June 2022

It is time to kick off the summer season of warm temperatures, sunny days, and cool shade. This summer, please join us on a tour of our 32-county council, highlighting each of the three regions and the programs, partners, properties, and people that make each region unique. Our council’s three regions are the North region (encompassing the Toledo and Defiance areas), the Central region (including Lima and Dayton), and the South region (Cincinnati).

In June, our first “stop on the tour” is our North region. With our service center located in Maumee (a Toledo suburb), our North region serves nearly 7,000 girls supported by 1,500 dedicated volunteers.

This is the time of year that we also fully embrace what summer largely

means for Girl Scouts: CAMP! At Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, we maintain seven camp properties for girls to access either during summer camp,

on an overnight with a troop, or during a program. These properties all

have a different history, layout, and theme. We can’t wait to share more

about these sacred spaces, starting with Camp Libbey, our camp in Defiance.

We are so excited to have girls visiting our camps – in just over a week!

And camp is so much more than summer fun! We know that girls who experience Girl Scout camp benefit from unparalleled opportunities to

develop the skills, courage, confidence, and appreciation of the natural

world that set them up to become the leaders of tomorrow. Thanks to you, Girl Scouts provides access to the outdoors, opens the door to new outdoor experiences, and helps girls move out of their comfort zone.

We hope you enjoy learning more about Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and,

with your support, all that we have to offer girls!

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Roni Luckenbill

Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

Shruq and Summer Fun at Camp Libbey

When asked what summer camp means to her, Shruq, a seventh-grader from Toledo, OH, had no shortage of experiences to reflect on. A Girl Scout since Kindergarten, Shruq’s summers have been filled with things she only could do with Girl Scouts.

During a troop camping trip to Michigan, she saved the turtles;

at Camp Libbey in Defiance, OH, Shruq learned how to safely start

a fire and tried her hand at outdoor cooking. She has done

all of this and more at camp -

all while making new friends

with her Girl Scout sisters.

This summer, Shruq can’t wait

to experience the new Astronomy Tower and stargazing exhibits

at Camp Libbey that have been completed as part of the

Empower Her campaign.

We can’t wait to hear about

what Shruq experiences next!

Trees, Tents, and Team Building in Toledo

Summer in the North

Our property in the North is Camp Libbey in Defiance. With a theme of "The Spirit of Adventure," Camp Libbey is our largest camp. It features an extensive high ropes course, an environmental center, and many acres of undeveloped backcountry along the Maumee River. While its high adventure opportunities make it attractive for older girls, its abundant flush toilets make it a favorite for all campers.

Camp Libbey is host to resident camps, and we offer other programming options at this camp each summer. We continue to focus on families with programming such as our Family Camping under the Stars event on July 9.

At this stargazing event, families and troops are invited to bring their supplies such as food, sleeping bags, and tents to camp in the field at Camp Libbey.

Just as we maintain a focus on families in the summer, we also continue to work with girls in the community, engaging many girls who are new to Girl Scouts through our School Break Day Camps. While these camps occur during Spring Break, some are also held in the summer. These day camps run for 3-4 days a week for girls who attend schools with a high concentration of low-income families. Because of generous donors like you, this camp experience is provided to any girls new to Girl Scouting and is offered at no charge. In addition to a fun-filled week of camp for girls to explore Girl Scouting, the girls also receive a current-year membership subsidy to Girl Scouts of the USA. They are invited to attend any program or event that we offer with that membership!

We are also excited to see our donors over the summer with our special “donor days at camp”. Each summer we have a day at resident camp where we invite our Juliette Gordon Low Society members and Leadership Circle donors to visit a live camp session, tour camp, enjoy lunch with the girls, and meet our CEO, board, and a Girl Scout.

Interested in becoming a member of either?

Please email us at [email protected] for more information.

Meet Us –

the North Region Staff

Our Toledo office is host to 23 staff members.

We would like to introduce you to a few of our staff in this office!

Anitra Bates

Anitra is one of our Community Development Team Leads in the North. With nearly 11 years at Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Anitra is taking the lead on our Camp For Every Girl program, focusing on girl participation and enrollment.

Marie Cordes

"Jigsaw"

Marie leads our

Outdoor Program team in our northern counties. Now in her ninth year with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and having grown up attending our camps, Marie plans outstanding summer camp experiences -

both resident and day camps - for the council.

Becky Sarantou

Becky serves

as the Program

Team Leader in

the North region.

Becky ensures that

our program offerings are reaching every girl, taking the lead with

our Astronomy Club. She has worked with

us for 10 years!

While these staff members are amazing, they represent only a portion of the talent in our North region serving our girls and ensuring they achieve their personal best in life!

A map of our North Region

Thank you for investing in girls, and supporting the visionary leaders, doers, innovators, creators, and thinkers of tomorrow. Together, we can help girls discover their untapped potential and build girls of courage, confidence, and character

who make the world a better place.

Every donor who reaches $1,000 in donations annually is a member

of the Leadership Circle. Make their bright future possible as an investor, advocate, networker, and mentor today!

Reach out today, and a team member will help you reach your goals.