Girl Scout History Project

Embroidered patch depicting a log cabin, trees, a flagpole with a red and white flag, and text reading CAMP WINONA GSCNC on a green background, all within a brown border—a charming tribute to Girl Scout dedication at Camp Winona.
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Girl Scout Camp Winona Dedication

On September 16, 1956, the Girl Scout Council of Prince George’s County dedicated their resident camp, Hughesville Camp, later named Camp Winona. The camp opened on 178 acres, becoming an active facility for the Nation’s Capital Girl Scouts and accommodating over 1,000 girls annually after renovations post-tornado in 2002.

Ann Robertson
2–3 minutes
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Seventy years ago, on September 16, 1956, the Girl Scout Council of Prince George’s County dedicated their new resident camp in Hughesville, Maryland.

A large group of people, including children holding an American flag, gather outdoors near leafless trees, possibly for a dedication ceremony or community event at Camp Winona. The scene appears to be from a past era, possibly the mid-20th century.
Hughesville Camp, September 16, 1956.

Shifting Council Borders

Girl Scouts in the Washington DC region began when the first troop was established in 1913. The Washington DC Girl Scout Council was chartered in 1917.

As the movement grew in the Nation’s Capital, officials decided it would be more efficient to break into individual, self-governing councils for each surrounding county.

Prince George’s County, Maryland, was the first to separate in 1935. Its name changed to Girl Scouts of Southern Maryland when St. Mary’s County joined the council in 1957.

Cover of a booklet titled Annual Report Girl Scout Council, Prince Georges County, Maryland, 1938 with a decorative border around the text, reflecting the dedication of its members and celebrating milestones such as Camp Winona.
A 1961 annual report cover for the Girl Scout Council of Southern Maryland featuring a black-and-white photo of a girl sitting on rocks at Camp Winona, her expression reflecting the dedication and spirit of exploration as she looks out at the scenic landscape.

Charles and Calvert County Girl Scouts joined the Southern Maryland council in 1961, but the council name did not change.

Charles and Calvert County Girl Scouts joined the Southern Maryland council in 1961, but the council name did not change.

Circular patch with a sailboat, sun, fish, and the words: SOUTHERN MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 10, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARYS, GIRL SCOUTS in blue, red, and yellow stitching—dedication to Camp Winona shines through every detail of this vibrant design.

By 1963, national and local Girl Scout officials reversed course and decided that reuniting the counties into one council would be more efficient–and end the continuing problem of competing cookie sales.

So Southern Maryland; Northern Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; and the National Capital Girl Scout Council (Washington DC + Montgomery County, Maryland) came together as the Nation’s Capital Girl Scout Council.

One further name change came in 2006. As part of the national realignment and renaming program, Nation’s Capital Girl Scout Council became the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital?

Why? So people looking in phone books for “Girl Scouts” would be able to find their local council. (Who remembers phone books?)

Back to 1956–The Hughesville Camp

When the new 178-acre resident Girl Scout camp opened 70 years ago, it was still known as “the Hughesville Camp.”

Several names were proposed for the new camp, including Stony Hill, Catch as Catch Can and Jennifer Farm, before settling on Winona, a Native American name reportedly meaning “first-born daughter.” 

Round embroidered patch embodying the spirit of Camp Winona, featuring a Native American profile in tan, vibrant feathers, and text: Camp Winona, Hughesville, MO. The feather labels—Laurel, Holly, Cedar Ridge, Aspen, Pine Hill—reflect the dedication of each camp group. Set against a green background with a yellow border for a classic finish.
Early Camp Winona Patch.
An embroidered patch showcases a log cabin, trees, and a waving red and white flag. The text “CAMP WINONA GSCNC” appears on green grass beneath a blue sky, all framed by a brown border—a vibrant symbol of dedication to the Camp Winona experience.
Current Camp Winona Patch.

Troop 9 was the first to camp there.

A group of girls and women, some in uniforms, gather and smile outside a pitched tent in a wooded area at Camp Winona, their camaraderie reflecting the dedication that defines this vibrant summer camp setting.
Troop 9 welcomes visitors to Camp Winona, September 16, 1956.

Today, Camp Winona remains an active, year-around camp for the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital.

A newspaper article titled Southern Maryland Girl Scouts camp, sing together from July 2003. It features two photos: one of Girl Scouts playing under a parachute, and another of two girls petting a rabbit at the Marys Go Round petting zoo at Camp Winona. The article highlights the dedication and camaraderie shared by campers throughout their summer experiences.

It was extensively renovated following a tornado in 2002 and now hosts more than 1,000 girls each summer.

Who’s been to Camp Winona? I would love to have more photos!

© 2026 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.

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