Girl Scout camps could soon disappear - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Girl Scout camps could soon disappear

By: CBS 4 Newsroom
newsroom@cbs4qc.com

It's where girls say they can go to leave their phones and makeup at home, but some Iowa girl scout camps could soon be closing.
 
Administrators with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois say the camps are outdated, and only 10 percent of the girls are using them.

All the Girl Scouts we talked to have different memories, like horseback riding and going swimming, and say Camp Conestoga in Scott County is the best.

But Diane Nelson with the Girl Scouts QC Leadership Office says it's costing too much.
 
"We lose about $600,000 a year with all the upkeep and maintenance of all the camps."

So the recommendation is to close the gates and put away the canoes for good. Then build a bigger centralized camp. Nelson says girls needs are changing.

"What we're finding is that even though our camps are extremely beautiful with lots of history they need some updating and redesign, a lot of girls are looking for something more modern, with cabins, and flushing toilets."

Girl Scout leaders have been traveling around to all of the Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois communities to explain the reasoning to the girls, but Nelson says they'll always make sure there is somewhere to go.

"We don't want to have a summer without girl scout summer camp, it just wouldn't be summer so we will make sure that while this new camp is being built, if that's the direction they decide to go, there will be a camp for the girls."

On Tuesday, a local Girl Scout is scheduled to talk to the Scott County board of supervisors about saving the camp.