Hello again! I simply cannot believe that my second week with GSOH is coming to a close.

Being that this was the first week of STEM camp there were many ups and downs, but overall, it was an amazing week filled with fun. The week started with some behavioral issues from campers as they were adjusting to the new environment, but also with an opportunity to choose STEM-related activities that they were interested in. We were able to incorporate those activities into the weekly schedule, so the girls had more control over what they were participating in at camp.

As this week was an Icky Sticky theme there were many opportunities for the girls to experiment with slime which was a big hit. One of the biggest challenges I faced this week was activities not going according to schedule. I had to get comfortable with the possibility that girls may be excited about an activity and may want to spend more time than allotted working on it, which is okay. This week I learned how to be adaptive which will be even more important for next week, as the staff-to-camper ratio decreases.

I was lucky enough to meet Tammy Wharton, President of GSOH as she brought in Meredith Garofalo from WBNS TV. Meredith spoke with the girls about meteorology and how Girl Scouts influenced her passions and career.

I enjoyed getting to know each girl and their passions this week as well as celebrating their successes and accommodating for their low points. It was a joy to see the friendships created between girls throughout the week especially in the Egg Drop activity, as many girls were in groups.

Next week I am hoping to be more confident in my leadership skills as I will have more responsibility in leading activities. Camp has been going very well and I am looking forward to learning with a new group of girls next week!

Best,
Madeleine Auch