January
Confirm you can login to the registration site or create a new user account.
February 3
Summer camp registration opens at 6:00 a.m.
April
Visit a camp open house!
May 1
Summer camp paperwork is DUE!
June 1
Final summer camp payment is DUE!
June-August
Enjoy summer camp programs!
August-September
Be on the lookout for a post-camp survey
September-December
Check out our website for more exciting Girl Scout opportunities!
Dear Girl Scout Campers and Families,
I am thrilled to invite you to join us for a truly remarkable experience at our summer camps.
Imagine a place where friendships blossom, skills are developed, and memories are made. Our camps are designed to do just that! Whether you’re a returning camper or exploring for the first time, we have an array of programs that promise adventure, learning, and fun in the great outdoors.
At our camps, Girl Scouts explore nature, challenge themselves through various activities, and foster a sense of independence. From archery, ropes courses and canoeing to arts and crafts, every day is packed with excitement and discovery. Our dedicated staff is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment, where every camper feels empowered to try new things and step out of her comfort zone.
One of the highlights of our camps is the chance to connect with other Girl Scouts, creating lifelong friendships that extend beyond the summer. These shared experiences help build confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills—qualities that will serve our campers throughout their lives. Don’t just take my word for it! Read what all campers are saying about their experience!
This summer, we’re excited to offer both day camp and overnight camp that include traditional camp experiences as well as specific programs for whatever your interests may be. There’s something for everyone!
Let’s make this summer one to remember! Camp Registration will begin on February 3, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. I encourage you to sign up early, as spots fill up quickly. Together, we can create unforgettable adventures that inspire growth, friendship, and a love for the outdoors.
Thank you for being a part of our Girl Scout family. I can’t wait to see you at camp!
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Nancy Wright CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater
Chicago
“Growing up going to camp has made me more confident in myself and my abilities. Getting to be a Counselorin-Training specifically has not only allowed me to refine and practice my outdoor skills, but has also taught me how to be a leader who can help campers have the same kind of experiences I’ve had while attending camp.”
–Sarah, age 17
and Northwest
Indiana
“My camper is having the BEST time at camp. Thank you for making this such an inclusive and welcoming environment : ) She is already planning to be a CIT and then a counselor, she has her camp name all picked out.” – Parent
“I must say that I was very impressed with the closing ceremony last night! It had a great flow, was concise and very well-prepared. Great energy and voice projection from all staff!!! My mother and I were camp counselors for over 30 years combined and get a little critical of camps that don’t demonstrate the level of zany energy combined with professionalism that you and your staff displayed last night.” – Parent
“Thank you again for all of your efforts to make camp such a success for my kiddo. She’s already talking about next summer!” – Parent
“My camper has been having the BEST time at camp this week!! Thank you to all for making this such a fantastic experience!!” – Parent
“Thank you - really appreciate this! And thank you for all you do for this program and for investing into our kids! Grateful!” – Parent
“Camp is a fun place where you make friends.”
–Brownie
“I met a lot of cool and funny people that taught me things I did not know before.” – Junior
“Every meal was amazing, the counselors are the best, and everything was really fun.”
–Cadette
“ “
“Everyone was super nice and the counselors planned awesome activities. The counselors were AWESEOME! – Cadette
“At camp a lot of things were hard. But I just kept going and I never gave up!”
– Junior
“Arriving was scary, but when it was Tuesday, I was excited.” – Brownie
“I’ll just say how much I love this camp! I stinkin’ love this camp with all my heart. I can’t wait to become a CIT!” – Cadette
“Camp is so FUN! It takes away my worries.”
–Cadette
“I like camp because everyone is kind, caring, and compassionate. Everyone belongs here.”
–Cadette
GATHERING PLACES
1. Burbank 4850 West 87th Street Burbank, IL 60459
2. Chicago 20 South Clark Street Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60603
3. Greene Wood 3155 71st Street Naperville, Il 60540
4. Joliet 1551 Spencer Road Joliet, IL 60433
5. Schererville 705-A, US Hwy 41 Schererville, IN 46375
6. Vernon Hills 650 North Lakeview Pkwy Vernon, Hills, IL 60061
CAMPS
7. Camp Butternut Springs 650 N 175 W Valparaiso, IN 46385
8. Camp Greene Wood 3155 71st Street Naperville, IL 60540
9. Camp Juniper Knoll W5095 State Road 20 East Troy, WI 53120
10. Camp Palos 11736 South Will Cook Road Palos Park, IL 60464
Participant health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. We work hard to ensure quality experiences while following all health and safety guidelines and protocols. Each camp is licensed in the state it is located in and camp staff are trained in first aid, emergency procedures, risk management, homesickness, situational response, challenging conversations and more. To support creating safe environments where we build healthy relationships and connectedness, specialty training for staff is also provided through KultureCity to support sensory needs and CampSafe for child abuse prevention.
Are you relaxed and able to enjoy yourself when your child sleeps overnight at a friend’s house?
Would you be okay communicating with your child ONLY by mail or with 1 phone call in a week?
Are you prepared to be away from your child for several days?
Are you willing to entrust the camp director and counselors with the care of your child?
Are you comfortable with your child living and playing in a rustic, outdoor setting where they will get dirty and it might rain?
ARE YOU CONFIDENT IN YOUR CHILD’S ABILITY TO:
Shampoo and brush/comb hair independently?
Sleep in a space with other campers knowing counselors are nearby in a separate sleeping area? (i.e. in another tent or a separate room)
Eat new foods they have never tried before?
Make new friends and accept others who are different from them?
Follow instructions given by a staff member?
Cope with being homesick?
Keep track of their own belongings?
Add up your answers and see what type of camp is right for your child
12-19
Day camp is a great option for your child! You may benefit from giving your child small opportunities to exercise independence before attending camp.
20-28
Do you enjoy staying overnight at a friend’s house without missing your family?
Can you shampoo and brush/comb your own hair?
Do you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and swimming?
Are you willing to try new foods you haven’t eaten before?
Can you live without TV, video games, phone, and internet?
Are you comfortable being around bugs and flying insects?
Do you like to meet new people and try new activities with other kids?
Can you make your own bed and keep track of your belongings?
When things don’t go your way, are you still able to participate in a positive way?
Do you enjoy sleeping outside in a cabin or tent and listening to the sounds of nature?
Are you able to follow instructions from adults?
Are you willing to help with kapers (camp responsibilities) like sweeping cabins, setting tables, and picking up trash?
Do you enjoy participating in group activities?
Do you make new friends and warm up to new places easily?
Are you excited to go to camp?
123
123
123
123
123
123
123
123
123
123
123
Add up your answers and see what type of camp is right for you.
15-25
29-36
A shorter, 3-day overnight session is a good option. You may feel more confident after visiting a camp open house. Make sure to follow the tips in the information packets.
You are ready to send your child to an overnight camp that lasts six days or longer. You are confident in your child’s ability to prepare and have a great time at camp.
26-35
36-45
Looks like you are ready to try out a day camp adventure! Spend your days having outdoor adventures and then head home every night to share with your family.
You are ready for overnight camp! Pick the camp and program that sounds like FUN to you and matches your grade level and experience.
You must be an experienced camper! You are ready for a camp stay of six days or longer.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s outdoor programs are designed to support youth in their continual learning and growth in the outdoors. This chart will help you visualize your camper’s development through their outdoor experience and help you and your camper choose the best place to start! Whether they attend Girl Scout camp for a day, a week, or longer, campers are given unmatched opportunities to learn and explore, expand their horizons, and have unforgettable fun with friends both old and new.
Open to: Youth entering grades 1-12
Open to: Youth in grades kindergarten-12 and adults
Location: Various locations across GCNWI
Length: 1-3 days
Program Experience: Attend on your own or with your troop; these options provide individuals, troops, and families an opportunity to join in the fun of the Girl Scout experience. See pages 49-52 for a sample of our summer experiences or visit our website to explore the facilitated program options happening all year long.
Open to: Youth entering grades kindergarten-12 and adult volunteers
Location: Camp Butternut Springs, Camp Greene Wood Length: 5 days
Program Experience: Learn and practice outdoor skills, leadership skills, art projects, games, songs, and more! Spend the day at camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Campers entering grades 4+ have the option to stay for an extended day on Thursday for even more camp fun.
*Age requirements may vary by location
Locations: Camp Butternut Springs, Camp Greene Wood, Camp Juniper Knoll
Length: 3 days & 2 nights
Program Experience: Experience camp on your own for a few days! Sleep in a unit with other campers similar in age, with your counselors nearby. Get a sample of everything camp has to offer as you take part in boating, art projects, outdoor skills, games, songs, outdoor cooking, and more!
Open to: Youth entering grades 2-12
Locations: Camp Butternut Springs & Camp Juniper Knoll
Length: 6 days & 5 nights
Program Experience: Experience camp on your own for a full week! Sleep in a unit with other campers similar in age, with your counselors nearby. Try a traditional camp experience in a Trailblazer program or choose from a variety of specialty programs. Specialty programs let campers dive deeper into specific themed activities or go on offsite trips.
Open to: Youth entering grades 4-12
*Age requirements may vary by location
Locations: Camp Butternut Springs & Camp Juniper Knoll
Length: 13 days & 12 nights
Program Experience: Experience camp on your own for two weeks! Sleep in a unit with other campers similar in age, with your counselors nearby. Choose from a variety of specialty program options or extend one week into two with a bridge weekend!
Open to: Youth entering grades 6-12
*Age requirements vary by specific program
Locations: Camp Butternut Springs, Camp Greene Wood, Camp Juniper Knoll
Length: Varies by program
Program Experience: Explore leadership styles through community problem solving as you progress through the different levels of leadership programs. Build a strong sense of self through working directly with campers and staff. Learn how to lead activities for younger campers and then put those skills into practice. These programs help develop leadership skills and offer the experience needed to become camp staff.
CAMP ADDRESS: 3155 71st St., Naperville, IL 60540
ACREAGE: 115 acres
CAMP GREENE WOOD TEAM
Lauren Somogyi
Outdoor Program Manager & Day Camp Director lsomogyi@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 630-544-5927
Susan Akre
Outdoor Program Specialist & Day Camp Assistant Director sakre@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 224-302-4076
FACILITIES
● One large pavilion with picnic tables and fire ring
● Three year-round lodges with kitchens, indoor bathrooms, fireplaces, and fire rings
● Two tabin sites with fire rings
● One yurt site with covered picnic tables and fire ring
● One platform tent site with fireplace, covered picnic tables, and fire ring
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, April 6, 2025 2:00-5:00 p.m.
PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
● Archery
● Creek walking
● Hiking trails
● Games area with gaga ball pit, tetherball, and badminton net
● Orienteering
● Hammock areas
● Rainbow bridge
● Summer day camp
● Trading Post
● Snowshoeing
Join us for an amazing summer at Greene Wood day camp! Enjoy spending time outdoors, building friendships, and learning new skills, while continuing to develop your courage, confidence, and character. Every program will include traditional camp activities including, but not limited to, exploring nature, making crafts, learning outdoor skills, playing games, and cooking over a fire.
