Rentals for Girl Scout Events

What locations have space available for free 2-hour troop or Service Unit meetings?

Availability varies by location. See Free 2-Hour Meeting Space Rental Options for availability.

• St. Paul Service Center – Anokii Conference room
• Brooklyn Center Service Center – Solie Conference Room
• Mankato Service Center – Conference room
• Timbermeade Troop House at Camp Elk River in Zimmerman, MN
• Mary Randall Troop House at Camp Lakamaga in Marine on St Croix, MN
• Sagata Troop House in Bayport, MN
• Lower-Level Troop Lounge at Camp Edith Mayo in Rochester, MN

Where and what can I rent for my troop’s overnight?

Girl Scouts River Valleys has four large camp locations with a variety of structures like cabins, yurts and seasonal tenting sites for overnight rental. View Facilities-at-a-Glance for more information about each location.

• Camp Elk River in Zimmerman, MN
• Camp Lakamaga in Marine on St Croix, MN
• Camp Singing Hills in Waterville, MN
• Camp Northwoods in Mason, WI
• Sagata Troop House in Bayport, MN (single structure)
• Camp Edith Mayo in Rochester, MN (Seasonal tenting sites only)

Where and what can I rent for my volunteer-led day camp?

Girl Scouts River Valleys has four camps locations available for volunteer-led day camp rental. See Volunteer-Led Day Camp Property Rental Information for more details about the rental process and available activities, or view Facilities-at-a-Glance for more information about each location.

• Camp Elk River in Zimmerman, MN –
  • Day camp areas include: Timbermeade Troop House, Popp Troop House, and thirteen outdoor units
• Camp Lakamaga in Marine on St Croix, MN –
  • Day camp areas include: Agnes Ober Program Center Upper and Lower, Mary Randall Troop House, and fourteen outdoor Units
• Sagata Troop House in Bayport, MN (single structure)
• Camp Edith Mayo in Rochester, MN –
  • Day camp areas include: Program Center: Lower-Level Troop Lounge, Olmsted Room; Historic Lodge, and three outdoor units

The cabin I rented has a kitchen/kitchenette. What equipment does it include?

• Kitchens include:
  • Residential sized stove, refrigerator, coffee pot and most have a microwave
  • Enough plates, cups, bowls and silverware for the capacity of the cabin plus 50% extra
  • Basic pots, pans, and cooking utensils
• Kitchenettes include:
  • Dorm sized refrigerator and small microwave
  • Enough plates, cups, bowls and silverware for the capacity of the cabin plus 50% extra
• Does not include:
  • Dish soap, dish sponge, paper towels, cooking spices, coffee filters or coffee grounds

What can we do during our rental at a camp location? What gear can we use?

• Work on troop badges, go on hikes or have bonfires as you enjoy nature and bond as a Girl Scout troop! The following items are available at no cost to troops:
  • Outside cooking gear (pie irons, roasting sticks, Dutch ovens, pots/pans for cooking over the fire)
  • Firewood
  • Tents (Not available at all locations)
•  Enjoy seasonal troop led activities using available equipment that is available during your reservation. The following equipment is shared with all renters and must stay on camp property.
  • Winter snow shoes and cross-country skis
  • Bikes and helmets
  • Gaga ball pit
•  Adventure activities (A certified facilitator is required for these activities)
  • Canoes and kayaks
  • Swimming
  • Archery
  • Low ropes course
• See Things to Do

What kind of gear or supplies do you recommend my troop bring from home?

• Sleeping bags
• Pillows,
• Towels
• All meal supplies including cooking spices
• All badges and art supplies for activities
• Mobile Wi-Fi or hotspot

Do we have to clean the cabin before we leave?

Yes—Girl Scouts leave spaces better than they found them! Each rental group is responsible for cleaning the spaces/structures they rent. This includes the grounds outside those locations.

• Each location has a cleaning chore chart with a list of required tasks for renters to complete. Adult volunteers should verify all tasks are completed, including restocking wood pile from our camp woodsheds.
• Basic cleaning supplies are provided at each location.

Will  there be any Girl Scouts River Valleys staff on site during my rental time?

• A Girl Scouts River Valleys staff family lives at each of our larger camp locations year-round.
• There is a Girl Scouts River Valleys staff person on-call at all locations.
• Girl Scouts River Valleys does not provide any staff to run activities for renters.

Can I rent a cabin for my own family to use?

Yes! Complete the Rental Inquiry for Non-Girl Scout Events Form and a Girl Scouts River Valleys staff member will follow up about your family rental inquiry.

• Girl Scouts River Valleys prioritizes providing rental options to our Girl Scout troops and Service Units.
• In consideration of Girl Scout members, we do not mix Girl Scout troop/Service Unit rental groups with family rental groups.

How do I rent space for my troop, Service Unit or day camp?

