Date: Fri Mar 28, 6:00 PM EST - Sun Mar 30, 4:00 PM EST
Category:
- Adult Training
Level:
- Volunteers
Join us for the return of O.W.L.S - Outdoor Weekend of Learning & Sisterhood at Camp Honi Hanta. Whether you're a seasoned Girl Scout volunteer or new to the movement, this event promises to inspire, educate and ignite your passion for Girl Scouting! This weekend will be full of workshops for volunteers at every level. Workshops will include outdoor adventure activities, Girl Scout traditions, personal development, leadership mentorship, and tons of opportunities for good ol' fashioned fun! There will also be opportunities to add-on outdoor training certifications our first Outdoor Camp Skills Certification renewal course.
Our facilitators have a wealth of knowledge, and they are anxious to pass it along to you. This weekend is not just for troop leaders - it's a retreat for all volunteers!
Here is just a sample of some of the included activities and workshops:
Archery Fun
Practice your aim with recurve and compound bows, just for fun. No experience necessary. Our archery instructors will be on hand to give you a tip or two on how to stand, hold and shoot a bow and arrow. Up to 12 people can participate in this session at a time.
Kayaking
Enjoy a kayak experience down the river. No experience necessary. Some physical fitness is required for this session, but there is no need for swimwear. Up to 10 people can participate in this session at a time.
Cooking for a Crowd
Ever needed to prepare and cook for a large crowd or service unit? How should you time things? What are some cost and time saving tips?
Team Building Challenge
Take your team building skills to the next level with collaboration challenges. You will be given real world challenges and tools with specific guidelines and be tasked with a challenge. How well can your team face the challenge? Rotate through roles and learn about communication, leadership, collaboration and how you best work as a team while you laugh and (perhaps) struggle through the challenges.
Camp Songs: Traditional, Silly and Copy Me Songs
Have you ever come across a list of Girl Scout campfire songs and thought, "Gee, this is great, if only I knew the tune!" Well, here's your chance. Come join in with your fellow sisters for a good ol' fashioned campfire sing-along. Learn fun classic, traditional, and silly Girl Scout campfire songs and feel free to share some of your favorites too!
Campfires & Fire Starters
Firm up your fire building skills so you don't have to call out for pizza. Make your very own environmentally friendly fire-starters. Review fire safety. Learn a fun way to teach your girls about fires. This workshop has it all and more! Build an edible fire while we review safety. Then put your skills to work and build the real thing. Think you can light a one-match fire?
Savannah Bound
Savannah is the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, our Girl Scout founder. Learning the history and layout of Savannah's historic district will help you prepare your troop for planning their trip to this beautiful city. We will cover itineraries, must do activities, budget, modes of travel, lodging, and helpful hints specific to this location.
Flag Ceremonies and Retiring
A flag ceremony honors the American flag as the symbol of our country and all the hopes and dreams of its people. All flag ceremonies share one thing-respect for the flag. So come and learn proper Flag Etiquette and the many types of flag ceremonies your girls can perform. We will also learn how to properly retire an American flag with a special ceremony that ends with retiring the flag and disposing of the ashes in a respectful manner.
Girl Scout Finances 101
Don't get stuck scrambling to get your Troop finance Report entered by the June 1st deadline! Learn the basics of Girl Scout finances and get some great tools to help keep track of troop income and expenses. Our volunteers will share forms and spreadsheets that help keep your troop finances organized, year-round. Learn how to use these tools to help you track troop finances and prepare to submit your annual Finance Report. When it's time to submit your year-end Finance Report, the data from these worksheets will be categorized and ready to be entered into the annual Troop Finance Report.
Nature: A Feast for the Senses
Walk the trails of Honi Hanta and learn how to experience the natural world and identify plants in a fun and unique way.
Knots 101
Knots: It all begins with rope - different sizes, lengths, widths, and strengths, depending on its use. Discover which knots to use - when and how - to easily teach them to your girls. Remember, practice makes perfect. Leave this session with your knot board in a binder. You will create a knot binder filled with techniques, tricks, tips, and games to play with ropes.
Planning for National Council Session/Convention 2026
What is a National Council Session? What is a delegate? What is Convention? Phenom? Who is Robert, and why does he have Rules? How do we dress? What should we budget? Come and learn what we know and what we don't know- yet! We'll even start planning for the 2026 GSUSA National Convention in Washington, DC.
Destinations Abound
Embark on a journey of discovery with Girl Scouts Destinations! For troop leaders, parents and volunteers eager to explore new horizons with their girl scouts, this workshop offers a glimpse into the exciting world of travel opportunities available through the Girl Scout Destinations program. Hear from program alumn about their transformative travel experiences and get a basic introduction into the process and how your girls can apply all those accumulated cookie credits towards exciting travel.
Climb that Wall and Zip that Line!
