On April 26 – 28, 2024, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) hosted the Alabama Girl Scout Camporee. Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama and Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi joined GSSA in Mobile, AL for a weekend of camping, badge opportunities, Girl Scout sisterhood.
Media Girl, Evelyn, attended the camporee and wrote an article detailing her weekend at the Alabama Girl Scout Camporee below.
“Our first annual Girl Scout State Camporee took place April 26-28 at Meaher State Park this year, hosted by the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama to welcome our Girl Scout sisters from North Central Alabama. Our campsites at MeaherState Park were in a very relaxed and coastal environment, showing off the view of Mobile Bay as well as the wildlife native to this environment and its habitats.
We went to the Woods & Water Expo hosted at Five Rivers Delta thanks to the help of local police officers to cross the causeway safely. On our way to the Expo we discovered lots of delicious blackberries growing near the roads, showing how animals in the area easily find sources of food. In the Expo we met lots of groups of people such as the BaldwinCounty Fire Department who gave us super cool little fire truck erasers and a group of experienced fishermen whohosted a booth to teach younger children how to cast a fishing rod. While walking around we saw lots of different activities such as circle time with books and songs with the library, an art booth with painting hosted by an art gallery, and a booth showcasing beekeepers, their hives, and how to get started.
After getting back to Meaher we began our badge classes to help us learn a variety of skills. I took the Car Care badge where I learned about the different types of fluids you need to check regularly as well as how to change a tire safely. Ialso got to help with the Sportsmanship badge by leading games to help with team building and learning to play in a fair and kind way (using sportsmanship!).
Personally, I enjoyed the pier the most. After my badges I went down to the pier with my mom and younger brother to look at the wildlife and sky while taking pictures for one of my photography badges. I found lots of different angles and lighting to use to make each of my pictures unique. I was even lucky enough to be on the pier to catch the sunset with the silhouette of the Mobile skyline in the background. While on the pier I met many other people who were fromdifferent areas of Alabama and the South whether they were a Girl Scout, or they were just visiting the park for pleasure.
Later that night we roasted s’mores and sang songs, teaching each other new songs or new versions from different areas and experiences in Girl Scouts. Afterwards we stayed to learn about astronomy and constellations in the sky above usand how it changes during the seasons or from where you live.
Overall, I think that State camporee was really fun and I’m excited to see what it will be like next year when we’rehosted by North Central!”
Evelyn is a Girl Scout Senior and Media Girl. She is in Troop 8274 in Mobile, AL.