Governance
Governance structures are part of every Girl Scout Council and are defined in the Council bylaws.
The Council's governing body is its board of directors. Under the leadership of the Chair, the board maintains the integrity and the purpose of Girl Scouting within our council’s jurisdiction.
The board's responsibilities include influencing policy regarding the council goals, issues affecting girls, and issues affecting the business of the organization, as well as strategic planning, financial oversight, and fund development.
Strategic Priorities
Membership Year 2025
Winning Proposition
Empowering Girl Scouts in Montana and Wyoming to reach their full leadership potential through equitable access to quality opportunities.
Focus
WHO: Troops - Grades K-3
WHAT: STEM, Outdoor Program, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship
HOW: Mission Delivery Plan
WHERE: Montana and Wyoming
Strategic Objectives
1 . Engage Girl Scouts in quality Girl Scout Leadership Experiences through GSMW’s Mission Delivery Plan with diverse delivery methods.
2. Invest in the human component to build and sustain a thriving community of staff, volunteers, and adults to deliver the Girl Scout Mission.
3. Dynamically engage volunteers, parents, and staff in the utilization of the Volunteer Toolkit and gsLearn.
4. Align and promote the GSMW website, recruitment, and programs to the GSUSA brand strategy. Distribute timely, clear, and consistent messages and graphics that carry the branding of Girl Scouts.
5. Leverage and maximize existing assets to support the delivery of the Girl Scout Mission by diversifying revenue sources and practicing stewardship of resources entrusted to GSMW, including finances, property, and assets.
Membership
At Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming (GSMW), girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Girls grow courageous and strong through a wide variety of enriching experiences, such as field trips, skill-building badges, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardship.
Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.
Outside of the global pandemic, GSMW has had consistent growth in total membership.
National membership year over year has continued to see a decline in both girl and adult membership. After some turnover, GSUSA hired Bonnie Barczykowski as the national CEO, and we continue to see the impact of her strong leadership.
Program
Girl Scouting provides girls with the skills necessary to navigate life with purpose and joy by offering unique experiences and the support girls need to discover their interests, build selfconfidence, and become agents of change as global citizens. Girl Scouts have fun, build lasting friendships, and develop skills that inspire them for life. From hands-on activities and leadership experiences to travel adventures and awards to be earned, Girl Scouting opens doors to endless possibilities and a brighter future.
GSMW focuses on the board-approved strategic priorities to offer consistent programming across the council with our signature series and other opportunities. All Girl Scout programming is aligned with the national Girl Scout Leadership Experience, focusing on four program pillars: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Outdoors, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship.
STEM
Mobile STEM Learning Center
Equipped with girl-led and girl-focused programming, our Mobile STEM Learning Center (STEM Van) made its debut in 2022. The STEM Van offers hands-on experiences in 3D printing, drones, robotics, anatomy, microbiology, geology, space science, and more.
Since its launch, the van has traveled to 85 communities across Montana and Wyoming, bringing STEM opportunities to girls. To date, we have served over 4,300 participants while on the road, inspiring the next generation of innovators.
Mobile Engineering Wall
In 2024, GSMW purchased a multi-sided LEGO and magnetic Mobile Engineering Wall for use in conjunction with the STEM Van. This wall is fully mobile and transportable using the STEM Van.
One side of the wall features LEGO building platforms, allowing girls to explore scientific concepts such as patterns and symmetry, gravity and force, and problem-solving through trial and error.
The other side of the wall is fully magnetic and includes magnetic ball maze pieces. These pieces can be arranged in various patterns, enabling participants to explore scientific concepts such as friction, force, acceleration, potential, and kinetic energy. The wall also provides girls with hands-on experience in engineering and problem-solving.
Robotics
The RoboScout Squad, formed in 2017, has won numerous competitions and awards. In 2024, they won the Inspire Award and had the opportunity to compete at the World Championship in Houston, TX for the fourth time. The Inspire Award is given to the team that best embodies the challenge of the FIRST Tech Challenge program.
The Adventurefuls also had a strong showing at the 2024 State Championship, earning the first place robot design award. The first place robot award in LEGO robotics is the Champion's Award. This award recognizes teams that embrace the FIRST LEGO League Challenge experience and achieve excellence in robot performance, robot design, and the innovation project. This was the team's third time competing at the State Championship.
Resident Summer Camp
One of the foundations of Girl Scouts is an appreciation for nature and exposure to the great outdoors. Activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing, and archery offer girls opportunities to have exciting, girl-led outdoor adventures while learning important skills that teach valuable life lessons, like self-reliance, leadership, and perseverance.
