Camp Kaufmann Get Outdoors Guide: Summer 2023

Girl Scouts of Greater New York

40 Wall Street, Suite 708

New York, NY 10005

www.girlscoutsnyc.org

Camp Staff Directory

• Kristen Glass, Camp Director

• Beka Norton, Assistant Camp Director

• Maggie Vasquez, Vice President of Programs

• Jim Barry, Camp Ranger

• Steve Gomez, Property Manager

campkaufmann@girlscoutsnyc.org

The best method of communication is email. Please email customercare@ girlscoutsnyc.org. For immediate assistance, please call 212-645-4000.

Camp Kaufmann is owned and operated by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Inc. and is fully accredited by the American Camp Association. The Girl Scouts of Greater New York abides by the program and safety standards of GSUSA and the New York State and Dutchess County Departments of Health.

Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try: To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

*Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Table of Contents

About Camp Kaufmann

Camp Kaufmann is located in Holmes, New York, just over the Dutchess County border, 70 miles north of midtown Manhattan. With over 425 acres of rolling hills, the property offers a beautiful landscape.

You may notice a fenced off area at camp where there is ongoing construction. We are in the process of building Girl HQ, a brand-new dining hall and activity center for the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. The anticipated date of completion is November 2023.

This summer, Camp Kaufmann is offering two types of experiences: Day Trips and Troop Camping. Both new and experienced campers are welcome!

Facilities include a lake for boating and fishing, a pool, several hiking trails, an art pavilion, and a climbing wall. Camp Kaufmann is the perfect place for Girl Scouts to learn a new skill, appreciate nature, experience leadership roles, enjoy the outdoors, make lifelong friendships, and learn to make the world a better place!

Benefits of Camp

What makes camp such a special experience? Here are some of the top reasons that kids, counselors, troop leaders, and parents return to Camp

Kaufmann year after year:

• Explore nature

• Develop outdoor skills

• Unplug from technology

• Escape the noise of the city

• Spend time outside

• Make lifelong friends

• Experience something new

• Become part of a community

• Practice social skills

• Educate & inspire others to protect the planet

Join us for your summer of fun!

Day Trips

Caregivers and troop leaders are invited to bring their Girl Scouts of all ages to Camp Kaufmann for day trips in July and early August.

All day trips are $35 per person (both Girl Scouts and adults) and include programming from 10am - 3pm, lunch, and a fun patch. Confirmation packets with trip details will be sent after registration.

Family Fun Adventure Day

Saturday, July 8th

Calling all families! Get ready for a day of pure joy and outdoor fun on our Family Fun Adventure Day! Engage in a variety of exciting activities designed to create unforgettable moments and strengthen family bonds. From aquatic adventures to creative crafts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Embrace the spirit of fun, laughter and connection as you create memories that will last a lifetime—register today!

Outdoor Art Adventure Day

Saturday, July 15th

Unleash your creativity and connect with nature on our Outdoor Art Adventure Day! Find artistic inspiration in the natural world through painting, drawing, and crafting with materials from Mother Nature. Reserve your spot now and experience the magic of making art in the great outdoors!

Wild West Adventure Day

Saturday, July 22nd

Saddle up for an action-packed Wild West Adventure Day! Calling all Girl Scouts and their special male caregivers for an unforgettable «He & Me» patch opportunity (not required). Experience thrilling challenges, embark on nature adventures, and ignite your imagination with cowboy-themed fun. It will be a day filled with camaraderie, exploration, and excitement, so reserve your spot now. Yee-haw!

Peace, Love, and Nature Day

Saturday, August 5th

Embrace peace, love, and the beauty of nature on our Peace, Love, and Nature Day! Immerse yourself in a groovy experience as you explore the outdoors, sing songs around the campfire, and play field games with a Woodstock vibe. Spread the love and reserve your spot now for an adventure that will leave you feeling connected to nature and to each other!

Sample Day Trip Schedule

9:30 – 10 AM Arrival, Check-in, Paperwork, and Safety Talk

10 AM Sharp Welcome & Morning Activity #1

11 AM Morning Activity #2

12 noon Lunch & Shop

1 – 2:45 PM Afternoon Activities

2:45 – 3 PM Closing Circle, Patch, & Dismissal

Transportation

Transportation is not included, but there are several ways to get to camp:

Drive: Carpool with Girl Scout friends! Directions will be included in the confirmation packet.

Take the Metro North Railroad: Take the Harlem line from Grand Central Terminal to Patterson station, then grab a taxi to camp (about 10-15 minutes from the station). For taxi service, please call 845-225-2525.

Book a coach bus for your troop: You may use any coach bus available as long as they provide you with a certificate of liability for $5 million and have GSGNY as the certificate holder. Forward all certificates to customercare@girlscoutsnyc.org.

Troop Camping

This unique opportunity, typically only offered in the fall and spring, is for troop leaders and their Girl Scout troops. For individual sign-ups, please see the Day Trips section.

Troop camping is available this summer at Camp Kaufmann!

Under the guidance of camp-trained troop leaders, Girl Scout troops have the opportunity to learn new outdoor and leadership skills, develop an appreciation for nature, and have a fun weekend away with their friends. It’s a wonderful way to create community with your troop and try something new together!

The Lake Houses and the Hillcrest Troop House will be available for troop camping each weekend from Friday night to Sunday morning (up to 72 hours). The troop is responsible for planning their transportation, meals, and activities. Each troop will be able to book two outdoor classrooms. Outdoor classrooms are certified activities led by the camp staff.

