Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

We experimented with a 4-day camp week in 2022 and found it works well.  Camp Wil-LO-Linn has always been held the last full week of June, but this often means we bump up against the Fourth of July weekend.  In 2022, it meant that our last day of camp would have been July 1st.   We knew we would have a very empty camp that last day, and the last day is the BEST one of all!  We didn't want anyone to miss out.  Plus, over the years, we have been told countless times that a camper will be there every day BUT Friday, so the family can leave for the holiday.  Or, that adults didn't enroll their camper because they would miss that Friday.  So, we rolled with it.  

At the end of camp last year, we asked the adult volunteers and CAs how they liked the 4-day week, and it was met with overwhelming approval.  The CAs further suggested that we move the optional overnight to the Thursday of camp (the last full day), with pick up Friday morning. Previously, we had a full day of camp after the overnight and it was NOT FUN for the CAs or campers - everyone was overtired and cranky.  The CAs specifically said they thought that moving the overnight would make the last day of camp run much smoother, with both happier campers and CAs.  

Our schedule for the 2023 camp season is:

• Monday 9am-3pm
• Tuesday 9am-3pm
• Wednesday 9am-3pm
• Thursday 9am-3pm  <-last day of camp, and campfire (4th graders & older kiddos who are not staying leave at 10pm) & overnight (campers 5th grade and up, plus PAITs and CAs if they want to, but of course not required)
• Friday - pick up campers from overnight (NO CAMP! Just pickups from overnight by 10am)

Bus:

The bus costs an additional $45.  

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 $30.  It's warm and a very pretty blue, with our camp mascot, Elfanora on it.  

   Say hello, Elfanora!

Campfire/Overnight:

New this year is a non-refundable fee for the campfire and overnight, even for our beloved CAs, of $15.  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.  

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.

 First morning procedures:

• Adults dropping off campers, please park in the parking lot in the spaces AWAY from the wood barrier at the edge of camp by the big field. This is where our buses pull up.
• Please park and walk with your camper to the posted lists. You will find your camper’s unit assignment on the list by grade level (remember, RISING grade level, not the grade level they were just in!)
• Once you have figured out your camper’s unit, look for the colored flags that show the unit levels: red is 1st grade, orange is 2nd grade, yellow is 3rd grade, green is 4th grade, blue is 5th grade, purple is 6th grade, black is PAITs, white is Tagalongs, light blue is Boys.
• Adults, walk with your child down to the unit so the CA in charge and unit Adult can meet you and you can check your child in.
  • You will be asked to double check your name and phone on the attendance list, and initial that you dropped them off, next to your name.
• Be prepared to be asked three questions each day you drop off your camper:
  1 - Do you have any food containing nuts - either peanuts or tree nuts? If so, please remove them and take them with you. We are a nut free camp.
  2 - Does your camper have a full water bottle and lunch (or mess kit, if it is their cooking day)?
  3 - Is your camper wearing appropriate clothing? Closed-toe shoes, pants that go past the knee, and their camp shirt (given out the first morning).
• After you have checked your child in, they will go to the Singing Tree until we are ready to start camp.  They can leave their packs at their unit with their CA and adult.
• Adults bringing campers to the bus, please arrive 10 minutes BEFORE the lime listed for your stop. Please check your child in with the Bus Chaperone. You will be asked to confirm your information, just like stated above, and asked the three questions. Once your child is checked in with the chaperone, you may leave.
• Please do not bring pets down to the meadow area during camp. This includes the drop off and pick up times. There is a large number of children and adults moving in the area – some of whom may be allergic or frightened of animals or who may frighten the animal through their excited behavior.
• If you are an adult volunteer, please arrive no later than 8:00am the first morning, 8:15 the rest of the week. Your camper may accompany you into camp and wait in the River Shelter quietly, or be asked to help set up camp.

Regular Drop off Procedures: 

• Please park away from the wooden barriers and WAIT on the other side of the wooden barrier until 8:55 when we allow the campers and adults onto the field to check in.
• Please follow the same procedure each morning at drop off as mentioned above - take your child to their unit and check them in with the unit adult or CA.
• Camp begins at 9am. Please be prompt in dropping off your child, or meeting your child's bus.

Pick up Procedures:
Camp ends at 3pm. Please be prompt in picking up your child, or meeting your child's bus.

• Please WAIT beyond the wooden boundary until 3pm, then approach the unit to check out your child.
• Campers that are not riding the bus need to be individually checked out by their CA or unit adult at camp by a person listed on the attendance list.
• Campers will only be released to an authorized adult = an adult who was put into the system during registration, we DO double check!
• If your pick up or drop off people have changed, please email campwlldirector@gmail.com IMMEDIATELY, or call 503-828-4736 to let the camp director know.
• For those who are in a car pool, the adult driving the car pool would be the authorized adult.
• If for some reason, an adult attempts pick up and they are not listed – we will have to call you at your contact number to verify the pick-up.
• In the case of an emergency, you may also contact the camp by phone (503) 828-4736
• If you are an adult volunteer, your camper(s) will be waiting for you in the River Shelter and must be checked out with an adult volunteer at Headquarters before you leave.

Campfire is basically a special latenight event for the older campers.  It costs $15.  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.  

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.  

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: 

https://www.gsnwgl.org/en/members/for-volunteers/forms-and-documents/supporting-lgbtq--youth-in-girl-scouts.html