South Carolina

Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands, GSSC-MM
  • Camp Blue Cloud, Chester
Sold with farewell ceremony August 28, 2011
  • Camp Drew, Union County
Sold June 2010
  • Camp Congaree, Lexington County
Sold
  • Camp Cofitachique, Aiken/Edgefield County
Sold
  • Camp Star Fort, Greenwood
Sold September 2014
  • Camp Ponderosa, Cherokee
  • McCormick Lot, McCormick County
Sold December 22, 2009
  • Mauldin Service Center, Maudlin

Decision to sell made March 2009
Camp Star Fort Update 2014
http://www.gssc-mm.org/she-sees-the-future/
During the 2007/2008 realignment of four councils into one new organization, Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands, a financial analysis quickly documented we were spending 32 percent of our operating budget on property and related program expenses while the national average is 10-15 percent.  Upon that realization, between late 2007 and early 2009, the council undertook an in-depth assessment and strategic alignment of all facilities.  Opportunities for input were offered to multi-constituency groups including girls, volunteers, parents, donors, community leaders, governing leaders, and 
staff.

Based on the feedback of the membership that responded, the Board of Directors made a decision to align property with the five driving priorities of the program strategies:  destination, program match, usage, previous plans and partnerships.  In 2009, after an 18-month, comprehensive analysis by outside, third-party consultants and GSUSA specialists, it was determined how to enhance our property portfolio as places of destination in alignment with desired program findings and needed volunteer support services.  These findings evolved into a long-term program and property plan, She Sees the  Future, which would create the ideal environment to let our girls shine.  It was subsequently approved by the Board of Directors.

This plan has reached another milestone with the sale of Camp Star Fort: Effective September 8, 2014, this 74-acre site in southern Greenwood County has been purchased by one local buyer for personal use.

In keeping with the She Sees the Future Program and Property Plan, 50 percent of the sales proceeds will go towards our new and innovative programs and 50 percent towards property capital improvements. Coupled with our purchase of the former South Carolina agriculture building in downtown Columbia in 2011, we are getting closer to creating preferred destinations at all our Girl Scout sites.

These destinations will include superior indoor and outdoor experiences – things our girls said  they want from Girl Scouting This downtown destination will require extensive renovations to become a state-of-the art Leadership Center, but it will be worth it when it eventually becomes a modern and high-energy environment with a particular focus on activities that surround the five areas of leadership development: Outdoor Adventure; the Arts; STEM; Financial Leadership; and Leadership Development.
Aiken, Edgefield Girl Scout camp to be sold
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-09-29/aiken-edgefield-girl-scout-camp-be-sold

GSSC-MM: The Plan
http://www.gssc-mm.org/she-sees-the-future/ThePlan/the-plan.html
It began with thorough research. Members of the committee gathered property and national trend data, visited all the sites and hired a consultant (funded entirely by a private donor) to conduct an objective program assessment. Glen Chin, GSUSA consultant, provided program and property expertise.
A popular girl scout camp is closing
http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=316003#.Uh_gl9I3u8B
Susan Schneider of Girl Scouts of South Carolina says young people don't have the same love for the great outdoors they once did.

"We're finding that girls would rather do other things rather that rustic camping," said Schneider.

Like arts, crafts and indoor camping.

So the girl scouts plan to open an updated indoor center in Columbia.

Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, GSESC
  • Camp Low Country, Huger
Sold July 2013
  • Girl Scout Building on Cross County Road in North Charleston
  • Florence Service Center building
  •  400 acres surrounding Camp Sandy Ridge, Bennettsville

Announced January 2011
Scouts' U.S. plantation sale nets $2.2 million for cash-strapped group
http://news.yahoo.com/girl-scouts-auction-u-plantation-during-financial-struggle-134918303.html
Friday's sale of Camp Low Country, about 35 miles from Charleston will let the Girl Scout council meet its financial obligations to Girl Scouts USA and keep its charter, said Loretta Graham, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina.
Critics fear Girl Scouts, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012, is abandoning its traditional mission of giving girls outdoor experiences. Opponents of the camp sales have sued local Girl Scout councils in several states.

The Girl Scouts' new leadership programs focus on science, technology, engineering and math, financial literacy, and even bully prevention.
Girl Scout council starts new chapter with sale of camp
http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_b986ab76-f71c-11e2-9634-001a4bcf6878.html#facebook-comments
Council CEO Loretta Graham said that she could not be more pleased with the outcome of the sale of the 152-acre property.

“It was a true success for the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina today,” Graham said. “That will put us as a council well within our financial guidelines and we are very happy, very excited and at the end of the day, I have no regrets.”
Because of lack of funding, Girl Scouts losing part of their past
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20110128/PC1602/301289928
The group's financial problems escalated after a 2005 decision by the national organization to merge councils, Graham said. Two eastern South Carolina councils merged, she said.

The move was supposed to save money, but it had the opposite effect. Legal and other merger fees were costly, and the new organization lost members. That meant fewer Girl Scouts were selling cookies and participating in other fundraising events.

The good news is that membership is rebounding, Graham said. In 2009 the council had 7,800 members, and that jumped to 8,400 in 2010. But the numbers aren't growing fast enough to save Camp Low Country, she said.
Girl Scouts auction U.S. plantation during financial struggle
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/usa-scouts-mansion-idUSL1N0FT24720130726
Camp Low Country, where scouts took part in activities ranging from riding horses to learning crafts, is just the latest to fall in the wake of a broad "realignment" by Girls Scouts USA, the national governing body of Girls Scouts councils.

The realignment that took full effect in 2009 consolidated local councils. It reduced their number by two-thirds, eliminated staff jobs and set new Girl Scout priorities for building leadership skills.

Girl Scouts Hornet's Nest Council, GSHNC

Also see North Carolina.
  • Camp Catawbaw, York County
Was to be sold in 2008 but currently still listed on council website.
Carmen Hopkins, Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council 
(interview with council CEO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2010/08/09/focus16.html
From 2010: The weakened real estate and lending climate caused us to adjust our property plans. When the economic downturn put the commercial lending market on ice, we were mid-stride in repositioning and modernizing our outdoor educational centers. The Council had acquired an ideal 700-acre property that would replace two older and smaller sites into a more efficient and modernized camp. Because of the stagnant real estate market, we adjusted our long-range strategic plans; delayed some development at the new site; extended the time frame for retaining the two existing camps; and refinanced the new property in an almost frozen lending market.
York County Girl Scouts sell Camp Catawbaw  Lakeside location sold to help pay for larger regional site in N.C.
http://www.heraldonline.com/2008/02/13/360885/york-county-girl-scouts-sell-camp.html
"Basically, we're doing a land swap to get this other property," Daley said, noting the decision to sell didn't come without protest by some members. "When you're dealing with Girl Scout camps, it's very emotional. Many of our members grew up going to camp there and now have children camping there. But they know this is what's right for the girls."