Girl Scouts Camp Arrowhead Now Recruiting Campers

This past February, Camp Arrowhead, Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council's summer resident camp, narrowly escaped being sold. The council's Board of Directors had voted in August 2007 to sell the camp, due to a combination of safety and financial concerns. A determined group of volunteers worked to convince the board to keep the camp, devising a new business plan and raising more than $80,000 in just a few months. The board voted in February to keep the camp, and in March they voted to open for resident camp in 2008 -- just a few months before the resident camp season begins, and months after other camps had already begun planning and promotion for the season!

Now, volunteers and staff are scrambling to find campers to fill summer sessions. Many potential campers have already signed up for other summer camps, and some don't even know that the camp has re-opened. "Because the decision to hold camp was not made until the end of March, we are unfortunately in a position of having to act fast," says camp committee chairperson Kari Rothi. Committee members are trying to get girls registered as quickly as possible in order to make key staffing decisions.

Camp Arrowhead is located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, near Stevenson, Washington. Activities offered include, canoeing, archery, crafts, nature study, rock wall climbing, whitewater rafting, and backpacking. In addition, the camp is offering specialty programs in dance, drama, music, yoga, and math and science.

Girls do not have to be members of the Girl Scouts to attend Camp Arrowhead. Non-members simply pay an additional $10 with their camp fees, which registers them as Girl Scouts for the summer only. Programs are available for girls aged 7 to 17 as individuals, for Girl Scout troops, and for "Sals and Pals" -- girls who come to camp with an adult female partner.

Financial assistance is available for up to 30 percent of the cost of camp. Girl Scouts can also use credits earned in the annual cookie sale to pay for camp. Girls can also receive a $5 discount off the registration fee for every girl they recruit for Camp Arrowhead - with no limit! Girls who recruit five campers will get $25 off, and those who recruit ten will get $50 off.

Campers can get more information and register online at http://www.girlscoutscrc.org/CMS/programResources/camp.aspx.

SOURCES
Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council, "Camp", http://www.girlscoutscrc.org/CMS/programResources/camp.aspx.
Allan Brettman, The Oregonian, "Columbia River Girl Scouts will keep Camp Arrowhead going", http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/columbia_river_girl_scouts_wil.html