Camp's Over? It's Just Not Fair!

By Kathleen Cullinan

Dear Camp Counselor:

I go to a Girl Scout camp in the summer (it's a sleep away camp). It's such an awesome camp that during the rest of the year I miss it so much. What can I do to not miss it so much? *

Signed,

Fall's Not Fair

*The above question was sent into share@gogirlsonly.org this August.

Dear FNF,

It's hard to make the change from camp to school. However, there are things you can do throughout the school year to keep in touch with your inner camper. Try starting one of them every month or so, and before you know it, it'll be time to register, shop, and pack for camp again!

1. Scrapbook It
   
   Take your favorite things from camp—photos, lanyards, shirts, etc.—and put them into a scrapbook. Use colored pens, stickers, and ribbons to decorate the pages. Be sure to include all the new songs and inside jokes that you and your buds came up with this year. Put the scrapbook on display in your room. Flip through it when you're missing that camp spirit.
   
   
2. Go Postal!
   
   Send a postcard to your favorite counselors. Don't know how to reach them? Ask the folks at your Girl Scout council if they can forward it to them. HINT: Camp staff members like getting cards from campers throughout the year because they get a little "camp sick" too.
   
   
3. "Make New Friends."
   
   Don't forget your new camp friends too. Drop them a line (or an email).Check out the e-cards at Girls Only to send them. Are any of them local? Maybe you can get together for a sleepover, remember all the fun you had at camp, and make new memories.
   
   
4. Keep it up!
   
   Keep a journal about what cool things you tried at camp. Then see if you can keep up the skills throughout the year. If you learned how to swim, maybe you could join the swimming or diving team or learn about being a lifeguard. If you went for a trail ride, maybe you could take horseback riding lessons. Did you like arts and crafts? If so, maybe you could look into pottery or art classes.
   
   
5. Extend the season
   
   Many Girl Scout camps run camping weekends in the fall or spring. Check with your leader and see if your troop/group can go. Not available? Check with your family and see if they're up for a family camp-out. Either way, you'd be able to retell your camp stories around the camp fire.
   
   
6. Pitch In
   
   Camps often have work weekends where they get people together to help repair, paint, or maintain trails. You might want to check to see if you, your troop/group, or your family can join in.

Whatever you do in the off season—don't worry, because before you know it, it'll be time to camp again!