Commonly Asked Questions for Parents

• Does my daughter have to be a Girl Scout to attend Girl Scout camp?

  All girls are welcome to attend GSCI Camp Programs. Any girl who is not a member will pay a $12 additional fee to become a registered member in addition to the camp fee.

• Who goes to Girl Scout camp?

  GSCI camps are open to all girls, including non-Girl Scouts. Any girl entering grades 1 – 12 is welcome at camp. Girls need not have any camping experience to come to camp, and it is not necessary for them to attend with friends or a troop – they’ll make new friends at camp! The summer camp experience at Girl Scouts of Central Illinois comes in many forms: resident camp, day camp, day events, road trips, and core camping.

• What will my daughter do while she’s at camp?

  She will decide, based on her interests. From creative arts to water activities to horseback riding to singing around a campfire with a bunch of new friends, we’ve got it all! Whatever a girl’s particular interests may be, we’ve got a camp session she will love! Each session has a special focus for different interests and levels of experience, for both first-timers and seasonal campers.

• How do I know if my daughter is ready to go to camp?

  Most girls are ready for overnight camp at the age of 8. Girls younger than that will benefit from a day camp experience. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine if your child is ready for a day or overnight camp experience.

  1. Does she indicate that she wants to go?
  2. Has she experienced a night away from home?
  3. Is she willing to try new things?
  4. Can she cope with the elements (woods, bugs, weather)?
  5. Does she follow directions well?
  6. Can she care for herself?
  7. Does she enjoy a wide variety of experiences? 
     

  If you answered “YES” to most of these questions, then your daughter is ready for an exciting summer camp experience!

• When can I register my camper for camp?

  Information coming soon.

• How do I register her?

  Information coming soon.

• How are payments made for camp?

  Payments may be made by cash, check, money order, debit card, or credit card. All camp fees must be received in full at least two weeks prior to the camp session for which the camper is registered. No camp fees will be accepted at camp. NOTE: Campers will lose their spot in a session if there is an outstanding balance remaining 2 weeks prior to the camp session for which they are registered.

• What happens after I have registered my camper?

  Once we have received you registration form and deposit and are placed in a session, you will receive a postcard confirming her registration within 5 business days. Subsequently, a confirmation packet with further information will be sent. The packet will contain information on arrival and departure, packing list, health forms, directions to camp, final payment, and everything else you’ll need to know for camp.

• Is Financial Assistance available?

  Many factors affect your decision to send your daughter to camp. If the fee is a concern for your family, please consider applying for a campership. All information will remain confidential. Camperships are available through a fund provided by the council and donors from the community. Girls must use all of their Cookie Dough toward the camp fee before camperships will be given. Campers may only attend one session on financial assistance.

• Can Cookie Dough be used for camp or at the Trading Post?

  Absolutely! Cookie Dough is a girl’s way of helping herself go to camp. Cookie Dough can be mailed in with the final payment and must be sent in prior to, or with, the final payment and cannot be accepted after the final bill is paid. Cookie Dough cannot be submitted for a cash refund or as the initial deposit for any session. A girl may bring her Cookie Dough card to camp to purchase merchandise at the Trading Post.

• Does my camper need to have a physical exam to attend camp?

  A camp specific Health History Form and/or Physical Form will be sent with the confirmation packet. Each resident camper or participant in a trip of more than three nights is required to have a physical completed within 24 months of the last day of the resident camp session they will be attending. Health forms from previous years of camp are not available as they are permanently stored upon closure of the camp season. Please keep a copy of the form for your records. The health form must be in the sponsoring service center at least one week before the session begins.

• Can my camper be in the same tent as her friend at camp?

  We can 99.9% guarantee that friends will be placed together in the same tent if they register for the same camp session. Two girls wishing to attend camp together must provide that information on their registration forms. Space is provided on the registration form to indicate ONE friend’s name. We cannot guarantee large group placement in the same tent or unit.

• Where will my camper sleep and what are the bathrooms like at camp?

  Resident campers sleep in platform tents and cabins, depending on the camp. All platform tents accommodate 4 girls on cots with mattresses, which are provided. The bathroom facilities at camp are either latrines and/or flushable toilets and shower houses.
  
  Platform tent: large, house-shaped tent with raised wooden flooring
  Cabin: enclosed wooden structure

• How is the staff selected?

  Experience, skills, certifications, care, responsibility, and character are foremost qualifications we are looking for in our camp staff. The council does a criminal background check and reference check on all their employees and volunteers. We provide a week of intense training before the summer season begins to prepare the camp staff for a safe, fun and exciting summer.

• What happens when weather plays a factor during camp?

  Activities that are listed within an event or activity may change due to weather. Please remember weather is a big factor in the summer. The safety of the girls is our utmost concern. If the weather is inclement, girls may not be able to participate in activities that are affected by rain, storms, and extreme heat. In the case of severe weather, staff is trained in the emergency procedure process at each camp site to ensure all campers are accounted for and have taken shelter.

• How does my picky eater survive at camp?

  All the meals at camp are well-balanced and nutritious. There is a wide selection of food available for even the pickiest eater to eat. If your camper is a vegetarian, allergies, or has a special dietary need, we will do our best to accommodate with a tasty, varied, and healthy meal.

• What does a typical day of Resident Camp look like?

  7:45-8:00	Flag
  8:00-9:00	Breakfast
  9:00-11:30	Girl planned activities (e.g., boating, swimming, horseback riding, arts & crafts, outdoor education, hiking)
  12:00-1:00	Lunch
  1:00-2:00	Rest Hour
  2:00-4:00	Group activities (e.g., boating, swimming, horseback riding, arts & crafts, outdoor education, hiking)
  4:00-5:45	Showers/Unit Time
  5:45-6:00	Flag
  6:00-7:00	Dinner
  7:00-9:00	All camp activities, campfires, theme nights
  9:30	Lights out

• What does a typical day of Day Camp look like?

  Click here to view a map of a typical day at camp is arranged for campers.