Stephanie: From Camp Friendship to a Legacy of Adventure

August 10, 2026

Sure, camp is where you learn to make the perfect s'more. But sometimes, the sweetest thing you take home from camp is a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

For Stephanie, that journey began in 1981 when she attended Camp Maha as a Brownie. Summer after summer, camp became her happy place—from hiking, singing, and art projects to unforgettable adventures like waking up in a tent that had slid down a hill during a thunderstorm.

Years later, she returned as a camp counselor, where she met Carey. Together, they spent their summers leading girls through campfires, hikes, canoe trips, archery, songs, banana boats, and plenty of laughter. One of Stephanie's favorite memories? After campers carefully crafted papier-mâché fruit, a curious raccoon snuck into the Button Box overnight and took a bite out of one girl's banana masterpiece.

Those summers did more than create great stories. They inspired Stephanie's career in outdoor programming, introduced her to some of her closest friends, and sparked a friendship with Carey that has now lasted more than 30 years.

Today, the two work together at Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, still laughing about Camp Maha memories while helping today's Girl Scouts create adventures of their own. And now, Stephanie gets to watch her daughter experience the same camps, friendships, and unforgettable moments that first inspired her decades ago.

"Some of my oldest friendships are the friends I made working at camp over 30 years ago. Now I get to work every day with Carey, sharing those memories while watching a new generation of Girl Scouts create their own."

That's the power of Girl Scouts. Camp isn't just where girls learn outdoor skills or make s'mores; it's where confidence grows, lifelong friendships begin, and memories become legacies passed from one generation to the next.

100 years. Countless stories. One lasting legacy.