100 Years of Camp: Throwback to the 1960s

Happy 100th birthday, Camp Alice Chester! As we celebrate the beloved property, we’re taking a trip back in time and looking at Girl Scout camp history and the Girl Scouts who shaped it.

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Today, we’re throwing it back to the 1960s to hear from three Girl Scout campers – Sarah Willey, Terry Burant, and Barbara Hufschmidt, who are sharing their special memories and lessons learned at camp.

"I have so many camp memories from Camp Alice Chester. I remember calling out “white sails” if someone hadn’t put their napkin in their lap. I remember gunneling canoe races, winning the mosquito bites contest every year, and learning how to build a campfire. A counselor taught us that 'a leader doesn’t do everything by herself; she needs to let others shine their lights.' This was a lesson that served me all my career, leading to becoming a VP at a multi-national company.

This photo is from my autograph book. My camp counselor had good advice!"

- Sarah Willey

"My first camp experience many years ago was at Camp Alice Chester. Little did I know at that time how much camp would become a part of me into my adult life. Later, I spent 14 summers in northern Wisconsin at several different Girl Scout camps, including seven years as a camp director.

One of my favorite personal memories is swimming across the lake and back most mornings with one of my dedicated staff members. As a busy director, this time every morning (no matter how cold!) cleared my head to face the day.

One of the best parts about directing camp for several years in a row as seeing campers return, meeting their families, watching them grow in skills and confidence, and watching as they often became staff. There is such a lifeline and a legacy in Girl Scout camping, with each camper and staff member finding some intangible thing they often didn’t even know they needed from their experience."

- Terry Burant

"Girl Scouting was my first experience overnight tent camping – and we did it for two weeks! I loved making new friends and learning new camping skills.

I attended camp in the mid-1960s and returned as an assistant unit counselor in 1971 and a unit leader in 1972. I thoroughly enjoyed my years both as a Girl Scout camper and a counselor."

- Barbara Hufschmidt

Sarah Willey

Terry Burant

Barbara Hufschmidt