Girl Scouts sell camp near Cornell

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes announces sale of Camp Nawakwa Property to Our Nawakwa, Inc.

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) is pleased to announce the sale of its Camp Nawakwa property in Chippewa County, to Our Nawakwa, Inc. This significant decision, reached in collaboration with Our Nawakwa, Inc., represents a combined effort to preserve the legacy and natural beauty of Camp Nawakwa while continuing to provide outdoor experiences to local Girl Scouts and other community organizations, especially those focusing on youth.

GSNWGL and Our Nawakwa, Inc. joined into a Memorandum of Understanding last spring, granting Our Nawakwa, Inc. exclusive first right to negotiate to purchase Camp Nawakwa. The agreement was finalized on October 2, and Our Nawakwa, Inc. will become the owner of the property in early January 2024.

“The decision to sell Camp Nawakwa to Our Nawakwa, Inc. was made with great consideration, compromise, and dedication to our mission of supporting the youth in our communities. We believe the mission of Our Nawakwa, Inc. and GSNWGL align beautifully, and we look forward to this next chapter,” said Patti Shafto-Carlson, CEO of Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes.

Camp Nawakwa has been part of the Girl Scout movement, providing Girl Scouts with a safe and enriching environment to explore the great outdoors, build leadership skills, and create lasting memories. As GSNWGL continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our members and communities, this sale presents a unique opportunity to further Camp Nawakwa’s impact on the lives of Girl Scouts and local youth.

“Our Nawakwa, Inc. has demonstrated a strong commitment to the principles that have made Camp Nawakwa so special, and we are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring to youth throughout the community,” said Dr. Kelly Steelman, Board Chair for Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes.

Sherry Jasper, President of Our Nawakwa, Inc., had similar sentiments, saying, “We are very pleased to have taken this step to preserve the legacy of Camp Nawakwa for future generations of Girl Scouts and youth in our community. The support of the GSNWGL board has been instrumental in this process, supporting our shared goal of continuing to bring outdoor experiences and youth development opportunities to our community.”

Our Nawakwa, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization formed with the intention to preserve the legacy of Camp Nawakwa and protect the natural beauty and ecology of the camp and its surrounding areas while continuing to make it available for use by Girl Scouts and our community. The vision of Our Nawakwa, Inc. is to strengthen youth and community by developing leadership skills, providing environmental education, and promoting health and wellness through property rental and support services, thereby ensuring Nawakwa’s legacy now and for future generations.

For more information about Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, visit gsnwgl.org or email info@gsnwgl.org. For more information about Our Nawakwa, please visit ournawakwa.org or email ournawakwa@gmail.com.