Girl Scout Camping

Back in April when it rained literally the ENTIRE WEEKEND I took these girls camping.  We had a blast.  The rain did not stop us from having an amazing, memorable camping trip.  

This was my 3rd year leading Addison's Girl Scout troop and our 2nd year of camping.  It is definitely a tradition we will continue to have as long as I am the leader.  

Addison and I loaded up the car, picked up Jenna, and headed out to camp.  Look at those smiles.  They were so excited for the weekend.  

Shortly after we arrived we took a short hike.  I wanted to make sure everyone knew where the tornado shelter was located just in case we needed it.  It is outside, in a huge cement tunnel halfway underground.  Probably safer than any location in our homes.  Thankfully, we didn't need it. 

After we got everything unpacked and organized, the girls settled into some games.  The girls split up on their own and began playing games, laughing and talking, and hanging out.  

Before we know it, it was time to prepare dinner.  The girls were broken up into groups and each group cooked a meal, each group cleaned up the meal and did dishes and each group got the table ready for a meal.  The girls get to vote on what we eat at camp, activities we do, and all the fun we have! It really is about letting the girls do the planning, make the decisions, and do all the "work."  

Dessert that night was home made ice cream.  It turned out really good!  Each girl had their own bag of ice, heavy cream, salt, and vanilla.  They had to shake the bags until the ice cream formed.  They did some dancing and some singing while the ice cream formed.  Yummy! 

The next morning we had a blast playing the Pie in the Face game. 

We also went out for short hike.  It was only drizzling at this point and the girls were a little stir crazy in the cabin.  Even though it rained all weekend, we had a great time making some incredible memories! 

Weekend at Girl Scout Camp

So according to the blog this summer has been filled with dance and vacation.  There is lots of other fun things we have done this summer and with school starting in 1 week I need to get caught up!

Addison and I attended Girl Scout camp last weekend.  Lauren decided she didn't want to go this year, which ended up working out since she had a fever all weekend.

I was the unit leader for our camp group, The Daisy Chicas of Team Paradise from Mexico.  We combined with another troop and had a great weekend.  

The first day our little girls won the spirit award and we got to carry around the gnome all day Saturday.  That was fun.  The girls had a lot of fun with it. 

We got to swim the first day shortly after we arrived.  It was so hot so the pool felt great.  

Each day we also had an arts and crafts activity (inside in the AC.) 

Dinner the first night was in the tree house.  The girls thought this was the best thing ever.  We all loved it. 

I was so proud of all my little 1st graders conquering this rock wall.  Addison really loved it and climbed very high.  She was so brave.  

Every day around 1:30 Addison took a little nap.  Girl Scout camp is exhausting!  We had to leave each day around 2:30 to catch the bus and head to camp.  A little nap is just what she needed to get through the night. 

We tye dyed shirts by using spray bottles and they turned out great.  

Addison had a turn carrying the gnome...in her swimsuit and tennis shoes.  

We didn't get to swim the 2nd and 3rd day, but we got to play in the sprinklers.  The girls were not thrilled, but we tried to make it fun. 

Every single one of them enjoyed geo caching...which is basically a treasure hunt and who doesn't love a treasure hunt. 

Trying to figure out where to go next to find the next treasure.  

Each night the girls rode the bus back to a school where all the parents picked the kids up each night.  I heard from several other moms that lots of little girls were asleep on the bus each night!

Sunday afternoon Addison was ready for day 3 of camp.  Packed up , tennis shoes on, water bottle, and hat...ready to go!

We had some free time Sunday night after dinner to we set out to find the Fairy Princess cabin.  It was quite the hike for these little girls, but they did awesome!  I was so proud of them. Even I was tired after the hike. 

I wish we would have had more time at the cabin as the girls really seemed to love it. But, we will be camping again in the Spring so we will be hiking there again.  

Right before camp ended we enjoyed smores around the fire...Yummy 

This was our final friendship circle Sunday night.  I LOVE this picture.  We had close to 100 girls at camp, several moms as volunteers and countless hours of planning to make camp happen for our girls.  Even though the weekend was exhausting and I had to head back to work Monday morning, I loved my time spent there.  Addison has told me time and time again she loves me being her Girl Scout leader and the time spent together this weekend was incredible.  We created so many memories and I loved it.  Can't wait till next year!

