Girl Scouts of Central Illinois (GSCI) will begin construction on a new lodge for Camp Widjiwagan this spring. The new facility, made possible by a lead donation of $150,000 from Levi, Ray & Shoup, will feature over 2,000 square feet of climate controlled programmatic space including a dining area and kitchen facilities. A lakefront porch will add another 560 square feet of programmatic space to the structure.

“Camp Widjiwagan has been a mainstay for central Illinois girls since it opened in 1937,” said GSCI CEO Pam Kovacevich. “It became apparent that renovating the current lodge structure was cost prohibitive and our efforts turned to finding the donor dollars to allow us to build a new facility. The LRS donation will allow us to build a new structure that will enable us to deliver year round programming as well as the traditional summer camp programs. The LRS Lodge will serve girls for many years to come.”

Camp Widjiwagan, recently named the area’s Best Summer Camp for the second year in a row, is a sixty-two acre wooded site on Lake Springfield. The camp has been serving girls, both Girl Scouts and non-scouts, for almost 80 years. Camp Widjiwagan was named in a contest – it is an Ojibwa Indian name meaning “comradeship.” “Widji,” as it is affectionately called, features a boat house, in-ground pool, platform tent units, and many other structures used by countless girls over the years. Girl Scout summer day camp will be held at Camp Widjiwagan this summer with registration opening on February 10.

“We know how important Camp Widjiwagan has been in the lives of Springfield-area girls, families and troops for many years,” LRS president and CEO Dick Levi said in a statement, “and we’re proud to help with the construction of a lodge that will amplify that impact and continue the camp’s legacy for years to come.”

GSCI anticipates that they will break ground on the project in early April with a completion estimated in early August. Additional donations are still being sought to support the facility. For information on donating to this project, contact Kate Peters, Chief Operating Officer of Fund Development, at kpeters@girlscouts-gsci.org or (217) 241-3743.

LODGE OPEN HOUSE – FEBRUARY 7

In honor of the new construction, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois will be holding an Open House at the Camp Widjiwagan Lodge (71 Wienold Lane, Springfield) on Sunday, February 7, from 1-3 p.m. This will be an opportunity for past campers and current supporters to visit the current lodge, learn more about the new construction, and enjoy refreshments. Attendees are asked to RSVP to Lisa Wall by February 5 by calling (217) 523-8159, ext. 1602, or emailing
lwall@girlscouts-gsci.org.