Summer Camp

Register // Outdoor Pledge // Property Reservation // FAQs // 2018 Summer Camp Guide

Thank you for a great 2018 Summer Camp experience. You can still explore our Adventure Centers below, which are open year-round!

2018 Summer Camp Guide

Registration and reservations will be through our new, easy-to-use platform, Doubleknot! (Medical paperwork and forms will remain through CampDoc. If you came to camp last summer, all you need to do is a simple update to your existing CampDoc record!) Both systems are designed to make registering easy and quick! If you have questions or need help, contact us at 1.855.213.8555 or info@gsnypenn.org.

Amahami Adventure Center is in Deposit, NY, in the foothills of the Catskill Mountain region. Amahami offers all campers the opportunity to expand their knowledge, confidence and comfort in nature through an immersive outdoor experience. The property features miles upon miles of hiking trails, including one to Amahami’s very own fire tower! Amahami is located on a small private lake. Campers may spend the week sleeping in a troop house, cabin or platform tent.

Comstock Adventure Center in Ithaca, NY, is located along the shores of Cayuga Lake. Campers enjoy the unique natural surroundings created by the Finger Lakes while living in beautiful tree-top cabin village units. Comstock features nearly two miles of lakefront, offering a wide variety of water sports and a beautiful location to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. Comstock’s proximity to a variety of popular local destinations allows for many off-camp experiences for campers.

Trefoil Adventure Center is in Harrisville, NY, located on the outskirts of gorgeous Adirondack Park. Campers get the ultimate high adventure and wilderness experience while spending a week in an intimate, outdoorsy setting. Trefoil features GSNYPENN’s only high and low ropes course! With its proximity to Adirondack Park, Trefoil is a great location for any camper looking to explore the outdoors! Most campers spend their week sleeping in a-frame units, or our famous yurt!

Hoover Adventure Center is in the heart of Central New York, located along the shores of Song Lake in Tully. Hoover is home to the region’s only Day Camp experience, offering the perfect opportunity for any camper looking to get their feet wet and explore what camp has to offer. Hoover’s unique, flat setting, with ample field space allows for a variety of fun summer time activities, such as field games, sports, archery and exploring the many hiking trails on site. Hoover features two rustic cabin units and two platform tent units, for any camper who may choose to challenge themselves with an add-on overnight experience.

Camp Trading Posts

Shop for camp keepsakes and pick up other needs like flashlights, water bottles and more during camp sessions! Cash, credit cards and Cookie Dough accepted for payment. Merchandise available includes (but is not limited to):

• camp t-shirts
• surprise bags
• water bottles
• camp journals
• flashlights
• compasses
• bandannas
• and more!

NYPENN Adventure Center T-shirts Are Here!

Be prepared before summer camp starts! You can only get these in our NYPENN Boutiques. Each property has its own shirt with a special design!
Cost: $10-13 each, depending on size (plus tax).

FAQ

Whether you’re sending your daughter away to camp for the first time or the 12th time, you’ll probably have questions! We want your daughter to have the best camp experience ever. Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions and their answers.

If your question is not listed, please feel free to contact summercamp@gsnypenn.org or call our customer care at 1.855.213.8555.

Does my daughter need to be a Girl Scout to register for camp?

Nope! Our resident camps are open to all girls and we encourage girls to bring a friend, Girl Scout or not! Non-member registration starts February 15.

Week 3 of Day Camp at Hoover is open to all children ages 7-12.

If your daughter would like to become a registered Girl Scout before camp, simply visit our website and register online!

Non-members, including boys signing up for Day Camp at Hoover, will have a $25 fee added during the registration process. Non-members may choose whether they’d like to use this amount toward becoming a registered Girl Scout or not. If you decide to join, the $25 fee will be used for your 2018 membership!

Do you offer financial aid?

Yes, financial assistance is available. Please fill out this request form and submit it online.

If you have any further financial assistance questions email executiveoffice@gsnypenn.org

Can my daughter be placed in the same unit with her friend?

Absolutely – as long as they are both in the same Girl Scout level in the Fall! When you register your daughter, you’ll be asked for a bunkmate request. Please make sure the bunkmate lists your daughter, too! Please note, campers may not request more than one buddy. Camp is a time to enjoy old friends but also a time to make new ones!

What if my daughter’s friend is not in the same level (Junior vs. Cadette)?

