Summer Camp Guide 2023

You’ll Never Know ‘Til Ya Go!

DEAR CAMPERS AND CAREGIVERS,

We’re so excited for you to join us at camp!

My name is Liz, aka Fidget, and I’ll be joining you this summer as your Camp Director. As a Montana native and lifelong fan of the outdoors, I’m so excited to be a part of your summer of exploration and adventure with Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming.

Liz Evans/Fidget Camp Director GSMW

My favorite summer activities are rafting, hiking, and looking for cool rocks along the riverbank. I also love hanging out with friends and family, playing board games, and skiing all winter long!

At camp, you’ll often see me with my furry sidekick Teddy. Come say hi! I wish you a summer full of new friends, new experiences, and fresh mountain air, and we can't wait to meet you!

Do you want to get your adrenaline pumping while white water rafting, relax in a outdoor hammock with friends, have some exciting art-rageous fun with nature, or mine your own gems? All this plus more is waiting for you this summer. Can't decide what camp to go to? Our fun map will help find the adventure that awaits you.

Whether this is your first time at Girl Scout camp or you’re an experienced camper, Summer 2023 will be one for the books as you make new friends and memories to last a lifetime!

What amazing adventures, memories, and friendships await you this summer at camp—You’ll Never Know ‘Til Ya Go!

Elizabeth Evans

Camp Traditions

HAPPY CAMPER KIT — $25

New to camp this year is the Happy Camper Kit! Included with the 32 oz water bottle, campers will be given a variety* of fun and practical items for camp! Campers will also be allowed to choose a special SquishmallowTM once they arrive at camp. There are a limited amount of Happy Camper Kits available for purchase, so order soon while supplies last! *Design and color may differ.

9 SQUARE IN THE AIR

New to GSMW

Summer Camp—All campers will be able to enjoy this new game as they try to become the champion of the squares.

CAMPFIRE

The start and end of camp is honored around the campfire where campers sing songs, act out skits, and cherish their special memories from camp.

Water Bottle

HAMMOCK VILLAGE

Take a siesta and reflect on a day’s life lessons in our coziest spot yet!

Each day, campers unite to build character through the responsibility of tidying their cabins. The Camp Director awards the Dustpan to the cabin that has shown the greatest respect and responsibility.

$25 Stickers

kit!

SPIRIT STICK

Throughout the week, campers seek out the spirit stick to gain the ultimate reward of hosting the prized possession for the closing campfire.

TIE-DYE

We encourage every camper to bring a cotton t-shirt, pair of socks, pillowcase, or anything they want to splash with color!

COOKOUTS

Every week, weather and US Forest Service permitting, all GSMW campers get to cook their meal over an open fire.

than archery, campers say their favorite camp activity is Gaga Ball. This action-packed game gets the heart rate up while teaching strategy, fair play, and respect.

Scan here to Purchase a Camper

You’ll Never Know ‘Til Ya Go!

Find out which of our camps is the best fit for you! At our camps, campers build independence, self-confidence, and leadership skills. However, you can only reap these benefits if you are emotionally prepared for overnight camp.

Help prepare your camper by getting her outside regularly, having her stay at a relative’s home, or trying a sleepover or backyard campout at a friend’s house. When in doubt, there’s always an option to attend an early-season GO Camp, Troop Camp, or Try-It Camp, and then decide about a full week.

Follow the path below to find your perfect camp!

Have you ever camped before?

Enjoy staying at a friends house?

Can you brush your teeth & wash your hair?

The Weekend Warriors: GO Camp

The Weekend Warriors: Troop Camp

Can leave electronics at home for 3 days?

Sounds like you are ready for solo adventures!

What if you know them?

Would you describe yourself as...

Adventurous and Open-Minded

Curious and Imaginitive

Do you love to build?

Do you see a problem and want to solve it?

Do you like to create plans?

Want to learn about being a hero?

Would you spend your day doing crafts?

Are you curious about the natural world?

Are you curious about your mind?

