First time Girl scout camper

[Diabolicdesire]

Dropped DD off and all seemed well. When we had went to the open house the girls were told they would be in tents but when we got there they were actually in a cabin. They had mixed emotions about it but I'm sure they will be fine.

My daughter had 3 friends and they all ended up in the same cabin with her which was great. They are allowed to request one buddy but we had noted to put them all together if possible and they did. The cabin sleeps 6 so they will be with two girls they do not know which is great cause while I'm glad she's with her friends I'd also like her to make some new ones.

It was sooooo HOT though. I am so glad I sent a fan, as did the other moms. I helped her set up her bed and thought I was gonna pass out It was so hot. I was really tempted to go get her some more batteries and drop them off just in case. Hopefully they have them at the trading post if she needs them.

I will def miss her this week! can't wait to get a letter I packed her a care package with some pens, stationary, stamps, a few games, a book light and a notebook she could write in. (I love the Dollar Tree) I'm really excited she's getting this experience and will need to start a "camp" fund so I know I can afford to send her next summer!

 

[nchulka]

My DD8 just got back from her first week long sleep away camp yesterday. She loved it, and as her first letter stated, wasn't homesick at all One tip I learned about sending letters, put some candy/gum in it. I wrote to her a couple of times and put airheads and sticks of gum in the letter. My mom put fruit roll ups and werthers in hers. When she got home she was super excited about all the candy she had gotten, she usually does not get to eat much candy. I see a few peoples kids are going to camp Tuckaho, that is just about 20 minutes from my house! My DD has gone to day things there, but the camp she went to was a Bible camp.

 

[descovy]

I girl scouts! I was one and a leader as an adult, my mom was a leader, her mom was a leader....

Interesting to see what other camps cost across the US cost--here in Texas my daughter leaves next Sunday to Friday for $350. It's in a cabin, but nothing fancy (no horses or boating)--she wanted to try out OWL PROWL. She gets to stay up all night and sleep all day!

I tried to explain to her that there will be other sessions going on where the girls are at regular camp in other cabins (meaning they'll be loud all day then try to sleep at night; she'll be doing the opposite).


I'm curious how it'll work

And that's a GREAT idea about letters for each day! Tomorrow I'm going to go down the supply list... permissions slips, etc...

Are you talking Agnes Arnold in Conroe? (I see you are in TX) My dd10 just did Owl Prowl there and had a great time. They were on the opposite side of camp (fishing village) from the others. They would stay up until 2am. Breakfast was served at Midnight. Then they'd sleep late and meet up with the general population at lunch...

 

[Disneycrazymom]

My DD8 just got back from her first week long sleep away camp yesterday. She loved it, and as her first letter stated, wasn't homesick at all One tip I learned about sending letters, put some candy/gum in it. I wrote to her a couple of times and put airheads and sticks of gum in the letter. My mom put fruit roll ups and werthers in hers. When she got home she was super excited about all the candy she had gotten, she usually does not get to eat much candy. I see a few peoples kids are going to camp Tuckaho, that is just about 20 minutes from my house! My DD has gone to day things there, but the camp she went to was a Bible camp.

Tuckaho asked about every envelope people were leaving if it had gum or candy. I was in a line. They said if there was food to not leave it as the girls were not allowed gum or candy in the tents or cabins. I an sure each camp has its own rules but wanted to pass this along so you all would check before sending stuff.

It is really a small world that you live so close.

 

[pantherlj]

How was drop off everyone? Ours went pretty well. She is with 3 of the 5 friends from our troop. I don't know why they would split them up 3 in one cabin and 2 in another? But they did. All the girls were upset by that. She is in a cabin this year and I am happy about that! Last year they were in the covered wagons. I left her happy and excited about the week.

I have been in the dinning hall but only in the winter (for our scout rout) so maybe it is air conditioned. That would be nice.

Drop off went ok for the most part. 11 yr old found out she was going to be in a tent and almost started crying. She hate mosquitoes because they love her so much - she started really stressing over how much she was going to get eaten up. Once we got there (check in line took about an hour!) she asked us to just drop off her stuff and leave. She wouldn't let me stay and help her set up. She didn't know a single person at camp but one girl was already there and they started talking right away.

