Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CA, a PAIT and all these other terms?
A camper is a kiddo who is first through sixth grade and is at camp to have fun, make friends, and learn some stuff.
A Tagalong is the sibling of a camper ages 3-5, who is hanging out so that their adult can volunteer. Tagalongs must be potty-trained. Our Tagalongs get totally spoiled, btw.
We also have a Boys unit. Kiddos in the Boys unit are the brother of a camper, aged 5-13, who is hanging out at camp while their adult is volunteering and their sibling is in a grade-level camper unit having fun. Boys get to do all the stuff the campers do - archery, slingshots, outdoor cooking, knife and fire safety, etc. We spoil them, too.
A volunteer is an adult 18 years or older, who is a registered Adult with our Council (which means background checked) who is here to help the CAs as they lead units or activities. Adults are on site to support our CAs and work with them, not to lead themselves. Adults help guide, encourage, suggest, and yes, intervene if necessary.
A CA is the same as the term other camps use: PA. We use CA= Camper Aide. Girl Scouts uses PA = Program Aide. Each refers to the older kiddos who have gone through specific training in how to lead younger campers. It's just a reflection on how we see our older kiddos. They are there for the campers, not to teach a specific program. It's the exact same thing, and we realize, a bit confusing. Girl Scouts is a bit specific on who can be called a PA, since they require two years of leading to earn that title. We do have quite a few who have earned their PA status, but we don't differentiate. It helps with the teen leaders feeling more cohesive.
A PAIT is a PA In Training, that's how our older kiddos get trained to lead. Campers transition from a camper who's there for the fun of it to a leader of a unit or activity by going through PAIT training the summer before 7th grade. It can be an interesting time for the PAITs. They are learning to balance having the fun they are used to at camp with the responsibilities of leadership. They learn that our CAs still have a ton of fun at camp, even when they are leading. At the end of the week, our PAITs level up to be considered a CA and ready to lead the next summer.
Going through our PAIT program also qualifies our older kiddos to participate in the Girl Scout PA program, which happens all over the council, allowing our older kiddos many opportunities for leadership. PAIT training happens at almost every Girl Scout Day and Overnight camp - your kiddo can use the training they receive at Wil-LO-Linn to prove their qualifications to lead at another Day or Overnight camp.
PAIT training is very similar in each place, but each camp also gets the opportunity to highlight their own special traditions, history, and culture. For example, the PAITs who go through our training must really learn all their Outdoor Skills (since we are an Outdoor Skills-based camp) very well, so they can teach those skills the next summer. Other camps may focus more on general teaching or leadership strategies, since their camp may change activities each year, depending on the badges they are focused on.
Will my camper be with troop mates?
Most likely yes, especially if you fill out a request during registration, your camper will have one or two of their requested troopmates in their unit with them. However, we ON PURPOSE do not put whole troops together. Why? Remember that we 'make new friends, but keep the old'. We want the kiddos to make new friends and have fun. Units of the same grade level often will hang out right next to each other, so any troopmates not in their unit won't be far. We also don't want kiddos who are NOT in the troop but are in the unit feeling left out of the group. We have found that it works best to mix things up.
Add ons - bus service, zip hoodie & campfire/overnight.
Bus:
The bus costs an additional $65.
We usually have three bus stops in West Linn and Lake Oswego, to eliminate that drive and traffic in the parking lot as much as possible. There is an option to pick a bus stop in the the Registration.
Bus stops are usually at:
Riverwest Church 2000 Country Club Rd Lake Oswego, OR
Rosemont Ridge Middle School (RRMS) 20001 Salamo Rd West Linn, OR
Lakeridge High School 1235 Overlook Drive Lake Oswego, OR
Bus pick ups range from 7:50 for the Lakeridge stop to 8:15 or 8:20 for Rosemont and Riverwest.
Drop offs in the afternoon range from 3:30 or 3:40 at Riverwest and Rosemont to 3:55 at Lakeridge.
Riding the bus can be cool and fun. CAs who also ride sing songs with the campers and generally have a good time.
Zip Hoodie:
We have a cool zip-up sweatshirt that is available for $35. It's warm and a very pretty blue, with our camp mascot, Elfanora on it.
Campfire/Overnight:
New this year is a non-refundable fee for the campfire and overnight, even for our beloved CAs, of $20. We tried our very, very best to keep the overall price of camp below $100 for our campers this year, but increasing food costs mean that we need to charge for campfire & overnight, to cover the cost of dinner, snacks, and breakfast.
