Camp Activities!
Swimming
Canoes, Paddle Boards and Funyaks, oh my!
Canoes, Paddle Boards and Funyaks, oh my!
Come on in, the water is fine!
Swimming at Camp Lyle McLeod is organized into three color-coded sections—White, Blue, and Red—to ensure everyone stays safe. To explore the deeper waters of the Blue and Red zones, campers simply need to complete a standard swim test with our lifeguards.
Canoes, Paddle Boards and Funyaks, oh my!
Canoes, Paddle Boards and Funyaks, oh my!
Canoes, Paddle Boards and Funyaks, oh my!
When the summer sun heats up those aluminum canoes, our waterfront staff keeps things cool and flexible! As you can see, our certified lifeguards let campers decide exactly how they want to enjoy their time at the boat dock. Whether they want to paddle across the lake or simply cool off in the water, the choice is theirs.
Don't miss our legendary canoe races - a Kayak tradition where everyone from first-time campers to property caretakers are encouraged to compete!
Crafts
Canoes, Paddle Boards and Funyaks, oh my!
Archery
"You use a glass mirror to see your face. You use works of art to see your soul."
- George Bernard Shaw
That about sums up how we feel about crafts at camp!
Archery
Flag Ceremonies
Archery
Every camper can channel their inner Robin Hood, if they choose, with bows and arrows perfectly sized for their age and skill level. And volunteers who are instructor certified and love to teach new or long-time archers!
Sing Me A Song
Flag Ceremonies
Flag Ceremonies
Get ready to raise your voice! Whether you're mastering new lyrics or beltin' out an old tune, our talented song leaders make every session a blast!
Flag Ceremonies
Flag Ceremonies
Flag Ceremonies
Experience the pride of the morning colors. Each unit hosts a camp-wide flag ceremony, where they can learn to be the caller, assist with the lines, or master the 13 folds of the flag.
Flags Across the Water
Born from the heart of Kayak Community Camp, Flags Across the Water (FAW) is a cherished tradition that bridges the gap between ceremony and convenience. Recognizing that our evening flag traditions were too vital to skip—but that trekking back to the main flag circle after settling into units was a challenge—we brought the ceremony to the shoreline. Now, at a designated time each evening, every unit gathers on their dock to conduct a personal flag ceremony. Once the honors are finished, a wave of "goodnights" echoes across the lake, uniting the entire camp through the air.
Dance!
Get ready to groove! Our annual camp dance is a highlight of the week and you can influence the playlist by submitting your favorite tracks with your registration. DJ's Stitch & Panda Chan alway know how to keep the energy high and the dance floor rocking! If dancing isn't your vibe, don’t worry—we offer plenty of alternative activities and quiet zones so every camper can enjoy the evening their own way.
Scouts Own
Scouts Own
A Scouts' Own is a meaningful Girl Scout tradition that offers a space for reflection and connection - something that is lacking in our world more than ever. Designed to be inspirational rather than religious, it allows campers to share their deeper thoughts, reaffirm their values and express their ideals within our camp community.
Like much of our camp programming, this is camper-led, giving them the creative freedom to:
-Choose a theme that resonates with their unit or the camp session
-Select their medium, whether it be through original poetry, soulful songs, storytelling or dramatic performance
-Collaborate with their leaders (if they choose) to design a ceremony that feels personal and impactful
-Share their artistic vision with their fellow campers
BBQ!
On Thursdays, we sleep in!
Scouts Own
Who can resist a classic cookout? One evening, we head to the lodge for an amazing camp BBQ featuring juicy burgers, hot dogs and a full spread of favorite sides and toppings. It's the perfect way to fuel up and hang out with our whole camp community!
Theme Day!
On Thursdays, we sleep in!
On Thursdays, we sleep in!
Each year, our campers take the lead in choosing the theme for the following summer! This creative vision comes to life all week long, from the custom crafts we build to the festive decorations seen all over camp.
The excitement peaks on Theme Day - our high-energy spin on a classic elementary field day. Campers rotate through a variety of unique games and activities, all custom-designed and hosted by our incredible unit leaders.
On Thursdays, we sleep in!
On Thursdays, we sleep in!
On Thursdays, we sleep in!
While we usually rise with the sun to pack in the action, Thursday is everyone's favorite morning -
Sleep-In Day! After a well-deserved rest, the afternoon opens up for "Open Activities", giving campers the freedom to design their own schedule.
With a buddy (or two!) by their side, campers can spend the entire session at the archery range, mastering a tricky craft project, learning to paddle board or swimming in the lake. Whether they want to hit every activity or just focus on their favorite, this flexible free time is a highlight of the week!
About Kayak Girl Scout Community Camp
We Are Volunteers!
Our incredible team of dedicated volunteers set Kayak Community Camp apart! From our Directors and Nurse to our unit leaders and kitchen staff, every member of our crew is a volunteer. Yup, for real. This community-driven model allows us to offer a premier camp experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional resident camps.
Your camper's safety is our top priority. Every volunteer is a registered Girl Scout member who has passed a comprehensive background check.
Additionally, our team's training includes:
- Basic overnight training through gsLearn
- Outdoor Overnight training taught by qualified GSUSA employees and volunteers
- Current CPR/First Aid certification
- Lifeguards certified by American Red Cross
- GS Quantity Cook certification for the Kitchen Supervisor & food handlers permits for all kitchen staff
- Archery range is led by at least one volunteer who is Level One Instructor Certified with the USA Archery Organization
Our volunteers go above and beyond - they even self-fund their own certifications to keep camp costs low for families!
Throughout the camp "pre-season", our team meets monthly, not only to plan an amazing week for your camper, but for "Training Topics" to stay sharp on important subjects like conflict resolution, behavior management, mental health support, mandatory reporting and much more.
We volunteer because we love this camp and our goal is to create the best week ever for your camper!
Our History
Len and Donna Derby were Girl Scout Troop Leaders with two daughters; they often volunteered for various Scouting events. They met Lura Smith in the early 1980s at one of these events. Lura directed Camporee for several years, was on the committee for Totem Council’s Challenge of the Totem and was a trainer for Totem Council for several years. Lura's daughter joined Girl Scouts as a Brownie and when she became a Junior, Lura became her Troop Leader.
In 1981, Len & Donna (Rainbow & Sunshine) volunteered at Cedar & Sound Community Camp where their two young daughters attended.
In 1982, they again volunteered and Lura (Snoopy) joined them.
In 1983, Cedar & Sound had enough volunteers in their area, so Len, Donna & Lura took the year off. In December, they discussed creating another
Girl Scout Community Camp.
August 5 – 11, 1984 was the first year of Kayak Community Camp.
There were 72 campers led by 23 volunteers. The fee for campers was $50 (and $38 for campers of volunteers).
When Lura's daughter grew up and left Scouts, it left a hole in Lura's heart. She enjoyed Girl Scouts so much that she decided to continue. She had always liked the outdoor program and truly enjoyed working with girls and adults in that area. Lura continued volunteering with Girl Scouts, including 25 years at Kayak Community Camp, until 2008 at the young age of 89.
Shawna Macauley, the Derby's daughter (Kermit), stepped up as co-director in 2009 after Lura's retirement. With her dad at her side, Shawna directed Kayak Community Camp until Len's retirement after camp in 2018. Melissa McIntosh (Tails) began her director training that year with plans to continue to help Shawna lead KCC for many years to come! Unfortunately, the global pandemic closed camp for 2020, and while campers and volunteers alike were hopeful for a re-opening in 2021, that just wasn't in the cards.
After two years away due to COVID, Donna, Shawna and Melissa decided to move on and handed the reins over.
Flamingo & Orchid have been working hard to keep Kayak Community Camp alive since 2022!