Spring Encampment is a time for all GS of a Service Unit to share in an all camp experience. Whether your troop comes for the day or the entire weekend, it is not to be missed. When girls are questioned about their best GS memories, generally, they reply with a story about camping. On the following pages, you will find some hints and tips to help make your troop’s trip a positive one.
Before You Go
Collect money and permission slips from your troop. For those troops that are camping for the entire weekend, collect an extra $15 ($5/person/meal) to pay for Sat./Sun. breakfasts and Sat. lunch. Send in registration forms with payments ($25/person weekenders, $15/person day campers) to the address on the form. One check per troop, please.
Remind the girls about the Buddy System. Under no circumstances, are they to go anywhere without a buddy nor without asking an adult. Talk about being a sister GS and helping where needed. For bedtimes, prepare them by discussing quiet time (9pm) and lights out (10pm). Teach them how to put together a mess kit (lingerie bag w/zipper, plate, bowl, cup, fork, knife, and spoon) by demonstrating at a meeting. Distribute a packing list that will include the items needed for the trip. Ask other leaders what they have found that works well and that they would change! Most importantly, communicate with your chaperones. Before you go, ask that the parents support you as leader and help you make this a fabulous trip by deferring to you when the girls ask questions and/or desire to stray from the group plan. Adult unity makes for smooth sailing.
Remember the "Leave No Trace" motto.
Friday
When the girls arrive at your house, have a paper grocery bag with the girls’ names for each carpool. Ask each girl if she has: 1) sack dinner; 2) sleeping bag; 3) gear. You can add mess kit and heavy jacket to your check list as well. Once she responds, you can put a check by her name. Her sleeping bag and gear go by the bag for her carpool and the sack dinner goes in the bag. Once all the girls are checked in, then the cars can be loaded. Since all the gear is sorted, the chaperones can direct the girls to pack the cars.
Once you arrive at the site, check in, and direct the girls to set up camp right away. The sun goes down quickly and inexperienced troops may find it difficult to put up tents in the dark. Remind the girls that they will explore and eat dinner as soon as the troop is settled.
After dinner, explore or attend campfire. You will find that the girls are experts at keeping themselves busy. They will have fun with a rock. Usually, bedtime is 9pm. By 10pm, all girls are expected to be silent and/or sleeping.
Saturday
Saturday morning is usually the easiest. The girls wake up very excited. They want to cook, they want to play, and they want to do everything. Herd your cats and get breakfast going. If you are concerned about time, plan a no-cook meal. Cereal and yogurt, or bagels and cream cheese are good with fruit. Otherwise, go for it!
The program will begin at 9am. However, there is a 45 minute grace period for unexpected delays. Meet at the amphitheater by 9:45, for opening ceremonies and last-minute updates. After that, enjoy the day. All activities are planned. You and your chaperones will be responsible for escorting the girls and helping as needed. As this event is run by 12 year olds, please be patient and willing to step in as you see fit.
Lunch is on your own. Return to your camp site to eat. Keep it simple and plan for sandwiches. The girls can cook, but time is limited.
After lunch, enjoy the activities. Refer to your Camp Clock and Rotation Schedule (provided at check-in) for all activities. If the girls are tired, and want down time, you can make the decision as a troop to just hang out. That’s okay. It is not okay for girls to wander around unaccompanied. For the most part, the girls will want to participate in all activities.
When the activity rotations are complete, everyone will meet at a designated area for swaps. Swaps are Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Each girl will need at least 10 Swaps in a bag to exchange. A search on the website can help you decide what to make with your troop (shrink dink boot, felt sleeping bag, construction paper idol, etc.). One such site is: http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/gsgvtroop40/swaps_origin.html
Before dinner, troops will have the choice to work on their fleece caps, play capture the flag, or just hang out. Please be patient for dinner. There will be many girls and only three cooks. Sister Girl Scouts are kind while waiting their turns.
A hot dog dinner will be provided by our camp cooks. If anyone in your troop has special needs (dietary or physical), please let us know ahead of time. Peanut butter and jelly will be available for picky eaters. However, allergies need to be noted with registration. A nurse will be on site, but prevention is worth a pound of cure!
After dinner, we recommend that all troops return to their camp sites to change into long pants, find flashlights, and collect jackets. Campfire will begin shortly after the meal. Troops may sign up for skits, songs, or jokes anytime during the day at the check-in table. The camp hosts will put together the line up and announce the order at campfire.
For campfire, please remind your girls to be safe. We will sing songs, watch skits, and crack jokes. Also, there will be an opportunity to roast S’mores. Troops will each get the chance, but it will move slowly. Ideally, we will start with the youngest girls and work our way up to the older girls. Once campfire is over, all campers will be dismissed to bed (or home).
Sunday
Notoriously, Sunday morning turns the girls into slugs. They’ve had a wonderful time and are beginning to wear out. The best thing you can do is require that all troop members (girls and adults) pack and break camp as much as possible before breakfast. Some adults may groan that they need their coffee, but once the group is successful, the adults will sing your praises. Of course, the early bird of the group can get the pot boiling as the rest of you put a fire under the girls.
Scouts’ Own will be listed on the Camp Clock. It’s a great opportunity for the group to reflect on their experience and say final goodbyes.
All troops will have a Kamp Kaper. Please encourage your girls to complete the task to the best of their abilities. GS leave a place cleaner than they find it. Kamp Kapers will be listed on the Activity Rotation Schedule.
Survivor Boot Camp patches will be distributed as troops check out. Troops will need to have cleaned their camp, completed a Kamp Kaper, and filled out an evaluation form.Other Tips
Day Campers: Check in any time after 8am. Officially, check-in begins at 9am. However, if you arrive early, that’s okay. Troops can join the Song Workshop at the amphitheater, work on their fleece caps, or explore. By 9:45am, all troops must be seated in the amphitheater for Camper Orientation. Day Campers need to eat breakfast before arriving and bring a sack lunch. Dinner is included. Depending on the age and energy level of your girls, Day Campers may stay until after campfire. It should be over by 9pm. Feel free to leave anytime your girls are ready to go home. However, please check out with the Event Director (Kathy Lewis).
Emergency Forms: Each troop will need to surrender their Girl Health History and Adult Health History forms at check-in. They will be returned at check-out. The nurse needs them on hand in case of emergency. If you store your forms in a notebook, we will take the notebook and return it to you at the end of your stay. If your forms are loose, please place them in a large envelope labeled with your troop number.
Fabric Scissors: Please bring as many fabric scissors as you can. Instead of Survivor Buffs, we will have fleece caps. The girls will need to cut the fabric fringe to make their caps. Some scissors will be available, but not enough for everyone.
Water Bottles: Add reusable water bottles to packing list. Bring a couple spare bottles for anyone who forgets hers.
Water Bottle Straps: Oriental Trading Company sells straps for water bottles. Write the girls’ names and troop number on the straps and tie to bottles. It’s an easy way to identify stray items. Sharpies often wash off the container. The straps retain the ink better.
Registration: Fiesta Island requires that we provide the name, complete mailing address, and telephone number of every adult in attendance. Please send this information with your troop’s registration.