*Glacier, Yellowstone, Idaho B
When girls participate in Girl Scouts’ outdoor programming, they benefit in important ways:
Outdoor Competence
Girls learn to engage safely and responsibly in a range of outdoor activities.
Outdoor Interest
Highlighted Council Programs
GSMW provides a variety of programs, including in-person and virtual. Council programs are planned with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in mind, featuring STEM, Outdoors, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship.
In MY21, the global pandemic forced GSMW to pivot into the world of virtual programming, allowing us to reach all of our members. We continue to provide virtual programs to serve even our most rural communities; however, girls have proven to us that they want to be together, with our in-person programming remaining at the highest participation level.
Girl Scouts Celebrates 110 Years
GSMW held three events across the council including Billings, Helena, and Cheyenne to celebrate Girl Scouts turning 110 years old in 2022. These events had over 370 attendees who participated in activities like archery, sapphire mining, canoeing, learning business skills, leather stamping, outdoor cooking, orienteering, first aid, hiking, fishing, and much more!
Compass Skill d N i ti
Girl Scouts across the council gain experience in map orientation and thanks to Brunton, a woman-own Riverton, WY. Specializing in prof compasses, and navigation tools, donated 14 educational kits valued these resources, trained GSMW st and adults through an orienteerin teaching essential navigation skill the kits, Brunton’s CEO also playe facilitating programming at Camp enriching the experience for parti
Girl Scouts Love State Parks
Since 2019, Girl Scouts nationwide, along with their troops, friends, and families have come together to celebrate the shared love of the outdoors at Girl Scouts Love State Park programs. Each of the 12 regions offers a program at a State Park in their area. A few of the most recent adventures took place at Pictograph State Park in Billings, MT and Bear River State Park in Evanston, WY.
Participants
Outdoor and Girl Scout Week Challenges
To encourage girls to try new things, GSMW creates challenges for our members, providing a fun way for troops or individual girls to get outdoors and learn more about Girl Scouts. Once they’ve completed the challenge, they earn a patch. Since 2021, we have offered three challenges annually: a summer outdoor challenge, a winter outdoor challenge, and a Girl Scout Week challenge.
Total Participants Total Challenges Meeting in a Minute
*In 2024, only two challenges were offered: the Winter Outdoor Challenge and Summer Outdoor Challenge. In place of the Girl Scou Minute box that served 360 girls.
Meeting in a Minute
In 2024, GSMW launched the Meeting in a Minute initiative. These all-inclusive activity boxes were designed to help troop leaders spend less time planning and more time mentoring their girls.
Four of the six boxes were designed around badge requirements*, while the additional two were designed to get girls outdoors and to celebrate Girl Scout history. Each kit includes everything a troop leader needs to run a successful meeting, including supplies, instructions, and even snacks.
Since the initiative’s launch, we have served 2,028 girls and have designed and released six boxes, with a seventh coming soon.
Total Girls Served
Try-It Kit
Since 2021, GSMW has held two virtual Try-It Kit programs each year. Designed as a recruitment tool, these programs introduce non-participating girls to our mission in a fun and accessible way.
Participants pay a nominal fee to experience the Girl Scout program. Kits are mailed directly to the girl and programming is offered on flexible days and times to accommodate family schedules. Since its launch, the Try-It Kits have recruited and served 1,771 new Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout
Girl Scout
Highlighted Council Programs
Girl Scouts offer three highest awards that recognizes leadership, creativity, and community service of its members. Each of these awards involves a rigorous process that fosters personal growth, encourages leadership, and instills a sense of responsibility toward helping others.
Gold Award Scholarship
The GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship recognizes and provides financial support to one Gold Award Girl Scout per council, per year. Scholarship recipients must have completed a Gold Award project that demonstrates extraordinary leadership with measurable, sustainable impact, and addresses an issue of national and/or global significance.
GSMW has had four award recipients, and scholarship amounts have varied from $2,000 - $10,000. from Laramie, WY collaborated with the University of Wyoming’s Natural Diversity Database to discover more about the declining native bee populations.
2021
Kieran Burns
2022
RJ Schoen
from Casper, WY partnered with the national organization, PERIOD, to establish a PERIOD chapter in their high school, addressing period poverty and stigma at their school and in their community.
2023
Grace Regan
from Jackson, WY recognized the lack of resources for teens struggling with anxiety and used her love of art to develop a coloring book containing tools to deal with anxiety.
