Taste of Camp at Camp Seven Hills is THIS Saturday, May 4

May 2, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

Taste of Camp is a great way to see our grounds, meet our staff, and ask your questions about summer camp. Plus, attending means you’re entered into a drawing for a free week of camp!

For those interested in resident camp, our second Taste of Camp event is happening at Camp Seven Hills next Saturday, May 4, from 1 to 3 p.m.

New to summer camp? Visit us this spring to get a glimpse of what your summer camp experience will look like. Informational sessions, tours, and a sampling of camp crafts will be available. You will also have an opportunity to register for summer camp 2019, and a chance to enter your name for a free week of camp and other cool camp prizes.M

May 4, 2019 – 1 to 3 p.m.
Camp Seven Hills Goodyear
10150 Olean Road (Rt 16), Holland, NY 14080

Be a CIT/Riding Instructor this summer at Camp Seven Hills

April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

If you’re interested in teaching riding at the camp level, this program is for you! This is a special training program for girls who are 15-17 years old. It covers the first four sessions of camp (July 7 to August 2) and registration closes June 1, 2019.

Concentration will include extended riding and teaching skill training, as well as counseling techniques, leadership, self-esteem and ways to work with younger campers. Riding Counselors in Training (RCIT) will receive certification in First Aid and CPR and their CIT pins after successful completion of this program.

You must be at the intermediate to advanced levels of riding for this program. RCITs will earn the horse patch with rider level(s). Prospective RCITs receive an additional application packet that must be completed prior to the start of your RCIT program.

Girls that complete the full RCIT program will be invited back the last week of camp as a Camp Seven Hills Intern.

For questions on riding ability, please contact GSWNY’s Director of Camp Administration at 1-888-837-6410, or email: summercamp@gswny.org

Thank you for supporting Girl Scout Camp Week 2019!

April 26, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

[This post originally appeared on gswnyblog.com]

Last week we held our annual Girl Scout Camp Week and we had a blast! Thank you to everyone who answered trivia, registered for camp, or showed of how much you love camp by sharing this image or posting pictures in your camp gear!

Taylor C., a Randolph Cadette from Troop 10151, is going to Camp Timbercrest this summer for the 3rd time! And this is her 4th year overall going to GSWNY summer camp!
Hailey, a Cadette in Troop 24004, said, When I camp I must have one of my camp shawls and my Thin Mint Build-A-Bear. When I camp with my parents I love sitting around the camp fire eating s’mores!

We held two week-long contests for answering trivia and registering for camp. At the end, we gave away five gift cards, one camp onesie, and A FREE WEEK OF CAMP! Check the image below for all the winners.

It wasn’t just our Girl Scout friends who joined in the fun – Council Staff also had a blast! Here’s a glimpse at some of us in our camp gear:

Just because Girl Scout Camp Week is over for this year doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating camp! Check out this playlist of videos on our Facebook Page to stay in the loop for all things camp!

2019 Session 4 Programs at Camp Seven Hills

April 24, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

Our penultimate week of camp begins Sunday, July 28 , and runs to Friday, August 2. Registration for our fourth session closes July 15, 2019. To view our other programs, check out our Resident Camp Guide on our website.

Girls in Grades 1-3 in Fall 2019

Letterboxing: Put your problem solving skills to the test as you spend this adventurous week searching for clues and solving riddles to find the treasures hidden throughout camp. Girls will practice the art of letterboxing by learning the basics, making stamps, thinking of clues, and creating a camp letterbox. Challenge your camp friends to see who can find the camp letterbox first. All of the other great aspects of camp are also included in this great creative week. Girls will earn requirements towards the following Girl Scout badges – Daisy – Rosie’s Petal (Make the World a Better Place) and Brownie – Letterboxer

