Outdoor Woman

Share Your Appreciation for the Great Out-of-Doors

Each year our service unit has a campout with over 200 girls. The Department of Wildlife hosts a weekend of Outdoor Activities which include camping, and fishing. We planned and were ready to hold the event. Little did we know it would rain 10 inches the night before, flooding several counties in the area. Read below how we maintained composure and did our best.

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Several leaders of the older girls offered to speak on topics like: food dehydrating, horseback riding and backpacking.

Jeff-Dept. of Wildlife Made it through the flood to share his hands on mammal exhibit.
Carol-Pres. Sooner Orienteering-Trail Smarts

Okla. Parks Dept. Several rangers were to share their expertise on topics like: survival skills, spotting nature and journaling.

In September, we were asked to host Saturday's activities for the service unit campout. The girls designed the program around the popular Outdoor Woman program put on by the State of Oklahoma. I met with the director of the program and she gave me several people to contact.

The girls planned to act as instructional aides during the morning and help the afternoon people set up. Our afternoon activities will include wildlife photography with a professional photographer, an advanced compass course with the President of the Oklahoma Orienteering Club and archery.

With just a mention of scattered possible showers, our troop was assigned one of the two tent areas. Nearly 200 girls were camped at our counsel's site. During the night , it began to rain and rain and rain. By the morning all the roads to the camp were closed due to flooding and we had to cancel. While I and other leaders were busy calling the guest speakers on the phone . Without anyone mentioning it , our troop naturally pitched in leading games and songs in the cafeteria with the younger children.

One real pleasant surprise was the game ranger that managed with his four wheel drive vehicle to make it into the camp site. He gave a wonderful talk on mammals of Oklahoma. The entire group of scouts loved the skulls , furs and other hands on materials he brought.

The girls will earned their Leadership badge during the project.