Girl Scout Council Turns 90
By Ruth Lepper

Three generations of the Steffen family attended the celebration party. In front, granddaughter Cora Long of Chula Vista; center, parents Lou and Cora Steffen of Alpine; standing, their daughters, Kathy Steffen of Tennessee, and Deedee Schexmayder, of Louisiana. Photos courtesy of Kathy Steffen

Girl Scout leaders, past and present, gathered at Camp Winacka in Julian on July 21 and 22 to celebrate 90 years of the scouting experience in San Diego-Imperial Council.

Cindy Moore, who now fills the role of camp consultant for the council, led the weekend festivities with making hats, playing charades and talking about plans for the council's camps in Julian and Palomar.

Toddlers to octogenarians stayed overnight in cabins at the camp, taking advantage of favorite scouting activities such as hiking, exploring, swimming and, of course, sitting around the campfire singing such popular Girl Scout tunes as "Up in the Air, Junior Birdman" to a rousing version of "Amen."

"The one thing that really excites me when I remember the camping is the singing," said Pat Wilson of Ramona.

Cindy Moore made announcements about future plans for the Girl Scout camps.

Wilson attended the celebration with her husband, Don, who served on the executive council

more than 30 years ago when plans were in the works for opening Camp Winacka. The Wilsons' daughter, Helen, was a counselor at the camp and their daughter, Gail, worked in the kitchen.

Although never a Girl Scout, Moore's scouting experience dates to 1960, when she was on staff at district headquarters. She has continued to be on staff or a volunteer in many capacities.

"I was going to do something else with my life, then found out about camping and how important it was to girls," she reflected. "By the time I came here, I knew that I wanted to be in camping."

More than 700 Girl Scouts discover the camping experience each year at Camp Winacka and the neighboring Whispering Oaks Program Center.

Three generations of the Steffen family attended the 90th anniversary. Cora and Lou Steffen of Alpine, recalled their 12 years living at Girl Scout headquarters in San Diego while Lou Steffen was the ranger there.

The group plays charades.

A tradition when attending camp, each camper either arrives with a nickname or is given one soon after the session starts. Lou Steffen is known as "Chip" because of his woodworking skills and the related crafts he taught to the Girl Scouts.

Cora Steffen is called "Itch," because, she said, it was a normal progression from the names her daughters adopted.

"Our oldest daughter was first; she chose our dog's name, 'Scratch,'" Cora Steffen said. "Our next daughter, Deedee, said, 'If Kathy is Scratch, I'd better be 'Flea.' Then our youngest daughter, Christie, came along and said, 'If there's Scratch and Flea, I'm 'Bite.' Then Mom came along and they said, 'Your name is 'Itch.'"

Kathy Steffen also has the nickname "Spokes" because she was the lead counselor for the bicycling camping session at Winacka. She now lives in Tennessee and her sister, Deedee Schexmayder, lives in Louisiana. Along with Schexmayder's daughter, Cora Long, who lives in Chula Vista, they joined their parents for the weekend at Camp Winacka.

"I was hoping to see friends I hadn't seen in several years," Kathy Steffen said. "One of the people I worked with my very first summer I was hired on as a counselor, I've kept in touch with her through the years."

Another set of three generations was Mary Donnelly of San Diego, her daughter, Maureen Rymer, and granddaughter, Catie Rymer, both of Chula Vista.

"I remember when (the council) bought Winacka," Maureen Rymer said. "So I've watched the development of the land, how much fun the girls have here. Mom was a leader. I've brought troops up here; my daughter camped here."

The anniversary weekend celebration will serve as more memories in the making for those in attendance at Camp Winacka.

"I think this is so much fun," More said. "I just love everybody. It gives us a chance to see everybody."