In 1922,Troop 1 in Somerville was formed; Mrs. Agnes DeWitt
volunteered to lead and the rest is history. As early as 1935,
troops were chartered in South Bound Brook, Martinsville,
Middlesex, Bound Brook, Flemington and Somerset Hills. By 1957
there were councils established in Flemington, Bound Brook, Somerset
Hills and Somerville. After two years of study and planning, the
councils were joined under a "green umbrella" and Rolling Hills
Girl Scout Council was formed in 1959.
Today, over 8,000 girls are served by more than 3,500 adult
volunteers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties and Middlesex Borough.
A strong emphasis is placed on contemporary programs that develop
girls' skills, confidence and self-esteem. Community service
continues as a hallmark of our Girl Scout program as well as
outdoor environmental education.
The staff and volunteers of the earliest Rolling Hills Council office
first operated in a collection of tiny rooms above Italian Home
Products, a food store in Raritan. The aroma of spaghetti competed
for attention and the large bathroom served as the duplication
center. In the sixties, expanding office needs led us to a house
on Route 202 in Bridgewater. Each board member bought a chair for
the board room so the seats would be worthy of the handsome table,
also a gift. Troop 1 gave a set of dishes, still in use. With
girl and adult membership growing at a rapid pace, so too did the
need for support services. In 1990, the Council Service Center,
complete with a Girl Scout store, the Large Board Room and the
Blumberg Library and Resource Room opened its doors on Route 28
in North Branch.
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Outdoor instruction and camping in the very early days took place
on estates of friendly neighbors. Later we operated three day camps:
Betsy Ross on the historical site in Bound Brook, Betty Bright in
Hunterdon County and Camp DeWitt in Neshanic. Lack of plumbing,
electricity and transportation did not deter the enthusiastic
campers. Camp DeWitt grew from 26 acres of rolling hills and poison
ivy to 151 acres and new camp buildings like Hawley Cabin. By 1971,
day camping was consolidated at Camp DeWitt which now boasted a
swimming pool. Today, the new 2,700 square foot Program Center and
olympic-sized swimming pool provide girls with outstanding facilities
for skill building, ecological study, camping fun and leadership
opportunities year-round.
A residential camp was also part of Rolling Hills' dream. After many
years of planning, fund raising and volunteer hours of clearing land,
painting and scrubbing, Hidden Valley Camp in Equinunk, PA, became a
reality in 1971. Over the years improvements have included a new
staff house and dining hall, camping sites and shower houses, sailing
and canoeing facilities and on-site horseback riding. Girl Scouts and
families continue to experience the outdoors at our camps through the
careful planning and work of Council Boards, volunteers and staff.
All these additions, improvements and expansions help Rolling
Hills serve a growing population, bring the Girl Scout program
to the underserved in programs such as the Girl Scouting Beyond Bars
program, and carry on the traditions
of that very first Troop 1 in Somerville. They have been made
possible through the contributions - financial, administrative and
spiritual - of our many families, friends, corporate supporters,
advisors, volunteers, and most importantly, girls.
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