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30 Years at A Place for Girls
Do you remember 1996? What milestones happened that year in your life? For girls growing up back then, it was a time of technological advancements such as the Nintendo 64 and the release of the first Motorola flip phone. The US hosted the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and Tickle Me Elmo was the must-have gift craze for the holidays. It was also a very special year for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, as A Place for Girls opened its doors to welcome Girl Scouts and their families.
On October 29 at A Place for Girls, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of A Place for Girls. Friends and supporters gathered to share stories, walk down memory lane, do some fun activities, and preview a documentary to celebrate the milestone produced as an anniversary gift by Shaymon Owens, CEO of The Okii Dream Initiative. Throughout the documentary, it was clear that much of the driving force behind A Place for Girls was past GSCCC CEO Nellie Hayse. Nellie led the council from 1981 until her retirement in 2004 when Tracy Keller assumed the CEO role.
GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller shared her own memories and underscored the importance of having a facility like A Place for Girls. “Through camps, troop experiences, STEM programs, outdoor adventures, community service and leadership opportunities, thousands of girls have discovered that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. And perhaps most importantly, we see girls finding a place where they belong.”
From the purchase of the land to opening day, Nellie Hayse was dedicated to getting the funds, working with volunteers and girls to design the program center, and coordinating efforts to make it a reality; it took six years. A Place for Girls opened its doors in 1996 with a dedication ceremony, which was attended by three hundred Girl Scouts, donors, public officials, and community friends.
The lower level included a lobby, shop, and three large rooms named in honor of donors — Rotary’s Teen Room, Parson’s Amazing Room, and Young Performer’s Room — which could be opened and connected to accommodate large events. Hands-on crafts could be done in the Beasley’s Science and Hands Art Room which included a kiln. A full operating kitchen, Rowena’s Kitchen, was named for Rowena Fullinwider, a Campaign Chair for A Place for Girls. The Fun Room was available for troop overnights and included bathroom facilities and showers along with a kitchen area for cooking. A smaller room, a first-aid room, was dedicated in honor of Dr. Aleli Romero, a board member and donor who later became a Council Board Chair.
Many donors and helping hands made construction of the center possible, especially the support of the Armada/Hoffler Construction Company that did most of the general contracting work as in-kind. The president of the construction company placed the value of the donated services at $100,000.
Right from the start, A Place for Girls was buzzing with activity. During the summer of 1996 there was a Leader Support Team conference, Red Cross Training, Imagimazing Summer Fun Camp (serving 200 girls), troop lock-ins, a potluck dinner for twenty-nine Belgian Boy and Girl Scouts and their host families, and even a wedding of council staff members James Flowers and Claudia Musick.
In 1998, an after-school program was added. Many of the girls continued to attend the program throughout the summer when day camp was offered at the center.
A Place for Girls (APFG) Milestones
- 1999: Fitness Trail dedication (with ten elements and accompanying fun patch program) sponsored by Chesapeake General Hospital.
- 2000: Trader Wildlife Observation Tower dedication.
- 2001: A Place for Girls was nominated and received the Chesapeake Beautification Award “in recognition of the visual impression and awareness of the environment exemplified by the grounds and building.”
- 2002: The Outback's dedication.
- 2004: Property purchased that would become The Lodge, adjacent to A Place for Girls.
- 2005: The Outback became a designated site on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
- The Nellie Hayse Friendship Bridge was installed to connect APFG with The Lodge property, named in honor of GSCCC CEO Nellie Hayse who retired in 2004.
- 2006: Friends and staff gathered at A Place for Girls to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the regional headquarters.
- 2006: Camp Werowanee reunion was held in The Outback.
- 2010: The Lodge's in-ground pool dedication.
- 2011: The After-School Program was discontinued.
- 2016: 20th anniversary of A Place for Girls; guests gathered to dedicate a plot of commemorative bricks purchased by donors.
- 2022: New decking funded by TowneBank placed from parking lot to The Outback bridge.
- 2022: Floating dock sponsored by Great Bridge Rotary Club was installed.
- 2023: Daisy the SmartFlower solar installation and dedication.
- 2024: Water fountain installed using funds from Great Bridge Rotary and the Beasley Foundation
- 2025: Resurfacing of the access ramps to composite decking at The Lodge by Great Bridge Rotary Club
- 2026: Began replacement of The Outback boardwalk to composite material, Warfield Foundation
- 2026: First annual Badge Bash, an alum event, took place in The Outback.
A Place for Girls continues to be a cherished space where Girl Scouting grows and thrives. We know that the work of shaping the next generation of girlhood involves building infrastructure that can withstand these changing and challenging times and the ability to adapt to girls' current and future needs. Together, we can ensure that this local treasure — A Place for Girls — will welcome generations of girls to come!
