Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines Council

Throughout the year, Girl Scouts Lakes & Pines provided in-person and virtual programming to meet the needs of our girls and their families through both summer camps and year-round opportunities. Partner programs and travel continue to provide opportunities for our members to explore the world around our Council, across our country, and abroad. We were able to serve 554 youth and 318 adults through partner programs including sleep under the sea, sail away, bsu badge day, overnight with the otters, and art explorer. Through our trips to new zealand and australia, boston, and chicago, we provided travel opportunities to 96 participants. This summer, we hosted both troop and overnight summer camp programming to just over 1,319 participants. Additionally, we facilitated Council events and programs on the go for 1,119 girls and 209 adults during our 2024 membership year. We continue to see growth for our two largest events, kaleidoscope and our world our family, we reached a total of 141 and 574 participants respectively. Other highlights included mentoring Girl Scouts through our outreach program, Girl Scouts in action, providing activities to troops across the Council with and supporting girls as they worked to earn their bronze, silver, and gold awards.

The Girl scout cookie and fall product sales program is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates immeasurable benefits for girls, their communities, and their councils. Girls set goals to support their chosen activities for the year, to fund community service and leadership projects, to attend summer camp, to travel to destinations near and far and to provide events for girls in their community. Participating in the Girl scout product programs helps girls develop essential skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. In addition to our regional cookie rally events, in preparation for the 2024 cookie season, we facilitated programming to 636 girls through earned service unit rallies. Girls, troops, and our Council receive awesome benefits. The troop receives money for activities and girls receive recognition prizes and vouchers to use at camp, for program attendance, or in the shop. The Council proceeds help train volunteers, maintain camp properties, and keep program costs affordable.

Council sponsored camp and event programming focus on the five outcomes of the Girl scout leadership experience including sense of self, positive values, challenge seeking, community problem solving, and healthy relationships. In addition to these outcomes, girls in our programs connect with their peers, develop conflict-resolution skills, learn how to advocate for themselves, and feel empowered to make a difference in their communities.