Tag: Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

Girl Scouts Anniversaries Through the Years             

Written by Council Historian, Vikki Zack

Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, GA, who was a woman ahead of her time preparing girls to be leaders in all aspects of life

By the 25th anniversary of the Girl Scout movement in 1937, 529 councils existed, supporting girls ages 7 to 18. The first national franchised cookie sale had been started the year before with 29 bakers, raising funds to further develop programs. Girl Scouting promoted not only social responsibility and leadership, but also outdoor skills. The Silver Jubilee was held at Camp Andree in Briarcliff Manor, NY, where 100 girls from the USA and 26 other countries gathered to celebrate.

The U.S. Post Office issued a 4-cent commemorative Girl Scout stamp for the 50th anniversary. Membership had grown from the 12 girls in Savannah to approximately 3.5 million in 1962, with over 300 Girl Scout councils empowering girls with skills, confidence, and leadership. A Girl Scout Rose and a Brownie Marigold were specifically cultured to observe this milestone and were unveiled at the McCormick Annual Flower Show. The Girl Scout slogan for this anniversary was “Honor the Past, Serve the Future”.

In Chicago, with over 6,000 girls, a Jubilee was held at the International Amphitheater with demonstrations of folk dancing, outdoor skills, and many exhibits of Girl Scout activities. Girls wrote a pledge that they sent to President Kennedy in response to his challenge to Girl Scouts to “prepare yourselves for service to your country and to mankind”.

DuPage County Council kicked off the 50th with a “Kaffee Klatch” for the staff that was sponsored by their Board of Directors. Four performances were held at Melody Top in Hinsdale, reserving seats for Girl Scouts and families to attend.

Cook County held a special 60th anniversary going back to the traditions from the beginning. Special services were held Sunday at many places of worship, and several neighborhoods took on the challenge of Girl Scout Week with each day having a theme: Monday was Homemaking Day; Tuesday was Citizenship Day, Wednesday was Health and Safety Day; Thursday was International Friendship Day; Friday was Arts and Crafts Day; and Saturday was Outdoor Day. Girl Scouts learned things from someone who could help them from the past.  Nearly 350 Girl Scouts from Markham participated in a flag ceremony at the public library and then held an exhibition including skits and films, along with arts, crafts and other displays.

The 75th anniversary was themed “Tradition with a Future”. On March 12, the U.S. Post Office released a 22-cent stamp featuring a Junior Badge Sash. New uniforms for Cadettes and Seniors were introduced with blue skirts, vests and sashes, with a white, green and blue pinstripe shirt and a kelly green tie.

Girl Scouts of Chicago held a promise Circle Ceremony at the Daley Plaza and presented the mayor’s office with a scroll of troops doing 75 Days of Service. On April 25 a parade of over 3,100 girls and adults from 12 Chicagoland councils marched down Michigan Avenue, “Girl Scouts on Parade”, to celebrate the 75th milestone. Chicago also printed a book with its council history of all the above activities and the parade featuring everyone involved.

Calumet Council held a Flag Ceremony for the 75th where Girl Scouts from several troops participated, inviting Girl Scouts and their families to join in for cake and soft drinks at the Hammond Civic Center. Everyone was asked to bring canned goods that were taken to Greater Hammond Community Services.

To observe the 85th anniversary, Girl Scouts from across the country gathered to “Rock the Mall” in Washington, D.C. with singing of many loved new and old Girl Scout songs. The overwhelming success of this event led to the revival several times, ensuring many more years of this wonderful organization.

For the 90th anniversary, and with Girl Scouts still growing, Girl Scout volunteer Carol Kocan held a food drive at Chicago’s Navy Pier to help fight hunger. Donations benefited pantries, shelters, day care centers, and other agencies through the Greater Chicago Food Depository, where a full truckload plus was delivered.

The year 2012 brought the 100th birthday. Promise Circles were held at several locations around our new council, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, which had merged seven councils into one. A presentation of uniforms across the years was done at council recognition events. A 10-km run was held in Downtown Chicago, to support and celebrate Girl Scouting.

