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

Don’t forget about financial aid for camp!

April 16, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

It’s Girl Scout Camp Week and in only a few months, it will be time for summer camp. As you’re thinking about what your girl will do this summer, consider sending her to Girl Scout camp. We have the financial aid options available to make sure your girl can experience camp.

At Girl Scouts, we believe in the value of camp. Since our beginnings, getting girls outside has been one of our primary areas of focus. In fact, it currently stands as one of our four program pillars – STEM, Life Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Outdoors.

Knowing how important it is for girls to go outdoors, we want to make sure every girl has the opportunity. Our goal is always to make sure that no one is excluded from our program for any reason, including financial.

If your girl is a member of Girl Scouts of Western New York, we have financial aid options available for her. The Summer Camp Financial Assistance Application needs to be completed asap for consideration.

To apply, register for camp and fill out the financial aid application included. Physical forms can be picked up at our service centers.

More ways to camp at Camp Seven Hills!

April 10, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

Did you know we have more ways to get girls and adults outside beyond the standard resident camp? We do! In fact, Camp Seven Hills has three more options for girls who want to go camping. Whether you want Specialty Programs Camping, Troop Camping, or a Service Unit Day Camp, we can facilitate for you!

Specialty Programs Camping

Specialty Programs Camping, also called S.P. Camping, allows troops to get the best of both worlds by experiencing specialized programs with their troop, including ropes course, archery, and boating. Troop leaders have the typical freedom of troop camp with the comfort of pre-determined and scheduled activities. Learn More >>>

Troop Camping

This one is just like it sounds – camping with your troop! Whether you choose a lodge, cabin, or tent, the opportunities of camp are up to you! Learn More >>>

Service Unit Camp Out Day Camps

More succinctly called SUCO Day Camps, these allow service units to bring their girls and leaders to camp for a fun-filled outdoor adventure day camp program. Learn More >>>

Visit our website www.gswny.org to learn more about these programs and view the 2019 Camp Guide for Troop, SP, and SUCO.

Session 3 Programs at Camp Seven Hills

April 8, 2019April 4, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

This week we’re reviewing our Session 3 programs at Camp Seven Hills, happening Sunday, July 21, to Friday, July 26. Registration for our third session closes July 8, 2019. For more programs, visit our Resident Camp Guide on our website.

Girls in Grades 1-3 in Fall 2019

Dogs, Cars, Horses, and Cows…Oh My! – Girls, do you love animals and want to learn more about them? During this week you will tour the horse barn, spend time with the horses and speak to the riding director about what it takes to care for these beautiful animals. You will also learn about animal habitats, the plants they eat and how to follow their tracks. You will also take a day trip to Asha’s Sanctuary to go behind-the-scenes with farm animals and learn how we can help them by our food choices. Don’t forget swimming, arts & crafts, and lots of laughter is also included. Girls will earn requirements towards the following Girl Scout badges: Daisy – Tula’s Story (Be Courageous and Strong) / Brownie – Pets

Gross-ology – Time to get a little messy with goo, slime, and a bit of mud as we dive into Gross-ology Experiments 101! Join us as we raise gross to an art form. Make concoctions like glow-in-the dark slime and gummy snacks! Are you brave enough to eat dirt?! Come to camp and earn the rank of a Triple G – Gross Goop Guru. Girls will earn requirements towards the following Girl Scout badges: Daisy – Clover’s Petal (Use Recourses Resourses Wisely) / Brownie – Home Scientist

Girls in Grades 4-6 in Fall 2019

Seven Hills Firebender –Learn the ancient art of fire-making. Across the world, cultures have been practicing the art of fire for thousands of years and with that the creations of numerous time-honored techniques including, friction-fire (bow-drill method), the fire piston, flint/magnesium and steel, and more. Learn how to handle matches safely, plus gain a respect and reverence for the flames and heat they provide. Our outdoor professionals will teach all these skills and how to apply them in outdoor cooking with edible plants, and even a few other outdoor skills.
Seven Hills Sisterhood – In this program you and your friends make the choices that work for you. Select your favorite programs such as sports, outdoor skills, swimming, arts and crafts, and relaxation.

Girls in Grades 7-12 in Fall 2019

Mud Warriors – You and your fellow warriors will face off and compete in mental and physical challenges. Try your hand at a mud scavenger hunt, or a mud slip and slide, or maybe a mud obstacle course. The possibilities are endless! After a day of hard competition relax with a soothing mud bath or mud facial. All of the other great camp activities such as swimming, boating, outdoor cooking and more are also included.
On Belay – Girls, this is your opportunity to master your balancing and maneuvering capabilities on the Seven Hills ropes course. Challenge yourself and conquer your fears as you try elements such as Islands in the Sky, Centipede, Burma Bridge, Two-Line, Catwalk, Dangle Duo or Zip-Line. How far you push yourself is up to you, but it’s the experience that matters. 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 complete.

Girl Scout Camp Week is coming!

April 2, 2019 / gswnyblog / Leave a comment

[This post originally appeared on gswnyblog.com]

At Girl Scouts, we’re always in the mood for camp and we love any reason to talk about it. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait until July to satisfy our summer camp cravings because in two weeks, we have Girl Scout Camp Week!

Girl Scout Camp Week, happening Monday, April 15, to Friday, April 19, is a time to celebrate Girl Scouts as groundbreakers, big thinkers, and role models in the great outdoors. You can celebrate with us and win both daily and one-time incentives during the week. Check in to our social media daily for exciting giveaways and informative Facebook Lives!

This year, incentives include:

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 members 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 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