Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes Reimagines their Future
October 18, 2022
We have just announced phase two of our long-term property plan at Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL). This vision includes investments, divestments, and new programmatic elements to reach Girl Scouts throughout our council.
"Evaluating our properties to ensure they match the Girl Scout experience we want to deliver has been an ongoing process for many years," says Dr. Corey King, Board Chair for GSNWGL. Over the past three years, our council has conducted property studies, partnered with a property task group, and carefully analyzed survey data, membership data, demographic trends, access to partners, property usage, and other mission-critical criteria. "The results of our research challenged us in many ways. Most importantly, to find ways to increase access and participation for all girls," notes GSNWGL CEO Patti Shafto-Carlson.
We know that the future success of Girl Scouting relies not on how many properties we own but on how we can best bring the Girl Scout Experience to girls and their communities. We envision four reimagined Girl Scout Centers in each of our four council regions, an expanded camp experience at Camp Birch Trails in Irma, WI, and a brand-new Adventures on the Go mobile unit to reach girls where they live and play. We will invest in Camp Pow Low in Gwinn, MI, to create the Northeast Girl Scout Center; invest in Camp Del O' Claire in Wausau, WI, to create the Central Girl Scout Center; and invest in the Appleton Service Center in Appleton, WI, to create the East Girl Scout Center. We will maintain the Eau Claire Service Center for the foreseeable future while we look for a new location to host the West Girl Scout Center, ideally between Eau Claire, WI, and Chippewa Falls, WI. To help facilitate these incredible new Girl Scout Centers, we have decided to divest a few properties over the next year, including Camp Winnecomac in Kaukauna, WI; Camp Cuesta in Bailey's Harbor, WI; and Camp Nawakwa in Cornell, WI. We will close our Girl Scout offices in Green Bay, WI, and Schofield, WI. We are looking to partially divest Camp Sacajawea in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, selling partial acreage and some buildings in the outlying areas.
We have identified Camp Birch Trails (CBT), in the center of the council, as our premier resident camp for GSNWGL. CBT will receive significant investments over the next several years. We will tap into CBT's true potential, improving lodging, accessibility, high-adventure opportunities, and enhanced curriculum. We look to increase capacity and transportation options so more Girl Scouts can experience all Camp Birch Trails offers. Our overarching goal is to serve more campers from various backgrounds, with various interests, in a welcoming and inclusive space.
In addition to these changes, we will debut Adventures on the Go next spring. Adventures on the Go is a mobile unit that will bring adventures and outdoor experiences to Girl Scouts near and far—traveling throughout the 58 counties of GSNWGL to bring hands-on experiences like kayaking, a ropes course, outdoor cooking, and so much more. Adventures on the Go will be an incredible platform for girls excited about experimenting with and experiencing the outdoors. They'll be able to try something new, challenge themselves, and learn outdoor and life skills.
Girls are growing and changing. We are committed to growing and changing alongside them.
We'd love to hear from you. Please send comments, questions, and ideas to reimagine@gsnwgl.org.
