Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council
#4 Ginger Creek Parkway - Glen Carbon, IL 62034
(618) 692-0692 - (800) 345-6858 - Fax (618) 692-0685 - gsrbc@riverbluffs.org
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Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council #4 Ginger Creek Parkway - Glen Carbon, IL 62034 (618) 692-0692 - (800) 345-6858 - Fax (618) 692-0685 - gsrbc@riverbluffs.org
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A great way to do something out of the ordinary is to participate on a trip or tour. Not only can they be educational but they can also be a fun and exciting change of pace for your group. Every effort has been made to list places from various areas for the convenience of each Girl Scout within River Bluffs Council. Keep in mind each trip and tour listed may not be appropriate for all age levels, so check each description to see if it suits your group.
When looking for places to travel to, use all of your resources and not just this booklet. Check your mail for flyers or announcements from companies that are just opening. They might give a tour to introduce their business. Watch for announcements in Girl Scout publications about new opportunities and browse through the Internet to discover more prospects. Listen to the people around you at the grocery store, doctor’s office or service unit meetings. Someone may have visited somewhere special. If you find somewhere interesting, please let us know so we can add it to this resource.
Remember the following when planning trips:
An Extended Trip is defined as trips of three (3) or more nights, excluding holidays, which exceeds 175 miles one-way of hometown. If your group is planning an Extended Trip, at least one adult attending the trip must have completed the Council-Sponsored Extended Trip Training. This training is valid for three years.
Check Safety-Wise for adult-girl ratios, safety tips, etc.
Make sure Council policies and standards have been met.
Wear the Girl Scout uniform or other clothing that recognizes you as a Girl Scout.
Complete Permission Slips for each girl.
Don’t forget to bring a first aid kit and Health History forms along!
Use appropriate Girl/Adult Planning to assure Girl Scouts have a great time!
Follow up with a thank you note to show your appreciation in true Girl Scout style!
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Collaborations and Award
Opportunities
This is just a very small example of how businesses, and organizations, are willing and have the ability to assist troop with completing requirements for Try-Its, badges and Interest Projects. We are working with many to collaborate and establish partnerships to make this easier for all troops. However, with all the variety and quantity GSRBC has not been able to do this with all of the resources listed in this booklet. We encourage you to work with the resource and ask if they can assist the girls with requirements. All you have to do is ask. Have fun! |
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Air and Space Museum – has own patch program; exhibits will help Brownies with the Movers Try It, Junior Girl Scouts with the Aerospace badge requirements
Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Children’s Worldways Museum – in 2007 they will travel to your meeting place as they are remodeling and closed until further notice
Council Approved Horse Stables
Dierbergs School of Cooking (Edwardsville) - Creative Cooking IP
Edwardsville Children’s Museum
Gateway Arch programs through National Park Service
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Pottery Hollow
Principia College Observatory Telescope
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Girl Scouts
of River Bluffs Council Properties
For more information: 4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen Carbon, IL 62034 - (618) 692-0692 / (800) 345-6858
Camp Butterfly11023 Pleasant Hill Church Road, Farmington, MO 63640 Open April 1st through October 31st.
Camp Butterfly is 960 acres of woods and rocky bluffs. Known as the "Big Sky" place, its endless, sprawling lands embrace two large spring-fed lakes: Rainbow Lake and Butterfly Lake. Enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at Camp Butterfly, including swimming, canoeing, archery, paddleboating, sailing, fishing, volleyball, basketball and hiking. Facilities include one MO-PAC caboose unit, one cabin unit, one treehouse cabin unit, one platform tent unit, three tent pitching sites, one combination caboose and platform tent unit, and a commissary with commercial kitchen. No winterized units in camp.
Camp ChanYaTa9157 Klondike Road, Worden, IL 62097 Open Year-Round
This 165-acre site provides a place of many moods and different environments. It's large enough to provide plenty of space to carry out a variety of programs simultaneously, yet small enough to invite discovery into its variety and mystery. Special activities to enjoy at Camp ChanYaTa include canoeing, archery, paddleboating, fishing, and hiking.
Housing facilities include one winterized lodge with commercial kitchen, bunkhouse with large showerhouse, two cabin units, one platform chalet unit and two tent-pitching sites. (Lodge, cabin and platform chalet units are fully accessible.)
4725 Girl
Scout Road, Edwardsville, IL 62025 Open Year-Round
Camp Torqua is 72 acres of meadows, rolling hills, and woods located near Edwardsville, Illinois. The winterized "Pumpkin Patch" program center and five cabins provide a friendly, comfortable, and accessible setting for groups.