Will my camper earn badges?
Yes and no. We have our own progressive badges that we give out for each year. No, they will not work their way through a typical Girl Scout badge (like hiking or photography).
Remember that we are an Outdoor Skills based camp, which means we integrate outdoor skills into most of our days. Campers will practice outdoor cooking in Cookshed, knots, fire skills, knife skills, first aid and safety, and camping skills like setting up a tent, packing a day pack, map reading, etc. All while reinforcing our Girl Scout Ways: the friendship circle, Promise and Law, Leave No Trace principals, friendship, and inclusivity.
What is campfire & overnight?
Campfire is basically a special latenight event for the older campers. It costs $200000. The ones who are 4th grade and up can stay at camp and participate in games, dancing, sing-alongs, dinner, treats, and a special flag retirement ceremony. Kiddos staying ONLY for Campfire are picked up at 10pm. Oh, and there is a small campfire, but since we are on city property, it is in an enclosed Solo Stove and only used for the flag retirement.
Overnight is just that - campers stay overnight in the meadow. It is open to 5th graders and older, including PAITs and CAs. Campers work with each other to arrange who is bringing a tent, and work out their own sleeping arrangements so everyone is happy. Some campers prefer to have their own tent, some prefer to be with others, some even sleep under the stars. It all works out in the end. (Camp also owns some extra tents if anything changes and it's too late to ask someone to bring a tent). Overnight includes breakfast the next morning.
Sign up for Campfire and Overnight is on the registration page, and costs $15, non-refundable. We need to get a headcount for this special part of camp, so we can order enough food for dinner and breakfast. If you say yes in your registration, you or your camper can of course change your minds, but the fee is non-refundable. Stop by Headquarters to ask questions or let us know of changed plans up until Wednesday at pick up. There is a line in the sand Thursday morning, however. We cannot ADD anyone on Thursday - we need all yes campers' names by Wednesday evening. We can, however, change an answer from a yes to a no Thursday morning, and take your kiddo off the roster for attendance.
Overnight is very safe. The Wilsonville police set up an hourly patrol until 10pm, then an officer hangs out in the parking lot overnight (and the gate to the park is locked) until about 7am. We also maintain proper Girl Scout safety ratios with adults that stay over as well. The ratio we usually stick to is 1 adult for every 10 kiddos, but we often will have many more than that. Adults sleep in their own tents, and we arrange everything with the campers' tents in the middle of the meadow, and adult tents along the perimeter. We hang lights so the campers can find the bathrooms, and we have a First Aid station set up all night just in case.
"My camper will be in a 5th/6th/PAIT unit and isn't sure if they want to stay overnight", you say? Cool, cool. They don't have to stay for the Overnight. There is no pressure. Have them come to the Campfire and go home at 10pm if they want. It's not unusual. Many of our CAs also stay just for Campfire fun and go home to sleep in their own beds. We get it! There's no pressure and no one will stick out. No one has to come to Campfire, either. If your camper would rather go home at 3pm like all the other days, that is entirely their decision, and cool with us because they are happy.
There will be more talk about Campfire and Overnight in the units the first few days of camp, so we know there will be movement either way, depending on who else is going, comfort level, even weather predictions.
Emergency Procedures:
We have listed all of our Emergency and Evacuation Procedures on our All About Camp Page. The basic gist is that each unit CA and adult keep the kids with them. We do a practice fire drill either the first or second day of camp, just so everyone is reminded of procedure.
If camp needs to be evacuated, our gathering point is the upper parking lot of the Wilsonville public library. Camp staff will contact you to keep you informed for pickup procedures from there.
Language & Identity:
You may have noticed on this site and in the example forms on the All About Camp page that we use gender neutral language. Just as we try to use the term 'Adult' and 'Guardian' to show respect for all of the people responsible for taking care of our campers and not just say 'Parent', we do the same for our campers and their preferred pronouns.
We have tried very hard to use the terms 'campers', or 'kiddos' instead of girls. Yes, it is still Girl Scouts, and we are PROUDLY part of an organization that focuses on empowering girls. And empowering girls means empowering them in all ways, including their gender identity. All of us volunteers are believers in the Girl Scout Way. We bleed green, as they say. And that means showing respect for each kiddo in our care.
If you have any questions about this policy, please email campwlldirector@gmail.com
You may also find this resource interesting: