Girl Scouts of Colorado has listened to our members, and after reviewing the findings of the Outdoor Property Evaluation Task Force, our executive leadership has decided to move our resident camp program from Magic Sky Ranch to Sky High Ranch next summer.
The task force spent a year diligently evaluating each Girl Scout property, including holding town hall meetings, conducting surveys with our membership and analyzing the financial costs and revenues. GSCO aims to stay relevant and listen to what our girls say they want in a camp experience. Girls have said they prefer a more rustic, outdoor-based camp program, like that available at Sky High Ranch. It’s also critical that the council maintain a strong financial balance to keep our organization strong and thriving; and we are currently operating at a half a million dollar deficit at Magic Sky Ranch. Operating resident camp out of Sky High will be more popular with our number one customers – our girls — as well as a smarter use of financial resources.
We have the highest regard for the beautiful property at Magic Sky Ranch with its great facilities and wonderful staff; and they will have the opportunity to apply for new opportunities with GSCO’s outdoor program team. We appreciate the Magic Sky staff’s commitment to continuing to provide outstanding programs to girls and finishing out the final season of resident camp at Magic Sky Ranch on a high note. No final decisions have been made about the future of the property at Magic Sky Ranch.
Outdoor program planning for 2015 (for troops and volunteers leading programs):
We know that our members will be very excited about the return to resident camp at Sky High Ranch, where generations of girls have experienced magical Girl Scout outdoor adventures. The girl capacity for resident camp will remain consistent with the transition from Magic Sky to Sky High.
At Magic Sky, our members and supporters will be able to rent and enjoy  the new cabins as well as the older facilities on the front end of the property (Old Lodge, seasonal units and tent sites). The Dining Hall and Activity Center will be closed as a cost saving measure.  Groups will be able to reserve space at the Old Lodge year-round, and in the new cabins, stays will be limited to 2-nights.
In addition to Magic Sky, next summer our members will have the opportunity to troop camp at Meadow Mountain Ranch, where we’re pleased to announce that we’ve reopened the lodge and the Pinecrest Unit. Troops can book the lodge for day, overnight, and for cooking their meals.
Lazy Acres will remain open during the same season as our other ranch properties and will offer individual troop camp and volunteer-led outdoor program experiences for girls.
Summer resident camp and year-round programs will continue as they have at Tomahawk Ranch.
Additionally, we encourage individual troop and service unit camping and troop usage at our lodge properties: Twisted Pine, Pawnee Lodge, and Hamp Hut.
This major change will increase options for troops at GSCO properties. We have extended the season for rental by two weeks at Lazy Acres, Meadow Mountain Ranch, and Magic Sky Ranch’s newer cabins. The season will be May 16 through September 30 — this adds two weeks of use to each property.
When reserving space or planning any outdoor program, troops can reserve equipment and activities through the GSCO Equipment/Activities Page on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website.
We still have space available at several sessions at Magic Sky Ranch during this final summer of resident camp, so get your girl in for a last chance at a Magic Sky resident camp experience! Registration deadlines have passed, but we can still get you in. Call 877-404-5708 for assistance. https://girlscoutsco.campintouch.com/ui/forms/application/camper/App
Want to get involved? The Outdoor Programs Advisory Committee is seeking new members. If you want to work on projects involving non-resident camp outdoor programs, this is the committee for you. This is a committee of action. Members can apply here: https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=tn22MbMtgiS23ZUyGu9HgQ
In addition, we are currently recruiting volunteers who would like to lead outdoor programs such as day camps and 3-day overnight troop camps for summer of 2015. Please contact haley.peel@gscolorado.org to be put on the interest list. We will send out information by mid-July regarding processes, deadlines, and how to get into GSCO’s summer camp promotional mix.
We would like to hear your thoughts as we prepare for this outdoor program transition.
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