Girls in Grades 4-6 on Fall 2019

Be Happy, Relax, and Namaste: Come on, be happy, and join us for a week of camping and relaxation. Create your own Japa Mala bead strings used in ancient Japanese meditation, design thankful jars to share with others, learn, and practice the latest yoga poses, and with help from your yoga instructor, make a special Zen Garden. All of the necessary things for you to relax, have fun, and Namaste.
Climbing Masters: Challenge yourself and master the elements of the Seven Hills Ropes Course. Test your skills on elements such as Islands in the Sky, Two-Line, Catwalk, Dangle Duo, Burma Bridge or Zip-Line. You can do all of this while still enjoying the splendors of camp life. Girls will earn the Seven Hills ropes course patch along with the activity rider for each ropes course element that they participate on.
Long Reins, Free Walk: This program is open to riders at ALL LEVELS – beginner to advanced. The emphasis will be on the basics of English riding and how to apply them to dressage. Lessons also include stable management, basic barn chores, grooming, cleaning the stalls, and feeding the horses. Lessons will be given based on ability and girls will perform a dressage presentation at the end of the camp week. Girls will also learn what a judge would be looking for in order to get the most points and what the different rules are in the sport. Campers will earn the horse patch with rider level(s). Girls participating in the two-week program will remain at camp the entire two weeks.
Seven Hills Sorcery: The train to Camp Seven Hills’ magic school is leaving! Head to the platform, and get on board! Once at camp join your fellow wizards as you make oozing potions, create your own house wardrobe, and play an exciting broomstick sports match. Who will win the Camp Seven Hills Wizard Cup?
Sneak-a-Peak Mini Session: Mini sessions run Sunday to Wednesday. This program is for those who enjoy all the fun of camp, but would like to spend only a few days to check it out. In this session you can swim, play games, make crafts, explore the forest, learn to make a fire, cook outside, and making new friends.

Girls in Grades 7-12 in Fall 2019

Duct Tape Art: For girls with an artistic eye, this is the week and the place to create well, just about anything using duct tape. Use your imagination and creativity and make a purse or a wallet, or even jewelry. The possibilities are endless with just a little imagination and lots of duct tape! Cookouts, hiking, s’mores, laughter, swimming and so much more are also included.
Riders Up!: This program is open to riders with skills at ALL LEVELS – beginner through advanced. The emphasis throughout the week will be on the rider’s position, how to control your horse, and learning about dressage. Stable management will also be taught including basic barn chores, grooming, cleaning the stalls, and feeding the horses. The girls will also learn what a judge would be looking for in order to get the most points and what the different rules are in the sport. Girls will receive lessons based on their riding ability and will perform a small horse presentation at the end of the camp week. Campers will earn the horse patch with rider level(s).

Girls in Grades 9-12 in Fall 2019

Primitive Archer Girl: The program is only for girls ages 14 and up. Connect with trees and your inner archer. Starting from scratch, raw materials, and girl power, you’ll make your own wooden self-bow through traditional woodworking. You’ll be instructed on the wisdom and knowledge of traditional bow crafting, how to use basic hand tools, cordage twisting for bow strings, ancient fire-bending techniques to straighten arrows and fletching with real feathers. You will, of course, have the chance to test out your handiwork with target practice in the woods and on the fields to round out this amazing experience.

2019 Camp Seven Hills Program Spotlight – April 19, 2019

April 19, 2019April 17, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

Summer camp is just around the corner and we wanted to remind you about some really cool programs that are taking place this summer. Reserve you spot for the hottest place in town, Girl Scouts Summer Camp!

Letterboxing It’s a Real Life Camp Treasure Hunt! (for girls in grades 1-3 fall of 2019) Session 2 July 14-19, 2019

Put your problem solving skills to the test as you spend this adventurous week searching for clues and solving riddles to find the treasures hidden throughout camp. Girls will practice the art of letterboxing by learning the basics, making stamps, thinking of clues, and creating a camp letterbox. Challenge your camp friends to see who can find the camp letterbox first. All of the other great aspects of camp are also included in this great creative week. Girls will earn requirements towards the following Girl Scout badges –

Daisy – Rosie’s Petal (Make the World a Better Place)
Brownie – Letterboxer

Climb High at Sky Highwith day trip (for girls in grades 4-6 in fall of 2019)Sessions 2-3: July 14-26, 2019

Spend two weeks challenging yourself and mastering the elements of the Seven Hills Ropes Course, once your skills are mastered it’s off to Sky High Adventure Park in Ellicottville, NY, for more fun and adventure. All of this while still enjoying the splendors of camp life. Girls will earn the Seven Hills ropes course patch along with the activity rider for each ropes course element that they participate on.

Night Owls with Lasertron Sleep-In (for girls in grades 7-12 in fall of 2019) Session 1 July 7-12, 2019

Are you ready to experience nature’s nightlife at Camp Seven Hills? Prowl around our trails at night, search the sky for a shooting star, have a glow-in-the-dark party with games, plan a kitchen raid, and shop in the Tuck Shop, all at night. You will also head out to Lasertron for a laser tag sleep-in. Stay up all night playing laser tag and games along with pizza and pop. After a hard night of play, sleep late the next morning with time to enjoy your favorite camp activities in the afternoon. Girls must be at least 46 inches tall in order to participate at Lasertron.

Scuba Diving Explorers (for girls in grades 7-12 in fall of 2019) Sessions 2-3: July 14-26, 2019

Experience the underwater world through a mask, snorkel, and breathing device. Professional scuba instructors from Dip N’ Dive will take you through every step necessary for you to obtain your Jr. Open Water Diver or your Open Water Diver scuba certification. Spend a week at camp training in our Seven Hills pool covering the first phase of your certification. Spend your second week completing the second phase: open water dive with overnight conducted at the Windmill Quarry, located in Fort Erie, Canada. When you surface, don’t forget to leave time for all of the other great activities at Seven Hills.

Learn More About Our Programs

Happy Girl Scout Camp Week!

April 15, 2019April 11, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

We are officially under three months until our day and resident camps start, but today is another important milestone – it’s the start of Girl Scout Camp Week!

This week, we’re celebrating Girl Scouts as groundbreakers, big thinkers, and role models in the great outdoors, and we want you to join in the fun! Celebrate with us for your chance to win both daily and one-time incentives during the week. Check in to our social media daily for exciting giveaways and informative Facebook Lives!

Below is a list of the complete week of activities and incentives. To get started, you can share the graphic below on your social media account to let your love of Girl Scout camp show loud and proud!

Daily Incentives

Engagement Incentive: WIN Camp-themed items like a: water bottle, bucket hat, drawstring backpack, or camp T-shirt) via Facebook or Instagram! Winners will be selected randomly the day after the question has been posted to social media. Winners will receive a DM or private message asking which item they would like and which GSWNY service center location they would like to pick up their prize. Winners must be a currently registered adult or girl member of Girl Scouts of Western New York. New members may participate same day as completing their GSWNY registration 4/15/19-4/19/19.
Camp Join Incentives: Everyone who registers as a new camp member or registers a new camp member will be entered for a chance to win one daily gift card of $25 to the GSWNY Camp store, Target, or Walmart. Winners will be emailed with the notification of when and where to pick up their gift card 4/15/19-4/19/19.

One-time Incentive:

Everyone who registers as a new camp member or registers a new camp member will be entered for a chance to win a free week at camp to be used at GSWNY Day, Resident or Troop Camp (value up to $350) or win a Camp Onesie. Winners will be emailed with the notification of when and where to pick up their gift. 4/15/19-4/19/19.

Beyond the prizes, we also have a week of activities planned!

2019 Girl Scout Camp Week Overview:

April 15, Monday: Girl Scout Camp Week Kick-Off & Preparing Girls for Girl Scout Summer Camp
April 16, Tuesday: A Parent’s Guide to Girl Scout Summer Camp
April 17, Wednesday: Girl Scout Outdoor Experiences Year-round
April 18, Thursday: How I use my Girl Scout Camp Skills in Everyday Life
April 19, Friday: What to Expect at the Open House & Taste of Camp Events

Below is a complete breakdown of each day’s activities. You can also download a one-page information sheet here.

April 15 – Monday: Preparing Girls For Girl Scout Summer Camp And Camp Week Kick-Off