Girl Scout members can reserve camp facilities for Girl Scout-related events, meetings, campouts, or activities by completing the Member Rental Inquiry Form, or visit ActiveNet and create an account to book your own space directly in our online reservation system. Reservations can be placed up to 12 months ahead of the event’s start date

1. Visit Girl Scouts River Valleys Rental Reservation Website (ActiveNet) 
2. Sign In to your existing account or Create a New Account.
   • If you are already signed in, select My Account in the upper right corner.
3. From your My Account screen, select View Family Members Schedule located under your family’s information.
4. Change the calendar from Week to Month viewing tab. You can also use the blue arrows to change from month to month. If you have multiple reservations at different locations in your account, use the filter buttons to help locate the right one. 
5. Select the reservation event to view additional details

Locations & Pricing

• Camp Elk River in Zimmerman, MN
  • Day camp areas:
    • Timbermeade Program Center – $75.00 per day
    • Popp Troop House – $35.00 per day
    • Outdoor Units (13) – $0.00 per day/ per unit
• Camp Lakamaga in Marine on St Croix, MN
  • Day camp areas:
    • Mary Randall Troop House – $40.00 per day
    • Agnes Ober Upper Program Center – $40.00 per day
    • Agnes Ober Lower Program Center – $28.00 per day
    • Outdoor Units (14) – $8.00 per day/per unit
    • Program Hut= $0.00
• Sagata Troop House in Bayport, MN (single structure) – $ 50.00 per day
• Camp Edith Mayo in Rochester, MN
  • Day camp area:
    • Program Center: Lower-Level Troop Lounge, Olmsted Room; Historic Lodge, and three outdoor units (considered all one day camp area)  – $210.00 per day

Rental Process

1. Volunteer-led Day Camp property rentals are available during the summer months of June, July and August.
2. Summer rentals are only open to volunteer-led day camps.  Day camps need to go through the approval process. See Day Camps for more information.
3. Reservations can be placed up to 12 months ahead of the rental start date through our Member Rental Inquiry Form (MRIF).
   • Example: August 1, 2023 rental date is available for request starting at 12:00 am (CST) August 1, 2022).
4. Rental inquiries will be processed in the order they are received.
   • Please Note: In order to ensure fairness, day camps can not reserve dates for more than one year in advance. This means that all reservations are available on a “first-come, first-served” basis, and dates reserved the year prior do not ensure the same dates are reserved for your day camp the current year.
5. A 20% deposit is due at the time of booking with Girl Scouts River Valleys Property Services Coordinator. Check or credit cards are accepted.
6. Day Camp rentals can start and end on any day of the week, but access to your reserved camp location starts at 4:00 pm on the first day of your approved reservation.
   • Example: If you plan the first day of your day camp to start at 10:00 am, Monday, your reservation start date should be Sunday, the day before at 4:00 pm.
7. During day camp season (June, July and August), Girl Scouts River Valleys will not rent day camp areas to troops or for Service Unit encampments.
8. Volunteer-led Day Camps are not allowed access to Resident Camp areas without Girl Scouts River Valleys approval. Request must be placed two weeks before rental start date.
9. Volunteer-led Day Camps are responsible for cleaning their rented areas at the end of their reservation.
10. Volunteer-led Day Camps can rent space for an “on-site” training before their camp starts. Date and space availability varies. Contact us for more information.

Staff-Led Activities Available

Volunteer-Led Day Camps at Camp Elk River or Camp Lakamaga can request Girl Scouts River Valleys staff lead the below activities by completing the Day Camp Waterfront and Activity Request Form.

Certified Activity Facilitator Pricing

If a volunteer-led day camp provides a certified activity facilitator there is no cost.

Pricing for Girl Scouts River Valleys to provide the certified activity facilitator:

1. Archery, GPS and Low Ropes Course: $4/participant/hour
2. Canoeing and/or Kayaking: $50 per hour per 25 campers
3. Swimming: $50 per hour per 25 campers
   • Please Note: Volunteer-led day camps must request at least one Girl Scouts River Valleys lead lifeguard for swimming (25 swimmers per hour) and any additional certified lifeguard coverage.

Equipment Rental

• Volunteer-led day camps can access Girl Scouts River Valleys-owned outdoor cooking equipment and tents.
  • These items must remain at your rented area.
  • These items are only available during your rental dates.
  • Tents mush be fully dried before storing them away to prevent molding.
    • Note: If necessary, a volunteer may need to return to camp the following day to finish up storing the tent(s). Please provide prior notice to Girl Scouts River Valleys if this is necessary.
• Volunteer-led day camps are responsible for cleaning, drying, and re-shelving all Girl Scouts River Valleys rented equipment.
• All dishes are to be washed in the rented unit/cabin by volunteer-led day camp volunteers. Do not bring anything to wash into the camp dining hall kitchen.
• All Girl Scouts River Valleys equipment stays at the camp location with no exceptions.

