Property Questions and Answers

  Here are some answers to questions that you might have regarding our property decisions:

Q:  What is the benefit of doing this?

A:  The #1 benefit of the strategic property plan is aligning property to meet girls’ programmatic needs and interests. By studying every aspect of our properties - how we use them, when we use them, what we use them for, and even how much they cost to maintain- we have been able to make wise decisions about moving our council forward and preserving the long-term viability of the organization.

Q:  I submitted a comment – or stated a comment - that does not agree with the decisions made – did anyone even read it - or care what I think?

A: All comments that were submitted through our website, or heard in person, were taken into consideration by the property task group.  The task group was made up of a wide variety of eighteen people.  They lived throughout our jurisdiction and had knowledge of property, program, youth development, engineering, finance, and Girl Scouting.  We also had outside consultants make assessments and recommendations.

It’s okay to disagree with these decisions.  We hope that you will continue to support the great mission of Girl Scouting.  We are looking forward to improving our remaining camps and continuing to offer outstanding quality through programs and camp.

Q:  I grew up at [that] camp – what is going to happen to it?

A:  Now that the final decision has been made, our Council is moving forward to select buyers for the properties that are slated to be divested.  A timeline on that has yet to be determined.  For the properties that will remain part of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, we are looking forward to making improvements and continuing forward with our mission for those areas.

Q:  Did the task group or Board consider any other options besides selling camp properties?

A:  Yes.  The task group and Board of Directors looked at our properties from every angle possible.  Some properties did not measure up to all or part of the assessment criteria.

Q:  When I went to camp at Camp [name] it was great – what changed?

A:  Maintenance of camp facilities is a huge undertaking both physically and financially.  Your memories of camp may not necessarily be the reality of camp today.  Time has passed and buildings and property have aged.  We also need to keep up with today’s risk standards for girl safety.  That aspect has helped us deem what is acceptable and what is not for certain camp properties as well. 

Camps certainly have the ability to create long lasting memories and we are looking forward to those memories continuing to be created.

Q:  What were these decisions based on?

A:  These decisions were based on multiple criteria:

1.     Objective program information and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

2.     Desire to increase program quality and depth.

3.     Property must fit the need and criteria for forward progress.

4.     State and federal regulations for safety must be immediately addressed at all camp properties.

5.     The Council cannot indefinitely subsidize camp program $400,000 - $550,000 as it has in the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years.

6.     Property has to have the ability to provide a safe, secure environment offering natural landscape and exciting opportunities for individual growth.

Q:  You mention that the selling of property helps forward our mission, how does that work?

A: This whole initiative is about being true to our mission of providing personal growth and leadership development programs for girls. The property plan allows us to create the right surroundings for fostering that mission. The contemporary interests of today’s girls are some of the very same activities that Girl Scouting has provided for generations. We aim to provide those programs in the best, most appealing and functional facilities we can. 

Through this property planning initiative as well as our Strategic Learning process, we have identified how we can make our Council as a whole stronger, more relevant, more financially sound and more receptive to the needs of our membership.  This is one step in that process. Our goal as a Council is to optimize our camp property so that girls have an exciting leadership experience that brings them skills and resources so they may become strong women leaders.

Q:  How will these decisions affect Summer Camp 2010?

A:  Summer camp 2010 will move forward as planned.  The camp book has been created and holds many options for our membership.  We are very excited to offer exceptional resident camp programming at both Camp Tanglefoot and Camp Sacajawea.  Joy Hollow will offer a summer full of troop camping.  We will also hold many day camp opportunities throughout our jurisdiction. 

Q: Why can’t we just keep things the way they have always been?

A: All actions are steps in the process to make Girl Scouting a high-capacity, relevant, accessible and sustainable organization for girls’ personal growth & leadership development.  First, we realigned throughout Greater Iowa. Next, we took steps though our Strategic Learning process to define our focus and have created our strategy map for reaching our goals for girls and adults.  This property decision is a part of that plan to empower us to integrate property with programming.  The property plan allows us to redirect property costs. Our aim is not just to provide quantity sites but, rather, quality and improved sites.

Q:  So… what’s the next step?

A:  Our Board of Directors and subsequent task group will begin investigating real estate options in order to sell Camp Neyati, Camp Lakota and Rose Tree Cabin.  We will continue our investigation of Joy Hollow as well as Camp Juliette.

Q:  I’d like to comment on the decision – can I do that?

A:  Anyone is welcome to make a comment through our website property comment page. If you would like to speak to someone, you can call Karen Grode, CEO at 515-278-2881.