All week-long day camp programs run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, with an optional extended day on Thursday for campers in grades 4+.
Half-week “taste of camp” programs run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, Monday through Wednesday. Half-week overnight programs run 9:00 a.m. Monday through 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Summer camp registration opens on February 3, 2025, at 6:00 a.m.
Be sure you can log into the program registration site or create an account before February 3 to make registration as easy as possible. Reference pages 54-58 for more information.
For a sample day at camp and more details, please reference summer camp information packets on our website.
*NEW!!!! Overnight Camp options at Camp Greene Wood
This summer, we are offering an overnight camp experience at Camp Greene Wood for Juniors and Cadettes! Every overnight program will include traditional camp activities including, but not limited to, exploring nature, making crafts, learning outdoor skills, cooking meals over a fire, canoeing, and archery. The overnight experience will run Monday, June 30, 2025, 9:00 a.m. through Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m. Meals will include Monday lunch through Wednesday lunch. Lodging is specified in the specific program description.
TRIP PROGRAM: This program includes an off-site trip.
HIGH ADVENTURE PROGRAM: This program includes extreme outdoor activities such as backpacking, high ropes, sailing, and more!
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, June 30-July 2, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Camp is for everyone! Experience firsthand how a camper develops friendships, life skills, and independence at camp! Interested adults can chaperone transportation and/or spend a week at camp with our campers.
Fee Per Session: Free
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, June 30-July 2, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Check-In Time: 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Check-Out Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
ADD ON! Does your camper want to spend some extra time at camp? They can arrive early or stay later. This experience includes additional program activities, a light breakfast in the morning, and a snack in the afternoon. This experience does not include campers who ride the bus and is only for the set time. This is not a stand-alone program; individuals must be registered separately for a day camp session the same week to participate.
Fee Per Session: $100; $60 for half-week
Entering grades K-1 in fall 2025
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Entering grades 2-3 in fall 2025
Dates: June 30-July 2
Get ready to have fun in the sun as a Girl Scout Daisy! Make new friends, sing silly songs, and explore the wonders of camp. You will learn about nature, make a craft, prepare a cookout, and have lots of fun!
Fee Per Session: $425
Dates: June 30-July 2
Half the days, but not half the fun! Get a taste of camp by trying some of the traditional camp activities, which will include playing games, singing songs, hiking, exploring nature, tie-dying, and cooking a s’more over the campfire.
Fee Per Session: $255
Jump into your camp experience with a focus on all things art. Each day, create a unique art piece using the outdoors for inspiration. For these three days of camp, also enjoy traditional camp activities, such as games, songs, hiking, exploring nature, tie-dying, and cooking a s’more over the campfire.
Fee Per Session: $260
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Explore all the wonders of being in the natural world at camp. With your new Brownie friends, you will learn a variety of outdoor skills while having fun hiking, singing, crafting, and cooking over a campfire.
Fee Per Session: $425
Dates: June 30-July 2
Half the days, but not half the fun! Get a taste of camp by trying some of the traditional camp activities, which will include playing games, singing songs, hiking, exploring nature, tie-dying, and cooking a s’more over the campfire
Fee Per Session: $255
Dates: July 7-11, July 21-25
Get messy while exploring the wonderful world of science! Observe the physical properties of a nonNewtonian slime and put on your safety goggles to watch chemical reactions bubble up. Work with your friends on various experiments to become scientists.
Fee Per Session: $435
Dates: June 23-27, July 7-11
Create your own stuffed animal friend with the GCNWI Build a Bear. As part of this program you will participate in activities that demonstrate how small acts of kindness can positively impact wildlife and their habitats at camp. At the end this program you and your new buddy will become eco friends.
Fee Per Session: $470
Dates: June 23-27
Do you enjoy a good mystery? You will use your detective skills to practice solving puzzles and use clues to help you on various scavenger hunts around camp. You’ll also get crafty by making your own scavenger hunt stamp to take with you on your letterboxing quest.
Fee Per Session: $425
Dates: June 9-13, July 14-18
Spark your imagination and discover your passion for the arts! Dance your heart out, capture the beauty of the outdoors, and design a jewelry piece you can wear. Use the natural world around you to inspire your art pieces throughout the week.
Fee: $435
Dates: June 30-July 2
There’s no better way to start your camp experience than by enjoying snack time with new friends! Spend your three days making a few different camp snacks while exploring the other fun, traditional camp activities, such as games, songs, hiking, exploring nature, and tie-dying.
Fee Per Session: $265
Dates: July 21-25
Discover your passion for cooking by making a different camp snack each day with your friends. Try everything from snacks that are savory and sweet to snacks that will provide you with the energy needed for a hike.
Fee Per Session: $440
Date: June 9-13, July 14-18
Embark on a journey of discovery and excitement where the great outdoors becomes your playground! Connect with nature and explore camp, test your skills with a variety of adventure challenges, and go on a survival skills scavenger hunt.
Fee Per Session: $425
Entering grades 4-5 in fall 2025
Dates: June 30-July 2
Unleash your imagination and dive into a world of color and creativity with three days and two nights in an inspiring environment where you can explore various art forms, develop your skills, and create your own masterpieces. Explore painting with watercolors, sculpting with clay, and working on a variety of group and individual projects while creating your own art portfolio.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $375
Dates: July 7-11, July 21-25
Calling all explorers and artists who are eager to blend their love for art with their passion for the great outdoors. Spend your time at camp creating art inspired by the natural world. Whether you love painting, drawing, or sculpting with clay, this is the camp for you!
Fee Per Session: $450
Dates: June 9-13, July 14-18
Ignite your curiosity and creativity and dive into the exciting world of STEM! Conduct experiments, engage in a variety of engineering challenges, and enhance your teamwork and communication skills in collaborative projects.
Fee Per Session: $450
Dates: June 9-13, July 7-11
Enjoy a fabulous week in nature away from it all at the Camp Greene Wood Spa! Spend time pampering yourself with homemade facials and manicures, all while learning useful relaxation techniques to reduce stress.
Dates: June 30-July 2
Embark on a scientific journey of discovery through hands-on experiments and engineering challenges. Choose your field of exploration, such as chemical reactions using mints and pop, or construct simple machines with unique supplies, while making new friends and igniting your passion for STEM.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $375
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, July 14-18
Experience everything camp has to offer and try a little bit of everything! You will learn a variety of outdoor skills, including how to read a compass, tie knots, cook over a fire, and try your hand at archery.
Fee Per Session: $440
Dates: July 7-11, July 21-25
Do you have what it takes to survive in the outdoors? Learn how to build a shelter, make a fire, find food and water, and shoot an arrow! At the end of the week, test your knowledge with a survival challenge.
Dates: June 30-July 2
Half the days, but not half the fun! Get a taste of camp by trying some of the traditional camp activities, which will include playing games, singing songs, hiking, exploring nature, tie-dying, and cooking a s’more over the campfire.
Fee Per Session: $255
Dates: June 23-27, July 14-18
Want to learn more about what it means to be a chef in nature? Spend the week practicing different outdoor cooking methods to create delicious snacks and meals. Also, work with your unit to develop a new recipe to try out!
Fee Per Session: $455
Dates: June 23-27, July 21-25
Camp is home to a variety of different animals. Learn about the wildlife that lives at camp and the importance of protecting their habitats. Spend the week learning about our camp critters and how to care for them!
Entering grades 6-8 in fall 2025
Dates: June 9-13
Let your creative and competitive sides come together for a fun-filled time at camp! Play various types of games, work through different team building exercises, and design your own team apparel. Work together with your group as a team to plan and execute a new station for younger campers during the Friday Fair!
Fee Per Session: $440
Dates: July 14-18
Reach new heights at camp and climb toward the sky. Start the week testing your teamwork skills by completing obstacles at our team building course. As the week progresses, challenge yourself on two offsite, high ropes experiences. Don’t worry, there will be time to suspend in the air and kick up your feet to relax too.
Fee Per Session: $580
Dates: July 21-25
Develop and practice your skills as an outdoor chef. Use a variety of cooking methods while you make scrumptious appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Make it, eat it, and enjoy! At the end of the week, you will test your skills in a cooking challenge.
Fee Per Session: $455
Dates: June 23-27
Merge the beauty of the natural world with your creative expression. Learn techniques for capturing the essence of nature in your art while exploring different mediums. Observe the textures, colors, and patterns in nature that can be translated into your art.
Fee Per Session: $450
Dates: July 7-11
Put on your thinking caps and tap into your detective skills as you work together to solve the camp escape room! Before you take on the challenge, you will learn some of the skills needed for an investigation, such as how to take fingerprints and identify tracks. Conduct various science experiments to see how forensic science can assist in an investigation.
Fee Per Session: $440
Dates: July 14-18
Experience the pure joy of lounging in a hammock along with your camp friends, as you let go of daily stresses and allow yourself to fully relax and enjoy the nature around you. Learn a variety of practical strategies for incorporating joy into your daily life while enjoying some of our favorite camp activities off the ground!
Fee Per Session: $440
Dates: July 21-25
Gear up for an unforgettable experience where the great outdoors becomes your training ground for mastering essential survival skills. Practice firestarting techniques, water purification, and basic first aid. Put your skills to the test on a field trip to an orienteering course that will enhance your teamwork and leadership skills while you have fun navigating with a map and compass.
Fee Per Session: $460
Dates: June 23-27
Unleash your inner archer where precision, focus, and adventure meet in an exciting week-long archery experience. Test your aim with a variety of activities, from traditional bullseye shooting to innovative archery games and challenges. Take a trip to a local field archery range!
Fee Per Session: $465
Dates: July 7-11
Spend your week at camp surrounded by water! Cool off during the warm summer days playing a variety of water games and challenges. Learn the science behind water testing, have fun splashing around at a local pool for an off-site trip, and explore the wonders of aquatic life while creek stomping.
Fee Per Session: $480
Dates: June 30-July 2
Combine scientific exploration with the adrenaline rush of rollercoasters! Dive into the science behind your favorite rides through STEM activities and experiments, design and build your own miniature rollercoaster, and join your friends for a field trip to Six Flags Great America.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $485
Dates: June 30-July 2
Prepare for an exciting adventure to Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo! Spend your time at camp learning about animals including our very own camp critters, then travel to the zoo and spend the day exploring diverse habitats, connecting with wildlife, and enjoying the zoo.
Lodging:
Entering grades 6-12 in fall 2025
Dates: June 9-13
Grade Level: Entering grades 6-8 in fall 2025
Complete your Program Aide training and earn your Leader in Action (LiA) Award by learning how to mentor younger Girl Scouts, discovering your strengths, and practicing your leadership skills. Become a role model and learn how to share your experiences to inspire younger campers at camp. Successful completion requires daily attendance.
