If you love Girl Scouts, their history, or even their future, you could be a Girl Scout Historian.
Do you enjoy working with people of all ages? Do you enjoy helping people learn?
Mark Your Calendars!
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Council Collection and meet the Historians!
The Council Collection contains published materials, photographs, uniforms, camping gear, and memorabilia from the last 113 years! Come be a part of it!
You are invited to an Open House at the Girl Scout History Center inside the Vernon Hills Gathering Place.
Come see the current exhibits and try the hands-on learning experiences.
As people begin to declutter, or downsize, Girl Scout items from the past begin to surface. What to do with them? Who would appreciate them? That is how they come to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) Council Collection.
Once items are donated, historians access them and determine how they can be used. We mount displays for the six gathering places within GCNWI, as well as local libraries. We display items at council wide programs such as the Volunteer Expo, the Sneaker Ball, and the Cookie Kickoff. We create programming material that can be checked out and used at troop meetings. With new members, we could expand our outreach by visiting troops or service units during their meeting times.
There are two locations where historians work on the collection:
Vernon Hills Gathering Place & Joliet Gathering Place
650 Lakeview Pkwy 1551 W. Illinois Hwy
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 Joliet, IL 60433
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesdays Flexible hours, dependent on need
It is possible that some volunteer tasks could be worked on off-site, with flexible hours, which might be a better fit for some volunteers.
Qualifications for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with GCNWI Historians:
Must be registered with GSUSA.
Must show commitment to the mission, values and programs of GSUSA.
Must have a desire to make Girl Scout history relevant to a broad audience.
Must be friendly and enjoy interacting with people. Must have a positive attitude.
Must be reliable and understand the importance of volunteer commitment.
During the third week of April each year, we celebrate National Volunteer Week, so it seems appropriate to highlight one of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s exceptional volunteers at this time. If you don’t already know her, I would like to introduce you to Nancy Hackett, someone who has given so much of her life in service to the Girl Scouts.
Nancy became a Girl Scout when in 1945 she joined as a Brownie in Pennsylvania’s legacy Tricounty Council, her mother served as her troop leader. She moved up to be an Intermediate Girl Scout, earned her Curved Bar, the highest award at the time. Nancy then bridged to Senior Girl Scouts, and remained a girl member until her high school graduation. After graduation, Nancy started her journey as an adult volunteer by helping with a troop for the Tricounty Council. When she went off to college, Nancy continued to work with troops in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. From 1962 to 1980, Nancy lived and worked in Baltimore where she volunteered for legacy Baltimore Council. When she moved to Illinois in 1980, Nancy became part of legacy Trailways Council. As a volunteer for Trailways, Nancy did something out of the ordinary – she started a Girl Scout museum in her home.
Being somewhat of a collector from her early years in Girl Scouts, Nancy began saving Girl Scout calendars, cookie boxes, and the American Girl magazine when she was just a girl. She especially liked the American Girl because of the interesting covers. Then she went to Roundup in 1956 where she collected numerous SWAPS from her sister Girl Scouts from across the country. Subsequently in 1965, she was able to attend Roundup as an adult volunteer, and once again she accumulated a wide variety of SWAPS. Nancy really enjoyed her Girl Scout collection, so over the years, she kept adding to it. She found herself going to antique shops and malls to purchase any Girl Scout items she could find.
With her collection continuing to grow, Nancy became really serious about her hobby. She decided to become a Girl Scout Historian. She took several historians’ trainings at Macy Center in New York and also attended workshops that were offered during the various conventions. At one of the sessions, the trainer was Mary Degenhardt, a co-author of the Girl Scout Collector’s Guide, the quintessential handbook for all Girl Scout memorabilia collectors. Nancy was thoroughly impressed by Degenhardt’s expertise and presentation.
The Edith Macy Center in Westchester County,New York, where trainings for Council Historiansare often held.
