The Girl Scouts of Nassau County celebrated the 65th Anniversary of Camp Blue Bay in East Hampton last week weekend.
Over 150 people camped over the weekend and another 90 met there on Saturday for the big celebration, including a BBQ on the sports field and a history tour. Former girl scouts who camped on the property over the past six decades reunited there — there was even one family of three generations of campers.
An Anniversary Brick path of personalized bricks that border the pathway that surrounds the flagpole was unveiled to commemorate the anniversary.
A 179-acre property on Gardiner's Bay, it serves as a six-week sleep away summer camp for about 500 girls each summer, according to Laura Bissett-Carr, the manager of outdoor and program services.
Girls choose between staying in a troop house or outdoor tent camping, and enjoy swimming, boating, crafts, campfires and more during their stay.
Individual troops use the property on weekends throughout the fall, winter and spring, doing traditional camping. The Girl Scouts of Nassau County also conduct outdoor training to prepare the adult leaders to camp.
Bissett-Carr said the Girl Scouts during a time when the Girl Scouts on Long Island were divided into councils differently than they are today. "Camp Blue Bay was bought in 1947 for $19,000," she told East Hampton Patch.
"I think Girl Scouts and camping in general has changed to meet the needs of girls today. The original camp was much more rustic with no indoor sleeping space and open air latrines and bathrooms," she said. "Today we can accommodate campers in either the traditional tents or in one of our two indoor troop houses. We also have a large activity building to conduct workshops and activities and have enclosed our Dining Hall, once an open aired pavilion."
"Although the facilities may have changed over the years, our traditions of cooking over a fire, respecting the environment, learning about nature and making new friends is still the backbone of Camp Blue Bay," she said. "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place."
The Girls Scouts of Nassau County, which has headquarters in Garden City, has almost 21,000 girl and 7,000 adult members. The organization is now in its 100th year.