Camper Readiness

Examples of what to pack:

• Clothing: A sweatshirt, pajamas, t-shirts, shorts, underwear, a pair of pants, socks, raincoat, and hat.

• Footwear: Tennis shoes, shower shoes.

• Personal Items: Shower items, toothbrush and toothpaste, sunscreen, bug spray, comb/brush, hairband/hair ties, lip balm, feminine hygiene products, and deodorant.

• Equipment: Sleeping bag, pillow with case, flashlight, water bottle, and a backpack.

• Optional: Notebook or journal and pens, disposable camera, postcards with postage, and sunglasses.

*A complete packing list will be sent with the confirmation packet.

Summer Camp Tips From GSUSA

For fun video tips, check out GSUSA’s “Ultimate Summer Camp Hacks from the Pros” on YouTube. You’ll find videos that prepare you for packing, making friends, staying healthy, and much more at: www.youtube.com/user/ Girlscoutvideos/playlists

The Innovators (Try-It)

The Resourceful (Try-It)

The Wonderers (Try-It)

Meet our new staff member

MEET TEDDY

GSMW is excited to introduce you to our newest staff member, Teddy, an emotional support animal and Therapy Dog in training.

Teddy (a Goldendoodle who belongs to Camp Director, Liz – aka Fidget) is very excited to meet everyone at camp!

During the summer, Teddy enjoys going for long hikes, stick hunting along rivers, relaxing under trees, and hanging out with all of his human and four-legged friends!

What are the benefits of having a therapy dog?

Numerous research studies have shown the benefits of therapy dogs working with children. They have been working across the nation for quite some time and have had great success in schools and camps.

Research studies show that the benefits include:

» Improve self-esteem, uplift mood, and often provoke laughter

» Relieve anxiety and feelings of homesickness

» Teach compassion and respect for other living things

» Provide a positive topic for discussion and focused interaction with others

Teddy has completed training that helps him to remain calm and gentle with children. This training will continue to take place as long as he is a Certified Therapy Dog.

He was chosen for this position partially because of his coat type. Goldendoodles do not shed as much as other dog breeds. Another benefit of being at camp is that most interactions with Teddy will be outside, where the dander will not accumulate. Finally, Teddy will only interact with those campers who choose to interact with him. Please let staff know upon check-in if your camper is allergic.

If you have any questions regarding Teddy’s job at camp, please email: camp@gsmw.org with the subject: “Camp Dog”

Summer Camp Programs

GSMW Summer Camp Programs

The next few pages show descriptions for all the adventures that you can choose from. Make sure to look closely at your pathway section.

P ick a theme that interests you, then check the calendar pages for the specific dates, prices, and age groups for the camps available at each location.

A Day in the Life of a Camper

THE EXTREME ADVENTURERS

Mountain Expedition

Calling all Girl Scouts ready to step into a week of adventure. Campers will show their resilience as they practice climbing to new heights and paddling down rushing rivers. They’ll also enjoy a horseback ride through the wilderness of Montana. Girls will spend a day at each camp exploring a nearby trail with everything they need on their backs.

Extreme Exploration

Calling all older girls ready to step up their adventure game! Spend your week rafting on the pristine mountain rivers, climbing to new heights, and exploring the Montana landscape from the back of a horse. At Camp Castle Rock, campers will add a day of cave exploration to their bucket list.

THE WONDERERS

Mindfulness in the Mountains

During this week at camp, you will breathe in the fresh mountain air as you explore what it means to be mindful. Whether you are enjoying a yoga session, relaxing with meditation, or lounging in a hammock, you will leave camp feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Campers will also try their hand at creating facial masks and lip balm.

Art-Rageous

Get ready for an art-rageously fun week as campers release their inner artists! Campers will be inspired by nature as they explore different ways to create art—from painting and sketching to using pine boughs as nature’s paintbrush. Campers will have the opportunity to use different mediums to release their artistic magic.

