Outdoor Adventure Club

Attention girls in 6th through 12th grade: If you loved Girl Scouting before, just wait, it gets even better! Be a risk-taker and attend an event with the GSCO Outdoor Adventure Club! The Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) is a staff-led program offering outdoor adventures around the state that expose older Girl Scouts to outdoor activities and skills beyond what they might do with their troop. They also get a chance to make new friends from around the state!

Jan. 23-24: Snow Mountain Ranch Dog Sledding and Cross Country Skiing

Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby
It's a choose-your-own adventure weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch! During the day, you'll rotate through fun winter activities including snowshoeing, snow tubing, ice skating, and cross country skiing or dog sledding. In the evening hang out at the rec center and do a few laps at the roller skating rink! Rotations will continue into Sunday before heading home!

Registration opens Oct. 8 and ends Dec. 10 or when the event is at capacity.

Cost: Dog Sledding: $350, Cross Country Skiing: $325

April 16-18: Howling with the Wolves at Sky High Ranch - High Ropes and Colorado Wolf Sanctuary Tour

Join the OAC to howl with the wolves during our stay at Sky High Ranch. You will arrive Friday for evening program before jumping into program rotations of high ropes, a tour of the Colorado Wolf Sanctuary, crafts, and more on Saturday. Programming will wrap up on Sunday. You don't want to miss this paw-pular event!

Registration opens in January.

Cost: $250

June 25-27: Buena Vista Whitewater Rafting and Camping

Put your life jacket on and grab a paddle for this OAC adventure! The OAC is headed to Buena Vista for a weekend of whitewater rafting and camp activities. Friday, you'll will arrive and set up camp. Saturday, you will spend most of the day white water rafting, which will include paddling on the Arkansas River and lunch. Sunday will wrap up with brunch before heading home.Registration opens in January.

Cost: $400

Sept. 17-19: Camping, Hiking, SUPs, Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides

Pagosa Springs

This trip will take you to new heights! The OAC will meet up in Golden before driving down to Pagosa Springs. Saturday, you will jump into activity rotations of hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, and tethered hot air balloon rides! Program rotations will wrap up on Sunday before driving back to Golden. This will be a HIGH-light of a trip!

Registration opens in January.

Cost: $400

Sign up for the interest list to be the first to know when registration opens for each event!
Grants are available for Outdoor Adventure Club. Your family can apply directly here.
Campers can also submit for cookie credit reimbursements for these events by uploading your receipt on the Cookie Credits reimbursement form.
Questions? Please email us at inquiry@gscolorado.org
If you already have a CampInTouch account, your login information will be the same. If you do not have a CampInTouch account, you can create one through the registration link.

Program FAQs

What is the Outdoor Adventure Club? toggle arrow

The Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) is a GSCO staff-led program offering monthly or bi-monthly outdoor adventure and recreation events for Girl Scout members in 6^th – 12^th grade across the state. Our program is designed to support Girl Scouts in challenging themselves to try new activities, taking healthy risks, growing their outdoor skills, and connecting with peers and supportive adults. Campers participate in the OAC individually and it is intended to supplement the troop experience to offer exposure and depth of outdoor activities beyond what they might get with their troop.

Is prior outdoor/camp experience required to participate in OAC events? toggle arrow

No! We welcome all Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors to join the Outdoor Adventure Club, regardless of their prior experience. Participants should come prepared to challenge themselves to learn new outdoor skills and connect with other Girl Scouts.

How are Outdoor Adventure Club events structured? toggle arrow

One thing to expect in the OAC is variety! Some events may have all participants together and other events may have two different days with the participants split into smaller groups. Events may be single day only and or one or two nights overnight. An event letter will be available in your CampInTouch account upon registration with more information about the specific event structure. Upon arrival at the event we meet with all campers about what to expect in the day(s) ahead.

