Girl Scouts of Mid-Continent Council

8383 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64133 -- (816) 358-8750 FAX (816) 358-5714

Mission

Provide an active learning environment where girls are valued; where they are challenged and guided to become capable, self-reliant, ethical women who make a difference.

Membership

An association of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. for girls 5-17 from all racial, ethnic, religious and socio-economic populations including girls with disabilities. Over 32,000 girls are served annually in five program levels:
Daisy Girl Scouts, ages 5-6 (kindergarten or grade 1)
Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 6-8 (or grades 1-2-3)
Junior Girl Scouts, ages 8-11 (or grades 3-4-5-6)
Cadette Girl Scouts, ages 11-14 (or grades 6-7-8-9)
Senior Girl Scouts, ages 14-17 (or grades 9-10-11-12)
Membership includes over 9,000 adults; volunteer administrators, consultants, leaders, board members, and staff specialists in child development, adult education, outdoor education, and management. Employed staff are fewer than one percent of total adult membership.

Jurisdiction

Eighteen counties surrounding Greater Kansas City: Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray and part of St. Clair in Missouri; Anderson, Franklin, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte in Kansas.

Program

The Girl Scout program meets the developmental, educational, and social needs of girls, 5-17. Activities promote pluralism, increase understanding and appreciation of girls' different abilities, facilitate team learning experiences, decision-making and conflict-resolution skills and, cultivate self-esteem. Together girls and adults choose their goals, make decision, and evaluate accomplishments.

Facilities

The Bette Jordan Service Center (council headquarters) is located on four acres in southeastern Kansas City, Missouri. It houses administrative offices, a training center and a full-service Girl Scout Shop. The council owns and operates five outdoor program sites:

Camp Prairie Schooner: 176 acres in southern Jackson County, Missouri
Camp Timberlake: 80 acres near Stilwell, Kansas
Winding River Camp and Horse Ranch: 409 acres near Dearborn, Missouri
Tongawood Program Center: 80 acres near Tonganoxie, Kansas
Camp Oakledge: 401 acres on the Lake of the Ozarks near Warsaw, Missouri

Reflections of Great Ideas in Mid-Continent Council History

* Girl Scouting began in Kansas City in 1923.
* Councils in this area have included Kansas City, Pioneer Trails, Santa Fe Trails, and Winding River.
* Communities such as Independence, Lexington, Harrisonville, Butler, and Warrensburg were once individual Girl Scout Councils.
* In 1945, the Kansas City Council purchased Camp Oakledge in Warsaw, Missouri.
* In 1945, the Independence Council purchased camp Prairie Schooner in Kansas City, Missouri.
* In 1957, the Kansas City Council purchased Camp Timberlake in Stilwell, Kansas.
* In 1959, the land for Tongawood Program Center in Tonganoxie, Kansas was donated to the Santa Fe Trails Council.
* In 1965, the Winding River Council purchased Winding River Camp in Dearborn, Missouri.
* The Little House in Warrnesburg, Missouri is deeded to the Warrensburg Girl Scout Council and will remain so as long as the property is used by Girl Scouts.
* In 1994, Mid-Continent GSC merged with Santa Fe Trails GSC.
* In 1996 the National Science Foundation awarded the Mid-Continent Council of Girl Scouts in partnership with Ottawa University, in Ottawa, Kansas, a $103,409 three-year grant to introduce an exciting new program called Plugged In! to improve girls' skills and confidence in math, science and computer technology. An additional $100,000 grant was awarded in 1997 to support the development of a web site. During the grant period Plugged In! will reach 4,400 girls, ages 5-17 and 125 adults with diverse racial, cultural and economic backgrounds in an 18-county urban, rural and suburban geographical area. It will also serve as a model for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and its 3.5 million members.
* In October, 1999, Mid-Continent GSC was host of the 48th Girl Scouts of the United States of America Conference!