THE RESOURCEFUL

Berry Picking

Camp Hero

Girl Scouting is all about building courage, confidence, and character; real-life heroes display these characteristics every day. During this camp, campers will overcome challenges alongside these experts as they learn what it takes to become a hero. Campers will explore their inner hero through activities such as using a fire extinguisher, working with search and rescue, basic first aid, and so much more!

Survive the Wild

What would happen if you and your friends were lost in the mountains, could you survive? This camp is all about developing your outdoor skills to ensure that you are always prepared for the unexpected. Campers will learn to purify their drinking water pulled from a creek. They’ll learn to build a fire and shelter to stay warm and dry. They will also use their new orienteering skills to navigate their way around camp.

THE INNOVATORS

See It, Think It, Build It

It’s time for girls to put on their thinking caps and dive into the world of engineering. Each day campers will take on exciting design challenges. Girl Scouts will be encouraged to think outside of the box and practice their problem-solving skills all while working to solve real-world problems that they discover around them!

Tech It Out

Join us for this one-week camp at Camp Sacajawea as we explore the 'T' in STEM. Campers will be given the opportunity for hands-on learning with a variety of different technologies. Girl Scouts will program a robot to navigate a maze, create their own 3D-printed designs, and even begin to create their own video game!

Rocks and Gems and Minerals, Oh My!

Join us for this one-week camp at Camp Castle Rock as we explore all things rocks and minerals! Butte is known as the “Richest Hill on Earth” and your campers will know why by the end of this week. Campers will have the opportunity to go 100 feet down into a mine shaft, see minerals that glow in the dark, and mine their own gems!

THE EXTRAORDINAIRES

Spy Academy

Join an elite group of recruits at Camp Sacajawea lurking in the shadows, preparing for top-secret missions. No one really knows who they are or what they’re up to. Days will be filled with top-secret briefings and activities that put your spy skills and street smarts to the test. With the help of Casper Police, learn how to fingerprint, read a tread print, and work a crime scene.

Silver Spurs

GSMW and Reach 4A Star partner for another great summer full of horseback riding skills and adventure. Campers will study horse anatomy and health as well as learn how to manage a horse barn. This camp aims to build a relationship with a horse, control the horse while walking and trotting, learn introductory horse care skills, and barn management. Along with spending four hours a day at the horse corral, campers will get to experience the traditional side of camp including, campfire, songs, games, and crafts.

THE WEEKEND WARRIORS

Troop Camp

. Troops must include two registered adults with approved background checks and meet GSUSA’s required adult-to-girl ratios.

. Troop leaders can register their whole Troop at once! All registrants pay the same fees.

. Adults are expected to participate in activities and supervise their Troop campers.

. Adults will have separate sleeping quarters from campers.

Calling all Troops who are ready to take on camp! Bring your friends and come join the camp staff for a weekend filled with fun! Spend your day hiking around camp, building survival shelters, and working together as a team. Troops will also strengthen their bond while creating new friendships around the craft table, where they will have a chance to create classic camp crafts. Round out your day with a traditional campfire, filled with songs, skits, and stories.

GO Camp

. GO Campers must be accompanied by a female adult companion who is a registered Girl Scout volunteer with an approved background check, registered for the camp, and 18 years old or older.

. The number of registrants will determine the availability of mother-daughter cabins. Please prepare for adults to have separate sleeping quarters from campers.

GO Camp: Camper's Choice

Campers at this easy-going weekend camp will experience camp traditions and ceremonies with their favorite female adult. Bring along a mother, auntie, family friend, or grandma! Spend two nights at Girl Scout camp, and choose the activities you want to do the most. Adults, this is a wonderful opportunity to escape life’s hustle and bustle so you can focus on your Girl Scout! Perhaps the two of you will go for a hike, build your own survival shelter, or create a unique camp craft. New outdoor and craft opportunities abound. What will you do? The choice is all yours!