Fee Per Session: $425
Dates: June 23-27, June 30-July 2, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Grade Level: Entering grades 6-8 in fall 2025
Cadettes who have completed their Program Aide training and earned the Leader in Action (LiA) Award can register for service hours during a week of camp. PAs will be paired with a group of younger campers to practice leading activities, such as games and songs. A week of service hours will complete their CadetteProgram Aide Award. Includes an optional Thursday overnight experience. Transportation or before-camp and after-camp fees will be waived for PAs performing service hours.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Program Aide: Training Week
Fee Per Session: Free
Dates: June 9-13, July 7-11
Grade Level: Entering grades 9-12 in fall 2025
Spend a week at day camp learning about leadership, gaining teaching experience, practicing your camping skills, developing your outdoor cooking techniques, and working in partnership with adult leaders. Includes a Wednesday and Thursday overnight experience. Successful completion requires daily attendance.
Fee Per Session: $425
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, June 30-July 2, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Grade Level: Entering grades 9-12 in fall 2025
CIT I’s have the opportunity to register for service hours during a week of camp. Spend your week working with younger campers and counselors to expand your leadership skills. Includes an optional Thursday overnight experience. Transportation or before-camp and after-camp fees will be waived for CIT’s performing service hours.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT I: Training Week
Fee Per Session: Free
Dates: June 23-27
Grade Level: Entering grades 11-12 in fall 2025
Learn more advanced leadership and teamwork skills and see what goes on behind the scenes to make day camp run smoothly. Discover your unique skills and find out how you can use them at day camp as a future staff member. Includes a Thursday overnight experience. Successful completion requires daily attendance.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT I: Training Week
Fee Per Session: $212
Dates: June 9-13, June 23-27, June 30-July 2, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Grade Level: Entering grades 11-12 in fall 2025
CIT II’s may register for CIT II service hours at day camp. CIT II’s may work in a specific unit or be placed in various leadership roles at camp. Includes an optional Thursday overnight experience. Transportation or before-camp and after-camp fees will be waived for CIT’s performing service hours.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT II: Training Week
Fee Per Session: Free
Day campers can arrive and depart camp each day by using personal transportation or by registering to ride a school bus to Camp Greene Wood. You must select a transportation method at time of registration.
Bus transportation is not available for half-day camp programs, during evening extended day pick-up, or for those who choose to register for the add-on Before-Camp and After-Camp program.
Bus stop locations are subject to change. In the event of a change, you will be notified prior to your day camp program start date.
Bus routes with less than 25 campers will be cancelled.
You will be notified if a cancellation occurs at least two weeks prior to the program start date and be eligible for a refund.
Any additions or adjustments to bus transportation must be made at least two weeks prior to the camp program.
Volunteer to ride the bus!
Refer to page 12 to register as a volunteer.
● Check-In: 8:45-9:15 a.m. Please arrive during this time frame to drop off your camper.
● Check-Out: 3:00-3:25 p.m. Please arrive with your photo ID ready to check your camper out.
● If you are carpooling, make sure anyone who will pick up your camper is listed on their camper release forms in CampDoc. (Learn more in the Camp Information Packet).
● We thank you for your patience and cooperation during the check-in and check-out processes as camper safety is our number one priority.
● Bus transportation is an additional $100 per camper per week. If you choose a bus option when registering for camp, you must select the transportation fee on the payments page during check-out. Bus transportation for the half-week is $60 per camper per week. Bus transportation for the overnight experience is $20 per camper per week.
● Routes typically begin around 7:30-7:45 a.m. and end around 4-4:30 p.m. Please note that some bus routes may last upwards of an hour.
● A specific bus schedule and estimated pick-up and drop-off times will be emailed one week prior to the start of your camp session.
● Bus options can be found on page 22.
All day camp bus stops are tentative and subject to change.
Bus transportation is an additional $100 per camper per week; $60 per camper per week for the half-week; $20 per camper per week for the overnight experience programs. You must select the transportation fee listed on the checkout page when registering for a camp program in order to be considered registered to ride a bus to and from camp.
Chicago 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd.Church of the Holy Family
Downers Grove635 59th St. O’Neill Middle School
Elmhurst 134 Arthur St. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Glen Ellyn 670 Crescent Blvd.Glenbard West High School
Itasca 400 Park Blvd.The Westin Chicago Northwest
La Grange Highlands1902 W. 59th St. Highlands Presbyterian Church
Lincoln Park 2550 N. Clybourn Ave. Jewel-Osco
Lombard 150 W. Madison St.Madison Elementary School
Oak Park 460 Lake St. Pilgrim Congregational Church
Palatine 1105 W. Illinois Ave.Hunting Ridge Elementary School
Riverside 97 Herrick Rd.St. Mary’s Catholic School
CAMP ADDRESS:
650 N 175 W | Valparaiso, IN 46385
ACREAGE:
304 acres
CAMP BUTTERNUT SPRINGS TEAM
Shannon Ross
Outdoor Program Manager & Overnight Camp Director sross@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 224-249-3917
Audrey Clinkert
Outdoor Program Specialist & Overnight Camp Assistant Director aclinkert@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 312-912-6373
Ashley Sibert
Outdoor Program Specialist asibert@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 219-472-1967
FACILITIES
● One large dining hall with commercial kitchen, indoor bathrooms, and fireplace
● Seven year-round lodges with kitchen, indoor bathrooms, fireplace, and fire ring
● Two year-round lodges with kitchenette, indoor bathrooms, and fire ring
● One small three-season cabin site with covered picnic tables and fire ring
● Three platform tent sites with covered picnic tables and fire ring
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00-5:00 p.m.
PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
● Albert C. Hanna High Adventure Course
● Archery
● Canoeing
● Creek walking
● Hiking trails
● Outdoor heated pool
● Large campfire circle with log seating
● Sports field
● Summer overnight camp
● Wagon ride
● Trading post
Join us for an amazing summer at overnight camp! Butternut Springs programs provide you with the opportunity to expand your comfort zone and achieve more than you thought you could! Every program will include traditional camp activities including swimming, boating, hiking, making crafts, playing games, learning outdoor skills, and making new friends! All campers in grades 4+ will also get to participate in the rock wall and zipline.
Campers can sign up for a program lasting three days, a week, or longer! Three-day programs run 1:30 p.m. Sunday through 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. One-week and Two-week programs run 1:30 p.m. Sunday through 3:00 p.m. Friday;
campers in two-week programs stay on-site over the weekend.
Summer camp registration opens February 3, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.
Be sure you can log into the program registration site or create an account before February 3 to make registration as easy as possible. Reference pages 54-58 for more information.
For a sample day at camp and more details, please reference summer camp information packets on our website.
This summer, we are offering a day camp experience at Camp Butternut Springs! Every program will include traditional camp activities including, but not limited to, exploring nature, making crafts, learning outdoor skills, swimming, playing games, and cooking over a fire. All week-long day camp programs run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday and include lunch. Campers are responsible for their own transportation.
TRIP PROGRAM: This program
HIGH ADVENTURE PROGRAM: This program includes extreme outdoor activities such as backpacking, high ropes, sailing, and more!
Entering grades 1-12 in fall 2025
Dates: June 17, June 27, July 1, July 11, July 13, July 20, July 25, August 1
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
ADD ON! Does your camper want to spend some extra time at camp? This experience lets them stay later at the end of their session for an evening pick-up time. Campers will participate in additional program activities and eat dinner at camp. This is not a stand-alone program; individuals must be registered separately for an overnight camp session the same week to participate.
Fee: $15 per session
Dates: July 6-11
Girl Scout Brownies through Ambassadors and their sisters (or cousins) are invited to camp together! Bunk together, share songs, play games, and team up for traditional camp activities! There will also be time to enjoy age-level based activities with new friends and come back to share with your sister! Campers must come as a pair and should be related; register individually and list your sister’s (or cousin’s) name as your buddy. Fee is per camper.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $650
Dates: July 11-13, July 18-20
Attending multiple weeks of camp and don’t want to go home? This special add-on session is for you! This summer, you can register for a bridge weekend where you can stay the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between sessions. You’ll swim, explore camp, and do special weekend-only activities on Saturday. This is not a stand-alone program; campers must be registered for programs before and after the weekend.
Lodging: Varies
Fee: $125
Dates: June 15-17
Try camp with your bestie at your side! Join in the fun of traditional camp activities during this mini session, including swimming, games, and crafts. Siblings, cousins, and friends of various ages are welcome to attend; register individually and list your bestie’s name as your buddy. Fee is per camper.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $325
Entering grades K-1 in fall 2025
Dates: July 28-August 1
Get ready to have fun in the sun as a Girl Scout Daisy! Make new friends, sing silly songs, and explore the wonders of camp. You will learn about nature, make a craft, prepare a cookout, go swimming, and have lots of fun!
Fee: $375
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Excited to camp with other Girl Scout friends? Give overnight camp a try! Spend three days and two nights at camp participating in all the fun traditional camp activities including swimming, exploring nature, making crafts, and singing songs with new friends.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $375
Entering grades 2-3 in fall 2025
Dates: July 13-18
Get ready to have fun in the sun. In addition to all their fun activities at camp, campers will visit the Indiana Dunes National Park to have a picnic on the beach and splash around in the cool waters of Lake Michigan.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $725
Dates: July 28-August 1
Get ready to have fun in the sun as a Girl Scout Brownie! Make new friends, sing silly songs, and explore the wonders of camp. You will learn about nature, make a craft, prepare a cookout, and have lots of fun!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $375
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Ready to try camp for just a few days? This three-day session is filled with all the traditional camp activities including swimming, crafts, campfires, songs, and tons of fun especially for you!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $375
Dates: June 22-27, July 27-August 1
Discover your inner adventurer during this week at camp! Play games, learn camping basics, and explore nature as you meet new friends and discover the fun of camp.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $650
Dates: July 20-25
Oh no! Someone stole all the marshmallows from the camp kitchen! How will we have a campfire without s’mores? It’s up to you to save the camp! In this mystery-filled week of camp, your camper will collect clues, interview suspects, problem solve and bring back our marshmallows!
Lodging: Lodge
Entering grades 4-5 in fall 2025
Dates: June 22-27, July 27-August 1
Are you ready to take your creativity to the next level? Join us to create masterpieces using a variety of materials and techniques for an art-tastic week! From traditional camp crafts like friendship bracelets and lanyards to upcycled art pieces and painting with everything but paintbrushes, you will get to choose what art projects you would like to create. By the end, you will have a portfolio full of art!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $660
Dates: July 13-18
Prep for your first year at the camp of witchcraft and wizardry! Carve and customize your wand, refine your magical ability, meet mysterious creatures in the magical world, and decide which animal will be your perfect pet companion along the way. Put your individual skills and house camaraderie to the test while exploring the ins and outs of the camp campus!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $650
Dates: July 27-August 1
What is better than a week at camp? A week at camp plus the beach! Hike, swim, and relax on the stunning southern shore of Lake Michigan. Enjoy beach-time fun with sand games, picnics, and enjoying the sun! Includes an overnight field trip to the dunes.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $705
Dates: July 6-11, July 20-25
Explore all of the ways to get moving at camp! Make some waves in a canoe, shoot arrows through the air at the archery range, and go off-site for a horseback ride. Build a paper airplane launcher, then climb up to the top of the Albert C. Hanna Adventure Course to test it out. There will also be time to take a ride on the camp zipline, all while making new friends.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $705
Dates: July 28-August 1
Get ready to have fun in the sun as a Girl Scout Junior! Make new friends, sing silly songs, and explore the wonders of camp. You will learn about nature, make a craft, prepare a cookout, go swimming, and have lots of fun!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $375
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Give camp a try to see what it’s all about. Have fun doing all the traditional camp activities including swimming, cookouts, and crafts. Choose to do a scavenger hunt, learn how to shoot a bow and arrow, go on a hike, or do all three!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $375
Dates: June 22-27
Get ready for a week of camp adventures! Enjoy archery, games, crafts, and swimming, while gaining new skills such as fire building, campsite set-up, cooking over a fire, and navigation. Then, decide as a group if you want to pitch a tent or sleep under the stars for an overnight campout.