So Much Fun

Playing an active role in Lauren's Girl Scout troop has been a part of my life for the last 3 years.  I have volunteered my time on numerous occasions to be that extra hand you can always count on at the meetings, field trips, overnight camping trips, whatever.  I love doing this both for Lauren and the memories I create with her, and to be a role model for other girls in her troop.  Several girls are somewhat attached to me and pull me aside to talk, ask questions about various things, show me something, or just give them some much needed attention.  I feel like my time spent with Lauren's troop is so valuable in so many ways. 

We camped this past weekend at a new campground.  The weather was gorgeous and we had 13 girls camping.  We enjoyed a hike Sunday morning before lunch.  

The troop worked on their game badge and had several fun activities planned all weekend long.  Here is a life size game of candy land! 

Each girl was divided out into 4 groups with various assignments throughout the weekend.  My purple group had to get dinner ready Saturday night.  

We made hobo packs.  If you have been camping, I imagine you know what I am talking about.  Hamburger meat, potatoes and a variety of vegetables wrapped up in foil and cooked over a fire for about 25 minutes.  

I was pleasantly surprised how well they turned out.  

The girls did a scavenger hunt Saturday night to get the clues for snack before bed.  The scavenger hunt ended with this laser like maze.  

Here are some of the girls enjoying nature Sunday morning.  It was a crisp cool morning, but it felt wonderful.  These lovely ladies stayed up well after midnight, but slept until after 8:00! 

Each girl had to create their own game as well.  All of them were very creative and they seemed to really enjoy this game/craft.  

Being the amateur photographer that I am, I wanted to capture Lauren in this sunlight...I love it! 

Tori, Lauren, and Cassidy.  Some of Lauren's best buddies these last 3 years.  

Lauren agreed to a quick photo shoot outside and I captured photographs of her.  

We sent several pictures to Mark and Addison throughout the weekend and them to us as well.  We all missed each other.  Even just 24 hours apart and Addison missed Lauren so much...and me too, I guess! 

We enjoyed a short hike before lunch on Sunday.  Most of the girls did really well and enjoyed exploring nature.  

And while Lauren was away having all her fun at camp, Addison was having her own fun.  My little Daisy troop marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade Saturday afternoon in downtown Lee's Summit.  The Mom's that helped out with the parade said the girls had a fabulous time.  I was sorry I had to miss it, but Mark and Gramps and Nana were there to cheer Addison on along the way!  

Girl Scout Camp

Finally I am getting around to Girl Scout Camp!  Lauren and I want last week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday.)  It was fun. A lot of fun.  Lauren loved it and I had fun hanging out and volunteering for the camp.  

I always ask her for one picture.  Just one smile and I won't bug her anymore.  (Oh, and don't you love the FAKE glasses.  She has been begging for these for months.)  

Camp was filled with activities everyday.  Swimming was a hit!  

We made ice cream one afternoon for snack...

She earned a science badge and made dragon snot!  

Lots of arts and crafts, including tye dye.  

Leah, Lauren and Cassidy showing me a little attitude.  

We hiked...

One of my favorite activities and Lauren's too was Geo mapping.  The girls were given a GPS and they hunted for treasures around the camp ground.  Geo mapping, of course, is something that you can do worldwide.  The girls were introduced to it and camp and really loved it. 

Especially when they found the treasures.  

This was my little group...Sloan, Leah and Lauren.  

We also had the Zoo come out and do some education and bring some animals for the girls to learn about.  

More arts and crafts...

More dessert and learning about fire safety.  This is Lauren's camp fire...all completely edible and a great way to learn about fire safety.  

The biggest hit at camp was trading SWAPS (You can see what they are here) Each girls had to make 85 SWAPS to share prior to coming to camp and that was so much fun!  Lauren loved trading them each day and had fun making them at home prior to camp.  

So with summer coming to an end and school starting soon, Girl Scout camp was a great end to summer.  Lauren had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and is looking forward to her next year as a Brownie!