Camp Menzies

Overview of Facilities

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California owns a property called Camp Menzies. Camp Menzies is a beautiful wooded property located just down the road from Big Trees State Park in Calaveras County (5,500 foot elevation).

Property facilities include:

Lake Nettie Hunter (canoe lake)
Lake Stubby Mouse (swimming lake)
An archery range
A horse arena
Arts and Crafts Activity Center
Shasta Science and Nature Hut
An open-air dining hall
Six camper sleeping units
- Three with tent accommodations
- Three with rustic cabins

A meadow – great for group games, overnight sleepouts, and stargazing
A group campfire area with stage
The Patch’n’Go, a healthcare facility
Bathroom facilities with flush toilets and showers
Commercial kitchen
Trading Post souvenir shop
Camp Office
Hiking trails and more!

Note: This rustic property has some “personality” that makes for a truly outdoor experience. For instance, the camp runs on a generator, which means there is no electricity during sleeping hours.

Camp Menzies’ Key Philosophies

Challenge by choice: Girl Scouts are invited to participate voluntarily in each of the various activities and challenges at camp. A girl may choose to sit out of an activity or participate in an alternative way. This choice is respected by other campers and camp staff.
Girl-led: Girls are incorporated into decisions made about camp activities, such as all-camp events, meal planning, themes, etc. Girls are encouraged to share ideas and opinions. Staff support girls that want to take initiative in stepping into a leadership role.
Consent Culture: At camp, everyone respects others’ personal space, and girls are taught how to properly ask for consent when entering the personal space of another camper.
Safety: Camp Menzies is accredited through the American Camp Association (ACA), which means that the camp meets all the national industry-accepted and government-recognized standards regarding health, safety, and risk management aspects of camp operations.

Opportunities to Camp at Camp Menzies

There are a few ways that Girl Scouts can experience camping at Camp Menzies:

Sleepaway Camp for Girl Scouts Only toggle arrow

Girl Scout campers go to Camp Menzies without their adult caregivers to create a sense of independence, get out of their comfort zone, establish new friendships, and more. Camp Menzies is a “sleepaway” camp that varies in length from 3 day to 8 day sessions. Activities offered include horseback riding, archery, canoeing, swimming, arts ‘n’ crafts and more.

Are You Ready for Camp?

Road to Camp Menzies

Girl Scout Family Camp toggle arrow

Camp Menzies also offers camp for the entire family and is perfect for first-time campers (Girl Scout and adults alike)! Families can experience what it is like to be out in nature, away from the distractions of screens and the routines of daily life. This is a great way to spend quality time with family and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Girl Scout Troop Camp toggle arrow

Troops can experience camp together and connect in new ways in a new environment, all at GSHCC’s Camp Menzies. Girl Scout Troop Camp is great for those who are not ready to go to camp on their own or for troop leaders who want to give their troop an outdoor experience facilitated by experienced staff.

Camper Resources

Are you ready for camp?

LEARN MORE

Summer Jobs

Want to work at summer camp?

LEARN MORE