There’s a lot more to Girl Scouts than cookies. There’s outdoor adventure, STEM projects, robotics, producing podcasts and building lasting friendships.
And now there’s also DreamLab. Girl Scouts of Colorado held a grand opening this month for a first-of-its-kind concept that will be a model for Girl Scouts across the country. The 4,000-square-foot center in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood is a showcase for the organization’s programs and a gathering place for Scout troops, employees and families and girls who want to learn more about Scouts.
About 1,000 people turned out for the opening March 12, which coincided with the 111th anniversary of Girl Scouts. The location in the growing residential and shopping area along Quebec Street was picked because of its high visibility and diverse population, said Girl Scouts of Colorado CEO Leanna Clark.
“About 17% of our membership is within 10 miles of DreamLab and we have access to 80,000 girls who are Girl Scouts age who are not Girl Scouts,” Clark said. “So, it lets us serve our current membership as well as have access to potential members.”
In addition, the diversity index in the neighborhood is higher than the national average, Clark said. “That gives us more access to building our membership with communities of color, which is important to us.”
Enhancing current members’ experience as well as boosting the organization’s visibility are drivers behind the DreamLab concept, said Anne Smith, Girl Scouts USA’s senior vice president of property strategy.
The DreamLab has a bouldering wall, a podcast production booth, a boutique, a big lab space, a faux fire pit encircled by logs to sit on and a tent to practice camping skills. There are workstations, a conference room and smaller breakout rooms for Girl Scout employees.
Denver is the site of the inaugural DreamLab in part because Smith lives in Denver and because Girl Scouts of Colorado was looking at developing some kind of center for all the state’s members.
“I said, ‘We should talk because I’ve been working on something at (Girl Scouts of the USA) that I think would fit really well,’” Smith said. “The stars just sort of aligned.”
The national organization paid for the design, development and research and contributed money toward building the center. Smith declined to say what the project cost.
Throughout the process, the organization talked to Girl Scout staffers, volunteers and Scouts across the country. The feedback was incorporated into the design and activities. The name “DreamLab” was the girls’ overwhelming No. 1 choice.
“We love that because I still think, sometimes consciously, sometimes subconsciously, girls are told they shouldn’t dream quite as big, temper your dreams a little bit. We completely disagree with that. We want girls to dream as big as possible,” Clark said.
Matilda Johnson, 10, a Junior Girl Scout from Denver, and Jillian Ingle, 13, a Cadette from Broomfield, said they’re looking forward to spending time at DreamLab. Both are interested in STEM projects. Matilda said the open space with a big countertop would have been good for her troop’s recent cooking activities.
“I’m also looking forward to podcasting. That’s not something I would normally be able to do,” Jillian said.
“I think it will be really nice to meet other troops and see what they do and maybe learn from them,” Matilda said.
Amanda Johnson, Matilda’s mother and a troop leader, is looking forward to being able to meet in a space designed specifically for Girl Scouts. The troop meets in a church and each time she hauls everything she needs in a wagon. She called it her “pop-up” Girl Scout meeting.
Matilda Johnson, 10, left, and Jillian Ingle, 13, try out the climbing wall at Colorado Girl Scouts Dream Lab in Denver on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
The Colorado Girl Scouts Dream Lab in Denver on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
The Colorado Girl Scouts Dream Lab in Denver on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
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Michelle Ingle, Jillian’s mother and a troop leader, said the friendships the girls make in Scouts are important. She said she still has friends from her Scouting days.
Smith said DreamLabs will open soon in New Jersey and Louisiana. Another five Girl Scout councils are looking for locations. Members of the Girl Scouts of Nebraska visited Denver last week to see Colorado’s center.
Clark said the Colorado council is “still kicking the tires, working out some of the kinks” to sort through managing the DreamLab. People will be able to reserve time to use the various spaces and hold troop meetings. The Scouts plan to sponsor community events at a nearby park.
“We’re looking at doing a family fun day one weekend a month where we invite not just Girl Scouts or girls but families with all of their kids to come in and do special programming. We want to be a part of this community,” Clark said.
Updated March 21, 11:59 a.m., to correct name of national Girl Scouts organization.
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