Dudley Gallahue Valley Camps

Nice cozy lookin place with all this nature around

I wouldn’t recommend going to this camp anyways because I worked there for 3 weeks. The training we had to do was very lengthy towards the end, I had training when I helped with the sail boat and the lead counselor decided to make me stay behind and not be out on the lake with the girls because I was trained to be out there for there safety, we were told that we couldn’t be on our cell phones but I caught a lead counselor on her phone, some girls didn’t like me because I was new, I was terminated by barb because I didn’t do what I was supposed to. I begged barb to stay and work in the kitchen but she said there’s enough beds but not enough workers. I though this was kind of odd or her to say that. Don’t work at this camp unless you can handle from being a leader to being a helper and being judge by what you do. Also, working out there is a big disorganization and a big joke.

This camp experience is second-to-none! My daughter did one week last year and this year signed up for two!! Her first week was a complete success. She had nothing negative to say ... food was great, activities were great, counselors were great! She can't wait to go back. The camp director, Barb, is outstanding. She wants the girls to have a great experience and she remembers what it is like for the parents to be sending their daughters away for a week! She does a great job getting photographs posted online. Thanks, GSCI!

I am a camper that for a 3rd year is going from 7 to 6 weeks of this camp because I love it here. I know for a fact that some of these comments are untrue and are written by mothers who are over protective and such. If you want to send you daughter to a wonder place with tacos once a week come here. We go swimming everyday unless there is a thunderstorm with lightning. the lifeguards do have rules for a reason and they are totally reasonable. Each camp has a description of what would be going on during that camp so if it does not say canoeing we will not canoe. During 2018 I went for 7 weeks and this was my choice. I love everyone there and the staff is wonderful. The food is great and is usually full of carbs to keep you running. The reason the don't allow snacks for the children is because we are in the woods and there is such thing as raccoons and if they smell food in your tent they will come in. I have experience with that and ants as well. The tents aren't like your usual tents they have 4 cots inside that are very comfy after a long day. They have side and front flaps to roll up to let cool air in at night. If you are worried about the bugs don't be another reason we roll them up is to let bugs if they come in they have many large exits to go through. If you are injured then the child needs to tell the councilor or an office staff which you will see at each meal time or riding around the camp. they will help with your problem as soon as possible. I have hurt my knee and head and gotten injured a few times when I am there and they immediately try to help or offer you some pain medication to ease the pain. When you get there on a Sunday people are usually shy but by Monday or even Sunday evening we are singing songs and asking to be in the same tents. If your child gets homesick easily they will try their very best to help your child to feel better and that the week goes by so fast and you will be home before you know it. It is harder for younger children to separate from their parents but the younger ones are placed in a building with 2 refrigerates and bunk beds to give a movie like camp experience. EVERYONE drinks lots of water constantly and the councilors try to make sure that every child has a full water bottle at all times. There are placed throughout the whole amp to fill water up. We have a whole camp party each week with a different activity each time. This place is the best thing in the world to me and I hope that every councilor and office staff member knows how much I love this place. I hope to become a councilor there when I am old enough.

I do not typically post online reviews, but felt it necessary to post on this. My daughter just got back from a week at camp and this was our experience. She had to wipe with leaves after having a Bowel movement in one of their bathrooms. Apparently they ran out of toilet paper and the counselor told her to wipe with leaves. I have a major problem with this! Not to mention she is highly allergic to grass, weeds, and poison ivy, which I informed the counsellors about. Also, my daughter is 11. What would they have suggested she do if it was a feminine issue she had in the bathroom. Should she have wiped with leaves then too? Secondly, she came home with a severely swollen finger. She can barely move it 3 days after being home. She told me she hurt it during a game and when she asked to go to medical, the medical personnel told her to suck it up. No ice pack or anything. If she had been given ice right away, it would've helped the swelling I'm sure. But the fact that she still can't bend it tells me something should have been done for it at camp. And we will probably be making a trip to Doctor. Third, she did tell me one girl in her cabin started her female issues that week and the counsellors laughed hysterically about it. Seriously? That's a very difficult time for a young girl and to make that a laughing matter in front of cabin mates is unacceptable. Fourth, it was extremely hot the week my daughter went. She told me she swam twice. They did have some storms that week, so that affected her swimming. But in 90 degree heat to only swim or get wet twice. And she also told me the only real fun activities she did was swim and ride a horse one day. She didn't do the sailboat, canoe, paddle boats, or many of the other activities listed. In fact she couldn't tell me much that she did besides hike and play a few themed games. They also do not mention that they don't provide snacks at all. The kids get 3 meals a day and if they don't like the meal they better eat it anyway. Cause otherwise they will be starving until next meal. They don't let you send snacks either. And for hiking in heat all day long they need to eat more! My daughter did enjoy one aspect of camp and that was meeting some new girls. She was excited about that and enjoyed their company. We have gone to camp Tecumseh for the past 4 years and have nothing but positives to say about how things are run at that camp. This was a very different experience at camp gallahue and one we won't be doing again. Very disappointed. Please consider another camp before sending your child here for a week.

My daughter has attended Gallahue for 3 summers now, ages 6-9, and has a great time. While she does come back wiped out and a little thiner than I would like, she has a blast and learns a lot. They hike, play games, swim, ride horses, practice teamwork, being a good friend, sail, canoe and other outdoor activities. She wants to go back every summer and have more adventures. The staff seem attentive and organized and make sure the kids have water with them at all times just don't forget to send them with a reusable water bottle!.

The camp director Barb, is a menace. When the going gets tough, she gets going. I worked as a camp counselor and was aghast at how little training she gave us when working with dangerous animals and activities with the children. She also did nothing to address the misery many children were in due to constant activity, little sleep, and extreme heat. Not to mention, for hiking miles every day in the sun, none of us were fed enough to really make up for the calories we were burning. I loved camp when I was a kid, but under the leadership of Barb, I would suggest sending your daughters elsewhere where they will be better taken care of.

It is hard to judge how well camp went for my two granddaughters. But, in listening to them, through their tears, I would say the guidance from those in charge was lacking. Bullying, name calling, racist remarks should be handled as they happen. Don't allow mean-spirited remarks or actions. Don't tell the girls they "just work your way through it; work it out between yourselves." Not acceptable when young, formidable girls are involved.

I just got back and our counselor told us that she thinks we have a black widow in our cabin, she got the owner of the camp and a ranger to check it out and the ranger said they’d get it ASAP they never got rid of it, I did more research and it was a black widow with her eggs. Throughout the week I also didn’t do much fun activities.

Girl Scout Camp is always fun and hard work. I cherish the memories I have here with my girls.