Girl Scout House is in jeopardy

Katie Lang Slattery

I attended a meeting Aug. 11 with representatives of the Girl Scout

Council of Orange County and several representatives of the Laguna

Beach Girl Scouts. We got together to talk about the future of the

High Drive Girl Scout House, which we are in danger of losing.

Some of you may not know that there is a wonderful structure on

High Drive (just behind the festival grounds), that has been used

since the 1930s as a meeting place for Laguna Beach Girl Scouts and a

program center for many visiting Girl Scouts from around Orange

County. The structure is owned by the Girl Scout Council, however the

land on which it sits is owned by the city of Laguna Beach. For many

years, the city has made this land “ours” for only $1 a year. (Thank you, Laguna Beach!)

Unfortunately, because of financial stress and the anticipated

high bill for stabilizing the Bluebird Canyon slide area, Laguna

Beach city staffers have decided that they must sell the four, more

or less, vacant lots they own in that area. One of these lots is the

one that is occupied by the Girl Scout House.

Though we were originally told the City Council meeting to discuss

the sale would be in October, I have just learned that it is

currently scheduled for the evening of Sept. 6, the first day of

school in the Laguna Beach School District -- a day when many

interested parties will be understandably preoccupied.

Laguna Beach Girl Scouts love their special meeting place. It is

used by many troops on a weekly basis and is also a great spot for

girl overnights, camping exercises, parties, adult leadership

meetings, Girl Scout ceremonies, and other special events. Many women

in Laguna Beach still remember the happy times they spent at the Girl

Scout House years ago. It is a place where memories are born.

The Girl Scouts, which serves girls ages 5 through 17, are a vital

part of our community. You see us each year marching in the Patriots

Day Parade and selling cookies in front of the supermarket, the

library and the post office. But behind the scenes, there is activity

that is not so obvious.

Girl Scouts last year collected coats for Laguna Beach

organizations that help the homeless, gathered food for the needy,

created blankets and quilts for children in distress, sent gifts and

letters to individual U.S. Marines in Iraq -- and this is just a

partial list.

Besides helping others, Girl Scouts learn to be strong young

women. Girls are encouraged to challenge and expand their mental,

physical, emotional and spiritual selves. They go camping, horseback

riding, surfing and rock climbing. They learn crafts, practice

keeping a budget, attend self-defense classes, perfect dance steps,

and go sailing -- all in a safe and friendly environment.

The Girl Scout Council of Orange County needs the help of the

Laguna Beach community to convince the City Council to maintain a

dedicated space for the Girl Scouts in Laguna Beach to meet and enjoy

other activities.

There are many ways this situation can be approached and, we hope,

creative ways to solve the problem. Both the Girl Scout Council and

the city are strapped for money. But the girls and young women of

Laguna Beach need your help. Girl Scouting helps make Laguna Beach a

wonderful place to grow up.

* KATIE LANG SLATTERY is a lifetime member and has been a Girl

Scout leader since 1983.