Girl Scouts of Colorado opens the first Girl Scout DreamLab in the Nation
March 10, 2023
Girl Scouts of Colorado is the first Girl Scout council in the nation to embrace a national property strategy that removes barriers of accessibility and makes Girl Scouts a destination. The Girl Scout DreamLab opened March 12 in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood. This marks the first of these new centers, designed to enhance the Girl Scout presence in communities and host one-of-a-kind programming for children, families, and Girl Scouts.
Nearly 1,000 Girl Scouts, their families, and community members gathered to try out the first-in-the-nation Girl Scout DreamLab. Gov. Jared Polis has proclaimed the day “Girl Scout Dream Day.”
The DreamLab is part of a national Girl Scouts property strategy to create visible, innovative spaces where girls can try new things, like STEM projects, podcasting, performing on stage or climbing a bouldering wall.
Two other DreamLabs are slated to open this summer in Louisiana and New Jersey, and at least five more DreamLabs are in the works in other parts of the nation.
The DreamLabs are designed to elevate the Girl Scout experience among those who are new or unfamiliar with Girl Scouting, and provide a space designed to be a Girl Scout destination that is modern, engaging, and appealing to today’s girl.
Girl Scouts of Colorado began the process to select a site and prepare to open the first DreamLab more than a year ago. The first DreamLab was funded in part through a partnership with GSUSA. The center, located in a vibrant shopping center, includes a STEM lab, bouldering wall, podcast booth, and indoor camping area.
“I’m excited for the STEM lab since I really like science and math and working with my hands,” says 12-year-old Girl Scout Cadette Bianca Morris. Eight-year-old Anabel Williams says she’s looking forward to the social aspect of the DreamLab. “I want to meet new friends and have experiences I maybe couldn’t have had before.”
The DreamLab will be available for Girl Scout troops to reserve for meeting and activity spaces starting in June and will be home to partner programs, badge workshops, and even Family Fun Days. There is a Boutique and community members are welcome to stop by to check it out.
“At Girl Scouts, we are building the leaders of tomorrow,” says Girl Scouts of Colorado CEO Leanna Clark. “Giving troops access to the resources available at the Girl Scout DreamLab will allow us to continue to further our mission through this new way of experiencing Girl Scouts. We are so excited to pave the way for the future of Girl Scouts.”
For any questions or ideas regarding the Girl Scout DreamLab please email DreamLab@gscolorado.org
