (counselors in training).
Erin Morton, one of the participants, shared her experience and said, “We had so much fun. The counselors in training were awesome and super engaged during the crafting.”
It wouldn’t be an actual S’mores Day without making a s’more! Girl Scouts enjoyed delicious s’mores around the campfire; there were even flavored marshmallows to choose from to make your s’more extra tasty.
The event celebrated the love of s’mores while also raising over $4,000 towards the Family Partnership’s annual giving campaign. The money raised will provide financial assistance, ensuring that Girl Scouts is accessible to all girls. It will also be used to offer training and support for adult volunteers and innovations to camps and properties.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana would like to thank everyone who participated and made the day special. The council would also like to thank Talking Rain, the makers of Sparkling Ice®, for sponsoring the bottled water used at the event.
Fourteen Girl Scouts and volunteers started their summer with an adventure full of firsts. From unforgettable rock-climbing experiences to crafting gnomes, Girl Scouts navigated physical challenges that tested their comfort zones. Girl Scouts supported one another during their trip to Colorado and made lasting friendships. In this post, you’ll get a day-by-day recap and hear some stories from the attendees.
July 26, 2023 Girl Scouts landed in Colorado on July 25, but their activities started on July 26 with a hike along the Colorado River. On the way, the hike turned into a step-uphill climb. Girl Scouts encouraged each other to keep going as they trekked up the side of the Rocky Mountains. The high altitudes posed some challenges, but by taking breaks and having oxygen tanks on hand, the Girl Scouts were able to reach the top! They saw many native animals, including moose, deer, and elk, and enjoyed the lovely views. The group also visited a historical site where Girl Scouts got to tour the different buildings, including an old cottage where ranchers would come and stay for the night and a building where ranchers would bring their horses into when it got cold. While visiting the local town, Girl Scouts enjoyed some tasty ice cream!
July 27, 2023 After breakfast, Girl Scouts got to go on a four-mile horseback ride. They were very eager to ride horses and had lots of fun being able to ride together. After horseback riding, the group completed a high ropes challenge at Camp Chief Ouray. Girl Scout Victoria soared with courage when participating in a high ropes challenge.
“It was very scary climbing the swinging ladder and jumping off the ledge. I felt accomplished after jumping because it was a very high ledge, maybe 20 feet or more, and I was terrified of climbing up the trunk. After completing the climb, I felt proud that I did it, and I can now say that I had jumped off a 20-foot platform,” said Victoria.
Girl Scout Lily conquered her fears and reached new heights. “I was very scared because it got really windy, and the ladder rocked. I felt it was going to fall over. At least I completed it,” said Lily.
July 28, 2023 The most anticipated day of the trip! Girl Scouts spent half the day white water rafting. Before they could get in the water, Girl Scouts had to practice all the commands for paddling. The tour guide from MAD Adventures told the Girl Scouts about the three different types of rapids that they would go through: Snooze, which was just a wave train; Wake Up, which was an actual rapid; and Needles Eye, which was the hardest out of all three. After learning about rafting safety, it was finally time to board the raft and get in the water!
“The experience was dynamic: at times, you were gently floating down the river and taking in all of the magnificent views, and then suddenly the rapids would pick up, and the raft was bobbing up and down. I will always treasure the experience – and hope to do it again,” added volunteer, Misse.
“My highlight of the trip was going white water rafting. I love traveling and trying new things, so this was a great fit. It felt like a water ride, almost like nature’s very own Six Flags. The boat was rocking and swaying, but in a good way. We even jumped off a cliff into the water! It was really cold but refreshing. The best part, though, was having awesome friends with me the whole boat ride,” said Girl Scout Francesca.
After conquering one challenge, it was time to take on the next! When the group made it through the rapids, they reached Jump Rock, which, as the name implies, was a rock about 25 feet above water, perfect for those looking for a thrilling experience. A few Girl Scouts accepted the challenge and jumped off the rock.
“We were able to jump off the high cliff into the Colorado River. My Girl Scout was smiling the whole time,” said volunteer Claudia.
July 29, 2023 The morning started with some downtime for Girl Scouts to work on crafts. Girl Scout Kelly worked on decorating some gnomes. She made one for herself and one to share with her grandma. Around 10:00 AM, the group headed to the Kiva Center for indoor rock-climbing. Girl Scouts learned all about rock-climbing safety, and we’re ready to climb. There were four different climbs that varied in difficulty. Some Girl Scouts made it to the top, while others made it halfway, still a challenging experience for everyone! After rock-climbing, the group went roller-skating and then had lunch. After lunch, the group traveled to Sulpher Springs, a resort and spa with healing mineral water pools for ultimate relaxation. Well-deserved after multiple days of hiking and using upper body strength! Girl Scouts had a lot of fun getting to know each other better while exploring the different pools.
“As I was getting ready to jump into the pool, my friend pushed me in, which I was not expecting, but it was funny, and we laughed it off,” said Girl Scout Kelly. “This was the best part of the day; time just flew by,” said Girl Scout Soleil. Girl Scouts ended their day by enjoying dinner together, playing two truths and a lie, and making s’mores.
July 30, 2023 The day started with more downtime for Girl Scouts to work on their creative arts and crafts projects. Girl Scout Liliana learned how to do leather work on a wallet. She was in the middle of finishing up the stitching when the group had to leave to go ziplining. However, the weather had changed once they got there, and it was no longer safe to zipline. Lucky for Liliana, she got to return to the craft shop to finish her wallet!
“I’m really glad I learned how to leather work. I probably would not have been able to learn this anywhere else, or at least not for a long while,” said Liliana. After spending more time at the craft shop, Girl Scouts went back to the roller-skating rink and enjoyed more quality time together.
July 31, 2023 For the last day of the trip, Girl Scouts were able to squeeze in their rescheduled ziplining adventures! After soaring through the sky on a zipline, Girl Scouts headed for the airport to fly through the friendly skies and return home.
Overall, Girl Scouts thrived while expanding their comfort zones and trying new things.
“Watching my daughter that week started off unsure and afraid of each of the adventures (white water rafting, ziplining, the high ropes course, climbing to the highest point in the Rocky Mts., etc.) and slowly achieving success with each of them was the best experience I could have imagined. That is what Girl Scouts is all about. I am so very fortunate to have the opportunity to attend this trip twice,” said volunteer Lisa.
Take a look at the fun the Girl Scouts had by browsing the gallery below.
Camp counselor Books went on so many adventures and explored new horizons with her campers this summer. Read on to learn more about her last two weeks at camp.
