Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Being at Camporee:

• What if we can't be there for the whole weekend?

• Are food and lodging provided for the weekend?

• Are there any dress code requirements for Skills Camporee?

• What if it rains that weekend?

• Some of the girls in our troop want to camp with us without participating in the events. Can they come?

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About Your Team:

• We don’t have much time to practice, can we compete in just a few events?

• What are the minimum and maximum numbers of girls for a Skills Camporee team?

• We have a girl with a disability in our troop, can she participate?

• We have Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors in our troop. Can they all compete as one team?

• What if we only have three girls in our troop who can attend Skills Camporee?

• The manual says that certain events require four girls on the team, what if we end up with only three girls for an event?

• Can the fourth and fifth grade Juniors in our multi-level troop participate?

 

Preparation and Equipment:

• Do we have to bring any special equipment for the competitions?

• We have read the manual and still have questions about some of the events. How do we learn more?

• How much time will we have to spend practicing for Skills Camporee?

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And more:

• Will our troop be going to multiple events at once?

• What is a troop identifier?

• How do we find out how we did?

• May an adult chaperone bring along a younger child if the child stays with that adult at all times?

• What is the Skills Camporee Committee?

• Do you need more volunteers, either as judges or Committee members?

 

Being at Camporee:

• What if we can't be there for the whole weekend?
  It's more exciting if you come for the whole weekend. You can practice on Friday night and build team spirit, attend campfire and participate in the Girl Scout’s Own Ceremony on Saturday night, and hear the results at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday morning.
  If this is impossible, you must check in by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning to participate in the competition, which concludes at about 5:30 p.m. that day.

• Are food and lodging provided for the weekend?
  This is an outdoor camping weekend. You are expected to bring your own tents, food, and equipment. Please note that there is limited time for meals on Saturday and on Sunday morning, so plan simple menus. Tip: As you finish your breakfast on Saturday, prepare bag lunches for the afternoon.

• Are there any dress code requirements for Skills Camporee?
  Yes. Because of the environment at Huddart park, all participants (girls and adults) must wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals or flip-flops), long pants (reach to socks), shirts with sleeves (no tank tops). We appreciate your meeting these safety requirements.

• What if it rains that weekend?
  Skills Camporee is a “rain or shine” event. Please bring along rain gear and dress for the weather.

• Some of the girls in our troop want to camp with us without participating in the events. Can they come?
  All the girls in attendance are considered part of your Skills team and must participate in events (see also question on team size). No spectators or guests are permitted.

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About Your Team:

• Since we don’t have much time to practice, can we compete in just a few events?
  Each team must participate in all eight events for its level. You may ask the judges questions before starting an event. If you don’t wish to compete, use your time to learn the skill from the judges. For that event, your team will be judged in a separate category from competing troops but will still earn point towards the overall competition

• What are the minimum and maximum numbers of girls for a Skills Camporee team?
  The minimum team size is four girls. Having 8-12 team members works well. There is no official “maximum,” but each girl in attendance must participate in Girl Scout Facts and at least one other event. There are 22-25 slots for participation among the other seven events.

• We have a girl with a disability in our troop, can she participate?
  We will be glad to work with you and the girl to find a way for her to participate. As noted above, she will have to participate in Girl Scout Facts and at least one other event. The sooner you let us know, the sooner we can talk about reasonable accommodations. Please contact Esther Heller with details.

• We have Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors in our troop. Can they all compete as one team?
  The events at Skills Camporee require age-level specific skills. If you have enough girls, you should have two separate teams, one for the Cadette competition and one for the Senior/Ambassador competition. If not, the alternative is to merge whichever group is too small for its own team with another troop of the same level. If that doesn't work, with the approval of the Camp Director, you may enter as one team, ordinarily in the Senior/Ambassador competition.

• What if we only have three girls in our troop who can attend Skills Camporee?
  We recommend finding another small troop and combining with them to form one team. If this is not possible, contact the Camp Director and see the next question.

• The manual says that certain events require four girls on the team. What if we end up with only three girls for an event?
  If you have at least four girls in attendance at Skills Camporee, then four girls must participate in the four-girl events (and three in the three-girl events, etc.).
  We do understand that unforeseen things happen. If you end up with only three girls at camp, it will be a busy challenge. In events requiring a team of four, they will have to do extra to make up for the fourth girl. For details, please speak with the Camp Director as soon as you know you have this challenge.

• Can the fourth and fifth grade Juniors in our multi-level troop participate?
  No, Skills Camporee is specifically for the older Girl Scouts levels. The minimum age is sixth grade and no younger girls may attend. It's important that girls have something for which they aspire up.

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Preparation and Equipment:

• Do we have to bring any special equipment for the competitions?
  The event manual describes which items are needed for each event including those which your troop must provide. Please be sure to bring the troop items when your team checks in at each event.

• We have read the manual and still have questions about some of the events. How do we learn more?
  We hold a training session several weeks before Skills Camporee. If you missed it, you may contact the Skills Committee to ask about other possible training opportunities.
  When troops register for Skills or sign up for the training, you are invited to join our online group. Feel free to ask questions there or even connect with a more experienced troop.

• How much time will we have to spend practicing for Skills Camporee?
  It's up to the girls how prepared they want to be. Some troops are very competitive and practice a great deal. Others come just for fun and run through events only once. Events like Knots, First Aid or Girl Scout Facts can easily be learned during meetings. Other events require an outdoor setting. Orienteering is best learned at a meet where instruction is provided. Many troops have one or two dedicated days for thorough practice.
  We have some links on our Events page to help you out some of the events, including Orienteering!

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And more:

• Will our troop be going to multiple events at once?
  Your team is never scheduled for more than one event at the same time. However, if you have two teams (i.e. one Cadette, one Senior/Ambassador), they will each have their own schedule. They will each need their own equipment as well.

• What is a troop identifier?
  A troop identifier is a matching item of clothing or accessory worn by every girl on your team to help distinguish one team from another. Examples are: hats, bandannas, shirts, jackets, etc. Identifiers are not required but are a fun way to build team spirit. Please be sure that your troop identifier does not pose a safety hazard during events.

• How do we find out how we did?
  The best way is to camp over on Saturday night and come to the Awards ceremony on Sunday morning. Second best is to leave us a self-addressed, 9" by 12" envelope. We'll mail any ribbons you won and the judges feedback sheets back to you. Eventually, the webmistress will post the results on this website.

• May an adult chaperone bring along a younger child if the child stays with that adult at all times?
  Sorry, no tag-alongs or girls younger than sixth grade may attend.

• What is the Skills Camporee Committee?
  The Skills Camporee Committee is the group of adult volunteers who put together the entire Skills Camporee weekend. We all love Skills and we've each been to camp while our troops competed. Our judges are all volunteers and most have either had troops compete or competed themselves as girls.

• Do you need more volunteers, either as judges or Committee members?
  Yes, absolutely! Please contact our current chair, Nick Corsano (nick.corsano@gmail.com) to get connected.