Your Troop wants to plan a Trip! Where do you begin?

The answer is simple…with the girls! Remember, this is THEIR TRIP. Ask them what they want to do. Get them to think about:

• How much money do we have?
• What have we done before? Encourage girls to try something new.
• What are we interested in doing? What kinds of activities do we want to try?
• What do we know about available facilities to stay in?
• Do we want to sleep indoors in a building, outside in platform tents, A-frame cabins or Adirondack shelters or just take a day trip?
• Do we want to plan a Troop Camp Outing with another troop? Sharing the cost is a lot cheaper. Think about sharing a facility for a whole weekend; or split the weekend—one troop each night.
• What time of year do we want to plan for our Troop Camp Outings?
• What’s Available?
  • Availability: Alice Chester Center and Camp Silverbrook are not available from June-August due to council-sponsored summer camp programs. However, troops are encouraged to apply for Silverbrook Summer Program sessions offering swimming, boating, nature, arts and sports. A troop summer tripping program is also offered through Silverbrook Program Center. Information and applications are in the Summer Programs Book available in February.

Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area’s properties offer a wide variety of facilities for your Troop Camp Outing. Troops can stay in Milwaukee or go out to one of our properties located about 45 minutes from the city. Read about Alice Chester Center, or Silverbrook Program Center for more information. In addition, there are plenty of facilities around the city, state and country which troops can choose to use. Investigate! Find what suits your troop’s/group’s wants, needs and budget.

When should we start Planning?
Ideally, Troop Camp Outings are planned 4-6 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME. Here is an example of a time line:

Step 1:
Plan with the girls, decide on possible dates, types of accommodations, and site choice. Apply to the Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area, Inc. Make sure you have parental support. Reservations are accepted up to one year in advance. Click here for registration procedures

If you are planning a troop camp outing to a non-council owned site, use their registration procedures and plan your time line accordingly. Remember, Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area needs to approve your trip and an adult needs to take the Outdoor Skills and Troop Camp Training. The application needs to be filed 4 weeks before the Troop Camp Outing or longer for extended trips.

After being accepted for your Troop Camp Outing, start thinking about your budget, menus, activities, transportation, chaperones, etc. Read appropriate Safety-Wise information.

Step 2:
If you are planning an overnight Troop Camp Outing, make sure one leader or designated adult attending the overnight completes the appropriate outdoor skills training. Ideally outdoor skills training should be completed before applying for your trip. This adult should plan with the girls and be in charge during the overnight.

• Re-read confirmation materials. Call the Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area with any needs or questions at 414-476-1050.
• Begin preparing the girls for their experience:
• Talk about girls’ responsibilities and appropriate behavior.
• Decide activities (include inclement weather activities).
• Complete activities from Try-Its, Badges or Interest Projects that relate to the troop’s camp outing.
• Finalize healthy menus.
• Talk about the facilities you will be staying in. We encourage you to visit them! See phone list on back cover.
• Discuss what to pack.
• Send out permission slips. Make sure that you have appropriate health history information.
• Finalize chaperones.

Step 3:

• Finalize permission slips, budget, menus, chaperones, activities and transportation. Make sure all passengers will have seat belts and drivers are insured with a valid drivers’ license.
• Plan for grocery and program supply shopping. Have some of the girls help you with this.
• Plan Kaper charts for the entire Troop Camp Outing.
• Establish guidelines of girl and adult behavior. Meet with adult chaperones regarding responsibilities.
• Reserve any needed equipment from the property staff or Resource Center.

Step 4:

• Practice skills necessary for the Troop Camp Outing.
• Re-read Safety-Wise guidelines and discuss with girls. Plan appropriately.
• Begin grocery and program supply shopping. Look for bargains.
• Make final Troop Camp Outing schedule. Be sure to plan free time! Bring along extra ideas to fill the times when you did not schedule enough activities.
• Finalize troop and girl packing and equipment needs.

Step 5:
GEAR UP FOR A GREAT TIME!

• Complete grocery and program supply shopping.
• Coordinate health history information, permission slips, first aid kit and packing of troop materials.
• Establish final transportation drop-off and pick-up times and procedures.
• Make sure all drivers have a map and know their destination. Make sure all passengers have seat belts fastened.
• Each driver should have a packet with:

  Permission slips
  A map with directions
  Phone numbers
  Insurance information (collect from the drivers when they arrive).
  (Don’t forget packets for the return drivers).

For more information, check out Chapter 5, “Planning Trips with Girl Scouts” in Safety-Wise, pp. 44-60.

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