SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — There are no campers at Camp Mah Kah Wee in Oviedo, but its counselors are still hard at work holding a virtual Girl Scout camp that's been so successful, all five weeks are sold out.
Scouts enjoy an array of activities ranging from virtual hikes to a s’mores challenge.
“They’ve done everything from virtual campfires where they’re still singing with the girls, arts and crafts, they’re holding STEM classes for the girls, I mean it’s amazing,” said parent and troop leader Jamie Chapman.
Two years ago, the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council’s Camp Mah Kah Wee was decimated by a brush fire, only to rebuild and then have the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“We immediately went into virtual. Figuring out how are we going to do thing virtually,” said Chief Operating Officer crystal Jones.
By mid-May, they had completely pivoted to all online programs, from scout meetings, community service and birthday parades, and more.
READ: Keeping track of Central Florida face mask mandates
“It’s a new normal and we’re all trying to work at it. But I really see that you know, the Girl Scouts, we really can make it through anything. We are a united sisterhood and that’s the best part,” Chapman said.
Not only have the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council not had to make any pandemic-related staff cuts, executives said they’re now looking at adding staff to help expand their growing virtual programs.
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