In Northwest Indiana, Girl Scout Senior/Ambassador Troop 60035 held a Promise Circle in Wicker Park with over 400 people in attendance. The Highland Fire Department hung a huge flag at the top of one of the engines with a flood light at dusk, while the police provided traffic control. Former CEO Ester (Rusty) Kristoff from Calumet Council was the guest speaker, a Girl Scout played TAPS on her trumpet while everyone sang along. Canned goods were collected which the fire department took to food pantries. Dessert and drinks were served by the Girl Scouts with many donations of cakes and sweets from local businesses.

While our next mile marker event won’t be held until 2037 for our 125th, we can look at our Nation’s 250th this year and find ways to celebrate milestones of our camps, our troops, and our founder, Juliette Gordon Low every year.

Our Chalet

Written by Council Historian, Rosemarie Courtney

In 1929, Helen Storrow, chair of the World Committee, initiated to the committee the idea of a World Center in Switzerland.  Helen agreed to look for the site and fund the building of a chalet plus other expenses for three years.  The World Center was to provide a place for international friendship, offering year-round high-altitude outdoor adventures and leadership training for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides worldwide.

Helen hired Swiss scout Ida Von Herrenschwand to help find the site.  His first recommendation was Kanderstag but Helen did not like the site because it did not have any hills where games, songs and other outdoor activities could be held.  Helen settled on the site in Adelboden.

Our Chalet was dedicated on July 31, 1932, by Helen Storrow and Olave Baden-Powell.  At the ceremony the Chalet song was introduced “High Up High on A Mountain we founded Our Chalet.”

Helen loved the place so much that she had a “baby” chalet built where she spent months at a time.

Over the years another chalet was built for staff members, and in 1999, another one for visitors, shop and office.

There are programs for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides year-round.  They reserve one week each year for an all-adult event in the fall.  In 2018, a group of historians from our council went to the event.  There we met Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from Canada and England.

Some of us hiked in the Alps every day while others went touring.  After breakfast and packing our lunch on the first day we gathered around the flagpole for the raising for the flag and posting a small flag in a log representing every country at Our Chalet.  Also, on the first day each was given their Our Chalet pin.

The first day everyone went to Engstigen Falls and took the gondola up to Engstigenalp.

Other places the entire group went were Bunderfalls and Magic Tree, Aare Gorge & Reichenbach Falls (where Sherlock Holmes fights to death with Professor Moriarty) and the village of Adelboden & Museum and Woodcarver who makes pins in the WAGGGS symbol  and neckerchief slides.

The hikers went to Kletterturm Silleren, and Tschenten on two separate days.  While hiking they saw people flying large model airplanes, parasailers and snow.

The tourists went on a boat ride from Spiez to Turn where they saw Mt Nielsen and Ballenburg.

Dinners were served family style.  One plate at each table had a sticker on the bottom side and they were the table’s “hopper” getting the dishes of food from the kitchen.  If your birthday occurs while you are there the volunteer staff (voiles) sing Happy Birthday to you in their native tongue.

Each evening had a theme including Swiss Night, Campfire and songs, Cheese & Wine, WAGGGS night and chocolate fondue.

Everyone who attends an event at Our Chalet can take part in the Our Chalet Challenge.  The challenge consists of six components: Physical Challenge, WAGGGS Knowledge, Our Chalet History, Swiss Culture, Personal Challenge and Service.

A tradition is to have a group picture taken on the steps.

What is Day Camp?

Written by Council Historian, Rose C.

“Day camp is an adventure in the out-of-doors. Camp by the day – home each night.  Brownie, Junior and Cadette units of troop size, plan hikes, cook over an open fire, learn songs, play games, develop skills and relax under trees.  A trained staff provided by the council join the girls in creating a program of fun, adventure, and learning.” (Lone Tree Area Girl Scout Council 1972 summer camp brochure)

The earliest information we have about day camp in what is now our council goes back to the 1940s.  In the early years and into the early 1970s Day Camp was run by volunteers in each district, neighborhood, community, council, or service unit.  They were held in forests preserves and parks.

