Kirkwold Camporee with Arnold Trail
October 2023
One year and a hurricane delay later, troops from the Arnold Trail Service Unit in Central Maine got to experience a fun and successful camporee at Camp Kirkwold in Readfield!
“The weekend camporee was themed around Maine animals, which allowed the Girl Scouts in attendance to learn all about critter habitats, animal tracks, as well as sounds and movements unique to the native animal species in their state,” says Troop 1353 Leader Lynn Bustard.
Later, the Girl Scouts made animal-themed SWAPs, bracelets with beads representing the different foods that animals eat and they even got to create dams after learning about beaver habitats. Scavenger hunts through Kirkwold’s beautiful, blazed trail presented the Girl Scouts with an opportunity to put their animal tracking skills to the test, followed by a traditional, warm campfire and songs.
After the fire festivities, the brave troops met in the dining hall for a dessert feast prepared by the Cadettes before receiving their highly anticipated camporee badges! With full stomachs and inspired minds, the troops settled in for the night thinking about their Scouts Own that would be shared the following morning before cleanup and departure.
“The girls put in long days up and down the Kirkwold hill and grew braver through their camporee experience. Our troop knew it was a wonderful success when their conversations started to include ‘when we come back next year’ and ‘can we do this again next Tuesday?'” Says Lynn.