GO Camp: Nature Close-Up

Once again GSMW is partnering with the Montana Natural History Center (MNHC) to provide this GO camp at Camp Castle Rock for all nature lovers. Did you know that some plants are edible or that we have natural sunscreen at camp? Attend this camp to discover all the amazingly wonderful things that nature can teach us. Campers will spend the day exploring camps with naturalists from MNHC who specialize in teaching about nature. Don’t miss out on all this fun and the traditions of camp like campfires and s’mores.

Older Girl Program Opportunities

OLDER GIRL PROGRAMS

Calling all older Girl Scouts who are looking for something different than traditional resident camp, these programs are for you! The dates, location, and pricing can be found below each camp description. (Changes have been identified by a mark.)

Swim, Splash, and Sail

Beginning sailors will learn the basics of sailing, water safety, and rescue. Each day, campers will learn how to sail their boats. Half the day, too, will be spent at the waterfront where campers can swim, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, learn water safety and rescue, and play in the water to their heart’s content. Returning campers are welcome!

July 30 - Aug 4 6-12

Canoe and You

We’re packing it up and heading out of camp. Learn backcountry camping techniques, then put your new skills to the test on a two-night Missouri River canoe trip! You bring a sense of adventure and we’ll provide the rest, no gear – no problem! You’ll learn all of the skills needed for your adventure; canoe paddle strokes, meal planning, campsite preparation, Leave No Trace, and more! Upon registering, you will be sent an application and a phone interview will be scheduled.

Dates

Aug 6-10 7-12 Helena, MT

The Idaho Bike Adventure

$375/$400

Explore the Historic Hiawatha Railroad Trail and ride more than 100 miles across the scenic Idaho panhandle on your bike. Beginning at Look Out Pass, the bikers will bike and tent camp for five nights. On Friday, they will conclude their biking adventure with a fun-filled day at Silverwood Theme Park. Transportation will be provided from Helena or Missoula, Montana. Girls must provide their own bike and will need to have it checked over by a certified technician. The certified bike technician should perform a safety inspection and ensure the bike is ride ready. Upon registering, you will be sent an application and a phone interview will be scheduled.

Dates

June 25-30 7-12

Please Note: All grade requirements listed above reflect your girl's grade in the Fall of 2023.

Glacier National Park Service Adventure

Take action this summer and earn the National Park Service Resource Stewardship and Glacier Park Girl Scout Ranger patches. To earn both patches, girls will perform a total of 15 hours of service and citizen science observations. Work projects will focus on preservation, conservation, and protection of the Park and the nearby ecosystems. Girl Scouts will work alongside Glacier National Park staff, performing service projects that may include removal of non-native plants, counting huckleberries, or painting historic structures.

During non-service hours, girls will hike, splash, attend ranger talks, and learn camping skills. Campers get to sleep in tents, and units will take turns cooking outdoor meals. GSMW can supply some of the camping gear, so come out and give this service adventure a try!

Families are responsible for transporting their girls to Glacier National Park near West Glacier. After registration, girls will receive a confirmation letter with directions to the campground, a park entrance pass, and a packing and preparation list. During the program, GSMW will provide transportation within the park.

(Changes to the dates below are tentative until confirmed)

July 11-14 6-12

Glacier National Park $130/$155

Please Note: All grade requirements listed above reflect your girl's grade in the Fall of 2023.

Leadership Programs

GSMW Leadership Programs

Designed to teach participants to role model Girl Scout Leadership. Camp Aides, CITs, and Junior Counselors will gain leadership skills by encouraging an inclusive community; leading games, songs, and activities; facilitating group conversations; and managing peer relationships. Leadership program participants will enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes look at the wonders of GSMW’s summer camps. At the end of the program, Camp Aides, CITs, and Junior Counselors will receive certificates of completion – a great supplement to resumes and college applications. All Leadership Programs require an online application. The application will be posted at: www.gsmw.org/camp. After applying, campers will receive an email with directions on how to register for their Leadership Program. Please DO NOT register without applying first! To enhance this year’s leadership camps, we will only host a few specific weeks to choose from. This way, campers can participate in the Leadership Programs with their peers! As we all know, learning is enhanced in a collaborative setting.

