Girl Scout camp promotes confidence, fun, learning

A summer camp that has fostered lasting memories for more than seven decades is set to kick off another season of fun and outdoor adventure.

Located on more than 400 scenic acres along the shores of Three Mile Lake near Wasilla, Camp Togowoods is owned by the nonprofit Girl Scouts of Alaska. The property includes a wetlands boardwalk and five ecosystems for campers to explore.

It’s all part of the Girl Scouts mission to provoke the curiosity, dreams, and talents of its members. The camp experience is designed to help girls discover the world around them, connect with other campers, and take action in their own lives and communities.

Jenni Pollard, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Alaska, said camp offers girls the chance to learn and grow, while participating in challenging activities and basic skill-based instruction that helps them “discover the confidence of being unstoppable.”

“Our resident camp gives girls an opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone, experience the outdoors, discover their independence, and learn about environmental stewardship in a supportive environment,” she said. “Plus they have fun and create lasting memories.”

That mission got a boost in March with a $15,000 grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. In collaboration with Alaska Community Foundation’s 2025 Camp initiative, the grant supports the Camp Togowoods site and the 300 or so girls who will be able to experience it this summer.

“This funding helps us to cover operational costs and provide financial assistance to girls to attend camp,” Pollard said. “We are grateful for Mat-Su Health Foundation’s partnership.”

The nonprofit Mat-Su Health Foundation has been making this kind of investment in community health and wellness since its inception in 2007. As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Foundation has channeled more than $138 million of its share of hospital profits into scholarships, sponsorships, and grants to nonprofit organizations across the Valley.

Pollard said the value of the camp experience can be seen in the faces of campers who enjoy arts and crafts, nature hikes, environmental education, swimming, canoeing, and outdoor cooking.

“As one of our 6th-grade campers said last year, ‘I learned that I can do anything that I put my mind to,’” she said.

Pollard said women who attended the camp as children even return occasionally to visit and rekindle special memories.

“Camp is a unique place where girls can build self-confidence, independence, and social skills, all of which are crucial for success in later life,” she said. “Partners like the Mat-Su Health Foundation help make Girl Scout camp possible. They help us to give our girls a valuable life experience, so they are a critical partner in our mission.”

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www.girlscoutsalaska.org