Girl Scouting Reflections

I have been a Girl Scout for 45 years.  Some of the happiest times of my life have been spent at Girl Scout camp, starting at the age of 8.  I have been a camper, a leader and a Day Camp Director in camps in Alabama, Louisiana, California and the Marshall Islands.  From this varied perspective I believe that it is not the physical location that makes a good camp.  It is the Girl Scouts' spirit of love of nature, sisterhood, leadership,service, and learning that makes a great camp.  

GSNCA is not abandoning this spirit.  We are trying to offer this spirit to more girls in more ways than are currently available. We are choking on the debt of maintaining properties that serve less than 5% of membership at summer camp.  The Property Committee has studied our camps and properties in great detail and depth.  A hard decision has been made but a reasoned decision that will lead us into the future with assets to more fully serve all girls in all locations.  There will be a great deal of discussion and study as the Council determines effective ways to do this.  All of us need to work together to design and implement a new vision of camps and camping in our Council.

Sally Barnet

Camp Coleman is dear to many others than just Girl Scouts. How will we serve all of the schools, churches and community groups that use the camp?

We value each of our partnerships with the community. While it is wonderful that school groups, church groups and other community groups use the facility, our first and foremost responsibility is to our girl members. Outside group rental opportunities will continue at our Camp Cottaquilla and KPC based on availability.

Camp is too expensive for many girls and troops to attend. If prices were lower, more people would attend.

We understand the frustration with the costs of using our camps. That was part of this assessment and how the volunteer and staff committees and the board came to the results. Costs to use the facilities have risen because the cost of operating each camp is expensive. It is a well-known fact that camps have always been supplemented. Over the years when times were tough, many of the councils were unable to afford the necessary maintenance and updating of their facilities. That is one reason the Girl Scouts of the USA realigned. Our camps have operated at a loss since before the merger. It took a couple of years post merger to get all the costs into a unified system that would allow us to accurately depict the true costs by property.

Why is Girl Scouts abandoning its most beloved traditions?

GSNCA wants to ensure girls in our area will continue to have opportunities to participate in Girl Scouting, and we cannot do that while operating properties at a loss. We are trying to protect those traditions by using our resources wisely. Through our Strategic Learning process we determined that our focus was on our girl members.
Camp opportunities are not going away. There will be plenty of outdoor opportunities based on the current level of interest.

Where do my product sales proceeds (cookie and fall products) and program registration fees go if they aren’t used to support camp?

They do support camp.  The amount that the Council retains from cookie sales, fall product sales and program registration fees goes into the Council operational budget. Camp expenses come from the Council operational budget.  Our resources are spread too thin to effectively manage the continuously-rising expenses for six camps. Consolidating properties will allow us to focus our energy and resources on fewer properties to provide girls enhanced opportunities including outdoor education.
Funds raised also provide Council programs not held at camp, staff support and help operate the service centers.

Why doesn’t the Council take steps to save the camp?

• We’ve tried multiple ways of marketing to members, as well as non-members, to increase revenue. We’ve used our publications, social media, print media, radio and television interviews, radio PSAs, direct mail, print advertisements, social media advertisements, flyers, post cards, road signs, banners, email campaigns, and eNewsletters. We’ve even held free open houses at each camp for several years with minimal attendance. In some cases our camp programs have increased in attendance. However, the increased cost of maintaining our camps continues to be an issue and why our expenses are more than our revenues.
• Based on current membership in our Council, the property assessment committee determined GSNCA is not able to continue operating the numbers of facilities that we currently occupy at the standard of service our members are currently receiving, expect and deserve.

Why doesn’t the Council ask businesses to support camp maintenance efforts?

They do. Many local businesses support camps through the Annual Fund by donating services and/or products. We still have to subsidize camps.

Why was the community not given the chance to raise funds to keep the camp open?

• We’ve always fundraised in the community for camps through our Annual Fund. Camp expenses come out of the operating budget and are subsidized by Council revenue which includes funds raised through the Annual Fund, Special Events and Family Giving.
• The board of directors has the fiduciary responsibility to make the best use of our resources.

If a group comes forward willing to raise funds, will you stop the sale?

No. It is not just a question of a one-time campaign to fix up camp. These properties are underutilized and are located in areas with much competition. We believe we can provide better programming with fewer facilities.  Additionally, we will not be able to accept funds designated to save a camp(s). 

Why Didn't I Know About the Camp Surveys?

Our girl and adult membership, as well as parents, had multiple ways of providing feedback.

• Over 1500 surveys were mailed directly to girls, boys and parents of girls and boys who attended resident and day camp in the summer of 2011. 155 campers and parents completed the survey. Opportunities to take these were also posted on the homepage of our website and on social media.
• The survey created as a part of the market research developed by UAB students was emailed directly to 8,000 people (parents and adult members), and over 600 phone calls were made to encourage members to take the survey. Information was sent out through Weekly Council Updates and Leader Connections. 792 people completed this survey.
• Five town hall meetings were held in five areas: Tuscaloosa, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Huntsville and Florence. Approximately 74 people attended the five meetings. These were publicized in Weekly Council Updates and Leader Connections, as well as posted on our website, emailed several times to those subscribing to Weekly Council Updates, and posted on our social media outlets.

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Email from Gina Burgess, CDM Serving Lamar, Marion & Fayette Counties

I've had calls from leaders and a meeting with my Service Unit Managers today about the camps. They wanted to send word back to the council and the people that made these decisions to say thank you for thinking of our girls. Although they're broken hearted to lose Camp Coleman, they know it's in the best interest of our girls. Also, they were excited about getting more programs out to their rural areas, as part of this long-term plan. The delegates stated after seeing the financial and usage reports at the Annual Meeting, they were shocked! They said it would have made no sense to have kept that many open with such a great loss. All they want is for our girls to be served to the best of their and our ability; I assured them we would.

--Gina

Why has the board of directors chosen Camp Coleman to be sold?

All six of our camps are underutilized and operate at a loss. Camp Coleman operates at the largest loss of our six camps, even after cost-saving measures were put into place. The attendance at all camps is very low, including Camp Coleman.

The operational costs, capital repairs along with the lack of use by members for all camps has led the board of directors to divesting of four camps by 2013. The property committee reviewed much input from surveys, town hall meetings and outside consultants as part of the property assessment before making this recommendation to the board of directors. This decision was not made lightly, and at the heart of this decision is what’s best for meeting the needs of today’s girls and how we can continue to deliver a quality leadership experience that girls tell us they want.