Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Announces
Location of Future Girl Scout DreamLab
The council reimagines properties and further invests in the communities it serves.
Contact: Mia Mischuk-O’Brien
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
mobrien@gsnnj.org, (973) 248-8200
PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY (Jan. 28, 2025)—Today, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey (GSNNJ) announced that its Service Center at 300 Forest Ave. in Paramus, New Jersey, will be transformed into a Girl Scout DreamLab, with an estimated grand opening in spring of 2026. This dynamic space will house the DreamLab, additional flexible and versatile experience space, a retail shop, and offices, and will shape the future of Girl Scouting in northern New Jersey.
Shaping the Future of Girl Scouting
As part of a property master plan launched in 2023, the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey stated that it would reimagine its properties and further invest in resources to better help girls in northern New Jersey benefit from the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Since 2023, significant investments have been made in GSNNJ’s two camp properties, Jockey Hollow Camp in Mendham and Lake Rickabear Camp in Kinnelon, including the addition of 8 pickleball courts, 2 basketball courts, four-square and hopscotch courts, and a junior scooter track, as well as updates to a horse corral, pool, and archery range. While additional enhancements are being made at the camps this year, efforts are now focused on building a Girl Scout DreamLab in the Bergen County location that has been home to Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey for nearly 50 years.
“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,” says GSNNJ President/CEO Sandra A. Kenoff. “We’re excited to construct a modern, engaging space dedicated to fostering leadership, encouraging curiosity, and embracing innovation. Our vision is that the Girl Scout DreamLab will be a hub for our Girl Scouts and the larger community. It will be a space designed to meet our mission 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, and the broader community,” adds Kenoff.
“The Paramus location is ideal for many reasons as it's within easy reach of many of our current members and is our longstanding location where we can invite the community and future Girl Scouts to experience what Girl Scouting is really all about—trying new things, giving back, building friendships, and becoming leaders,” she notes. “We are committed to providing the resources that allow our members and guests to participate in a full range of activities that drive interest and engagement including scientific experimentation, engineering, podcasting, video production, theatrical production, and creative arts, to name a few.”
The Girl Scout DreamLab Concept
The DreamLab concept builds upon the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) iconic national properties model which includes camps, offices, and programmatic facilities such as STEM centers. Through independent research groups working closely with local councils, Girl Scouts, and communities, GSUSA developed the innovative Girl Scout DreamLab concept. Eight are currently open across the country and there are plans for additional DreamLabs to be open within the next year. This is a new model for Girl Scout councils to consider as they evaluate their own property plans, membership needs, and their place within their broader communities.
Shanna Jafri, GSNNJ Board Chair, stated, “The Board of Directors is fully committed to ensuring that we have the resources to bring this vision to life knowing the incredible impact it will have on shaping the future of our girls and their communities. I am thrilled about GSNNJ’s initiative to build a space that will inspire and empower our 19,000 current and future Girl Scouts.”
Here's what to expect at the Girl Scout DreamLab in Paramus, New Jersey:
· Modern Design: A contemporary space well-suited to today’s and tomorrow’s Girl Scouts.
· Community Connectivity: Strategically located, the DreamLab will enhance visibility and accessibility, providing 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 training and membership events, the DreamLab will boast purpose-built areas, offering ideal spaces for a range of activities.
· Inclusivity and Growth: The DreamLab will welcome new parents and girls into Girl Scouts, expanding membership, and strengthening the Girl Scout movement, as well as offer space to the community at large for field trips, corporate training, and activities.
· Retail: A vibrant shop with everything from essential uniform supplies to stylish clothing, accessories, and unique gifts.
About Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey: 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.
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey serves girls ages 5-18 in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and northern Warren counties, bringing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to more than 19,000 girls and 10,200 adult members. Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for every girl and her family and offering financial assistance to enable participation in our program and camps.
To learn more about Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey or to volunteer, donate, or join, visit www.gsnnj.org or call (973) 248-8200, and follow GSNNJ on social media.
