The Crazy Eight
February 09, 2024
Twenty years into their Girl Scout journey, Day Camps by Community still brings Directors Kelsi “Chatterbox,” Breanne “Platypus,” and their group of six other Girl Scout friends (all called “The Crazy Eight”) together each summer.
The Crazy Eight met in elementary school at Alpha Moraine Day Camp and shared a love of friendship, the outdoors, learning new skills, and meeting new people. While the group wasn’t in the same troop or participating in the same school activities as they moved into middle school and high school, camp helped create a lifelong bond where they met each year to share updates on their life and reconnect.
When the group graduated high school, they learned that the previous volunteer director of Alpha Moraine was stepping down after 20+ years of service. Camp was an important space and place for the group, and they made the decision that camp would not end for future generations of Girl Scouts. So, Kelsi and Breanne stepped into their roles as co-directors of Alpha Moraine Day Camp. Now, ten years later, amidst job changes, moves, family life, and everything in between, the Girl Scout volunteers still look forward to a week outdoors with Girl Scouts and fellow volunteers.
“We wanted to make sure Girl Scout camp is as amazing for campers now as it was for us as campers,” said Kelsi.
“Seeing the joy we can bring these Girl Scouts keeps us running camp each year. We all want to bring our daughters and future daughters into this camp and have the environment we grew up with. And who knows, maybe one day our daughter will be running this camp,” said Breanne.
As co-directors of Alpha Moraine, Kelsi and Breanne help plan the week of camp for their local Girl Scout community, mapping out activities, progressive programming, volunteer assignments, and more. They also oversee program directors and Program Aides (PAs), empowering them and guiding them to try new things and build their leadership skills.
Both Kelsi and Breanne attribute their own leadership skills, ability to take initiative, and of course, their friendship to Girl Scouts.
“I love that I can still do something with my best friends and can continue to provide an amazing camp experience that impacts our larger community,” said Kelsi.
“I would not have this solid core group of successful, strong, beautiful, confident women in my life without Girl Scout camp. We have all been involved with all the stages of life with each other – from high school to college relationships, to first jobs, to promotions, to engagements, weddings, and now babies. If you look at the variety of career journeys we have all gone down too, I truly believe that Girl Scouts has allowed us to find our unique paths and has given us the tools and experiences to be successful in everything we do,” said Breanne.
Day Camps by Community are volunteer-led – and that means you! Having a community of strong and positive adult role models at camp ensures the growth and success of our campers. Be one of them! Every camper attending a Day Camp by Community must commit an adult to volunteer at camp for at least one day for the camper to attend. Adult volunteers will assist with scheduled activities while building campers’ courage, confidence, and character.
Teen Girl Scouts are also needed! Teen Girl Scouts encourage younger campers to get out of their comfort zones and try new things. Girl Scouts in grades 7-8 lead younger campers and become leaders as Program Aides (PAs). Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 can master their skills by leading activities or a unit as Counselors-in-Training (CITs).
Learn more about camp here!