For GSMW’s Summer Camp Leadership Programs, we are looking for Seniors and Ambassadors with these qualifications:

• Ability to get along well with others

• Desire to be a role model for younger Girl Scouts

• High energy!

• Passion for the outdoors

• Strong work ethic

• Maturity

Camp Aide

This program is open to any Girl Scout entering 9th grade or older in the fall of 2023. Camp Aides spend their days working with campers, aiding staff, leading songs and games, and learning valuable leadership skills. Participants will help to lead programs while receiving valuable guidance and feedback from counselors and directors.

Counselor-In-Training

CIT I: Learn to create lesson plans, develop behavior management strategies, and improve camping skills. After an initial training period with one of the program directors, CIT I participants will put their lessons into action with their assigned unit.

CIT II: This special leadership opportunity is available to Girl Scouts who have completed the CIT I program. In CIT II, the camper will partner with one of our camp directors to delve deeper into the camp leadership experience. They will also lead songs and games and develop more detailed activities for their assigned camp unit.

Junior Counselors

Campers who LOVE camp or have their eye on camp employment can apply to become Junior Counselors at GSMW summer camp. Junior Counselors will help facilitate a week of camp. The Junior Counselor program is open to those entering 11th or 12th grade who have completed CIT I and II. This program is a great way to prepare to be a Camp Counselor after high school! Junior Counselors are strongly encouraged to attend more than one week of the program.

Registration Details

• Wednesday, April 19: Camp selection for 2023 Cookie Reward Earners

» Did you know that selling 1,000 boxes of cookies earns you one FREE session of camp?

» Girl Scout cookie earners can earn up to two camps that can be redeemed in 2023!

• Wednesday, April 26: Early Bird Registration opens. Visit www.gsmw.org/camp to register!

• Wednesday, May 10: Full Price Registration begins. Visit www.gsmw.org/camp to register!

• At the time of registration: A $50 deposit is due for week-long and Try-It camps; Full payment is due for weekend camps.

How Does Online Registration Work?

When registration opens, please follow the links found at www.gsmw.org/camp to begin the registration process. You’ll then register for your camp, pay a deposit, and provide any additional

Keep an eye on your email for additional instructions, reminders, and confirmation

For help with registration, please contact GSMW’s Customer Care at 406-252-0488 or customercare@gsmw.org.

Can I get a refund?

Individual Registration Refund Policy:

If a camper needs to cancel for medical reasons, a full refund will be given with a family’s written request and council approval.

If a camper needs to cancel more than two weeks prior to camp, the $50 deposit is non-refundable, but camp fees may be applied to another camp session if available or may be refunded.

If a camper needs to cancel within two weeks before camp, the $50 deposit is non-refundable and 50% of the remaining camp fee will be refunded upon the family’s written request.

. Discounts or refunds won’t be given for campers that show up late or leave early.

Troop/GO Registration Refund Policy:

. If a registered group needs to cancel more than two weeks prior to camp, there will be a $50 cancellation fee applied and the remaining balance refunded.

. If a registered group needs to cancel within two weeks before camp, 50% of the group’s total camp fees will be refunded upon the family/leader’s written request.

. If an individual in a registered group needs to cancel within two weeks before camp, 50% of the individual’s camp fee will be refunded upon the family/leader’s written request. If canceling due to a medical reason, a full refund will be given with a family/leader’s written request and council approval.

. Discounts or refunds won’t be given for campers that show up late or leave early.

Timbercrest Camp

Red Lodge, MT

Timbercrest Camp, nestled in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, stretches across forty acres running along the pristine West Fork of Rock Creek. A grassy meadow unfolds on the property, and shady pine trees pepper the landscape. Boulders are scattered across the hillside in a canyon that leads to Wild Bill Lake. Enjoy the historic log cabin program facilities, the rustic sleeping cabins, and the tipis. The camp is located near Beartooth Pass, the picturesque northeast entrance to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Week-Long Camps

Please Note: All grade requirements listed above reflect your girl's grade in the Fall of 2023.

