Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes Celebrates a Successful Year of Adventures on the Go™

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) is thrilled to celebrate the success of Adventures on the Go™ (AOTG). This one-of-a-kind program brings outdoor adventure directly to Girl Scouts throughout North Central Wisconsin & the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From kayaking to archery, orienteering, and paddleboarding, AOTG ensures that Girl Scouts of all backgrounds can access meaningful outdoor experiences.

Since its launch in July 2023, AOTG has served 1472 youth and 526 adults, far surpassing expectations. This innovative program supports troops, reaches historically underserved youth, and showcases Girl Scouts’ commitment to outdoor adventure and leadership development. “Everyone, especially our youth, deserves the social, physical, and mental benefits of being in nature. If Girl Scouts can’t get to camp or experience outdoor adventures due to financial barriers or reliable transportation, let’s bring it to them!” said Diane Roundy, community leader.

"Our mission is to make outdoor adventure accessible to every Girl Scout," said Bethany McAnally, Program Specialist. "By providing hands-on experiences led by certified experts, AOTG inspires confidence, courage, and curiosity while building the next generation of leaders and stewards of the environment."

Adventures on the Go (AOTG) was designed with a few key goals in mind. AOTG encourages kids to get outside and try new skills and works as a stepping stone to an adventure at Girl Scout camp. It supports troops by providing the equipment, expertise, and certifications needed to make outdoor activities like archery and paddleboarding more accessible for leaders and members. It expands access to outdoor adventures by partnering with other youth-serving organizations to reach youth who have historically lacked opportunities to engage in these experiences. Finally, AOTG works to recruit new members and clarify the Girl Scouts’ commitment to high-adventure outdoor programming, breaking misconceptions and inspiring more families to join the movement.

“When our CEO, Patti, first dreamed of a mobile program, I envisioned something uniquely Girl Scouts,” shared Gwen Taylor, Program & Inclusion Director for GSNWGL. “Adventures on the Go reflects our belief that outdoor education heals and inspires. Many families have never been able to snowshoe, paddleboard, or try archery. AOTG is breaking barriers, building confidence, and offering outdoor experiences in spaces where our kids can feel safe.”

Through this program, Girl Scouts are discovering their passion for the outdoors and environmental stewardship. One participant shared, "Adventures on the Go gave me the courage to try something new—and now I can’t wait to go to camp!"

This groundbreaking program wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of community partners, including Bergstrom Automotive and King's Campers, who helped get AOTG on the road, Animal Medical Center of Marquette, Connexus, US Venture, two GSNWGL alums, and many others whose critical funding and donations brought AOTG to life. In the spring of 2024, GSNWGL received a timely bequest to custom wrap the mobile unit. The team worked internally to create a design demonstrating the adventures we hope to bring to Girl Scouts throughout our council. Thanks to this support, GSNWGL has raised just over $175,000 toward its $300,000 goal for AOTG.

We invite you to join the adventure as we reflect on a successful year. We'd be grateful for your support if you’d like to help sustain Adventures on the Go's journey and continue to make the outdoors accessible and inspiring for every Girl Scout. Please reach out to us at info@gsnwgl.org to learn how you can make a difference.

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Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) partners with 5,000 volunteers and serves approximately 10,000 girls, covering 58 counties across North Central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, call 888.747.6945 or visit gsnwgl.org. GSNWGL is a proud United Way partner program.

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Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.