FAQ
What happens on Sunday before camp?
Sunday at 2 pm before camp is when the PAs will be expected to help setup camp shelters and other pre-camp tasks. This is also when our unit volunteers camp bring in anything they might need for their unit.
How long is camp?
Monday - Wednesday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm / PA 3:30 pm
Thursday - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm K-3rd units / 9:00 am - 9:00 pm 4th - Adults (campfire)
Friday - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
We ask that the PAs arrive by 8:00 am on Mondays to help with the chaos of registration and then Tuesday - Thursday they are expected by 8:30 am.
Our PA (Program Aides) are responsible for planning a large amount of the camp and part of this is scheduling theme days for each day of camp. Participation is voluntary and no camper is required to participate.
Check out this year's theme days!
Where is the camp located?
Our camp is held at Game Farm Wilderness Day Camp located at 2401 Stuck River Drive. We have a drop and pickup round-about, so you can stay in your car during these times. We also value the safety of all attending, so we will ask for ID and your reason for coming into camp during our time at camp.
Does my daughter have to be in a Girl Scout troop to attend day camp?
No --Some girls love being part of a troop, some want to travel the world, some only take part in programs and activities--and some just want to go to camp. But every camper must register as a Girl Scout before attending camp (except the volunteer sons & tagalongs).
Any girl who wants to come to camp is welcome, even if she has no previous experience with Girl Scouts.
Day Camp is a perfect way to try out Girl Scouts without committing to a troop. It is a great way to meet Girl Scouts and sometimes girls join their new friends in troops when school starts up in the fall.
My child would like to attend camp with her friend. Can they be in the same unit?
Please include that request in both registrations. We will make every effort to place requests for same-grade buddies in the same unit.
My daughter is in 7th grade. Should she continue to come to camp?
Absolutely! Continuing to come to camp as a teen Girl Scout is a great leadership opportunity. We offer training and mentoring to all of our teens at camp, as they continue to gain valuable skills working with younger girls, peers, and adults. Teens are assigned to work in a unit or at a station for the week. Each day they can expect to meet with their advisor, an adult volunteer trained to work with our teens and provide them with appropriate leadership training. They are also given a break during the day to take a breather and relax with their friends.
What will my camper do each day?
A LOT!
We start and end each day with a traditional flag ceremony. Each unit at camp will have the opportunity to lead an opening or closing flag.
Throughout the day, campers participate in a variety of stations: Tools and Knives, Fire Building, Knots, Music, Crafts, Ceremonies, and Games. We have designed our outdoor skills progression to be developmentally appropriate at each level. A first grader will learn the proper technique to handle a knife but will practice this new skill with a butter knife, while a fourth grader will gain experience making tinder with a pocket knife. A third grader will learn to safely light matches, but by the time she's in sixth grade, she'll be challenging herself to light a one-match fire. We are Girl-Led, so we respect the comfort level of our campers. We will encourage your daughter to try new skills but being "challenged by choice" means she may decide she's not ready. Often seeing others successfully complete a task is all the encouragement a girl might need to give it a try herself. More often than not, our campers surprise themselves by what they are capable of!
If volunteers are available, we will have Outdoor Cooking as a part of each camper's week. Most units will cook outdoors twice during the week. Our progression includes work with non-cook methods, foil cooking, stick cooking, one-pot meals, box ovens, Dutch ovens, and camp stoves. Over the course of their years at Auburn Wilderness Day Camp, campers will have the opportunity to try each of these cooking options.
Your camper will have fun with her unit; Playing games, singing songs, going on hikes, water play, or just relaxing, are all part of a camper's day!
What should my child bring to camp?
This will be covered in more detail when you receive your camper letter, closer to camp, but here's the basic list...
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Hardy lunch packed in a gallon Ziploc bag or appropriate Lunch bag!!!
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Water bottle!!!
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Backpack w/ extra set of clothes - optional water days
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Jacket or sweatshirt
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Sunscreen
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Bug spray
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Hat
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REMEMBER: mark EVERYTHING with your camper's name!
Where do I drop off & pick up my daughter?
The day camp location has a great roundabout so we ask that if parking is not available, please drop your daughter off at the curb for camp and have her walk down to the campfire in the morning. But you are welcome to walk her down as well, please do not block the driveway, first aid unit, or biffy.
To speed up the process of pickup we ask that you stay in your car to lessen the congestion. Move your vehicle up to fill in any gaps while waiting and our unit leaders will walk around to the driver and check ID. We will then put a unit color strip of paper on your windshield so the PAs returning your camper know which car they are looking for.
What is your refund policy?
Refunds: A full refund is available 60 days before the first day of camp, less a $20 handling fee. A 50% refund is available 30 days before the first day of camp, less a $20 handling fee. No refunds will be offered less than 30 days prior to the first day of camp.