Chilling out and feeling ‘girl power’

Paiton Grayson is no stranger to cramped quarters: The 13-year-old shares an Alta Loma household filled to the brim with her six siblings and their parents. So when the Spanish Trails Council offered the ninth-grader’s Girl Scout troop a chance to head to Camp Scherman to spend several days at a “chill out” session, Paiton was the first to sign up.

“There were a lot of girls in the cabin at camp, but I was used to that kind of thing,” says Paiton. “It was actually calm in comparison to being at home.”

Paiton’s mother, Toni, works part time as a physical therapist while her father works at a Verizon Wireless call center to support the large family.

“It changed her life,” Toni Grayson said of Paiton’s experience at camp. “She’s not so shy anymore and is more open to trying new things. Sending her to camp renewed her interest in the Girl Scouts and the whole girl-power thing.”

“Sleep-away camp gives kids an ability to learn how to live and work together,” says camp director Joyce Knoll.

“Being away from their parents, girls are able to take responsibility for their belongings and figure out how to solve their own problems in a safe place,” Knoll adds.

Roughly 300 girls ages 6 to 18 attended camp this summer during one of its nine sessions, which range from five to 13 days. Located near the San Jacinto mountains in Idyllwild, Scherman allows kids to explore the museum on the property, climb at a 45-degree angle without a rope on a “rock scramble” and go “swamping” -- capsizing canoes for fun in the water.

“Archery was actually pretty easy,” Paiton says of her favorite activity. “I just thought it was really cool. I’d never done anything like that before.”

Camp Scherman bases its philosophy on the Girl Scout Law, challenging campers to “be the best they can be.” Girls aren’t required to be Scouts to attend the program, though they must register to join a troop after camp lets out. While at camp, those who are Scouts can work on activities that help them acquire coveted badges.

“At an all-girls camp, the kids aren’t competing or looking for attention from boys,” Knoll says. “They’re not constantly worried that their hair is looking OK. They can go out and play and be who they want to be.”

Girl Scouts Spanish Trails Council is one of 60 organizations receiving financial support this year through the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Campaign.

More than 8,000 underprivileged children will go to camp this summer, thanks to $1.5 million raised last year. The annual fundraising campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $1.1 million in contributions at 50 cents on the dollar.

Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (213) 237-5771. To make donations by credit card, go to latimes.com/summercamp. To send checks, use the attached coupon. Do not send cash.

Unless requested otherwise, gifts of $50 or more will be acknowledged in The Times.

amy.kaufman@latimes.com