An exciting look at the typical day at Girl Scout Camp Mary Atkinson
Is your girl looking to start her summer morning off with a burst of energy? How about learning new skills while making new friends? Then, look no further! Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines’ Camp Mary Atkinson is the ideal summer spot to enjoy the great outdoors and much more. Where else can you find girls singing, clapping, cheering, and dancing before eight in the morning during summer break? From the time girls wake up to the time it’s lights outs, girls attending Camp Mary Atkinson enjoy all of the amenities the camp has to offer.
To help families and girls embrace the great outdoors this summer, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines is providing a fun and exciting look at what happens during a typical day at camp.
At Camp Mary Atkinson, the day starts bright and early! Girls are awoken to the sounds of birds chirping and the faint sounds of camp counselors singing songs to help energize the girls in time for the flag raising. After the flag is raised, girls then enjoy their short walk to the Leadership Center where they can fuel their bodies and find out what adventures they will be seeking that day.
Throughout the course of the day (and the week), girls attend different activities including arts and crafts, archery, kayaking, swimming, nature games, hiking, campfires and more. Horse camps and specialty sessions are offered throughout the summer including our famous Choose Your Own Adventure where girls unleash their leadership skills during a two-week session filled with their favorite camp activities including cookouts and adventures. Leadership sessions including Counselor-in-Training (CIT) and First Aid/CPR sessions are also available to help girls build real world skills that can use beyond their time at camp. Plus, every week at Camp Mary Atkinson has a special camp theme that influences meals, camp activities and more. Themes vary but can include Pirate Week, Harry Potter Week, Superhero Week, and Mystery Week. And of course, campers will enjoy unique activities and traditions that have been a part of the Camp Mary Atkinson experience for years!
“Girl Scout Camp is unique because it’s a time to share fun experiences with other young women, learn about our differences and similarities, and encourage one another to grow in courage, confidence and character,” said Sheryl McGlory, camp and program director.
And the traditions aren’t the only thing campers will take away from a week spent at Camp Mary Atkinson. In fact, the memories, skills, and fun had will last a lifetime, just ask nine-year-old camper, Camilla Carrington.
“My favorite things to do at camp are archery, swimming, and climbing the Alpine Tower. Our day at camp starts by waking up and heading to breakfast then usually swimming in the pool and then another activity. We then go to lunch and have skill sets, break, and then enjoy a couple more activities before dinner and going to bed.”
According to the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), 72% of girls that had outdoor experiences through Girl Scouts said they had improved at a skill and about 29% said they had overcome a fear of the outdoors. Overall, 50% of girls indicated that they could not have done a particular outdoor activity such as archery, horseback riding, and kayaking were it not for Girl Scouts.
Camp Mary Atkinson is located on Highway 42 East in Johnston County, spans over 278 wooded acres, and is home to traditional resident camp, day camp, adventure trips, and an on-site horse program. With amenities for girls of all grade levels, Camp Mary Atkinson offers a chance for girls to climb the alpine tower and/or the boulder on the climbing grotto, a challenge by choice ropes course, swim in a zero-entry swimming pool and a lake that offers campers watercraft activities including canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
Girl Scout summer camp is open to all girls, whether or not she is a Girl Scout member, and is filled with amazing adventures. There is something for every girl to enjoy at any of the Girl Scout summer camps located throughout central and eastern North Carolina.
Girls are invited to go on outdoor adventures year-round with Girl Scouts! In addition to summer camps and programs, Girl Scouts offers a wide variety of outdoor and camp activities through the year. From climbing the alpine tower to participating in exciting outdoor skills progression sessions, there are many opportunities for girls to make new friends, build important life skills, and build confidence in the great outdoors. Girl Scouts believe that every girl should have the outdoor experience. For more information or to join a Girl Scout troop near you, visit our website www.nccoastalpines.org.
We’re Girl Scouts of the USA
We’re 2.6 million strong—1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines
Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines is largest girl-led leadership development program in central and eastern North Carolina, reaching more than 26,000 girls and 9,000 adult volunteer across 41 central and eastern North Carolina counties. Girl Scouts helps develop leaders of tomorrow by empowering girls to take on bold challenges, discover their passions and strengths, and explore programming like STEM, entrepreneurship, environmental leadership, take-action projects, and global citizenship. Today’s Girl Scouts learn to lead with courage, confidence, and character to make their communities and the world a better place. The council’s administrative headquarters is located in Raleigh, with additional program and service centers located in Goldsboro, Fayetteville, and Wilmington. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.nccoastalpines.org or call (800) 284-4475.