Additional housing includes two winterized troop houses, one cabin unit and one tent-pitching site.
Program activities include a fitness course, archery, hiking trails, pond exploration and a Team Challenge Course consisting of a unique series of outdoor obstacles. Camp Wassatoga15230 N. Blue Point Trail, Effingham, IL 62401 Open Year-RoundCamp Wassatoga is a cozy wooded camp is located on Lake Sara in Effingham, Illinois. At this camp, platform tent and primitive tent units are available from April 1st through October 31st. The lodge is available all year.Program activities include archery, hiking trails and canoeing and fishing on Lake Sara. |
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Area Campgrounds,Non-Council: Western Side
Beaver Dam State Park 14548 Beaver Dam Lane, Plainview, IL 62685 (7 miles Southwest of Carlinville, IL) 217-854-8020
Carlyle Lake (various sites) (877) 833-6777 - http://www.carlylelake.com/Camping/
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
20100 Hazlet
Park Rd., Carlyle, IL 62231
Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site Route #1 321 W. Park Road, Ellis Grove, IL 62241 618-859-3741
3321 Highway 111,
Granite City, IL 62040
Route 100, Grafton, IL 62037 - 618.786.3323 |
Area Campgrounds, Non-Council: Eastern Side
Lake Sara Camp Ground 15482 N. Wildwood Dr., Effingham, IL 62401 868-2964
Graywood Resort & Recreation Park 19892 Camp Spring Rd., Ashmore, IL 61920 (217) 345-3448
Hebron Hills Camping 14349 N. Co. Rd. 2350E, Oakland, IL 61943 (217) 346-3385
Lake Shelbyville 315 E. Main Shelbyville, IL 62565 (217) 774-2244 or 800-874-3529
Wilderness Lake Camping Center 13295 E Wilderness Rd., Martinsville, IL 62442 |
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Visit: http://www.hikercentral.com/campgroundstates/il.html to see a list of Illinois campgrounds, listed by region. |
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Attractions Within River Bluffs Council: Western Side
Information: http://greatriverroad.com/SecondaryPages/ferries.htm
Brussels FerryLocation: 1 mile west of Grafton, IllinoisHours: 24 hours a day/ 7 days a weekInformation: (618) 786-3636This free ferry crosses the Illinois River and connects Rt. 100 in Jersey County, Illinois and Calhoun County, Illinois.
Grafton FerryLocation: The foot of Illinois Rt. 3, above public boat ramp. Hours: Mon. – Thurs.: 6 am - 8 pm, Fri.: 6 am - 10 pm, Saturday: 8 am - 10 pm, Sundays: 10 am - 9 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Toll: $7.50 one-way, $4 for motorcycles, $3 for bicycles A toll ferry that connects Grafton, Illinois to St. Charles, Missouri.
Golden Eagle FerryLocation: off of County Road 1 in Calhoun County Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 5:30 am-8:00 pm, Weekends & Holidays: 8:00am-9:00pm. Toll: Car or pickup truck $6 one-way or $11 round trip. Motorcycles $4, bicycles or pedestrians $3. Information: (618) 883-2217 A toll ferry near Brussels, Illinois which crosses the Mississippi River into St. Charles County, Missouri. Kampsville FerryLocation: Rt. 108, Kampsville, Illinois Hours: 24 hours a day/ 7days a week Information: (618) 653-4518 A free ferry that crosses the Illinois River and connects Rt. 108 between Calhoun and Greene counties.
Winfield FerryLocation: Near Batchtown, Illinois Hours: Apr-Oct: 5:00 am-9:00 pm, Nov.-March: 5:00 am-7:00 pm; Winter hours: 5:00 am-7:00 pm Toll: Car or pickup truck $6 one-way or $11 round trip. Motorcycles $4, bicycles or pedestrians $3. Information: (618) 396-2408 A toll ferry located south of Lock and Dam 25, it crosses the Mississippi River south of Winfield, Missouri. |
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Museums Within Western River Bluffs Council
Air & Space Museum Curtiss Steinberg Rd, Cahokia, IL. - 618-332-3664 - www.airandspace.museum.orgHours: Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Group tours can be arranged for other times. The museum features preservation and display of historic air and space craft and artifacts. Educational programs are offered to foster the spirit of flight in today’s youth and in future generations. Alton Museum of History & Art2809 College Avenue, Alton, Illinois 62002 - (618) 462-2763 - http://www.altonmuseum.com/Hours: Monday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm; Saturday & Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm Admission: $2.50 (adults) & $1.00 (children). Call at least 2 weeks in advance. Built in 1832, this museum has historical collections of the Alton area, some dating to the Civil War period. Also featured are rotating exhibits and the river display. The museum consists of Loomis Hall and the Koenig House. Some exhibits at Loomis Hall include: The Wadlow Room, the Black Pioneers, the Underground Railroad, the Confederate Prison, Early Industries, the Early Railroads, the Piasa Bird Legend, Lost Alton, the Riverboat, the Civil War, the Pioneer Room, the Lewis & Clark Expedition and the Wood River Massacre.
