Sleep Away Camp Information

Lets' Get Started!!
This year Girl Scouts celebrates its 100th birthday!! Campers will have the opportunity to celebrate the centennial at all Sleep Away Camps. When your daughter unpacks her belongings and settles into her tent or glen shelter, she will be heading for the time of her life. Memories are sure to be made roasting marshmallows around a campfire, singing songs, enjoying meals in the dining hall with lots of friends, hiking trails, splashing in the pool or creek, testing mind and body in a rigorous challenge course, or getting creative with crafts. An extraordinary experience awaits girls everywhere they gather at Sleep Away Camp.
Program categories are based on the grade your camper is COMPLETING this year (spring 2012).
Our goal is to provide a safe environment where your daughter can gain skills, confidence and friendships as she has fun and creates lasting memories. We're looking forward to helping your daughter discover the magic of Sleep Away Camp!

Confirmation Packet
Within three weeks of registering for camp, you will receive a Confirmation Packet in the mail with additional information to help you and your camper prepare for Sleep Away Camp.

Important Dates 2012
January 14 Parent Information Session at Camp Potomac Woods 1:00 to 3:00 PM
January 24 Online registration opens
May 11 Final payment and forms due for all sleep away campers
June 10 Open Houses at Camp Potomac Woods, Camp Winona and Camp May Flather
June 16 Camp Coles Trip Open House

Parent Information Session
The Parent Information Sessions are geared towards parents who have never sent their daughter to a GSCNC Sleep Away camp and have questions that they would like addressed. You will have the opportunity to meet some of the Camp Directors and learn about our programs, facilities and staff at all four of our Sleep Away Camps, as well as our registration process. Please note, our presentation will include information about all four of our Sleep Away Camps.
Online registration assistance will also be provided in some satellite offices, more information coming soon.
Saturday, January 14, 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Camp Potomac Woods in Leesburg VA

Open Houses
Held Rain or shine! You'll have the chance to tour the facilities, meet the camp staff and ask questions. Feel free to bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy in our wonderful camp setting. Pets and smoking are not permittes on camp property.
Directions and arrival times will be included in the Confirmation Packet. Dress comfortably for waking in the outdoors. Unlike the Parent Information Sessions, Open Houses are designed with the camper in mind.
Open Houses at Camp Potomac Woods, Camp Winona and Camp May Flather are on June 10. Open House at Camp Coles Trip is on June 16.

Living Units
Each unit accommodates 12-24 campers and consists of a unit house or shelter, latrines or flush toilets (depending on camp), washstand or sinks (depending on camp), fire circle and screened glen shelters or platform tents. Each tent or glen shelter contains cots with matresses, mosquito netting and nightstands for four to six girls. Counselors are housed in a seperate shelter in the unit. Most units do not have electricity. At night, the campers use their personal plash lights to find their way, and lanterns mark the location of the latrine, washstand and staff shelter. Girls are assigned living units by age and program. Tent or shelter assignments are made after your daughter arrives at camp so that she may share living arrangements with any friends she may have in the same program.
A glen shelter is a wooden structure with four screened sides, a wooden roof and a wooden floor. The canvas curtains can be closed in inclement weather. Glen shelters can be found at all four camps.
Platform tents have wooden floors with a large canvas tent over a wooden frame. There is an extra roof tarp over the top of the tent. There are platform tents at May Flather and Coles Trip.

Meals
Food service professionals prepare all meals except for cookouts. Campers are given an opportunity to plan a menu and cook outdoors or have a picnic at least once during their stay. Our food service staff can meet most special dietary needs. If your camper has special dietary needs, please specify this in writing on her health form. Vegetarian alternatives are available at every meal. For more information prior to registering, you may also contact Denise Viau, Camping Services Manager 202.274.3308.

