Annual camp offers Girl Scouts fun

These Girl Scouts aren't selling cookies but can recite the Girl Scout Promise - albeit a little garbled - underwater.

From whitewater rafting to scuba diving lessons to horseback riding, the 65 Girl Scouts from around the state don't have time to get bored at the annual Girl Scout Camp held at Camp Tanglewood.

After slipping off her fins and diving gear from her first scuba lesson, Charlotte Cue, 14, of Lakeside Middle School took a break with fellow campers at a picnic table near the CIT (Counselors in Training) cottages.

"We learned a lot of different breathing techniques," Charlotte said. "It was hard to get used to breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, but once you got used to it, it was a lot of fun."

After a day of swimming underwater Monday, campers were whitewater rafting in Helen, Ga., on Tuesday.

Cynthia Wilson, 18, has been a girl scout since she started elementary school and now plans the daily activities as assistant trips director for the camp.

"I enjoy seeing the girls get to do things that they normally wouldn't get to do, like whitewater rafting," Wilson said. "Plus they get to do a little traveling."

Every morning, the girls get up at 7 a.m. and meet at the flag pole where the flag is raised and everyone recites the Pledge of Allegiance. After saying a short blessing and eating breakfast in the mess hall, they're off for another day of activities under the watchful eye of Ruth Henning, 30, director of the camp, known as "Giggles" to the campers.

"Sometimes we have kids that don't know if we want to be called by a title or first name, so we (the counselors) all have nicknames," Giggles said. "It makes it easier and more fun for the girls."

The girls had the opportunity to climb a 35 ft. wall that was brought into the camp. Some campers climbed it once - Chrissy VonNyvenheim, 15, of North Augusta climbed it 12 times in one day.

"I just like the rush you get to the top," Chrissy said.

Though "lights out" is at 10 p.m., the girls don't go to sleep until several hours after that.

"We're usually in bed by 2 or 3 a.m.," said Miranda Moreno, 14, of Augusta. "Or at least by 5 a.m."