Girl Scouts offers the best leadership development experience for girls in the world.  Everything a Girl Scout does centers around STEM, the outdoors, the development of life skills, and entrepreneurship.  In order to bring Girl Scouting to girls now and into the future, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland must engage in honest conversations about the state of the Council and make decisions today that set up the Council for success to serve girls for generations to come.

After thorough review of all of the figures and facts (including a decade of expert studies), it is clear to us that continued prudent fiscal management including reducing deficits across the board and managing with a balanced budget is critical to the long-term health of the Council. One of our largest, consistently deficit-funded areas is property.  Now is the time to discuss the properties and what is the right move for the future of the organization we all love.

Professional evaluations have been conducted on our camp properties for more than a decade and the recommendation is to find a buyer for Camp Ilchester.  Funds gained from the reduced property costs and sale of Camp Ilchester will go towards re-envisioning Camp Woodlands, making it a property that has progressive camping and outdoors experiences for girls now and long into the future. This expert advice is what we, the Board, have thoroughly reviewed, discussed, and are recommending.

At the March 30th Delegate Forum, we presented the history, facts, and figures along with the recommendation to find a buyer for Camp Ilchester and focus resources gained on Camp Woodlands. Because it’s important for this to be an open and transparent discussion with time for reflection, Delegates have been asked to share this information with members, have conversations, and come back to a Delegate Forum on April 20, 2021 for further discussion and an advisory vote on the recommendation.

All members are encouraged to ask questions, share thoughts and send comments directly with the Board by emailing boardofdirectors@gscm.org between now and April 19th. Due to the expected volume of emails, we may not be able to respond to each comment individually. Please know that every email sent to the address provided will be shared with, and read by, the GSCM Board of Directors.

We understand and are respectful of the sentimental attachments to individual camp properties; many of us on the Board have fond memories of them ourselves. But the need to examine our current portfolio is one based on financial facts. 

This situation is an opportunity to build girls’ critical thinking and decision-making skills. Throughout their lives girls will be asked to make difficult decisions like this. We can use this experience as an opportunity to talk with girls about how to evaluate the costs and benefits of a decision, and how the right decision is not always the easiest.

Our camps and outdoor programming are as important as ever and the related programs are essential to who we are as an organization. They play a critical role in our mission as they help us build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.  We are committed to making sure there are robust outdoor and camping experience for girls through the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.

As questions and comments are emailed to us, an FAQ tab will be created here on our website. The FAQ will be updated as well as this page with new information once it is available.

- Girl Scouts of Central Maryland’s Board of Directors