(Rob Stull is the Outreach Coordinator for the Outdoor Education Center.)
“Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls—all girls—where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” (http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/)
The Girl Scout organization as a whole aims to build girls of courage, confidence, and character in order to make the world a better place. This vision is shared by the Outdoor Education Center (OEC), and something we strive for with all of our participants. It is because of this shared vision the OEC became a registered vendor and partner for The Girl Scout Council of the Nations Capitol (GSCNC) in 2008.
To date, we have offered programs to nearly 1,000 girl scouts in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington DC. These programs have included Team Building Adventures, Flat-water Canoeing, and GPS Scavenger Hunts. In 2010, the OEC expanded its Girl Scout offerings by developing environmental education, rock climbing, and yoga.
Character building is a major focus for both the girl scouts and the OEC—because of this, our Team Development Challenge Course is one of the most popular programs with the girls. This program offers various engaging, hands-on activities to improve communication, cooperation, and collaborative skills. Throughout the morning, the girls work together to solve puzzles and conquer obstacles as a team. In the afternoon, students use these skills to conquer some of their fears on the high ropes course, consisting of various ladders, climbing ropes, and wires with the culmination being the 300’ zip wire in the tree canopy.
To learn more about the variety of programs the OEC offers specifically for the girl scouts, visit http://www.gscnc.org/floc.html or call us at 304.725.0409. For more information about the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capitol, visit http://www.gscnc.org.