Who are the staff at the OAC? Can troop leaders attend? Does the OAC need adult volunteers? toggle arrow

The OAC is supported administratively by Elizabeth Hill, Outdoor Program and Property Administrator (elizabeth.hill@gscolorado.org) and programmatically by Kalyn O’Donnell, Outdoor Adventure Manager (kalyn.odonnell@gscolorado.org). OAC events are designed to be individual Girl Scout drop-off events outside of normal troop activities. Troop leaders do not attend/chaperone members of their troop. Events are staffed by GSCO staff, with some additional programming provided by outdoor vendors (ex: rock climbing guides).

Do participants need to be a part of a troop to participate in OAC events? toggle arrow

No! In fact, many Girl Scouts participate in OAC attend on their own without other members of their troop. Girl Scout Juliettes are welcome to particpate! All OAC participants must have a current Girl Scouts membership.

How will Girl Scouts be separated into smaller groups during each OAC event? toggle arrow

Large group are split into smaller groups to rotate through different activities. Groups are often split up by age and occasionally by experience/skill level. Participants are not able to request to be in a specific group during the day at OAC events, but you may complete a Buddy Request Form in your CampInTouch account under the Forms and Documents section to be placed in the same bunk as your buddy. This buddy request is good for ONE buddy and each buddy must request each other for it to be honored.

Is transportation provided for Outdoor Adventure Club events? toggle arrow

We are unable to provide transportation to or from OAC events. Transportation costs and geographic diversity of families in the program makes this a challenge to coordinate. Events have been planned intentionally in different regions -- you may have a longer drive one month and a shorter drive the next. If there is ever an exception to this it will be mentioned in the program description and more information provided in the event letter.

Is badge work completed in the OAC? toggle arrow

Due to the variety of program years in the OAC, we may work on portions of some outdoor badges, but may not complete every step. We indicate what badge we are working on, if any, and what steps of the badge we will complete in the event letters.

Will events be canceled if there is bad weather? toggle arrow

In general, OAC events run regardless of weather. Learning to prepare for and navigate various weather conditions is a life skill and is an important part of choosing an active, outdoor lifestyle. Prior to every event, letters with packing lists are available. We encourage caregivers to set up their Girl Scout for success at the event by thorougly reviewing the packing list and helping them dressing appropriately to be comfortable outside all day. If GSCO deems conditions make travel to or participation in programs unsafe, we will cancel the program and refund your program fee.

How can I communicate with other OAC families and see OAC pictures? toggle arrow

The Outdoor Adventure Club has a closed Facebook group for families in the OAC program. A link to request to find this group is included in every event letter.

How does the OAC incorporate the girl-led philosophy? Is there a leadership component for Older Girl Scouts in this program? toggle arrow

Whenever possible we encourage Girl Scouts to share in decision-making and gain leadership skills through challenging programmatic experiences. The OAC is not currently designed to have participants as Program Aides (PAs) or CITs working in a leadership capacity. There is an abundance of ways for Older Girl Scouts to get involved in leadership opportunities through GSCO.

Contact Girlexperience@gscolorado.org for more information and other ways to get involved in leadership programs as a Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, or Ambassadors.

Registration FAQs

How do I register for an OAC event? toggle arrow

OAC registers through our CampInTouch system.

Go to our “Camper Application” at https://girlscoutsco.campintouch.com/ui/forms/application/camper/App. Fill out the required information on the first page with your name and information to create your CampInTouch account.
If you already have a CampInTouch account, a pop-up screen will alert you that you have an account, and ask you for your password to log in. If you have forgotten your password, you may click on the “email a reset account invitation” link, or call (877) 404-5708, and a Customer Care Specialist or Registration Specialist can assist you with resetting your password.
Select 2024 in the season selection screen. Enter your child’s name and information and click Begin Application.
In the session selection screen, click on “Show sessions” under Outdoor Adventure Club.
Check the box next to the option for which you would like to register.
On the family information screen, ensure that all fields are completed with correct information, and click Continue.
If the event is an overnight event, and your child would like to be paired with a buddy, enter one name in the Buddy Request field and click Continue. For a buddy request to be accommodated, both families must input the buddy’s name in this field. If it is a day event, or your child does not have a buddy for that event, leave the field blank and click Continue.
To secure your spot, you will need to pay the registration fee. Under Payment Schedule for Balance select Pay with Credit Card in CampInTouch. Select Credit Card under What form of payment will you use for the deposit?
1. If you have a saved credit card on file, you will be prompted to use your saved credit card. If you do not have a saved credit card on file, click on the Add a credit card and enter your card information on the pop-up, and hit Save Card. You can also Add a credit card to pay with a different card or update an expired or compromised card.
2. If you have Cookie Credits that you would like to use you will need to pay your balance in full and then submit the Cookie Credit reimbursement form. Please see below with more information on paying with Cookie Credits.
On the final page, review and accept the Terms and Conditions, and submit your application and payment.

