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“Stick to the Point” -Girl Scout Fencing Camp Julie is an 11th grader at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale and has been fencing for three years on the Varsity team. When asked how she got started in fencing Julie said she wanted to “do a sport that was different” and her high school was offering a new fencing program. She signed up as a freshman, got hooked and has been fencing ever since. Julie’s goal has always been “to run a fencing camp and share the fun of fencing with others” and that’s exactly what she did this summer.
At the camp the Girl Scouts learned to use the three fencing blades (saber, foil and epee) and participated in fencing games. The first two days the girls learned proper fencing technique, exercises, and three parries (blocks) for each blade. On the final day, each girl chose their favorite blade and competed in an electrically-scored tournament. Coach Stetsiv of the Bergen Fencing Club, as well as Coach John Quinn of the NHRHS Fencing Team graciously lent the variety of equipment necessary for all of the girls to get a hands-on experience with the three blades in dry (non-electrically scored) and electrically scored bouts (matches). The Saddle River Reformed Church ( Old Stone Church ) in Upper Saddle River provided the facility for the “Stick to the Point” camp. Upon completion of the camp, each Girl Scout received the “Stick to the Point” activity patch which was designed by Julie’s friend Maria Russell. (An activity patch is placed on the back of a girls’ vest/sash to show that she participated in a program.) The Juniors earned the “Stick to the Point” badge. (A badge is placed on the front of a girls’ vest/sash displaying that she completed all of the requirements for a particular badge.) The Cadettes and Seniors fulfilled the requirements for the “Stick to the Point” Interest Project award and will earn the award after they complete a service project. (A service project is an additional requirement that a girl must perform on her own in order to complete the award.) Not only did Julie coordinate the fencing camp, she also conceived and wrote all of the requirements for the “Stick to the Point” Junior badge and Cadette/Senior Interest Project award which were approved by the Girl Scout Council of Bergen County. Julie certainly put a lot of hard-work, sweat (literally) and planning into her fencing camp. She used the leadership skills she learned in Girl Scouting to make this program a success. The Girl Scout Council of Bergen County would like to congratulate Julie on a job well done. She certainly achieved her goal and made her point! Julie plans to “stick” with fencing in the future where she hopes to get a college scholarship for her sport.
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Girl Scout Council of Bergen County
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Julie Kohn, Senior Girl Scout from Allendale and member of Troop 440 in Ramsey, set up a free three-day fencing camp called, “Stick to the Point” to fulfill the leadership pre-requisite for her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, the highest award a Senior Girl Scout can earn. 