With her sizeable collection and expansive knowledge of all things Girl Scout, Nancy decided to do something very unique. She let Trailways Council know that she wanted to open her home to troops who wanted to experience Girl Scout history through the memorabilia she had amassed. So in the late 1980’s, her Girl Scout museum became a place for girls to explore the rich history of Girl Scouts. The council promoted the museum in newsletters, and since Nancy was also a trainer, she would share information about the museum at trainings. Because of these efforts, Nancy welcomed anywhere from thirty to forty troops to her home during each school year. They would come after school, in the evenings, and on Saturdays. When the girls arrived, Nancy would be wearing a replica of the first uniform which she had made for herself. She had a long table permanently set up in her living room where the girls could gather around to view and examine Girl Scout memorabilia as Nancy talked to them about the various items. While some girls were at the table, others would go to the bedroom where Nancy had her collection displayed. The girls could look at all the cases filled with patches, pins, handbooks, camping gear, mugs, dolls, and so much more. Nancy especially enjoyed hearing all the “ohs” and “aahs” as the girls entered the room. She would then start showing the girls uniforms from various eras. It was always quite exciting when one of the leaders or chaperones would say, “That’s the uniform I wore as a girl!” Much to their delight, the girls were also allowed to try on the uniforms.
A wall in the museum room displayingvarious insignia and a picture of JulietteGordon Low.Shelf in the museum room withassorted dolls displayed.
As a troop would get ready to leave, Nancy would ask them what they liked the best, and the girls would almost always say, “The drawers!” Nancy had a multi-drawer cabinet with items in each drawer. The girls loved pulling out the drawers to see what was in each of them. Nancy even had one drawer dedicated to the Boy Scouts to keep any brothers happy who had come along with their sisters. When Nancy was at various Girl Scout events, girls would recognize her and refer to her as “the lady with the museum.”
The drawers used to hold variousGirl Scout items.
It should also be noted that Nancy has a substantial collection of World Association items. She was a member of the International Committee for Our Chalet and became interested in collecting items from WAGGGS countries. If she was visiting such places as Switzerland, England, or Australia, she would find the local Girl Guide office and purchase patches, pins, or anything else that caught her eye.
Nancy holding a vintage WAGGS poster that features Brownie pins and badges from around the world.
After the merge of the seven metro councils in 2008, Nancy’s museum was no longer promoted. However, Nancy continues to serve as a GCNWI Council Historian. She is always willing to create displays for local libraries, World Thinking Day celebrations, or service unit events. She and her sister historian Linda Pote also are responsible for the displays in the cases at the Joliet Gathering Place. Currently, the efforts to present the vast history of Girl Scouts are being done at the History Center which is located in the Vernon Hills Gathering Place. However, any of the historians, including Nancy, are always willing to share their expertise with anyone who asks.
Current display at the Joliet Gathering Place created by Nancy Hackett and Linda Pote.Current display at the Joliet Gathering Place created by Nancy Hackett and Linda Pote.
Nancy Hackett is just one example of the many dedicated volunteers whom we salute during National Volunteer Week. Thanks, Nancy, for all that you’ve done for Girl Scouts!
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.
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.
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.
Our Chalet patch for Girl Scouts.
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 75th anniversary.
For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts have discovered outdoor adventures full of learning, challenges, friendships, and tons of fun by going to camp. Today, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana offer outdoor programming at four camps across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Camp Palos and Camp Greene Wood are day camps where Girl Scouts spend the day at camp and return home in the evening. Camp Juniper Knoll and Camp Butternut Springs are resident camps where Girl Scouts can have an overnight camping experience. With all summer camps now in full swing, our council historians and previous Girl Scout members have shared their fondest memories of attending and the history of former Girl Scout summer camps.
Camp Timber Trails – Munising, Michigan
Camp Timber Trails was leased for nine weeks from 1928 to 1942 from Bay DeNoc Lumber Company. It was in the heart of the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It was a pioneer camp for older Girl Scouts where they could roam over the entire National Forest from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan.
Mary-Jane Ryan’s camp application for Camp Tiber Trails.
Girl Scouts who attended the camp came from Chicago and other surrounding councils. Some Girl Scouts were driven to camp, while others traveled from Chicago by train. Former Girl Scout Mary-Jane Ryan started her camping experience at Juniper Knoll, and at age 17, she attended Camp Timber Trails. Mary-Jane Ryan returned to Juniper Knoll as a staff member. Mary Jane Ryan’s daughter, Corkey Waite, said her mother’s Girl Scout experiences made her who she is today and that she always talks about Girl Scouts.
