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Girl Scout Troop getting ready to go canoeing at camp

Troop Camping

We know that girls of all ages enjoy participating in outdoor activities at GSEMA properties. Outdoor adventures and camping are such an important part of the Girl Scout experience, allowing girls to challenge themselves and increase their interest in and love for the outdoors.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our ability to safely open up our camp properties for girls to enjoy. We are continuously monitoring GSUSA, MA.gov, NH.gov, and CDC guidelines to make sound decisions to offer outdoor adventure programs with the safety of our Girl Scout members and staff in mind. The program team is being innovative and creative to offer at-home unplugged and virtual outdoor experiences, too. Check out our Programs page for newly-added outdoor programs, and check back to this page for the latest updates for outdoor adventures and GSEMA property use. 

Property rental updates will be posted by July 1, 2021.

We encourage you to start planning your next outdoor experience using our helpful Outdoor Progression Chart.

Camp Cedar Hill: Waltham

Camp Cedar Hill, a 75-acre property in Waltham, MA, hosts summer day camp, troop camping, community activities, programs, and volunteer meetings. This property features an archery range, two pools, a pond, ropes challenge courses, and an alpine climbing tower. It is also home to the Girl Scout Museum at Dennett House, a service center housing GSEMA staff, and a retail shop. 

Accomodations

Five heated lodges, which accommodate 20-40 overnight, feature a fireplace, stove, refrigerator, electricity, indoor toilets (one lodge has a latrine), some with leader’s room. Lodges are available year-round (excluding summer camp)

Six platform tent units, which accommodate 25-30 per unit overnight, have access to a fire ring, toilets outside nearby cabins, and pavilions with refrigerators. Tents are available mid-April through late October.

Great Hall is available year round for day use only (excluding summer camp). The newly refurbished lodge features a fireplace, 2 stoves, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, heat, electricity, and 2 handicap accessible bathrooms with showers. 

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Cabins $115/night (4 PM-10 AM) $45/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Tent Sites $60/night (4 PM-10 AM) $25/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM) or 4 PM-8 PM)
Pond Shelter $65/night (4 PM-10 AM) $30/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Great Hall
 $100/day use block of time (11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Favorite: Brewster

Located in Brewster on beautiful Cape Cod, Camp Favorite encompasses 65 acres of sandy pines and oak bluffs on Long Pond. The property also has a small beach, a playing field, and a lily pond for nature exploration. Canoe rental and waterfront use are available by prior arrangement. 

Accomodations

There are 6 platform tent units that sleep 24-36, a fire circle, flush toilets (no showers), sinks, cold running water, cots with mattresses, a pavilion, and refrigerator. (Lakeview and Sunrise Hill units share all facilities).

Cranberry Lodge/New South Wales tent unit (rented as one unit): there are small bedrooms in the lodge that accommodate up to 10 people. Additional amenities include a kitchen with appliances, dining room, and showers. The nearby New South Wales unit has 4 platform tents that accommodate 16 overnight. Access to indoor flush toilets, cots and mattresses, stove, refrigerator. A fire ring is available at a nearby site.

Lodge and tents are available late April through mid-October (excluding summer camp).

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Lodge $115/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $45/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Tent sites $60/night (4 PM-10 AM) $25/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Friendship House: Gloucester

This charming, heated one-room schoolhouse in Gloucester has a view of scenic Gloucester Harbor, the nation's oldest fishing port. It is within walking distance of Stage Fort Park and is an excellent base for exploring historic Cape Ann. This property is available for troop and organization rentals, but does not host summer camp.

Address: 211 Western Avenue, Gloucester MA 01930

Accomodations

The one-room building features an indoor bathroom, a shower, electricity, heat, phone, mattresses, running water, tables and chairs, a kitchen with a refrigerator, a stove and limited other equipment, and a fire circle with picnic tables. Daytime and sleeping capacity is 20 people, and there is limited parking. It is available mid-April through mid-October.

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
$115/night (4 PM-10 AM)
$45/day use block of time (11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Maude Eaton: Andover

Camp Maude Eaton features an archery range, the Pomps Pond waterfront, a low ropes challenge course, and a new (2015) high ropes course with adventure elements including the Flying Squirrel. This property borders the Shawsheen River and conservation land, and is home to the Lou Henry Hoover Memorial Sanctuary and Trail.

Accomodations

One modern, heated lodge has indoor bathrooms, showers, electricity, a fireplace, a phone, mattresses, and tables and chairs. The lodge includes a kitchen with appliances, cooking equipment, and dishes. There is a shelter with picnic tables and a fire circle. It sleeps 50, with a day capacity of 62.

All sites have access to a pavilion and refrigerator. The lodges are available year-round (excluding summer camp). Tents are available mid-April to mid-October.

