Yes, you can take your girls camping! FYI for all I would like to encourage you to try to camp with the girls. It may be the only time they will ever have the chance to do it. You can make it as easy as possible, or make it very detailed, depending on your leaders’ experience with camping. The files that are included are just ideas or our lists, to get you thinking about how it could be done. There is not just one way to camp. Check with your club’s families to borrow supplies if you need them. Think outside the box… Incorporate a badge or two to work on while at camp. Check out the camp and use what they have available for you. We have camped different ways. Years ago we camped in cabins. Those camps had some organized activities in place for us to participate in. We moved from camp to camp until the last YMCA camp was sold, and we decided to start using tents. We had the advantage of having a Cadet group in our church that camped frequently. We were able to use many of their supplies, to get us started. We have camped in the church because of bad weather. We have camped in a leader’s yard. We have gone away to a camp that had nothing more that fields and a bathroom. And this summer we are headed to a forest preserve that has bike trails we plan to ride. You can keep meals simple with less cooking or cook every meal above a fire or a on a camp stove. Check with area churches to see if they want to plan a camping trip with you. Here is one thing we would recommend: Have a plan B, C, and D in place. You can plan everything except the weather. We added a new twist to our plans this year. We left at midnight on the first day of our two day, bike ride/camping trip. Two hours of thunder and lightning and pouring rain, flash flood warnings, and we grabbed girls (9) and food and left. We split to two houses, met up for breakfast in the morning, and it became a pool/game day at one of the houses. Two counselors went back to deal with the leftover mess. We had fun, but not the adventure that we planned! Also, know exactly how to get out of the camp. Everything looks different in the pouring rain at midnight. Notes from Flory Hoving – Area 22

GeneralPlan(andbeflexible)Preplanalldetails,seeotherlistsforideas.Thinkabouttransportation.Havetofitgirlsandlotsofgear,personalandforsleeping,eating,activities.Setupfirst.Showthegirls,buthavethemdowork.Eat.Eachcookownfood.Eachhelpscleanup.Gooverrules.DevotionsNightHikeCampfire,SingingTenttime10:00BreakfastDevotionsMakesacklunchesBikeHike,lunchalongthewayGames/craft/badgeDinnerEachmakesownfoodDevotions???walk,freetime,gamesCampfireTenttime10:00BreakfastGames/walkCleanup/Packup,hopefullytentsarenotdewy.Otherwisewillhavetobesetupathometodrythoroughly.Ridehome

NorthAmericanCampsTheAreaslistedbelowalreadycampregularly—someannually,somebiannually.CheckinwiththeAreaCoordinatorsandLeadershipTrainersandletthemknowyouwouldbeinterestedinjoining,orhelptostartanewtraditioninyourArea.2017March17-19: Area5/NorthernCalifornia SilverSpurChristianCamp,Sonora,California Contacts:MelindaCostaandDebbieVeenstraApril28-29: Area30/Florida GEMSSplashFest(akaCamp!) MarriottOrlandoWorldCenter 8701WorldCenterDrive,Orlando,Florida

Contacts:HeatherPutnamandKarynDekkerJune1-3: Areas18/Minnesota,North&SouthDakota,&Nebraska

&19/NorthernIowaGEMSCampatYMCACampFosterinOkoboji,Iowa

Contacts:AllisonVanderHaar,BrendaLiddle,LorettaVanderStreek,andRobynKelderman

July21-23: Area20/SouthernIowaGEMSCamp CampWesleyWoods,10896NixonSt.Indianola,Iowa Contacts:LindaMenningaandKimRooseAugust5-6: Area15/Montana&WyomingCamp

YellowstoneAllianceAdventures,13707CottonwoodCanyon,Bozeman,Montana

Time:10AMSaturday–1PMSundayContacts:DebbieAllsopandJenniferBos

August13-18: Area35/WestMichiganGEMSCamp

Contacts:JenniferDarlingandMaryJoVanderWest2018June8-10: Area3/WashingtonGEMSCamp(theygoeveryotheryear) LakeRetreatCamp,Ravensdale,Washington

Contacts:TammyRabbandLenoreWierenga

Note:TheGEMSExecutiveBoardacknowledgesandcelebratestheamazingimpactGetConnected!Camphashadonthethousandsofgirlswhohaveattendedthroughouttheyears.Currently,weareassessingallofourprograms,andasweprayerfullyconsiderhowtoensurethegreatestimpactforeverygirl,weareputtingcamponholdfor2018.Wehopetohaveamorecompleteassessmentanddecisionbytheendoftheyear.

GEMSmisccampoutlist: TentsTarps LanternspottoboilwaterongrateoverfireWalkieTalkiesBugspraySuntanlotionWaterjugsWaterCoolersIcePlastictableclothsMatcheswaterproof?LonglighterPotHoldersPieIronsMarshmallowsticksSaranWrapLotsoffoilAshleyallergic????ZiplockbagsPotforboilingwaterPaperplatesNapkinsCupsHandSanitizerBucketsfornearcampfiresCamera Chargebattery?GarbagebagsExtraBlanketsPencilsand/orpensFirstAidKitWhistleCanopy–PanSpray-RakersalsobringingTableCoveringplusextraforbathroom‘doors”TapeScissorsWipesPlasticTableskip–thereare3picnictablesFoilpanfordunkingbreadforFrenchtoastplasticTongsWhiskDishwashingsoapHandSoapTowelsScrubbyWashclothsPlasticglovesWhiskBroom(s)ContainerforPhonesandElectronics

TongsLgladleSpoonsCanopener

Therearemanybadgesthatcanbeincorporatedintoacampout.Evenifonlythe‘doing’partisdoneonsite,badgeworkcanbefilledoutlater(orbeforehand).Thislistisbynomeans,complete.Itismeanttobeaspringboardtogetyourcreativejuicesflowing.Camping(ofcourse)HikingBikingCookingBraiding----seeseparateinstructionsforfishclipSwimming(ifalakeorpoolavailable)FishingCandlemaking(wediditinthesand)Whenwegottogetherwithmultiplegradesormanychurches,inordertomakesurethatwewerenotrepeatingabadgeforanyone,wewouldborrowfromthecadetbadgebook,modifying,adding,subtracting,tomakeitworkforus.Wehaveusedallofthefollowing.LeathercraftKiteflying(youmakeakite,thenflyit)Mapreading(Hideseparateingredientsandhavethegirlsfollowthecoordinatesonacompasstoputtogethertheirowntrailmix).Thistakesamoreadvancepreparation.Canoeing/BoatingArchery(weusedacadetcounselortoleadthisone)Birdwatching(doneonanovernightatourchurchwithanearlymorninghiketogolookforbirds).–seebirdsbadgefile.ForaRainydayoralateeveningactivityFromtheDiscoveryStudiobadgebookGod’sSpiritinmeTheGospelsOurwitnessinGod’sworldFromtheDiscoveryPlacebadgebook(newestbadgebookedition). AnyofthebadgesintheKnowingGodorUnderstandingGod’sWordsectionoftheBadgebookPickabadgeanduseitforthebasisofyourdevotionsforthecampout.

GEMSCampoutMenu–ActivityGuideline

StartFireBread SetupTentsandCampsiteAmericanCheese MakeownPudgyPieDinnerMozzarellaCheesePizzaSauce SingingaroundCampfireLemonadeCarrots BeforeBedsnackGrapes GetreadyforBed________Snack______ EggsPotatoes FriedEggs/Toast/HashBrownsBread Peanutbutter CleanUpJellyFruit OrangeJuiceMilkCoffeeHotChocolate_________GranolaBars?JuiceBoxes______ WalkorBikeBreadMeat–Turkey,HamCheeseChips Leathercrafting,Fruit FishingandGames____Apples,Almonds,Raisins Goldfish____HotDogs MakeowndinnerBuns CleanupCondimentsketchup,mustard,salt,pepper_____ Games,NightHike?S’mores–chocolatecoveredGrahams,marshmallows PieFilling,Bread CampFiretimeagain_____Frenchtoast MakeBreakfastEggs,Milk,Cinnamon,SyrupSausages CleanupFoodstuffOrangeJuiceMilk PackupPersonalGear Gamesorwalk Sweepouttents Packuptentslast.Snack Packupcars.

Camping Scavenger Hunt What color is the table cloth on site.... Does site ... Have a tent, pop-up, or motor home? Bring back a ....brochure Bring back a flower How many slides are at the playground? What color is the flag at the beach? Who is staying on site.... Bring back a bug Bring back the tallest blade of grass Bring back the fattest stick What color is the vehicle on site... How many trees are on site... Bring back three different shaped leaves Bring back 5 smooth stones Bring back a picture of a bird Bring back the signature of one of the counselors What kind of dog is at site... Bring back a picture (like on a phone) of someone in your group in the creek Bring back a picture of the american flag Bring back pictures of three different state's license plates How many giant steps between the camp host's white board and the number of site... How many giant steps across the creek bridge? Bring back a picture of food from a magazine.

GEMScampoutshoppinglist:FoodBread 3+1+3+2HotDogBunsAmericanCheese100√ MozzCheesePizzaSauce 2cansPepperoniCarrots,Cucumbers,CeleryetcGrapes,Apples,otherEggs 24+24HashBrownsSausagesMargarineTubJellyPeanutButterSyrupDelimeat Ham,TurkeyO.J. 2GallonsMilk 3GallonsLemonadepowder–singles?HotChocolatePks.InstantcoffeeTeaBagsKetchup,Mustard√ SaltPepperCinnamonMarshmallowsChocolateBarsGrahamCrackersRaisinsGoldfishAlmondsCraisinsChipsPieFillingPaperPlatesCups

NapkinsNonFood:PlasticGlovesBugSpraySunscreenIceZiplockbagsHandSanitizerGarbageBagsHandWipesDishSoap