Camp Cloverleaf – Sheridan, Illinois
Camp Cloverleaf was originally named Camp Sheridan until 1959 and was located on the Fox River. By the spring of 1958, the winter house, which is seen in the above picture, was completed. It was the only building with hot and cold running water, central heating, and a stove. In the early 1960s, eight cabins that housed four Girl Scouts each and an outdoor kitchen were added. Eight platform tents were erected in 1962. In 1964, the Cloverleaf Council purchased another 44 acres adjacent to the original land. The next building to be built was the summer troop house; it had an indoor kitchen and fireplace. Between 1969 and 1972, the council purchased another 84 acres, bringing the total acreage to 198 acres. In 1979 and 1980, more platform tents were built. These had wooden roofs and canvas sides. Eventually, the original platform tents had wooden roofs added. The last building to be built on the property was a shower house. The camp also had two primitive camp areas, trails, an archery field, and a canoe launch area.
Former Girl Scout Marty Devereux-Poch’s fondest memories of Camp Cloverleaf were that her grandma was one of her Junior troop leaders and loved camping in the little cabins. Each cabin had a name like Sleep Inn. There was space for activities and for having meals in the middle of the ring of cabins.
“My troop was from Our Lady of the Mount Catholic School, so we always packed our Girl Scout uniforms when we went camping. On Sunday morning, we would all get dressed up and head down to Wedron, IL, to attend Mass, and then we would return to camp for breakfast before packing up for home. As a Cadette, I learned archery, and Mr. Whelen, who farmed part of the camp property, always found some arrows during harvest time. I learned to canoe at camp. Some trips on the Fox River were short, to Wedron and back to camp. Others were day-long trips from camp to Yorkville, stopping at Camp Merrybrook to eat our lunch in their meadow, then being picked up and driven back to camp,” said Marty.
Former Girl Scout Gwen Novy Ferguson also has fond memories of Camp Cloverleaf. She camped there as a young Girl Scout and became a Junior troop leader and council trainer in the late 1970s.
“My memories include times spent with Junior Troop #13, Cadette Troop #17, and Senior Troop #99. During my Junior and Cadette years, my mom, Gladys Novy, was my leader, and Erma Slovak was my Senior leader. We enjoyed outdoor cooking, badge-work, singing, stargazing, knot-tying, compass, lashing, crafts, nature lore, campfires, skits, service projects, hiking, long and short canoe trips on the Fox River, and exploring other places that were a short distance from camp. During the summer, we’d drive to the Pitstak Dairy, which had a small swimming lake with a beach and offered horseback riding. I remember we’d use the council van, named the Green Giant, for transportation. For added adventure in the evenings, we’d sometimes hike down the road to Camp Merrybrook and have a campfire with the Girl Scouts from the West Cook Council,” Gwen said.
When the West Cook Council and the Cloverleaf Council merged, they decided to sell Camp Cloverleaf on April 1, 1994. The eight cabins and the outdoor kitchen were moved to Camp Merrybrook. Later, the platform tents were also moved, and the unit was named Cloverleaf.
Camp Merrybrook – Serena, Illinois
In 1954, the West Cook Council purchased 97.5 acres of wooded property near Sheridan, Illinois. It fronted on the Fox River and Mission Creek. The council originally named the camp: Camp Kiwanis-on-the-Fox, because the Kiwanis Club of LaGrange provided money for the down payment. An existing fishing lodge near the creek was named Kiwanis Club.
The first campers arrived in 1955, and Mr. Bray, Sr. was the first camp caretaker. In 1956, the camp was renamed Camp Merrybrook. From 1957 to 1958, three platform tent units were added to the camp. In 1958, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad donated a huge steam engine bell to the council. It was installed on a concrete pillar outside Lenona Lodge and used in emergencies. The camp was dedicated on October 4, 1959, and the mortgage was burnt. From 1960 to 1961, the caretaker house and maintenance building were constructed. The Heritage House Lodge was built in 1964. At some point, more acreage was purchased, and the camp totaled 136 acres. At some time, a totem pole was displayed in respect for Native American tradition.
In the late 1970s, electricity and running water were installed in Heritage House. It was renamed Bonnie Brae after a camp trainer and the first caretaker. In 1971, Idle-a-While Lodge was built between Lenona and Bonnie Brae. It was the first lodge to have flush toilets. The pool and pool house were built in 1976. In the early 1980s, a challenging adventure course for older girls was constructed. It was not maintained and deemed unsafe. Repairs were never made, so it was taken down.
