summer vacation

Join us for an epic State Parks adventure July 13 & 14!

/ gswnyblog / Leave a comment

[This post originally appeared on gswnyblog.com]

GSWNY is excited to be participating in the national Girl Scouts Love State Parks event, July 13 to 14! This weekend long event has the goal of getting  every Girl Scout outdoors and into a state park. GSWNY will have events at 4 locations across council but Girl Scouts will be able to participate by visiting any State Park!

Registration is open now!
Park Entrance is free with Girl Scouts attire!

On Saturday, July 13, check out:

  • Letchworth State Park, the “Grand Canyon of the East” and hike some of the 66 miles of trails and check out the three major waterfalls in the park, attend a ranger talk about the geology of the park, or visit the Nature Center or the Mary Jemison House. You could even try out whitewater rafting!
  • Allegany State Park, NY’s largest state park, with 65,000 acres to explore. You might visit natural caves, swim in Quaker Lake, visit the old Quaker store, attend a ranger program and learn about the critters living in the streams at the park, or climb the fire tower.
  • Buffalo Harbor State Park, one of NY’s newest state parks. You might join a 1 hour boat trip on Lake Erie, bike along the bike trail, learn about invasive species, or stroll along the beach.

On Sunday, July 14, check out:

  • Beaver Island State Park, on Grand Island on the Upper Niagara River. You could visit the nature center, play a game of disc golf, swim, bike, or hike, or take a tour of the historic River Lea House. You could also attend a ranger program and create your very own nature journal!

Can’t make it to one of these locations on this weekend? Visit any state park and enjoy the day. Also be sure to check out the NYS Parks Connect Kids Program to participate and get an additional patch on these days or any other days of the year!    

Don’t miss our 2019 Open House at Camp Seven Hills!

/ gswnyblog / Leave a comment

It doesn’t matter if it’s the first summer your girl is registered for camp, her sixth summer, or if you’re just checking out the grounds – you’re invited to our open house!

Join us Monday, July 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. for tours of the camp, including a look at our top-notch facilities, and staff meet and greets. Our Tuck Shop will be open, which means you can get your 2019 camp gear here.

As a note, our Open House is held on the Goodyear side, and the address is 10150 Olean Rd (Route 16), Holland, NY 14080.

Get a sneak peak of the grounds from this amazing drone video:

2019 Session 5 Programs at Camp Seven Hills

/ gswnyblog / Leave a comment

Today we’re covering our final week of camp, happening Sunday, August 4, to Friday, August 9. Registration for our final session closes July 22, 2019. For more programs, visit our  Resident Camp Guide on our website.

Girls in Grades 1-3 in Fall 2019

  • It’s My First Time Mini Session: Mini sessions run Sunday to Wednesday. As a first-time camper, you’ll spend four days and three nights enjoying of the very best that resident camp has to offer. Sleep in the one of our cool lodges at camp, while you swim, play games, make crafts, explore the forest, learn to make a fire, cook outside, and sample so many other fun parts of camp life. Don’t forget to bring your best friend along with you!
  • Pony Pals: If you are a girl who loves horses, this introductory program is for you! Spend the week learning the basic ins and outs of the horse program. You will get your first riding lesson, take a tour of the barn, meet the horses, and try grooming, feeding, mounting, dismounting, and tack care with these friendly, four-legged friends. Girls will have one introductory riding lesson and one guided horse ride. Girls must wear long pants and boots with 3/4-inch heel.

Girls in Grades 4-6 in Fall 2019

  • Camp Adventure Girl: This is your chance to learn some serious outdoor skills and time-honored wilderness techniques like fire and shelter making, finding and purifying water, and identify plants for food, medicine, and utility. What is a solar still? Which way is north? Put your skills to the test. All this and other fun stuff at camp await you. Do you have what it takes to be a Camp Adventure Girl? Successful completion of this program will gain you membership into the Camp Adventure Club.
  • 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.
  • Secret Agent Super Sleuths: Calling all future CIA and FBI agents to Camp Seven Hills! Turn your unit into your very own Secret Super Sleuth Headquarters as you create secret codes to communicate with your secret agent pals. Put your skills to the test as you crack the code to the Camp Seven Hills Break-Out, then take a trip to the Buffalo Escape Room, where you can challenge your sleuthing skills in real time! Girls will earn requirements towards the following Girl Scout badges: Junior – Detective / Cadette – Special Agent
  • 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.
  • Night Owls with Lasertron: 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.
  • 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).
  • The Seven Hills Amazing Race: You have seen it on TV. Now it is your chance to do it at camp! Girls will test their teamwork to overcome and conquer challenges across six “countries” in camp. Road blocks might include climbing, shelter or raft building, archery, canoeing, tent pitching, fire building, outdoor cooking, kayaking, and more. It’s non-stop adventure to the end! Successful completion of this program will gain you membership into the Camp Adventure Club.

2019 Session 4 Programs at Camp Seven Hills

/ 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

/ 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! 

Register for CampCamp Seven Hills

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

Benefits of Girl Scout Camp

/ gswnyblog / Leave a comment

[This post originally appeared on gswnyblog.com]

Deciding what activities for your girl to be a part of can be challenging considering all the options. This is especially true come summer with different camp opportunities and ways for them to spend their free time. You want what’s best for your girl, and so do we, which is why we think Girl Scout camp is the place to be.

There are a lot of places where your girl can have fun, but at Girl Scouts she has the unique experience of combining fun and unforgettable activities with learning key lessons to carry her through life. It’s not just our goal; we see it in the lives of our girls.

We hear stories about how our program helped our leaders of today, but there’s a special spark that happens when they start talking about camp. Something about the experience stays with them and helped shape them into the woman they became.

Girls attend camp for the first time shy and unsure, but they don’t stay that way for long. It’s truly wonderful to witness.

These experiences aren’t by chance or accident. Girl Scout Summer Camp has four key benefits in mind that go into the planning each year.

  1. Develop and cultivate girls’ self-identity, self-worth, self-esteem, and self-respect.
  2. Build girls of courage, confidence, and character by providing opportunities for girls to experience camp life on their own.
  3. Focus on the 3 keys to leadership: discover new skills within themselves, connect with others through team building and problem solving, and take action by making things better at camp and in their communities.
  4. Provide a safe environment that encourages leadership, imagination, and acceptance as well as a community where girls feel less at risk.

See what camp can do for your girl and register her today!

Don’t forget about financial aid for camp!

/ 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.