Please send us your suggestions to Ceci De Freitas on how to improve this page. Also please share suggestions and pictures on our Facebook Closed group or via email to allendale-nj-gs@googlegroups.com.

HIKING TRIPS WITH ALLENDALE GIRL SCOUTS

Maps are available online and at the NY-NJ Trail Conference headquarters on Rt 202 near Darlington Avenue.   See online links below. 

ALWAYS WALK THE TRAIL BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR GIRLS THERE!  

Time your walk ahead of time - girls will be slower still.

Leaders should plan a goal - fitness?  nature? (invite Rose Anne!) history? a badge?

One adult leads the group, another adult follows at the end.

Daisies

Celery Farm - MUST USE GREENWAY ENTRANCE for safety!  Note there are shorter paths besides the 1-mile 'round-the-lake' 

Campgaw Reservation - many short trails

Wyckoff Gardens - good for a mother-daughter trip in the spring, muddy, frogs and pond life

Brownies

Celery Farm - 'around-the-lake' is fine

Campgaw Reservation

Ramapo Reservation - many interesting choices

Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - fun trail around 75 acre lake

Tenafly Nature Center  - guided night walks, hikes... 

Juniors

Celery Farm - good for wildlife in spring and fall, owls in winter dusk

Ramapo, Campgaw - great for map-reading, following trail markers, longer trails

Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - fun trail around 75 acre lake

Cadettes and up

The sky's the limit...

White Water Rafting at Jim Thorpe, PA - www.jtraft.com with Camping at Mauch Chunk Lake Park 

Kayaking at Overpeck Park Kayak Center https://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/activities-and-events/canoeing-kayaking/

Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve - fun trail around 75 acre lake

High Mountain Reserve – challenging trails nearby

Ramapo Reservation - hike to/around Bear Swamp Lake, look for bear tracks

Campgaw Reservation - hike to the top of the hill, return on different trail

Harriman State Park - many trails, beware weekend crowds along 7 Lakes Drive

Sterling Forest State Park - lots of history, mines, many trails

Palisades Interstate Park - State Line Lookout area - fall hawk watch, peregrines

Bear Mountain area, Hook Mountain area 

Maps of nearby Ramapo Reservation and Campgaw:

RAMAPO RESERVATION: https://www.nynjtc.org/map/ramapo-valley-county-reservation-brochure-map

CAMPGAW MOUNTAIN RESERVATION: https://www.nynjtc.org/map/campgaw-mountain-brochure-map

WEST POINT CAMPOREE: https://www.facebook.com/ScoutmastersCouncil/

Additional recommendations:

For a troop day trip, you need to have an emergency contact person not on the trip (so a leader can call one person who will notify all parents of a change in plans - like early/late return home, or if there is an actual emergency).  

If you are more than 10 minutes from emergency services **or off road in the woods**, you need a GS-approved First Aider (certified in CPR and Community First Aid).  Could be a doctor or nurse, too. 

TROOP CAMPING AT GSNNJ CAMPS    

Please visit the council website for more information about GSNNJ campsites:

• Camp Glen Spey in Glen Spey, NY 

• Jockey Hollow Camp in Mendham, NJ

• Lake Rickabear Camp in Kinnelon, NJ

SUMMER CAMP AT GSNNJ CAMPS    

At GSNNJ summer day camps, girls are boating, cooking, fishing, building survival huts, riding horses, zip lining, hitting bullseyes in archery, woodworking, creating things, making new friends, and so much more!

Check out GSNNJ summer camps page for more details, and join us for our a fun-filled summer at Jockey Hollow and Lake Rickabear Summer Day Camps.

CABIN CAMPING AT "Y":

Frost Valley Y: https://frostvalley.org/group-and-family-retreats/scouts/

Fairview Lake Y: https://www.fairviewlakeymca.org/

CAMPING TIPS

Take Troop Camper training at Lake Rickabear

Camping Articles - Tips, Recipes, Destinations and More: https://www.reserveamerica.com/articles/camping

Girl Scout University - Venture out! Learn practical tips and tricks, read other volunteers’ stories, and explore the joys of taking girls outside with Venture Out!, a fun, interactive “outdoor” adventure made possible by GSUSA’s Elliott Wildlife Values Project. http://gsuniversity.girlscouts.org/resource/venture-out/

GS You Tube channel: Camp hacks Camp Pro Tip

Leave-no-trace: LNT.org

Outdoor Camping Resource Videos can be found at Girlscouts.org