Bethalto Historical Museum 124 W. Main Street, Bethalto, Illinois 62010 (just north of Erwin Plegge Blvd.) - 618-377-9944 Hours: Saturdays 1 pm-4 pm, or by appointment - Free Admission Historical exhibits housed in Bethalto’s former village hall. Located next door is a renovated log cabin. It once housed the police, fire and water departments and later the public library. The city’s tiny one room jail can still be seen today. The Museum contains exhibits on Bethalto’s past including the role of its citizens in World Wars I and II. Other exhibits include the founding of the town, the annual Homecoming Celebration and a recreated classroom from the past.
Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site & Museum 107 Elm Street, Cahokia, Illinois 62206 - (618) 332-1782 Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 9 am - 5 pm; Closed on all major holidays. Call ahead for group visits Free Admission The original courthouse was built around 1740 and served as a center of political activity in the Old Northwest Territory. The original structure was dismantled in 1901, re-erected twice, and reconstructed on its original site in 1939.
Calhoun County Historical Society Located in the Hardin Farm Bureau Building, Hardin - 618-576-2660 Hours: Wednesday 8 am-4 pm, Fridays 9 am-12:30 pm A small museum with many artifacts covering life in Calhoun County's past. Katherine Dunham Museum1005 Pennsylvania Avenue, East St. Louis, Illinois 62201 - (618) 271-3367 - http://www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/kdunham/
Free Admission; Donations
Accepted
Visit this museum which gathers art from Africa, South America, and the West Indies. The exhibits include tapestry, paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, costumes, and apparel.
Center for American ArcheologyP.O. Box 366, Kampsville, Illinois 62053 - (618) 653-4316 - www.caa-archeology.orgHours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday: 12 pm-5 pm Free Admission; Donations are encouraged Established in the 1950s, the CAA has been at the forefront of archeological training. Thousands have participated in research designed by CAA. Tours are available. Call in advance for group tours. Tour cost is dependent on activities chosen. Activities are hands on and include: prehistoric technology or environ-mental issues. Girl Scout programs are available.
Children’s Museum of Edwardsville 722 Holyoake Rd., PO Box 194, Edwardsville, IL 62025 - 618-692-2094 - www.childrens-museum.net Hours: Tuesday, Friday & Saturday: 10 am-3:30 pm Admission: $3 per person The Children’s Museum is working to serve the needs and interests of children by providing exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity and motivate learning. Group field trips are available: Self-guided - $3.00. Self-guided plus an activity - $4.00 plus a $20.00 non-refundable deposit for each group.
Clinton County Historical Museum 1091 Franklin St., Carlyle, IL 62231 - 618-594-3430 Hours: By appointment only, Closed Holidays Free Admission The museum was once home to Sydney Breese an Illinois Supreme Court Justice. Sydney moved to Illinois in 1818 where he settled. The museum represents Clinton County. Items date back to 1825 when Clinton County was founded.
Collinsville Historical Museum 406 West Main Street Collinsville 62234 - 618-344-1112 - http://www.collinsvillemuseum.org Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 11 am – 3 pm, Friday & Saturday: 12 pm – 4 pm The collection tells the story of the history of Collinsville. Hours are limited so call in advance for hours of operation.
The Fulkerson Mansion & Farm Museum 1 Mile North of Jerseyville on Route 67, Jerseyville, Illinois 62052 - 618-498-5590 Hours: by appointment Cost: $5 per person The Mansion is furnished with antiques and artifacts of the period with a special display of Colonel Fulkerson’s personal Civil War items, Lafayette Baker’s Civil War artifacts and the Thomas Lincoln Anvil. The Farm Museum contains many rare agricultural items and equipment with emphasis on large, rare farm steam traction engines, utilized for plowing the prairie, threshing the grain, and for powering early sawmills. The museum features Reeves steam engines and plows.