Camp River Trails – Sheridan, Illinois
In 1986, when the West Cook Council and the Cloverleaf Council merged, the board decided to sell Camp Cloverleaf and keep Camp Merrybrook. They renamed the camp: Camp River Trails. As mentioned above, the eight small cabins, outdoor kitchen, and platform tents were moved from Camp Cloverleaf to Camp River Trails. At the same time, the post office changed its address to Sheridan, Illinois. In 1995, the old farmhouse was torn down, and the Dreamcatcher Room was added. The Lenona Lodge was renamed the Merrybrook Room.
The entire construction included:
Two kitchens joining the two-unit rooms.
Multiple leader rooms.
A handicap ramp.
A stone wall for sitting around the fire ring.
A washroom and shower house with a storage basement and storm shelter beneath.
The entire complex of new buildings became known as the Lenona Complex. In 2000, a Friendship Pole was installed, and a challenge course called The Challenge of the Castle Garden was installed near the pool. Then, in 2014, an Ambassador troop from Lyons, IL, donated the materials and built an archery course near the camp manager’s house. Other troops built and painted a map of the camp and archery rules that were installed on the outside of the maintenance building.
Near the manager’s house, there were two landmarks: Smokey Bear and his two cubs, added by a Senior troop in 1958, and a sign that read, Camp Built by Cookies. Both landmarks are now at Camp Greene Wood. Over the ravine on one of the trails, there was a footbridge over a stream called River Kwai. Senior Girl Scouts made and repaired the bridge using logs, and branches lashed with twine.
Lifetime Girl Scout member Kathi Krankoski shared some Camp Merrybrook tall tales and traditions that carried over to Camp River Trails:
Friendship Pole: One of the traditions was to place “wishing rocks” around the Friendship Pole. The rocks were painted with environmentally safe paint, and when spring came, the magic happened, and the rocks and their messages were carried out via the Mission Creek, Fox, Illinois, and Mississippi Rivers, and eventually into the ocean.
Sparkler pencils: At checkout from camp on a weekend, if your site or cabin met inspection, each girl received a camp sparkler pencil.
Cadette roundup: During a special week when only Cadettes could attend camp,the Cadettes never used the words “poison ivy.” They just said, “PI.”
Daisy Bridge: If a Girl Scout didn’t make the Girl Scout sign before crossing the bridge, it would collapse.
Old wagon: There was an old wagon abandoned as a group was heading west. It was left behind after the group was attacked by Native Americans. When excavating the area, clothing and other items were found.
The Legend of Hernando’s Hideaway: Legend has it that Hernando was a local bandit river private. He and his group stole from farmers and hid the treasures along Mission Creek. From the beginning of Camp Merrybrook until 2013, Girl Scouts would walk the creek and investigate caves to see if they could find a treasure. Early on, wagon wheels and broken pottery pieces were found.
The Legend of the Crying Princess: Behind the area where Bonnie Brae stands, there are bluffs that form what we call the Crying Princess. It’s a sandstone formation that weeps out a trickle of water. Legend has it that long ago, a young Native American woman, while running to escape an undesired suitor, fell to her death there. Her tears are what are seen to this day.
Over the years, forty historical councils have merged into what is now Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. In that time, Girl Scouts have owned or leased at least 91 camps, program centers and Little Houses. Below, historians share memories of some of their visits to a few of these camps and how much girls enjoyed being there. If you have stories or photos you would like to have preserved in the council’s archives please contact Rosemarie Courtney via email at info@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
Camp Woody Acres; Owned by Chicago Girl Scout Council 1944-1981
Girl Scouts of Chicago purchased the property in 1944. It had one lodge named Redwood. The only other building was the caretaker’s small farm. Except for latrines, it was a primitive camp. The council sold the property in 1981. Today it has luxurious homes on 1 acre lots.
