Outdoor Program Development Reports and Updates
Posted June 29, 2010
Camp Updates
Rustick LLC filed for protection from its creditors through Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on May 13, 2010. The lender, Merrill Lynch, continues to provide funding for their landfill operation, which has realized a decline in their business due to the economy. The Rustick LLC bankruptcy proceedings will in no way impede the operations of Camp Resting Waters. Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania continues to stay apprised of the status of the landfill operation to ensure that the interests of the council are protected through the bankruptcy proceedings into the future.
Sales Option Agreement for Camp Roy Weller Terminated
As the potential buyer for Camp Roy Weller has defaulted on the option agreement, the Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania board of directors has agreed that the Eberly Family Learning Center, lodges and facilities will all be available for camping reservations beyond November 2010.
Camp Roy Weller is nestled in the foothills of Bruceton Mills, West Virginia on 792-acres of undeveloped and unspoiled outdoor program and camping areas. Home to the Eberly Family Learning Center, Camp Roy Weller has two modernized lodges and two primitive camping areas, connected by an eco-system of meadows, forests, hills, ravines, trails, streams and ponds.
Due to the pending agreement, Camp Roy Weller was not included in the 2009 Outdoor Program and Property Study conducted by the council, however GSWPA will now be applying the evaluation criteria established during the study to determine future plans for this property.
Following the June 19 board meeting, the council implemented a communications plan that included notifications to staff, property committee members, stakeholders of Camp Roy Weller, and council delegates.
The four active camp properties targeted for sale from the marketing, program, and property study will no longer be in service after the following dates:
Camp Trefoil Trails - October 15, 2011
Camp Wright-O-Way - October 15, 2011
Camp Timberlakes - October 15, 2012
Camp Yough - October 15, 2013
GSWPA completed final steps to close Birdsall Edey and removed all assets from the property as of May 31, 2010. A memorial event will be held on June 26, 2010 at Chapman State Park to celebrate the memories of Birdsall Edey, as well as, to discuss plans to move forward with additional program options and outdoor program experiences.
The council is in the process of appraising and marketing Camp Lend-A-Hand for sale. The council is organizing an event to commemorate the camp’s history and discuss the program options and development moving forward. The event is scheduled to occur at the end of summer.
Posted June 21, 2010
Site Teams to Occur at Each GSWPA Camp
The Property Task Group work is scheduled to begin in June and will consist of site teams that the Vice President of Property will have oversight. The site teams will occur at each of the camps that will remain in the council. Each site team will include the director of maintenance, camp ranger and up to eight volunteers, including four girl members 14 years of age or older.
The tasks and roles of the site team members will include:
- The director of maintenance will be the site team facilitator that will communicate the site team findings and recommendations to the Vice President of Property and the marketing and program task groups.
- The Vice President of Property will develop an agenda for the site team, which will include recommendations and actions for the site team to consider. A secretary will be appointed to take meeting notes and attendance records. The meeting minutes and attendance will be forwarded to the property task group for updates and consideration.
- Each site team member will participate for a two year term and new representatives for each team will be accepted 12 months before the first term is completed to ensure continuity of each site team.
- Site teams will meet on a quarterly basis (June, September, December and March)
- Site teams will review and prioritize the camp property needs. (deferred maintenance and capital projects)
- Site teams will identify and oversee service projects for the camp property.
- Site teams will provide input into the design of any improvement on property.
- Site teams will participate in identifying community partners that would fund program and capital projects.
The first property site team meetings are scheduled to occur at the following times and locations:
Camp Conshatawba
6/22/10 – (outside dining hall) – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
9/27/10 – Overlook Lodge – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
12/14/10 – Overlook Lodge – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
3/2911 – Overlook Lodge – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Camp Curry Creek
6/29/10 – Jackie Schoch Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
9/28/10 – Jackie Schoch Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
12/15/10 – Jackie Schoch Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
3/30/11 – Jackie Schoch Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Camp Elliott
6/16/10 – Elliott Lodge - 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
9/16/10 – Elliott Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
12/1/10 – Elliott Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
3/16/11 – Elliott Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Camp Hawthorne Ridge
6/24/10 – Daisy Cabin – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
9/24/10 – Daisy Cabin – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
12/13/10 – Daisy Cabin – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
3/28/11 – Daisy Cabin – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Camp Redwing
6/28/10 – (outside dining hall) – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
9/23/10 – Haven – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
12/7/10 – Mary – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
3/17/11 – Haven – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Camp Resting Waters
6/23/10 – Rainbow Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
9/22/10 – Rainbow Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
12/8/10 – Rainbow Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
3/23/11 – Rainbow Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Camp Roy Weller
9/29/10 – Eagle Lodge – 7-9 p.m.
12/2/10 – Fawn Lodge – 7-9 p.m.
3/24/10 – Fawn Lodge – 7-9 p.m.
Camp Singing Hills
6/21/10 – Evening Song Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
9/20/10 – Evening Song Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
12/6/10 – Evening Song Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
3/21/11 – Evening Song Lodge – 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Camp Skymeadow
6/23/10 – Horse Riding Ring Pavilion – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
9/21/10 – Evergreen Lodge – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
12/9/10 – Evergreen Lodge – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
3/22/11 – Evergreen Lodge – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Posted May 7, 2010
GSWPA New Camp Web Site Feature Launched on April 22
In 2009, it was noted that Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) had only one tool in which to communicate to volunteers about the various camp facilities and amenities available. This lack of information and understanding of our facilities also became apparent during the program/property study in which respondents expressed…
… that they did not know or were not familiar with all GSWPA camp amenities
… that safety was a primary concern
… that good maintenance at camp was important and that facilities may not be clean or up to standards
… that volunteers had challenges in planning activities
The old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” drove the decision to create a method of showcasing our council camp properties and associated buildings and facilities in a way that was more user-friendly and available to all audiences (including future outside user groups) that would visually address these barriers to camp participation. On April 22, to commemorate Leader’s Day and Earth Day, the online camp locator/filter feature was launched. Since there will always be customers and stakeholders who do not have Internet access to this information, it is proposed that GSWPA camp photos be added to other informational pieces.
The council will continue to add new features to this section of the Web site in various phases that will include additional interactive components.
Other program-related promotional opportunities were identified to address respondents’ comments in the 2009 survey:
- Each resident camp would have a Facebook page by April 1, 2010 where girls and staff could post photos and conduct discussions in a social networking environment that has proven successful in reaching girls
- Postings of council events on camp bulletin boards, flyers to program providers, listings in @aGirl and in service unit agendas – would all compliment S’MORE and Web site program promotions.
- A video contest was promoted in the April issue of @aGirl and will be included in the fall-winter issue of S’MORE for girls to submit their own video camp tours to be used for council promotions.
