Confidence, independence, and hands-on skills—Curtis Stratman loves outdoor adventures for what they can teach Girl Scouts!
Since beginning as a Girl Scout volunteer in 2016, Curtis Stratman has had a passion for outdoor adventures with his Girl Scouts in Allegheny County. After beginning as his troop’s treasurer in 2016, Curtis eventually took on more administrative duties for his troop and for coordinating their troop events. In 2017, he became the co-leader for a Brownie troop, and he assumed the leader role the following year. Now, he coordinates the service unit’s camps and outdoor events, and he holds positions as a service unit delegate, certified camp trainer, and a council trainer.
Curtis first volunteered with his local troop after participating in a Girl Scout camping adventure with his daughter. “When it got to my daughter being in the Girl Scout group, the first event was a father-daughter camp. I really saw the traditions, the experience, and the excitement that the camp environment around Girl Scouts brought to it.”
Curtis has been comfortable outdoors since his childhood. “When I was younger, I grew up doing outdoor stuff. My mother grew up on a farm, and so on the weekends, we were visiting my grandparents out there. I felt naturally comfortable doing outdoor stuff, like fishing, and so forth,” he says.
Since he began coordinating their camping and adventure trips, he and his Girl Scout troop have had a lot of adventures together! They’ve tackled challenges like backpacking, caving, archery, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing! He has witnessed the Girl Scouts grow in their confidence, team building, and skills through their high-intensity adventures.
“The outdoor activities, particularly if the Girl Scouts can continue to try new things they haven’t done before, can work up through the ranks and keep them engaged, overcoming fears, and building confidence.”
-Curtis Stratman
Curtis says, “Just being able to spend a weekend out together is a bonding experience for the troop and the kids together to get away from the world and technology, regardless of what we actually do. The outdoor activities, particularly if the Girl Scouts can continue to try new things they haven’t done before, can work up through the ranks and keep them engaged, overcoming fears, and building confidence.”
To volunteers who are considering taking their troops on a camping adventure, Curtis wants to encourage them to enjoy the experience and not stress about the details.
“Have some grit and go with the flow,” he recommends. “There are so many factors that can go this way or that way . . . Nothing ever, ever goes to plan. It’s more about how do you create a framework or a structure of what we’re trying to get accomplished, but being able to go with the flow. As long as the girls spend time together, you learn some life skills, and everybody comes out safe and having a good time—those are the important things.”
If there is one thing that Curtis hopes his Girl Scouts learn from him, it’s that they will be “able to take care of themselves. I’ve noticed this with my Senior girls, but even when they were in late middle school, they were in this transition. When you go to camps, you start to realize that you, as a leader, don’t have to do much anymore. They know the drill of how to prepare the food, they know how to do the dishes, they know how to pack up, they know how to clean,” he proudly says.
One of Curtis’s favorite memories with Girl Scouts occurred when his troop met families on a search for Bigfoot at Laurel Park!
He remembers, “After it got dark, the families were all crawling out through the woods, making calls they had all recorded for Bigfoot. Our girls found that to be a rather amusing form of entertainment. The families said they spotted some glowing eyes out in the woods.”
Their Girl Scout troop’s next adventure will be to find Bigfoot for themselves.
He says, “So now when we go out for our Spring Camp Out, that is on our to-do list, bring our own supplies, and do our own Bigfoot hunting.”
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