Glen Carbon Historical Museum 124 School St., Glen Carbon, IL 62034 - 618-288-7271 - http://www.glen-carbon.il.us/TheVillage/museum.htm
Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm Free Admission Visitors to the museum will be treated to displays and memorabilia of early Glen Carbon that have been donated by citizens of the Village. The museum has a series of books about local prehistory and history. Also on display are artifacts from a Middle Woodland Village site and the Yanda Log Cabin.
Jersey County Historical Museum Cheney Mansion 601 N. State Street, Jerseyville, Illinois 62052 - 618-498-4613
Hours:
Thursday and Friday: 1 pm – 4 pm; Saturday 10 am - 4 pm;
Groups by appointment The Jersey County Historical Museum is located at the Cheney Mansion site just north of downtown Jerseyville. The Mansion was built after the Civil War and incorporated the ‘Little Red House.’ ‘The Little Red House,” constructed in 1827, was the first frame structure in Jersey County. The museum is operated by the Jersey County Historical Society
Labor and Industry Museum 123 North Church St., Belleville, IL 62220 - 618-222-9430 - www.laborandindustrymuseum.orgHours: Saturday’s 10 am-4 pm or by appointment The museum contains collections of photographs, documents and patents related to the labor and industry in Belleville.
Madison County Historical Museum 715 N. Main, Edwardsville, Illinois 62025 - (618) 656-7562 - http://www.madisoncountymuseum.orgHours: Wednesday – Friday: 9 am – 4 pm, Sunday: 1 pm-4 pm. Closed holidays. Located in the brick Weir house, an 1836 residence, it has been open since 1964. The three-story house is the second-oldest brick house in the city and is considered a good example of Federal-style architecture. Built by Dr. John S. Weir, who journeyed from Boston to Edwardsville in a covered wagon after receiving his medical degree. The museum features displays of Indian and pioneer artifacts and a library of historic materials for genealogical and other types of research. The museum is operated by the Madison County Historical Society. Please call in advance to arrange tours.
National Great Rivers Museum
Hwy 143 at Locks & Dam Way, East Alton - 618-462-6976 Tours: 618-465-6676 http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rivers/museum.html Open daily 9 am - 5 pm
Closed Thanksgiving,
Christmas & New Year’s Eve, and Christmas & New Year's Day The natural ecosystem of the Mississippi River and how humans interact with it is one of the major themes of the museum. Displays include: a model of the bluffs and an aquarium, both showing the different life along and in the Mississippi River. The mechanics of the river and how soil is made, erosion and how working models of the river help scientists make decisions affecting the river are explained. At one station, visitors can estimate how much fresh water their household uses a day and at another visitors can send e-mail postcards from their hometown.
The St. Clair County Historical Society Museum Home 701 East Washington Street, Belleville, Illinois 62220 - (618) 234-0600 - http://www.stcchs.org/Hours: Weekdays 10 am-2 pm; Closed Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays. Admission: $2 for adults; $1 ages 6-12. Built in 1866, this home was acquired by the Society in 1963. Architecturally, it is a Victorian adaptation of the earlier Greek Revival style and the floor plan is typical of the homes of that period. The house features many products of the City of Belleville. Of special interest is the children’s room with displays of toys, dolls, & children’s furniture. Rotating displays of clothing & miscellaneous items are in an upstairs exhibit room. Tours are available upon reservation.
School of Nations Museum Principia College, Elsah, IL 62028 Mailing Address: 13201 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, IL 63131 - 618-374-5259 Hours: Groups tours by appointment only. Free Admission This museum features objects from around the world. Items on display show the lifestyle and culture of many different cultures. Guided tours, permanent and temporary exhibitions, children's hands-on museum, visual aids program are just some of the things to do at the museum. Contact Joan Bernard Bradley for more information.
Shell History Museum Route 111 & Madison St., Roxana, IL 62087 - 618-255-3718 Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am-4 pm; Call in advance for group tours. Free Admission The Shell History Museum offers a visual history of the Shell Wood River refinery from its beginning in 1917 to the present. With over 1,000 artifacts, early photographs, including vintage gasoline dispensers, glass motor oil bottles, Shell product advertising, and other memorabilia, the museum tells the story of the achievements of the Shell people and the impact of the refinery on neighboring communities.
Southwestern Farm & Home Museum Shipman Community Park, Route 16, Shipman, Illinois 62685 - (618) 836-5840 Hours: Friday - Sunday from 1 pm-4 pm; Group Tours by appointment, call in advance. Admission: Adults, $2; Ages 6-16, $1; Under 6, free. This is a living memorial to the unsung farmers who have made our Americans the most abundantly fed people in the world. It presents historical & educational adventure to visitors interested in farming of today and yesterday. Also home of the Little Red School, the only one-room school in Macoupin County that has been preserved.
