Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Offering Summer Opportunities for Far Eastside Girls
As summer approaches, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is expanding access to camps and programming for girls on the Far Eastside, offering everything from STEM and outdoor adventure to leadership development. With transportation assistance, financial aid, and partnerships with local organizations like CAFE, the group is working to remove barriers and bring the Girl Scout experience directly into eastside neighborhoods.
As families across Indianapolis begin making summer plans for their children, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is working to ensure girls on the Far Eastside have access to experiences that are educational, empowering, and fun. From STEM activities and leadership development to outdoor adventure camps and transportation assistance, the organization is expanding opportunities for girls to grow in confidence while discovering new passions.
The mission of Girl Scouts remains centered on building “girls of courage, confidence and character,” according to Lauren Palmer, Director of Communications for Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
“We currently have almost 15,000 girls who are part of Girl Scouts throughout central Indiana,” Palmer said. “We’re trying to engage girls and make sure as many girls as possible can have access to the Girl Scout experience.”
That “Girl Scout experience” looks much different than many people may remember. Today’s Girl Scouts can explore coding, motorsports, government leadership, engineering, entrepreneurship, and STEM careers in addition to traditional outdoor camp experiences.
“What’s really great about the Girl Scout experience is it can really be anything that a girl wants it to be. We want to meet girls where they are with their interests in mind..”
— Mandy Montgomery, Senior Director of Girl Experience
“What’s really great about the Girl Scout experience is it can really be anything that a girl wants it to be,” said Mandy Montgomery, Senior Director of Girl Experience. “We want to meet girls where they are with their interests in mind.”
This summer, the organization will offer day camps, overnight camps, and mobile STEM programming throughout central Indiana, including several opportunities specifically connected to the Far Eastside. Bus transportation will be available from eastside locations to camps, helping eliminate barriers for families. Financial assistance is also available.
Director of Community Impact Kristyn Tomlinson said the organization is partnering with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) and other community groups to bring programming directly into Far Eastside neighborhoods.
“We’re collaborating with CAFE and bringing our STEM van out to their camps,” Tomlinson said. “We want to make sure the community knows these opportunities exist.”
Tomlinson, who is also a Girl Scout parent, says the experience can have a lasting impact on girls.
“Girl Scouts provides girls a safe space to be themselves, to explore opportunities and expand,” she said. “It’s for girls, made by girls, to develop our future leaders.”
Palmer says one of the biggest misconceptions is that Girl Scouts is only about “cookies, crafts and camp.” The organization is helping girls build identity, leadership skills, friendships, and confidence that can shape their future long after summer ends.
To find out more about summer opportunities go to www.girlscoutsindiana.org/.
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