Six of our new campers
Penny Schneider
This picture of six of the eight fourth graders going to camp this summer shows how excited the girls get when they are first shown their camping equipment. During what is called the camper shower, a duffle bag filled with the required elements for their week of camping is exhibited. In that bag are many items such as: a flashlight, pillow, sleeping bag, poncho for rainy days and much more.
The members of Arizona Q take a day to shop for the bags and several items. After finding all the needs for camp, the bags and equipment are labeled for each individual camper. This is one of the ways our fundraiser helps us to prepare the girls for camp.
During the month of May, a day of shopping with the girls for their clothing takes place. Due to the number of girls we now send, two stores are selected and eight teams of members volunteer to work with the girls. For an afternoon, each camper has her own team of personal shoppers—this day is really one of the highlights of our camper program. The girls and shoppers have lunch and begin shopping. When all the items have been found, there is now time for a snack before returning the girls to school for parent pickup.
In June, our transportation committee will meet the parents at the school site and take the girls to the central Phoenix location where we meet the buses for camp. The camp is called Willow Springs and is in the cool pines of Prescott, Arizona. It’s an accredited Girl Scout Camp. The girls will leave on a Sunday and return to Phoenix on Friday of the same week. When they are picked up that Friday afternoon, they are changed, animated and energized with the experience of summer camping.
Then, just before their new school year begins, we will have a picnic with them at their school and present them with the school supplies that their fifth grade teachers have requested. With this boost for the year, we hope that the girls have another positive experience.
One of the awesome outcomes from our work with Heritage Elementary School is that a Girl Scout troop has now formed there. Our campers now have another means to interact socially. This will be a benefit to the school as well as it gives students another after school activity.
Arizona Chapter Q of the National T.T.T. Society would once more extend our appreciation to all the ladies from PebbleCreek and their friends who helped to make our fifth Fashion Show and Luncheon the tremendous success that it was. As next year’s event is already perking in the minds of the members; please be watching for our Save the Date reminder in the September PebbleCreek Post.