Village of Elsah Museum 26 La Salle Street, PO Box 117, Elsah, IL - 618-374-1059
Hours:
Open April through October: Thursday - Sunday: 1 pm – 4 pm Located in the Elsah Village Hall, which was erected in 1887, and operated by Historic Elsah Foundation, the Village of Elsah Museum covers the history of the town from its founding by James Semple in 1853. Visitors will find exhibits covering the varied architectural styles found throughout the town, Principia College, nearby New Piasa Chautauqua, tools and other implements used by past residents. Special exhibits are held periodically.
Wood River Museum and Visitors Center 40 W Ferguson Ave., Wood River, IL - 618-254-1993 For group bookings, call: 618-254-7442 http://www.woodriver.org/Community/Museum.htm
Hours:
Thursday & Friday: 1 pm -
4 pm; Saturday 10 am - 4 pm; Closed during January. The Wood River Museum & Visitor’s Center allows visitors to explore the town’s varied past. A Memorial Garden and Courtyard is adjacent to the museum and features plants native to Illinois and a gazebo dedicated to Lewis and Clark. Exhibits in the museum highlight the early days of the town including the impact of Standard Oil on the community, the wild days of Benbow City, and life during the various eras of the town. Significant events in Wood River’s history such as the Flood of 1915 and the opening of the world’s largest swimming pool in 1926 are covered. Lewis and Clark are featured and visitors can view a video of their journey and see a model of Camp DuBois. |
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Sites to See Within Western River Bluffs Council
Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel 5800 Godfrey Street, (US Highway 67), Godfrey, Illinois 62035 - 618-468-3270 Built in 1854, the chapel is an authentic copy of typical New England church architecture and is on the National Registry of Historical Places. Tours are by appointment only. For more information please contact: Dottie Wickenhauser at 618-468-3270 or Media Services at 618-468-3220.
Berger-Kiel House 931 N 6th St., Mascoutah, IL 62258 - 618-566-2964 Hours: Call for reservations to visit the house. Admission: $2 donation The house is a 1 ½ story hall and parlor, log and frame home built around 1864 for a low income rural family.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site 30 Ramsey Street, Collinsville, IL 62234 - (618) 345-4999 - www.cahokiamounds.com Hours: Grounds open daily 8 am to dusk. Interpretive Center is open Wed.-Sun. from 9 am -5 pm Both are closed on all major holidays Admission: Free, although a donation of $2 per adult and $1 per child is suggested. Preserved here are the remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric Indian civilizations north of Mexico. Interpretive trails are marked and special educational programs are available to groups. Groups must have reservations and have adequate supervision. A gift shop and café are also on site. Picnic area & playground are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Camp DuBois
NE Corner of intersection of Routes 3 and 143, Wood River, IL
- 618-254-1993 Part of the Lewis & Clark State Historic site, this replica of the winter camp that started Lewis & Clark’s famous expedition is the first site on the National Lewis & Clark Historic Trail. Exhibits about the expedition and the history of Illinois are featured, and special events are held throughout the year. Visitors and other groups wishing to visit Camp DuBois should call the Wood River Museum and Visitors Center at 618-254-1993 to ensure that the site will be open.
CaTay’s Critters Petting Farm8689 D Road, Waterloo, IL 62298 - (618) 939-9615 Offers a variety of farm, native North American, and exotic animals for your petting and viewing enjoyment. When making reservations, ask for Christine Green. If you are working on award requirements, let Christine know and she will accommodate your needs. Cost is $5 per girl, no charge for leaders. Includes refreshments and tour with plenty of petting opportunities. Will travel upon request, call ahead for prices.
Church of the Holy Family 116 Church Street, Cahokia, IL 62206 - (618) 337-4548 or 332-1783 Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day: 10 am – 4 pm. Closed major holidays. Call in advance for tour. Free Admission Built in 1798, it is considered the oldest church west of the Alleghenies and is the oldest in Illinois. The restored French Verticle Timber Church has gravesites believed to be the oldest occidental cemetery in the west. Allow at least 30 minutes to tour.
The Clark Bridge Connecting Alton, Illinois with West Alton, Missouri Often called the "Super Bridge," the Clark Bridge links Highways 367 and 67 in Missouri to Alton, Illinois. It replaced the old Clark Bridge that served the area from 1928 to 1994. Design work on the new cable-stayed bridge was started in 1985, and construction began in 1990. The bridge, which has four traffic lanes and two bike lanes, spans 4,260 feet across the Mississippi River. It is |
