Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Opens First Girl Scout DreamLab in Ohio
Sheffield Village, OH – Girl Scout of North East Ohio (GSNEO) officially opened the Jane Norton Girl Scout DreamLab, the first facility of its kind in Ohio, on January 24, 2025. Pepper the Robot, from Lorain County Community College, emceed the event, highlighting GSNEO's efforts to inspire more girls' interest in STEM careers. The facility is dedicated in honor of Jane Norton, lifetime Girl Scout, area philanthropist, and community leader.
The Girl Scout DreamLab is part of a national Girl Scouts of the USA property strategy to create visible, innovative spaces where girls can try new things – like STEM projects, podcasting, performing on stage, or climbing a rock wall. DreamLabs are designed to elevate the Girl Scout experience among those who are new or unfamiliar with Girl Scouting or give existing members a new, unique experience. The Jane Norton Girl Scout DreamLab provides a space designed to be a Girl Scout destination that is modern, engaging, and appealing to today’s girl. There are less than ten of these facilities in the country.
Inside the space is a rotating climbing wall, indoor campfire corner, classroom area with STEM Café, Digital Media Booth to create podcasts and videocasts, presentation stage with group seating, and updated retail shop. Special digital experiences include an interactive screen called Draw Alive where art meets technology and a touch screen Sparkle Wall that loops through 15 different light behaviors activated by the electricity in a user's fingertips.
The DreamLab was designed and constructed by Kent-based Metis Construction Services.
“I’m excited to try new activities while hanging out with other Girl Scouts and making new friends at the Girl Scout DreamLab,” Addison O., a Girl Scout Brownie, said. “I’m also excited to check out the Digital Media Booth to learn more about podcasting and making videos.”
In addition to hosting GSNEO’s own programs and summer camps at the DreamLab, area schools and local educators will use the space for field trips to impact a larger group of youth, both boys and girls.
“We’re thrilled to open Ohio’s first and the nation’s eighth Girl Scout DreamLab,” said GSNEO Chief Executive Officer, Jane Christyson. “This innovative space is designed to inspire creativity, foster leadership, and equip youth with the tools they need to dream big and build their futures. We are excited to expand our program offerings and provide these transformative experiences not only for our members, but for area schools.”
Thank you to our generous donors who have helped bring the Jane Norton Girl Scout DreamLab to life: Ben Norton, Ford Motor Company, SME, Lozick Family Foundation, Hyland, and Elyria Charities, Inc.
More About the Girl Scout DreamLab Concept
DreamLabs are strategically placed to bridge the barriers of accessibility and make Girl Scouts a destination for members and new families. Anticipating the varied city and rural landscapes of their 111 councils, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) developed three models varying in size, layout, and functionality to fit each council’s needs.
The DreamLabs are designed to:
- Bridge the gaps of accessibility by providing an innovative multi-use programmatic experience center, open to community and troop use.
- Increase membership and community engagement, providing inspiring spaces for Girl Scouts seeking in-person connection.
- Deliver a consistent and elevated brand experience across the Girl Scout Movement and improve access to staff for volunteers, troops, and girls.
- Be intentionally curated as modern, engaging, and appealing to reflect the contemporary requirements of today’s girl.
To envision an entirely new properties model, GSUSA partnered with industry leader Newmark Group Inc. to develop the DreamLab concept.
January 30, 2025
