Ann Arbor FAQ's

Ann Arbor Regional Center Update

Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan has some exciting and confidential news to share with you. As you may know, in 2020, we selected our current Ann Arbor Regional Center on Plymouth Road as a temporary space that we could call ours until we found a larger space to make our permanent home. Since 2020, we have been diligently searching for a space that would meet the needs of all our girls and volunteers. We waited patiently for the right property to come on the market at the right price.

We are thrilled to share that we have found our new home!

Located just minutes north of Ann Arbor in Whitmore Lake, our new centrally located Ann Arbor Regional Center will be a place for all Girl Scouts to call their home away from home. We cannot wait to welcome you to our new space, where we know thousands of girls will grow courage, confidence, and character on their journey to make the world a better place. The last day we will be open in our current Ann Arbor Regional Center on Plymouth Road will be Friday, July 18. We are still finalizing the timeline for when the retail shop will reopen at our new location, and we will keep you posted as soon as we know more.

To make our dreams a reality, we are launching a capital campaign to support making our new property our home. Please remember this is confidential and only being shared with Girl Scout families at this time. We need your help! We are looking for assistance in building new relationships in the Ann Arbor Region with individuals, corporations, foundations, and service clubs who wish to support girls building courage, confidence, and character through Girl Scouting. We would greatly appreciate any warm introductions you may be willing to make in support of this initiative. Please use this form to reach out to our Chief Development Officer, Lyah Vansickle, with any connections you have.

Our girls deserve an amazing place to call home in our Ann Arbor Region. Girls are worth it. Together, we can make this dream come true!

Why is Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan relocating the Ann Arbor Regional Center? toggle arrow

At Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, it is a priority that our resources are always used in the best interest of the girls that we serve. In partnership with our Board of Trustees, we routinely review building improvements at each of our properties and make the best decisions possible with limited funds available. Our current Ann Arbor Regional Center on Plymouth Road was selected as a temporary space while we found a more permanent place to call home in Ann Arbor.

Why was the current Ann Arbor Regional Center on Plymouth Road considered temporary? toggle arrow

Prior to our current location on Plymouth Road, our Ann Arbor Regional Center was located in Ypsilanti and called the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Regional Center. In 2019, we communicated to members that we would be listing that property for sale, as part of our ongoing analysis of properties and resources. The property was experiencing increased buyer interest due to its proximity to the interstate as well as the rising market value of the site for potential commercial ventures. This interest, coupled with the cost of the many improvements needed at the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Regional Center, compelled the Board of Trustees to make the decision to relocate our Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Regional Center. The property was listed for sale in the fall of 2019 and sold in the spring of 2020, at which time we relocated to Plymouth Road while we continued our search for our more permanent home.

Where did the proceeds for the sale of the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Regional Center go? toggle arrow

As communicated at the time of the listing and subsequent sale of the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Regional Center, profits from the sale of the center were used to reinvest in our girls. The profits from the sale helped carry Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan through the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated our membership and altered our programming significantly and immediately, while many businesses and organizations were decimated.

If Girl Scouting is healthy in Ann Arbor, why is there a need for a campaign to support the building? toggle arrow

Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan is always striving to remain healthy and strong so that we can serve girls throughout Michigan for generations to come. As such, we try to reduce our liabilities as much as possible so we can invest our resources in providing exceptional experiences for girls. The campaign will allow us to own the new Ann Arbor Regional Center outright and make exciting investments into the property to optimize the space for programming.

If Girl Scouting is growing strongly in Ann Arbor, why is there a need for a campaign to support the building? toggle arrow

While Girl Scouting has been growing and thriving in our Ann Arbor Region, we are still below prepandemic membership levels. We believe that investing in our community in this way will strengthen the Girl Scout experience for all members and allow us to continue our path of growth in the Ann Arbor Region and beyond.

Why is Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan purchasing such a large building? toggle arrow

A building of this size allows us to provide exceptional experiences that empower our Girl Scouts to change the world. While it is significantly larger than the current Ann Arbor Regional Center, the new Ann Arbor Regional Center is in line with other Regional Centers in GSHOM. The building will allow us to host programs and events for Girl Scouts, and become a hub in the community.

What programs and events will be hosted at the new building? toggle arrow

We have programs planned to start in the fall and will offer a Day Camp next summer.

When will the new building be open to the public? toggle arrow

We are still finalizing the timeline, and will keep you posted as soon as we know. The current tenants of the building will be using portions of the building for a couple months after we close on the property.

What about our Retail Shop? toggle arrow

Our current Ann Arbor Retail Shop will remain open until July 18. We hope to open our new shop in mid-August. We will announce an official opening date as soon as we have it. In the meantime, we have four other retail shops throughout our footprint that you may visit at any time:
- Lansing Regional Center: 13287 Wacousta Road, Grand Ledge
- Jackson Regional Center: 4403 Francis Street, Jackson
- Kalamazoo Regional Center: 601 W. Maple Street, Kalamazoo
- Saginaw Regional Center: 5470 Davis Road, Saginaw

What if I need recruitment materials for late summer / early fall recruitment events? toggle arrow

We will be able to provide support for recruitment events throughout the move. While we will not be open to the public immediately, we will be able to work with volunteers and provide any support materials that you may need.