Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England Pivots from Traditional Camping to Alternative Camping
Warwick, R.I — Governor Gina Raimando announced in a press conference on Thursday, May 14, that she plans to reopen summer camps in Rhode Island in some capacity beginning June 29th.
“This date, like other projections, is a goal and could be adjusted if there is a spike in cases,” she said. She also notified residents that there will be strict guidelines and restrictions that will be announced next week.
With that being said, after careful consideration and keeping in mind the health and safety of our girls, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England (GSSNE) has made the difficult decision to not move forward with traditional in-person camp sessions this summer.
GSSNE is working hard to create a robust alternative camp experience for the Girl Scouts in their communities in lieu of the traditional in-person camping experience.
GSSNE will continue to monitor state and local ordinances, along with guidance from the American Camp Association (ACA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), as we work to create processes to keep girls and families safe while also providing an outlet to explore the outdoors at our camps moving forward.
“Our hope is for girls to still be able to practice the traditions of camp, make new friends, and participate in fun activities in their own backyard, as well as in person later in the summer. The safety of girls and adults is our number one priority and our next priority is providing girls and families with some much needed fun this summer!
We’re looking forward to sharing details about our exciting new alternative camp soon.
Registration will go live on June 1.
More details will be available prior to opening registration.
We know that camp is very important to both our girls and their families and we are hopeful that with guidance from our government and health officials, we will be able to open our camp properties for a few girl-only programs later in the summer, as well Family Days throughout the summer when the time is right.
On these days, families will be able to visit their most beloved property and enjoy all it has to offer including hiking the trails, picnicking, and experiencing the magic of camp.
Please keep in mind that we have camp properties in RI and MA, and that state guidelines may differ as we move forward.
What applies to RI may not apply to MA, and vice versa.
More information on this will be shared as we move closer to summer,” said Pam Hyland, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England”.
In an effort to support local communities, GSSNE members and non-member families with PreK-1st Grade girls have been and continue to participate in a weekly Zoom meet-up which includes an hour of free programming and engagement every week for four weeks.
It began on May 9 and was a wild success.
Interested parties are encouraged to join on the following dates: May 16, 23, and June 6.
Each week there will be a different sampling of Girl Scout programming to keep the girls engaged through activities utilizing basic household items in order to participate. Families interested in signing-up can register using the following link.
Families and girls of all ages can also check out gssne.org/athome for additional FREE activities and programs!
We know that this is a challenging time for families—staying home from school away from friends is a significant change in their routine that can make them feel disconnected.
At Girl Scouts, we are fortunate to be able to continue offering the same quality programming to girls, volunteers, and families virtually for at-home enrichment experiences.
These are all available to the public—no Girl Scout membership is necessary.
Check back often!
About Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England
Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent girl leadership organization where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.
Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, in partnership with 2,700 adult volunteers, serves over 6,000 girls from Rhode Island, thirteen communities in southeastern Massachusetts, and Pawcatuck, CT.
For additional information, please visit www.gssne.org, follow @gssne on Instagram, follow @GirlScoutsofSNE on Twitter, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSSNE