A climbing tower will soon be part of the Girl Scout experience at Camp Archbald thatks to a development campiagn that has been unfolding as the organization enters its second century. COURTESY OF KATE CROWLEY
BY ROBERT L. BAKER
When Angeline Place Hunter, now 88, ofState College, was a little girl, she would visit her uncle and aunt inBrooklynTownshipand dream of doing all the things the Girl Scouts did at nearbyCampArchbald.
The second oldest Girl Scout-sanctioned campground in theUnited Stateshas seen thousands of girls come and go in its 90-plus years.
In 2011, the campground hosted some 487 girls from throughoutPennsylvania.
It was a far cry from the primitive campground created in 1920 when the Girl Scouts Scranton Council made an actual purchase of land that includedLakeElynear the little town ofBrooklyn.
By 1922, the present Red Cross standards for lifesaving were instituted including colored caps, unit checkboards, the buddy system and life guards.
And, while Hunter finally saw her dream come true when she was an adult leader participating in an All-States Encampment at Archbald in 1959, she noted recently that girls today don’t have to dig latrines like her girls used to do.
A 1930s era postcard reveals formations and a salute to the flag as a part of the camping regimen at Camp Archbald in Susquehanna County.
Jane Ransom, CEO for the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, said Monday, March 12, on the day the scouts officially celebrated their 100th birthday that while primitive camping – including tenting, building cookfires, and, yes, digging latrines – is still offered, more and more girls want a more modern camping experience that includes cabins, running water, hot showers and even heat in the winter.
“Our goal is, and always has been, in the growth of girls so they can use camping and the other Girl Scout experiences they encounter to develop leadership skills and certainly to become more self confident,” Ransom said.
She noted that along that line GSHPA a couple of years ago selected Archbald and another to take young women into the next century with a climbing wall, a low ropes course and a geocaching course. Also updated are winter activites to include an ice skating rink and cross country skiing.
There’s also to be a new dining hall, septic system and stable.
“We think of camping and the outdoors experience as a key component in developing courage, confidence and character in our girls,” Ransom said.
She said she looks forward to visiting Archbald each year, and also noted that during this centennial year, a development campaign for Archbald is underways and you can keep updated by visiting the website at www.ghspa.org or by calling 717-233-1656.
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