Dates: July 6-11
Connect with the wonders of nature after everyone else has hit the hay! Throw a starry party, look for nocturnal friends on a night hike, do craft projects under the stars, and jump in for a special dusk swim. Stay up late, sleep in, and cook breakfast in your unit.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $650
Dates: July 13-18
Forget everything you know about camp and grab your safety goggles and lab coat! Experiment with elephant toothpaste, egg drops, baking soda volcanoes, giant bubbles, and slime!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $705
Dates: July 13-25
If camp is a home away from home and you want to stay as long as you can, this two-week session is for you! Get to do all of your favorite traditional camp activities twice! Double the archery, double the canoeing, double the crafts! Friendships will be closer, cook-outs will be tastier, and you will know camp like the back of your hand. The cherry on top will be a trip or two down the camp zipline and a visit to the zoo for an animal education program!
Lodging: Lodge
Entering grades 6-8 in fall 2025
Dates: June 22-27, July 27-August 1
It’s time to let your creativity flow! Learn new techniques like upcycling and ecocycling to become a resourceful artist using the world around you. Spend the week creating several craft projects of your choice like candle-making, jewelry-making, weaving, sewing, and more!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $660
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July
This three-day week has a taste of all the best camp offerings including swimming, archery, canoeing, crafts, and reaching new heights on top of the Albert C. Hanna Adventure Course. Try out a couple nights at camp with new friends and life changing adventures in this action-packed session!
Lodging: Lodge
Dates: July 13-25
Do you ever wish you could live at camp? This twoweek session is for you! Enjoy everything you love about camp: spending time with new friends, hiking, archery, swimming, and the arts! Take charge of your experience by planning your activities and choosing the skills you want to develop while at camp. Even pick a local field trip during your session, and help plan an all-camp event to get the whole camp community involved!
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $1,355
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July
Looking to squeeze overnight camp into your super-busy summer, or want to give camp a try for the first time? You’ll have just enough time to try all the traditional camp activities, including swimming, hiking, crafting, and archery, while meeting new friends!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $375
Dates: June 22-27
Ever wondered what a week at camp is like? This is your chance to join in the fun! Your camp fun will include archery, crafts, hiking, and campfires. Plus, spend time learning survival basics such as shelter building, how to purify water, and how to light a fire without a match, before spending a night under the stars in a pop-up tent or hammock.
Lodging: Small Cabins
Fee: $650
Dates: July 13-18
Did your owl never show up? Are you sick of the muggle world? Join us for this crash course as we explore herbology and healing potions here at camp. Magic yourself a wand and meet all of camp’s professors as you design your own magical class schedule for a week full of wizarding fun!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $650
Dates: June 22-27, July 20-25
We’re going to touch the sky! In this jam-packed week at camp we’ll start by bonding with new friends through some team building challenges. Then, try your hand at bouldering. We’ll leave plenty of time for cooking around a campfire, sleeping under the stars, and enjoying fun at camp!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $730
Dates: July 20-25
Dates: July 6-11
Flowers, herbs, and vegetables galore! What can’t we plant? Learn about the basics of gardening, plant growth, photosynthesis, and more in this week full of dirty fingernails and sprouting seedlings. Design your own gardening apron, decorate camp with blooming flowers, and even take home a plant to watch the fun grow after camp ends.
Lodging: Small Cabins
Fee: $685
Dates: July 6-11
This late-night fun fest is for Cadettes only! Hang out and relax around a campfire, sleep under the stars, or play games at night. Sleep in at least three mornings, cook breakfast, work on craft projects, and make lots of new friends!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $650
Explore the stories of the past! After learning about the history of BNS, learn about the urban legends and myths of Northwest Indiana through traditional crafts, storytelling, and a field trip. Visit the Indiana Dunes and learn about Diana of the Dunes, a ghost that lingers along the lakeside. Then take on Diana of the Dunes Dare, a hike taken by the spirit herself!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $700
Dates: July 27-August 1
Hike, swim, and relax on the stunning southern shores of Lake Michigan. Prepare for lots of beach time fun including sand games, picnics, and enjoying the sun! Experience camp life on-site and take a threeday, two-night field trip to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. In addition to planning your time at the dunes, learn about the diversity of the ecosystem and how to be an environmental steward for this stunning natural environment.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $725
Entering grades 7-12 in fall 2025
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Cool breeze, sandy shores, and refreshing waves await. Relax at camp before heading to the beach for a standup paddle board adventure. Plan your evenings to enjoy camp fun the way you want to, while you take it easy on this three day get-away.
Lodging: Small Cabins
Fee: $350
Dates: July 6-11
Dates: July 6-11
Stay up late and hang out with your friends as you explore camp after dark. Soak up the stars through a telescope, take a night hike, and plan a glow-in-thedark extravaganza! You’ll hang out until the stars shine bright and then sleep in for some well-deserved rest on at least three mornings.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $650
Dates: June 22-27, July 13-17
Get ready to go up, up and away as you spend the week at camp climbing to new heights and overcoming challenges. Warm up at an indoor rock climbing course before experiencing breathtaking views on a zip line course. After that, pack up and head out for an overnight camping trip where you can try your hand at climbing natural rock faces.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $775
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Grab your favorite book and head out to camp for three days of relaxation and fun. Spend your time at camp chilling in a hammock, going for a swim, and doing crafts and cookouts with friends new and old.
Lodging: Small Cabins
Fee: $325
At camp, discover your important role in nature and explore environmental issues like stewardship and sustainability. You will learn how to conserve, preserve, and protect, and then hit the trails and enjoy incredible views on day hikes to local state parks.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $715
Dates: June 22-27, July 27-August 1
Make your summer the best one yet. Bring your own ideas to add to this unforgettable bucket list and camp adventure.
1.Shoot archery
2.Go berry picking
3.Spend a day at the zoo
4.Go canoeing
5.Have a movie night
6.Go mini-golfing
7.Have a late night campfire
8.Listen to live music
9.Go swimming
10.Sleep in and stay up late
11.Have a water balloon fight
12.Sunbathe at the beach
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $800
Dates: July 13-25
Make your summer the best one yet. Bring your own ideas to add to this unforgettable bucket list and camp adventure.
1.Go to an amusement park
2.Shoot archery
3.Go berry picking
4.Spend a day at the zoo
5.Go canoeing
6.Have a movie night
7.Go mini-golfing
8.Have a late night campfire
9.Listen to live music
10.Go swimming
11.Sleep in and stay up late
12.Have a water balloon fight
13.Sunbathe at the Indiana Dunes shoreline
14.Go to the water park
15.Go stand-up paddle boarding
16.Go river tubing
Lodging: Lodge
Fee: $1,580
The CIT program is structured as a progression and campers must complete Counselor-in-Training I before attending CIT Mastery, Counselor-in-Training II, or CIT Internship. CIT Mastery is not required to progress to Counselor-in-Training II. CIT training experiences are transferrable between day and overnight programs.
Entering grades 6-12 in fall 2025
Dates: July 20-25
Grade Level: Entering grades 7-12 in fall 2025
Uncover your potential and find your voice through hands-on learning experiences as you challenge yourself to be your best self! Practice leading songs, games, and crafts, and gain practical tips for working with groups. Plus, explore your favorite camp activities like boating and archery. Then put your leadership skills into action as you plan and lead an activity for other campers, in addition to contributing to a service project for camp. While not a prerequisite for Counselor-in-Training, this program is a great start for your leadership journey at camp and beyond. Cadettes will complete Program Aide training and Seniors & Ambassadors will complete VIT training.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $650
Dates: July 6-11
Grade Level: Entering grades 10-12 in fall 2025
Spend your week at overnight camp learning basic counselor techniques and developing your leadership skills. Practice your camp skills, develop outdoor cooking techniques, and observe and interact with younger campers as you work in partnership with camp staff. This program is for anyone who has an interest in learning how to work with youth, both at camp and beyond.
Lodging: Lodge Fee: $650
Dates: June 22-27, July 20-25, July 27-August 1
Grade Level: Entering grades 10-12 in fall 2025
Continue your journey in camp leadership with mentorship from staff in a specialty program area as you work toward mastering your skills. CIT’s will work closely with staff for a specific program to develop their skills in that area while also gaining hands-on experience with younger campers. Attend this session multiple weeks and focus on a different specialty area each time! Specialty areas include aquatics, backpacking, and high adventure, and may include trip(s) off-site; indicate your specialty area preference when registering.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT I.
Lodging: Varies
Fee: $325
Dates: June 15-17, June 22-27, June 29-July 1, July 6-11, July 13-18, July 20-25, July 27-August 1
Grade Level: Entering grade 12 in fall 2025
Have you completed CIT I and II but you are not yet 18 years old? Do you need volunteer service hours? This CIT internship is perfect for you! Spend a week or two volunteering at overnight camp this summer working directly with a group of younger campers alongside camp staff.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT II.
Lodging: Varies
Fee: $0
CAMP ADDRESS:
W5095 State Road 20 | East Troy, WI 53120
ACREAGE:
186 acres
CAMP JUNIPER KNOLL TEAM
Margaret Gawlik Sr. Outdoor Program Manager & Overnight Camp Director mgawlik@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 224-207-9207
Stacey Herman Outdoor Program Specialist & Overnight Camp Assistant Director sherman@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 224-207-9277
● One large dining hall with commercial kitchen, indoor bathrooms, and fireplace
● Four year-round lodges with kitchen, indoor bathrooms, fireplace, and fire ring
● One three-season lodge with kitchen, wash stand with flush toilets, fireplace, and fire ring
● Five platform tent sites with wash stand and flush toilets, covered picnic tables, and fire ring
● One tabin site with wash stand and flush toilets, covered picnic tables, and fire ring
● One y urt site with wash stand and flush toilets, covered picnic tables, and fire ring
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, April 27, 2025 2:00-5:00 p.m.
PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
● Pleasant Lake waterfront
● Archery
● Canoeing
● Kayaking
● Sailing
● Stand Up Paddleboarding
● Hiking trails
● Sw imming in the lake
● Amphitheatre with fire ring, stage, and seating
● Troop program kits
● Summer overnight camp
● Snowshoeing
● Trading post
Join us for an amazing summer at overnight camp! Juniper Knoll programs provide you with the opportunity to create a sense of independence, get out of your comfort zone, establish new friendships, and more! Every program will include traditional camp activities including swimming, boating, hiking, making crafts, playing games, learning outdoor skills, and making new friends.
