Parent Resources
What to Expect Packets
2024 Summer Camp Guide
What to Expect Packet
What to Expect Packet
What to Expect Packet
Is My Child Ready for Camp?
We are so appreciative when families and children ask this question. We share your desire to find the best camp experience possible, so we offer a rich progression of sessions. You can choose from various options such as day camp, day camp with overnight options, and traditional week-long and multi-week overnight sessions.
To attend Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Girl Scout camps, campers must meet the following essential functions:
- Move independently from place to place
- Participate in activities and camp life in a group setting
- Be able to meet personal needs (bathing, toileting, dressing, diet management, etc.)
- Capable of managing their chronic illness or condition
Girl Scout Camp Has Something for Every Level of Readiness!
Day Camp or Sleepaway Camp?
Although age plays a big role in determining your camper’s readiness for sleepaway camp, maturity and openness to a new adventure are also important. We suggest reviewing and discussing the following list of skills and abilities with your Girl Scout to decide what is best for her.
- I can ask for help when needed.
- I can follow directions in a group setting.
- I’m excited to make new friends.
- I’m comfortable being outdoors in nature.
- I have been away from home overnight.
- I can take a shower and brush my teeth by myself.
- I can keeping track of my personal belongings.
- I know how to use my camp equipment (i.e. water bottle, sunscreen, etc.).
If you and your camper decide she’s not ready for a full week of sleepaway camp, consider the day camp sessions with an optional overnight experience at Camp Timber Ridge.
We know that by sharing your camper with us, you are placing the utmost trust in our ability to take good care of her. That’s a responsibility we take seriously—and it’s why we remain dedicated to helping prepare girls, and families, for an unforgettable summer experience with Girl Scouts.
Health & Safety
- Girl Scouts places a high priority on creating a safe and healthy environment for campers. Staff is trained to support physical, mental and emotional health.
- Each camp has trained medical staff and all staff is First Aid or Wilderness First Aid certified.
- This year we will request your health form be completed between March 1 – May 15 with updates closer to camp.
- All campers are expected to have a Georgia Proof of Vaccination Form or a doctor-certified medically required exemption letter for all vaccinations required for public schools.
Special Needs
- To lay the foundation for success for your Girl Scout, parents and the Camp Director team must partner in sharing information about your camper’s health history and accessibility needs. While our Girl Scout camps can accommodate many needs and abilities, there are some cases that require an environment with staff specifically trained to meet their needs.
- Contact camp@gsgatl.org prior to registration if you have questions about whether your camper’s needs can be met at our camps.
Buddies at Camp
Campers are welcome to sign up for camp with a friend within one grade of each other and attending the same camp program. If camp buddies are in different grades such as 5th and 6th grades, the older girl will be placed in the younger camper’s age group. Make sure to list your buddy’s first and last name when completing your registration. Changes cannot be made at camp check-in. Buddy request changes can be made by updating the application or by contacting camp@gsgatl.org. Changes should be made no later than two weeks prior to your camper’s session.
Camper
Communication
We work to promote independence and group cohesion in campers and discourage phone use at camp. We require that all cell phones remain at home. The Camp Director team will contact the guardian if a camper is having trouble adjusting to camp life or if there is a health concern. Parents are encouraged to view each camp’s social media and the camper photo library which will be updated periodically.
Sleepaway campers also love receiving letters and care packages from home during their stay. You will have an opportunity to drop any mail off at check-in to be delivered during the week. You are also welcome to mail your packages or letters directly to camp. Keep in mind the time it takes to ensure that mail gets to camp before the end of the session. Camps are not responsible for late mail or post office schedules.
Parents also have the option to send emails to their camper through the Campanion App for Apple and Andriod. Each camper receives two “CampStamps” per session for parents to send emails.
We will contact parents or guardians if a camper:
- Experiences extreme homesickness (needing constant attention, clinging to adults, needing someone by her side to fall asleep, disrupting camp activities or crying constantly)
- Experiences behavior challenges (see Behavior Expectation Agreement)· Spends the night in the health center or misses a day of activities
- Has an acute or sudden illness
- Has a temperature of 100.5 or higher
- Has an active case of head lice· Falls off a horse
- Needs to be taken to Urgent Care or the hospital
Staff Selection
Timber Ridge
Meriwether
Misty Moutain
The camp staff is made up of individuals 18 years of age or older. We recruit through online platforms, from local colleges and universities as well as recruiting our homegrown Girl Scouts. All camp staff are required to have an interview with a member of the Director Team, provide references and pass a criminal background check.
When hiring staff, we are looking for individuals that have a passion for guiding girls through outdoor experiences that create confidence and help them build friendships to last a lifetime. All cabin counselors are female role models, but our activity staff may include males.
Trading Post
The Trading Posts (camp stores) offer camp essentials and souvenirs such as water bottles, flashlights, day packs, stuffed animals, items for signatures, and more! The Trading Post does not offer snacks or beverages. Items in The Trading Post cost between $1- $50 each.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will my daughter’s special dietary needs be handled?
Camp Misty Mountain and Camp Meriwether will be able to accommodate vegetarian options and certain dietary restrictions. Please list your camper’s dietary needs and/or allergies during registration. Camp Misty Mountain and Camp Meriwether are pleased to provide food without the following allergens upon request in advance: peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, wheat, milk, and eggs. If you have questions regarding multiple allergen-free foods or allergens not listed, please contact the Camp Registration team at camp@gsgatl.org. They will put you in touch with the Camp Director to make sure we can accommodate your camper prior to registration. Overnight camps are unable to accept food from caregivers to prepare for campers while at camp.
Health Form Procedures
A physical examination is not required to attend Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Sleepaway or Day Camps. We do require the completion of a Health History available online through your CampInTouch Login. We also recommend that your camper is up-to-date on all of their required immunizations. Please visit vaccines.gov to answer any questions about vaccines.
Medication Administration
List all prescribed and over-the-counter medications your camper takes regularly on the Health History Form. All medications, including vitamins, must be in the original container and marked clearly with the camper’s name and directions for use. Only the dosage listed on the original container will be followed at camp. Prescription medication can only be dispensed to the person listed on the original prescription container. All medications for campers and staff are collected at check-in and stored in the Health Center for safety purposes. Medications will be dispensed as directed by our health staff or Director Team. Please be sure to keep all medications out of campers bag as you will be handing it over during check-in.
Lost & Found
The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is not responsible for any lost items. Please label your camper’s items with their full name, so we can return it to them. All lost and found items are displayed during the camp week and at check-out. Any items left will be held till the end of summer camp. Parents/guardians may contact the camp office and arrange a time and date to pick up any items or we can ship the items and you will cover the cost of shipping. At the end of the summer, all items are donated to charity.
Swim Evaluation
All swimmers will be under the careful supervision of a lifeguard while at the pool. Campers will be evaluated on their swimming skills by taking a swim test (details included in the What to Expect Packet). Campers will be put into a swimming group based on their ability and given a colored band that indicates their swimming group.