Camping Central
Ready to get outdoors with your girls? Find camp information, directions, outdoor progression tips, and more!

Getting Started with Overnights and Camping

Step1

Prepare the girls with progressive activities

Step 2

Ensure all adults have the right training

Step 3

Plan and reserve your overnight!

Step 1 - Prepare the Girls

When beginning your overnight or camping adventures with Girl Scouts, keep one word in mind: Progression.

Girls and adults are generally not "ready" to go overnight camping right away. 

For girls - starting out with simple steps of getting outdoors for limited periods will help them progress to confident campers! This also helps reassure parents/guardians that their Girl Scouts will be ready for their first overnight or camp trip.


Step 2 - Adult Training

For adult volunteers - some training is required before taking groups of girls on their first overnight activity.  

Required training for ALL overnight Volunteers:

  • 591 Volunteer Basics (in gsLearn)
  • 591 GSUSA Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Training (in gsLearn)

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Required for at least ONE volunteer attending the overnight

Ensure that at least one volunteer attending has these trainings. 591 Camping and Overnight Basics is online and is a great training for any adult volunteers attending.  This online training prepares your adults to lead girls in overnight and basic camping. We encourage troops that they should split this between at least two volunteers to ensure proper safety and great program planning without overwhelming a single volunteer. 

  • 591 Camping and Overnight Basics (in gsLearn) - the person helping the girls plan the overnight/campout should take this training.
  • First Aid CPR/AED training approved by GSSJC - the person who will manage the girl and adult health on the trip should have a current certification.

Step 3 - Plan and Reserve Your Overnight

Overnight at 
GSSJC Camps

Get information about availability and pricing, as well as the link to request a stay on a Girl Scouts of San Jacinto camp property.

Overnight Off Council Property 

Any overnight that's held other than at a council camp should be requested as a Short Troop Trip. Click below to complete the request form.

NEXT STEPS

Help girls plan activities for the overnight or camp trip. Review Safety Activity Checkpoints for each activity.

If camping on a GSSJC Property, check out the Activities page for ideas and classic camp programs.

Communicate with parents/guardians using F-204 Permission forms (either in Volunteer Hub App or on paper.)

Ensure you have a current F-185 Medical form for each girl, F-22 Adult Emergency Slip for each adult, and F-1157 Assumption of Risk form for every girl and adult attending the overnight.

Create an Emergency Action Plan for each location of your overnight. Work with your Troop First Aider to complete the plan and communicate the plan to each adult attending the overnight. Also review Emergency Procedures for all Girl Scout Activities.

Ensure all drivers are registered and have completed appropriate Driver Checklists.

After your girls have progressed in their overnight adventures

Consider adding in campfires and charcoal cooking to the plans!  At least one adult in the troop must complete Volunteer Camper Certification for the troop to cook with charcoal and utilize campfires.  This training is outdoor and in-person, providing hands-on skills to manage girls with safe campfire and charcoal use, knot tying, knife safety and more.