Camp Azalea Trails rests on 12 acres of National Forest in the San Jacinto Mountains and is owned and operated by Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council. Since 1942, the camp has offered summer programs for girls ages 7-17.
Jennifer Reed will be a Unit Counselor for the first time this summer at Camp Azalea Trails. But this won't be her first time attending the camp. She spent nine summers there from the time she was 7-years-old until she turned 15. "I learned so many things--how to ride horses, how to make friendship bracelets, how to do archery--even the correct way to arrange a place setting!" said Jennifer.
Some of the other lessons were less obvious.
"I learned to step out of my comfort zone to make friends. I was really shy when I was younger and liked sticking to the people I already knew. At camp, I met a ton of new friends simply by being brave enough to talk to them. From then on I had no problem meeting new people."
Camp also taught Jennifer to respect others and helped to build her self-esteem. "I learned it was ok to be different, to be a goof ball and just be myself. Trying to always impress other people is no way to live your life. You are who you are, not anyone else."
"There are a lot of skills you can learn at Camp Azalea Trails, things that are fun, exciting and make camp a blast. But beyond the bonding with counselors and your fellow campers, beneath all the horse rides, archery, hiking, scavenger hunts and other activities, there are life lessons being taught. Sometimes not even the counselors know those lessons are taking place, which somehow makes them that much more memorable."
Would she recommend camping to other girls? Absolutely. "Camp Azalea Trails is a support system and a family. Those two things can be rare to find outside the home," said Jennifer. "The experience you gain there is something that no girl should miss out on! I know firsthand. I am telling you this because Camp AT changed my life for the better and helped shape the young woman that I am today. I love this camp!"
Girl Scouts helps build girls of courage, character and confidence who work to make the work a better place. Find out how you can help the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio provide camperships to girls in need by calling 1-800-400-4475 ext. 234. Or visit us on the web at http://gssgc.org
Juno Kughler Carlson
jcarlson@gssgc.org
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