Facts and Features about GSMA Properties

Special Program Facilities:

Alice Chester Center: The Isabelle Miller Sports Field offers soccer, volleyball, tether ball, basketball, and softball. The Swan Lake Trail (2 miles) has nature observation decks overlooking unique natural communities. Winter recreation features cross-country skiing (rental equipment available).

Silverbrook Program Center: The Lucas Lake Trail (2.5 miles) circles the 80 acre Lucas Lake, crossing Silver Creek, and connects to the Washington County segment of the Ice Age Trail. Winter recreation has snow shoeing, and ice skating on Lucas Lake.

Year-round Program Usage:

All GSMA camp properties have heated year-round troop facilities. A typical “troop house” can accommodate 16-40 campers. All troop houses are heated, have electricity, and furnished kitchens. Chaparral at Alice Chester does not have indoor bathroom facilities. Sandy Point, Jo Ann Mann lodge and North Star at Silverbrook Program Center and Sunset Prairie at Alice Chester Center have indoor bathrooms.

Tent Camping:

Tent camping can be accommodated at the GSMA camps. Primitive Units are available at each GSMA camp; sleeping campers in four-person Eureka Timberlines. Platform Tent Units are available at Silverbrook. Each 8x10 wall tent sleeps four with mattresses and is erected on a wood deck. The tent has storm windows with screens. A 14x18 shade fly covers the entire tent. A-frame Platform Tents are available at Alice Chester. They have wood shingled roofs with canvas walls. Each tent sleeps 6 campers on cots with mattresses. Troop Camp Training or certified equivalency is a prerequisite for using tent units. (Please note, you are always welcome to bring your own tents.)

Waterfront Activities:

See Safety-Wise for procedures on swimming, boating, or canoeing. Troops must arrange for their own Red Cross-certified lifeguard. (Only wading can be done without a currently certified lifeguard being present.) Wading means the campers’ feet remain on the bottom and depth of water does not exceed knee-deep on any camper. Sneakers or aqua-socks are recommended for wading. Leaders should thoroughly check wading areas for hazards.

Fishing:

Fishing is offered from the shore at all of the GSMA properties. Anyone over 16 years old must have a valid Wisconsin-fishing license. State regulations apply at all sites. Rental boats are available at Alice Chester and Silverbrook (see Safety-Wise for boating guidelines). Bring your own equipment and bait.

Service Projects:

Troops may earn the Tajar Corps Patch by participating in a pre-approved service project. Contact the respective Site Ranger for a list of available projects. Projects may include cleaning of units, trail maintenance, inventory, preparing the seasonal units, etc.
Leaders and Adults: GSMA is in need of volunteers for Weekend Camp Coordinators, Outdoor Program Assistants, and Event Chairs. Call the Director: Outdoor Program and Property at 414-476-1050, if you’re interested.

Patches:

Camp patches for all properties can be purchased at the Resource Center. Program patches are offered for Tajar Corps (service projects), cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing.

Staffing:

Each property has a Site Ranger responsible for the care and maintenance of the facilities. Their primary responsibility is to prepare and maintain units for “Troop Camp Outings”. Their normal work week is Monday through Friday. A property staff member will be on-call during weekends for facility problems and emergencies. At Alice Chester and Silverbrook, property staff lives on-site.

Security:

All camp properties have main gates or unit gates to control vehicle access. Every unit has a phone with emergency numbers posted. A property staff member is on-call to assist in security issues. Local law enforcement agencies conduct periodic patrols of camp. Do not be alarmed if you see a patrol car in camp.

Severe Weather & Natural Disasters:

The Site Rangers monitor weather radios and will notify you if there are any warnings. During severe thunderstorm warnings, tent units are moved to a pavilion or building. During tornado warnings, groups will be moved to buildings with basements or solid foundations.

First Aid:

First Aid is the responsibility of each troop while on GSMA properties. Emergency phone numbers and directions to the nearest hospital are available in the unit binders. The Site Ranger should be notified of all injuries. Do not hesitate to call for emergency assistance in the event of a serious injury. After calling for emergency assistance, send one adult to wait at the camp gate, to give directions to the emergency personnel. Finally notify the site ranger or weekend coordinator.

Things That Might Bite, Sting, Itch, or Ouch:

You may be visited by raccoons, skunks, etc. during your stay at camp. These animals may seem friendly or tame, but they are wild animals. Do not attempt to touch or feed them. Do not leave food out for them. Keep all food in your building or in your car. Call the Site Ranger if your “wild visitors” do not leave. Be sure to know if any of your campers are allergic to bee or insect bites. Bring non-aerosol bug repellents to camp. Stay on the trails when hiking spring through fall. Poison ivy is prevalent at all of the camp properties.