Transportation was by bus or the girls walked to the park in their neighborhood.  Girls brought an unbreakable cup, a sit-upon, paper & pencil, pocketknife and the handbook appropriate for the level they would be in next fall.  Lunch was normally a sack lunch unless the unit decided to cook their lunch then girls would divide between themselves what ingrediencies they would bring to cook their lunch. When the girls cooked their own meal, they also brought a mess kit, silverware and a dunk bag to hang their cleaned dishes in to dry.  Major equipment for cooking, crafts and buckets was brought to and from each day by the volunteers. 

Day camp always started every day with a flag ceremony, followed by crafts, singing, hiking, games, cooking, nature study, storytelling and much more.

Each unit had a caper chart so the girls would rotate responsibilities each day.  Some of the responsibilities were gathering wood for a fire, cook the meal, wash the cooking utensils (girls washed their own dishes) and getting water to keep by the fire.

Some day camps were one or two weeks long.  Also, some camps had a theme like Wagon Ho!, Super Summer Sampler, the Wild West, Kaleida-Scout Summer, Fun in the Sun, Mosaic of Olympics, Let’s Explore Nature, and World of Fun.  This led to theme weeks like Fine Arts, Playhouse (drama), Let’s stay (planning a campout and staying overnight the last two nights), Vagabond (biking), Paddlers (canoeing), and Program Aide (now CIT).

In the 1970s some of the councils moved their day camps to their camps and hired a staff member to be day camp director. South Cook Council started hosting day camp at Camp Palos in 1969 and when The Friendship Center was built in 1992 day camp was offered at both sites.  Lone Tree Area to The Wild Rose Program Center in 1972.  DuPage County Council to Camp Greene Wood and Von Oven.  In the 1990s DuPage County Council also offered what was called S.W.A.P.S. (Summer Weather Activity and Program Specials).  These programs were designed for Junior Girl Scouts and older.  These activities were short-term and badge-related and held throughout the council.  Other councils continued to have day camp run by service units with volunteers staffing the camp.

Today, day camp is weeklong and is held at Camp Greene Wood.  Also, some service units have their own day camp run by volunteers.  They are held in parks, community centers and forest preserves.  Hours are 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with Camp Greene Wood offering before-camp and after-camp programs. 

The camp is open to youth entering grades K-12.  Adult volunteers are welcome at all camps. 

Information about 2026 Summer Camp is out now.  Take time to read through all the opportunities available to make new friends, learn in skills, adventure in the out-of-doors and just have fun.

Summer Camp Registration Opens on February 2, 2026, at 6:00 a.m.!

Postcards Through Girl Scout History

Written by Council Historian Nancy Corry.

Postcards have played a charming and meaningful role from the earliest days of Girl Scouts. Just a decade after Juliette Gordon Low founded the organization in 1912, postcards captured the spirit of scouting. These small, illustrated messages served as keepsakes, a means of communication, and cultural snapshots—documenting everything from campfire songs to the Girl Scout Promise. Their evolution over the past century reflects not only the changes in American life but also the values of the Girl Scout movement.

First appearing in the early 1920s, they captured a way to share the Girl Scout experience.  Early postcards often featured the Girl Scout trefoil symbol or the Girl Scout promise.

In 1922, a set of silhouette postcards was designed by Jessie Gillespie Willing. These silhouettes captured scenes of camp life and Girl Scout activities.

1924–1929: Another rare set depicted the four seasons, designed by Edith Ballinger, showing Girl Scouts in seasonal settings.

Humorous drawings of Girl Scouts hiding from rain, cooking over campfires, or enjoying camp life with charm and wit were popular from 1936 to 1973.

Collectors and historians cherish Vintage Girl Scout postcards. These postcards not only highlight the changing uniforms and styles of Girl Scouts over the decades but also preserve the spirit of camaraderie, outdoor adventure, and personal growth that defines the organization.

