The program brings together the opportunities of scouting with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, operator of the Wynn Nature Center at Mile 1.5 East Skyline Drive.

"Beth Trowbridge is the one organizing this and will have her CACS employees put on the program," Seaton said.

In addition to being assistant service unit manager for Kachemak Bay Girl Scouts, Trowbridge is acting director for CACS, the center's environmental educator and Wynn Nature Center's program coordinator.

"(Seaton and I) were discussing various ideas for how to keep girls interested and involved in scouting as well as trying to figure out when and where to do a day camp and I offered the use of the Wynn Nature Center as a place for a day camp over the summer," Trowbridge said. "The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense to use a resource such as the Wynn Nature Center to get the girls outside and keep them actively exploring the outdoors over the summer."

With the center spread over 140 acres of wildlife habitat and more than five miles of managed trails, there is plenty of outdoors to keep the girls busy, including activities to help the scouts progress toward badges and the Skills for Outdoor Survival patch.

"We will cover a wide variety of topics from exploring wildlife -- birds and mammals -- and forest habitats, to skills for hiking and camping in the outdoors, although we will not be camping, but there are many preliminary skills the scouts are required to master prior to doing various levels of camping and backpacking and we will be trying to cover these skills," Trowbridge said. "I'm sure we will do some outdoor nature crafts as well."

Still to be determined is whether the outdoor naturalist program will take the place of Girl Scout Day Camp, a summertime event in Homer for girls ages 5-13, both scouts and non-scouts.

Creating a summer outdoor naturalist program is a step toward encouraging area youngsters to spend more time in the outdoors.

"It gets them out a little further than the back yard and into the woods, finding out about what lives there and how they can live there, too," Seaton said.

Scouting and Wynn Nature Center were encouraging outdoor activities long before the "Leave No Child Inside" movement began gaining popularity.

"At the Wynn Nature Center, we have been providing programs for youth and adults to encourage them to get outside and learn more about their surroundings and just enjoy being outside for (more than) 10 years," Trowbridge said. "Sometimes over the course of the school year, especially in Alaska where we face some harsh winter weather and darkness, it is hard for troops to get their girls outside to accomplish this part of the Girl Scout mission. The summer is a great time to focus on outdoor exploration and I am so glad we are able to help make this happen in Homer."

The Girl Scout outdoor naturalist program's activities and schedule make it something that can be enjoyed by girls visiting the Homer area, as well as Homer girls who aren't leaving town during the summer months.

Hopefully, it also will fuel adult enthusiasm for scouting.

"It's been hard to find leaders. Usually there are girls interested in doing scouting if you can find someone willing to make the commitment and be reliable," Seaton said of the need for adult involvement.

Snacks aren't planned because of the brief session, but you can never be too sure with Girl Scouts.

"It's only an hour and a half, but we may have something special like doing s'mores," Seaton said.

Anyone wanting more information about the program or are interested in carpooling can call Seaton at 399-1353.

Speaking of summer scouting activities, Camp Kenai is happening July 30-Aug. 2. It is located at Camp Fire's Camp Kukshtaka in Cooper Landing and is for girls in grades 2-12; the four-day and three-night camp costs $175 per girl.

"They had a great response last year," Seaton said. "The handful of local girls that went last year had a great time and are all signed up for again this year.

For more information on Camp Kenai or to register, visit the Web at www.girlscoutsalaska.org, click on "camp."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.