History of Camp Whippoorwill

For over a century, the land known as Camp Whippoorwill has been rich with stories, adventure, and tradition. Long before it became a Girl Scout camp, it was home to Susquehanna Native Americans, who valued its rolling hills, forests, and life-giving spring along the Magothy River—a spring that still flows through camp today.

In the early 1900s, the land transformed from farmland to a boys’ camp before being purchased by the Baltimore Girl Scouts in 1928 for $15,000. That same year, Camp Whippoorwill welcomed its first campers—75 girls who slept in tents, carried water from the spring, and spent their days exploring the outdoors.

Over the decades, the camp grew alongside the girls who called it home. Cabins replaced tents, the iconic Lodge was built, and traditions like waterfront adventures, outdoor cooking, and creative arts flourished. Even in challenging moments—like the 1939 fire that destroyed the original farmhouse—the Girl Scout community came together, rebuilding through determination (and cookie sales!).

From wartime service in the 1940s to hands-on craftsmanship in the 1950s and 60s, Camp Whippoorwill has always been a place where girls learn, lead, and connect—with nature and with each other.

Though much has changed in 100 years, the spirit of Camp Whippoorwill remains the same: a place where lifelong memories are made, leadership begins, and the outdoors inspires every generation.

Memories of Whippoorwill Girl Scout Camp by Betty Cooke

This the most recent Magothy River Association Water Trail Video: 100 year-old Betty Cooke shares her girl scout memories of Whippoorwill camp on the Magothy River in 1937. Interview by Paul Spadaro. Directed by Charles Germain. June 2024. With the cooperation of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and the support of Jay and Susan Crawford.