This is a 1940 Vintage Girl Scout postcard.

Throughout the years, Girl Scout postcards have featured a wide range of themes, including: The Girl Scout Promise and Law, Girl Scout activities, celebrations, and historic landmarks such as Savannah, Georgia. These themes reinforce the values of the organization and help girls feel connected to a larger community of scouts across the world.

Recent Girl Scout postcards from the 2020s include cheerful designs celebrating friendship, cookie sales, and troop activities, and are often available as digital downloads or printed cards.

Postcard from 1955, the 33rd Convention

Everyone loves getting mail. Take a minute to write a postcard to a Girl Scout you know and keep the spirit alive.

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The Evolution of the First Aid Badge

Written by Council Historian, Jan Gerovac

First aid has been a part of Girl Scouting since its beginning.  Medicine in 1912 was very different than it is today.  The only vaccination available was for smallpox, there was no such thing as health insurance, and yearly doctor exams were a thing of the future.

The 1913 How Girls Can Help Their Country had thirteen pages on first aid.  The topics covered the “usual” items such as nosebleeds, artificial respiration, and frostbite along with era specific information on runaway horses and gas/sewer gas. 

Second class Girl Scouts, now known as Brownie Girl Scouts (Grades 2-3), could obtain the Ambulance proficiency badge, which was a white cross on a red background, by showing their knowledge in nine areas.  Those areas were how to stop a runaway horse, stop bleeding, apply a tourniquet, treat poison ivy and frostbite and remove a cinder from an eye.  Girls also had to know the Schaefer Method of Resuscitation, what to do in case of fire, and treatment and bandaging of the injured.  Proficiency tests were given before a Court of Honor by two examiners who were qualified and independent. 

With the 1923 handbook, Scouting for Girls, the first aid section had increased to fifty pages.  The Girl Scouts were working with the American Red Cross so that if a Girl Scout earned her First Aide badge she could earn Red Cross certification in seven and a half hours instead of the usual fifteen.  A girl still had to be a second class Girl Scout to earn this badge. The requirements for this badge were that a girl show her knowledge in six areas that included nineteen items and demonstrate her skill in five others.  The First Aide badge was a part of the Scout Aide group badge. This badge was a red cross on a black background.

The 1932 handbook the requirements were essentially the same.  The badge became a white tourniquet on a green background.

In 1936, Girl Scout Handbook had First Aid badges for both first class and second class Girl Scouts.  The previous requirements were divided between the two badges.

With the introduction of the Intermediate Girl Scout level in 1938, the First Aid proficiency badge moved to the Intermediate level.  In the 1941 handbook, there were ten activities listed and girls were required to do eight of them including the five starred items.  The starred items were the ones demonstrating actual first aid skills such as first aid for blisters, the pressure points on the body, and using a two-person carry for an injured patient. This is the first time an activity consisted of making a telephone card for emergencies as the telephone was just becoming a household item.  The badge returned to a red cross this time on a green background.

At this time Senior Girl Scouts worked on Aide pins related to vocational interests so there was no first aid badge per se in their activities.

The 1950 Girl Scout Handbook for Intermediate Girl Scout, now knows as Junior and Cadette (Grades 4-5, 6-8), listed fifteen activities with ten required including three starred to earn the badge. 

The requirements were essentially the same as the 1941 requirements.  This handbook added a First Aid to Animals badge.  It also listed fifteen activities with ten activities required including the two starred ones to earn this badge.  This badge had a red cross on a green background with the silhouette of a dog’s head on the cross.

In the 1954 handbook the First Aid badge is listed for Junior High girls.  The activities to earn the First Aid to Animals badge and the First Aid badge were essentially the same as the 1950 book.

With the restructuring in 1963, Junior and Cadette levels were introduced.  The First Aid badge stayed with the Junior High age girls who were now called Cadettes. The 1963 printing of the Cadette Girl Scout Handbook has ten activities for the First Aid badge that all had to be done to earn the badge.  This badge was still a red cross on green background but now had a yellow border.