Camp Staff
Staff members are carefully selected from applicants throughout the United States and around the world. They are chosen for the maturity, program skills, and experience and are required to attend an intensive pre-camp training session given by GSCNC. All staff members are 18 years of age or older. A Health Manager is in residence at the health center. Specially trained staff members direct the pool, waterfront, challenge course, and other specialty areas. Employment Information

Buddies
You will be able to enter buddy information during the registration process. This will not guarantee that this person will be registered for the program. If your daughter would like to go to camp with a buddy, we encourage you to apply in a similar time frame so that you are both able to secure a space in the same program. In order to be buddies, girls must be registered for the same program, during the same week at the same camp.

Payment Information
A non-refundable registration deposit of $50 is due in order to complete the registration process.
Final payment for all programs is due by May 11, 2012. Payment can be made with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express on our registration website.

Email Confirmation
After registration, you will receive an immediate email confirmation. Make sure that the email address associated with your camper’s account is a parent’s email address that is checked often. We will contact you regarding form submission, final payment, and other parent information using the email address associated with your camper’s account.

T-Shirt and Patch
All campers will receive a t-shirt and patch as part of their registration fee. When you register you will be able to choose a t-shirt size. Before your daughter is scheduled to attend camp, you will receive more information with an opportunity to purchase a camp care bag for your daughter.

New this Year!
Week-long session will run form Sunday afternoon to Firday evening. Pick up at camp and the bus stop will take place from 7:00 to 8:00 PM (depending on camp).
We now have two Sleep Away Camp bus stops. Bus Transportation Information
The New Girls Guide to Girl Scouting is here and the new badges have been incorporated into all Sleep Away Camp Programs. All campers will return home with a detailed checklist that shows the badges they have worked on at camp. More information will be included in your confirmation packet.

Need Help?
For questions about: Online Registration, Changing Program/Session, Bus/Transportation, Forms, Payment, or Refunds, contact a camp registrar below.
Camp Winona Gustavo Martinez 202.534.3793
Camp Potomac Woods Deborah Dailey 202.534.3781
Camp May Flather Erin Harvey 202.534.3788
Camp Coles Trip Stephanie Casatellano 202.274.2169

Si necesita ayunda en espanol: Gustavo Martinez 202.534.3792
Questions about campers with special needs: Denise Viau 202.274.3308

Transportation
Bus Transportation Information

Girls with Special Needs
GSCNC offers opportunites for girls with special needs to be included in our Sleep Away Camps. They can join other girls thier age for swimming, hiking, singing and other camp activities. Camp is available to ALL girls who:

Have physical and or developmental disabilities
Have special dietary restrictions, including food allergies
Require special medications or treatment (Epi-Pen, neubulizer, etc.)
Require injections (insulin, HgH, etc.)

Please provide additional detailed information about your daughter’s special needs on her health form so we can accommodate your daughter at camp. To ensure that your daughter is placed in a camp and program that best suits her needs, please contact Denise Viau, Camping Services Manager 202.274.3308.

Non-Girl Scouts
Non-Girls Scouts are welcome to attend sleep away camp, but must register to
be part of the Girl Scout organization when registering for camp. Girls must be registered with Nation’s Capital council. Online camp registration will divert Non-Girl Scouts to a Girl Scout membership registration page, which you must complete before your camp registration is finalized. The annual registration fee is $12.

Health History
Girls attending sleep away camp must be in good health. Additional information and a health history form will be mailed in your Confirmation Packet. Complete health information must be turned in by May 11, 2012.

Cancellations and Refunds
The $50 registration deposit is non-refundable. The remainder of the camp fee (excluding the deposit) will be refunded if:
- GSCNC receives a written notification of the withdrawal at least five weeks prior to the session.
- The camper leaves camp due to illness or injury and GSCNC receives a written request for a refund within two weeks after she returns home. The refund will be pro-rated on a per diem basis.
- A program is canceled and no alternate program is available.
If a camper leaves camp early due to homesickness or parent request, no refund will be given.

Program Cancellation
GSCNC reserves the right to cancel any program listed due to insufficient enrollment or other extenuating circumstances. Alternate programs or refunds will be offered.

Financial Assistance Available

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