Campers are bunked by age group by default. If you want to know if two girls can attend the same session and bunk together but are in different levels, please contact the Camp Director for the camp location to ask for an exception.

Comstock Camp Director: Mandi Miller. She can be reached at MMiller@gsnypenn.org or 315.698.9400 x2048.
Trefoil Camp Director: Beth Jennings. She can be reached at BJennings@gsnypenn.org or 315.782.1890 x2216.
Amahami Camp Director: Becca Scheetz. She can be reached at BScheetz@gsnypenn.org or 607.724.6572 x2125.

Who are the staff members?

Our camp staff members are enthusiastic, talented, and caring adults who are selected on the basis of their experience, ability to serve as positive role models and their genuine desire to work with children. Staff members have a variety of talents to help your daughter learn and grow at camp, ranging from the performing arts to tae kwon do! Many of our staff return from year to year, and new staff members are recruited from local colleges and universities. We also hire staff from Camp America, an organization that provides camp staff from Great Britain, for a little international flair! Background checks and extensive interviews are completed on all staff members.

How old are the staff members?

Staff members working directly with campers are at least 18 years old.

What training does the staff receive?

All staff are certified in First Aid/CPR and receive an extensive training prior to the arrival of all campers. Training includes activity programming and outdoor skills, health and safety, emergency procedures, age level characteristics, meeting camper needs, dealing with homesickness and much more. Staff members who supervise and instruct high adventure or specialty activities are required to have additional training and qualifications.

What are the ratios of staff to campers?

The ratio at resident camp of Unit Counselor to campers is based upon ages of the campers and follow GSUSA Guidelines. The adult to camper ratios are:

Brownies (2^nd and 3^rd Grade)	1:6
Juniors (4^th and 5^th Grade)	1:8
Cadettes (6^th, 7^th and 8^th Grade)	1:10
Seniors (9^th and 10^th Grade)	1:10
Ambassadors (11^th and 12^th Grade)	1:10

What safety standards are followed?

Our camps are required to meet established standards for health and safety, site, program and personnel, which are set by state and local health departments, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A, and the American Camp Association (ACA). Each camp is inspected twice a summer by the county health department in which the camp is located.

What is ACA?

The American Camp Association is a national organization that sets the highest standards for the camping industry, which include the oversight of health and safety of campers and staff and the delivery of quality programming. Comstock and Trefoil are reaccredited every 5 years.

Where will my daughter sleep?

Campers are assigned sleeping units/areas based upon camper age and sometimes the program they registered for, such as trips or the CIT program. We try to assign the youngest of campers the units that are closest to the main program areas at camp, such as the dining hall and other frequently used areas. Campers may sleep in cabins, a-frames, lean-tos or platform tents depending upon the camp she attends. We encourage you and your daughter to attend our Open House so that you are familiar with all of the sleeping units on the camp properties.

What will my daughter eat?

Food service staff at Resident Camp prepares a variety of pleasing and nutritious meals appropriate for children. Camp food isn't what it used to be! Our camps serve plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs and breads. Healthy snacks are provided in the afternoons to fuel the fun!

Day Campers must bring a lunch and water bottle each day. Snacks and fresh water will be provided.

Can special diets be accommodated?

We do offer a vegetarian alternative at each meal. If you have allergies or special dietary needs, please contact the Camp Director prior to camp to discuss your requirements. We may be able to provide everything your daughter needs at camp, but if not, we’ll work to find a solution!

What if my daughter needs medical attention?

All Resident and Day Camps are staffed with a Health Supervisor whose certification and training level is in compliance with NYS Department of Health requirements. The Health Supervisor is on site 24/7 throughout each camp and oversees the routine health care and administration of medications for all campers and staff. The Health Supervisor is trained to identify health issues that require more advanced medical attention. Parents will be notified in the event of such an emergency. Day Campers please note: over the counter medications will not be offered at day camp. Please do not bring them with you. If needed, campers must be able to self-administer any prescription medications according to a signed doctor’s note.

What if I do not have a computer or internet to complete the health questions?

We encourage parents/guardians to complete their own Health Profile online through CampDoc. If you are absolutely not able to do so, please contact us at 1-800-943-4414 to mail forms to you. You will then need to complete the forms and send them back to the Cicero office at least 2 weeks prior to your camp session, along with your camper’s immunization list and Physical form.