The 1984 Girl Scout Badges and Signs book for Juniors and Cadettes moves the First Aid badge to Juniors.   A junior had to complete six of the nine activities including the two starred activities. The badge became a yellow cross on green background with a red border.

In 1951 Senior Girl Scouts started the Five Point Program which lasted until 1963. The 1963 Senior Girl Scout Handbook continues the non-proficiency badge work of Senior Girl Scouts with the Eight Indispensables.  This program lasted until 1974.  In 1979 Cadettes and Seniors had Interest Project Patches.  These were modified in 1997 and were in use until 2010.  The Studio 2B program was added for Cadettes and Seniors in 2000 and lasted until 2009.  None of these programs had a first aid component.

The 2001 Junior Girl Scout Badge Book lists ten activities with girls having to complete six activities to earn the badge. The badge continues to be a yellow cross on a green background now with green border.

With the addition of Ambassadors in 2009, all girl programs were overhauled.  Each age level had its own Journeys, legacy badges, and new badges to go along with the Journeys.  First Aid badges returned to Brownies through Ambassadors.  

The content of these has remained essentially the same although the badges changed in 2024.  Each badge has five components that must be completed.  Each component has three choices of which a girl must complete one.  While the Brownie and Junior level First Aid badges do not have the skill level that early badges did; by the time a girl reaches the Ambassador level her skill level is comparable to the early First Aide badges.

I have used the currently accepted spelling of a-i-d except in the name of badges where it was spelled a-i-d-e which was the accepted spelling at the time the badge was current.

The medically approved way of treating things like burns and asthma has changed over the years and the future will no doubt bring more. Knowing how to take care of everyday bumps and bruises, and what to do in case of an emergency will be as important to girls in the future as it is to girls today and as it was to those in 1912.

Friendship Lodge Makeover: Follow the Transformation!

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.

Camp CEO: A Weekend of Mentorship and Empowerment

Camp CEO took place on September 19 – 21, at Camp Butternut Springs.

This transformative weekend brought together Girl Scouts in grades 8–12 with accomplished women leaders from a wide range of industries. Over the course of the program, Girl Scouts took part in classic camp activities like swimming, archery, the climbing wall, night zip lining, and team challenges while also diving deep into workshops, reflection sessions, and one-on-one mentorship.

The result? A weekend filled with growth, confidence, and community.

One of the most impactful parts of Camp CEO is the connection Girl Scouts build with mentors who understand the challenges of life and the importance of support along the way. Many Girl Scouts shared how valuable it was to hear from women with such diverse backgrounds and career paths.

“I learned a lot about resiliency this weekend from my mentor. I learned failures are ok and they teach you lessons.” – Girl Scout, Mariam

“I love how every one of our mentors are different. They all have a different background and stories to share with us.” – Girl Scout, Faith

For some, these connections extend far beyond the weekend. One Girl Scout shared that she is still in touch with her mentor from last year, Chynise, who became instrumental in supporting her Gold Award project supporting access to feminine hygiene in Ghana. 

“She was definitely one my biggest cheerleaders and supporters. She shared my link to my Amazon wish list with her friends, and I started receiving so many of the items that I needed for my project. It’s really nice to have someone always thinking of me and supporting me. I love how our relationship has grown since we were first paired up.” – Girl Scout, Leila  

The girls also shared gratitude for the incredible troop leaders and volunteers who have supported them throughout their Girl Scouting journeys. Several reflected on how their leaders encouraged them to attend Camp CEO in the first place, opening doors to new experiences and showing them the power of mentorship. 

By the end of the weekend, every participant walked away with something lasting, whether it was a new mentor, a renewed sense of confidence, or a circle of friends who now feel like sisters. 

