Above the Rim — At Cloud Rim, Girl Scouts learn about outdoors and more

Nestled high in the Wasatch Mountains among a forest of pine and aspen resides the Girl Scouts of Utah's Camp Cloud Rim.

Boasting stunning views, a 10-acre crystal-clear glacial lake, a lodge complete with an art studio, pottery wheels, photo developing lab, a natural and man-made climbing wall and camping equipment in addition to canoes, sailboats and wind-surfing equipment— the camp is geared toward teaching young women how to be independent and appreciate the out-of-doors.

More than 100 girls on a weekly basis visit the camp for two-day, one- or two-week camps throughout the summer. The camp, which is celebrating its 70th year, is responsible for serving Utah and Nevada's 10,000 Girl Scouts.

Girls ages 7-17 come to the camp, which features art and high adventure educational experiences for the girls.

But that isn't all they are there to learn.

Jessie Pechmann, 20, or Sparrow, as she is known to her campers, is a lifetime Girl Scout. She has been a part of the Girl Scouting program in Utah since she was 5 or 6 years old. A third-year counselor at the camp, Pechmann believes the girls are learning lessons that they aren't even aware of as they participate in camp activities.

"This teaches them (the girls) to be more independent," said Pechmann. "They see they can do things by themselves despite being young girls."

But the camp isn't just for the fearless. In the Two of Us camp, young girls (from first to third grade) are encouraged to come with their mothers or a special adult female and experience the camp together. Cheri Beck, the spokeswoman for the group, believes this is an important aspect of getting young girls to become more independent and to gain the confidence to come on their own, but if they aren't feeling ready to venture to the camp on their own, the have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with family.

"Families enjoy this because they get to be up here and see what the girls are experiencing," said Beck. "It's a nice intro for younger girls into camp. It helps teach them it's a safe place."

The girls spill out of the lodge to their activities after breakfast. A group of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders is going rock climbing for the first time. As they head over to "the granite cliff" as they call it, the girls bubble with anticipation.