History & Facts

Facts

Current Statistics
• Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council serves more than 6,200 girls.
• We currently serve 1 in 7 girls, which is above the national average of 1 in 10.
• Over 1,700 adults volunteer throughout GSSC

About Us
• Currently we serve 25 counties in Southern Illinois and Knox County, Indiana. Illinois counties include; Bond, Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Wabash, Washington, Wayne White and Williamson.

• We have three council camp properties: Camp Cedar Point, Camp Whispering Oaks and Camp Wildwood.

• The Girl Scout Service Center has a full service Girl Scout shop for volunteers, girls and parents/guardians.

You may think of us as cookies and camping, but we are a whole lot more.
Here are some of the specific program areas the Girl Scout program is addressing:

• Healthy Living issues such as stress, nutrition, eating disorders, substance abuse, diets, relationships, physical abuse and violence.

• Teaching and encouraging girls to explore and enjoy Math, Science and Technology with hands-on experiences that will strengthen the natural aptitudes of girls and introduce them to new career options.

• Literacy (backgrounder coming soon) activities that arm girls with strong reading, writing and communication skills so they are better able to set goals, plan their futures and achieve their dreams.

• Understanding Community Service (backgrounder coming soon) and what it is by allowing girls to share in meaningful community projects that promote civic responsibility and allow the girls to see how her efforts can impact her community and maybe even change the world.

• Appreciation of the earth’s surroundings, a philosophy of social responsibility and environmentally focused projects that encourage girls to explore, study and appreciate the Environment.

History

2007
• Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council makes full use of the new facility by hosting a number of events at the new location in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
• More than 150 girls are recipients of the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, the highest awards that Girl Scouts can earn, at our annual “All That Glitters” awards ceremony.

2006
• Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council breaks ground for the new Girl Scout Service Center in Mt. Vernon during the spring and relocates in November.
• A group of girls travel to Mexico and four girls are selected to attend “Destinations.”
• A Lockheed Martin grant award provides girls the opportunity to learn more about GPS mapping technology.

2005
• A group of girls take a three-week expedition to Europe and visit Our Chalet, located in Switzerland, one of four world centers.
• One of Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council’s Gold Award recipients is one of eight nationally selected for an Elks National Foundation Scholarship.
• A Gold Award Recipient from Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council is selected as one of ten girls nationwide to be named as a “Young Woman of Distinction.”

2004
• Membership grows by 7.5 percent.
• A Gold Award Recipient from Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council is selected as one of ten girls nationwide to be named as a “Young Woman of Distinction.”

2000-2003
• A group of eight girls and two directors travel to Our Cabana, located in Mexico, one of four world centers.
• A new Hogan is built at Camp Wildwood.
• A new lodge was constructed at Camp Whispering Oaks.
• Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council goes online with a new website.

1990s
• Fifteen girls and two adults travel to Our Cabana, located in Mexico, one of four world centers.

1980s
• Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council celebrates continued growth while nationwide membership declines.
• Camp programs reflect a combination of new exciting programs and the existing economy/energy crisis.
• New handbooks reflect fun, skill development, appreciation, leisure time application, service career exploration and multi-cultural awareness.

1970s
• Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council’s first Executive Director retires.
• Nearly every troop within Shagbark Council plants a tree in honor of our nation’s 200th birthday.
• A new Brownie Patch Program is introduced, enabling Brownie Girl Scouts to earn patches by taking part in troop activities.
• Five more counties are now included in our jurisdiction.

1960s
• In 1963 Shagbark Girl Scout Council, Inc. receives its charter from Girl Scouts of the USA to serve 20 counties.

For more information on Girl Scouts of the USA visit www.girlscouts.org or read the
GSUSA Fact Sheet.