Core Camps

Spring 2027 Lottery is open November 2-16

What is a core camp?

These 1-2 night programs are camps run by teen Girl Scout troops for other Girl Scout troops to attend. The spring camps occur in April and May, and the fall camps occur in September and October. There are a variety of locations and themes to choose from! Core camps are available for all troop levels.

How does core camp work?

Your troop signs up to attend as a group. You are responsible for providing appropriate adult supervision. The host troop will do the rest! All programming, activities, and meals will be provided for you at camp.

How do we register?

Core camp spots are given via a lottery. You will be asked to rank your troop’s top choices for the season, and give us an estimate on the number of youth and adults you will bring.

Once your troop is placed in a core camp, you will claim your spots by paying a $20 deposit per participant. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be applied towards final payments if participants drop out.

Spring season:

The lottery for spring core camps is open throughout November. Placements are made and deposits due in December. After the lottery, remaining spots will open for first-come, first-served registration in January.

Fall season:

The lottery for fall core camps is open in February/March. Placements are made and deposits due in April. After the lottery, remaining spots will open for first-come, first-served registration in May.

Core camp scholarship

Grants are available to help cover the cost of core camp! After your troop is placed through the lottery, you will receive a form to request a scholarship for individuals or your entire troop.

See Spring 2027 core camp details:

For Daisies toggle arrow

✨ Fairytale Dreamer Duos ✨

May 15-16, Camp Winona

Ages: Daisy, Brownie, Junior

Cost: $70 youth, $70 adult

This Me & My camp is all about immersing yourself in the story. Want to shoot an arrow or slingshot like Merida, build a house for Tinker Bell, or go on a nature hike like Snow White? Then join us and make magical memories while earning badges.

For Brownies toggle arrow

✈️ Around the World Adventure ✈️

April 24-25, Camp Winona

Ages: Brownie, Junior, Cadette

Cost: $70 youth, $55 adult

Brownies through Cadettes join us on a trip around the world. This one night core camp will take you on an amazing race around the world where everyone is a winner! From Canadian canoeing to Japanese crafts and Australian obstacle courses, take your team on an outdoor adventure. You will earn a unique patch and many activities will earn outdoor and art badges.

✨ Fairytale Dreamer Duos ✨

May 15-16, Camp Winona

Ages: Daisy, Brownie, Junior

Cost: $70 youth, $70 adult

For Juniors toggle arrow

✈️ Around the World Adventure ✈️

April 24-25, Camp Winona

Ages: Brownie, Junior, Cadette

Cost: $70 youth, $55 adult

✨ Fairytale Dreamer Duos ✨

May 15-16, Camp Winona

Ages: Daisy, Brownie, Junior

Cost: $70 youth, $70 adult

🏹 May Flather Adventure: Archery 🏹

April 30-May 2 OR May 7-9, Camp May Flather

Ages: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $95 youth, $55 adult

Aim for adventure at May Flather's Adventure Core Camp this spring!

🧗 May Flather Adventure: Climbing 🧗

April 30-May 2 OR May 7-9, Camp May Flather

Ages: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $105 youth, $55 adult

Discover a mountain of adventure at May Flather's Adventure Climbing Core Camp!

🧗 Challenge Accepted: High Ropes 🧗

June 11-13, Camp White Rock

Ages: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $60 youth, $25 adult

Are you ready for a new outdoor challenge this year? You'll try out White Rock's aerial ropes course, then spend your time on the ground choosing between target sports, crafts, and camp service opportunities!

For Cadettes and Older toggle arrow

⛺ Aquasco Teen Encampment ⛺

April 16-18, Camp Aquasco

Ages: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $20 youth, $15 adult

Come join us for a weekend of fun, friendship and tradition at lovely Camp Aquasco. Enjoy learning new skills or honing in on your current outdoor skills while learning about the history of Camp Aquasco.

🏹 May Flather Adventure: Archery 🏹

April 30-May 2 OR May 7-9, Camp May Flather

Ages: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $95 youth, $55 adult

Aim for adventure at May Flather's Adventure Core Camp this spring!

🧗 May Flather Adventure: Climbing 🧗

April 30-May 2 OR May 7-9, Camp May Flather

Ages: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $105 youth, $55 adult

Discover a mountain of adventure at May Flather's Adventure Climbing Core Camp!

