Cultural exchange: International counselors help provide broader perspectives for Girl Scouts
July 28, 2025
JAMES CITY — When Julie Sekaninova first arrived in the United States to work at Camp Skimino, the Girl Scout camp in James City County, everything felt new, from the friendliness of strangers to the bathrooms.
“I remember my first week when I was excited about just little things: how the toilets look like here, the doorknobs, the showers,” she said.
Sekaninova, who is from the Czech Republic, is one of the many international counselors who come to the U.S. each summer through Camp America, a global program that places young adults in American camps. The program has worked with the Girl Scouts for more than 25 years, partnering to bring in staff for a range of roles, selected based on skills, availability and personality.
Being part of Camp America and being able to share her background has been very meaningful to Sekaninova, who said she believes travel and experiencing other cultures is crucial to self-growth.
“I think it’s really important (because) if you know lots of people from different cultures, then you learn lots about respect,” she said. “When you meet someone different, you have to respect the way they are raised, and you can’t just assume that the way you do it is the correct way or the right way. The more cultures you explore, the more people you meet, the bigger is your soul, and the more you grow inside.”
This is an excerpt; to read the full feature story from The Daily press, please visit dailypress.com.