Campers can sign up for a program lasting three days, a week, or longer! Three-day programs run 1:30 p.m. Sunday through 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. One-week and Two-week programs run
1:30 p.m. Sunday through 3:00 p.m. Friday; campers in twoweek programs stay on-site over the weekend.
Summer camp registration opens February 3, 2025, at 6:00 a.m.
Be sure you can log into the program registration site or create an account before February 3 to make registration as easy as possible. Reference pages 54-58.
For a sample day at camp and more details, please reference summer camp information packets on our website.
Some Juniper Knoll programs also include primitive backcountry skill-building and wilderness trips. See the table below to learn about prerequisites, length, and other aspects of trips at each backcountry level, and look for backcountry levels lists in program descriptions.
trip.
This program includes extreme outdoor activities such as backpacking, high ropes, sailing, and more!
Entering grades 1-12 in fall 2025
Dates: June 17, June 27, July 1, July 11, July 13, July 20, July 25, August 1
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
ADD ON! Does your camper want to spend some extra time at camp? This experience lets them stay later at the end of their session for an evening pick-up time. Campers will participate in additional program activities and eat dinner at camp. This is not a stand-alone program; individuals must be registered separately for an overnight camp session the same week to participate.
Fee Per Session: $15
Dates: July 11-13
ADD ON! Attending multiple weeks of camp and don’t want to go home? This special add-on session is for you! This summer, you can register for a bridge weekend where you can stay the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between sessions. You’ll swim, explore camp, and do special weekend-only activities on Saturday. This is not a stand-alone program; campers must be registered for programs before and after the weekend.
Lodging: Yurt
Fee Per Session: $125
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Try camp with your bestie at your side! Join in the fun of traditional camp activities during this mini session, including swimming, games, and crafts. Siblings, cousins, and friends of various ages are welcome to attend; register individually and list your bestie’s name as your buddy. Fee is per camper.
Lodging: Yurt
Fee Per Session: $375
Entering grade 1 in fall 2025
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Excited to camp with other Girl Scout friends? Give overnight camp a try! Spend three days and two nights at camp participating in all the fun traditional camp activities including swimming, exploring nature, making crafts, and singing songs with new friends.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $375
Entering grades 2-3 in fall 2025
Brownie Artist
Dates: June 22-27
Grab your artist’s smock and creative thoughts; we’re going to have some messy, artistic fun at camp! Try painting with a leaf, mold a sculpture out of clay, and use the colors, shapes, and sounds of the natural world as you create your art.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $660
Dates: July 13-18
Spend your long summer days discovering the wonders of water as a mermaid! Take a rowboat ride and go for a swim to investigate the places mermaids and their friends call home. Work with the new friends you have made to plan how to make the water a better place to live.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Ready to try camp for just a few days? This three-day session is filled with all the traditional camp activities including swimming, crafts, campfires, songs, and tons of fun especially for you!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $375
Dates: July 6-11, July 20-25
Discover your inner adventurer during this week at camp! Play games, learn camping basics, and explore nature as you meet new friends and discover the fun of camp.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: July 27-August 1
Discover the magic of camp! Take a hike to look for “fairies” and explore the natural world that fairies love. Write a story about a fairy adventure and make a fairy home. You will make your own wand and display acts of fairy kindness all around camp.
Lodging: Lodge
Entering grades 4-5 in fall 2025
Dates: June 22-27, July 6-11, July 27-August 1
Jump in for a week of high adventure excitement! Work your way through team-building challenges at camp, then head off-site to go horseback riding and indoor rock climbing.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $765
Dates: July 6-11
Are you ready to take your creativity to the next level? Join us to create masterpieces using a variety of materials and techniques for an art-tastic week! From traditional camp crafts like friendship bracelets and lanyards to upcycled art pieces and painting with everything but paintbrushes, you will get to choose what art projects you would like to create. By the end, you will have a portfolio full of art!
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $660
Dates: July 13-18, July 20-25
Stay cool and make a splash! Soak, stroke, and float your way through camp as you spend every day at camp hanging out at the lake. Explore paddling in canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards. Play water games, craft your own boat to race on the lake, or try synchronized swimming, and round out the week with a beach party!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $665 per session
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Give camp a try to see what it’s all about. Have fun doing all the traditional camp activities including swimming, cookouts, and crafts. Choose to do a scavenger hunt, learn how to shoot a bow and arrow, go on a hike, or do all three.
Lodging: Tabin Fee: $375 per session
Dates: July 6-11, July 13-18, July 20-25
Get ready for a week of camp adventures! Enjoy archery, games, crafts, and swimming, while gaining new skills such as fire building, campsite set-up, cooking over a fire, and navigation. Then, decide as a group if you want to pitch a tent or sleep under the stars for an overnight campout.
Lodging: Tabin
Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Grab an extra towel and your favorite beach toy because it’s time to take over the water! Play games, create a swim dance routine, and challenge a new friend to noodle jousting. Spend your time hanging out at the lake, celebrating summer with a beach party, and lots of swimming while you are at camp.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $375
Dates: July 27-August 1
Explore the landscape and sparking waters of camp. Begin learning the basics of sailing and experience what it’s like to sail across Pleasant Lake, plus enjoy lots of water fun!
Prerequisites: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to tread water for 2 minutes, and swim 50 yards without stopping.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $665
Dates: June 22-27, July 27-August 1
Bring on the dance parties, pop wars, and flash mob routines! Do things you never thought you could do at camp like building your own raft, playing epic Twister ® games, or lounging in a fortress of your own creation. Stay up for a late night of exploring camp after dark, painting nails, enjoying facials, and even watch a movie! Join us for this unforgettable week of brouhaha as we shuffle up the camp week as we know it.
Lodging: Tabin
Fee Per Session: $665
Dates: June 22-27
Dive into the wonders of the outdoors as you explore the natural world, engage in eco-friendly activities, and discover what wildlife call camp their home. Then give your camping skills a boost as you learn trail hiking safety, discover different ways to purify water, and connect with nature on an off-site day hike where you will learn about Leave No Trace and how to navigate in the woods.
Backcountry Level 1
Lodging: Platform Tent Fee: $715
Entering grades 6-8 in fall 2025
Dates: June 22-27, July 13-18, July 27-August 1
Leave your fancy shoes at home and bring your boots for a week of adventures! It all begins by exploring team-building activities and challenges at camp before heading off-site to try out horseback riding, tackle a rock climbing wall, and hike the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Lodging: Yurt
Fee Per Session: $765
Dates: July 13-18, July 20-25
It’s time to let your creativity flow! Learn new techniques like upcycling and ecocycling to become a resourceful artist using the world around you. Spend the week creating several craft projects of your choice like candle-making, jewelry-making, weaving, sewing, and more!
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $660
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Looking to squeeze overnight camp into your superbusy summer, or want to give camp a try for the first time? You’ll have just enough time to try all the traditional camp activities, including swimming, hiking, crafting, and archery, while meeting new friends!
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $375
Dates: July 6-11, July 20-25
Ever wondered what a week at camp is like? This is your chance to join in the fun! Your camp fun will include archery, crafts, hiking, and campfires. Plus, spend time learning survival basics such as shelter building, how to purify water, and how to light a fire without a match, before spending a night under the stars in a pop-up tent or hammock.
Backcountry Level 1
Lodging: Yurt
Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: June 22-27, July 13-18
Get your feet wet this week at camp! Spend your days out on Pleasant Lake learning the ins and outs of canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding. You’ll learn different rescue techniques, and spend lots of time paddling, racing, playing games, and having fun on the water!
Backcountry Level 1
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to tread water for 2 minutes, and swim 50 yards without stopping.
Lodging: Platform Tent Fee Per Session: $665
Dates: July 6-11
Learn what it takes to survive in the wilderness! Spend the week learning different methods of purifying water, what kind of supplies to bring and how to pack them, and how to protect the environment using the Leave No Trace principles. Put these skills into practice during an overnight backpacking trip on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Backcountry Level 2
Prerequisite: Level 1 program or prior camping experience recommended.
Lodging: Platform Tent Fee Per Session: $720
Dates: July 27-August 1
Slip into a kayak as you refine new and familiar paddling strokes, practice rescue skills, learn about river safety and navigation, and then take an overnight kayak trip down the Wisconsin River.
Backcountry Level 2
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to tread water for 2 minutes, and swim 50 yards without stopping.
Lodging: Lodge Fee Per Session: $875
Want to know if you have sea legs? Experience what it’s like to feel the breeze on your face as you rig and sail on a Sunfish sailboat across Pleasant Lake. You will get a basic introduction to sailing this week at camp as you learn boat safety, injury prevention, knot tying, and more.
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to tread water for 2 minutes, and swim 50 yards without stopping, and have the upper body strength to lift a 15-pound sail out of the water.
Lodging: Lodge Fee Per Session: $665
Entering grades 7-12 in fall 2025
Dates: July 20-25
Dates: June 22-27
Get ready for a week of adventures! It all begins by exploring team-building activities and challenges at camp before heading off-site to tackle a rock climbing wall, horseback riding through the Kettle Moraine State Forest, hike the Ice Age Trail, and traverse a high ropes course.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $885
Dates: July 20-25
Come out for a relaxing week of sleeping in and spending time on the lake. Start every day off with a late breakfast then head to the waterfront to challenge yourself with canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding. Learn and practice small craft rescues, enjoy a floating lunch, and build a cardboard boat with friends for a race on the lake!
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $665
Dates: July 6-11
Bring your favorite book and your imagination!
Experience a stress-free week at camp as you read in a canoe, along the trails, around the campfire, and in a hammock.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $650
Jump in for a kayaking adventure! Warm up your paddling on Pleasant Lake, then climb into the seat of your kayak as you practice river safety and navigation on a three-day, two-night trip down the Wisconsin River, camping on sandbars along the way.
Backcountry Level 3
Prerequisites: Level 1 or 2 program or previous camping experience required. Prerequisite: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to tread water for 2 minutes, and swim 50 yards without stopping.
Lodging: Platform Tent Fee Per Session: $920
Dates: July 13-18
Be the star of your favorite stories! Explore comic art, book art, screenwriting, and more as you spend your week discovering your own superpowers and creating a camp story that reflects your favorite fandoms.
Lodging: Platform Tent Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: July 27-August 1
Get ready to use just your hands, a few simple tools, and your creativity to create some awesome items! Practice leather craft, wood burning, and whittling, test firing clay in a campfire, and build a bird house.
Lodging:
Dates: July 6-18
Nothing compares to the excitement of skimming across Pleasant Lake in a sailboat! Spend your days learning the different aspects of sailing a Sunfish dinghy, such as water safety, knots, and how to rig your craft and hoist your sail, as you work towards becoming a Mariner.
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to tread water for 2 minutes, and swim 50 yards without stopping, and have the upper body strength to life a 15-pound sail out of the water.
