about our camp

Diamond Crest Girl Scout Day Camp is an all-volunteer-run day camp and is held at a San Mateo County park. Our camp has been in operation for many years and is rich in traditions and  has welcomed girls for several generations.

All applicants are welcome and are admitted by the criteria listed in our Admissions Policy. Our campers will travel to camp each day for In Person Camp. Campers entering grades 1-7 are grouped in units with girls their own age/grade and are supervised by trained staff members and program aides. Campers participate in a wide variety of activities including earning badges, hiking, outdoor cooking, learning outdoor skills, crafts, games, singing, and more. 7th grade campers participate in the “Aides-in-Training” (AIT) program and may assist unit leaders as Aides when entering grades 8-10. 

When and where will Day Camp be this year?

• 2022 camp dates have not yet been determined
• Please note there is no camp on Fridays

What should my camper wear/bring to camp?

• We have ticks, poison oak, yellowjackets, and the occasional rattlesnake at camp. Please dress your camper in sturdy shoes, long pants that cover the ankles (no shorts, leggings, or pants with large holes), and shirts with sleeves (t-shirts are OK). Shorts, leggings, shirts without sleeves, pants with large holes, and open toed shoes are NOT safe camp attire. Wearing light colored socks will also help aid in finding any ticks after camp.
• Please see the Camp Details file for info on what to wear and bring to camp.

Parents must provide transportation to and from Huddart Park each day for In Person camp. Information about staggered dropoff and pickup times will be emailed before camp begins.

You may include up to 3 people (in addition to listed parents/guardians) in the Pickup section of the registration form as authorized pickup persons (this allows for up to 5 people!). All changes to this form must be made before June 30 of the camp year, to allow us time to generate paper reports.

If you need to add a pickup person after June 30, please print and fill out the Pickup Authorization Form, sign and date it, and hand it to your Unit Leader in the morning.

My camper can’t come to camp on a particular day, what should I do?

• If you know this in advance, please print, fill out, and sign the Diamond Crest Day Camp Attendance Exception Form and hand it to the Unit Leader in the morning.
• If you do not know this in advance, please contact your camper’s unit leaders to let them know.

Planned Early Pick-Ups:

• Please print, fill out, and sign the Diamond Crest Day Camp Attendance Exception Form and hand it to the Unit Leader during drop-off
• Remind your camper in the morning that you (or someone you have authorized) will be picking her up early – the camper will be escorted to the Attendance Table at the designated time.

Unplanned Early Pick-Ups:  Sign your camper out at the Attendance Table, then the camper will be brought there.

ALL Early Pick-Ups

• Please be sure to sign the camper out at the Attendance Table. A driver’s license will be required for identification, and the adult must be on the camper’s Pick Up List.
• If you send someone in your place who is not on the camper’s Pick Up List, either send a signed Pickup Authorization Form or be available at the phone number you have provided to camp as you will need to give phone authorization.  In addition, your  authorized adult will need to provide their driver’s license for identification.

Your child’s health and safety are of utmost importance to us!  Before camp begins you will be given the opportunity to supply us with your camper’s health information.  Please be thorough and send an update if necessary – we read through all health information and will contact you before camp begins if we have any questions.   During Day Camp, your camper will participate in various activities supervised by our trained volunteers; and you can be assured that we operate according to the Girl Scouts of Northern California’s strict standards for health and safety. Qualified health personnel are present at all times at camp and a trained first aider will accompany the campers to off-site activities.  We ask that campers remain at home for a minimum of 24 hours following a sickness involving fever, vomiting, and/or loose bowel movements. 

 For "Emergency" type medications such as Epi-pens, Inhalers, and other emergency devices:

Campers entering up to 3rd grade: Epi-pens, Inhalers and other devices should be placed in a ziplock bag with camper’s name, phone number, and unit number written on it.  A copy of the allergy action plan (or directions from camper’s doctor) should also be placed in the bag.  Campers should bring the bag to camp each day in their backpack and provide it to their unit leader during camp.  At the end of the day, the unit leader should return it to them for the ride home.  When you receive your camper's unit assignment, reach out to their specific unit leader to make sure they are aware your camper is bringing medication to camp, so you can review specific instructions with the leader.

Campers entering 4th grade and higher will keep their own epi-pen, inhaler, or other emergency device during the day, but will need to be reminded to keep it with them if the unit leaves the area they are normally assigned.

Other "non-emergency" medications with doses that should be taken during camp should be turned into the nurse each day with instructions as to how the medication should be used.  This includes medications such as cough syrup, antibiotics, pain relievers, etc.  The medication should be placed in a bag with the camper's name, phone number, and unit number.

At Diamond Crest Day Camp, your camper will have the opportunity to make new friends while reconnecting with “old” friends all while experiencing the Girl Scout mission which is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.  Diamond Crest Day Camp is located in a county park in Woodside.  At camp, your child will gather with their unit in their assigned camp site area and participate in activities ranging from games and storytelling to camp skills and arts and crafts.  Each day will be very busy and as evidenced by her appearance at the end of the day!  

