The Great Girl Scout Hike
Girl Scouts of Eastern PA will be joining The Great Girl Scout Hike.
This initiative was started by the Girl Scouts Virginia Skyline Council to encourage all Girl Scouts across the country to hike on sections of the Appalachian Trail. Below is the description of the hike from www.gshike.org:
"We are looking for Girl Scouts of all ages (from 5 to 95) to pick a section of the Appalachian Trail to hike in honor of our 100th anniversary. Our hiking journey starts Monday, March 12, 2012 (Girl Scouts 100th birthday) and ends Wednesday, October 31, 2012 (Juliette Gordon Low’s 152nd birthday).
Our event’s Honorary Chair Mary “Mama Boots” Sands inspired this celebratory hike. As a Girl Scout Leader in Kentucky (Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana) she began hiking and backpacking the Appalachian Trail in the early 1970s. Over the course of nearly 20 years, accompanied by groups of Girl Scout girls and adults, she eventually hiked the entire 2000+ miles of the AT – in bits and pieces or section-hiking.
So join your sister Girl Scouts across the East Coast – across the nation – across the globe that are gathering to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2012 to celebrate our golden years."
Hiking Training
Hiking training will be offered through Girl Scouts of Eastern PA to prepare volunteers to take girls on the Great Girl Scout hikes and other hikes. This training will cover gear, safety, and preparing for hikes. It is suggested that anyone who does not have hiking experience take this course before planning to take girls hiking.
We are still working on scheduling these trainings. Look for more information here and on the training schedule.
Appalachian Trail Hikes
GSEP will be participating in the Great Girl Scout Hike through several Appalachian Trail Section Hikes, offered in conjunction with the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club. BMECC is a local climbing club that has been advocating for the preservation and enjoyment of the Great Outdoors! From the inception of the Appalachian Trail, BMECC has helped to build and maintain their 65-mile section of the AT including its cabins, shelters, monuments, and rest stops between Pennsylvania's Lehigh and Susquehanna Rivers! You must register ahead of time to participate in these section hikes.
The Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania is known for its rocks. All of these hikes have rocky sections, some have elevation changes and some of the sections have views. Each section on this list covers a different portion of the trail. All of the hikes are rated moderate to strenuous, this is not like going for a walk in the park, please make sure you have prepared yourself to be able to participate.
|
Date |
Location |
Length |
|---|---|---|
|
5/12/2012 |
Shartlesville |
10 miles (8.5 miles on the AT) |
|
5/20/2012 |
Shartlesville |
10 miles (9.5 miles on the AT) |
|
6/9/2012 |
Hamburg |
7 miles (6 miles on the AT) |
|
6/23/2012 |
Eckville |
10 miles (9 miles on the AT) |
|
7/8/2012 |
Walnutport |
5 miles (5 miles on the AT) |
|
8/5/2012 |
Walnutport |
8.5 miles (8.5 miles on the AT) |
|
10/13/2012 |
Wood Haven |
2 miles (2 miles on the AT) |
|
10/21/2012 |
Bethel Twp |
9 miles (9 miles on the AT) |
|
11/3/2012 |
Eckville |
12 miles (12 miles on the AT) |
All hikes will begin at 9 am. It is imperative to come prepared! Bring water, snacks, and lunch in a backpack to carry with you on the day of your hike. Hiking boots are necessary, no flip flops or sneakers, appropriate layered clothing for seasonal temperatures. Please consult the Hiking Safety Activity Checkpoints before signing up and planning to attend these hikes!
All of these hikes are considered "Shuttle Hikes". Groups will meet at the ending point of the hike, and will need to be transported to the starting point to begin the hike. This is very important to know ahead of time because you will need to make sure that you have enough vehicles and people to make this happen. More details about how this will work with your specific hike will be explained after you have registered!
The Great Girl Scout Hike Celebration
Saturday October 13th, 2012 at Camp Wood Haven
Join GSEP for a celebration alongside the Appalachian Trail at Camp Wood Haven. This event will provide girls with outdoor experiences, and access to the Appalachian Trail regardless of age and ability! There will also be the option of a 2 mile long hike offered.
Watch for more details--coming soon!
Click here to register now!