Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Around the Council: September 2018

Check out what's been happening around the 40 1/2 counties that make up
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' council!

Girl Scouts in Jefferson County completed their Brownie Layers of Security and Junior Networking Badges. 

Service Unit 107 South Macoupin County held a fall campout at Camp Chan Ya Ta.

Girl Scouts from Jackson County attended the "Chemistry is Out of This World" STEM event at SIU Carbondale.  They learned about the chemistry of outer space from the SIUC American Chemical Society. 

Daisies in Service Unit 522 Eastern Coles County earned their Eco Learner Badge on the Sister City Trails in Charleston, IL. 

Girl Scouts were on parade in the Calhoun County Fair Parade.

Troop #469 have been working on restoring Camp Chan Ya Ta's deck to earn their Girl Scout Bronze Award.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois: Around the Council July 2018

Check out the exciting things that Girl Scouts have been up to all around Southern Illinois!  See our photo album to catch Girl Scout troops in action!

O'Fallon Troop #642 visited Orlando, FL to participate in the class "Exploring Careers in the Zoological Sciences" at the Animal Kingdom. 

When thunderstorms struck during bedtime at camp, PA KayLee helped soothe the mood by leading a cheerful song.  Great thinking, KayLee!

Service Unit 210 Freeburg/Marissa/St. Librory held a bridging ceremony. 

S'mores Sampling!  Photo Courtesy of Shawneetown Public Library. 

Girl Scouts taught a program on how to make a fire - complete with hot dogs and s'mores - at the Shawneetown Public Library. 

Troop #688 from Clinton County camped at Camp Wassatoga, where they canoed, painted, made s'mores and worked on their Amaze Journey. 

South Macoupin County Troop #1075 took the train for a weekend getaway to Chicago.  They stayed at the Hosteling International Hostel and visited local attractions like the Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago and Shedd Aquarium.  Of course, they sampled some deep dish pizza as well.

Service Unit 207 Belleville/Swansea has been sprucing up sailboats for Camp Butterfly.  Thank you to everyone who has been working so hard on this project!

Troop #792 repainted the jungle gym at their meeting place. 

Madison County Troop #792 helped beautify their meeting place by repainting the jungle gym.

Girl Scouts read to children during the "Read with a Girl Scout" program at Brehm Library in Mount Vernon. 

Girl Scouts from Waterloo held a mother/daughter campout at Camp Chan Ya Ta where they hiked, canoed, shot archery and enjoyed fun and games. 

It's Time to THINK SPRING! GSSI Camp Clean Up Days Coming Soon!

Spring is right around the corner!  What better way to celebrate than to plan a trip to Girl Scout camp to help clean up?  There is not cost to come out and enjoy some time outdoors with other troops from around Southern Illinois, but please register by the deadline so we have supplies ready.

April 12 (deadline April 6) - 12-6 p.m.
Camp Cedar Point - Makanda, IL
Camp Chan Ya Ta - Worden, IL
Camp Whispering Oaks - Salem, IL

April 27 (deadline April 20) - 12-6 p.m.
Camp Butterfly - Farmington, MO
Camp Torqua - Edwardsville, IL
Camp Wassatoga - Effingham, IL

For more information about GSSI Camps, please contact Director of Property Jonathan Stanley at 800.345.6858, ext. 1107 or e-mail jstanley@gsofsi.org.

Did You Know? Camp Chan Ya Ta Has Four Miles of Trails

 

 

 

Did you know that GSSI’s Camp Chan Ya Ta in Worden has approximately 4 miles of trails. What a great place to explore nature, trees, plants and wildlife!

 

 

Camp Chan Ya Ta has approximately 165 acres and offers a variety of outdoor activities including canoeing, paddle boating, fishing, volleyball, archery, hiking, wildlife viewing, stargazing and campfire cooking!

 

Accommodations range from a lodge with a commercial kitchen and over-sized fireplace to primitive tent pitching sites and from a winterized bunkhouse to cabins and platform tents. Facilities include hot showers, flush toilets, pit latrines, and cold water washstands. The lodge, cabin, and platform tent units are all either fully or semi – accessible for campers with special needs.

 

Camp Chan Ya Ta is open year round to both Girl Scouts and non Girl Scout groups.

 

Learn More...

 

 

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Has Six Camps to Enjoy!

 

 

Did you know that GSSI has six camp properties for girls and volunteers to use and enjoy. Camp Cedar Point (Makanda, IL), Camp Chan Ya Ta (Worden, IL), Camp Torqua (Edwardsville, IL), Camp Wassatoga (Effingham, IL) & Camp Whispering Oaks (Salem, IL) are open year round. Camp Butterfly (Farmington, MO) is open from April to October. For more information and photos see each camp on our website, www.gsofsi.org.

Thin Mint Sprint Raises $10,000 for Girl Scouting

GSSI hosted its third annual “Thin Mint Sprint” event on June 7 at Camp Chan Ya Ta in Worden. New this year were a 5K Trail Run, 5K Obstacle Course and 5K Obstacle Fun Run.  Nearly 200 participants took part in the race, raising $10,000 to support quality programming, volunteer training, camp maintenance and financial assistance for Girl Scouting in southern Illinois. 