Each day will vary, however all days will include

• A warm greeting by their Unit Leaders
• Songs and frivolity 
• In-Unit activities throughout the day
• A gathering time to enjoy either a lunch they have brought from home

At Diamond Crest Day Camp, many of our volunteers come to camp year after year to make new friends and reconnect with “old” friends.  These volunteers are dedicated to making your camper’s day camp experience a healthy and positive growth experience while always maintaining a playful atmosphere of friendship.

“Girl Scouts is proud to be the premiere leadership organization for girls in the country. Placement of transgender youth is handled on a case-by-case basis, with the welfare and best interests of the child and the members of the troop/group in question a top priority. That said, if the child is recognized by the family and school/community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, then Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe.”

“These situations are rare and are considered individually with the best interests of all families in mind. Should any girl requiring special accommodations wish to camp, GSUSA recommends that the local council makes similar accommodation that schools across the country follow in regard to changing, sleeping arrangements, and other travel-related activities. With respect to volunteers, Girl Scouts welcomes both male and female adult volunteers and has developed appropriate safeguards regarding roles and responsibilities to ensure that girls receive the proper supervision and support.”

• All Day Camp Staff Is Volunteer! This opportunity is open to all adults (age 18 as of the beginning of camp), not just Girl Scout leaders. Volunteers are required to complete training before camp, dates TBD. 
• I would like to volunteer at Day Camp - what kinds of things could I do?
  • If you are interested in volunteering at camp, please register yourself as Adult Staff and fill out the registration forms. Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you soon! Please also register with GSNorCal and become a registered and screened Girl Scout Volunteer.
• What are the benefits of volunteering?
  • Children of Staff are given priority for registration.
  • Camp is discounted for all children of staff. 
• What credentials do I need to volunteer?
  • Volunteers are required to complete 18 hours of training (6 hours credit for returning staff). Please see the  Diamond Crest Day Camp Training Log for training dates and online options to fulfill this requirement.
  • All staff must also be approved Girl Scout volunteers who have passed a Girl Scout Council background check.
    • If you are already a registered Girl Scout for this year, please email GSNorCal and ask them to add you as a volunteer for Diamond Crest Day Camp. If you have issues, please call council at 1-800-447-4475.

If you are not a registered Girl Scout for this year, please register with Girl Scouts of Northern CA and complete the Volunteer Screening. If you have any trouble, please call GS NorCal at 1-800-447-4475.

