Camp Connections from 1990s to 2020s: Shared Songs and Unforgettable Memories
We’re celebrating Camp Alice Chester’s 100th birthday by looking back at Girl Scout camp history and the Girl Scouts who shaped it. Do you want to share your favorite camp stories? Fill out this form to share your story with GSWISE today.
Nearly 70 years after its founding, Camp Alice Chester hired its first year-round director in 1990 to reflect the camp’s broader scope. In 1991, Camp Alice Chester renovated its lodge, enclosing its dining porch, adding decks and bathrooms, and upgrading its kitchen.
Amidst the updates, campers were creating fun memories and beloved traditions. Jessica Salas attended overnight camp in 1995 and 1996 and shares some of her favorite memories today.
“Back then, there was a slop bucket for all the food waste leftover after each meal. The counselors said that if we, as a whole group of campers, could keep the waste below the line all week, they would jump into the lake fully clothed on the last day of camp. We kept the food below the line for four straight days, and on the last day, the food was just over the line. One girl stepped forward and ate enough of the slop to bring it below the line. It was so gross, but everyone cheered her on! She didn’t even puke!” said Jessica.
“The counselors all jumped in the lake! It was incredibly fun and a memory I will never forget,” said Jessica.
While this tradition may not have carried forward – others did. Last summer, Jessica’s daughter attended camp at Camp Alice Chester for the first time.
“An amazing memory from this summer was when I picked up my daughter from camp. She was incredibly nervous to go and didn’t want me to leave her. When I picked her up, she didn’t want to come home!” said Jessica.
“I had given her a camera to take pictures at camp, but when I picked her up, she hadn’t snapped one picture. I asked her why and she said, ‘Mom – I was having so much fun that I didn’t want to take time to take pictures!’” noted Jessica.
“On the way home, I asked her what songs she learned. She immediately started singing ‘Let’s build a bungalow…,’ and I joined in. We sang the whole song together and bust out laughing at the end because it was just so cool we both had this bond of a shared experience of Camp Alice Chester. It was so awesome to be able to share this with her,” said Jessica.
Celebrate all things Girl Scout camping with us on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Our special, family-friendly 100th Anniversary Celebration will be packed with your all-time favorite camp activities and friends – new and old! Current members can register here today. Alum and community members can register here.
