Focus Forward Our Vision for 2025–2030
Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Council Vision
We are the champions of Girl Scout ambition. We raise our collective voices to emphasize the Girl Scout difference. We provide a safe and inclusive environment where Girl Scouts can discover accessible experiences designed to nurture leadership, innovation, and compassion.
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.
At Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, our strategic focus for 2025–2030 is based on five priority areas that will guide our work: demonstrating the value of Girl Scouts, strengthening community partnerships, creating a consistent and meaningful experience, fostering a strong and supportive staff culture, and aligning our properties with our mission. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will be embedded across all our priorities, ensuring every member feels seen and valued. By focusing on outcomes, consistency, and sustainability, we will ensure that Girl Scouts remains a vital force in building confident, compassionate, and curious individuals.
▶ Value Proposition
In a world of choices, Girl Scouts must stand out; not only for what we offer, but for the difference we make. We’re not just about fun events and badges; we’re helping Girl Scouts grow into resilient, compassionate leaders. By sharpening how we communicate our impact, and focusing on long-term outcomes, we’ll reinforce that Girl Scouts is not a “nice to have,” it’s a “must have.”
We will:
• Shift focus from what we do to why it matters, emphasizing outcomes over activities.
• Increase the diversity of stories and voices in our messaging to reflect a broader range of Girl Scout experiences and remind people that Girl Scouts is for all.
• Highlight the transformative impact of our program to stay relevant and compelling.
• Help families see Girl Scouts as essential to their child’s growth and success.
▶ Community Partnerships
Girl Scouts has always been rooted in community, and the next few years are about deepening those roots. By elevating our focus on community connections, we can create richer experiences for Girl Scouts, more visibility for our mission, and stronger support for our properties and programs.
We will:
• Strengthen our connections with schools, businesses, and program partners who align with our values and build intentional partnerships with organizations serving underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.
• Reconnect with Girl Scout alums and engage with higher education institutions.
• Prioritize efforts to recruit short-term volunteers to expand our capacity to deliver impactful experiences.
• Enhance cross-team coordination to effectively manage and grow partnerships.
▶ Consistent Experience
Being a Girl Scout should be a joyful and seamless experience for Girl Scouts, their families, and volunteers. But too often, our systems are complex, our tools can be overwhelming, and support varies. We’re committed to simplifying the experience, removing barriers, and ensuring a consistent Girl Scout experience for everyone involved.
We will:
• Invest in user-friendly tools and technology for families and volunteers that will enable us to communicate more directly and streamline information.
• Enhance support for Juliette Girl Scouts and multi-level troops.
• Provide resources that ease the responsibility for volunteers.
• Ensure materials are accessible, multilingual, and culturally inclusive.
▶ Property
▶ Staff Culture & Development
Our staff is critical to our mission, and when they thrive, our movement thrives. We’re committed to creating an inclusive, connected workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to perform at their best.
We will:
• Create a work environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and growth-oriented.
• Celebrate staff contributions and promote satisfaction and retention.
• Embed DEI/RJ training, practices, and accountability into staff development and leadership.
• Ensure staff feel supported and connected to our mission and one another.
Our properties, camps, and offices are more than just places; they’re spaces where Girl Scouts build confidence, forge friendships, and create lasting memories. We will invest in spaces that are inclusive, engaging, and designed to support today’s Girl Scout experiences. We will:
• Design and maintain properties that reflect the evolving needs of our members.
• Create indoor and outdoor spaces that are accessible, inclusive, and aligned with modern program needs, ensuring all Girl Scouts feel welcome, safe, and represented.
• Use our properties to create consistent, meaningful experiences year-round.