• Where can I update my online account or make changes to the registration form? 
  • Families can update their registration forms by logging into their Active account at https://campsself.active.com/DiamondCrestGirlScoutDayCamp until June 30 of the camp year. After that, please email diamondcrestdaycamp@yahoo.com and unit leaders and/or bus lead with any changes. Please note that, as there is no internet at camp, changes made after June 30 will need to be manually added to all camp reports.
  • AIT’s are required to attend all days in order to complete the AIT program.
  • Please note the following dates before making changes to your registration form:
    • Girls are placed in units by grade level in mid-April. Please be sure your girls’ grade level is correct (grade she is entering in the fall), and any friend requests are updated before then. 
    • The online system is closed to changes as of 6/30 each year, when we start making camp reports and sending them to the printer. If you have changes after this date, please email your unit leaders.
• What if I need to cancel my child’s registration?
  • Cancellations must be submitted to diamondcrestdaycamp@yahoo.com and should include the following information: parent/guardian name, email address, phone number and the name and grade level of the camper(s). Refunds will be processed within 7 business days of the receipt of a cancellation email. Fees below are per participant:
  • Prior to June 26: Full refund, less the non-refundable $20 registration fee.
  • After June 26: No refund.
• Why is the $20 registration fee non-refundable?
  • Diamond Crest Day Camp is an entirely volunteer-run organization - not a single person gets paid to run this camp. Active, the online registration system, charges us for every application and every credit card transaction, so we are charged about $20 for each registration we receive, regardless of whether the camper is accepted into our program or chooses to cancel their registration.
• When can I register my child(ren) for Diamond Crest Day Camp?
  • Registration to be open until April 8. No late applications will be accepted. 
  • Registration is NOT first come, first served. Once registration closes, campers will be admitted based on available space according to the Admission Policy.
• How do I register my child(ren) for Diamond Crest Day Camp?
  • Links to register are provided on the Diamond Crest Daycamp website during the registration period, and will also be sent out by email to previous campers through Active on the day registration begins. 
• My daughter is not a Girl Scout, can she still attend camp?
  • Yes! Please note, there will be an additional $45 fee for any camper, Aide, or Junior Unit Leader who is NOT currently a registered Girl Scout. The fee is required by Girl Scouts of Northern California and covers Girl Scout membership and insurance. Non-Girl Scouts also receive the lowest priority for camp admission. Please see our Admission Policy for details.
• Types of Campers
  • Campers: girls entering grades 1 through 7 in the upcoming fall.  7th grade campers will participate in the “Aides-in-Training” (AIT) program.
  • Aides-in-Training (AIT): The AITS spend their time at camp preparing for their future roles as program Aides the following year (entering 8th grade). It is necessary that girls registering as AITS are able to attend camp the entire AIT session. The Day Camp Team is continually striving to provide all of our campers an excellent camp experience. Well-trained Aides are critical to this goal! Please review the AIT Admission Policy before applying - this program is limited in its capacity and we often have to turn girls away. Priority admission to the AIT program is given to children of staff, Diamond Crest Girl Scouts registered on time by September 30 of the prior year, and girls who have attended camp the most years.
  • Aides: Girls entering grades 8 through 10 who have completed the AIT program serve as assistants to Day Camp staff, working with Unit Leaders to help supervise campers. Any applicant who has not completed the Diamond Crest AIT training or equivalent will be placed in the AIT unit to complete training, regardless of her current grade level. All new and returning Aides are required to attend virtual training before camp. We will send out information before camp.
  • Junior Staff - JUL (Junior Unit Leader) or JAL (Junior Activity Leader): Girls entering 11th grade, 12th grade, or recent high school graduates may serve as Junior Staff.    Junior Unit Leaders who will be 18 before the first day of camp (July 26) should register as Adult Staff.
  • All JULs and JALs must have completed AIT training or equivalent* and been an Aide for 3 years, or an Aide for 2 years, plus 1 year as an LIT
    • * If equivalent, would need to submit an application verifying training & experience working with children and accompanied by three references.
• Can my son or pre-schooler attend camp?
  •  As a courtesy to our on-site adult staff members, we will offer an onsite childcare program for the Boys entering grades 1-10 for a fee. The parent or guardian of the child must be onsite at camp for their child to attend either of these programs. 
• What grade level should I enter for my camper?
  • Campers are assigned to units based on the grade they will enter in the fall (not the grade they are in when you register). Please be sure this information is correct, as it affects unit placement.
• Why and how should I make a Friend Request?
  • Friend requests are considered when placing girls entering grades 1-5 in units at camp. Units are assigned by grade level, so be sure to request friends in the same grade as your camper. Please include friend’s first and last name, and if you request a friend outside your camper’s Girl Scout Troop, please indicate her troop and/or school.
• Can my child participate in Archery?
  • There will be no Archery in 2021
• Can my child participate in Horseback Riding?
  • If we are able to make arrangements with Webb Ranch, we are hoping AITs (who missed out on horseback riding last year) can participate in horseback riding 7/30 or 8/6, arriving and departing directly from Webb Ranch  (additional waiver form required). Parents will need to provide transportation to and from Webb Ranch on the assigned day, and it will not be a full day of programming. If you wish for your camper to Opt-Out of horseback riding, please check the appropriate registration form box.
•  Will my child stay overnight at camp? (See “Overnights” below - there will be no Overnights for campers or AIDEs in 2021, though there will be an overnight for AIT’s on Wed 7/28) 
• How and when will I know that my child has a place at Diamond Crest Day Camp?
  • Acceptance to camp or waitlist status will be emailed out in early May of the camp year.

Please save your original payment receipt, emailed by Active, for tax deduction information. Our Tax ID is on the receipt emailed to you by Active when you registered. 

• How much does camp cost?
  • In Person: Fee for regular campers and Aides in Training is $150 per week, and the fee for Aides is $90 per week. Campers of full-time and part-time volunteers pay a discounted fee (see above under Volunteering).
  • Please note, there will be an additional $45 fee for any camper, AIT, Aide, or Junior Staff who is NOT currently a registered Girl Scout. The fee is required by Girl Scouts of Northern California and covers Girl Scout membership and insurance.

Yes! Financial assistance is available through Girl Scouts of Northern California and the application is due by May 1 of the camp year. Please indicate your interest in receiving information about financial aid by checking the box on your registration form.

Yes! Girl Scouts of Northern California “Fall Sale/Cookie Rewards” may be used to pay camp fees. Please send an email with the following  information: parent's name and phone number, camper’s first and last  name, all the numbers on the card (front and back) and the dollar amount  of the credit. Send this information to campfinance@diamondcrest.org.

Yes!  Deposit is required electronically as part of the registration system. If you would like to pay the remainder of your balance by check, please email campfinance@diamondcrest.org for instructions. 

• Cancellations must be submitted to diamondcrestdaycamp@yahoo.com and should include the following information: parent/guardian name, camper name, email address, phone number and the grade level of the camper(s). Refunds will be processed within 7 business days of the receipt of a cancellation email. Fees below are per participant.
• Prior to June 26: Full refund, less the non-refundable $20 registration fee.
• After June 26: No refund.

Diamond Crest Day Camp is an entirely volunteer-run organization - not a single person gets paid to run this camp. Active, the online registration system, charges us for every application and every credit card transaction, so we are charged about $20 for each registration we receive, regardless of whether the camper is accepted into our program or chooses not to attend camp.