Camp and Outdoors

Whether it’s having your next meeting outdoors, going on a hike, heading off to camp with your troop, or paddling a canoe across a pond, our outdoor education program will get you there!

Required Camp and Outdoor Trainings

Girl Scouts-North Carolina Coastal Pines requires at least one outdoor certified adult volunteer to accompany a troop camping trip. To get certified to take Girl Scouts camping at one of our GS-NCCP camp properties, in pre-existing structures, at least one volunteer must complete Outdoor Adventures: Basic Camping Skills. To take Girl Scouts camping off GS-NCCP camp property and/or camp in tents and other temporary structures, at least one volunteer must be certified in Outdoor Adventures: Basic and Extended Camping Skills. Outdoor Adventure certifications are valid for five years.

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Outdoor Adventures: Getting Started

This online class is the first step in our outdoor education program and is a pre-requisite for Outdoor Adventures both Basic and Extended Camping Skills. This class is designed to teach individuals the basics of preparing and planning for a trip, including: menu planning, trip forms, emergency action plans, overnight ratios, packing and behaviors and youth management.

Prerequisite: Volunteer Essentials (in-person or online)

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Outdoor Adventures: Backpacking

This in-person, overnight class teaches participants the skills they need to take Girl Scouts on a primitive backpacking expedition. Participants must have primitive camping skills and be able to hike 2-3 miles while carrying a backpack to take this course.

Prerequisites: Outdoor Adventures: Basic and Extended Camping Skills

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Outdoor Adventures: Moving Forward

This online class is the next step in our outdoor education program and is a pre-requisite for Outdoor Adventures both Basic and Extended Camping Skills. This class is designed to prepare individuals for their arrival at camp and the first few hours on site. This class will cover transportation, arrival at camp, lodging, camp set up, policies and other camp etiquette. You must take 367 Outdoor Adventures: Getting Started before taking this course.

Prerequisite: Outdoor Adventures: Getting Started

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Outdoor Adventures: Basic Camping Skills (Day-Only)

This in-person, day only class teaches volunteers the skills they need to take their troops overnight camping on council properties in any of our pre-existing structures.

Prerequisites: Outdoor Adventures: Getting Started and Outdoor Adventures: Moving Forward

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Outdoor Adventures: Extended Camping Skills (Overnight)

This in-person, overnight class teaches volunteers the skills they need to take their troops overnight camping both on and off council properties in off-site pre-existing structures and portable structures.

Prerequisites: Outdoor Adventures: Getting Started and Outdoor Adventures: Moving Forward

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Outdoor Adventures: Exemption Request

This evaluation is meant ONLY for experienced campers who have had extensive outdoor training and have successfully led multiple group camping trips within the past five years. Upon completion of this evaluation, we will determine eligibility and, if approved, you will complete two online trainings to become certified in Outdoor Adventures: Basic and Extended through GS-NCCP for a five (5) year period, at which time you can recertify through our online recertification process.

Prerequisite: Outdoor Adventures: Basic Camping Skills

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Outdoor Adventures: Basic Recertification

This online training is designed to allow you to recertify for your Outdoor Adventures: Basic Camping Skills certification. Completion of this online certification course will extend your certification for another 5 years. No in-person class is required for recertification.

Prerequisite: Outdoor Adventures: Basic Camping Skills (Day Only)

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Outdoor Adventures: Extended Recertification

This online training is designed to allow you to recertify for your Outdoor Adventures: Extended Camping Skills certification. Completion of this online certification course will extend your certification for another 5 years. No in-person class is required for recertification.

Prerequisite: Outdoor Adventures: Extended Camping Skills (Overnight)

To complete online trainings, sign in to your My GS account. Select gsLearn from the menu on the left. (If you don’t see the menu, then first select the yellow My Account button at the top of the page.) If you don’t see the Outdoor Adventures courses on your gsLearn dashboard, then select Content Library from the gsLearn menu on the left and search for “outdoor”.