2024
Mairin Simms
from Laramie, WY worked with her local clinic to create a dashboard that compiles data from the clinic’s medical data system. In turn, the clinic uses this data to showcase their strengths and goals to the Board of Directors and stakeholders.
Silver Award of the Year
In 2022, GSMW implemented the GSMW Silver Award of the Year, where one Silver Award project is selected by a committee. The award recipient(s) are selected based on strict criteria, have shown outstanding initiative, and have demonstrated real sustainable change within their community. Award recipients receive a celebration in their honor and are recognized by our council with a certificate and exclusive patch.
2022
Troop 3574
from Wilsall, MT partnered with their school to stock the girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms with feminine hygiene products and posted positive affirmations on the bathroom stalls.
2023
Troop 2051
from Billings, MT worked with their local Head Start library to create a reading nook, cataloged the library’s books on an excel file so teachers can easily find books, and recorded themselves reading books for teachers and caregivers to access.
2024
Troop 1931
from Green River, WY gathered insights on challenging bus loading zones and ran a public awareness campaign to educate the public on bus safety. With approval from their school board, they installed clearer signage at these challenging bus zones.
Travel
Troop Travel
MY21
As COVID restrictions began to ease, GSMW’s troops started tra eling m re Se eral tr ops traveled stateside, visiting places like hplace in Savannah, GA, tropical Florida, ed the Pacific Northwest. Other troops
MY23
MY22
GSMW troops ventured across the United States and abroad. Domestically, troops traveled to Kentucky, Arizona, and North Carolina. Internationally, Girl Scouts toured London, Paris, Florence, and Rome.
The 56th National Council Session took place in Orlando, FL, where 27 GSMW Girl Scouts and adults traveled. Troops continued to tour the United States with a trip to Washington, D.C., and several trips across the council. International travel continued to increase, with three troops taking a European tour, visiting Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France.
MY24
oops traveled stateside visiting Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, outh Dakota, Massachusetts, and Florida. A troop also traveled to urope.
Destinations
Girl Scout Destinations are travel programs designed for individual Girl Scouts (Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors) to explore new places, try exciting activities, and meet Girl Scouts from across the country (and sometimes the world). These trips focus on adventure, cultural experiences, STEM, outdoor exploration, and leadership development.
MY21
Due to COVID restrictions, all destinations were canceled by GSUSA.
MY22 - 6 Travelers
Cuisine and Culture: Italy
Girl Scouts experienced Italian cuisine and culture through tours that included cooking classes, visits to farms, and exploring cities.
North Country Rockin’ Wilder
Minnesota
Well-trained and experienced Girl Scout guides led Gi l S t lti d i d hit ter
This two-week destination focused on forming relationships with both horses and humans through active horse care and team-building exercises. Girl Scouts spent half days in the equestrian center, practicing riding skills and learning about equine companions. In the second week, girls participated in extended trail rides, packed out lunches, and an overnight trail ride.
Catching Waves: Costa Rica
Catching Waves in Costa Rica and Panama gave girls an opportunity to visit remote rainforest villages with family homestays, serve local communities, scuba dive among the colorful coral reefs of the Caribbean Ocean, protect the region’s fragile ecosystem, and catch waves on famous warm water breaks. Girl Scouts immersed themselves in a new language and culture while discovering their inner strengths and leadership skills.
MY23 - 5 Travelers
North Country Rockin’ Wilderness: Minnesota
Well-trained and experienced Girl Scout guides led Girl Scouts on a multi-day canoeing and whitewater expedition through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.
Color me Orange County: California
This ten-day destination began at Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center (GSLC) in Newport Beach, California, Orange County’s hub for Girl Scout Career Exploration where girls explored 21stcentury careers. In addition, during a four-night stay at Disneyland Resort, Girl Scouts received an immersive peek behind the curtains at Disney Entertainment, with exclusive hands-on activities, workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, and info sessions led by working industry professionals in three areas: immersive storytelling, technology of Disney parks, and soundtrack sessions. The final phase is a girl-led service project where girls reflect on all they learned at Disney.
Space Academy: Alabama
This immersive week included astronaut simulators, hands-on engineering challenges, teamwork activities, and simulated missions in the Space Academy Mission Center Complex.
HERSTORY: History, Hiking & Hershey: Pennsylvania
Girl Scouts explored the history through the eyes of girls and women in Pennsylvania, from colonial days to the 21st century in historic Gettysburg, industrial Hershey and dynamic Lancaster. They learned the science behind chocolate-making, how a First Lady lived her life, the bravery of women during war, and much more.
