Council Property Plan Information
For more information, refer to our
Property Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage.
A Message from the Board Chair and President/CEO
October 16, 2023
Dear Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Family,
Today, we are thrilled to share some exciting news with you that will shape the future of Girl Scouting in northern New Jersey for years to come.
Our Council is embarking on a transformative journey—one that involves reimagining our properties and further investing in girls in the communities we serve. We’re committed to creating a future where every Girl Scout has access to unparalleled resources, unforgettable experiences, and boundless opportunities to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Our Vision: The Girl Scout DreamLab
At the heart of our evolution lies our plans to build a Girl Scout DreamLab in northern New Jersey—an innovation center uniquely designed to cater to the needs and aspirations of today’s girls. We’re excited to announce our plans to construct a modern, engaging space dedicated to fostering leadership, encouraging curiosity, and embracing innovation.
With a target date of 2025, we’re exploring a number of potential locations for the DreamLab within our service area that will enable us to bring an enhanced Girl Scout Leadership Experience to the most girls possible.
Our vision is that the Girl Scout DreamLab will be more than just a property—it will be a space designed to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place through immersive experiences uniquely tailored to both our current and future members. Here’s what you can expect:
- Modern Design: A contemporary space well-suited to today’s and tomorrow’s Girl Scouts.
- Community Connectivity: Strategically located, our DreamLab will enhance visibility and accessibility, ensuring we provide as many girls as possible with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
- Program Excellence: Rooted in the four pillars of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience—STEM, Entrepreneurship, the Outdoors, and Life Skills—the DreamLab will offer dynamic programs and engaging amenities to foster growth, learning, and personal development.
- Versatile Spaces: From troop meetings to volunteer trainings and membership events, the DreamLab will boast purpose-built areas, offering ideal spaces for a range of activities.
- Inclusivity and Growth: The DreamLab will serve as a platform for recruitment, welcoming new parents and girls into our Council, expanding our membership and strengthening the Girl Scout movement.
How We’ll Get There
To achieve our goal of constructing this one-of-a-kind space for girls in our community to thrive, we have made the strategic decision to sell two properties that aren’t being used to their full potential for our Council by our members: our Camp Glen Spey property and our Randolph Service Center.
After a thorough evaluation of our properties, we determined that these two properties are no longer positioned to provide the enriching experiences our current and future members deserve and desire and we plan to deploy proceeds from these property sales to the construction of our Girl Scout DreamLab and enhancements to our two remaining camp properties at Jockey Hollow and Lake Rickabear.
We understand that you may have specific questions about these property sales and our team is making every effort to keep our valued members as informed as possible. For more information and updates, please visit our property plan announcement webpages.
Join Us in This Journey
There’s never been a more exciting time to be a Girl Scout. Your support, enthusiasm, and dedication to Girl Scouting is the driving force behind our vision for the future of Girl Scouts and we can’t wait to embark on this journey with you. Together, let’s create a legacy that inspires generations to come.
Warm regards,
Bette M. Simmons, Ed.D.
Board Chair
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Sandra A. Kenoff
President / CEO
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
For more information, refer to our
Property Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage.