To complete in-person trainings, sign in to your My GS account. Then, either choose Find an Event OR select My Events from the menu on the left and choose Register for another event. Courses will be filtered based on 10 miles from your zip code. You can change the radius or change the zip code to one of our camp properties:

Camp Graham = 27537
Camp Hardee = 27814
Camp Mary Atkinson = 27576
Camp Mu-Sha-Ni = 27281

If you need any assistance with finding online courses or registering, please contact our Customer Care Team at helpdesk@nccoastalpines.org or 800-284-4475.

Outdoor Workshops & Enrichments

Ready to take your outdoor adventures to the next level? Our outdoor workshops and enrichments provide volunteers additional opportunties to get outdoors!

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Level 1
This training teaches participants the skills they need to serve as archery instructors for Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines and beyond. The course certifies participants with USArchery and involves both online pre-work and in-person skills training. There are archery ranges available for use at all four of camp properties.

Level 2
This training teaches participants the skills they need to teach adults the Level 1 archery course. This certification requires obtaining a USArchery Membership, successful completion of SafeSport Training, and a USArchery run background check. Once this training is complete, candidates can take an additional online instructor bridge course through USArchery and certify to teach the Level 1 archery course to adults.

Prerequisite: Archery Training – Level 1

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Level 1
This in-person class teaches participants the skills they need to serve as axe throwing instructors for Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines. There are axe throwing ranges available for use at all four of camp properties.

Level 2
This training teaches participants the skills they need to teach adults the Level 1 axe throwing course.

Prerequisite: Axe Throwing – Level 1

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Facilitator Training – This two-day training teaches participants the skills they need to facilitate and belay at the Alpine tower, as well as facilitate the big swing. Participants will learn safety, knots, and all the basics they need to effectively act as a facilitator.

Belay Training – This training teaches participants the skills they need to belay at the Alpine tower. Participants will learn safety, knots, and all the basics they need to effectively act as a belayer.

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Combination Basic Skills Plus Watercraft Leader:

Council Properties -Canoe/Kayak/Paddleboard

In this weekend-long session, participants will learn basic boat handling and rescue skills for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Successful completion of this course meets the Safety Activity Checkpoints for leading paddling activities at council properties. This course is recommended for beginners as well as those who lack experience using specific steering strokes.

Council Properties – Sailing

This weekend-long session includes basic and intermediate sailing and rescue skills instruction required to lead Sunfish sailing activities. Successful completion of this course meets the Safety Activity Checkpoints for leading sailing activities at council properties. This is recommended for beginners as well as those who lack experience using specific steering techniques.

Express Watercraft Leader:

Council Properties - Canoe/Kayak/Paddleboard

This express training event offers an opportunity for volunteers who are experienced and proficient in using specific paddling strokes to steer the craft to complete training for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding in a single day. This training is NOT a basic skills or entry level program. This training is intended for those who want to boat at council properties. This course is for individuals who are familiar with using specific paddling strokes.

Watercraft Leader

NC Waterways - Canoe/Kayak/Paddleboard

This weekend-long training is an advanced module intended for volunteers who have previously completed the Watercraft Leader: Council Properties training (or equivalent) and are experienced and proficient in using specific paddling strokes to steer the craft. Paddlers must demonstrate steering strokes while navigating a figure-8 course in both a canoe and a kayak as a prerequisite. This training is NOT a basic skills or entry level program. Participants will explore planning and emergency preparation considerations along with advanced rescue techniques.

NC Waterways – Sailing

This weekend-long training is an advanced module intended for volunteers who have previously completed the Watercraft Leader: Council Properties training (or equivalent) and are experienced and proficient sailors. This course meets the Safety Activity Checkpoints for taking girls out in flatwater environments on council properties and other lakes in North Carolina.

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If you have received any of these trainings outside of Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines, please upload your certification using the Alternate Certification Report. You will be notified once a council staff member reviews your certification to confirm that it meets our requirements. Please allow 5-7 business days for processing. Contact our Customer Care Team at 800-284-4475 or helpdesk@nccoastalpines.org for assistance.

Camp and Outdoor Resources

Campsite Manual

Girl Scout Song Book

Safety Activity Checkpoints