Girls Scouts live in wilderness for the week - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

By Victoria Shirley

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News)- "It's really really hot." said seven year old Mary Mackenzie Miles, who is one of nearly one hundred girl scouts and volunteers choosing to live in the wilderness for a week, without air conditioning.  "It's been really hot and sweaty, everybody's been sweating" said camper Brittany Glascock.

Despite the triple digit temperatures, the girls sang, hiked, canoed, and rode horses, and for 15 year old Brittany sleep away camp is a great escape. Coming out here is like a stress reliever, having fun, all the time, always busy and you kind of forget about everything else and just go with it." said Glascock.

Something many at this camp say they take away each year, is lasting friendships, self esteem and learning to work as a team. Camp leaders say experiences like this one help girls become independent while embracing nature. Brittany says she's learned to not be afraid of the dark and another important lesson, "Bugs and critters aren't really that scary. They are just crawling around, like we are in their habitat, we're their visitors."

"Well nature nurtures children, we're so enveloped with technology, out in the world, all of us are, sometimes it's good to get back to nature." said Indian Creek Site Manager Derinda Smalling. Many of the girls started out the week as strangers but will leave as lifelong friends. Camper Mary says she's sad to leave, but has one request for when she gets home, "I'm going to tell my mom to turn it to 40 degrees in our house." Experts say sleep away camp is also the best emotional preparation for a successful college experience.