Sometimes, there is no better teacher than the great outdoors — and that’s why Girl Scouts in Beaufort County will hopefully be spending more time outside, according to directors.

The Girl Scouts of the Coastal Pines stated in a press release that recent studies have shown girls do not spend enough time outdoors. This summer, directors at Coastal Pines are trying to ramp up their outdoor adventure agenda, and camps in Beaufort County have been following suit.

Deborah Brady, membership director of Beaufort, Pitt and Martin counties, said there are many opportunities in Beaufort County for girls to get outside and experience all that it has to offer with girl scouts. Camp Hardee, a Girl Scout camp in Blounts Creek, holds weeklong camps throughout the summer. The camp, located on the south side of the Pamlico River, includes almost 100 acres of riverfront property and four camping cabins. Brady said it’s serene, peaceful and occasionally scattered with dolphin sightings.

“It’s camping in the 21^st Century. Camp Hardee has a beautiful lodge and heated and air-conditioned cabins. You can be outside all day and at the end of an outdoor adventure, you can still sleep comfortably,” Brady said.

Girl Scouts of the Coastal Pines has also added more outdoor badges to its program in hopes of increasing the amount of time spent outdoors. Girls now have the chance to obtain a paddle badge, archery badge, canoeing badge and more, according to Brady. Brady hopes that opportunities at Camp Hardee will expose girls to activities they’ve never been able to try before.

“It’s about getting them outside away from technology. Technology is, of course, in our lives, and it’s great, but we need to take time away from it and learn how to appreciate others, try new things and expand our imaginations.

“It’s important to do things we wouldn’t have the chance to do sitting in front of TV,” Brady said.

There are still many summer camping trips available this summer, and there are camping opportunities for Girl Scouts all year long.

For more information about camps and registration, go to www.nccoastalpines.org or call 252-717-6527.