7 yr old - in a cabin. I helped her set up her bed - she too doesn't know anyone going this week but was very excited about making new friends. No one in her cabin was there after she was all set up so we took her to the common building and found a girl she had met in line. She ran off to go do crafts with her.

Goodness, it was hot in the cabin I just looked at the weather forecast and am feeling really bad for the girls now ......

 

[nchulka]

Tuckaho asked about every envelope people were leaving if it had gum or candy. I was in a line. They said if there was food to not leave it as the girls were not allowed gum or candy in the tents or cabins. I an sure each camp has its own rules but wanted to pass this along so you all would check before sending stuff.


That is too bad about not being able to send treats. And about no air. The camp my DD went to had a/c cabins and a snack shop where the kids could buy ice cream, soda, candy etc. Like I said she never gets to eat like that at home so she was in heaven The camp was right on the Meremac and they went tubing and swimming. The cabins had very nice bathrooms and showers, I think she's probably spoiled now

 

[LisaNJ25]

Mine got off ok.. she was a little nervous before she left. Her camp is about 2 hours away in Glen Spey, NY so they get bussed. Hopefully the enjoy the ride in the bus with the AC and tvs lol. They will be in tents and she is going to archery for the week.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Nchulka - What is the name of your camp? We might try it next summer! Is it off of 44?

 

[nchulka]

It's called Whispering Winds Bible Camp, It is off Hwy 44 in St. James MO. Our church in O'Fallon always sends a group down every summer, ages 8-12. It is a really great camp, I've been very happy with it. They have a water slide, rock climbing wall, and all sorts of other fun things They have a teen wilderness camp also that I don't know much about, my kids aren't old enough yet.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

That does sound fun. Will they allow kids from other churches to attend?

 

[FFerret]

Are you talking Agnes Arnold in Conroe? (I see you are in TX) My dd10 just did Owl Prowl there and had a great time. They were on the opposite side of camp (fishing village) from the others. They would stay up until 2am. Breakfast was served at Midnight. Then they'd sleep late and meet up with the general population at lunch...

Howdy, descovy! SMALL WORLD! Nope, not Camp Arnold. I went there as a kid, though! Camp Peachtree, too. I remember some hurricane coming and we had to be evacuated, but turned out to be no biggie. We had those platform tents thingies. Man,in the Houston humidity/sun/summer it sure builds character!

We live just around the corner to Camp Casa Mare on the bay, so that's where she's off to. My daughter is ten, as well! I'll let her know how Arnold does it. Please share anything else about Owl Prowl if you can. It's my girl's first big camp away from home.

 

[nchulka]

Yes, several churches send groups of kids there. Also individual kids can go to, you don't have to be affiliated with a church You can check out their website wwbccamp.com It was pretty cheap too, only 182 for the week, then we got 10 off for signing up early and 80 off because my DD went through their Bible memory program and memorized 200 verses last year. So our total was only 92.00 for a Monday-Saturday camp They also have awesome food there. My poor DD had to come home from a great week of camp food back to my not so good cooking

 

[pantherlj]

How have you moms survived the first week of girl scout camp?

I missed the girls a lot the first couple of days and REALLY worried about how they are doing in the awful heat (horrible heat wave here in NC). I mostly have worried about how they are doing in their cabin/tent at night in the heat to sleep.

On the other hand ...... DH and I have gone out to dinner every night and even seen a movie (Inception, highly recommend!). We don't have family in town so we rarely have "date nights" On the budget end of it, I didn't go to the grocery store this week so we spent just a tad over that weekly budget on eating out

We pick the girls up tomorrow at 2:30 - they are doing a performance of some sort.

I emailed them a note every day. Didn't have much to say but felt like I should

 

[Diabolicdesire]

I've missed mine alot ! It's not so much that she's not here, it's not being able to even talk to her that I dislike, lol.

It's def been quiet here. Managed to dye my hair and get a cut

We're in NC too and I've been so worried about the heat I caught myself wanting to drive up and drop off more batteries for the fan, lol. Unfortunately, my A/C in my car broke on the way back from dropping her off so maybe thats my pay back for leaving her at a camp with no A/C !!!!

I pick my DD up tomorrow as well. I already know she's gonna tell me that next summer she wants to go to a camp with air conditioned cabins!!!