“At first I was a little nervous because I came here alone, but I’ve only experienced warm welcomes, open arms, and smiles. This weekend taught me that leadership applies to all aspects of your life.” – Girl Scout, Faith 

“Camp CEO takes you as a leader, and says, “You’re already a leader, but let’s look at it from a different angle to help you build for your future.” – Girl Scout, Joy 

With every year, the Camp CEO community continues to grow stronger. The girls who leave camp don’t just head home with memories, they leave with tools, connections, and confidence that will carry them forward as leaders in every part of their lives. 

Ready to make your mark at Camp CEO 2026? Girl Scouts and mentors can fill out the interest form below to stay in the loop.

Camp CEO 2026 Interest Form

A heartfelt thank-you to the Girl Scouts who showed up with courage, the mentors who gave their time and wisdom, and the sponsors who made this empowering weekend possible. 

Juliette Low’s Birthday Celebration 

By: GCNWI Historian Debbie Kidd 

It’s always wonderful to celebrate someone’s birthday – and who better to celebrate than our founder, Juliette Gordon Low (often called “Daisy”)? Celebrating Juliette’s birthday with your troop is so much fun! She was born in Savannah, GA, on October 31, 1860. 

Juliette brought so much to girls then and now. She taught us to find something we are passionate about and live it every day. She started Girl Scouts to empower girls with skills to become leaders. She believed in teaching self-reliance, outdoor skills, community service, and leadership at a time when opportunities for young women were very limited. Daisy also taught us how to enjoy life to the fullest. 

Today’s world can be hard to navigate, but Girl Scouts helps girls grow strong, courageous, and kind. We learn to focus on others, act with integrity, explore the world around us – and just be ourselves! 

That’s a lot to celebrate – not only on Juliette’s birthday, but always. Girl Scouts celebrates girls, and we celebrate Juliette! 

Here are some fun ways your troop can celebrate Juliette’s birthday: 

  • Sharing Pearls, Sharing Love – Make “pearl” necklaces or bracelets and give them to a friend as a reminder of Juliette, who sold her rare pearl necklace to help grow the Girl Scout movement. Invite a “sister troop” to join the fun! 
  • A Tray Full of Memories – Play Kim’s Game! Place several Juliette-related items on a tray (pumpkin, pink ribbon, dog, telephone, boat, horse, pearl necklace, s’more, rope). Let the girls study the tray, cover it, and see how many items they can remember. Talk about what each item means in Juliette’s life. 
  • Stand on Your Head for Daisy Challenge – Juliette loved standing on her head! Each year on her birthday, she would make friends laugh by doing it. Try safe versions of headstands (even against a wall) and take a silly troop photo together.

 

  • History You Can Wear – Borrow the Historians’ Box of Vintage Uniforms from your Girl Scout council and dress up in uniforms from the past. 
  • A Sweet Way to Celebrate – Bake and taste the original Girl Scout cookie recipe together. A delicious piece of history! 
  • A Birthday Gift for Others – Create “Birthday Boxes” with party supplies (cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, streamers, plates, forks) and donate them to a food shelter. 
  • Tea with Juliette – Borrow your council’s Tea Party Historian Box and host a birthday tea party in Juliette’s honor. 
  • Be the Change. Share the Friendship. – Do a service project in Juliette’s honor. Collect spare change to donate to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. 
  • Hats Off to Juliette – Juliette loved decorating hats – sometimes with carrots and parsley! Create your own innovative hat designs. 
  • Painting Juliette’s Birthday – Paint or draw what you imagine her first troop birthday celebration looked like. Focus on fun, skills, and giving back. 
  • A Gift for Juliette: Kindness Counts – Do a kindness challenge. Each girl gives Juliette a “gift” by performing a kind deed and sharing it with the troop. 
  • Stitches of Love – Juliette once led a sewing group called Helping Hands. Celebrate by sewing or making no-sew fleece blankets to donate, or sew stuffed hearts as gifts for community volunteers. 
  • Sweet Treats for Juliette – Bake a daisy-shaped cake or hold a cupcake-decorating contest. Be innovative – Juliette would approve! 
  • How Well Do You Know Daisy? – Play Juliette trivia and award small prizes. 
  • Once Upon a Daisy – Read Juliette’s story to Daisy-level Girl Scouts. They love learning how it all began! 
  • Daisy’s Birthday Treasure Hunt – Organize a scavenger hunt with facts and photos of Juliette hidden around your meeting space. 
  • Letters Across the Sea – Connect with Girl Guides or Girl Scouts abroad by writing letters or sending video messages, honoring Juliette’s global vision. 

