Cadette Camping in Acadia
June 16-18, 2023
After finishing out their school year, five Cadette Girl Scouts from Kittery and Portsmouth kicked off their summer with a camping trip to Acadia this past June. Despite chilly temps and rain, the girls had fun and developed confidence in their abilities to thrive in the wilderness.
“I think the girls really enjoyed braving and surviving the very wet weather. One of them had never camped before and we were all proud of how well she did,” says Troop Leader Phyllis Ford.
The girls chose an area on the southern side of Mt. Desert Island near Tremont and Bass Harbor to camp out, and even got the chance to visit the top of Cadillac Mountain by car!
Not only did the girls make lifelong memories and share a bonding experience like no other, the camping trip also helped them work towards their Outdoor Journey badges.
“Because of the rain, we still have to do our night sky work and cooking in a box oven. We will finish this fall and then start working on our Take Action project,” says Phyllis, who also says the girls have a goal of earning their Silver Awards this year.
After their triumphant go at camping, the girls celebrated in Bar Harbor with some souvenir shopping and a well-deserved lunch before finishing off the trip with ice cream.
“My biggest takeaways are how much preparation the girls wanted to do and how well they handled the social aspects between them, not to mention the two long car rides […] They did a great job helping with camp chores and preparing the food,” says Phyllis.
According to Phyllis, much of the camping trip success is owed to her invaluable Troop Camp Training, a two-part learning series in which adult members can learn the necessary skills to lead a group properly and safely in an overnight camping trip. Learn more about Troop Camp Training here. https://www.girlscoutsofmaine.org/en/members/for-volunteers/gsme-resources/adult-learning.html
See more photos here.