MY23 - 4 Travelers
Broadway Bound: New York
Broadway Bound: NYC, Times Square, and Beyond! had our Girl Scouts taking theater workshops, attending shows, and exploring New York City, from the Upper West Side to Battery Park. Girl Scouts stay at Lake Rickabear, a Girl Scout Camp just an hour’s drive from Manhattan. They experience musical theater workshops led by Broadway professionals for in-depth career development. Girls participated in a variety of classes covering everything from auditioning tricks to choreography.
Pacific Exploration in STEM: Hawaii
During their stay at the new Camp Paumalu STEM Center for Excellence located on the North Shore of Oahu, girls learned all about the ocean, outer space, and environmental science. In addition, they explored Polynesia and other cultures as they visited historical locations on the island of Oahu.
Sisterhood at Sangam: India
With their home base at the Sangam WAGGGS World Center in Pune, India, Girl Scouts celebrated the Indian festival of color, Holi, like a local – through traditional customs as well as modern dance, fashion, and food. Girls discovered the colorful city of Pune through visits to its diverse historical and cultural sights.
Adventure in Forestry Destination
During the summer of 2024, GSMW hosted their first GS Destination. During the seven-day trip, 12 high school-ag Scouts from across the country embarked on an excitin through Red Lodge, Montana, Yellowstone National Park Cody, Wyoming. The adventure began in Red Lodge with to the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary for a conservation tour and a service project benefiting the resident badger Travelers then enjoyed a horseback riding experience w River Outfitters.
Girls spent a day studying geology with a National Park R Norris Geyser Basin and Old Faithful Geyser Basin. Then id ce of Americ eled to Yellow , ng their efforts to studying the Whitebark Pine tree its struggle against climate change. Learning about its role in the ecosystem, Girl Scouts contributed to the species’ future success and to the Girl Scout Tree mise by planting 50 Whitebark Pine from seed.
On the final night of the Destin Scouts took the lead, planning celebration held at Timbercres Participants planned the night including a presentation of scie research, trip highlights, and tr goals to Take Action for the Wh Pine and the Girl Scout Tree Pr Attendees including staff, boar members, and many parents w awe of the leadership demonst girls participating in the destin
dition, girls enjoyed the Cody Night Rodeo, in Cody ,WY
Product Program
The Girl Scout Product Programs are the largest girl-led business in the United States. Through the Girl Scout Product Programs, girls develop five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. The Girl Scout council-sponsored product programs which include products from official Girl Scout Cookie, magazine, and nut vendors give girls proven opportunities to earn money and/or credits for their Girl Scout program activities, while contributing significantly to their troop and communities through Take Action projects.
Building their business know-how isn’t just tied to the cookies and fall products themselves! Girl Scouts at any level can continue honing their entrepreneurial skills by earning the Cookie Business badges, Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin, and the Financial Literacy badges year over year.
Property
Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming (GSMW) is proud to offer a diverse range of outdoor and program sites across its jurisdiction. These properties, essential for both programming and administration, are among the council’s most valuable assets. Their primary purpose is to enhance membership engagement and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by providing safe, high-quality, and meaningful outdoor program opportunities.
Property Portfolio
Day Use and Overnight Property
Camp Carefree
Located 17 miles northwest of Cheyenne, WY, this 44-acre camp has a 1,400-square-foot lodge with a kitchen, bathroom, meeting room, and picnic area. It’s available year-round for Girl Scout troops, local youth organizations, and traveling troops. It is leased from the City of Cheyenne.
Camp Wild Rose
Located in Livingston, MT, on several acres of land, the single-building lodge has a large meeting room, kitchen, and bathroom. It can be rented by Girl Scout troops for overnight stays and by outside non-profit groups.
Camp Open Door
Located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson Hole, WY, this parcel of land is equipped with seven formal camping sites with vaulted toilets and a fire ring. There is also a nice area for tent camping.
Camp Cut Bank
Situated just outside Cut Bank, MT, this 5.16-acre campsite serves both summer camps and dayuse activities.
Columbus Homestead
Located between Columbus, MT, and Absarokee, MT, this 3-acre parcel is forested with four threesided log buildings and two outhouses.
Casper Scout House
This 1,500 square-foot house, located in a residential area in Casper, WY, includes a kitchen, bathroom, large meeting room, and office space for resident staff. This property is leased for $1 from the City of Casper.
Havre Scout House
This Scout House is located in Havre, MT, and is equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and two meeting rooms.
Worland Scout House - Edith Healy Little House
This 1,726 square-foot house, located in Worland, WY, includes a bathroom/shower, a large meeting room, a kitchen, and a stage.