Juliette’s legacy lives on through each of you. End your meeting by singing “Happy Birthday” to Juliette and making a troop wish to carry on her vision of courage, confidence, and character. 

With all these ideas, I hope you’ll share how your troop celebrated Juliette. 
Happy Birthday, Juliette – from all of us to YOU! 

Girl Scout Council Historians – We Are Looking For New Volunteers!

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.

November 8, 2025             10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

RSVP here: https://fs24.formsite.com/gsgcnwi2/yduzerbcae/index

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.
  • Must be available for occasional weekend events.

If you have further questions, please contact:

Alaina Greene        agreene@girlscoutsgcnwi.org       312-912-6350

Timeless Trails: A Journey Through Our Former Camps – Part 2

Written by, Rosemarie D Courtney

Since Girl Scouts was founded in 1912, camping has provided campers with memories they carry throughout their lives. 

Today, our council has many opportunities for campers to form their own memories at Camp Butternut Springs, Camp Juniper Knoll, Camp Palos, and Camp Greene Wood.

But did you know that over the years, Girl Scouts have made lasting memories at 97 different camps that were once owned by our council, or by the former councils that existed prior to any mergers?

Keep reading to learn more about one of these beloved camps and the memories created there.

CAMP HAPPY HOLLOW

          

On May 30, 1959, Girl Scouts of Northwest Cook Council purchased 287 acres of land from John Bushman Jr.  It featured gentle rolling hills to steep hills with approximately two-thirds open land the last third wooded land.  Sugar Creek flows along the edge of the property.  The only building on the property was the farmhouse which became the caretaker’s home.  The property was purchased with cookie money.

The name “Happy Hollow” was chosen by Junior Troop 365 from St. Mary’s School in Des Plaines, led by Mrs. Eisenbacher. Shortly after the property was purchased, the troop visited the new camp. During a hike down a ravine, the girls discovered a large hollow log and stopped to rest. Inspired by the joyful experience and the unique setting, they submitted the name “Happy Hollow”, which they believed was a perfect reflection of their adventure and the spirit of the camp.

In 1961, troops were provided with tents, camping equipment, water and sanitary facilities for primitive camping experience. 151 girls and adults enjoyed the experience. By 1967, the camp had expanded to include two platform tent sites and Leffer House, a winterized cabin with a kitchen for meal preparation. The cabin was named in honor of Fred Leffer, Chairman of the Campsite Committee and member of the Board of Directors.

In 1970, two more platform sites were added. Then in 1972, Fox’s Den cabin (named after Anne Fox Blakeman – Board of Directors / Camp Director) was constructed.  With the camp growing the board realized Leffer House needed to be remodeled.  The kitchen was expanded, and two covered decks were added in 1981.  The kitchen expansion and equipment were made possible by the June L Kuehl Memorial fund. June, a dedicated volunteer in the Northwest Cook Council, was instrumental in launching the Council’s cookie sale. Her vision and commitment led to years of successful sales, which helped fund the purchase and development of Happy Hollow. Over the years, several other features were added to the camp, including a bell tower, high ropes course, swimming pool, and archery range. The final major addition came in 2002, when stables were built that gave girls the opportunity to enjoy horseback riding without leaving camp property.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) sold Happy Hollow in 2012.   

Debbie Kidd was a troop leader for two troops and going camping was something both troops enjoyed doing.  Continue reading to learn more about her experience.

