Reviewed by: Sarah Gronberg
NEW: Alabama’s first Girl Scout DreamLab coming to Vestavia Hills
Reading time: 3 minutes
Get ready to break out the Thin Mints and Tagalongs! Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama will soon open a brand new DreamLab, the first in Alabama and the southeast and the largest in the United States, in Vestavia Hills. Read on to learn why this is a big win for local girls.
What is a Girl Scout DreamLab?
As you likely know, Girl Scouts is a youth organization that empowers girls by teaching them courage, confidence, leadership, and compassion. With a Girl Scout DreamLab coming soon to Vestavia Hills, local girls will have an amazing new space to learn and grow.
What exactly is a DreamLab? It’s a girl-centered space where Girl Scouts can achieve their full potential.
Wondering what girls today want from their Girl Scouts experience? The answer is pretty cool.
“We conducted many surveys and focus groups and received great input from our girls, parents, and volunteers. What resonated with us tremendously was that our girls told us they don’t want their mother’s or their grandmother’s Girl Scout experience. They want their own Girl Scout experience.”
Karen M. Peterlin, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama
The new Vestavia City Center location will feature 11,300 square feet of space that will include:
- 6 stem labs
- Arts section
- Full space auditorium—unique to other dream spaces across the state
- Girl huddle spaces to sit + communication
- Large media center to create podcasts, college video applications + more
- Mock campsite + climbing wall
- Retail space
Though the DreamLab space is a new concept for Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, a focus on girl-centered places is nothing new to the organization. Programs and experiences are offered for Girl Scouts at four camps across North-Central Alabama including Camp Coleman in Trussville, one of the oldest Girl Scout camps in the country.
About the relocation of Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama to Vestavia Hills
For years, Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama has conducted operations in multiple service centers—the one on Highway 280 in Birmingham and another in Huntsville being housed in old and outdated buildings, neither of which were designed to be girl-centered spaces.
When the decision was made to transition to girl-centered spaces, the Birmingham building was sold and another location secured to create the desired girl-centered facility and the news became official—Alabama’s first Girl Scout DreamLab would be located at Vestavia City Center.
“We are truly excited about this project that we are working on in collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA.”
Karen M. Peterlin, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama
Wondering when the DreamLab will be open? The targeted open date is late spring to early summer of 2024.
Interested in becoming a Girl Scout? Send an email to customercare@girlscoutsnca.org.
Learn more about the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama: Website | Facebook | Instagram.
What do you think about the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama’s new girl-centered DreamLab coming to Vestavia? Tag us on social @bham.
