Camps
GSNEO CAMP HISTORY
Currently Operating:
Currently Closed:
Sold or Relinquished by GSNEO:
Relinquished/sold by Legacy Councils: (Pre-Merger) Lake Erie / Cleveland Councils
Lake to River Council
Great Trail Council
Unknown - origin
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Happy Campers
by Lisa Savarese http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art27225.asp In a world of computers, DVD's, IPad's, IPod's, texting and the like;, a good old camping trip may be just what is needed. Whether you are a first timer or a camping expert, there is always something new to discover at camp. Camping is for all ages from Daisies to Ambassadors. The younger girls should feel comfortable enough to be away from home. If it is their first time, it may be best to find a camp with many comforts of home. A Cadette or Senior could join the trip, help the girls feel less nervous and an older Girl Scout sister will also inspire younger scouts to be more confident. No matter what age, camps have so many miscellaneous activities to take part in and provide the opportunity to try new things. The girls get hands on experience to build their skills, make new friends, inherit an appreciation of nature, and make lasting memories. Activities can be something active like horseback riding, canoeing, or hiking. Or if everyone wants to take a break there is storytelling, bird watching, and various arts and crafts. Each camp's activities vary, but no matter where you decide to go, there will be something to satisfy everyone's diverse interests. Some of the different types of camps to choose from are; resident, day, weekend, travel, and minimal impact. It just depends on what the troop is ready for. At camp, it is always good to give each girl a job. They can plan meals, help prepare them and if old enough, assist in cooking the meals. The scouts can facilitate activities, set up, and do dishes. When the girls help out and are a part of everything, it becomes important to them, it becomes their own. Girl Scout camping proves to be such an invaluable experience for everyone. Girls get to try different things all while surrounded by trained adults looking out for their health and safety. Leaders watch the expressions on the girls' faces when they do an activity for the first time and see their self-confidence grow. It is a place where the girls' limitless imagination can become reality; a place where the noises of the outdoors are in high definition surround sound. It is a chance for girls to "be prepared" in the real world, not just the virtual world. "It is in the open, where they learn woodcraft and nature lore, that a girl gets the best opportunity to understand life in a sound and wholesome way." Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the USA Girl Scouts in a speech given in 1924 at Mercer College in Macon, Georgia. GSNEO campsite alternatives in Northeast Ohio "Since most of our camps were closed by 2012, many leaders are having a hard time finding places for their girls to camp. GSNEO management recommends using public campgrounds. Most do not do background checks on their guests, so use caution. Camping outside GSNEO property counts as a "trip", so make sure to file the approriate paperwork with the council office
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Benefits:
if we kept all seven camps...........
Possibilities
Each camp should develop its own specialties. This was a recommendation made by the GSUSA property consultant Glen Chin when he visited the GSNEO camps. Specialties don't have to be decided all at once. Some may flower from girl-based projects or evolve from resources available in nearby communities. Others may be obvious because of the resources already available at the camp.
For example:
The camps with large lakes should be the camps that specialize in boating activities. There is no need to engineer a large lake at every camp.
The camps with dining halls are the ones that can be used for resident camp. They do not all need dining halls. ( When resident camp is not in session, the large halls are useful as program space for classes and large gatherings. )
GSNEO camps from west to east:
Pleasant Valley has “Ladybug” units. That suggests something cute , something that introduces our youngest members to the wonders of the outdoors. A real Daisy Flower Garden with interactive displays would bring all the beautiful pictures in the first Daisy Journey to life. Older girls would love the whimsical artwork in the garden & in the main lodge. During the week, Pleasant Valley would be a frequent destination for field trips from schools, day cares, & families with young children
Proximity – Between Crowell Hilaka and Ledgewood. Is a huge advantage when hosting national or international events. It was already trialed during the first Cadette/Senior Summits. The ten mile distance is an easy shuttle ride. More significantly – it's an easy enough hike / bike ride, yet significant enough of a distance to be a significant challenge and accomplishment for most girls.
It's the program that drives the property decisions.
Leadership and financial literacy are already a part of every troop camping experience. These could probably be integrated in resident camp programs with some creative planning,
Healthy living and environmental awareness are also a given at camp.
A bold vision is implemented in small stages, evaluating each one first. Decide on the specialization and then get some program in place to test drive it. When the community sees what is successful, they will contribute to it .
In the example above, could we afford to do all of that right now? No. Would we have girls breaking down the doors to join Girl Scouts if we did? Yes. Is it worth at least starting? YES.
Lynn Scholle Richardson
if we kept all seven camps...........
- Girls would see that democracy really does work, and that they themselves are empowered to act.
- We would go forward building on our traditional strengths. Members join Girl Scouting for the traditions and the " cookies, camping, and crafts" that we are known for. We provide those - and more. But from that expected base, we branch out, to embrace a world of opportunity for girls.
- Enthusiasm for cookie sales would exceed past heights.
- Members would want to try every camp at least once ( what a great way to encourage girls to re-register! )
- There would be enough room for Service Units to hold events in the spring - events that are crucial for acclimating new leaders.
- Evaluation would be continuous. Camps not contributing to the program would be released: "Use it or lose it".
- We could expand the "Camping Pathway" to include the 6-week short program model for volunteers who don't want a full troop commitment.
- We would have enough safe space available as "training grounds" for independence, resilience, creative thinking , and leadership that girls would take with them into the community.
- A weekend at Camp Pleasant Valley and excursion to the coolness of Seneca Caverns would become an annual summertime tradition for all members.
- Camp monitors could control access to supplies for troops to borrow: art supplies, dramatics costumes, science equipment, etc. Also access to the reference books and instructional videos library at each camp's library.
