Click here for information on Mandatory Adult Volunteer & Teen Aide Training.
For Adult and Aide Requirements and Position, please click here: JOB DESCRIPTIONS
PHOTO GALLERY (BIFFY decorations, kaper chart and more!)
STAFF HOURS
Staff Hours (AIDES and ADULT VOLUNTEERS) during camp week:
•Monday – Highly recommended for ALL STAFF to be on site no later than 7:45 am. Release is 3:45 pm for staff (or after carline is over).
•Tuesday through Thursday – Staff hours: 8:00 am to 3:45 pm (or after carline is over).
•Friday – Staff hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm., earlier or later based entirely on the condition of camp on Friday afternoon. No one leaves until it is all cleaned up! Friday evening staff release is no later than 5:00 pm.
•Friday – 4:00 pm Friday to 9:00 pm for those camp aides and staff attending the Aide Party.
•Saturday – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will need volunteers help to pack up camp and complete any inventory for the following year. Thank you!!
DAYCARE FOR STAFF CHILDREN
What do I do with my “non-Girl Scout” children if I become a staff member?
Tag-A-Long offers an Infant & Toddler unit for children between the ages of “just born” through 2 ½ to 3 years or not yet potty trained; and a Preschool Unit, called Pixies for children between the ages of 3 years (must be potty trained) to 5 years of age/rising K. Boys who are currently in Kindergarten through rising 3rd grade are placed in a Young Boys Unit. Boys who are current 4th grade to 6th grades will be placed in and Older Boys Unit. These units are open only to the children of our full-time volunteers.
What is a Boys Unit?
The boys of our staff volunteers participate in the camp schedule just like the Girl Scout campers. We may select special craft projects for the boys. The personality of the boys units changes slightly each year and that is dependent on the ages of the boys who attend. We make our boys units fun, educational and as exciting as our Girl Scout units.
What is the Pixie Unit?
We have a co-ed Pixie Unit for the preschoolers aged 3-5/6. Pixies must be potty-trained and willing to spend the day in the Pixie Unit. The Pixies do many of the same activities tailored to their interests and attention spans. Pixies do not nap.
What is the Infant and Toddler Unit?
We have a unit for these aged campers, also. This unit is strictly a day care unit and the parents provide everything these campers need during the week (example, diapers, all food and bottles, toys, places to sit and take a nap, a stroller, extra clothing, etc). The infants & toddler leaders make sure our youngest campers have a fun-filled week of camp!
Is there a fee for the boys, pixies, infants or toddlers?
Yes. The fees are nominal and cover the cost of activities. Please see the Registration & Fees page for current rates.
CAMP ORGANIZATION
This camp is organized into groups of campers, called UNITS, rotating through a series of activities, called CENTERS. We need approximately 40 volunteers to be Unit Leaders, and the same number to be Center Leaders.
Each UNIT of campers has a mixture of scheduled activities (centers) and free time each day. The centers include activities such as Crafts, Outdoor Cooking, Science, Tie-Dye, Songs, Archery (for rising grades 4 and up), Dance, etc. Unit Leaders, with the help of their camp aides, plan activities for their unit’s free time, focusing on the desires of the girls in the unit. Activities might include badge work, hikes or theme-related activities. Headquarters has craft supplies, scavenger hunts and game equipment available for units to use during downtime. The units receive a budget for the purchase of additional supplies or surprises for their unit. Leaders receive their budget amounts during the Spring orientation and training session. The adult Unit Leaders are responsible for purchasing items, staying within budget and promptly turning in receipts by Wednesday of camp week. Unit Leaders arrive at camp between 8:00 am and 8:15 am and leave as soon as every camper in their unit has departed, usually around 4:15 pm. On Friday, Unit Leaders may need to stay as late as 6 pm to help clean up camp and inventory items for the following year.
Each CENTER sees a unit once or twice during the week. The Centers plan activities that are age-appropriate for all groups: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, PALs (5th graders), Pixies (preschoolers), and Boys. The Directors have many of the activities for the Centers already planned, and that information will be provided on an ongoing basis. The activities for the Centers should be related to the theme of the camp as much as possible. If the Center Leaders want to plan different activities, they need to present their program to the Directors for approval by May 1. Budget estimates, purchase orders and inventory on hand are also included at this time. Upon approval of the programs and budget, the Center Leaders are responsible for ordering supplies, staying within budget, requesting camp checks for payment or promptly turning in receipts for reimbursement upon receipt of purchase. Because some materials are best purchased in bulk for multiple centers, please provide the Directors with a comprehensive list of supplies prior to purchasing them. If appropriate, the Directors are happy to order supplies on your behalf. The Directors then pass on the Center activities to the Unit Leaders so they can avoid duplicate activities during Unit time. Center Leaders arrive at camp between 8:00 am and 8:15 am and assist with morning parking/camper drop offs between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. In the afternoon, Center teams again assist with parking/camper pick-ups from 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm. Center teams leave after parents have picked up all campers. On Friday, Center Leaders may need to stay as late as 6 pm to help clean up camp and inventory items for the following year.
CAMP STAFF
What are the qualifications of the staff?
Camp Tag-A-Long is 100% volunteer-run! Each unit and center, at a minimum will have at least two adults with campers at all times. For units, at least one leader has previous Camp Tag-A-Long experience and will be paired with another volunteer that is new to camp or also has previous Camp Tag experience. We try very hard not to place two “first year” volunteers in a unit together. If there is no other choice but to place two new leaders together in a unit, two camp aides will be assigned with previous camp experience to help guide their adult leaders before and during the camp week. Each unit and center will also have 2 to 4 Camp aides assigned. Our first aid staff consists of volunteers who have First Aid and CPR training. All of the adult volunteers at camp MUST be registered as Adult Girl Scouts and complete GSCNC’s Volunteer Appointment Process.
Do I have to be a Girl Scout leader to volunteer at Camp Tag-A-Long?
No! No previous experience as a Girl Scout or leader is required! You will have to undergo a screening procedure (volunteer application) and an orientation and training session. Most of our volunteers are moms, dads and/or extended family members wanting to spend time with their daughters and other children in a day camp environment.
I am interested in volunteering as an adult staff member, but I cannot attend the training or planning sessions. Is this a problem?
Yes! Our goal is for you to be a successful member of the leadership team. An important part of that is having the proper information (provided at the orientation and training sessions) and meeting with the other adult and camp aides at all planning sessions. Our experience has shown us that volunteers who do not attend these important sessions are less successful, more stressed out and “behind the power curve.” We have cut the meetings down to the bare minimum. That means fewer meetings (that is the good news), but attendance is crucial (the bad news). If you know you cannot attend one of the sessions, please tell us when you apply. It may not affect your acceptance as a camp volunteer, but it will affect your position request at Tag-A-Long — we cannot afford to have a unit or center completely staffed with volunteers who did not attend these sessions.
How do you decide staff assignments?
This is a complicated process involving several criteria such as your previous Tag-A-Long or other Girl Scout Camp experience, Girl Scout training, flexibility and willingness to attend ALL orientation, training and planning sessions for the Camp. We would like to be able to accommodate every volunteer’s first choice, but that is not possible. We do our very best, but the needs of the camp come first.
CAMP AIDE INFORMATION
What is a Camp Aide?
Camp Aides are Teen Girl Scouts who assist the adult unit and center volunteers. Camp Aides are staff members just like our adult volunteers. These girls are working toward Cadette or Senior Girl Scout Awards such as their Program Aide Pin, etc. For more information on the PA program, see the Cadette Girl Scout Handbook or the Senior Girl Scout Handbook.
Which forms do I use for which program?
If you are registering as a Camp Aide, you must first complete your camp registration on GSCNC’s website. Once the registration data is complete and sent to the directors, they will email you the Camp Aide Application. This is through Survey Monkey and must be completed and returned for you to be assigned to a center or unit. Assignments are first come, first served, as long as it meets our staffing needs!
I am a first time Aide (going into 7th grade). Can I choose any unit or center as a preference for the Camp week?
Yes, but placement will ultimately be determined by the needs of the camp.
Do I have to attend any of the Staff orientation, training or planning meetings?
Yes! The purpose of the staff orientation and training meeting is to provide camp information about programs to all staff. Yes, attendance is mandatory! Any staff member not attending their orientation and training session may jeopardize their assignment for the camp week. Camp Aide training will be scheduled during the Spring. If you cannot attend training, please contact the Camp Director before applying.
I would like to be a Camp Aide, but I cannot attend any of the orientation, training or planning sessions. Is that a problem?
YES! Our goal is for you to be a successful member of the leadership team. An important part of that is having the proper information (provided at the orientation and training sessions) and meeting with the other adult and camp aide members (at the planning sessions). Experience has shown us that camp aides who do not attend these important sessions are less successful, more stressed out, and more likely to end up as “go-fers” instead of equal partners. If you know you cannot attend one of the sessions, please tell us when you apply. The orientation and training dates are listed in the “Important Dates and Deadlines” section. Please add these dates to your personal calendar when you register for Camp Tag-A-Long. It may not affect your acceptance, but it will affect your position at Tag-A-Long — we cannot afford to have a unit or center completely staffed with volunteers and camp aides who did not attend these sessions.
I would like to be a Camp Aide, but I am not available for all five days during the camp week. Is that a problem?
Yes. The week of Camp Tag is at the end of summer. Camp is also scheduled at the same time as some school band, athletic and extra-curricular camps. Some school camps are all day, some are half day and some are only a couple of days during the same week as Tag-A-Long. Aides are required to be at camp all 5 days. It is the responsibility of each camp aide to notify the Director and his or her adult leaders about any schedule conflict before camp. Modified schedules are on a case by case basis and approval by the Director is required. Please do not register for camp if you know you will not be able to attend the full week due to sports, vacations, etc. If you are attending camp with an adult staff member, please contact us prior to placement to discuss such conflicts.
CAMP AIDE PARTY
What happens at the Camp Aide Party?
Fun! Food! And Activities!
What type of supervision is provided during the party?
Camp Aides spend the evening outdoors, at the pool and in the main Dining hall of the camp. There will be two female adults (parent volunteers) per 12 camp aides attending. Additionally, there will be at least one camp director, a first aider and additional support if needed. Our full-time staff is exhausted by Friday night – to make the aide party a success, we need parent volunteers!
My daughter is not sure she wants to stay for the party. Are there other options?
Yes! Camp Aides do NOT have to stay for the party. They may leave at 3:45 on Friday, during parent-pickup.