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Main Lodge $135/night (4 PM-10 AM) $55/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Hollow Cabin unit $65/night (4 PM-10 AM) $30/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Tent sites $60/night (4 PM-10 AM) $25/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Menotomy: Meredith, NH

Share your love of camp with family, troop, or friends! Set on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith, NH, Camp Menotomy welcomes families, troops, and groups for overnight visits. 

Accomodations

There are 5 platform tent units that sleep 24 campers per unit. Other features include a fire circle, cold running water, latrines (1 unit has flush toilets), cots, and mattresses.

One unit sleeps 22 in 3 cabins and 1 tent. This unit features a fire circle, running water, latrines, cots, and mattresses.

There are 2 refrigerators shared by all campers in a pavilion and 2 refrigerators in the dining hall. There are no showers.

Tents and cabin/tent units are available from end of May through early October (excluding summer camp).

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Tent sites $60/night (4 PM-10 AM) $25/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Cabin/Tent unit $65/night (4 PM-10 AM) $30/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Rice Moody: Reading

Camp Rice Moody, sited on eight forested acres in a residential area, is an easy 1-mile hike from the Reading Town Forest. Features include an open play area, well-suited for cookouts and troop activities, and the lodge, a modern all-purpose building for overnights and troop meetings

Accomodations

The lodge sleeps 50 and has a day use capacity of 96. The lodge is available year-round (excluding summer camp).

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
$135/night (4 PM-10 AM) $55/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Runels: Pelham, NH

Nestled on the shores of Little Island Pond, Camp Runels features an extensive waterfront and boating area, large ball fields, archery range, a new (2015) high ropes challenge course, nature trails, and campfire gathering areas. This property offers the widest variety of sleeping accommodations.

Accomodations

One heated lodge with an indoor bathroom, a shower, electricity, a fire circle, mattresses, a stove, a refrigerator, and tables and chairs. The lodge sleep 22 and is available year-round (excluding summer camp).

Yurts, open-air cabins, tents, and tentalos are available mid- to late-April through mid-October (excluding summer camp).

Three open-air cabins/yurt units, and five platform tents/tentalo units, all with fire circle, picnic table, latrines, pavilion, cots with mattresses, and running water. There is access to an indoor bathroom, a refrigerator, and showers.

Various program buildings (craft house), activity areas (song circle), and waterfronts are available. Use of the waterfront requires a certified lifeguard for swimming. Boats are available to rent for an additional fee with a certified boating instructor.

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
 Lodge $115/night (4 PM-10 AM) $45/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Yurts & Cabins $65/night (4 PM-10 AM) $30/day use
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Tents & Tentalos $60/night (4 PM-10 AM) $25/day use
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Primitive site $35/night (4 PM-10 AM)
 $15/day use
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Wabasso: Bradford, NH

Located on Lake Blaisdell, Camp Wabasso features a dense pine forest, a waterfront, and a large playing field. Three Adirondack shelters are located a ½-mile from the main camp. Cross-country ski and snowshoe equipment is available for rental to groups with an adult experienced in teaching basic use. Canoe rental and waterfront facilities are available with prior arrangement.

Accomodations

The heated lodge, available year-round (excluding summer camp), features three floors (rented separately), and sleeps a total of 50. Amenities include mattresses, some bunk beds, an electric stove, a refrigerator, hot water, indoor bathrooms, fireplaces, and showers on the 3rd floor.

Christa’s House, also open September 1 through mid-June, features a living room, a glass-enclosed porch, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a library of Christa McAuliffe’s Girl Scout memorabilia.

Cabin units have mattresses, cots, running water, flush toilets, a fire circle, and a shared central refrigerator. 2-7 cabins sleep 32-42 people.

Two platform tent units, available late April through mid-October (excluding summer camp), sleep 28 or 32, and feature mattresses, cots, flush toilets, running water, a fire circle, and a large pavilion with one refrigerator per unit.

The primitive site, available late April through mid-October (excluding summer camp), includes three Adirondack shelters with a combined capacity of 15. There is no electricity or phone. Parking, water, and flush toilets are available at another location on the property.

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Lodge (each floor) and
Christa's House		  $115/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $45/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8PM)
Cabins $65/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $30/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Tent sites $60/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $25/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Primitive site $40/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $20/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Wampanoag: Martha's Vineyard

This Martha's Vineyard camp features a lodge complemented by three cleared acres and a wooded area. It is the perfect base camp from which to explore the island. The heated lodge, with indoor bathrooms, a kitchen with appliances (but limited kitchen supplies), and a fireplace, is available for overnight or day use. There are also platform tents, a bunkhouse, and a fire circle. The camp is 11 miles from the ferry docks, generally too far for bicycling, and island buses do not stop at the camp. However, there are several vehicle rental services on the island. This property is available for troop and organization rentals, but does not host summer camp.