Can I visit the Resident Camps?

Each camp will host an Open House. Families are welcome to see and tour the camp as well as meet the Camp Director and staff. Visit Doubleknot to register for these opportunities. Parents may not visit their camper while camp is in session.

How can I contact my daughter during camp?

In your camp confirmation packet you will receive the mailing address and information needed to contact your daughter during her stay. We encourage you to write your daughter, but remember it is often necessary to post-mark mail prior to her departure to ensure she receives it in a timely manner. When you complete your health forms using CampDoc this year, you’ll see that you can send emails to your daughter via the CampGrams service for a small fee.

Do campers get to choose their activities?

Yes! At both Comstock and Amahami each camper who enrolls in “Classic Camp” gets the opportunity to participate in her choice of four core program areas every day for an hour block each. These activities include arts and crafts, sports and recreation, performing arts, archery, waterfront and outdoor education. In addition to our Classic Camp activities, limited space is available for the various age levels in specialty add-on programming both on- and off-camp for an additional cost. Check out our Resident Camp guide for more detailed information about all activities and add-ons.

At Trefoil and Hoover, each camper gets the chance to practice their democratic decision making skills as they work with other campers in their age group to decide what activities they’d like to participate in each day.

Additionally, each week of camp has a theme and campers are encouraged to bring props and/or costumes from home!

Where can I find the camp address and directions?

Amahami	Comstock	Trefoil	Hoover
434 Page Pond Rd Deposit, NY 13754	1419 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, NY 14850	168 Rose Road Harrisville, NY 13648	2065 Song Lake Xing Tully, NY 13159

Camp information will also be provided in the confirmation packet for confirmed camper registrations. Campers love mail, so feel free to send lots!

Can I send my daughter to camp with food to share with her tent/unit mates?

No, thanks! Our camps are home to much more than campers and staff, including raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and other animals that love snacks just as much as your daughter does! To keep animal visits to a minimum, please don’t send food of any kind with your daughter.

If your daughter has dietary restrictions please contact the camp director before camp starts to discuss the options available.

Can I mail a care package with food in it?

Care packages are encouraged, but please NO FOOD. It attracts those unwanted animals to explore the tent units. Any food sent in the camper packages will be held in the camp office (and probably eaten by the camp director).

What is Mom & Me?

Mom and Me programs are a fun, easy way to enjoy our camp properties. Mom and Me is for Girl Scouts and any special adult female! Participate together in some of your favorite camp activities, like swimming, boating, arts and crafts and archery. Enjoy each other’s company during this special one-night overnight experience! Please note that all Mom and Me programs consist of similar programming and schedules. Mom and Me programs cost $45 per person and are offered at all four of our camp properties throughout June, July and August.

Remember: Mom and Me programs are open to Daisies, too!

Will the Trading Post be open during camp?

The Trading Posts at all camps will be open on drop-off day and pick-up day. Trading Posts will not be open during the week, so please do not send your camper with money. Some of the items available at the Trading Post may include camp specific t-shirts, patches, compass, fleece blankets, water bottles, and much much more!

What is the Summer Camp Cancellation Policy?

The $25 deposit fee for Summer Camp programs is non-refundable unless council cancels the program.

Cancellation notifications will only be accepted in writing (to Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, ATTN: Summer Camp, 8170 Thompson Rd, Cicero NY 13039 or via email to summercamp@gsnypenn.org). Refunds for cancellations are made only if the notification is received prior the registration deadline (two weeks prior to the summer camp date). A cancellation may qualify for a refund (minus the deposit fee) if the cancellation is due to a qualified medical reason. A written refund request along with a doctor’s excuse must be received within two weeks of the cancellation or program date.

Participants who want to transfer to another Summer Camp program will be assessed a $10 transfer fee (unless the program is cancelled by the council, in which case this fee will be waived). The transfer must be requested PRIOR to the registration deadline for each program. If a participant uses council Cookie Dough as payment towards a Summer Camp program and qualifies for a refund, the Cookie Dough amount is refunded only as Cookie Dough. The refunded Cookie Dough will be issued with the same expiration date as the Cookie Dough that was used as payment.

Is Girl Scout camp right for you? To read a brochure from the NYS Health Department outlining the rights and responsibilities of campers, camp operators, and parents, please click here.