The Nation's Capital "Explore Camp” Patch Program encourages Girl Scouts to explore the outdoors, take part in Girl Scout traditions, and discover the unique features of each of our eight camp properties. Girl Scouts completing this patch program will hone their eight basic outdoor skills, which help improve outdoor literacy and support positive, environmentally friendly outdoor experiences. The eight basic outdoor skills are as follows: Outdoor Manners, Be Prepared, Know Your Knots, Outdoor Tools, Fire Building, Outdoor Cooking, Stay Safe, and Find Your Way. A ninth skill, Girl Scout Traditions, accompanies the eight basic skills so girls can experience outdoor camping traditions in Girl Scouting. This program is appropriate for Girl Scouts of all levels, with a primary focus on Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, as well as Girl Scouts with limited camping or outdoor experience.
Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors, and Girl Scouts with more camping or outdoor experience may also complete this program, but are encouraged to not only complete each activity, but to test their skills by completing the optional Challenge Mode variations in some activities or by helping younger Girl Scouts complete the program.
Girls will complete all eighteen activities listed in the program to earn the Explore Camp Main Patch. The first activity from Know Your Knots should be completed first so that girls can add beads to their
bracelets as they complete skills. Otherwise, you may complete activities in any order. Refer to page 27 for an activity checklist that can be used to track each girl's progress.
After earning the main patch, Girl Scouts may earn the other eight patches in this program, each of which focus on one of the eight Nation's Capital camp properties.