“… into the woods I go to lose my mind and find my soul.”

Girl Scouts have always embraced and encouraged the link between nature and a healthier body, mind, and spirit. 

Thanks to a grant from Priority Health focusing on positive mental health, every Girl Scout who attended summer camp at Camp Hawthorn Hollow was able to customize their own personal sit-upons bucket seats for use at sit spots at camp and beyond.

“I had a lot of fun making my sit-upon with my new friends at camp,” said Allie Baldwin, of Cadette Troop 78257.  “Being outdoors makes me calm and I like carrying my outdoor stuff in it when I am doing things in the yard,” Allie says.

Sit-Spots for Girl Scouts

The idea for the sit-upons originated from Paige Wigren, GSSEM’s Vice President of Outdoor Experience.

“Research has shown that “sit spots” provide time to reflect and ground ourselves in nature through simple meditation through spatial awareness,” she said.  

By definition, a sit spot is a place to return to again and again to observe nature. Visiting the same spot over time allows people to see more of the natural behavior of the animals in the area and notice the changes that happen over the course of days, months and seasons. 

GSSEM and Priority Health took it one step further by providing natural journals for an extra creative outlet.

Why Not Sit Spot?

Here are just a few reasons Girl Scouts – and everyone – should start a sit spot program:

• Taking a technology time out
• Stop scrolling & comparing
• Encourages creativity and inspiration
• Relax the muscles, especially the brain
• Become more observant of Nature

Takeaway Sit-Upons

Using Priority Health’s $6,800 grant, the Outdoor Experience team was able to purchase 5-gallon buckets, fabrics and other materials for more than 300 traditional Girl Scout sit-upon.

At the start of each weekly summer camping session, Girl Scouts gathered in Winterberry, the arts and cabin and started on their sit-upons. Fabric, stickers, paint and markers were available to stylize the buckets. Careful cutting and hot gluing fabric to the lid created the seat and made each one easily recognizable and memorable.

The campers really enjoyed making the sit-upons, said camp counselor Mariah Donalson. “Many said it felt special to have something they made themselves to use throughout camp.”

“When the campers went into the woods for sit spots, the sit -upons gave them a dry, comfortable place to sit and encouraged them to slow down, notice nature, and feel calmer in the moment,” said Mariah.

Forever memories

From forest to the fire pit, the sit-upons were a big hit and one that will hopefully stay with the Girl Scouts for a long time.

“I had the chance to create one of these when I was in 7th grade at a Girl Scout camp,” Paige recalls. “I still bring the exact bucket with me on camping outings.”

Thank you, Priority Health, for having such a positive impact on our Girl Scouts!