Happy Hollow was a favorite camping site for the troops.  It was a distance away from our homes and finding Hollow happy was an adventure all its own.  You see, the camp entrance was located on a highway surrounded by trees so finding the sign before you passed it up was “the adventure”.  At that time the words “Happy Hollow” were simply attached to a wooden post.  Often, we would pass up the sign and then find ourselves in the middle of the country where homes were spread far from each other and all you saw was sky and fields: fields of cows and horses.

On one of the trips we took, there were no gas stations in sight so I pulled our van over, jokingly said to the girls, let’s ask a cow how far we are and if he turns a direction, we will head that way.  Well, a cow turned around, we went that way, ended up at a country ice cream shop and enjoyed ice cream before we found out from the shop owner that we passed up Happy Hollow about five miles back.  The girls loved the adventure of getting to Happy Hollow.

When my troops were Brownie Girl Scouts we would camp in a lodge.  Later, we moved to staying in tents.  Some of the best memories were made while hiking and singing together, spotting wildlife, building campfires at night, and indulging in delicious s’mores and pudgy pies.

One of my troop members, Erica shared with me how much fun she had at Happy Hollow “catching snipes”.  She said that catching snipes were the best and recalled how one of the members of our troop was in tears when she found out they weren’t real.         

Snipes are a playful myth.  The girls are led to believe that snipes are adorable, harmless, furry creatures that love to be cuddled.  According to the joke, snipes supposedly live in the woods, venture out at night, and are notoriously difficult to catch.  “Snipe hunters” go hunting with adults and bring a brown lunch bag, lay it on the ground and make a whistling noise to attract them to the bag.  When the girl thinks she’s caught a snipe, the adult discreetly drops a few pebbles in the bag.  This clever trick creates the illusion that something is moving inside, thrilling the girls into believing they’ve really caught a snipe.  The girls burst with excitement to see their cute little creature they caught squeal with delight.  However, the leaders had put a small hole in the bottom of the bag allowing the pebbles to fall out before the girls reached the table to open their bag and see their snipe.  Their excitement quickly turns to disappointment when they discover there was nothing in the bag.  This goes on until all the girls had a chance to “catch a snipe”.  As each girl “catches a snipe” she tells the other girls that it was cute, but it escaped and couldn’t show them what it looked like.

One girl in my troop was so disappointed that her snipe escaped, asked me if I could tell her mom where she can get one for a pet when she gets home.  Finally, after the girls finished their nighttime snipe hunt, we revealed the surprise: it was a playful prank!  The snipes weren’t real, and the girls erupted into laughter.  The rest of the night was filled with laughter and stories about the elusive snipes.

Erica also shared that she remembers sleeping in her sleeping bag on a mat in the main room of the cabin and making breakfast in the morning. 

Other great memories for the girls were cooking over a fire, preparing and making foiled meals, dutch oven desserts, singing grace before meals, washing their mess kits and hanging them on clothesline to dry in their dunk bag and making unique crafts.  One very special craft that the girls loved was decorating pillowcases.  As a leader, I enjoyed creating crafts that were unique and memorable; something that they would keep forever.  To this day, 30 years later, some of my troop members have shared with me that they still have their pillowcases as it brings back fond memories of the fun times we had.  The girls would put their name at the opening side of the pillowcase, and add their creation using fabric markers, putting Happy Hollow and the date somewhere on the cover, then having each girl sign it.  On each subsequent camping trip, we would bring our special pillowcase and add to it, having the girls sign their names on a section of the cover with the date of our trip.

I remember my daughter, Jennifer, going to Happy Hollow resident camp for the first time.  She went horseback riding, made new friends and loved the time away!  Also, Happy Hollow was the camping site where our service unit went camping. That was a fun trip – as a member of the service team, I chose to teach the girls first aid, and each girl made a small first aid kit. Other stations were run by other service team members or troop leaders teaching outdoor cooking skills or other camp skills.

The GSGCNWI Historians are trying to collect photos and memories of all the 97 camps that were once owned or rented by our council or former councils.  If you have any camp photos or memories you’d like to share, please send them to rdcourtney1940@gmail.com.