Registration is ongoing and closes two weeks prior to each of the available weekends:

Friday, July 7th – Sunday, July 9th

Friday, July 14th – Sunday, July 16th

Friday, July 21st – Sunday, July 23rd

Friday, July 28th – Sunday, July 30th

Friday, August 4th – Sunday, August 6th

Friday, August 11th – Sunday, August 13th

Register now!

Troop Leader Preparation

Each house must have at least one adult who has completed the following trainings:

• First Aid and CPR training

• Outdoor Adventures: Sleep Out! (available on gsLearn, accessed through “MY GS” portal)

To make campfires on your own, one adult must have also completed the Outdoor Adventures: Camp Out training this past winter or spring. If no adults in the troop have taken this training, please book an Outdoor Classroom campfire and a certified staff member will assist you.

And if you’re planning any recreational activities, don’t forget to review the Safety Activity Checkpoints before your trip!

Lodging

There are three Lake Houses and one Troop House available for troop camping. Hillcrest, Silverbirch, and Berlin sleep 20 people; Carola sleeps 19.

The cost of each house is $300 for the weekend. No outdoor units will be available for troop camping this summer.

All houses are equipped with:

• Electricity

• Two bathrooms with flush toilets

• Hot/cold water showers

• Full kitchen with refrigerator and stove, stocked with pots, dishware and utensils

• An area with tables and chairs for dining or craft activities

• Bunk beds and single beds

• Fire circle

You can also order your food to be delivered directly to your house!

Want to learn more? Take our virtual tour!

Outdoor Classrooms

Troops may choose to enhance their camping experience by booking outdoor classrooms. Once your troop has booked their house for the weekend, a separate link will be shared with the troop leader to book these outdoor classrooms.

Outdoor classrooms are limited to two per house per weekend and will be approved two weeks prior to your troop’s selected weekend, pending certified staff availability and weather conditions. Troops may be grouped together to meet a minimum ratio and to make new Girl Scout friends!

Outdoor Classrooms Overview

Schedule At-a-Glance

Troop Camping

Friday, July 7th – Sunday, July 9th

Friday, July 14th – Sunday, July 16th

Friday, July 21st – Sunday, July 23rd

Friday, July 28th – Sunday, July 30th

Friday, August 4th – Sunday, August 6th

Friday, August 11th – Sunday, August 13th

Day Trips

Sat, 7/8 Family Fun Adventure Day

Sat, 7/15 Outdoor Art Adventure Day

Sat, 7/22 Wild West Adventure Day

Sat, 8/5 Peace, Love, and Adventure Day

PEACE GARDEN

WESTOVER STAFF OFFICE

OHRBACH

LAKE CAROLA

FOREST HAVEN

Staff Buildings

JOURNEY’S END

Troop & Lake Houses

Outdoor Units

ARCHERY RANGE

HERB GARDEN GREENHOUSE

ELEANOR EDSON

CEDAR KNOLL

IRVING BERLIN

SILVERBIRCH

CAROLA

Rustic Unit

Expectations and Camp Policies

All Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders attending Camp Kaufmann are expected to be registered members of the Girl Scouts. We strongly encourage all caregivers and trip chaperones accompanying a troop to become registered members of GSGNY. To maintain the health and safety of all campers, the Girl Scouts of Greater New York has mandated the following policies:

• Alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, and firearms are not permitted on camp property under any circumstances.

• The docks, waterfront, pool area, frog pond, boats, canoes, and ropes/challenge course are off limits unless supervised by camp staff.

• All health and safety regulations put into place by camp must be followed. This includes but is not limited to wearing masks when required, physical distancing, temperature checks upon arrival, etc.

• Children are the sole responsibility of the attending adults. The adults responsible for their welfare must supervise children at all times. Supervision means children are within eye contact of adults.

• An adult must supervise children while using the playground. In addition, the playground equipment must be used for its intended purpose.

• Day trip visitors cannot have campfires or light fires in fireplaces.

• Smoking is permitted in designated areas only.

• Candles or other flammable substances are not permitted.

• Cars are not permitted beyond the parking lot.

Violations of any of the above camp policies may result in immediate dismissal from camp property and suspension from use of Camp Kaufmann for one year. The Girl Scouts of Greater New York reserves the right to search all suspect packages on Camp Kaufmann property.

How to Register

Visit our website, or go directly to CampBrain, our online camp registration platform.

Financial Assistance

If you need financial aid, be sure to check the appropriate box during the registration check-out. Our camp staff will follow up with you if they have any questions.

Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough or Cookie Credits that Girl Scouts earned during Cookie Season can be applied to your Camp Kaufmann experience. Please email customercare@girlscoutsnyc.org with any questions.

Questions

The best method of communication is email. You can email us at customercare@girlscoutsnyc.org or campkaufmann@girlscoutsnyc.org.

For immediate assistance, please call 212-645-4000.

About Girl HQ

Girl HQ will serve the needs of Girl Scouts today and into the future!

Girl Scouts of Greater New York has embarked on our largest, most exciting project to date: the construction of Girl HQ at Camp Kaufmann, our 425-acre facility in Dutchess County.

Cookie Hall, our former camp dining hall and activity center, was built in 1960. The unheated structure was suitable only for warm-weather programs and was inadequate to provide programming for an ever-increasing number of campers.

Girl HQ will be a modern, flexible, and welcoming environment that meets the needs of today’s Girl Scouts. The new building will serve as the camp’s year-round welcome center, dining hall, kitchen, gathering place, and educational space, providing breakout rooms for STEM, arts & crafts, and other essential indoor activities and services. To be completed in November 2023, Girl HQ will provide Girl Scouts visiting Camp Kaufmann with the experience they deserve!