GIRLS EXPERIENCE THE JOY AND

A Message From Peggy Brothers

Irecently realized that Girl Scouts has been a part of my life for 50 years! I was a Girl Scout for nine years, a volunteer for six years, and I have been an employee for 35 years. WOW, that’s a lot of years!! And I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything in the world.

Attending camp was a very important part of my Girl Scout experience as a girl. There were many things at camp that challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I knew I had the support of great counselors who supported me every step of the way.

As an adult, I became a troop leader and was a volunteer summer camp leader at Camp Pokanoka for several years. It was one summer 35 years ago, while I was serving as a volunteer lifeguard, that I learned of an open membership specialist staff position with Girl Scouts. I hadn’t realized that employment opportunities were an option with Girl Scouts, but this came at a time when I was ready to make a career change, so I jumped at the opportunity and my Girl Scout journey as a fulltime staff member began.

In all that I have done over the course of my time with the council, my heart has always been with outdoor programming. I have engaged with thousands of girls and their families at camp over the past several decades and one of the things that brings me the greatest joy is when an adult woman comes with her daughter by her side, and she reminds me that I was her camp counselor 30 years ago and how excited she is to have her daughter experience camp for the first time.

These moments remind me that camp is more than cabins, camp songs, and cooking outdoors. It is about creating memories that girls will take with them for a lifetime.

Peggy Brothers

Assistant Vice President Camp Program and Property

Meet Our Camp staff

Each year, more than 3,000 girls come to GCNWI camps, which include Camp Butternut Springs (Valparaiso, IN), Camp Greene Wood (Woodridge, IL), Camp Juniper Knoll (East Troy, WI), and Camp Palos (Palos Park, IL).

Summertime is our busiest season, and 40 staff members help keep everything running smoothly. The camp team’s mission is to engage all girls in progressive and experiential outdoor experiences to build confident, capable leaders and outdoor advocates, and empower adults to support girls in their efforts. Camp teams prepare all year long to ensure that girls are safe and that our programs provide girls with new outdoor experiences, opportunities to create lasting memories with friends, and—most importantly—have FUN!!

One of the unique aspects of our camp program is the opportunity to have international staff join the team. This year, we have 20 team members from six different foreign countries including Mexico, Colombia, England, Ireland, Australia, and Scotland. These team members bring different perspectives, high energy, and diversity to our camp experience.

Our camp teams are comprised of camp directors, camp counselors, counselors in training, maintenance and grounds crews, nursing staff, and special activities leaders–all of whom are enthusiastic about helping girls have the best camp experience possible.

Meet our amazing camp directors!