Camp Castle Rock

Butte, MT

Just south of “Butte, America,” among the rolling hills and aspen groves of the Little Basin Valley, lies historical Camp Castle Rock. Across from the lodge, a newly constructed amphitheater is filled with the sounds of laughing Girl Scouts. At the center of the camp stands the beautiful log lodge built in the 1920s. Camp Castle Rock maintains the natural playground of decades past while undergoing several phases of planned improvements, including; native plants near new cabins and interpretive signs along the new hiking trails.

Please Note: All grade requirements listed above reflect your girl's grade in the Fall of 2023.

Camp Sacajawea

Casper, WY

High atop Casper Mountain, you’ll find Camp Sacajawea. The camp sits on 180 acres of forested vistas. A land that is entrenched in Wyoming history and lore, the first camp at Camp Sac was held in 1936. While the old camp used only classic wall tents, we’ve since added a modern lodge, a spacious art barn, and cozy yurts. Camp Sacajawea is a special place offering activities we can’t offer at any other location. It is here where our horse camps, Silver Spurs, have inspired many a young horseback rider.

Week-Long Camps

Please Note: All grade requirements listed above reflect your girl's grade in the Fall of 2023.

(Changes have been identified by a mark.)

Frequently Asked Questions

My camper has special accommodations, how can I tell camp staff?

We want all of our campers to have the most successful week at camp. If your camper has any dietary restrictions, learning differences, health needs, or need for accommodations, please contact us (at least two weeks before camp) at: customercare@gsmw.org. Together, we can discuss your camper’s needs to determine the best course of action to ensure a safe and successful camp experience.

What if there’s bad weather?

Scan for a full list of FAQ's

Our outdoor activities depend on good weather. In the case of bad weather (lightning, thunder, or high winds), it may become too dangerous to continue the activity. Our primary concern is for the campers’ safety. Our staff are trained on what to do during inclement weather and have great indoor activities up their sleeves to entertain for hours!

How can a Girl Scout pay for camp?

There are a number of ways to pay for summer camp:

. Earn money, with Troop agreement, through our Fall Product and Cookie Programs.

. Girl Scout Gift Cards can be used to pay for camps and Happy Camper Kits.

. After participating in the Fall Product and Cookie Programs, apply for additional money-earning opportunities. Contact GSMW for more information.

. Tried and true, save allowance or other non-Girl Scout earnings to pay for camp. Start saving early, and your piggy banks will fill up just in time for registration.

FREE Camp!? Tell me more about “Cookie Reward Earners”

Girl Scouts who sell 1,000 or more packages of cookies become “Cookie Reward Earners”. Not only do these top sellers get to attend any camp session of their choice for FREE, but they also get to pick their camp themes one week before registration opens to other campers. Cookie Reward Earner camp selection opens Wednesday, April 19th.

. Girl Scouts can earn up to two camps that can be redeemed only by the Cookie Earner.

. Camp choices are on a first come basis, so be sure you get your camp selection submitted ASAP as spots are limited.

When do camps start and end?

*Exact check-in and check-out times can be found in your confirmation packets*

. Check-in generally happens in the late afternoon around 4:00 pm for week-long and 6:00 pm for weekend camps.

. Check-out is generally between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.

Where can I find my confirmation packet?

. Can be found at www.gsmw.org/camp

. A hard copy will be mailed and generally arrives around 10 days prior to your camp.

Why don’t adults sleep in cabins with campers?

Campers can make new bonds with their peers and gain independence when they sleep in separate quarters from their caregivers. Unrelated adults should never be alone with unrelated youths. Therefore, GSMW requires separate sleeping quarters for adults (staff or volunteers) and campers. GSMW summer camps can offer mother-daughter cabins or tents depending on the number of camp registrants. If registration numbers are high, however, we must separate family groups. All adults attending camp must be registered Girl Scout volunteers with an approved background check.