Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) offers an alternative to families whose summer plans got turned upside down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Their Summer Camp in a Box program gives young girls, whether they’re a Girl Scout or not,  the chance to experience a traditional Girl Scout Summer Camp from the safety of their home.

Summer Camp in a Box is a cross-collab effort between several GSWCF departments. When in-person summer camps were cancelled, council staff members focused on putting the entire program together in a few weeks.

Summer Camp in a Box is 8 weeks of programming, starting with the June 15th Traditional Camp box and concludes with the August 3rd Art Expressions box. Participants can enjoy the full benefits of boxes without having to feel like they need every box in the series. Each box comes with activities lasting Monday through Friday with a good portion of supplies needed for each activity. Activities last up to 2 hours per day. Access to 5 hours of live, interactive virtual activities with staff enhances the Girl Scout Summer Camp experience.

Activities include:

• On-demand video instructions
• Postcards to mail to friends
• “Campfire” recipes
• Friendship bracelets
• Theme-specific activities
• Online flag ceremonies
• Virtual campfire sing-alongs
• Virtual cabin reflection sessions with camp staff

Boxes are available to non-Girl Scout members for $75 per box, $25 per box for members. Financial aid opportunities offer a $10 discount per box.

Families are expected to have household items for projects like scissors, glue, pens, and pencils. Also, families are responsible for buying foods for activities and “campfire” recipes. If not, a box full of essentials is available for purchase for an additional $25.

For more info about Girl Scouts of West Central Florida and their Summer Camp in a Box, click here.