Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Summer 2018 Camp Photos

Resident Camp 2018

Girl Scout Resident Camp at Camp Ondessonk
Girl Scout Resident Camp at Touch of Nature: Mini Sessions
Girl Scout Resident Camp at Touch of Nature: Full Week

Day Camp 2018
Belleville/Swansea
Centralia
Clinton County
Collinsville
Columbia Area
East St. Louis
Edwardsville
Effingham
Granite City
GSSI Mini STEM
GSSI STEM
Highland
Jefferson County
O'Fallon/Shiloh
UPAC 

Deadline Extended for Resident Camp at Touch of Nature!

Breaking News!   Registrations have exceeded the minimum capacity for Resident Camp at Touch of Nature in Makanda so the deadline to sign up has been extended until June 20!

At Touch of Nature, Girl Scouts can enjoy making new friends, having outdoor adventures and making memories that will last a lifetime.  Girls will stay in cabins with air conditioning and electricity on Little Grassy Lake. 

Touch of Nature Mini Camp
July 26-29, 2016
Cost: $250

Livin’ Like Bigfoot (for girls entering grades 2-3) 
Have you ever gone out into the woods and felt like you were not alone?  Well, maybe that is because Bigfoot has been in the area.  You would never know because he is so good at leaving no trace.  During camp you will learn the ways of Bigfoot and how to be untraceable in the great outdoors.  When you are not swimming, cooking over the fire or discovering the wonders of camp…you will go Bigfoot hunting!

Water World (for girls entering grades 4-5)
Did you know that your body is made of at least 70% water?  So why not beat the summer heat with this water world of fun…at camp!  You will get to swim in the lake, go whale hunting, go for a pontoon boat ride, canoe, go stand-up paddle boarding and so much more.  This could be the big splash to your summer.

Choose Your Own Adventure (for girls entering grades 6-12) 
Looking for a fun filled summer that is designed by you?  Well then, this is your camp.  Girls will get to pick what happens during their time at Touch of Nature – whether it’s swimming every day, paddling out to the jumping rocks, stand-up paddle boarding, rock climbing or even leading a program.  Come teach us what fun looks like.  This will be a story that everyone will want to hear.

Touch of Nature Week Long Camp
July 31-August 6, 2016
Cost: $375

Fairies, Gnomes and Wizards (for girls entering grades 2-3)
The magic of the forest comes alive with Fairies, Gnomes and Wizards.  Come to camp and build fairy houses, make magical potions and learn how to help wounded animals.  We will also get the chance to meet live owls and go on an owl prowl.  This is the chance to leave the Muggle world behind and embark on a magical journey.

Zombie Apocalypse Training 2.0 (for girls entering grades 4-5) 
How much do you love your brains?  Well, zombies do.  So come to camp so you can learn how to protect, build and rest those brains.  During your stay you will learn survival skills (like shelter building and traps), protection (like archery), how to live off the land and still find time to have some good old camp fun.  If you think you have what it takes to be a survivor then show us your gray matter.

F.L.O.W. – Future Leaders of the Outdoor World (for girls entering grades 6-12)
You are our only hope for the future.  So come to camp and show us what you’re working with.  As the leaders of the new world, start by helping guide what happens at camp.  You will design the week of camp and even get the chance to lead a program or two.  If improving your outdoor skills or helping lead others into the outdoor is what you are looking for then don’t let this chance get away.  You can design your own extreme summer getaway – anything from rock climbing, zip lining, pontoon boating, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, to archery and so much more.  If you can dream it, we will try to make it happen!

Girls' Week at Camp Ondessonk Deadline Extended

Girls' Week at Camp Ondessonk is a week you'll remember 

for the rest of your life! 

Date: July 17 to July 23

Age: Girls Age 10-15 at time of camp

Click for Registration, Address & More
DEADLINE EXTENDED: March 1, 2016

The single-gender environment provides growing girls and teens with something genuinely important - a safe, open, accepting place where they can truly be themselves.  Campers are able to leave behind social expectations, popularity contests, and worries about their outward appearance for a week filled with giggling, games, and meaningful friendships.  The girls's camp schedule includes a horseback ride, archery, riflery, songs, swimming, nature exploration, handicrafts, woodsmanship, canoeing, kayaking, campfires, an overnight campout, marathon, tug of war, and much more.  

Girl Scouts will be staying together in a rustic tree house and take part in many Camp Ondessonk activities, as well as some activities unique to Girl Scouts.

Details: 

Fee (per girl):  $450.

$225.00 Deposit Due Upon Registration

Registration Deadline - 02/01/16

REGISTER NOW! 

Breaking News! GSSI to Offer Resident Camp at Touch of Nature in Makanda

Have you been looking for a resident camp for 2015? Well, look no farther, it’s here! This year the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois will be hosting a six-day camp at Touch of Nature, located in Makanda, IL. Girls will be staying in cabins with air conditioning and electricity on Little Grassy Lake.

Camps will be held July 19-25, 2015 (registration deadline 6/1).  Click on the camp name to register online!

Fairies, Gnomes, and Wizards (Brownies) 
The magic of the forest comes alive with Fairies, Gnomes, and Wizards.  Come to camp and build fairy houses, make magical potions, and learn how to help wounded animals.  We will also get the chance to meet live owls and go on an owl prowl.  This is the chance to leave the Muggle world behind and embark on a magical journey! 

Beach Bums (Juniors) 
Come to camp and waste your day away on the beaches of Little Grassy Lake.  Girls will be treated to a nature spa, fruity drinks, and a whale hunt.  We will also go beach         hopping and go out to the “jumping rocks.”  In your down time, you can play beach       volley, have a pirate ship battle, and send smoke signals to the neighboring camps!

