Fall 2021 Lead & Learn

Not an outdoor expert? It’s ok, we are. Adult volunteers who plan to camp with girls on or off Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri-owned property must be Troop Camp Certified. Troop Camp Certification courses ensure adult volunteers know how to plan a troop camping experience that is safe and everyone enjoys. All adults attending training must be registered members with a background check. Troop Camp Certifications never expire, so take the training once and you are set for life!

This fall, two Troop Camp Certification trainings will be offered: Troop Camp Fast Track and Troop Camp A-Z.

• Troop Camp Fast Track: This course is designed especially for adult volunteers who have basic camping skills, are experienced in accompanying girls to camp, and are planning to camp with girls on or off Eastern Missouri property. This course is at a faster pace.

• Troop Camp A-Z: In this course, volunteers receive hands-on, in-depth camp training. This is the perfect course for adults who have little to no camping experience, but are eager to learn!

For complete details on the Troop Camp Certification trainings being offered this fall, please turn to pg. 52.

Advice from a Camp Supervisor Cyndi Wollard, also known by her camp name, Honey Bee, has volunteered as a Girl Scout Camp Supervisor for the past 15 years. She has seen it all and has a relentless passion for the outdoors.

What advice do you have for troops camping for the first time? Be prepared. Get trained, ask questions on the Facebook page “Marvelous Mentoring”, and ask your Camp Supervisor if you still have questions. There are lots of people in Girl Scouting who are willing to help ensure you have a fabulous first experience. What is your favorite activity at each camp and why? I love it all! I love swimming in the pool at night at Tuckaho. I have enjoyed canoeing at Fiddlecreek with bats flying overhead. And, I have enjoyed hiking through the woods at Cedarledge. Why is the outdoor experience valuable for girls of any age? It provides an experience unlike any other so girls can grow in their independence and leadership skills. There will be times when they need to be brave and/or problem solve. It’s a reset, a get- away from the technology-filled world that seems to be normal for most of them. And, they make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

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