Kevin Reiseck of East Alton, IL and Shannon Cole of Greenfield, IL were the top male and female finishers of both the 5K Trail Run and the 5K Obstacle Course.  The Cyclery and Fitness Center provided Garmin GPS watches to each for winning the Trail Run, while RunWell provided a pair of Inov-8 shoes for winning the Obstacle Course.  Prizes to the top three male and female finishers in each age category were donated by The Cyclery and Fitness Center, First to the Finish, Culver’s, Edison’s Entertainment Complex, Road ID and Anytime Fitness. 

Marsha Shirley and Summerfield Troop #734 and Kimberly Smith Caseyville Troop #758 won the Spirit Contest at Thin Mint Sprint for their unique team style.  Both troops won free camping at any of GSSI Camp Properties. 

Sponsors of the event were TheBank of Edwardsville, The Cyclery and Fitness Center, Ameren Illinois and Extra Help Inc.  Water Stop Sponsors were Angie Zahn of Strano & Associates Realtors, First Clover Leaf Bank and Madison Mutual.   All participants received goodie bags with items from the following donors:  Candis Isberner, Allstate, BauerHite Orthodontic Specialists, Foley Dental Group, Integrity Spine and Joint Center, KinderCare Learning Centers, PH Financial Services, RoadID, Simmons Law Firm Employee Foundation and Studio Gaia. 

See Race Times:

Trail Run Overall

Trail Run by Age Group

Obstacle Course Overall

Obstacle Course by Group

New Prizes Added to Thin Mint Sprint!

 

 

 There are even more special prizes for GSSI's Thin Mint Sprint 5K Trail Run & 5K Obstacle Course on June 7 at Camp Chan Ya Ta in Worden! Register Now: http://bit.ly/1fMISmO

Overall male and female obstacle course winners win a free pair of Inov-8 running shoes courtesy of RunWell

Overall male and female trail run winners win a free Garmin GPS watch courtesy of The Cyclery and Fitness Center

Prizes for the winners in each age group will include either Camelbak water bottles courtesy of The Cyclery, gift certificates for Road ID or gift certificates to First to the Finish

Did You Know? GSSI Camps Have Canoeing and Archery Available!

Canoes are available at Camp Butterfly, Camp Cedar Point, Camp Chan Ya Ta, Camp Wassatoga and Camp Whispering Oaks with prior approval and proper certification.

Archery is available at every camp with prior approval and proper certification. For more information about GSSI camps, please visit us at www.gsofsi.org or call our Property Department at 618.692.0692.

Winter Camping at GSSI

Winter wonderland at Camp Chan Ya Ta

There's no reason for your camping fun to come to an end during the winter! GSSI Camp Properties offer camping opportunities all year at the following winterized units. Click on the camp name to see more information about that property.

Camp Cedar Point -- Makanda, IL: Sahara Lodge and Bruce Lodge both offer heat, fireplace, bathrooms, mattresses and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave).  Each has a capacity of 20 campers. 

Camp Chan Ya Ta -- Worden, IL: The Lodge offers heat, fireplace, bathroom/shower, fire pit, water, tables and chairs, mattresses and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave).  It is an accessible unit and has a capacity of 30 campers.  The Bunkhouse has two sections that sleep 12 people each.  There is shelter, lights, access to the showerhouse, fire pit, water and refrigerator.  Indoor cooking is not permitted.  This unit is accessible.

Camp Torqua -- Edwardsville, IL: Pumpkin Patch Unit A has a capacity of 36 campers in three heated cabins with bunkbeds and 1/2 the heated program center with heat.  Pumpkin Patch Unit B has a capacity of 24 campers in two heated cabins with bunkbeds and 1/2 the heated program center with heat.  Both Pumpkin Patch units have access to the showerhouse (two toilets and two showers), an accessible Pullman kitchen, microwave, tables and chairs, shelter with lights and fire pit. Both Tuckaway and Lisetta Units have a capacity of 30 campers and has a heated troop house, kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave), fireplace, tables and chairs, mattresses, shelter with lights and fire pit.  Tuckaway also has an indoor accessible bathroom.

Camp Wassatoga -- Effingham, IL: Ridimakahe Lodge has a capacity of 25 campers and offers heat, full kitchen, fireplace and bathroom with showers and mattresses. 

Camp Whispering Oaks -- Salem, IL:  Lazaretti Lodge has upper and lower levels that each have a capacity of 15.  Both have heat, fireplace, accessible bathrooms with showers, mattresses, fire pit, tv/dvd, tables & chairs and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave). 

Camp Butterfly -- Farmington, MO: No winterized units are available at Camp Butterfly.  This camp is open April 1 to Oct. 31.

There open dates available for your group now!  Call Carol Ann Hering at 800.345.6858, ext. 1131.