What are the registration timelines for an OAC event? toggle arrow

Event registration will open two months prior to the event. At that time, you may secure your space by paying the event fee. Once registered, all required forms and waivers will be in your Forms & Documents section of your CampInTouch account. Registration closes two weeks prior to the event, and all required forms are due on that date.

How can I apply for a grant for an OAC event? toggle arrow

Between eight weeks and three weeks prior to event, families can fill out the Outdoor Program Grant Form to request a grant. Within a week of submission, families will hear from GSCO alerting them of the grant amount and how to proceed in registration.

Applying for a grant does not register you for the event or hold your space. Please submit your grant request as early as possible. If you are concerned about securing your space, you can register for the event and pay the fee in full, and if you are awarded the grant it will be given to you as a refund. If the grants end up not being enough, we will refund you in full.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to inquiry@gscolorado.org if you have any questions or need any additional assistance with this process.

How can I use Cookie Credits to pay for an OAC event? toggle arrow

In order to use Cookie Credits to pay for an OAC event, families will need to pay for the event in full, and will then complete our Cookie Credit reimbursement form.

You will need a copy of your invoice showing your balance paid in full when submitting the reimbursement form. This can be found in your CampInTouch account in the “Financial Management” section. Cookie Credit reimbursements will be processed within two weeks of submitting and the funds will be directly sent to the bank account connected to your CampInTouch account.

The OAC event that I want to attend is sold out. Can I be placed on a waitlist? toggle arrow

We do not manage waiting lists for any of our events or camps. All spaces are first come, first served. Spaces may become available due to a cancellation, especially closer to the registration close deadline. You can log into your CampInTouch account at any time and see if spots have opened up.

What forms will be required for my child’s participation in the Outdoor Adventure Club? toggle arrow

Families must complete forms for their Girl Scout before they will be allowed to participate in Outdoor Adventure Club events. These forms include but not limited to Girl Scouts of Colorado permission forms, health history forms, and any waivers required by program vendors. All required forms can be found in the Forms and Documents section in your CampInTouch account. Most forms will only need to be completed once for the full Outdoor Adventure Club year. Some additional forms may be required for specific events.

Are there additional costs for an OAC event beyond the cost of event registration? toggle arrow

The event registration fee includes all activities for the program. Participants may be asked to bring their own lunch for day-only programs. This will be noted in each event letter. We will provide all specialized gear for an outdoor activity (ex: climbing harnesses, climbing shoes, helmets) but participants are responsible for their own appropriate outdoor clothing such as warm winter boots, water-resistant pants, mittens/gloves, etc. After registering for an OAC session you will have access to an event letter with more detailed packing list specific to the event.

Can I receive a refund if my Girl Scout is sick or can no longer go to the event? toggle arrow

If you cancel at least two weeks before an event, you will receive a full refund minus a $5 processing fee. If you cancel with less than two weeks notice before an event you will not receive a refund. If you must cancel due to illness or injury, we will refund your total registration fee minus a $5 cancellation fee. If your Girl Scout tests positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed within the current CDC quarantine guidelines, a full refund will be provided. Girl Scouts of Colorado reserves the right to request a doctor’s note. All other cancellation requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Who do I contact with registration questions? toggle arrow

For assistance with registration, call (877) 404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.