If your Girl Scout is looking for something fun to do this summer, consider signing her up for summer camp. Here are four reasons to do so!

Camp provides unique opportunities

Girl Scout summer camp offers experiences girls can’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s exploring trails, climbing a ropes course, or shooting at an archery target, camp provides opportunities for girls to try something new in a safe and supervised environment.

Camp pushes girls out of their comfort zone

Trying something new often means taking positive risks, and that’s a good thing. For girls like Faith, Girl Scout camp provided the chance to climb to new heights — literally.

“I really loved doing the climbing tower,” she said of the structure at Camp Archbald. “I loved it so much, I became certified as a counselor to help other girls on the tower.”

Camp fosters long-term friendships

When girls go to Girl Scout camp, they interact with their peers from across our 30-county footprint, meeting girls with different backgrounds and perspectives. It’s a recipe for expanding their social circles.

“You make so many new friends at camp, and you have a lifelong bond because you’ve shared similar experiences,” said Eliza, who has been a camper for 10 years. “You get to be part of a group that has experienced all the fun camp has to offer.”

Camp makes a lasting impact

Girl Scouts who have attended camp often reflect on how the experience lasted well beyond their time on the property. For Girl Scout alumnae Susie, her camp experience began more than 60 years ago, but she made lifelong memories.

“I made good friends at camp. I learned so much–about responsibility, how to work with others, how to get along with people who are different from you,” she recalled. “These are all life stills I use in my everyday life, and I was first introduced to them at camp.”

You can help send a girl to Girl Scout camp by participating in Centre Gives on May 8 and 9. Find out more here.

Written by Cathy Molitoris, Marketing Coordinator for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.