The inaugural DreamLab concept is opening on Girl Scouts'
111th Anniversary in Denver,
Colorado.
NEW YORK, March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Girl Scouts
of the USA (GSUSA) announced the
grand opening of the first-ever Girl Scout DreamLab, an innovative
program-based experience center concept designed to enhance the
Girl Scout presence in communities and host one-of-a-kind
programming for children, families, and Girl Scouts.
The DreamLab concept builds upon Girl Scouts' iconic national
properties model which includes camps, offices, and programmatic
facilities such as STEM centers. Through independent research
groups working closely with councils, Girl Scouts, and communities,
GSUSA developed the innovative Girl Scout DreamLab concept. This is
a new model for Girl Scout councils to consider as they evaluate
their own property plans, membership needs, and their place within
their broader communities.
"We're so excited to launch the first-ever Girl Scout DreamLab
with the incredible team at Girl Scouts of Colorado," said GSUSA Chief Executive Officer
Bonnie Barczykowski. "DreamLabs are
all about inspiring and engaging current and future Girl Scouts
with our unique program experiences and offering community members
the opportunity to explore new activities the Girl Scout way.
Through this initiative, we aim to increase our reach and impact,
elevate the Girl Scout experience among those who are new to or
unfamiliar with Girl Scouting, and provide an exciting new space
for everyone to make those important in-person connections."
Girl Scouts of Colorado will
cut the ribbon and open the doors to the Movement's first-ever
DreamLab in Denver, Colorado, on
Girl Scouts' 111th Anniversary, March
12. Bringing the Girl Scout DreamLab concept to life, the
Colorado destination will host a
hands-on STEM center, Girl Scout boutique, podcast booth,
bouldering wall, and an outdoor skills area with a faux fire pit
and tent to practice camping skills—in a new, central Denver location that is open and welcoming to
all.
"At Girl Scouts of Colorado, we
are thrilled to be the first in the nation to offer this new way to
experience Girl Scouting," said Girl Scouts of Colorado Chief Executive Officer Leanna Clark. "It's been so exciting to see the
DreamLab take shape and to see our girls' eyes light up when
they've come to explore it. The Lowry location is ideal because
it's within easy reach of many of our current members and gives us
a location where we can invite the community and future Girl Scouts
to experience what Girl Scouting is really all about—trying new
things, giving back, building friendships, and becoming
leaders."
The Girl Scout DreamLab
Concept
For participating councils, DreamLabs are strategically placed
to bridge the barriers of accessibility and make Girl Scouts a
destination for members and new families. Anticipating the varied
city and rural landscapes of their 111 councils, Girl Scouts
developed three models varying in size, layout, and functionality
to fit each council's needs. The DreamLabs are designed to:
- Bridge the gaps of accessibility by providing an innovative
multi-use programmatic experience center, open to community and
troop use.
- Increase membership and community engagement, providing
inspiring spaces for Girl Scouts seeking in-person connection.
- Deliver a consistent and elevated brand experience across the
Girl Scout Movement and improve access to staff for volunteers,
troops, and girls.
- Be intentionally curated as modern, engaging, and appealing to
reflect the contemporary requirements of today's girl.
To envision an entirely new properties model, GSUSA partnered
with industry leader Newmark Group Inc. to develop the DreamLab
concept.
"For the past two years, we worked closely with our partners at
Newmark, a world leader in commercial real estate and stakeholders
across Girl Scouts to create a future vision for Girl Scout
properties to better meet the needs of our girls and volunteers,"
said Anne Smith, senior vice
president, property strategy. "Together, we created the Girl Scout
DreamLab, an environment that is inclusive, accessible, and
designed for today's girl."
Girl Scouts and Newmark developed three property models varying
in size, layout, and functionality to fit varying council needs.
This summer, Girl Scouts Louisiana East and Girl Scouts of Central
and Southern New Jersey are both
preparing to debut DreamLabs. This new property model is available
to councils, with the potential to offer communities an inspiring
space to learn, grow, and explore, paired with knowledgeable staff
and resources to facilitate key programming for Girl Scouts, youth,
and families.
"It was an honor for Newmark to work hand-in-hand with Girl
Scouts of the USA to create an
experiential real estate strategy to further its mission," said
Elizabeth Hart, Newmark's president
of leasing for North America. "The
creativity and collaboration exhibited by both parties allowed us
to develop an out-of-the-box strategy; DreamLabs, an experience I
wish I had as a Girl Scout many years ago. The new concept is
anticipated to further advance Girls Scouts' ethos—inspiring and
empowering girls as future leaders. We believe our partnership in
helping identify the model and secure the locations based on
individual council needs will benefit the Girls Scouts and
communities nationwide."
We Are Girl Scouts of the
USA
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
trusted 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. To join us, volunteer,
reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
About Newmark
Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK), together with its
subsidiaries ("Newmark"), is a world leader in commercial real
estate, seamlessly powering every phase of the property life cycle.
Newmark's comprehensive suite of services and products is uniquely
tailored to each client, from owners to occupiers, investors to
founders, and startups to blue-chip companies. Combining the
platform's global reach with market intelligence in both
established and emerging property markets, Newmark provides
superior service to clients across the industry spectrum. Newmark
generated revenues of approximately $2.7
billion for the year ending December
31, 2022. Newmark's company-owned offices, together with its
business partners, operate from approximately 180 offices with
nearly 6,700 professionals around the world. To learn more, visit
nmrk.com or follow @newmark.
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SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA