Alumnae Story
Primitive Backpacking and Camping Skills

By Kathleen Hauprich-Ford
Currently of Darby, Pennsylvania
Formerly of Brentwood, N.Y.
Suffolk Council of Greater New York

I started as a Girl Scout when I was in Junior High School. Back then we were considered Cadettes. My troop was located in Brentwood, Long Island, N.Y., and my troop was affiliated with The Suffolk County Council of Greater New York. My troop leader, when she wasn't our troop leader, worked at The Fresh Air Fund Camp, located in Upstate New York. Our troop specialized in primitive backpacking and camping, and often taught classes to new scouts in the art of primitive backpacking and primitive camping skills. Every member was ACA (American Campcrafters Association) certified. My troop started a group called SASS (Sharpe Audubon Senior Services). This was a primitive backpacking/camping troop, which also taught classes, and specialized in maintaining the Fresh Air Fund Camp on weekends, doing minor maintenance work and trail clearing and repair work in exchange for use of the camp area for the weekend. I remained connected to that troop until 1979, when I moved from Long Island into Manhattan.

When I moved into Brooklyn, N.Y., I had started a multi-age Girl Scout troop, which lasted a year. When I moved into NYC, I did not again join Girl Scouts until after I was married and had two children, one boy and one girl. When my children became eligible to join scouting, I again signed up as both a Girl Scout leader and a Boy Scout leader. During that time, I signed up for various courses at the Greater New York Council, and also was a volunteer Troop Camp Leader and certified First Aid Leader, and shared my experience and training in primitive backpacking skills to all levels of girls, ranging from Brownies to Cadettes. I was also experienced in being the Cookie Chairperson as well! I remained active in both Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting until I moved to Pennsylvania in 2003.

Currently looking for a troop in my area for myself and my daughter to join and share my experiences and training with!