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.

"Shayna Bright" Light on Camp

"Howdy! My name is Shayna, but I am better known to most people as my camp name, Pepper. I am the Camps Reservation Specialist for Camp Texlake and Camp Kachina (year-round camping) and the registrar for summer camps. While I have only been a part of the year round team for two years, this will be my sixth summer working at GSCTX camp and my ninth summer in camps overall! 

Shayna on the high ropes course.

I was lucky enough to be a scout growing up in New Mexico and in Texas, from Brownie to Cadette. Part of that experience was going to Camp Texlake with my troop and for four summers of overnight camp learning how to sail. My time in Girl Scouts certainly shaped me into who I am today, but it was camp in particular that helped me grow the most and figure out who I am. My favorite part of the job is watching my campers grow into amazing confident young women, and especially seeing them eventually become summer counselors! 

The transformative power of camp isn't just limited to the campers, but also to the staff and anyone who spends time in the camp environment. Each activity from archery to high ropes is set up to build character.  My favorite memory as a camper is going on my first solo sail during my second summer sailing. It was a huge accomplishment and one that--just the previous summer--I thought was out of reach. My counselor Luna helped me improve my skills and build the confidence to attempt (and complete!) such a task.

Camp is a place filled with successes and challenges. When failure happens at camp, it's within a safe place to learn from it and move forward to an even greater success. The perfect example is the High Ropes Course. Practicing “Challenge by Choice” can be hard for a camper; to see those who climb ahead of you fully complete the challenge and then be unable to complete it yourself. 

The best moments that I have ever witnessed are at Ropes. When a camper is able to push into their challenge threshold it is a win every time, whether or not the challenge is completed in the traditional sense. Seeing them take just one more step than they thought possible is a gift that I feel lucky to witness every single time. 

Camp is magical. It is adventure and fun. Camp makes lifelong friends. Whether it is a few weeks in the summer or a weekend trip, the experience of camp can have a positive impact on everyone involved. Hope to see you there!

In the Spirit of Camp, 

Pepper"