You Can Do That at Camp! (Cadettes) 
Come do some of the things you’ve always been told you can’t do at camp! Sleep in until after    breakfast, raid the kitchen, hunt for Bigfoot, have a late night dance party with live music, and     maybe even order a    pizza! When not stretching the rules, try some hiking, swimming, archery, boating, or other camp favorites.

Cost is $350 per girl for each camp.  Financial Assistance is available to those who qualify. If you prefer to print and mail in a registration form, you can download the form here.

Girl Scout Apparel and Camp Merchandise Available at Day and Resident Camp

 

Check Out GSSI Day Camp Trading Post and Resident Camp Canteen merchandise!   These are just a few of the great items that will be available.

GSSI Gearing Up for Camp Season

It’s officially spring, which means it’s time to start preparing for camp season!  This summer, GSSI is offering 20 Day Camps and 26 Resident Camp sessions with a variety of fun themes.  

Resident Camp Registration Ends April 29! 

See 2014 Sessions  

Register Now

Day Camps Are Filling Up Quickly!

Click to see 2014 Sessions  

Register Now

Volunteers are needed to help make GSSI Summer Camp programs a success!  Put a little sun in your summer by volunteering with Girl Scouts!  Call 800.345.6858 for more information. 

Girl Scout Resident Camp Opportunities in Southern Illinois!

All girls entering second through twelfth grade in Fall 2014 are invited to attend Resident Camp with Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI)!  Non Girl Scouts are welcome! 

 

GSSI Resident Camp is held each summer at beautiful Camp Cedar Point in Makanda, Illinois! Camp Cedar Point consists of 250 acres of scenic woods on Little Grassy Lake situated in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge - 15 miles southeast of Carbondale, IL.  CCP offers natural diversity, a sandy beach, hiking trails and many species of wildlife.  Facilities include two shower houses, a health center, a full service dining hall, a waterfront on the lake, shelters, hogans, platform tents and a lot of great natural space.

 

Campers stay in platform tents or hogans will other campers.  Tents have wooden floors above the ground with cots and mattresses.  Hogans are screened, wooden structures with cots and mattresses.  Girls stay in units based on age and program focus. Each unit has a cooking shelter. Friends attending the same program and session may opt to "room" together. 

 

 

Check out awesome Resident Camp sessions below or click here to see more!

 

Give the Gift of Girl Scouting

As we near the end of the year we wanted to take a moment to share with you some of the ways contributions to GSSI have made a difference in the lives of nearly 14,000 girls in Southern Illinois. 

In the past year, gifts to GSSI have provided over $150,000 in financial assistance.  This included:

• Nearly $52,000 to pay for more than 4,300 girls' membership dues
• Over $30,000 in camp scholarships allowing 166 girls to attend resident camp at Camp Cedar Point
• More than $1,900 in financial assistance to 65 girls allowing them to attend one of our summer day camps

Support to GSSI has also allowed us to grow our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programming.  Specifically we have:

• Increased from one robotics team in 2010 to supporting 25 First Lego League, Junior First Lego League, and Botball teams
• Offered a STEM Explosion camp at Camp Torqua which was attended by 51 girls
• Held our first science badge series for Girl Scout Brownies

Please consider making a gift to help us continue building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.  With your support we can make sure all girls have a chance to learn leadership skills, experience camp and participate in STEM programming like robotics.

With your gift you can make a difference for someone like Akayla, who wants to major in law and has an interest in engineering who said, "Robotics has changed my whole life.  Now I know how to work as a team.  I learned to be patient when working together to achieve something."  She added that the robotics program has convinced her that she can help other people and change the world.

Thank you for your continued support of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. 

Donate now!

Nearly 400 Girl Scouts Attend Resident Camp

 

 

 

 

GSSI's Camp Cedar Point in Makanda hosted 389 Girl Scouts for resident camp this summer.  The length of programs ranged from a Camper for a Day event for girls in kindergarten to third grade to an eleven day arts-themed session for teens complete with field trips to regional museums and theaters.

 

There were 28 different programs, each with a different theme.  Girls could explore science, technology, engineering and math at sessions such as Candy Chemistry and CSI.   Girls tried out their outdoor skills at programs like Girl Vs. Wild and Adventure Bound.  Young chefs cooked up fun at programs like Cast-Iron Chef and Extreme Desserts and dreamers let their imaginations run wild at programs such as Happy at Hogwarts and Pirates of Little Grassy.   There were even sessions where camp came alive after dark, such as Moonlight Magic and Night Owl.

 

"Camping is a valuable part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience," said Director of Program Angie Suhre.  "Girls get to try new things and meet new people.  They learn new skills while developing self confidence and responsibility."

 

To ensure that every girl has the opportunity to attend Resident Camp if she desires, GSSI provided more than $30,000 in camp scholarships.

 

To learn more about GSSI's Resident Camp at Camp Cedar Point in Makanda, please contact Angie Suhre at 800.345.6858, ext. 1112 or e-mail asuhre@gsofsi.org.

 

 

See more photos!

GSSI Summer E-Chronicle Available Now

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' latest e-chronicle is now available on our website, www.gsofsi.org.  Read recent Girl Scout news including an Annual Meeting wrap up, top Cookie Sellers by Service Unit, an update on the Challenge & Change grant projects and the story of GSSI's Robotic Gems from Washington Park. There are also tons of photos from Day & Resident Camps, Thin Mint Sprint, and more!

Read now...