By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

A favorite spot in Southeast Missouri for many girls and generations of women will open its gates once again this summer.

Activities at the Latonka Program Center (known to many as Girl Scout Camp Latonka) will resume on Aug. 1. The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland announced Monday that while events were “temporarily suspended” due to the aftermath of this spring’s historic flood, the camp will open its gates next month.

“Activities had been suspended during the restoration process from the historic flooding that affected the Lake Wappapello area in May. All facilities at the program center – including the waterfront, challenge course and camping units - will be available to Girl Scout groups and community groups,” the statement said.

To help get the facility “back into shape,” a special clean-up day is planned for Saturday, Aug. 13. Among the “chores” that need to be completed include raking leaves, clearing trails, cleaning cabins and shower houses and other tasks around the property. Volunteers, girl and adults members who would like to participate are invited to become involved in the effort.

The Latonka Program Center Clean-Up Day will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 13.

Volunteers may want to bring work gloves and tools such as rakes and pruning shears if they have them.

Volunteers may bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the clean up is finished and Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland will provide beverages, watermelon and ice cream for dessert. It is stressed registration is required for the clean-up day so that the council can anticipate the number of people participating.

In addition, adults will need to attend with girls in order to provide adult supervision.

To register for the event, please contact Sandy Vaughn, Property/Risk Manager, at svaughn@girlscoutsmoheartland.org or call 1-877-312-4764 ext. 1514 no later than Wednesday August 10.

Girl Scout Camp Latonka is celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer. The gates at the camp were opened for the first time to greet girls in July 1951.

Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland was created in through the merger of Cotton Boll and four other Missouri Girl Scout Councils. The new council includes all of the former Cotton Boll area, and stretches to the Oklahoma and Kansas borders and north past Columbia and Fulton. Its headquarters is in Springfield, with service centers in Dexter, Joplin, Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau.

Photos Above: Top Photo – The campfire circle near the shore of Lake Wappapello at the Latonka Program Center; Bottom Photo – the Dining Hall at Latonka. (File photos by Annabeth Miller)