Properties, Part Two

In asking the question of whether or not we needed to own camp properties in order to make sure we continued to provide a camping and outdoor experience for girls, (May 14, 2009) we heard from many Girl Scout leaders and adults who believe that we should never discontinue our camping program. I agree. Outdoor education is an essential part of the GS leadership experience.
The question I continue to grapple with as we seek answers to strategic priorities as an organization, is whether or not each Girl Scout Council needs to own properties in order to have a rigorous camping program or whether we could put our collective resources together and offer even broader, more diverse camping experiences to girls. Looking around our region of the state, I wonder if there is a way to work with other GS councils and other owners of property in order to fulfill our mission to provide an outdoor education and camping experience in place of actually owning outdoor education property. This idea is based upon an economic reality and strategic thinking about our finances and the financial climate that we all are facing today.
To me, from a program perspective, giving girls outdoor experiences are essential. In May, we brought about 90 girls from the south side of OKC schools out to Cookieland (our council’s Girl Scout property in Newalla, OK). Girls who never experienced a walk in the woods were mesmerized by the beauty of the trees and land. Every year when we do this, it is a great experience for the girls. Most often, the bags we fill with donated goodies to take home are emptied and filled with pine cones, rocks and other natural materials they collect from the woods.
Like the volunteers from each of our legacy councils, I have a special place in my heart for the camp at Bear Mountain in New York where I went as a Girl Scout. While I think it would be awesome for my daughters to experience that camp, I know that it may not be possible to make that happen. Similarly, when I was little, my dad took me with pride to the site that once was Palisades Park. It was exciting to think about all of the images I had in my mind from the song of the same name and seeing the excitement in my father’s eyes as he told the story of going to Palisades Park as a boy. The bottom line is that the value of the outdoors is really the experience, whether it is in Oklahoma, New Jersey or upstate New York.
The challenge, I think for us as a movement, is to have a dialogue about this that helps us all continue to explore all of our possibilities. As a council, we are just beginning to explore a range of ideas regarding properties and our fiduciary responsibilities to the girls and to the future of the council in general. While I understand that many feel very strongly about the camps that they have a personal memory and connection to, it is important that we keep the dialogue moving in a positive direction, posing constructive questions and supporting the outdoor education program. We all believe in the importance of a viable Girl Scout movement for girls. The best way is to nurture the movement and address some stark realities. All questions and comments that encourage the spirited dialogue will continued to be welcomed from all corners of the council. I hope that in the future, reasoned responses will prevail and more girls will come to Girl Scouts to experience not only outdoor education, but all the leadership programs available to girls today.