After growing out of the Lawrence Hidden Valley Girl Scout camp’s younger camper program, junior Megan Green decided to return to work with the younger girls. Responsibilities as an aide at Girl Scout camp involve helping the younger campers cook over a fire, getting campers to programmed activities on time, and supervising them during the week of camp.
“I’ve been going [to Girl Scout Camp] since I physically possibly could,” Green said. “I’ve grown up doing it. What’s kept me coming back to work are the children, because they’re really sweet. I really enjoy working with children all the time.”
After spending four years aiding , junior Laura Turner said that getting to pass on the Girl Scout Camp experience to younger girls makes the tradition even more rewarding. Turner said she enjoys playing games with her campers that she played when she was a camper herself.
“Now that I get to be on the other end of that, it’s so much more special. Knowing that I get to help with those kids’ experiences and that they want to come back next year, I think that’s really special,” Turner said.
Junior Katherine Stancil, said that camp activities are one of the reasons that girls continue to return to camp. Stancil said her favorite of which is ziplining.
“What I like about zip lining is the rush of adrenaline at the beginning when you jump off the tower and for a minute you’re free falling before the [line catches] and you go down the line,” Stancil said.
In addition to spending time with younger campers, sophomore Charlotte Dunn said that becoming an aide has helped improve her outdoors skills.
“It definitely also helps with cooking skills, especially outside, for in the future when we go camping on our own,” Dunn said. “ I know how to start my own fires and things like that, even without having matches.”
Despite having never met a majority of the girls at camp, Green said that it is easy to connect with the girls. Green said that she’s made loads of friends at Girl Scout Camp and looks forward to going back this summer.
“The culture of Girl Scout camp is really welcoming,” Green said. “Everyone’s very different, but everyone’s able to overcome that and [create] a community.”
Although working at Girl Scout Camp can be tiring and difficult, Green said that she wants to continue the Girl Scout Camp tradition for as long as possible. Green said she plans to work at Girl Scout Camp this summer and next summer.
“There can be times when I want to throw in the towel, but I’m so passionate about it, and I’ve loved it since I was a kid,” Green said. “Everyone has this understanding that it’s something that is very special and dear to us, and we want to preserve that for as long as we can.”