Lodging: Lodge
Fee Per Session: $1,375
Dates: June 15-17, June 29-July 1
Live lakeside during your time at camp. Spend extra time swimming, trying out kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, and relax on the beach at Pleasant Lake.
Dates: July 6-18
Kick off your time at camp by getting to know other campers and building team spirit before heading offsite on different days to challenge yourself to indoor rock climbing, a high ropes course, and a zipline course. Then head out to Devil’s Lake State Park for an overnight trip to test your skills climbing on challenging routes and rappelling down the rock face!
Prerequisite: Must be at least 4 feet tall and weigh at least 70 lbs. to participate in high adventure activities.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $1,730
Dates: June 22-27, July 27-August 1
At camp, discover your important role in nature and explore environmental issues like stewardship and sustainability. You will learn how to conserve, preserve, and protect, and then hit the trails and enjoy incredible views on day hikes to local state parks.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $715
Dates: July 20-25
Continue developing your camping skills while learning to use a map and compass, be safe on trails, and properly prepare for a backpacking trip. Make unforgettable memories while learning how to protect and enjoy the wilderness on a three-day, two-night backpacking trip on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Backcountry Level 3
Prerequisites: Level 1 or 2 program or previous camping experience required.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee: $725
Entering grades 7-12 in fall 2025
Dates: June 22-27
Grade Level: Entering grades 7-12 in fall 2025
Uncover your potential and find your voice through hands-on learning experiences as you challenge yourself to be your best self! Practice leading songs, games, and crafts, and gain practical tips for working with groups. Plus, explore your favorite camp activities like boating and archery. Then put your leadership skills into action as you plan and lead an activity for other campers, in addition to contributing to a service project for camp. While not a prerequisite for Counselor-in-Training, this program is a great start for your leadership journey at camp and beyond. Cadettes will complete Program Aide training and Seniors & Ambassadors will complete VIT training.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: July 13-18, July 20-25
Grade Level: Entering grades 10-12 in fall 2025
Spend your week at overnight camp learning basic counselor techniques and developing your leadership skills. Practice your camp skills, develop outdoor cooking techniques, and observe and interact with younger campers as you work in partnership with camp staff. This program is for anyone who has an interest in learning how to work with youth, both at camp and beyond.
Lodging: Platform Tent
Fee Per Session: $650
Dates: June 22-27, July 6-11, July 27-August 1
Grade Level: Entering grades 10-12 in fall 2025
After completing CIT I, continue your journey in camp leadership with mentorship from staff in a specialty program area as you work toward mastering your skills. CITs will work closely with staff for a specific program to develop their skills in that area while also gaining hands-on experience with younger campers. Attend this session multiple weeks and focus on a different specialty area each time! Specialty areas include aquatics, backpacking, and high adventure, and may include trip(s) off-site; indicate your specialty area preference when registering.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT I
Lodging: Varies
Fee Per Session: $325 The CIT program is structured as a progression and campers must complete Counselor-in-Training I before attending CIT Mastery, Counselor-in-Training II, or CIT Internship. CIT Mastery is not required to progress to Counselor-inTraining II. CIT training experiences are transferrable between day and overnight programs.
Dates: July 6-18
Grade Level: Entering grades 11-12 in fall 2025
Put your CIT I skills into action while working on the intricacies of being a camp counselor! Improve your skills in archery, outdoor cooking, nature study, and the arts. Love the water? Spend additional time with the aquatic staff! Considering a career in camping or Girl Scouting? Spend time with the camp director’s team and learn about camp administration! Round out your time at camp by spending your second week working directly with younger camp groups.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT I
Lodging: Platform Tent Fee Per Session: $700
Dates: June 15-17, June 22-27, June 29-July 1, July 6-11, July 13-18, July 20-25, July 27-August 1
Grade Level: Entering grade 12 in fall 2025
Have you completed CIT I and II but you are not yet 18 years old? Do you need volunteer service house? This CIT Internship is perfect for you! Spend a week or two volunteering at overnight camp this summer working directly with a group of younger campers alongside camp staff.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CIT II
Lodging: Varies Fee Per Session: Free
Girl Scouts GCNWI is proud to be an organization supported by many hard working, dedicated, passionate, and enthusiastic volunteers who choose to plan and run volunteer-led day camps for the Girl Scouts in their service units. These volunteerled day camp programs often run for a week and include many of your favorite camp activities such as hiking, crafts, outdoor skills, and more! Many also include a weekly theme and take place at local parks, forest preserves, community centers, or even one of our Girl Scout camp properties.
On the next page, you will find the volunteer-led day camp programs who utilize the Girl Scouts GCNWI registration site. Registration for all programs listed begins February 3 at 6:00 a.m. Girl Scouts GCNWI makes funds available for participants whose caregivers could otherwise not afford the cost of camp; please see page 55 for more information.
If you don’t see a volunteer-led day camp offered in your area, we encourage you to reach out to your service unit manager to see if they know of any other volunteer-led day camp opportunities available to you.
Service Unit: Lemont SU 724
Contact: Cathy Briggs lemontgirlscouts@gmail.com
Location: Lemont Park District Picnic Grove, 16028 W 127th Street, Lemont, IL 60439
Dates: June 16-19, 2025
Times: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; optional overnight for grades 4+ Wednesday night
Pick-up by last name:
A-L: 3:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
M-Z: 3:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Lemont Day Camp is an all girl-led camp, with older Girl Scouts running the individual units. Campers are taught outdoor skills following the Girl Scout progression, Girl Scout songs, crafts, and how to be the best friend possible. Fourth grade and up are welcome to spend the night on Wednesday and, weather permitting, sleep outside in a tent.
Fee:
Kindergarten-Grade 6 (no overnight): $125
Grade 4-6 (with overnight): $150
Junior Leaders (Grade 7-12): $25
Adult Volunteers: $0
Service Unit: Valparaiso and Washington Twp SU 312
Contact: Jeffrin Lozano valparaisogirlscouts@gmail.com
Location: Camp Butternut Springs
Dates: June 2-6, 2025
Times: 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; plus additional parent night activities on Thursday from 4-5:30 p.m.
Join us for a virtual tour of the five WAGGGS World Centers, all without leaving the comfort of your campfire. Each day we will learn about one of the World Centers, including the local culture and cuisine. Of course, we will be doing all of the fun camp activities, including cooking lunch (and s’mores) over a campfire, hiking, crafts, songs, games, and swimming. Campers entering 4th grade and up will have the opportunity to do archery and canoeing, and campers entering 6th grade and up will also be able to try the ropes course. On Thursday evening, parents are invited to join us to learn about all the fun we have been having and watch a special ceremony. Afterward, 4th and 5th grade campers are invited to stay for an evening activity. Campers entering 6th grade and up are invited to spend the night to keep the fun going.
Fee:
Grades 1-3: $75
Grades 4-5 (includes Thursday late night): $85
Grades 6-8 (includes Thursday overnight): $95
Grades 9+ OPA training (includes Thursday overnight): $25
Grades 10+ High School helpers (SU OPA training already completed; includes Thursday overnight): $0
Squirrels (preschoolers of volunteers): $20
Boys (sons of volunteers): $30
Adult Volunteers: $0
Girl Scouts GCNWI camps are open year-round! Our camps are the perfect spot for any adventurer wanting to experience the great outdoors, hit the trails, and view local wildlife in their natural habitat. Whether you are camping for the first (or fifth!) time as a troop, hosting a service unit camporee, celebrating a bridging ceremony, or planning your regular troop meetings, GCNWI camps are the place to be!
Camp Butternut Springs
Camp Greene Wood
Camp Juniper Knoll
Camp Palos
Please note: Lodges are available year-round; Tabins/Primitive Cabins, Yurts, and Platform Tents are only available late April-early October.
Facilitated programming is also available at an additional cost (varies by activity)!
● Archery (Grade 4+)
● Campfire, Songs, & S’mores
● Canoe/Kayak/Stand Up Paddleboard (Grades 4+)
● Cookout
● Geocaching
● Guided Hike
● High Ropes Course (Grades 6+)
● Letterboxing
● Outdoor Badge Workshop
● Rock Wall & Zipline (Grades 4+)
● Sailing (Grades 6+)
● Snowshoeing
● Sw imming
● Wagon Ride
Please note: some activities are site-specifc.
CAMP ADDRESS: 11736 S Will Cook Rd | Palos Park, IL 60439
ACREAGE:
80 acres
● 1 large pavilion with picnic tables and fire ring
● 3 year-round lodges with kitchens, indoor bathrooms, fireplaces, and fire rings
● 4 year-round small cabins with indoor bathrooms – shared kitchen and fire rings nearby
● 1 platform tent unit with covered picnic tables and fire ring
● 1 tabin unit with nearby fire ring
CAMP PALOS TEAM
Lauren Somogyi
Outdoor Program Manager lsomogyi@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 630-544-5927
Abbey Testin
Outdoor Program Specialist atestin@girlscoutsgcnwi.org 708-658-2330
PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
● Archery
● Wetlands boardwalk
● Creek
● Gaga ball pit
● Hammock village
● Hiking trails
● Large fire ring with seating
● Rainbow bridge
● Snowshoeing
● Year-round troop and service unit camping
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, May 4, 2025 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Camp Palos is available 12 months of the year for troop and service unit camping!
In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved, we require outdoor trainings for adults. These trainings build on previously gained volunteer training and experience, with on a focus on outdoor skills and participant-led outdoor adventures.
All troop camping reservations remain tentative until required outdoor trainings are completed in gsLearn. Minimum requirements include Cabin Camper, Fire Safety & Building, and CPR & First Aid. A complete list of outdoor trainings is listed below; these online courses can be found in gsLearn.
Girl Scouts in the Outdoors is an optional training that introduces beginning concepts for volunteers taking Girl Scouts on outdoor adventures.
Cabin Camping is needed when you are going to spend up to three days and two nights in a camp lodge, other secure facilities, or a personal home.
Fire Safety & Building is needed when you are planning to start a fire with Girl Scouts and includes fire safety, fire building, and basic stick cooking.
Outdoor Cooking is needed when you are planning to cook a meal over a fire that is more advanced than stick cooking (examples include Dutch ovens, pie
irons, foil packets, and charcoal cooking). Attendance at an in-person skills session is required to receive credit for this course. Fire Safety & Building is a prerequisite for Outdoor Cooking. This is a Blended Learning course and attendance at an in-person skills session is required for completion.
Rustic Camping is needed when you are overnight camping at a platform tent site, in yurts, in primitive cabins/tabins, or in free-standing tents. All cooking is done over a fire or using other campsite portable methods. Attendance at an in-person skills session is required to receive credit for this course. Cabin Camping, Fire Safety & Building, and Outdoor Cooking are prerequisites for Rustic Camping. This is a Blended Learning course and attendance at an in-person skills session is required for completion.
Note: Note: Previously completed Outdoor Module 1, 2, & 3 training dated 2009 or later will be accepted. The training you achieved may be found in your gsLearn Achievements tab.