- We would use the Kirby inventions at Crowell Hilaka to demonstrate applied physics in a unique and inspirational way.
- We could expand family programming and campsite rentals
- Surrounding communities would feel pride and want to serve in the Friends groups ( recruitment tool ! ) and donate funds for improvement.
- Volunteers would be stepping up for the pathways that fit their ability and availability. The council office would assist volunteer networking to connect volunteers with groups of girls
- Innovative pilot programs could be tested in ONE camp at a time- Timberlane could be developed as a PLC if their friends' groups wanted it.
- Girls would develop confidence in the democratic system of governance within the council. When they see that their votes DO matter, there will be an upsurge in girl delegates, active involvement in assemblies, enthusiasm for learning the process of presenting a resolution. GSNEO would become THE national model for girl governance.
- Our programs would be based on experience, not on untested theory.
Possibilities
Each camp should develop its own specialties. This was a recommendation made by the GSUSA property consultant Glen Chin when he visited the GSNEO camps. Specialties don't have to be decided all at once. Some may flower from girl-based projects or evolve from resources available in nearby communities. Others may be obvious because of the resources already available at the camp.
For example:
The camps with large lakes should be the camps that specialize in boating activities. There is no need to engineer a large lake at every camp.
The camps with dining halls are the ones that can be used for resident camp. They do not all need dining halls. ( When resident camp is not in session, the large halls are useful as program space for classes and large gatherings. )
GSNEO camps from west to east:
- Camp Pleasant Valley is a half - hour drive from Seneca Caverns and not too far from Cedar Point. It's a perfect base camp for excursions in northern Ohio.
Pleasant Valley has “Ladybug” units. That suggests something cute , something that introduces our youngest members to the wonders of the outdoors. A real Daisy Flower Garden with interactive displays would bring all the beautiful pictures in the first Daisy Journey to life. Older girls would love the whimsical artwork in the garden & in the main lodge. During the week, Pleasant Valley would be a frequent destination for field trips from schools, day cares, & families with young children
- Camp Timberlane is famous for its Tall Trees unit. Looking out into the tree tops from the porch of Tall Trees is reminiscent of the Swiss Family Robinson, making everything they needed to survive from whatever they found on their island home. This suggests amazing craftwork. A ceramics studio, a glassworks, welding equipment, a textiles studio combined with a fashion-design studio. Outside: topiary - including a hedge maze.
- Crowell Hilaka: Former estate of James Kirby, inventor & entrepreneur. It's already got the storybook houses, intricate scenery, and large-scale, unique inventions. The mill powerhouse will return to it's original function of a mechanics/ technology workshop, and the Mill wheel returned to it's original function of generating electricity. Two large lakes support water-based programs.
- Ledgewood – well known for it's climbing ledges. This suggests an emphasis on sports. Move the high ropes equipment from C/H to LW for an added feature. Expand on the sports concept to include health / human physiology . Since Cleveland is on the verge of re-inventing itself as a leading center for medical technology, capitalize on that.
Proximity – Between Crowell Hilaka and Ledgewood. Is a huge advantage when hosting national or international events. It was already trialed during the first Cadette/Senior Summits. The ten mile distance is an easy shuttle ride. More significantly – it's an easy enough hike / bike ride, yet significant enough of a distance to be a significant challenge and accomplishment for most girls.
- Great Trail - one of the most intriguing things was that GT used to have keep donkeys. Animal Care was a very highly desired activity requested by girls in the survey. So bring back the donkeys, and add a couple llamas, a few sheep ( they'll mow the grass for you) , some ostriches and horses.
- Lejnar – two things: Snowbelt, and wide, open skies. = winter fun and summer aeronautics. Build a toboggan chute, promote cross-country skiing and ice-sculpture. Build a whole crystal place every winter with blocks of ice from the pond. Charge “civilians” money to sleep over in it. IN the summer, hot air balloons – small, girl-built experimental ones, and full size real ones ( with licensed pilot) for small aerial voyaging. Gliders. A rocket launch pad. Weather observation stations at each cabin.
- Sugarbush - The name suggests the specialty. Not just maple syrup making; but every type of food production, culinary expertise, and kitchen chemistry
It's the program that drives the property decisions.
Leadership and financial literacy are already a part of every troop camping experience. These could probably be integrated in resident camp programs with some creative planning,
Healthy living and environmental awareness are also a given at camp.
- Community engagement would be awesome, especially if we provided campground access to community residents for those who paid GSUSA membership fee and any additional program fees for use during Tuesday – Thursday and designated weekends. IN terms of girl programming, if there were specialty groups whose mission coincided with the specialty of the camps, they could be offered free storage space for their gear in exchange for allowing girls to observe or participate in their program. For example, a canine search and rescue team provided a demonstration for a Cadette/Senior Summit. The demonstration was also a monthly training session for dogs & owners. Girls working on the wilderness survival patch got to play the part of lost children for the dogs to find. The whole camp was invited to watch. It was a huge success!
- STEM should not be relegated to some unspecific STEM building or you run the risk of forcing kids to attend an unwanted science class . Science is part of every single thing. When you are sitting around an evening campfire with a couple girls, ask what fire is made of. From there you can get right into a real discussion of the laws of thermodynamics as applied to nature. It just doesn't get STEM-ier than that.
A bold vision is implemented in small stages, evaluating each one first. Decide on the specialization and then get some program in place to test drive it. When the community sees what is successful, they will contribute to it .
In the example above, could we afford to do all of that right now? No. Would we have girls breaking down the doors to join Girl Scouts if we did? Yes. Is it worth at least starting? YES.
Lynn Scholle Richardson
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