Like many youth membership-based organizations, the Girl Scouts nationwide has been experiencing a decline in membership – indeed down 27% since 2003. In an effort to reduce overhead and bolster opportunities for girls, many areas underwent a realignment to merge multiple smaller councils under one new larger council geographic area and oversight in 2007. The realignment allowed councils to better utilize and evaluate resources and properties to better serve its members.

With many camp properties extending beyond their useful life, the idea of liquidating properties that may have been open for over 60 years was not easy to comprehend. Nonetheless, evolution is necessary for survival. The challenge was to craft a compelling vision that capitalizes upon the legacy of key properties while repositioning the programs and facilities to serve the next generation.

The Girl Scouts Mission of “Courage, Confidence, and Character” was the filter in organizing a structure of programs and experiences to be offered at camps. Equally important was an effort to instill an inspiring sense of “progression” across the properties – encouraging girls to return for new and different and more challenging experiences from year to year. 

As the Girl Scouts of the USA began its second century, councils across the country are faced with similar challenges to those in these two Texas councils – repositioning to remain relevant in an ever-changing society. Studio Outside assisted the Girl Scouts in master plan strategies for their camp property portfolios, as well as master plan strategies for many of the individual Girl Scout camps throughout North Texas. 

Through the foundational work with Studio Outside, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas was able to launch and complete a $15M capital campaign to revive a historic camp property – turning it into the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas STEM Center of Excellence. Studio Outside’s work is reflected in the Rees-Jones Welcome Center courtyard.