Step Back in Time: Camp Alice Chester in the 1980s
Happy 100th birthday, Camp Alice Chester ! As we celebrate the beloved property, we’re taking a trip back in time and learning more about local Girl Scout camping throughout the decades.
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The 1980s were a decade of celebration and new activities at Camp Alice Chester.
In 1983, the camp dedicated its Isabelle Miller Sports Field. The complex, which accommodates soccer, softball, basketball, an athletic building, and more was built with a $50,000 gift from Alice Chester’s sister, Laura Isabelle Miller. The same year, the Swan Lake observation deck was built too.
Along with the new additions, Camp Alice Chester hosted new programs. During the first five years of the decade, Camp Alice Chester offered a Farm and Garden program in the current sports field area. Campers learned more about farming and gardening by planting and tending to vegetables in the garden. They learned to look after animals by caring for goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, and chickens borrowed from neighboring farms. A goat even overwintered in the Carriage House!
Adult women got to enjoy camp during the 1980s too. Women’s Week provided an away-from-home experience for adult women to learn new things like crafts, canoeing, journaling, and more. Whether they learned new skills or enjoyed meeting new friends, women often went home feeling relaxed and empowered – just like their younger camper counterparts!
In 1985, Camp Alice Chester celebrated its 60th anniversary with an open house style event filled with outdoor skill demonstrations, parachute games, volleyball, basketball, farm animal visits, singing at the Singing Steps, a balloon release in the sports field, and a large birthday cake. The camp also hosted Alice Chester displays of the past, present, and future. Campers could remember the occasion with custom patches, commemorative postcards, and posters.
Join us on Saturday, October 5 for our very own anniversary celebration! Celebrate Camp Alice Chester’s 100th birthday with friends, family, alum, and former and current staff. Register today for a day packed with your favorite camp activities.
