What to Expect at Camp
About our campers
Girl Scout camps are open to every girl without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or ability. Our campers come from all over. They come with different abilities and talents. They are all unique. But best of all, they are all kids, and they come for the same reason to have challenging and exciting experiences and a whole lot of fun!
We are very excited to welcome campers from across the country to attend all of our camps. We have had campers from several parts of the United States as well as campers from as far away as Japan and France. Arrangements can be made to pick your camper up at either the San Francisco International Airport or the Oakland International Airport and transport them to camp and back again.
Where do girls sleep?
At Camp Bothin:
Historic dormitories, platform tent units and open-air cabin units.
At Camp Deer Lake:
Tepee units, dome tents, under the stars, and platform tents.
At Camp Sugar Pine:
Platform tent units, tepee units, tent house units, and dome tent units.
Will my campers need a physical examination to attend camp?
Yes. Each camper is required to have a physical examination before arriving at camp. The examination must have occurred within 24 months of the starting day of the session your camper is to attend. A health history completed by the parents is required of all campers and must be written no more than two months prior to the camp starting date. Health forms are sent once registration is confirmed. Please bring health forms to the bus with you do not send the form to the council office.
What if my child needs medical attention?
All camps have a qualified health supervisor first aider on site. A local doctor is on-call if illness or injury requires medical attention. The health supervisor administers routine health care and medications. Arrangements have been made with the local hospital, health care clinic, rescue squad, fire department, and/or forest service, should the need arise. All camps can be accessed by helicopter. Parents will be notified in the event of an emergency.
Can special foods be provided?
Most special dietary needs can be met by our camp cooks. If your camper has special dietary needs due to medical, religious or other reasons, please specify her needs in writing on her health form. Vegetarian alternatives are available at every meal. You may also contact the Program Department or the camp directly and speak with the Outdoor Program Manager, or the camp Health Supervisor. Please follow conversations with written materials as well.
Special people do come to camp!
Campers with special needs are welcome at Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area camps. Our programs are designed to include girls with different abilities. Camp Bothin is especially adaptable for campers with special needs. Accommodations at Camp Bothin include dorm style rooms with flush toilets and showers. Please call the program department staff so that we can work with you to find the right support situation for your camper.
Take a friend to camp!
Campers are encouraged to attend with a friend, especially first-time campers. Friends can be someone in the troop, the classroom, the neighborhood, or a cousin from the East Coast. Remember that non-Girl Scouts are welcome.
My camper wants to be in the same unit as her friend.
We do our best to place friends together if these simple procedures are followed:
- Friends must qualify in terms of age (and skill level if required) for the same program and the same session
- Friends should list each other's name on the registration form
- Mail registrations in the same envelope
- On the top right corners of the application print ³FRIEND²
When is my camper considered confirmed?
Campers are considered confirmed as soon as they are placed in a program and their name appears on the camper list. A camper packet is sent out a few days later with information about your camper's placement.
What are the counselors like?
Our resident camp staff team is:
- Enthusiastic
- Fun
- Caring
- Skilled
- Talented
- Energetic
- Experienced
The staff is a unique and highly adventurous team of young women and men. Staff members must be at least 18 years of age to work with campers. The staff is recruited from colleges and universities nationwide, local community agencies, and current camp staff referrals. Girl Scouts is committed to the recruitment of diverse camp staff.
As staff members are hired, they begin participating in various types of training. Pre-camp training starts with reading staff manuals and attending specialized training such as lifeguarding, child development, supervision, program development, and more. At the very beginning of the summer, staff from all of the resident camps come together for two days of intensive corporate training conducted by the council executive staff and outside consultants. After completion of this training, camp staff travel to their individual camps and take part in an intensive eight days of training conducted by the Camp Director and administrative staff.
The overall ratio of counselors to campers is 1 to 6. In specialty programs, the ratio is 1 counselor to 4 campers.
What health and safety standards are maintained at San Francisco Bay Area camps?
The camps meet the standards and guidelines established by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and the State of California for health and safety, site, program, and personnel. Copies of health inspection done by the California Health Department are kept on file at the council office. The health department visits the camps annually.
Camp Accreditation
Camps Bothin, Deer Lake, and Sugar Pine are accredited camps of the American Camping Association (ACA). Every three years, the camps go through and accreditation process with on-site visits to evaluate and verify compliance with a set of national standards established by professionals in the camping industry. This is an action we take voluntarily. The standards establish guidelines for needed policies, procedures and practices in the administration of key aspects of camp safety management.
Transportation
Camps Bothin, Deer Lake and Sugar Pine provide chartered bus transportation as part of the resident camp fee. Bus stops are located in Oakland, Concord, Pleasanton, San Rafael and San Mateo (one in each city) for the three camps. There is also a Sacramento stop for Deer Lake campers.
Program Adjustments
The council and Camp Directors reserve the right to reassign a camper from one program to another if she does not meet the minimum skill level required for her selected program. The council and Camp Directors also reserve the right to send a camper home if she is having difficulty adjusting to camp life. Every effort will be made to help her adjust. In both circumstances, the Camp Director or Outdoor Program Manager will notify the parents of the changes.
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