Site Rangers mow and spray for poison ivy, but if you get off the well beaten trail you may see it. At least one adult should be able to recognize it. You may be able to prevent some scrapes and bruises by doing a quick risk assessment of your camping area. Look for dangerous roots, rocks, branches, slopes, etc. and caution your girls to avoid them. Avoid running on hiking trails. Tree roots often pop through the ground.

Unit Equipment:

Enclosed with your confirmation is a detailed list of the cooking and camping equipment furnished in your unit. Extra or special equipment may be available by calling the respective Site Ranger.

Registration and Keys:

Alice Chester Center: Register at the Site Ranger’s residence. Your keys will be issued to you upon arrival.
Silverbrook Program Center: Leaders pick-up keys at the Welcome Center (self-register).

Bus and Vehicle Access:

After arriving and unloading, please keep your cars in a designated parking area. Except during inclement weather, transporting of girls in camp is not allowed for safety reasons. Camp service roads are used extensively by pedestrians and extreme caution must be exercised when driving through camp. Check each day to see that your car starts. Property staff are not allowed to assist disabled vehicles. Owners must call for commercial towing or jumping of dead batteries.

Bring the Basics:

Plan to bring toilet paper, dish soap, cleanser, all-purpose cleaner, and garbage bags. Mops, brooms, and buckets are provided. REMEMBER: Girl Scouts always leave a site cleaner than they found it! Employed staff does scheduled custodial tasks such as waxing floors, windows, etc., but general housekeeping is the responsibility of the troops using the facility. Please DO NOT leave newspapers, boxes, grocery bags, centerpieces, buddy-burners, used soap, etc. in the facility.

Firewood:

The woods at camp are always full of fallen wood. It may take a little effort, but you should find plenty of wood. If you have access to a box of dry kindling you may want to bring it with you to camp. Bow saws are available in each unit for cutting wood. Please leave extra firewood for the next troop.

Garbage and Wash Water Disposal:

Remember to bring plastic garbage bags for your garbage. Please sort your garbage and place the recyclable materials in the bins provided. Dispose of garbage in the nearest dumpster. Dirty dish water or mop water should be poured onto a gravel area away from your cabin or unit. Do not pour dirty water down sinks, toilets, or floor drains.

Pets:

Bringing a pet to camp is discouraged. If you have no other options, the pet must be on a leash at all times. You must bring proof of immunizations against distemper, hepatitis, and rabies. Owners will be asked to remove the pet from the property if barking or bad behavior infringes on the rights of other campers.

Lanterns and Outdoor Lighting:

If you are staying in a seasonal unit, plan on bringing lanterns and flashlights. You will need them for lighting kitchen shelters, sleeping quarters, and latrines. LP is an acceptable lantern fuel. White gas is not allowed for use on GSMA properties.

Showers:

North Star, Sandy Point and Jo Ann Mann Lodget troop houses at Silverbrook have showers. Alice Chester has a year round shower house.

Telephones:

Phone numbers for each unit are included with your confirmation packet. Share this information with parents before you depart. Phones in each unit are for emergency use only. Some units share phone lines. Long distance calls must be made collect or with a phone card.

Male Visitors:

There may be campouts when fathers or male leaders are part of the group. Necessary arrangements need to be made in advance that include separate sleeping quarters and separate bathrooms or designated bathroom times. If this type of accommodation may not be possible, men should not be part of the overnight experience.

Leaders may want to inform parents that a male will be going on the camping trip. If the unit will be shared with another troop make sure they are aware a male will be coming along.

Sunset Prairie is best suited for bringing along fathers as there are two bathrooms and several separate sleeping quarters.

Quiet Hours:

Respect other troops/groups camping by refraining from loud voices and noises during the hours from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Avoid hikes through or near other units during these hours.

Outside Group Usage:

GSMA will rent our facilities to other non-profit agencies. Typically these are church groups, Boy Scout Groups, or Girl Scout Troops from other councils. Outside groups pay higher fees than GSMA troops/groups pay, and they are directed to follow the same Safety-Wise guidelines as GSMA troops/groups follow. Outside groups that display inappropriate behavior are not invited back.

Concerns and Complaints:

Do not wait until you go home to register a valid complaint. We want your visit to camp to be a positive experience. Talk to the Site Ranger or the Weekend Coordinator about your complaint. They will make every effort to resolve the problem. If the problem is only a minor concern, simply note it on the check out sheet.

Cold Weather Advisory/Cancellation Procedure:

Wind chill advisories or temperatures below –25ºF will constitute a Cold Weather Advisory condition. Leaders may opt to cancel troop camp reservations for a full refund. Request to cancel must be made by noon the last office day before the outing.

The council may require a cancellation if any of the following conditions exist: (1) Buildings cannot maintain an inside temperature of 65ºF, or (2) Evidence of plumbing or septic problems due to cold weather. Based on a 48 hour forecast, the council will contact the leader to advise her of the potential for cancellation.

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