Camp Farnsworth offers girls outdoor adventure with cutting-edge programs
THETFORD, VT | The summer day stretches out with possibilities – swimming, hiking, games, crafts, horseback riding, boating, songs, campfires, friends. No cell phones, computers, or other electronics are to be found – girls are making real connections with nature and other people, discovering new skills, becoming more confident in their choices, trying new activities, and even learning to lead and work with their peers. That’s what summer camp is all about, and it’s available through Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.
For more than 100 years, Girl Scout camp has brought girls unmatched outdoor adventure, full of learning, challenges, and a lot of friendship and fun. At camp, girls get to make their own decisions and dive into the age-appropriate activities they love, enabling them to discover their values and passions, connect with others from a range of backgrounds, and take action to make a meaningful difference in their world.
Camp Farnsworth is where girls from across Vermont and New Hampshire come to spend a week or even a summer out in nature, making memories that will last a lifetime. Summer camp allows a child to thrive outside the structure of school and regular friends.
“Parents see their campers gain skills at camp that transfer back to the school and home environment,” said Karyn Martin, Ph.D, assistant director of the Facilities Outdoor Program at Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. “Parents are always amazed at the gains their camper has made. They come home from their camp experiences more patient with siblings, more likely to take the initiative to clean their room, more independent when making decisions.”
At Farnsworth resident camp, girls plan their week’s activities, perhaps choosing to make a bench in wood shop, trying out yoga on stand-up paddleboards, going for a swim in the pool, or reaching new heights as they conquer the climbing tower and new low-ropes course. Girls in kindergarten through 10th grade will enjoy a variety of camp themes and activities, while girls in 11th and 12th grade can participate as counselors or barn leaders in training.
Girls in grades 6-10 have a variety of themes each week to consider. Beads and Bracelets features friendship bracelets, paper beads, clay beads and more. During Paints and Paper week, they make their own paper and paperscapes, and use watercolor and acrylic paints to create their own masterpiece. Bike Path Pedalers take a trip along Lake Champlain and ride the bike ferry on the Lake Champlain causeway. During Mountain Bike Trails, campers learn from the experts, then practice their single-track and downhill mountain bike skills. Ambitious climbers will love Scale the Heights, where girls get to challenge themselves on the climbing wall, caterpillar and giant’s ladder, spend an overnight in a hammock ladder, and go rock climbing.
For girls in grades 8-10, there’s a special two-week climbing program in August through the White Mountains and Via Ferrata. Girls will travel and camp with their friends, while taking guided lessons in rock climbing, leading up to the Polar Caves’ Via Ferrata (Iron Way) adventure.
Last summer, the Girl Scout Research Institute collaborated with the American Camp Association to explore how camp experiences carry over into other parts of life. In a survey of more than 700 adults who attended camp as kids, they found camp helps girls develop important life skills and positive characteristics, a strong sense of self, and leadership skills. These lessons last far beyond their camp experience.
Being outdoors is one of the four pillars of the Girl Scout Experience, along with STEM, life skills, and entrepreneurship. Girl Scouts change the world for the better.
Camp Farnsworth offers seven weeks of resident camp, from June 30 through Aug. 16. Open to all girls – you don’t have to already be a Girl Scout to attend. To learn more about camp and Girl Scouts, see www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
