Empowering future leaders: Supporting Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michigan

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Posted on Dec 01 2024 in Kosciusko REMC

For over a century, the Girl Scouts of the USA have inspired young women to dream big and lead with confidence — an organization that counts luminaries like NASA astronaut Sally Ride, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and media mogul Oprah Winfrey among its alumni. The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michigan continue this tradition by serving over 4,000 girls in our region, helping them cultivate courage, leadership, and a passion for service. Recently, with the support of a Kosciusko REMC Operation Round Up grant, the local council is expanding its reach, ensuring that even more girls in our community can access these life-changing opportunities.

KREMC: Obviously, Girl Scouts of the USA is a well-known organization with an incredible legacy. Please tell us more about the mission of the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michigan.

Our mission is simple but impactful. We build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

The Girl Scouts of America was founded in 1912. The primary services our local program offers are Girl Scout leadership experience and a staff- led troop program. Our organization serves 4,000 girls ages 5-18 in 20 counties in northern Indiana and two in southwest Michigan.

KREMC: How specifically does your organization benefit the community?

Girl Scouts improve life in their communities by partnering with other organizations to do service projects such as collecting canned food, planting trees, building pollinator gardens, etc. Some of our recent accomplishments are:

  • We debuted the new “Dream Center” in our Fort Wayne office, a colorful, interactive space where troops can meet and do activities.
  • Over 400 girls enjoyed summer camp at our outdoor properties — Camp Logan in Kosciusko County, Camp McMillen in Allen County, and Camp Soni Springs in Berrien County, Michigan.
  • We broke ground in July for a new site manager house at Camp Logan, funded in large part by a donor’s planned gift.
  • Our council’s ninth annual STEM Expo was held Oct. 19 at Purdue Fort Wayne, where hundreds of girls explored dozens of exciting STEM careers.

KREMC: The Girl Scouts were a recipient of an Operation Round Up Grant. How were the grant funds used?

We recently received our first grant from Kosciusko REMC; we plan to use the funds to provide financial assistance for membership and camp to girls in Kosciusko County. We anticipate that ORU funds will enable more girls in Kosciusko County to benefit from Girl Scouts’ leadership programs and events.

KREMC: How can the community continue to support your organization?

We are always looking for volunteers who embrace the Girl Scout mission and want to serve as troop leaders, chaperones or mentors, as well as on our board of directors. And please buy cookies in January when you see troops out selling!

For more information on the Girls Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michigan visit girlscoutsnorthernindiana-michiana.org or find them on social media.

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