2024 Camp Adventure Guide

“Claire Bear Camp was beyond incredible for my Girl Scout , and I don’t know if I will ever be able to express my gratitude to everyone involved and to Cynthia Heath.” Cynthia Heath, former board chair for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, has left a legacy for our organization with her time, talent and treasure for more than a decade. In 2022, in support of the Her Future is Our Future Comprehensive Campaign, Cynthia made an endowed gift that will impact Girl Scouts in eastern Missouri for generations to come. One of the programs made possible through Heath’s generosity was Claire Bear Camp, a camp for Girl Scouts with autism. The camp is affectionately named after her great-niece, Claire. The camp was offered for the first time in 2023 and is proud to be back again for another summer camping season in 2024. Camper caregiver

Claire Bear Camp

Claire Bear Camp Grades K-7 for the 2023-2024 school year Dates: July 29-Aug. 2 9 am-3 pm each day Location: Fiddlecreek 63055 Cost: $60; patch included Claire Bear Camp is a week-long day camp for Girl Scouts grades K-7 on the autism spectrum. Claire Bear Camp offers campers the opportunity to experience a week of new friends, outdoor adventure, and a sense of belonging in an inclusive and nurturing environment. Claire Bear Camp is being held at Camp Fiddlecreek in Myrtle’s Manor; a site designed to be a safe and accessible space for campers. Campers have the opportunity to experience daily morning and afternoon round-up at the flagpole with Girl Scout pledges and songs; progressive skill learning through camp tasks, cooking and making snacks, and leadership actvities; and “challenge by-choice” through adventure recreation like slingshots, hiking, swimming and playing on the new play structures, along with fun traditional camp crafts and games. A highlight of the week will be Family Day on the final Friday of camp, where campers’ family members/caregivers have the opportunity to experience many activities alongside their campers. Each summer in preparaton for Claire Bear Camp, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri staff work closely with a diverse group of supporters to develop this unique and modified experience, ensuring campers individual needs will be met.

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