Did you know that girls who regularly spend time outdoors more readily seek challenges and are better problem solvers than their peers? According to a recent study by the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), “More Than S’mores” (2014), girls benefit immensely from time spent outdoors! In 2015, Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI) will offer summer camp to all girls–not just Girl Scouts–in grades 1through 12!
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois offers outstanding outdoor opportunities to local girls, through its summer program at Camp McCormick. The camp, located in Stillman Valley, IL, offers sessions, such as
• Off to the Races–Compete as a team or individual in sports and games from around the world, face-off in Minute to Win It, and compete in the Amazing Race, Camp McCormick style.
• Wild, Wild West–Sleep in a covered wagon, rough it and cook over a fire, and test lassoing skills during this week at camp.
• Island Adventure–Dive for treasure, make a boat, and dance around the fire to the beat of the Island Drums.
Girls do not have to join a troop to attend camp. Since girls select their own experiences in Girl Scouts, they can choose to just attend camp or the many other programs offered throughout the year. To view the 2015 Camp Guide or register for camp sessions, visit www.girlscoutsni.org.
More about “More Than S’mores”
The study also found outdoor experiences are particularly beneficial to girls of comparatively low socioeconomic status (SES.) More Than S’mores finds that lower-SES girls, who have regular outdoor exposure through Girl Scouts, are likely to credit Girl Scouts with helping them become leaders.
Additionally, outdoor experiences through Girl Scouting, such as camp, are beneficial to girl leadership development across ethnicities. Latina (38%) and African American (40%) girls are more likely than their peers (28%) to say they overcame a fear of the outdoors through Girl Scouting. Seventy-nine percent of Latina girls say they first tried an outdoor activity in Girl Scouts. An overwhelming 59% of Latina girls say Girl Scouts has offered them outdoor activities they would not have otherwise had access to.
Girl Scout camp is a tradition central to Girl Scouts since 1912 and is still available to girls in all 50 states. Today’s camps are highly-evolved, matching the interests of 21st-century girls. Girl Scouts moves at the speed of girls. This is evident in its wide range of camp offerings:
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) camp
- surf camp
- Hogwarts camp
- farming and sustainability camp
- Camp CEO.
We’re Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
We’re 20,000 strong–15,000 girls and 5,000 adults–who believe every girl can change the world. Our girls develop leadership skills in 16 Counties including parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago. We help girls build courage, confidence, and character, so they can make the world a better place, by inspiring them to discover their inner strength, talents, and passions. And with programs from Stomp Rockets to Camp Explorers, there’s a chance for every girl to do something amazing!
To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsni.org or call 800-242-5591.