Date: Mon Jul 27, 8:00 AM CDT - Fri Jul 31, 8:00 PM CDT
Category:
- Travel,
- Outdoor,
- Life Skills,
- Leadership Development,
- Healthy Living
Get ready to head west for the ultimate state park summer high
adventure! We are hitting the road to visit the high desert for a
five-day journey through some of the most stunning and diverse
ecosystems in the Lone Star State. This isn't just a camping trip-it's
an outdoor skills intensive designed for Girl Scouts who are ready to
level up their backcountry game.
From the dunes of Monahans
Sandhills State Park to the deep-space views of the McDonald
Observatory, we're exploring the best of the west!
The
Adventure Itinerary:
- Davis Mountains State Park: Our home base for three nights! At over 5,000 feet in elevation, we'll experience the unique "sky island" ecosystem.
- Monahans Sandhills State Park: Experience the "Texas Sahara." We'll explore these massive, shifting dunes and learn how life thrives in the sand.
- Balmorhea State Park: The ultimate desert oasis! We'll spend a day at the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool, where the water stays a refreshing 74-76 degrees year-round.
- McDonald Observatory: A special night event under some of the darkest skies in North America. Let's explore distant galaxies through world-class telescopes.
This trip is for current 5th through 11th-grade Girl Scouts who already have a foundation in the outdoors and are hungry for more. We will focus on:
- Advanced tent camping, outdoor cooking, and adventure skills
- Ecosystem education
- High-altitude hiking
Texas heat is no joke, but West Texas holds a secret: Elevation!
Because we'll be staying in the mountains, the humidity is low
and the nights are significantly cooler than in Central Texas.
We've designed this trip with a "Beat the Heat" strategy: We
will get up and out for early-morning activities. Additionally, our
visit to the crystal-clear, icy waters of Balmorhea is the perfect
mid-week reset to keep everyone refreshed and ready for more.
Texas Explorers is an application-based program
designed to ensure a fair and safe high-adventure experience for all
participants. Transportation will be provided from Austin. Other pick
up points available include Llano, Brady, and San Angelo. Specific
schedule to be announced based on participant selection.
Thank you to Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department: This adventure is made possible by a Community
Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grant from the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department. Girl Scouts of Central Texas is deeply
appreciative of this partnership, which makes our Texas Explorers
program possible and empowers our Girl Scouts to develop advanced
outdoor skills while exploring the incredible diversity of Texas State
Parks. Together, we are cultivating the next generation of outdoor
leaders and adventurers who will serve as the future stewards of our
Texas lands.
Application deadline: May 24, 2026
Cost: $175
Meet your Texas Explorers Girl Scout staff: https://youtu.be/eNMLepMVXmM
Supervision level: This is a DROP OFF event. Please plan on checking in your registered Girl Scout with required paperwork.This trip will be chaperoned by Girl Scouts of Central Texas staff.
Special instructions: Swim assessments are required every year for youth and adults participating in any type of Girl Scout aquatic activities including, but not limited to, pool activities, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, etc. See Safety Activity Checkpoints for details. Swim assessment paperwork should be retained by the troop leader and caregiver. Safety-wise adults should ensure that swimmers remain in aquatic situations appropriate to their swimming ability. Participants at a swimming/aquatic event without a completed swim assessment should be assumed to be a non-swimmer and must always wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD/lifejacket).
Required paperwork: Please complete the following sections of the Council Event Health and Permission Forms, print, and bring with you to the event: Sections A, B, C, and E1-2.
Contact for questions: outdoors@gsctx.org
Internal Code: COFSA COFHBTK COFWC COFBCS
