For over 60 years, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa’s Camp Sacajawea has been a place for campers to grow in self-esteem, confidence, creativity, and build life-long friendships. Whether they are joining us for a summer camp session, visiting with their troop for a weekend rental, or coming to one of GSGI’s outdoor programs, we know that Camp Sacajawea is the home of magical memories for all who visit.
As GSGI looks towards the future of Camp Sacajawea and our plans to expand access and opportunities for all girls, we’re excited to share as of May 2025, construction has begun at Camp Sacajawea to dive into a new era of aquatic adventure, which includes a brand-new aquatic center at camp.
We are so excited about the future of what our camp will offer our members; these updates will be part of a capital campaign which will be shared publicly at a later date. For now, we want to update our members with this information so they can be prepared for how it may minimally impact the camp experience this summer. Safety and our campers’ experience is our number one priority and will remain throughout this project. The current pool and shower house at camp is still in working order and will be utilized for the 2025 summer camp season. The construction project starts with groundwork and grading, which is currently underway.
We will keep this webpage updated as construction progresses, so check back for exciting updates!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What can you share about the plans?
A: The aquatic center will have a new pool, shower house and a few other fun features we’re not quite ready to talk about publicly yet. You can be sure that we’ll be sharing this information soon. Make sure to follow us on Facebook for the public announcement!
Q: How will construction impact my camper’s experience this summer?
A: The biggest change for campers will be different walking paths as we will be avoiding using the roads in some areas of camp and parts of the road surrounding the center circle at Camp Sacajawea. The center circle, which is the primary construction area, will be fenced in and inaccessible for the duration of the summer. There will also be construction noise, and we’re prepared with white noise machines if that becomes disruptive in camper sleeping area.
All construction areas are fenced off and separate from all camp activities. We will continue to work with our contractor to adjust scheduling as needed. For example, during check-in and check-out times, no material delivery or movement on construction equipment will happen to help reduce congestion and traffic.
Q: How are you keeping my camper safe?
A: Safety of our members is our number one priority. Construction is happening inside a fenced area to keep campers out of the space, and construction inside of the space. Every visitor to camp is checked in and logged for entry once they pass through our closed gate. The construction company we are working with routinely works in schools and other child-serving facilities, so every construction worker has passed the same background check they would have taken to have access to school grounds. Additionally, every member of the construction crew will have an identification on their hard hats and shirts. Our camp staff have received additional training on access allowed to the construction company and what to do if they see something that doesn’t seem right.
Q: Are there any changes to the check-in/check-out process for camp sessions due to construction?
A: We are asking any camp visitors during check-in and check-out to have patience and drive slowly and carefully, closely following posted signs for detours. Caregivers and campers will still be able to drive to their living area to load and unload belongings.
Q: When will the project be completed?
A: This will be a multi-year project; we anticipate the new aquatic center to be ready for the 2026 summer camp season.
Q: How can I support the project?
A: GSGI will communicate specific opportunities for troops and Girl Scout members to support the campaign at a later date. If you would like to jumpstart supporting GSGI, you can donate here.
For more information on the fundraising campaign or making a gift to the campaign, please contact Jessie Phillips, Chief Development Officer, at jphillips@gsiowa.org.
