Activities
Station 1: All About Bedding
Materials:
-Fitted Sheet
-Pillows
-Sleeping Bag/Blankets
Air Matress/Bed
Talk about:
What is sleeping at camp like?: You share a room with other girls and might be in a bunkbed or a regular bed. All beds are twin sized. You have to be quiet so that everyone can sleep!
Lights out and Flashlight Time: Camp gives you about an hour a night before bed where the lights are out but you may use a flashlight to read a book or do another quiet activity. After that hour though, it's lights out and everyone has to go to sleep.
What type of bedding they should use?: Everyone needs a fitted sheet and a pillow. Then, you can choose between a blanket or a sleeping bag to go on top. I recommend a sleeping bag because it's warmer and the cabins can get cold at night and it takes up less space in your trunk, but whatever you are most comfortable with is the best option.
How to use a fitted sheet
How to roll a sleeping bag
What if there are issues? You can always talk to a counselor. They are there to help!
Bring earplugs in case a girl is being loud: This has come in handy so many times. This also helps because the cicadas outside get really loud at night.
Find ways that help you fall asleep (Counting sheep, going over your day in your head, etc)
To get ready you could try sleeping in a different room of your house or at a friend or family member’s house
Activity: Practice Making a Bed
Have the girls work together to make a bed! Make sure they take turns and everyone gets to do something. After they are done making the bed, have them work together to put everything away. Bonus: Set up and put away a sleeping bag!
Station 2: Packing
Materials:
- Trunk
-Items that you need for camp (Listed below)
-Items that you shouldn't bring to camp (ex: Big stuffed animal, iPad, snacks, random objects)
-Basket
Talk about:
What they should bring to camp: Shower supplies and shoes, Swimsuit and towel (Even if you don’t think you want to swim), Mess kit (Important for the cookout), Photos of your family (Could help with homesickness), A book and a flashlight, card games (For flashlight time/downtime), Sunscreen and Bug Spray.
Make sure they don’t bring anything they shouldn’t: No giant stuffed animals, small ones are fine, No snacks, No devices (They will get taken away), Nothing you can’t deal with getting lost
Bringing a trunk over a suitcase/duffle. A duffle is fine, but a suitcase shouldn’t be brought
Why A Trunk?:
- More space
- Easier transportation
- Easier to pack
- You can use it as a table or a bench
Activity: Packing Sort
Girls sort items that they should bring into the trunk and items they shouldn’t bring into the basket. If they got anything wrong, talk about why it’s wrong.
Station 3: Camp Activities & Songs
Materials:
Embroidery floss in different colors
Talk about:
What different activities you do at camp: Each camp has it's own special activities, but you can expect to go to the pool, do archery, and tie-dye. Some camps have special activities based on the theme. Some camps do horse riding, kayaking, baking, and some CSA camps do high ropes! It all depends on your experience selected, for example, the Harry Potter camps sort you into your Harry Potter House.
The camps do not provide items to tie-dye. You have to bring your own item to tie-dye. I recommend a shirt because it is the easiest to do fun designs.
Camp Songs: You can find a list of Girl Scout Camp songs here!
Making friendship bracelets: Here's a tutorial on making friendship bracelets!
Activity: Friendship Bracelets
Making friendship bracelets: Here's a tutorial on making friendship bracelets!
Station 4: Making Friends and Managing Emotions
Talk About:
How to introduce yourself: Hi I’m ____, what’s your name?
Ways to manage homesickness:
Bring pictures of family
Have family send letters
Bring a stuffed animal with you (Not too special)
Talk to a friend or a counselor
Journal about positive things at camp (Avoid Negatives)
If a friend is homesick: Help them think about good things they’ve done at camp, help them get their mind off of home, if nothing’s helping, tell them to talk to a counselor
Let yourself have fun, missing your family is normal, but you're at camp to have fun.
Remember that the other girls there are in the same position as you.
Activity: Focus on the Good Things
Name five good things that have happened that day. It can be big or small, but anything that brought joy to you counts. This activity helps you learn to focus on the good things, which is a skill that helps when you're feeling homesick.