Address: 172 Middle Road, Chilmark, MA

Accomodations

The heated, ADA-compliant lodge has bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, and is available for rental from October 1 through April 30. A combined heated lodge and tent unit is available from May 1 through September 30 (excluding summer camp). Four platform tents sleep 5 each. Bunkhouse sleeps 8

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Lodge & tent unit combined
(5/1-9/30)		 $135/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $55/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Lodge only (10/1-4/30) $115/night
(4 PM-10 AM)		 $45/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Camp Wind-in-the-Pines: Plymouth

Situated on 144 wooded acres in Plymouth, Camp Wind-in-the-Pines offers a wide variety of amenities and activities. The Environmental Discovery Center (EDC) features self-guided exhibits, a troop camping room, climbing wall, and high ropes course (each room is available separately for a fee). Our grounds feature a challenge course, an archery range, a sports field, an amphitheater, a high ropes course, a basketball court, hiking trails, a pond for canoeing and kayaking, and a full waterfront (lifeguard required). Canoe rental and waterfront use are available by prior arrangement.

Accomodations

Balfour Lodge, on the day camp side, is heated (sleeping capacity: bunk beds that sleep 16). The EDC, on the resident camp side, is heated and has indoor bathrooms (sleeping capacity: mattresses on the floor that sleep 40). Sleeping quarters vary by facility. Lodges available year-round (excluding summer camp).

Tent units have 4 or 8-10 platform tents. Each tent sleeps 5 on cots and mattresses. Features include wash houses, toilets, running water, a shower, kitchen shelters, and fireplaces. Tents are available late April through mid-October (excluding summer camp).

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Rental Fees

GSEMA troop availability and pricing (effective 11/11/2019):
Lodges $115/night (4 PM-10 AM) $45/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)
Tent sites $60/night (4 PM-10 AM) $25/day use block of time
(11 AM-3 PM or 4 PM-8 PM)

Troop Camping Training

If you and your girls are ready to camp out, it’s time to register for training. The Outdoor Basics Series will prepare you to plan a girl-led camping trip, including how to rent a campsite, outdoor meal planning and cooking, safety and risk management, packing tips, camp activities, and more! These outdoor trainings are a sequence and must be completed in order, beginning with Online Overnight Orientation. First Aid and CPR sessions are offered separately. Descriptions of each required session are below (printable version).

Outdoor Basics Online

Learn how to assess your troop’s readiness for camping as well as GSEMA safety procedures. Explore ways to ensure a girl-led experience, packing tips, and how you can spend your time at camp. Online Overnight Orientation is a pre-requisite. Login to gsLearn to take Outdoor Basics Online, or Online Overnight Orientation, if you haven’t taken it already.

Outdoor Basics: Cooking

Learn all about leading a successful camping trip, including packing tips, camp activities, fire-building skills, and basic cook-out techniques during an in-person session with experienced volunteers.

Outdoor Basics: Camping

Learn how girls can embrace the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to plan and carry out a camping trip. You will learn advanced cooking methods, campfire programming, nighttime activities, and risk management procedures for camping overnight with girls during an in-person session with experienced volunteers.

Encampments

Encampments, troop camping events run by service units, are a great way to meet other troops in your area that love to get outdoors. Check with your local service unit for more information on encampments.

If you're an experienced troop camping volunteer looking to run an encampment for your service unit, register for service unit encampment director training.


Planning Your Troop Camping Trip

Once you’ve taken the appropriate training, you will have all the resources necessary to plan a successful troop camping trip! Troops might also consider incorporating additional activities such as:

Earning Outdoor Badges and Journeys

There are a number of outdoor badges, each with activities and requirements per Girl Scout level. By earning a set of outdoor badges and completing a Take Action project focused on the outdoors, girls can complete the outdoor Journey for their Girl Scout level.               

Renting Equipment and Outdoor Program Kits

If you’re looking to simplify your packing list, enhance the outdoor activities on your next camping trip, or lead a short program to give your girls their first exposure to camping and nature exploration, outdoor program kits and equipment rentals are a simple way to add depth to your outdoor activities.

Equipment rentals include items such as camp stoves, dutch ovens, and pitch tents.

Outdoor program kits include gadgets to teach skills such as birding, firebuilding, knot tying, orienteering, and learning to use a jackknife.

View our rental guide for an in-depth overview of the kits and equipment, and complete the Program Kit Request Form to reserve.

Book an Outdoor Adventure Activity

If your troop has eight or more girls who want to participate in archery, boating, or a challenge course program, visit the Outdoor Adventures webpage.


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