Lifelong Girl Scout Rosemarie Courtney remembers: “When Troop #298 in Chicago was founded in 1950, it did not take long for the troop to find it a wonderful place to learn all the outdoor skills a Girl Scout should know and use every day of her life. By that time, there were 2 cabins, a screened in pavilion and pitch-your-own-tents camp areas. The big treat seemed to be Sunday breakfast using the caretaker’s eggs that were speckled; somehow, they tasted better. My troop camped there at least 3 times a year, from cabin camping to tent camping. The most memorable experience was when some of us bridged to Senior Troop 1615 in 1954 and decided to bike to Woody Acres the first weekend of June each year, a 20-mile distance. We did this for 3 years. The straight route would be Harlem & the Kennedy Expressway to Irving Park Road. But safety rules had us planning routes through neighborhoods, forest preserves and country roads. All our gear and food for the weekend was in our backpacks. We followed the rules in the Intermediate Handbook and made shelter, if need be, under our poncho over our bikes; otherwise, we slept under the stars. Unfortunately, in 1956 the Bartlett Police found the 2 miles we had to travel on Irving Park Road to be unsafe for bicycling with gear on our backs, as the road was being widened to 4 lanes to reach a rural road. So, a parent came and picked up our gear. The photo shows us waiting for the police to give us the OK to bike 2 miles to the rural road:
The widening of Irving Park Road ended this yearly event. Also, note that we didn’t wear helmets when we biked back then, and all our bikes had one speed.”
Camp Hickory Hills; Owned by Northwest Cook Council sold in 1929-1964
The land was purchased in 1929 by Mr. & Mrs. Charles F Loesch for the purpose of a Girl Scout camp. They immediately donated the land to the Des Plaines Girl Scout Council. The first building on the property was named Loesch Lodge which is pictured here. When Des Plaines Girl Scout Council merged to form Northwest Cook Council, the newly formed council took on ownership. Today the property is Hickory Hills Campgrounds which has a display of what the place looked like when it was a Girl Scout Camp, and many former Girl Scouts stop by to reminisce about their days at the camp.
Elise Gould remembers attending the camp on weekend overnights: “We slept in raised tents, 4 girls in a tent. We cooked outside over an open fire. The camp had 3 units: Merriwood, Sherwood Forest and Hilltop.”
Camp Pokanoka; Owned by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana sold 2021
The camp was originally purchased in 1965 by Trailways Girl Scout Council. When Trailways Girl Scout Council merged to form Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana the newly formed council took on ownership. The camp was sold in 2021.
Kathy Webb wrote, “Being a Girl Scout for over 40 years and calling Camp Pokanoka my camp has always been the norm. My first visit to Camp Pokanoka was back in the late 60’s with my older sister and Girl Scout leader, mom. From that first visit this young Girl Scout was hooked and couldn’t wait to be old enough to attend resident camp for 2 weeks. One of my first years at camp I attended ‘Ride in the Wind’ with my no-speed bicycle and backpack. I can remember our pool times and showers in the old, little shower house until the new one was built. Hiking to the clay pits where we would wallow in the mud or sailing bars of soap boats down the Illinois River. I even remember making torches from Kotex dipped in Kerosene to light up the road so we could see our way north to the river. Cleaning the Latrines was my favorite or maybe cooking over the fire. Or was it songs we would sing everywhere we went?
The song Slap Bang after meals was always a highlight to watch all those dishes bounce up and down on those old round tables in the Oriole House.”
Not many changes were made at Camp Pokanoka. Canvas tents in the Whippoorwill, Chickedee and Flicker which became “cabins” with more sleeping room and a roof, while Blue Jay remained the fun platform tent area.
As years past and I became a Girl Scout mom, Pokanoka was first on our troop’s agenda. We made it out to camp three to four times a year and helped at council events. Even though my troop has bridged to adults, I will always love Camp Pokanoka which has been and will always be a Girl Scout Friend to many from all over the world.
Camp Thorn Creek; Leased by Girl Scouts of South Cook Council 1951-1988
Camp Thorn Creek was leased from the Cook County Forest Preserve. In the spring of 1934 the camp was opened in Sweet Woods Forest Preserve as a home for the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The men built military style barracks on the site to use as their lodging. It was named Camp Thornton and later used during World War II to house German prisoners of war. From 1946-1947 the Illiana Christian High School conducted classes in the buildings. Then in 1951 the Girl Scouts of South Cook Council entered into a lease agreement for the sum of $1.00 per year to use the property as a camp and the barracks were converted to cabins. The camp was honored by a visit from Olave Baden-Powell in 1953. In 1988 when the Forest Preserve would not agree to any improvements on the cabins which were in disrepair, the council relinquished its lease on the property. The barracks were demolished in 1989. Because of its historic importance, the Illinois Historical Society placed a marker at the site on June 26, 2010.