Girl Scouts River Valleys camp locations have outdoor cooking gear available to renters. All yurts and cabins and have sleeping mats and cots or bunks inside. Each bathroom is stocked with toilet paper, hand soap and paper towels.

Troop leaders and trip planners can use this list of suggested items to pack for overnight troop overnight or tenting reservations. Girl Scouts should also have their own individual personal packing list.

General Items

• Troop health and permission forms for each Girl Scout and adult
• First aid kit
• Food and beverages
• Cooking spices, salt and pepper
• Condiments of choice
• Instant coffee, lemonade, etc.
• Coolers to hold perishable food and ice (Note: There are no ice makers available.)
• Table cloths for picnic tables
• Containers or bins to hold non-perishable food (Note: This helps keep mice and raccoons away.)
• Bedding such as pillows, sheets, blankets, and/or sleeping bags
• Bath towel and wash cloth
• Personal hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, menstrual products, etc.
• Clothing for predicted weather, temperatures and terrain, clothing for sleeping, hats, gloves, etc.
• Footwear for predicted weather, temperatures and terrain (Note: Most trails and roads are not paved.)
• Map of camp (Note: Print this before you leave home. See Facilities-at-a-Glance for printable camp maps.)
• Day bag for hikes
• Reusable water bottles
• Dish sponge or rag for hand washing dishes and dish towels for drying
• Containers or bags for leftover food storage
• Flashlight and/or lantern
• Work gloves for restocking firewood
• one or two tarps for lining your car when transporting firewood (Note: You can also lay the tarp on the ground for star viewing at night)
• Fire starting supplies
• Rain boots, waterproof slip-on sandals or anything easy to put on to step outside or to walk to the bathroom building in your unit
• Bike helmets (Note: Girl Scouts River Valleys can provide if needed.)
• Lifejackets for waterfront activities (Coast Guard approved) (Note: Girl Scouts River Valleys can provide if needed.)

Troop Fun Items

• Playing cards
• Board games
• Frisbee, balls to throw, etc.
• Binoculars for bird watching and/or animal tracking
• Coloring books, journals, markers, pens, etc.
• Books or magazines to read

Comfort Items

• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Hammocks
• Folding camp chairs (Note: Each unit has picnic tables, and some have separate wooden benches)
• Twin fitted sheet (Note: If you stack two sleeping mats you can use the fitted sheet to hold the mats together for a comfier night’s sleep)
• Lap blankets
• Small light for reading (Note: Some of the tents, yurts and cabins do not have inside lights.)
• Ear plugs and/or sleeping eye mask
• AM/FM radio or bluetooth speaker (Note: There is no WiFi available at most locations)
• Jugs of water from home or store (Note: Units have well water that is completely safe to drink and cook with, but might have a metallic taste.)
• Facial tissue, extra paper towels, paper or reusable fabric napkins, etc.

• Earn Girl Scout badges or fun patches
• Work on your Bronze, Silver or Gold Award projects.
• Teach your troop how to safely build a campfire. See fire safety info.
• Cook a meal or snack over the campfire.
• Sing Girl Scout Camp Songs by the fire.
• Hike on trails.
  • Bring an empty bag to pick up any trash you find.
• Walk to the lake on camp property.
  • Look for shells, rocks or signs of local wildlife.
• Visit the amphitheater at camp and put on a talent show for your troop.
• Play cards or board games
• Cook a classic Girl Scout Camp Recipe
• Write, draw or a journal about your adventures
• Take photos. Try close-up shots and long landscape shots.
• Go for a bike ride. (Note: Girl Scouts River Valleys provide bike and helmets. You can also bring your own.)
• Create your own art. Use leaves, sticks, acorns, grasses, feathers, etc.
• Watch the sunset or wake up early to watch the sunrise.
• Lay a blanket, tarp or both on the ground to watch the clouds or stars. Search for planets or constellations.
• Relax by the fire
• Bring hammocks from home and read or listen to the sounds of nature together.
• Put on a scavenger hunt
  • How many animal tracks can you find?
  • What animals and birds do you see?
  • Can you find all the colors of the rainbow?
  • Can you find an animal’s home or nest?
  • Did you see any feathers on the ground?
    • Can you identify what kind of bird it is from?
  • What sounds do you hear?
    • Are the sounds different during daytime or at nigh?
    • Can you hear more sounds if you close your eyes?
  • How many different smells do you smell?
  • If there are yurts at your location, how many can you find?
  • Find the dining hall. How long does it take you to walk to it from your unit?
  • Find the Big Camp Bell and ring it. Do you think you could hear it at the other end of camp? (Note: During summer Resident Camp the bell is rung only for all  announcements and emergencies.)
  • What safety items can you find in or near your unit?
    • First aid kit, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher, weather radio, water pails & shovels near fire pit

• Free Troop Meeting Locations 
• First Troop Sleepover Rental Suggestions
• Adventure Rental Suggestions
• Rental Locations Slideshow