Girl Scout Camp
Elizabeth Byrd Taylor was invited to hold the position of Swimming Instructor at the Girl Scout Summer Camp near Tampa, Florida. This telegram depicts the correspondence between Ms. Elizabeth Byrd Taylor and Dorris Morris. The summer camp was set to begin on June 17th, 1926 and conclude on July 17th, 1926. As a swimming instructor, Elizabeth would have been responsable for teaching swimming skills to beginning swimmers and advanced swimmers alike.
The Girl Scout Camp was located roughly 20 miles from Tampa, Fl. in Land of Lakes, Fl. The Girl Scout Camp was named Camp Fowler in honor of Ms. Maude Fowler, who donated the 25 acres of land for a Girl Scout campsite. Camp Fowler opened in 1925.The campsite was comprised of a large central meeting building, six cabing, a boat and a dock.
Camp Fowler was also inspired by the the Native American Indians. Many of the facilites on the camp site featured names of different Native American Indian tribes that were located in Florida. Some of the cabins were named Sioux or Seminole.
When in attendacne at Camp Fowler, young Girl Scouts could expect to be imursed in the experience of the Girl Scout campsite. The campsite offered a multitiude of activites for guests to participate in. These activites included swimming, canoeing and crafts. The campsite also allowed campers to gain skills such as cooking and housekeeping during their visit. After attending Camp Fowler, young Girl Scouts would return to their homes with the ability to cook and serve full meals, clean and houskeep, and contribute to managing their households.
Girl Scouting began in 1913 in Tampa, Fl. The begining of scouting in Tampa was a result of the orginaztion of Girl Scout Guides that Juliette Low created in Savannah, Ga. in 1912. At the start of the Girl Scout's history there were approximatley 450 scouts. The rising popularity of Girl Scouts and scouting led to the creation of Camp Fowler in 1925. Elizabeth Bryd Taylor was a part of the elitie group of young women who were invited to participate as instructors during the very first few years of the Camp Fowler, Girl Scout Camp.
Camp Fowler served the Girl Scout Community for many years and paved the way for young women to begin their lives as Girl Scouts and well functioning members of society. Camp Fowler has since closed.
Works Cited:
“Camp Fowler .” Girl Scout Camps in Florida, 18 Nov. 2000, http://www.vintagegirlscout.com/campFL.html.
Dervaes, Patti (2018) "Girl Scouting in Tampa is 75 Years Old," Sunland Tribune: Vol. 13 , Article 10.