● Outdoor Module 2 qualifies for completion of Cabin Camping and Fire Safety & Building
● Outdoor Module 3 qualifies for completion of Fire Safety & Building, Outdoor Cooking, and Rustic Camping
Looking for something fun to do this summer in addition to camp? Our Girl Scout & Family Experiences provide individuals, troops, and families the opportunity to join in the fun. Check out a sample of our summer experiences below and visit our website to discover even more Girl Scout fun!
Dates: August 5-8
Experience a vibrant cultural odyssey as a world explorer. Enjoy a week at camp as a troop while you craft traditional artifacts, create international artworks, and explore diverse cultures through storytelling, music, and dance. Plus, savor the flavors of the world as you delve into international cuisines. Join in this colorful adventure where creativity, craftmanship, and cultural understanding come together in a celebration of global arts, traditions, and culinary delights.
Location: Camp Juniper Knoll Fee: $170 per person
Dates: July 11-13, August 8-10
Grab a special adult in your life and join us for a weekend of making memories. Sleep overnight at camp, go on a scavenger hunt, swim in the pool, relax in a hammock, hike, get crafty, and so much more. Cook your dinner over a fire, then enjoy songs and a s’more around the campfire. Bring SWAPS from home to exchange with your new friends. This program encourages a 1:1 ratio. Each Girl Scout should have an adult registered to spend time with.
Location: Camp Butternut Springs Fee: $100 per person
Camp Favorite
Mess Kit $15
Great for campfire fun.
The colorful and sturdy mess kit includes a mesh tote with carabiner, plate, bowl, cup, and utensils.
$20 value
Camp Adventure
Camp Care Package $40
Surprise your camper with must-have camp essentials. Includes camp-themed activity book, puzzle cube, plush, summer camp patch, sensory stickers, bug band and more, complete with a crossbody bag. Your camper will also receive a FREE $5 Trading Post voucher to use during the 2025 summer season.
$50 value
Camp Gear
Limited-Edition Camp Sweatshirt $35 New for 2025!
Pre-order your camper a super cozy camp sweatshirt. Available in youth and adult sizes. The camp’s name will be silkscreened on the front of the crewneck sweatshirt.
$40 value
Once you have selected your overnight camp program, you can add the Mess Kit or Camp Care Package to your order. The kits will be delivered right to your camper!
After June 1, 2025, the Mess Kit and Camp Care Package will be available for purchase from the www. shop.girlscoutsgcnwi.org website. The price for each will increase by $5.
The Camp Care Package MUST be ordered at least 5 days before camp arrival and will be delivered right to your camper at the overnight camp.
The Mess Kit is only available for overnight camp pick up on the shop website. You can place your order online for overnight camp pick up, pick up in any one of our Gathering Place Shops or we can ship directly to you.
The Camp Sweatshirt is available as pre-order. Sweatshirt will be mailed to your home address prior to camp. A limited quantity will be available at the Trading Post during camp season.
Disclaimer – A limited supply of kits and sweatshirts will be available in the Trading Posts in the event you forget to order. Items in kits are subject to availability. Substitutions may occur.
REGISTERING FOR CAMP
Summer day and overnight camp registration opens February 3, 2025, at 6:00 a.m.
Registration is competitive and programs fill quickly. We encourage families to prepare by ensuring their registration account is set up and having a “top three” list of programs ready to go. Girl Scouts GCNWI cannot guarantee placement in a summer camp program.
Register online at girlscoutsgcnwi.org/camp
We have a new registration system! To access our new registration site, please visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org/camp. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information about how to set-up your account and complete your camp registration. You will need to create an account before February 3 at 6:00 a.m.
For programs that occur on or after June 1, 2025, register your camper for the grade they will enter in fall 2025. This includes all summer camp programs.
Our registration system uses an age cut off day of October 1. If you have a camper that falls outside of traditional age requirements, please contact us prior to camp registration.
Girl Scout membership is required to participate in camp. Campers who are currently non-members can add Girl Scout membership to their shopping cart during registration to become a member. Girl Scout membership is $25. This fee includes basic accident insurance coverage for all registered Girl Scouts as a supplement to the camper’s existing insurance coverage. For more information about becoming a Girl Scout visit www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/join.
1. Check your inbox for your receipt. This email is your program confirmation and includes links to your camper’s information packet and details about completing your camper’s required paperwork. You can also find your receipt at any time by logging in to your registration account and viewing your transaction history.
2. Watch your inbox for an email to complete your camper’s online paperwork. This email will arrive about two weeks after registration to the same email address used to register for the program and come from CampDoc.com.
3. All camper paperwork is due by May 1, 2025. This deadline includes your camper’s health history, medication information, and overnight camp health physical.
4. Reference the online Camp Information Packet, which includes camp packing lists, found on girlscoutsgcnwi.org/camp.
5. Watch for follow up emails from camp with additional program details.
6. Follow our camps on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok to see photos and videos of all the summer fun!
At registration, caregivers have two options to pay for summer camp:
1. Pay camp fees in full at time of registration, including the non-refundable deposit.
2. Pay the non-refundable deposit at time of registration and pay the remainder on a payment plan.
● Balances on a payment plan will be automatically charged to the debit/credit card linked to the account on June 1, 2025.
● Payment plan participation requires you to securely save a debit/credit card to your account during registration.
● Caregivers can independently make payments after registration by accessing their program registration account and selecting “Pay on Account” at any point between February 3, 2025 and May 31, 2025.
New this year, bundling three or more summer camp registrations in one purchase will reduce the price by 5%. Registrations do not need to be for the same participant or program session for the bundling discount to apply.
All camp programs include a non-refundable deposit as part of their fee.
● Day camp fees include a $50 non-refundable deposit.
● Overnight camp fees for programs that are 3 or 6 days include a $100 non-refundable deposit.
● Overnight camp fees for programs that are longer than 6 days include a $150 non-refundable deposit.
● Campers who are not current GSGCNWI members must become members to participate in camp programming. The $25 membership fee can be added to the shopping cart during registration.
● Day camp participants can add the bus transportation fee during registration. To register for bus transportation, you must select the stop AND the payment during the registration process.
● Overnight camp participants can add camper care kits at registration for an additional fee.
Any Girl Scout who is a registered member of GSGCNWI is eligible to receive financial assistance for one day or overnight camp program per year. GSGCNWI makes funds available for participants whose caregivers could otherwise not afford the cost of camp. Assistance is distributed based on available funds. Questions about financial assistance can be sent to customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
1. Register for summer camp and only pay the deposit. Camp registration must be completed prior to applying for financial aid.
2. Complete the Girl Scout Financial Assistance Application which is available at girlscoutsgcnwi.org/fnancialassistance#camp
◦ This application will go live on February 3 at 6 a.m.
3. Approved financial assistance will be deducted from the total owed for the summer camp program.
If payment of deposit or other factors pose a barrier, please contact customercare@ girlscoutsgcnwi.org as soon as possible.
Individuals can pay for their camp registration with the rewards they earn through the Girl Scout Cookie Program as well as the Fall Product Program. If you would like to use your earned finances to pay for part, or all, of your summer camp registration, please contact us at customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org Because camp space is limited, we highly recommend not waiting for Cookie Dough or Nutty Bucks to process before registering for a camp program. When registering, we encourage you to pay the deposit instead of paying in full to more easily apply Cookie Dough or Nutty Bucks funds later on.
All camp programs are subject to cancellation or rescheduling by GSGCNWI. If a camp program is cancelled by GSGCNWI, and the camper is unable to attend an alternate session, all fees will be refunded, including the non-refundable deposit. If a program is cancelled, notification will be sent by email or phone.
Camp program cancellations received at least 14 days prior to the program start date are eligible for a refund, minus the non-refundable deposit ($50 for day camp, $100 or $150 for overnight camp depending on length of session). Refunds will be issued to the same credit or debit card used for initial payment.
Cancellations due to medical reasons less than 14 days prior to the program start date are eligible for refund, minus the non-refundable deposit. Requests for cancellation due to medical reasons must be made by August 31, 2025 and include a doctor’s note. Cancellation requests due to COVID-19 may provide dated proof of positive test in lieu of a doctor’s note.
Refund requests must be submitted in writing. Please email customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org, Subject Line: Attn: Summer Camp Refund.
Refunds will not be made for the following:
● No shows, late arrival, early departure, or partial program attendance.
● Cancellation requests less than 14 days prior to the program start date.
● Campers who violate camp policies and are sent home.
Welcome to Girl Scout Camp! That’s what we say to every camper who arrives at one of our amazing summer programs because together we are creating a welcoming environment for all.
Every child needs to feel valued and respected. Respecting ourselves and others is part of our Girl Scout Law. Our program provides experiences that build life skills, leadership capacity, and a passion to make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts values inclusion and diversity, and that is why we are on a journey to better understand how to incorporate those values into the camp experiences we offer. Our learnings along the way will help us improve processes and protocols each year going forward.
Our camp directors will work with families to make our experiences accessible for all Girl Scouts, including current members who may be questioning their gender identity. These members may explore the use of different pronouns or name while at camp before sharing with their friends and family at home. Girl Scouts supports these members and will act in their best interests by providing a safe and affirming space in which they can be themselves.
To create an inclusive and safe environment for all, we encourage you to contact the camp director so we can work directly with you. This will start with a conversation about what the camp experience may be like for your camper, and what accommodations and supports are available. Camp directors can also help guide you toward the best programs and location for your camper.
Following are standard practices that we follow to create safe spaces and a respectful environment for all:
● All Girl Scouts are entitled to privacy when using restrooms, changing rooms, and showers. Unless is made by a Girl Scout, no separate sleeping arrangements are necessary. Otherwise, toilets and showers at camp are single use. Lockable bathroom stalls can be used by all campers and staff as private changing spaces.
● Campers are group in living units by program group.
● For campers sleeping on site, each camper will be assigned their own bed. Beds are private spaces not shared with others. Campers have separate sleeping spaces from staff members. If a camper needs the attention of a staff member during the night, they will have access to the staff member’s sleeping area.
● For all council-run camp locations, some parts are ADA accessible, but not all parts are. Every camp has rustic locations on site. Our camp team is happy to discuss particulars for a specific camp location.
● Camp is often a busy and loud place. At times, it may be overwhelming for campers who are neurodivergent or have sensory issues. We will gladly talk through what to expect with you and your camper and can discuss accommodations to set them up for success.
● Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. Be sure to include camper dietary restrictions and needs in your camper’s required CampDoc paperwork and contact the camp director with any questions or concerns.
We want everyone to be successful, and we find that campers have the best experience if they can do the following:
● Be fully independent with personal hygiene (with reminders from staff)
● Use the bathroom, shower, and get dressed unassisted
● Live, shower, and dress in communal spaces. Privacy is an essential and fundamental right of everyone at camp, including in toilets, changing areas, and showers, which are single-occupancy. Typical of most public bathrooms, many single-occupancy bathroom stalls are located in one facility.
