Contributed by Mary Pat King, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Last summer, I moved my Girl Scouts of West Central Florida CEO office to the sewing room at Camp Wai Lani, for our Summer Camp season.
The view of our organization from that angle allowed me to better connect with our number one customer – our Girl Scouts. Whether in the morning’s flag ceremony, in the dining hall, or at the challenge course, craft room, waterfront or marine lab – I witnessed our Girl Scouts show up with their courage, confidence and character in a beautiful way. One Girl Scout melted my heart as she hard-blinked in my direction and said, “My mom told me Camp is where I will make core memories – I really want to remember that I waited in line for ice cream with the CEO.” My heart burst as I knew in that moment, she sparked a memory I’ll never forget.
I also had the opportunity to spend time encouraging many of our Summer Camp Staff who are recent Girl Scout alumnae. I’ve watched many of them grow from early teens to young adults. For years, they have benefited from experiences at our camps and now they are providing those experiences for others. Both of our Camp Health Clinic Assistants last summer were Girl Scouts who grew up into University of South Florida students majoring in pre-med or nursing. At the end of the season, I asked them whether working long hours caring for kids in a camp clinic changed their minds to pursue a healthcare career. Both responded with smiles and affirmed – this work experience solidified their desire to pursue their dreams of becoming a doctor and nurse. Mission accomplished – Girl Scouts leaving an impact that lasts a lifetime!
Our four Girl Scout Camps host nearly 30,000 experiences year-round for our members and program partners who use our camps as destinations. These experiences range from outdoor recreation to environmental conservation, from waterfront adventures to trailblazing and survival skills, from STEM learning to craft-making and outdoor cooking.
From the stories our Girl Scouts share, I wonder if some of the most memorable moments happen during turtle time (unstructured rest/play), the dining hall, cabin time and of course, singing songs and eating s’mores around the fire circle. These moments are when the spirit of sisterhood and belonging rises and forever bonds are formed.
Girls need experiences like Girl Scout Camp. In December, Girl Scouts of Florida released The State of the Florida Girl Report (available at FloridaGirlScouts.org), which shared facts that girls in Florida face a wide range of challenges that threaten their well-being and long-term potential. Too many girls are experiencing excessive screen time, insufficient physical activity, feelings of social isolation and lack of adequate sleep. In fact, the report shared that 4 out of 5 high school girls in Florida spend more than three hours a day on screens, 80% report getting less than eight hours of sleep and high school girls are 1.5 times more likely to vape nicotine than boys, with 20% of girls reporting use.
These factors can significantly disrupt emotional wellness, academic success and physical health, leading to the alarming trend of more than half of Florida high school girls reporting that they experience symptoms of depression.
Girl Scouts is part of the solution. We at Girl Scouts of West Central Florida take seriously our responsibility to use this research to continue to play a pivotal role in helping girls develop resilience and build balanced, healthier lifestyles.
Most weekends at our four Girl Scout camps, our Girl Scout volunteers and staff offer screen-free, active experiences that help girls to connect with supportive adults and form healthy peer relationships. In a non-competitive environment, Girl Scouts embrace adventure and challenges, develop life skills and push past their comfort zones to blaze trails, zip lines, ride horses, kayak, paddleboard and explore and conserve nature. Just as importantly, they learn why it’s so important to leave places better than how you found them – a Girl Scout trait they will carry with them for life.
Our camps are transformative – and Girl Scouts need your support to operate them. Our four camps – all 168 buildings on 1,000 acres – take a lot to maintain, especially following a season with two hurricanes. In a typical year, we spend an estimated $3.5 million annually, operating our beautiful camps.
That’s why we are turning to the community for your support. At this year’s Women of Distinction Luncheon on March 12, we are asking our community – especially our Girl Scout alum – to show your commitment to our girls by making an investment in our Girl Scout Camps. Stand with us as we make sure that every girl has the opportunity and choice to thrive—emotionally, physically, socially and in every aspect of her life.
At our Girl Scout Camps, we create a safe, supportive and vibrant space to grow their ambition, blaze new paths and gain the confidence to face any challenge head-on. You can help at gswcf.org/donate.
Before joining the Girl Scouts, Mary Pat King spent her career in Washington, D.C., working with national organizations focused on youth, families and schools. At the National PTA, she led the launch of key programs such as School of Excellence, STEM + Families and Take Your Family to School Week. She also oversaw youth and community initiatives nationwide for the American Diabetes Association, including its 56 Diabetes Camps. While at Safe Kids Worldwide, she helped expand Walk This Way, a pedestrian safety program with FedEx, from three cities to more than 300 worldwide.
She serves on the Hillsborough Commission on the Status of Women, is a Certified Association Executive, a John Maxwell Certified Leadership Trainer and a was 2024 Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Women Who Win Award Winner.