🌳 May Flather Adventure: Low Ropes Challenge Course 🌳

May 7-9, Camp May Flather

Ages: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $85 youth, $55 adult

This Core Camp will be full of adventure and teamwork on the low ropes challenge course!

🥾 May Flather Adventure: Backpacking 🥾

May 7-9, Camp May Flather

Ages: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $85 youth, $55 adult

This Core Camp will teach scouts beginning backpacking skills, emphasizing those skills needed to camp at a primitive site. After Saturday lunch, scouts will hike a short distance into the George Washington Forest, and set up their camping site for an overnight adventure!

🧗 Challenge Accepted: High Ropes 🧗

June 11-13, Camp White Rock

Ages: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $60 youth, $25 adult

🏔️ Challenge Accepted: Ice Mountain 🏔️

June 11-13, Camp White Rock

Ages: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $60 youth, $25 adult

Are you ready for a new outdoor challenge this year? Take a tour of Ice Mountain Nature Preserve, where it's cold year round! Back at camp you'll choose between target sports, crafts, and camp service opportunities!

🚣 Challenge Accepted: Kayaking 🚣

June 11-13, Camp White Rock

Ages: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Cost: $60 youth, $25 adult

Are you ready for a new outdoor challenge this year? Paddle your way down the Cacapon River, then fill your day with target sports, crafts, and camp service opportunities!

Hear what troops are saying

Our participating troops love core camp!

When asked “Would your troop attend another core camp?” 100% of respondents said YES!

Troops that attended core camp gave the following ratings:

Quality of food provided: 4.9/5 stars

Quality of activities provided: 4.8/5 stars

Quality of organization at the camp: 5/5 stars

“The troop did an excellent job. The girls in my troop enjoyed the entire experience. Thank you!”

“This was our troop’s first overnight camping experience, and all the girls wanna go camping again!”

“I was so impressed by the maturity and leadership of the host troop - really well done!”

“There was tons of food. It went along with the theme and it was cooked well.”

FAQ

What is the typical cost of a core camp? toggle arrow

For youth members, the cost ranges $55-100. This price is dependent on the length of the camp (1 or 2 nights) and the high adventure activities being offered.

For adults, the cost is always $55.

Financial grants are available for youth and adults, and can help cover individuals or your entire troop!

Can my Girl Scout attend a core camp without their troop? toggle arrow

Core camps are designed for troops, not individuals. Only youth members registered as Juliettes can attend individually. If your Girl Scout is interested in attending a core camp, check if other troops in your service unit are planning to attend, because your child may be able to join up with another troop.

How many adults can we bring? toggle arrow

Camping is an amazing opportunity for youth members to gain independence in the outdoors. Additionally, we strive to open as many spaces for Girl Scouts to attend core camp as possible. For this reason, we do limit the number of adults your troop can bring. Special requests can be made to allow additional adults depending on the needs of the troop. The chart below is a general rule of thumb:

Daisies: 1 adult per 2 youth

Brownies & Juniors: 1 adult per 3 youth

Cadettes and older: 1 adult per 4 youth

Number of adults your troop can bring to core camp:

	6 youth	8 youth	10 youth	12 youth	14 youth
Daisies	2-4	3-5	4-6	5-7	6-8
Brownies & Juniors	2-3	2-4	3-5	3-5	4-6
Cadettes+	2-3	2-3	2-4	2-4	3-5

The exception is the Me and My Pal camp, which is intended for caregivers and you to attend together. Troops may bring one adult for every youth member to this program.

Do we need a cookout/campout certified adult to attend? toggle arrow

Most likely, yes. If your troop does not have a certified adult, let the core camp organizers know. It may be possible to pair you with another troop that does have a certified adult. We try to be flexible when possible!

Can my troop host our own core camp? toggle arrow

We are always looking for teen troops (Cadette and older) who want to join us in hosting a core camp! We offer trainings for interested host troops every year. Contact Leah Glicker at lglicker@gscnc.org for more information.

Where do we sleep? toggle arrow

Troops will be assigned a unit to sleep in based on troop size, age, and preference. Troops may share a unit with another troop depending on troop size and camp capacity. Once you register, you will hear more from the camp organizers about sleeping arrangements.