Karen Schillings had the good fortune to bring both of her daughters’ troops to Camp Thorn Creek. As Brownies, the girls had the opportunity to stay in the barracks that were built during the Great Depression. These barracks were very primitive and perhaps a little bit “scary” for 7 and 8-year-olds, since they were basic wooden plank floors and walls that the wind could whistle through. I vividly remember one Sycamore Association (Homewood) spring encampment in the mid 1980s. The Brownies were housed in the barracks and the Junior, Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts used the platform tents or pitched council tents that were stored at camp.
Karen recalled, “my Junior troop pitched their tents Friday afternoon excited to be in tents for the first time. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. In fact, it seemed that a deluge had befallen us. The rain started coming down during the night, and although I had warned the girls NOT to touch any part of the canvas on the tents, the warning was not heeded by everyone. Some of the tents started to leak profusely. When morning arrived, many of the girls and their gear were totally soaked. As the rain kept coming down, we had to figure out a way to prepare breakfast without cooking, since there was no way, we could start a fire. We basically ate bread with butter and jelly, along with some orange juice – not the scrambled eggs and toast we had planned. By mid-morning, we could tell that the rain was not going to let up, so we decided to break camp and started calling parents to come and pick up their waterlogged daughters. That was the most exhausting camp experience I’ve ever had in Girl Scouting, but it didn’t deter my desire to continue taking my troops to camp!”
Camp Chippewa Bay; Owned by Girl Scouts of DuPage Council 1955-2000
Since the formation of the DuPage Council one of the main objectives was to own a camp property with a waterfront. A search committee was formed in 1953. For the next five years, while the committee continued its search, the council rented facilities. At first, the committee was told to limit their search to within a 150-mile radius which proved to be fruitless. With the help of an estate agent two sites were found in Wisconsin. The Girl Scout Region VII Camping Adviser visited the sites and made a recommendation to the committee. The findings were presented to the DuPage County Council board in 1955 and the property which became Camp Chippewa Bay was purchased. The first Girls camped there in 1958.
When asked to write about why Camp Chippewa Bay (CCB) was so special, Anne Brennan posed the question to the CCB Facebook page (currently 504 followers strong) and received 40 responses and 27 hearts. Most of the responses expressed similar sentiments: “Camp Chippewa Bay was magic and still holds a special place in our hearts. It helped women young and not so young find who they were and then allowed them to be that with support and without judgment. To try new things and challenges and escape from the “real world.” We learned skills in leadership, teaching, empathy, outdoor life and more that has lasted in us all to this day. Music and singing were also a major theme so I will leave you with a condensed version of our dedication song: ‘We came here as strangers, learned the way of the wind and of the wood and the waves, and left as lifelong friends. We still gather as much as we can and thank the Girl Scouts for creating this wonderful place.’”
Camp Tocanja; Owned by Girl Scouts of Calumet Council 1956-1988
In 1956 Calumet Council purchased 315 acres on Clear Lake in Twin Lakes, Michigan for a summer camp. The first girls to camp there were in 1957. The Scouts did two weeks of primitive camping. Over the next three years the camp was developed, and Calumet Council declared 1960 to be “Camp Tocanja Year.” The last summer camp sessions were held in 1985 and the camp was sold in 1987. The property remains undeveloped and forested.
Beginning in 1961, the second year the camp was open, Peggy Tuck-Sinko spent many happy summers at Camp Tocanja. She recalls, “while I enjoyed almost everything (with the possible exception of some of the government surplus food that was served in the dining hall), my favorite memories are of the canoe trips. Camp was where I learned to canoe, but we all got very tired of practicing strokes, and tip-tests, and maneuvering on Clear Lake. Why couldn’t we just go out and paddle on the river? Two different trips around 1963 and 1964 on the White and Pere Marquette Rivers really stand out. On the White River we slept under overturned canoes at Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery – which still operates today, burned leeches off each other, and tried somewhat successfully to keep the food supplies dry. I think Happy Mohawk is where I lost my Girl Scout knife.
We also encountered a group of boys who, in one tricky part of the river crashed into rocks and trees, and even overturned some canoes. They pulled over beyond the “white water” (not raging, but scary enough to us), ready to laugh and catcall at our mistakes. Now we knew why we had practiced! One by one, our canoes threaded their way through the snags and churning water. I’m sure it wasn’t flawless, but there was no crashing of aluminum on rocks or tipped-over canoes. We waved at the dripping and silent boys as we paddled by, barely containing our glee. An active Camp Tocanja Facebook group keeps these and other memories of this special place alive.”