Residential Camps
Residential Camps Camp Castle Rock
Located a few miles from the city of Butte, MT, Camp Castle Rock is a beautiful spot surrounded by lovely wooded hills. The site has a historic log lodge, dedicated by Mrs. Herbert Hoover in 1927, and is surrounded by lofty and inspiring mountains. Recently, the lodge was added to the Montana State Historical Registry
There have been several restoration projects and upgrades to the camp over the years, including cabin renovations, the construction of an activity center and pavilion, the development of a new trail system, and much more.
Amphitheater
The amphitheater was completed in 2024 and will allow a space for Girl Scouts to gather during camp to sing songs, perform skits, and participate in a variety of activities.
Signage
New entrance sign at Camp Castle Rock.
Cabins
All cabins at Camp Castle Rock have been upgraded to include new siding, electricity, and heat.
Pergola and Deck
The original construction of the lodge included a pergola, but due to safety concerns, it was removed in the 1960s. In 2022, the pergola was reconstructed. The deck was added in 2024, allowing easier access to the dining hall.
Residential CampsTimbercrest Camp
Nestled in the heart of the Custer National Forest, just six miles southwest of Red Lodge, MT, Timbercrest Camp spans 40 acres of towering pines and rolling meadows. At the center of camp, the main lodge serves as a warm and welcoming gathering space. Featuring newly installed energyefficient windows, the lodge provides stunning views of the surrounding wilderness. Inside, you'll find the dining hall, camp offices, bunk rooms, and restrooms. Nearby, the activity cabin and arts and crafts area provide spaces for creativity and hands-on fun. Rustic cabins and pit latrines offer campers a true outdoor experience.
Each morning, Girl Scouts perform a traditional flag ceremony where they demonstrate leadership skills and teamwork while showing respect for the American flag. In the evening, girls come together at one of four fire pits, where stories are shared, songs are sung, and friendships are strengthened.
Everywhere you look, Timbercrest Camp is a place of adventure and discovery. Whether hiking scenic trails, taking in the peaceful surroundings, or simply enjoying the fresh mountain air, campers experience the joy of nature while building confidence, leadership, and lifelong memories.
Residential Camps Camp Sacajawea
Camp Sacajawea sits atop Casper Mountain, high above the city of Casper, WY This property consists of 140 acres and is a combination of steep wooded acreage and open areas offering vista views into the distance. Campers stay in yurts, a unique attribute of Camp Sacajawea, but also have access to cabins, traditional platform tent units, and a bunk house. The main lodge provides a dining and activity area, upstairs lodging, health center, and restroom with showers. A recently renovated deck overlooks lower camp, providing a beautiful spot to gather and take in the scenery.
Beyond the lodge, girls can experience the great outdoors through hiking scenic trails, learning outdoor skills, and participating in traditional campfire gatherings. Under the vast Wyoming sky, campers bond over songs, stories, and laughter around the fire, strengthening friendships and building confidence. A highlight of Camp Sacajawea is the challenge course, designed to build teamwork, confidence and leadership. This exciting course includes multiple obstacles and a rock wall, encouraging girls to push their limits and support each other in achieving new heights.
Camp Sacajawea is a place where adventure meets tradition, where girls can connect with nature, and where every Girl Scout can discover her strength, courage, and love for the outdoors.
Yurts
Finance
Public Support
Public support is essential for Girl Scout fundraising efforts as it directly impacts the success and sustainability of programs, camps, and community initiatives.
Daisy Circle
GSMW’s recurring giving program allows donors to give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Currently, there are 20 recurring donors, totaling $600/month in donations.
General Operating Support
Since FY2020, we have obtained $254,000 in general operating support from various foundations. This has allowed us to support staff and expand programming in various communities throughout the council.
Mobile STEM Learning Center
Launched in 2022, the Mobile STEM Learning Center has been a valuable program to GSMW. With over $213,000 raised to support this program, nearly 3,000 girls have benefited from this program across Montana and Wyoming. This program continues to be supported by individual donors and foundations as ongoing funds are needed such as transporation costs, program supplies and equipment, and staffing.
Assistance and Grants
Each year, GSMW provides financial assistance to girls and families in need. These requests cover annual membership dues, basic uniform needs, camp and program costs, as well as travel scholarships.
Retail Sales
GSMW has two retail shops: Billings, MT and Great Falls, MT. Each shop serves to provide convenience for volunteers and members with access to uniforms and essential Girl Scout gear
Reserves (in months)