Be among the first to climb the Honi Hanta Tower and ride the Zipline! Our council facilitators will open the Climbing Tower and Zipline for a few hours on Sunday to provide you with an adult only opportunity for personal achievement, self-confidence, fitness challenge and fun.
*There are three options to attend - Full weekend at a cabin site, at a tent site, or Saturday Only.
Full Weekend Cabin Site
Includes all workshops and all meals on Saturday and Sunday and accommodation in one of our campsite cabin/bunk houses on both Friday and Saturday night. No meal will be provided Friday night. Campers are welcome to bring their brown bag dinner on Friday night. Participants must provide their own mess kit, refillable water bottle, sleeping bag, pillow, clothing, toiletries and flashlight.
Full Weekend Tent Site
Includes all workshops and all meals on Saturday and Sunday and accommodation at Hoot Owl Point on both Friday and Saturday night. No meal will be provided Friday night. Campers are welcome to bring their brown bag dinner on Friday night. Participants must provide their own mess kit, refillable water bottle, sleeping bag, pillow, clothing, toiletries, flashlight and their own tent.
Saturday Only
Includes all workshops, plus lunch and dinner on Saturday only. Participants must provide their own mess kit and refillable water bottle.
Optional Add-ons:
We will be offering certification opportunities both Saturday and Sunday. Space is limited. All courses will be offered in the same blended learning format as usual with online learning to be completed prior to the in-person session at camp.
Outdoor Camp Skills Certification (Full Certification) - Blended Learning - $30 (8)
Friday 6 pm - Saturday 8 am plus 4 workshops
Learn the skills to lead and assist girls in planning, preparing, and experiencing outdoor camping. Adult troop volunteers are required to complete Outdoor Camp Skills Training before taking Girl Scouts on overnight camping experiences at any Girl Scout camps and public, private, state, or national parks. Participants will learn to demonstrate outdoor skills to girls, including outdoor cooking techniques, fire building and safety, dish washing procedures, Leave No Trace, knot tying, camp safety, and site orientation. Participants will review GSUSA Safety Activity Checkpoints, council property policies, and proper closing and cleaning procedures and pass an online exam prior to attending the in-person skills assessment session. The online module and exam can be completed at your own pace, takes approximately 2 hours to complete and must be completed prior to OWLS weekend. The in-person session will take place the first night of OWLS weekend into the first morning. The learner will then be responsible for completing 4 specific workshops during the OWLS weekend in order to complete the course requirements.
USA Archery Level 1 Certification - Blended Learning - $55 (12)
Saturday 8 am - 12 noon
Training for Adults to earn USA Archery Level 1 Archery Certification. The course includes information about range safety, range setup, the steps of shooting, equipment and repair, programs and lesson plans. Graduates of the course will be well prepared to teach beginner archery programs to people of all ages and abilities in a variety of disciplines. The online course can be completed at your own pace, takes approximately 3 hours to complete and must be completed prior to OWLS weekend. The in-person session will last 4 hours.
Low Ropes Challenge Course Training - $35 (12)
Sunday 9 am - 5 pm
Training for adults to become certified to facilitate the Low Ropes Challenge Course experience at Camp Honi Hanta. The program focuses on trust-building, communication enhancement, teamwork, and creative problem-solving through various exercises. Low ropes activities provide physical challenges aimed at boosting participants' self-confidence and coordination. You will gain proficiency in spotting techniques and grasp safety protocols through hands-on practice and demonstrations across all course elements. Upon successful completion of the course, each participant will receive a certificate of completion valid for one year that qualifies the volunteer to facilitate girls in low ropes challenge activities at Camp Honi Hanta.
Adult, Child and Infant First Aid/CPR/AED - Blended Learning - $30 (12)
Sunday 1 - 3 pm
Training for adults to become certified in Red Cross Adult, Child, and Infant First Aid, CPR, and AED techniques. The Adult, Child, and Infant First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course equips Girl Scout volunteers to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children, and infants. The online course can be completed at your own pace, takes approximately 3 hours to complete and must be completed prior to OWLS weekend. The in-person session will last 2 hours.
Outdoor Camp Skills Recertification - Blended Learning - $30 (12)
Sunday 10 am - 2 pm
Participants will demonstrate knowledge of and ability to teach outdoor skills to girls, including outdoor cooking techniques, fire building and safety, dish washing procedures, Leave No Trace, knot tying, camp safety, and site orientation. Participants will review GSUSA Safety Activity Checkpoints, council property policies, and proper closing and cleaning procedures and pass an online exam prior to attending the in-person skills assessment session. The online module and exam can be completed at your own pace, takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and must be completed prior to OWLS weekend. The in-person session will last 4 hours.
Please register individually.
T-shirts, register by March 12th to be guaranteed a shirt at OWLS.
Registration closes 03/18/2025. Refunds and cancellations cannot be processed after 03/18/2025.
All cancellation and refund requests must be received in writing by 03/18/2025 at customercare@gsgcf.org.
