Camp Lone Tree

Written by Council Historian, Rosemarie Courtney

When the council received its charter from GSUSA as a local council in November of 1926, plans were all ready in the works for its own summer resident camp. The Oak Park District had so many girls interested in camping that the Chicago council camp could no longer accommodate them.

The new facility would be needed for the 1927 camping season. After much fruitless searching in Wisconsin, property was finally found in southwestern Michigan on Long Lake in St. Joe County six miles from the town of Three Lakes.

The selling price for the thirty acres was $5,000.00 dollars. An article in the Oak Leaves Newspaper in January of 1927 announced the find and itemized the total estimated cost of $11,240.00 to pay for the land and furnish the camp.

Another article published in the Oak Leaves on March 5, 1927 announced a community-wide fund drive beginning March 7 to secure funds for the permanent camp. Fathers of some of the Girl Scouts volunteered to solicit the funds. The goal of the fundraising was to raise a minimum of $10,000 with an ideal figure of $20,000. By June 1, the fundraising reached $12,5000.

Mrs. E. L. March, the Council’s Executive Director (CEO), became the camp’s first director.

Registration opened for the inaugural session of Camp Lone Tree on April 30, 1927. Eighty girls attended this session which started on June 23, 1927.

Mrs. March organized a “Dad’s Patrol” to help with the construction at the new camp site. 35 platform tents were among the first items the dads built.

The recreation and dining hall were a gift from four businessmen’s organizations in Oak Park: the Lion’s Club, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Oak Park Chamber of Commerce.

Fees for the new camp were $7.00 per week for food and lodging, plus transportation charges not to exceed $5.00 round trip. A Girl Scout could also spend ten cents per day at the canteen for candy or fruit but only after the evening meal.

In 1932, the camp needed a new boat, so Girl Scouts collected over 6,000 wire hangers that they turned in for cash to pay for the boat.

Swimming was a daily activity and later, horseback riding became the most popular activity at camp. By 1932, the camp program included canoeing, nature projects, hayrack riding, classes in photography, archery, dramatics and handcrafts.

There was an on-going building program to improve the camp, including cabins for Brownies. In June of 1944, 126 Brownies came for a week at camp. More acreage was purchased several times to accommodate this expansion. By 1948, the camp comprised 116 acres with 2,000 feet of waterfront and 52 buildings. But by 1957, civilization was encroaching on the camp which caused concern about safety.

Because of this, at the November 1957 board meeting, it was voted for a site-selection committee to be formed to find a new resident camp site. The last camping season in Michigan was in 1961.

Susan Shafer Helfer’s Memories of Camp Lone Tree in the 1940’s

“Late in the afternoon after a long bus ride along Hwy. 12, we arrived at Girl Scout Camp Lone Tree in St. Joe County, Michigan. We unloaded at the large white house on the top of the hill separated by age. Then each team, girls and counselors, set out down the hill path to the campsites. Each group of campsites cabins had names: Indian Village, Sherwood Forest, Treasure Island and Fort Dearborn. The cabins were set around the outdoor campfire stones. They were made of dark wood on the bottom and had a screened in area on the top. Each cabin held four metal bunk beds and some wooden orange crates to hold your things. Your duffle bag and tin suitcase went under the bed.

Fort Dearborn (my unit) was located along the shoreline of Long Lake where the older girls lived in large canvas tents. These tents were built up on wooden platforms. They had tent flaps that could be closed at night or when it rained. A separate piece of canvas went over the roof. If the roof canvas touched the main canvas during a rainstorm, the roof would leak so Girl Scouts had to make sure the tent ropes were tight at all times.

Mrs. March was the camp director. She drove around camp in a station wagon with wooden sides that we lovingly called “Old Woody.”

Katherine Miller, camp name Tinder, was the assistant director.

Everyone ate together in the large dining hall. We would all assemble on the porch deck before meals and sing camp songs. Food was served family-style with one person picking the food up in the kitchen. Eight people sat at each table with one girl seated at the foot of the table who poured the water. No one wanted that job!

Camp chores were done every morning. They included raking and sweeping the whole area. Cleaning the latrines and polishing the sooty lantern glass with old newspaper were also among the chores. Your cabin, bed, and floors had to be neat and clean.

On Sundays, all campers would march in and gather in the large clearing around the flagpole. The seven members of the color guard would march in through the horseshoe opening and up to the flagpole. Six members of the guard were all dressed in white with a bright red sash around their waist. The leader had a red sash over her shoulder and gave the orders, and the flag was unfolded and raised.

Photos taken from Mary Helen Jones’ 1927 – 1928 Summer Camp Scrapbook

Although this story is about a Girl Scout camp that operated from 1927 to 1961, before many of you were born, the Girl Scouts who experienced it carried those memories with them and shared them for years. Why not sign up for camp this summer and start making new memories, or continue building on the ones you already cherish?

Marty Devereaux- Poch, A Dedicated Volunteer Who Is Always Giving Back

Many of our Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana volunteers are exceptional at supporting Girl Scouts in a variety of ways. Marty Devereaux-Poch is definitely one of those volunteers. Marty’s passion for Girl Scouts started in her girl years and continues to this day, over 60 years since she donned the Brownie uniform. In honor of National Volunteer Month, let’s take a look at the long-term relationship which Marty Poch has had with the movement.

