Why SOS Camps! was Formed
SOS Camps! was formed to give voice and information to those concerned about the proposed loss of one of Girl Scouting’s greatest and most enduring treasures for Girl Scouts: its camps. Camping has been a cornerstone of the heritage of Girl Scouting since girls were first introduced to it in 1912 by Scouting’s founder, Juliette Gordon Low.
On February 5, 2013, when the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa-Western Illinois (GSEIWI) announced its drastic plan to sell all four of its camps—Camp Conestoga; Camp L Kee Ta; Camp Little Cloud; and Camp Tahigwa---numerous Girl Scouts, Girl Scout alumnae, and other supporters of Girl Scouting responded by attending Town Hall meetings to express not only their opposition to the proposed sales, but also to offer their support to help the Council find ways to keep all 4 camps open and operating. Even though GSEIWI has since modified its February 5 property plan regarding the camps, we are still not “out of the woods,” so to speak, as the current property plan----much more vaguely worded--- calls for the Council to sell all 4 camps at any time that it decides that land is “not needed.” As of July 2016, the GSEIWI Board of Directors will be holding a meeting in August to decide the fate of Camp Tahigwa in Dorchester, IA. The current proposal from the GSEIWI Property Committee calls for the sale of the entire camp. The Friends of Camp Tahigwa continues to work to save this camp.
While SOS Camps was initially created in response to the situation in eastern Iowa, we quickly became aware that Girl Scouts and supporters of Girl Scouting in other states were facing identical crises as camp sales loomed across the country. Since 2010, hundreds of Girl Scout camps across the country have been or are slated to be sold without valid reason. Since our page launched in 2013, a wave of protest across the country continues, as other concerned Girl Scouts and their supporters work to save their camps in order to preserve for girls a core legacy of Girl Scouting. Our page has grown to be a resource and clearinghouse for all news related to Girl Scout camp closures. We hope to keep you updated on significant events as they occur in other states. If you have any news, success stories or tips to share with others please contact us!
So come join us and find out how you can help save our Girl Scout camps!
On February 5, 2013, when the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa-Western Illinois (GSEIWI) announced its drastic plan to sell all four of its camps—Camp Conestoga; Camp L Kee Ta; Camp Little Cloud; and Camp Tahigwa---numerous Girl Scouts, Girl Scout alumnae, and other supporters of Girl Scouting responded by attending Town Hall meetings to express not only their opposition to the proposed sales, but also to offer their support to help the Council find ways to keep all 4 camps open and operating. Even though GSEIWI has since modified its February 5 property plan regarding the camps, we are still not “out of the woods,” so to speak, as the current property plan----much more vaguely worded--- calls for the Council to sell all 4 camps at any time that it decides that land is “not needed.” As of July 2016, the GSEIWI Board of Directors will be holding a meeting in August to decide the fate of Camp Tahigwa in Dorchester, IA. The current proposal from the GSEIWI Property Committee calls for the sale of the entire camp. The Friends of Camp Tahigwa continues to work to save this camp.
While SOS Camps was initially created in response to the situation in eastern Iowa, we quickly became aware that Girl Scouts and supporters of Girl Scouting in other states were facing identical crises as camp sales loomed across the country. Since 2010, hundreds of Girl Scout camps across the country have been or are slated to be sold without valid reason. Since our page launched in 2013, a wave of protest across the country continues, as other concerned Girl Scouts and their supporters work to save their camps in order to preserve for girls a core legacy of Girl Scouting. Our page has grown to be a resource and clearinghouse for all news related to Girl Scout camp closures. We hope to keep you updated on significant events as they occur in other states. If you have any news, success stories or tips to share with others please contact us!
So come join us and find out how you can help save our Girl Scout camps!