I've also been emailing but havent gotten a letter in the mail yet, I've checked every day I told her she would be having too much fun to stop and write

 

[kaywoody]

My daughter and the other girls from my troop all went to GS camp together this year. It didn't cost us anything because we paid with cookie bucks. It was 100 boxes per day and was prorated if you didn't sell enough for each day. I think one parent had to pay for one day because she sold a little bit less. I think it works out to be $50 per day.

My older daughter went to church camp for a week and had a great time. It was a bargain at $160!

 

[pantherlj]

I've missed mine alot ! It's not so much that she's not here, it's not being able to even talk to her that I dislike, lol.

It's def been quiet here. Managed to dye my hair and get a cut

We're in NC too and I've been so worried about the heat I caught myself wanting to drive up and drop off more batteries for the fan, lol. Unfortunately, my A/C in my car broke on the way back from dropping her off so maybe thats my pay back for leaving her at a camp with no A/C !!!!

I pick my DD up tomorrow as well. I already know she's gonna tell me that next summer she wants to go to a camp with air conditioned cabins!!!

I've also been emailing but havent gotten a letter in the mail yet, I've checked every day I told her she would be having too much fun to stop and write

Yes, my older has stayed at my parents every summer since kindergarten but I have been able to talk to her every night, this whole no phone thing sucks LOL
I had told my girls before hand not to bother sending a letter because 1) I knew I would check every day and 2) by the time I got it in the mail, they would be home

My youngest had a chance to go to the AC cabins too (Hardee I think?) we might try that next year! The sailing sounds like it would be a fun option too.

 

[TinaLala]

I love hearing/seeing people come together over Girl Scouts!!!

I was never a girl scout, but I wish I had! Both my girls are GS and will be going to day camp this year. Next week go to a Mass camp and then they go to 2 weeks of Rhode Island Camp - we're right on the boarder of each state. I wish we could use cookie credits for the Mass camp because that 1 week is so expensive!!

Next year we're hoping do sleepover camp our favorite camp is Camp Hoffman in RI! It's a distance away, but I think the girls will love it. So glad to hear everyone is having a great time so far in camp!

 

[Diabolicdesire]

Yes, my older has stayed at my parents every summer since kindergarten but I have been able to talk to her every night, this whole no phone thing sucks LOL
I had told my girls before hand not to bother sending a letter because 1) I knew I would check every day and 2) by the time I got it in the mail, they would be home

My youngest had a chance to go to the AC cabins too (Hardee I think?) we might try that next year! The sailing sounds like it would be a fun option too.

I noticed this year that Camp Hardee fills up pretty quick. I guess I'll have to sign her up early next summer if that's where she wants to go. She really wanted to do the surfing camp but I didn't feel comfortable with her going to the coast and not being able to talk to her. I think she was doing sailing at camp Graham this week, they had a choice between sailing, kayaking and canoeing

 

[leebee]

Girl Scout Camp.... loved it SO much as a kid, I went back for 4 summers as a counsellor! I attended Muscatawa (Alfred, ME- no longer open) and Runnels (Pelham, NH), and worked 1 summer at Muskie and 3 at Runnels. It was so cool when DD decided to go to Runnels! Felt like old home week! I can't describe how good I feel inside when I remember camp, even though for the 1st year I went, I was soooo homesick I cried every night! I think that experience made me a better counsellor, though.

You know what I like about GS camp? The kids are away... really away. I have friends sending their kids to ballet programs (2-5 weeks, ~$1000 a week) and they call multiple times a day, send email, skype every night, etc. I think by only allowing snail mail, GS camps help a kid learn to be independent. I just don't get how my friends will call their kid every morning to see what she had for b'fast... and then in the afternoon, and again in the evening. Geez... what are you gonna talk about when the kid gets home? You already KNOW how camp was!!

I loved camp... still do, and still miss it!

WOW!! Post 1700!! I really gotta get a life...

 

[Disneycrazymom]

ITS PICK UP DAY!!!!!!

I am so excited to see DD and hear all about camp! I also have been concerned about the heat and thunderstorms. And I also was surprised at how hard it is not to have any contact! DS went last year on 2 school trips both for a week and I really didn't worry because he could text or call and so I knew he was ok. While I agree about her learning independence I would have liked to hear from her for me. I doubt very much she had tome to miss us but I sure did miss her!