Columnist Barb Henderson: New facility a leap into future for Girl Scouts

Barb Henderson

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 9:53 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Pass me s'more!

Reflecting back to when I was a youngster, I spent many a night under starlit skies eating s'mores by the campfire while attending Girl Scout camp.

Some things never change, but often change is good -- especially when it is the Girl Scouts adding advanced programs and training as they set their pace toward the future.

To aid in the future of girl scouting the Girl Scouts of Frontier Council, a youth oriented organization, recently celebrated the completion of the 19,000-square-foot Donald W. Reynolds Girl Scout Training and Service Center at 2941 Harris Ave. in Las Vegas.

The structure by Perini Building Company was built on time and within the budget of $4.2 million dollars, provided through a grant by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States.

During my tour of the facility, I was amazed at how efficiently the Girl Scouts plan to use this beautiful facility. Some of the features include a technology learning center, a volunteer conference room, a four-pole flag court, a volunteer resource room for adult education classes and workshops, a 30,000-square-foot outdoor area for bridging ceremonies, camping and cooking classes, a learning resource room, a Girls Scouts retain store, a warehouse and a kitchen.

Certainly, this has been quite an adventurous journey for the council, when you think back to the days when the council was housed in a small building located on Stewart Ave. and then a mobile unit that was utilized by the council during the construction of the new center.

"For the last decade, we've known that expanded training and meeting facilities as well as sufficient room for everything from program equipment to retail merchandise, council archives and the warehousing of Girl Scout cookies would greatly increase our ability to meet continued growth," said Patricia Miller, executive director of Girl Scouts of Frontier Council.

"Girl Scouts of all ages as well as adult volunteers are really going to benefit from the increased resource availability that we're creating through the construction of this wonderful new facility."

Scouting provides confidence, determination and skills that are needed to thrive in today's world.

Scouting has also been praised for providing adventures and individual growth for girls.

For more information, on the Girl Scouts of Frontier Council go online to www.frontiercouncil.org or call 385-3677.