It was in 1962 that Marty started her Girl Scout experience when she became a second grade Brownie with legacy Cloverleaf Council in Cicero, Illinois. Although Marty’s mom had been a Girl Scout through eighth grade, she was not the one to lead Marty’s troop at the beginning. It was her grandmother who took on that role for the troop through Brownies and Juniors. When the troop was getting organized, Marty’s grandmother told her daughter to “watch your own kids, and I’ll do this with Martha.” One of Marty’s fondest memories of her grandmother was her insistence on being in proper attire, even when at camp. When Grandma went to camp, she was always in a dress and stockings and often times in full uniform. She also made sure that the girls had their full uniforms, including white gloves, when at camp. On Sunday morning, the girls would put on those uniforms when they went to mass at a local convent. At one point, Marty’s Mom took Grandma shopping to purchase slacks to use when camping. However, the girls embarrassed her when they made such a fuss over Grandma wearing slacks, that she went back to her original wardrobe. She was known throughout the council for wearing a dress and stockings to camp. When Marty became a Cadette, her Mom took over the troop, and she stayed with them all the way to high school graduation. Marty’s Mom and Grandma became her role models for volunteering. That being said, Marty’s first volunteering experience came to her during high school. She took the Leader-in-Training (LIT) training and helped with a Junior troop that included her younger sisters.

One of the highlights of her girl years happened when Marty was a high school senior. She was selected for a Wider Opportunity (Wider Op) that was taking place during winter break. The Wider Op was an immersion language camp being held in West Virginia. Each participant focused on a particular language, and Marty chose German. The two-week program culminated in a celebration that had the girls wearing traditional clothing and doing traditional crafts. They also had to make a dinner reflective of the culture. Marty prepared potato pancakes, a recipe that her grandmother taught her how to make. Being part of a Wider Op was definitely a way to culminate Marty’s girl years.

After high school, Marty attended college at Loyola University, where she found various ways of giving service to Girl Scouts. One of her college classes required her to do an internship with a social service agency. This gave Marty the opportunity to work with legacy Chicago Council by helping two new field directors with recruitment. She also worked with two troops for several months, which resulted in her spending a lot of time on public transportation. Marty also volunteered with Cloverleaf Council with their camp program during all four years of college.

Another college endeavor for Marty was the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). This is a college-based program that combines academic studies with military training, allowing students to earn a degree while preparing to become commissioned officers. Because of Marty’s extensive Girl Scout training, she had an advantage over other ROTC recruits because she already knew how to camp, AND she could put up a tent correctly.

In 1974, Marty became a volunteer for a Junior troop, first as an assistant leader, then taking on the role of leader. She would have the gratification of leading her three nieces, staying with these girls through their high school years. She was the Junior leader for seven years, and the Cadette leader for eight years.

One of Marty’s favorite troop excursions as a volunteer was to Savannah, not just once, but twice. She was particularly impressed by seeing how different the experience was for the girls from the time they were in grammar school to the time they went there in high school. During the second visit, Marty took the girls on a ghost tour through Savannah, which ended up on the steps of the Birthplace for a photo. While on the steps, the girls noticed a curtain in the window starting to move, and they were SURE it was the ghost of Juliette. However, it should be noted that when air conditioning turns on, curtains are likely to move.

Over the years, Marty has taken on a variety of roles. She has been a trainer for all age levels and has facilitated the training for outdoors, including archery, orienteering and Leave No Trace. She was volunteer staff at Camp River Trails, where she was the camp cook for mother/daughter events. Marty has also served on the LEAP team for numerous years.

Besides her various duties as a trainer, Marty has stepped up to take on other key positions. She was a Service Unit Manager for Whispering Oaks, Prairie Winds, and Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. She has been a Council Delegate for various councils, including legacy Lone Tree, Whispering Oaks, and Prairie Winds, along with serving in that position for GCNWI. She has also taken on the responsibility of National Delegate numerous times, serving in that role for Whispering Oaks, Prairie Winds, and GCNWI. Even with all the various volunteering positions that Marty has had over the years, she will still tell you that her most rewarding volunteer experience was as a troop leader.

Marty’s first full time job was very unusual for a woman at the time. She applied to work for the Saukee Area Boy Scout Council in West Central Illinois that included the counties of Hancock and Adams. Marty had been told that the Boy Scouts only hire Eagle Scouts. However, she got the job because she was a First Class Girl Scout. She became the first female in Illinois to hold the position of District Executive. While an employee for the Boy Scouts, Marty also took on the responsibility of volunteering as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts.

Besides her involvement in Girl Scouts, Marty has found other ways to be of service in her community. She has been a volunteer income tax aid for AARP. She has also done volunteer tax preparation for Ladder Up, an organization that supports low income individuals. Marty is on the HOA board for her homeowners’ association. Additionally, she has been a part of the music ministry at her parish, playing her guitar for services.

Marty’s dedication to Girl Scouts has not gone unnoticed. She has received almost every Girl Scout recognition that is available, including the Thanks II Badge and induction into the GSGCNWI Hall of Fame. However, Marty will tell you that the most rewarding recognition she received was Outstanding Leader, presented to her while volunteering for the Whispering Oaks Council. The award is so special to Marty because the girls in her troop wrote the letters of endorsement, which was a testimonial of their appreciation for her leading them. May all Girl Scout leaders feel that same gratitude, not only during Volunteer Month, but all year long.

A big Thank You goes out to Marty and to all of our volunteers who make Girl Scouting possible for so many girls!

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 25^th 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 50^th anniversary. Membership had grown from the 18 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 50^th 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 60^th 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 75^th 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 75^th 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 75^th 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 85^th 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 90^th 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 100^th 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 125^th, we can look at our Nation’s 250^th 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.

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 33^rd Convention

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

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

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Blog

Building girls of courage, confidence and character

Tag: Girl Scouts