● Sleep in a room/tent/yurt with other people and/ or fall asleep without assistance. Our sleeping accommodations all hold multiple people; there is no situation in which a child will have their own room.
● Understand and follow verbal directions
● Understand and follow camp rules and expectations
● Be able to verbalize if they need assistance, are hungry, are hurt, etc.
● Be able to reasonably and age-appropriately selfregulate social and emotional needs
Campers should be willing to live and play in an indoor and outdoor camp setting, which includes rustic facilities, wildlife, insects, navigating uneven terrain, and daily exposure to sun, rain, and other weather conditions.
If your camper has physical restrictions and/or uses a wheelchair, crutches, braces, or similar assistive technology, please contact us so we can plan the best possible experience for them. While many programs can be modified to meet the specific needs of our campers, we are not equipped or staff to provide care for campers who need one-on-one assistance. Activities such as high challenge, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, and similar activities can be difficult to access for those with mobility challenges and have limited adaptations depending on the challenges faced.
To balance the demand for challenging activities and the safety and well-being of campers and staff we offer the following programs and activities, with restrictions as listed below.
If you have questions or concerns regarding a camper participating because of these restrictions or would like additional information, please contact us. We realize these restrictions may lead to sensitive conversations, and we welcome the opportunity speak in advance of your registration to discuss options and potential solutions. Please contact customercare@ girlscoutsgcnwi.org with any inclusion, accessibility, and accommodation questions or concerns.
Several of the activities at our facilities and with our off-site vendors use specialized equipment. This equipment is designed with the safety of the participant in mind and has manufacturerrecommended limitations to minimize the risk of injury to the participant. To ensure all participants can use
equipment safely, please refer to the appropriate camp information packet for camp-specific requirements.
In addition to these weight and height requirements, supplied harnesses and equipment must fit properly and securely. Fit will be evaluated by trained instructors.
All participants using watercrafts (including canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, sailboats, and rowboats) during council-sponsored programming are required to wear Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) at all times. Usage of watercraft is dependent on proper fit of supplied PFDs and will be evaluated by trained facilitators.
After registration, most communication from Girl Scouts GCNWI will be sent by email. Emails will be sent to the email address attached to the camper’s registration. If you are troop leader registering troop members for summer camp, please use the email address of the camper’s primary caregiver when adding the camper to your troop account so all email communication goes to that caregiver. Please make sure to check junk/spam folders for summer camp information and add the below emails to your safe sender lists.
Primary senders include:
● The camp director, email ending @girlscoutsgcnwi.org (See pages 10, 23 and 35 for camp director contact information)
● CampDoc, @campdoc.com
Upon successful registration, you will receive an email receipt of registration. If you do not see a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering, check your spam and junk folders before contacting us at customercare@ girlscoutsgcnwi.org. You can also find your receipt at any time by logging in to your registration account and viewing your transaction history.
In order to establish the best experience possible for all campers, we require additional health and personal information to be submitted after registration for day and overnight campers. Within three weeks of registering for camp, you will receive an email from campdoc.com to access and complete your camper’s profile.
Campers must have completed paperwork to attend camp.
Summer camp paperwork must be completed by May 1, 2025. If edits need to be made to camper paperwork after May 1, contact the respective camp director.
Every camper must have a health history on file to participate in summer camp. This is a mandatory part of your online camper paperwork.
Please note:
● Any medications to be taken while at camp must be approved on the “Over-the-Counter Medications” list or noted with details in the “Medications & Allergies” section.
● Campers with serious or life-threatening allergies must have a detailed allergy action plan on file. Please list any severe allergies or other important health information.
● Doctor’s physical requirement, overnight camp only: A physical must be filled out by a licensed physician and submitted to attend overnight camp. A Girl Scout physical form may be used or can be substituted for a current school or sports physical that was completed within 24 months of the last day of camper program attendance. Upload the form to the CampDoc online paperwork before May 1, 2025. After May 1, 2025, email customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org with a copy or bring a physical copy to camp (this will not be returned).
After registering for a summer camp program, be sure to reference the additional important information packet that is available on our website. Please be sure to review this packet in full, as it contains essential information about check-in and check-out, packing, and more that is specific to the respective camp.
What do my program fees cover?
Girl Scouts GCNWI council-led summer camps set camp fees based on the true cost of running the camp program. This includes staff salaries, food service, program and operational supplies, lodging, off-site trips (program-specific), a camp t-shirt, a summer camp 2025 fun patch, supplemental insurance, and other overhead costs.
Who supervises/takes care of my child at camp?
Girl Scouts GCNWI camp staff are responsible, enthusiastic people who are hired based on their interest and experience in working with youth in an outdoor setting. All staff complete an interview process, pass a background check, and attend 6-14 days of onsite camp training prior to camper arrival on-site. They are certified in CPR & First Aid and trained in outdoor skills, camp programming, child development, and how to facilitate an exceptional camper experience.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and embraces the unique perspectives employees have in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. Are special dietary needs and allergies accommodated?
We do our best to accommodate all special dietary needs and allergies. Make sure to fill out your CampDoc paperwork completely so we can best prepare for your camper.
What happens if my camper gets sick or injured while at camp?
Each camp has a health supervisor who will contact caregivers as needed, in addition to monitoring and administering first aid and routine health care.
Campers may not remain at camp with a fever, signs of a contagious condition, or signs of head lice. If a camper is sent home at check-in, they may return no sooner than 24 hours later with a signed letter from a physician stating they are in good health. Arrangements to attend a later session may also be made with the camp director if space is available.
What happens if there is bad weather at camp?
Programs are held rain or shine! If the weather is unusually hot or cold, activities are changed to keep campers safe. Weather alert radios are constantly monitored and there are designated storm shelters for each camp in cases of severe weather. Help your camper have a successful time at camp by checking and preparing for the weather prior to arrival.
How do I know which program is best for my child?
As a first step, we encourage you and your child to take our Camp Readiness Quiz on page 7 to help determine if a day or overnight camp program is the best fit for your child. Then check out our camp schedules and program offering to decide what dates and program theme works best for you!
What new skills will my camper learn?
Camp activities are age-based and progressive. This means that younger campers start off with easier and more manageable versions of certain camp activities like outdoor skills and boating. Progressive activities give campers an opportunity to build up their skills and confidence before aging into more challenging activities.
An example of our skills progression: To teach targeting skills, Daisies or Brownies may learn how to use sling shots or try out rock throwing, Juniors learn how to target the bullseye with bows and arrows, while Cadettes and older Girl Scouts perfect their skills through a series of archery challenges.
My child has never been to camp and doesn’t know anyone. Is this typical?
Yes! We see a mix of new and returning campers every week. Summer camp is a place to make new friends! Open to Girl Scouts from all over our council, summer camp programs are designed to facilitate individual campers connecting with each other. Camp brings kids of diverse experiences and backgrounds together and facilitates deep and lasting friendships.
Can I bring a friend to camp?
Yes! Individual campers may attend summer camp with a buddy.
● Campers may request one buddy when registering for camp.
● Both campers must request each other.
● Campers who have requested each other as buddies must be registered for the same program, during the same week/session of camp.
● Groups, troops, and multiple buddy requests are not guaranteed for summer camp programs.
I recruited a new camper! Do I get a patch for that?
Yes! If you recruit a new camper for a summer camp program at Camp Greene Wood, Camp Butternut Springs, or Camp Juniper Knoll, we have a patch for you! Be on the lookout for more information about how to get your patch after registering for camp.
What do you do if my camper is homesick?
Coming to camp may bring up feelings of “homesickness.” We consider this a normal, healthy occurrence, and refer to this as “missing home” to disassociate it from an illness. Learning to cope with missing home is a great life skill to learn, and we are well-equipped to help campers through this! If a camper is missing home, our counselors will listen empathetically, try to help them understand these feelings are natural, and then encourage them to get involved in camp activities because having fun and making friends are some of the best remedies for missing home.
You can help contribute to the success of your child at camp by encouraging them to have a great time. Experience tells us that within two or three days of arriving at camp, the camper will be busy having fun with new-found friends and their counselors. If your camper is missing home intensely, we will reach out to you to brainstorm together the best ways to support them.
Will my camper earn any Girl Scout badges at camp?
All Daisies will earn the Buddy Camper badge, Brownies will earn the Outdoor Adventurer badge, Juniors will earn the Camper badge, and Cadettes will earn the Archery badge. Depending on the theme of their program, campers may earn additional badges or complete partial steps toward earning a badge. All campers will go home at the end of the week with a badge card that lists what badges they have earned or badge steps they have completed. These badges are not provided by camp and must be purchased separately from the Girl Scout Shop
All campers, regardless of grade level, will get a 2025 summer camp fun patch and a rocker with the camp’s name on it at the end of their session. All campers who complete Program Aide training will get their PA pin and all campers who complete Counselor-in-Training will get their CIT pin at the end of their session. These are provided by camp.
I changed my mind! Can I transfer to a different program?
Transfers may be made at no charge for a similar program and are based on availability. Please contact customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org if you would like to request a transfer.
The program I want is full. Can I join a waitlist? If a program is full, join the waitlist by selecting the program in the registration system and clicking the “Join Waitlist” button. You will be contacted if a space becomes available, but joining a waitlist is not a guarantee of entry. We recommend registering for a different program in the meantime to ensure that you don’t miss out on the camp fun. We can transfer your camper if a spot opens in the waitlisted program.
What happens if not enough campers register for a program?
Girl Scouts GCNWI strives to be responsible with how we staff programs within our staffing budget and our ultimate goal is for every camper to have an amazing camp experience. If a program does not meet the minimum number of campers required to successfully and responsibly run the program, it will either be cancelled or combined with another program of a similar age level. In the event a program is cancelled due to low enrollment and no alternatives can be found, Girl Scouts GCNWI will provide a full refund of registration fees.
For even more summer camp information, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org/camp or contact Customer Care at 855-ILOVEGS (456-8347) or customercare@ girlscoutsgcnwi.org
All information in this brochure is correct as of December 15, 2024. Information and program availability subject to change.
Working at a Girl Scouts GCNWI summer camp is a big adventure. Not only do staff gain work experience, but they also learn outdoor and life skills to take with them in any future endeavor.
Real world benefits from working at camp include:
● Collaborate with fellow camp staff to deliver a program designed to build campers of courage, confidence, and character
● Express creativity developing innovative and fun ways to engage an audience of two to 200
● Problem-solve to encourage camper growth and prioritize safety and wellbeing
● Communicate with camp supervisors, staff, and campers through small and large group discussions, individual conversations, and writing weekly evaluations
● Lead campers of all ages through schedule planning, skill-building activities, and teambuilding activities
● Exercise excellent leadership by role modelling positive behaviors, responsibility, initiative, and good sportsmanship
● Make a positive difference in hundreds of lives and have fun outdoors while you do it!
Are you, or someone you know, up to the challenge? We are seeking hard-working, positive, enthusiastic, and caring adults ages 18+ at our summer day and overnight camp programs. Positions include camp counselors, food service, health care, lifeguards, and leadership roles.
Learn more about our paid summer camp jobs and apply today!