Beacon Sept 2022

Page 4A THE BEACON September 2022
The Tradition of Girl Scout Camp Spans Generations
Continued from page 1A
leaders. My family moved
out here from Cincinnati in
1994. I became a Girl Scout
leader, and at that time the
only local Girl Scout camp
was in Batesville. We took
seventeen girls to that camp
from the St. Leon area, and
we noticed that it was the
St. Leon parents who stayed
to volunteer after the camp.
When we had our service unit
meeting as Girl Scout leaders,
we decided to start our
own local camp. Juanita Frye
sought out the owners of Lake
in the Pines and they agreed
to let us come. Our first camp
was held in June of 1995. It
was called “Let’s Take a Walk
in the Pines.” Each day camp
has a theme. Past themes have
been “Circus in the Pines,”
“Candy Land in the Pines,”
etc. The leaders of the camp
and the campers come up with
a theme and incorporate it
into the camp. For example,
this year’s theme was “Warrior
in the Pines.” Campers
took part in a tomahawk and
spear-throwing activity.
Day Camp runs Monday
through Thursday. Participants
range in age from three
to seventeen years old. The
camp was originally held all
week, but the leaders found
that by Friday everyone was
exhausted! Now four funfilled,
packed days with activities
seem to be the perfect
amount for the campers and
volunteers. The campers need
to come prepared with the appropriate
dress because camp
is held in the rain, the sunshine,
and the heat. Campers
bring swimsuits, towels, sack
lunches, closed-toe shoes, and
plenty of sunscreen. Their
days are filled with a plethora
FOOD
& MUSIC
AUGUST
26
2022 “Warrior in the Pines” Girl Scout Day Camp Volunteers and campers. (Photo courtesy of Abby Bertram)
of fun activities that the Day
Camp volunteers work hard
to plan. The volunteers put a
ton of time and thought into
each activity. The Day Camp
Director is Fawn Stephens
Williamson. She and her husband
Terry relocated to Georgia
due to work, yet they still
come to town each June to
put on the day camp- it means
that much to them. This year
Terry went all out with the
theme and got certified in
tomahawk and spear throwing
so the campers could safely
participate in that activity.
Their daughter, Jordan, who
grew up participating as a
camper, now comes back each
year as a volunteer. The theme
is common with Day Camp- a
family affair that is passed on
to each generation. Those who
were once campers are now
volunteers who not only have
the pleasure of watching their
children experience camp but
sometimes their grandchildren
as well. Girl Scout Day Camp
is a family affair for the Bertram
Family as well. Sally’s
husband Steve donates countless
hours to set up and clean
up, and Mrs. Bertram’s adult
daughters volunteer their time
as leaders.
The camp is filled with fun
activities in which campers
partake including a flag
ceremony each morning and
afternoon; swimming in the
lake; kayaking; archery; fishing;
arts and crafts; slingshot,
tomahawk, and spear throwing
competitions; outdoor
cooking; playing games; and
careening down a water slide.
This year they had a colorblast
baseball game. In the
past, camp has included rock
climbing.
You will often spot water
guns being carried by campers
during Day Camp, especially
in the boy units! Day Camp
is not just for girls. Boys can
attend as well if their parent
or guardian volunteers at the
camp. Campers are split into
units, each unit having adult
leaders who guide them and
make sure they adhere to their
daily schedule. This year, I
had the pleasure of helping
lead my daughter’s unit. I got
to spend two days having a
blast at camp rather than at
work! We had seventy-five
volunteers and over two hundred
campers this year.
Cedar Grove Vol. Firemans
FESTIVAL
Aug. 26 & 27
Color Blasters (not in order) Addison McAdams, Addalynn Schultz, Scarlett McCarroll,
Braelyn Gabbard, Molly Lewis, Natalie Stenger, Callie Barrett, Addy Bittner, Addison
Hartman, Ella Roope, Josie Wolf, Summer McCarroll. (Photo by Maureen Stenger)
As the units move to different
areas of activity, you
will hear them coming as
they loudly partake in singing
fun and silly songs, “Tarzan!
Swinging on a rubber
band…” I found myself singing
at the top of my lungs as
our unit had to be louder than
the passing unit!
Day Camp volunteers must
attend a one-night training
session as well as register
with the Girl Scouts so that
a background check can be
done.
In addition to adult volunteers,
older children can help
as well by fulfilling the role
of program aides. The program
aides, or PA’s as they are
known, are boys or girls that
have completed their seventhgrade
year of school. They are
assigned to units and to the
leaders with all of the kids.
Being a PA has perks like
getting to stay at camp later
after the younger campers go
home, and PAs get to enjoy
delicious lunches and dinners
provided by resident camp
chef, Karen Herth. Mrs. Herth
donates her time all week to
cook for the adult volunteers
and the PAs.
Day Camp thrives because
of the countless volunteers
Sally Bertram with two of
her granddaughters, Kinsleigh
and Elliana Marshall,
enjoying Girl Scout Day
Camp. (Photo courtesy of
Amanda Marshall)
who donate their time and
talents. Mrs. Bertram elaborates,
“There are so many
volunteers that need to be
recognized; Sandy Whitehead
who is in charge of running
arts and crafts. Kim Carr
and Joyce Wells for outdoor
cooking. Michelle Murray
for team-building activities.
Veronica Mullins stepped up
Continued on page 5A
Face Painting
& Balloon Artist
6-9
Bring the Kids for
Band Interaction!
Guitar Hero &
Guitar Giveaway
6:30-9:30
Final Order Band
9:30-12:30
Brent James &
the Vintage Youth
AUGUST
27
4:00-5:45
Rachel Holt (acoustic)
5:45-7:30
Josh Wells (acoustic)
7:45-9:30
KIDS GAMES | RAFFLES | BASKET RAFFLE | GRAND RAFFLE
10:00-12:30
5K WITH 60 OTHER PRIZES
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