Girl Scouts of Western New York offers a wide variety of outdoor experiences led by seasoned staff, committed volunteers, and outdoor professionals.
These programs introduce girls to new outdoor skills and generally last a few hours. They often align directly with the National Outdoor Badges and are a great opportunity for less experienced girls. Some examples include snowshoeing in a park, outdoor-inspired art activities, hiking, and more.
Throughout the pandemic, we were able to reach girls through virtual offerings. We found that the virtual format can be really effective for introducing specific skills and we will continue to offer these programs. Girls sign up for a specific skill and receive a package in the mail with the items needed for their virtual meet up (generally an hour-long). An example of a virtual program is knot tying: girls receive paracord, a fun patch, and a knot-tying booklet in the mail prior to their virtual meeting.
Our council hosts a variety of themed overnight experiences. This is a great option for girls that are ready to take the next step in their own outdoor progression and spend the night away from home. This is also a great option for troops who aren’t quite ready to plan their own night away. An example of this program is Starry Night: girls learn about the night sky and participate in activities such as crafts, s’mores, and a guided night hike.
We frequently partner with outdoor professionals to provide unique experiences. Our partners meet our National Safety Standard and local GSWNY requirements. Examples include climbing wall gyms, whitewater rafting, gear shop tutorials, and more.
These programs build upon specific skills and offer the girls the opportunity to continuously advance those skills.
The below progressions are designed to help participants build skills in each area. The areas of hiking/backpacking, paddling, and camping are meant to be completed in order with each subsequent level building on the previous one.
The Outdoor Skills progression (below) is a fun, instructional progression that leads to the annual GSWNY Skills & Chills competition (typically offered at the end of September). There is no pre-requisite for any of the three levels in this progression other than age or Girl Scout Level.
For instance, Senior Girl Scouts (grades 9-10) interested in trying Skills & Chills for the first time are more than welcome to join in without having participated in either Tents Up or Ready, Set, Camp. For more detailed information about these programs, be sure to thoroughly read the program descriptions in gsEvents.
Area of Interest | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
Outdoor Skills | Tents Up | Ready, Set, Camp | Skills & Chills | |
Hiking/ Backpacking |
Trail Adventurer I | Trail Adventurer II | Trail Adventurer III |
Trail Adventurer IV |
Paddling | Paddle Explorer I | Paddle Explorer II | Paddle Explorer III | Paddle Explorer IV |
Camping | Conquer Camping I | Conquer II | Intermediate Winter Camping | Advanced Winter Camping |
Another great way to get outdoors are through our programs for families and troops! These are on your schedule and help you design your outdoor experience.
Looking to take your girls camping offsite (not on our four GSWNY camp properties)? No problem! Just be sure to plan ahead and complete the application.
1. Visit the DoubleKnot reservation system and reserve your site, dates, etc. Full payment is due at the time of reservation in Doubleknot, so have your troop debit card handy!
2. Complete the Travel Roster for your troop (Excel file – click to download).
3. Confirm your group meets safety ratio and First Aid/CPR requirements.
4. Confirm with council that all adults have completed background checks and are an approved volunteer.
5. To enhance your troop's camping experience, consider attending in-person adult training session. See below.
6. Confirm specially trained staff for optional activities, if necessary.
7. Work with your girls to plan your adventure.
Please note that there is no required outdoor training to take your girls outdoors and/or to visit our properties, however, we have additional resources should you need them.
Leaders can reserve a camp to arrange their own volunteer-run, mini day camp program for their service unit for up to four days. This is a great way to provide exciting and engaging day camp activities for Service Units who want to experience day camp with friends and others they know. Availability of SUCO Day Camps are as follows:
Skills and Chills, our yearly competition that gives Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts the opportunity to test their outdoor abilities and earn awards, is held over the last weekend in September. Girls face off in events such as one girl saw, jack knife safety, orienteering, archery, kayaking, fire building, tent pitching and more!
Every year, Girl Scouts explore the natural wonders found across our country during the Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend. Over a weekend, Girl Scouts nationwide, along with their troops, friends, and family, will celebrate our shared love of the outdoors.
Celebrate our State Parks with your Girl Scout troop or family! Participate in any of the following and you can purchase a patch here
Girl Scouts Love State Parks - Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10
- Visit any State Park with your family or troop.(Only fee is the entrance to the park.) You can participate in any activity you choose and enjoy some time outdoors! Once you have participated, you can purchase a patch to commemorate your day!
Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 10:00am to 11:00am
Allegany State Park, Meet at the Hemlock Hollow Trailhead. Which is about 800 yards from the Red House Tollbooth. There will be a fee to enter the park.
General Nature Hike will take us over a creek (bridge) and through many different habitat types. Will talk about the American Beaver, White Tailed Deer and many other animals that could be found along the trail. Will also discuss many plants and trees that can be found along this trail. We will walk along the Hemlock Hollow trail and then the group will turn around and return to the vehicles. This is not a loop trail.
Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Lake Erie State Park, Meet at the Recreation Hall Trailhead. This is the old bathhouse closer to the lake from the Picnic Area parking lot. There will be a fee to enter the park.
General Nature Hike will take us along the Lake Erie State Park trails in search of many birds and animals along the trail. We will also discuss many plans and trees that can be found along this trail. This is a looping trail and will return to the Recreation Hall when done.
Registration is appreciated, but not required. https://www.gswny.org/en/discover/activities/event-calendar.html
Summer = summertime fun! ☀ Every year, we celebrate our love of the outdoors with our Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge. Be it from a window, a campsite, the sidewalk, a laptop, or the wide-open trail, there are ways for you to earn a limited edition patch!