Welcome
to “On the Road with Anna,” in which we continue following Girl Scouts of the
USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez as she travels the country meeting the girls,
volunteers, and council teams that help make Girl Scouts such a powerful force
for change.
It’s
summer! And what better place is there to be during summer than at Girl Scout
camp? Recently I got to visit two wonderful camps and see how Girl Scouts are
continuing our century-old tradition of building leadership skills in the
outdoors.
On
my tour so far, I’ve heard from hundreds of girls about why they love camp, and
talked to the amazing volunteers and staff who help these girls create memories
that will last a lifetime—and who make sure they are safe, happy, and excited
to come back next year.
I’ve
also gotten to experience camp alongside the girls and learn firsthand how camp
activities contribute to a lifetime love of nature and the outdoors—something Juliette
Gordon Low wanted for every girl and that Girl Scouts is still committed to
offering all girls today. Through fun, hands-on outdoor activities, girls gain
the confidence and courage to face challenges and learn how to overcome obstacles,
whether on their own or as part of a team.
For
one lifelong Girl Scout in Pennsylvania, those bonds have lasted well into
adulthood and across generations in her family.
“My
84-year-old mother was a camper here, and she brought me here when I was a
little girl,” said Sue Tantsits, whom I met on my visit to Moseywood, where she
led us on a hike around the property, teaching us about the local flora and
fauna along the way.
“This
place is a part of me and a part of my family,” she added. “We had mom’s 80th
birthday here at camp. The camp was full and they made her a birthday cake. It’s
really hard to describe how wonderful it was.” Rocking chairs dedicated to
Sue’s mother now sit on the porch of the dining hall at Moseywood, overlooking
her beloved lake.
I
want every girl to have the opportunity to experience both the feeling of
community and the sense of freedom you feel at camp, just like Sue and the
generations of campers who have come before and after her were able to do.
I
always tell girls that they should do at least one thing that scares them
everyday. At Moseywood, way above the treetops on the high-ropes course, I
conquered something that I found not only challenging but also a little bit
scary as I climbed alongside the campers.
But
at the end of the challenge course, there was a zipline that gave me a gorgeous
view over the lake and the surrounding hills as a reward!
Check
out the video to see me zipline over the lake and more.
Until
next time…