Troop Tuesday: Summer Trip

Here are some highlights from Troop 211's Summer Trip

We did paddle boarding, wake boarding, where all 11 girls and 3 adults graduated to "the big lake" next time we go! 

We saw the Ft Worth Zoo, Stockyards, Water Gardens, and Nature Center. 

The troop toured the Dr Pepper Museum, learned to line dance, and hit Burger's Lake, which is a phenomenal lake-turned-water park. 

10 of our girls even jumped off the 10-meter high dive--which I must say looks much higher from the top--but I did it too!  The girls had a great time, and since they'll all be in school together this fall for the first time, we saw some friendships getting stronger between girls who haven't been very close in the past. 

These girls have big plans for next year as Cadettes and are fired up for the coming GS year! -Amy Kastner

 Did your troop do something great this summer? Send your Troop Tuesday pics to photos@gsctx.org with an explanation of what's happening! 

Girls: 10 Things Your Parents DON'T Do While You're at Summer Camp

Hey girls- 

Whether you go to summer camp every year, or have never been for an overnight, it's a mystery to think about what your parents do/would do while you're gone.  

Here's a list of things they definitely WON'T be doing this summer while you're away:

1. Singing "Let it Go" every chance the get; 
2. Eating chicken nuggets for dinner; 
3. Getting up early to make pancakes for breakfast on Saturday; 

They definitely WILL be: 
1. Getting their car detailed since it can stay nice and clean for a week; 
2. Avoiding the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network; 
3. Finishing that list of DIY projects they've been meaning to do since last year

Of course they'll miss you, but it's a win-win. You get to go to camp with your friends and they get to have a clean, quiet house for a while. You can't beat it. 

Sign up for camp today. 

This is why camp is so great!

Have you seen this photo before?
Guest blogger Tessa is in the pink tank top. 

I love camp because it combines two things I really enjoy - being outdoors and having fun with my friends!  When I was a Brownie, I would always be super pumped for a week of camp that summer.

As I got older, I wanted to go to camp all summer because I loved being with my friends. Zilker day camp with my troop with awesome!  We always learned so much and made many new friends – we taught our troop leaders silly songs and passed on our new knowledge to our service unit when we could.  As I got older my parents decided I was ready for sleep-away camp.   

My first year at Camp Texlake I made more friends than I ever had before because I got to meet so many different girls from troops from all over!  Since that first summer at Texlake, I have gone back every year since and loved it.  I have had great experiences and learned so many things from being a camper.  

This upcoming summer I plan to go once again and it will be my fifth year!  I’m super excited to get my special 5 year pin!  I still love Zilker day camp and I kept going each year until I became too old.  But two summers ago I became a Zilker program aide and this upcoming summer will be my third year helping younger Girls Scouts!  I can hardly wait for this summer so I can enjoy my time at Zilker and Texlake with my Girl Scout sisters!  

Every year after I get home from Texlake, I’m ready to repack my suitcase and go straight back!  I have learned so much from my time at Zilker and Texlake that has helped me be a better person and Girl Scout!  Girl Scout camp life is awesome!

Tessa S.
Senior Girl Scout
Troop 1588

From firelight and fairy tales to Harriet Potter to equestrian fun, every girl can find her place at summer camp. Register your camper today.

Win a Week at Camp!

Does your Girl Scout dream of going to CAMP this summer? Girl Scout camp is the perfect place for self-discovery, laughter, fun and personal growth. Our multiple day and resident camps offer a wide variety of programming and camping options perfect for every girl at every level! Sound exciting? We are even giving GSCTX Facebook fans and Twitter followers the opportunity to WIN a week at resident and day camp.

Here's how to enter our camp contest:

Resident Camp Giveaway (valued at $335)

Are you on Pinterest? Develop a board dedicated to Girl Scout camp pinning original ideas or ones you found from other councils, Girl Scout fans, etc. The board theme is completely up to you but should have something to do with camp! Examples include Camp Cooking Recipes, How to Prepare for Camp or a Camp Checklist. Those entering should submit the link to their board on our Facebook wall by noon on Friday, May 24, 2013 with at least 7 pins. Title it 'Camp Contest Entry' and be creative! The winner will be selected by the marketing department and notified the following Tuesday, May 28.

Day Camp Giveaway (valued at $160)

Are you on Twitter? (If not, it's easy to create an account!) Share in 140 characters or less with us your favorite camp memory (or your Girl Scouts' favorite memory) or reason to attend camp this summer! Start tweet with 'I / My daughter attend(s) @GSCTXcouncil #camp because...(add reason or memory here).' Tweet starting now through next Wednesday, May 23, 2013. Winner will be selected at random and notified Thursday, May 24, 2013. You may tweet multiple times with different reasons/memories to increase your chances of winning.

One person will be selected for resident camp and one for day camp. Values are set and winner of each camp may use winnings for any open day or resident camp. Should value of camp you wish to attend exceed value, winner is responsible for paying difference. If the winner is already signed up for camp, they may ask for reimbursement of value. For any questions or clarifications, please email council. 

New Girl Scouts Cool Off with Water Lessons

With the summer heat turned on high, what better way to spend time outside than through a water specialty camp as part of the Its Your Plant-Love it! series. Girls who are new to Girl Scouts of Central Texas are currently taking part in an opportunity to learn about water issues on a local and global level. Some of the topics covered are water scarcity in developing nations and how it impacts the community. Other topics include the impact of water sanitation on the world’s life expectancy, the water cycle and how water is treated.

Not only are the girls learning about basic water information but they are finding ways to protect and save water and tracking their own conservation program. The camp still has room for activities of course. The girls are enjoying fun water activities such as canoeing on Lady Bird Lake and caving at Whirlpool cave in South Austin.

The girls are taking away a lot from the lessons and activities at the camp. The most important aspect is the girls are becoming more environmentally aware by learning how vital water is to our lives. Its camps like these that shape our Girl Scouts to become more well-rounded citizens of society. We hope the girls will continue to learn and have fun at camp!

For comments or questions regarding camps and becoming a Girl Scout, please contact Girl Scouts of Central Texas.

-Tabitha Fierro