Stewardship in Action: Aligning our Assets with our Mission to serve all Girls

February 02, 2026

As CEO, my responsibility is to ensure our resources are aligned to serve all girls across Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails—supporting camp where it has the strongest potential while also expanding outdoor and leadership experiences that meet girls where they are, across our entire footprint.

As Girl Scouts, we take an oath to be sisters to every Girl Scout. That commitment—not to a place or a single program, but to girls—guides this work.

Pursuing the potential sale of one camp property in my first year as CEO was not a decision I anticipated or hoped to make, and it is not one that the Board or I take lightly. It is a decision rooted in stewardship: ensuring the long-term viability of Girl Scouting in New Mexico, fully investing in one camp rather than under-resourcing two, and expanding outdoor experiences so more girls can participate in ways that fit their lives today.

I believe we can create extraordinary experiences for girls and operate a sustainable organization at the same time.

Corner-to-corner means designing multiple pathways for girls to engage, grow, and lead—regardless of geography, transportation, or time constraints. Through real-time feedback at Town Halls, girls and families shared two clear priorities:

Bringing Girl Scout experiences directly into communities—schools, parks, libraries, and neighborhood spaces—and increasing mobility to reach more girls across our vast state.
Offering more choice in how girls participate, including interest-based clubs and themed groups that reflect girls’ passions and keep older girls engaged.

As we move forward, we are deeply committed to strengthening communication and partnership between Council staff, volunteers, and Service Units. Delegates, Troop Leaders, Service Unit teams, and volunteers are the backbone of our movement, and we are investing in proven models—roundtables, listening sessions, and town halls—that build trust, connection, and shared problem-solving.

As we approach the 110th anniversary of Girl Scouting in New Mexico, this moment is not about abandoning camp or the outdoors. Camp remains core to who we are. What we are being called to do is invest wisely—strengthening the camp with the greatest potential while expanding access to outdoor and leadership experiences for more girls.

Honoring our past does not mean preserving every structure exactly as it was. What endures is our purpose: helping girls build courage, confidence, and character. The world has changed, and girls’ needs have changed. One path does not fit every girl today.

My commitment—and the Board’s commitment—is to preserve the heart of Girl Scouting while refining how we deliver it, so more girls across New Mexico can see themselves reflected, supported, and empowered.

This is about stewardship.
It’s about growth.
And it’s about ensuring Girl Scouting in New Mexico thrives for generations to come.

Celia Tellez
CEO
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails

At its January 31 meeting, the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails took two actions intended to support the long-term sustainability and growth of Girl Scouting across New Mexico:

Suspension of the Council Service Fee for Membership Year 2027 (MY27)
Authorization to sell one camp property

Below you will find FAQ's and Background and Context on these actions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

What decisions did the Board make? toggle arrow

The Board of Directors took two actions to support the long-term sustainability and growth of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails:

The Council Service Fee will be suspended for Membership Year 2027 (MY27).
The Board authorized the sale of one camp property and identified Camp Rancho del Chaparral as the property for sale.

What does suspending the Council Service Fee mean for families? toggle arrow

For Membership Year 2027, families will pay the national Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) membership dues only. There will be no additional council service fee charged that year.

Why is the Council Service Fee suspended? toggle arrow

In October 2024, Girl Scout delegates approved a change to national GSUSA membership dues, effective in Membership Year 2027. Youth membership will be $65, and adult membership will be $30.

In anticipation of this change, the Board elected to suspend the Council Service Fee for MY27 to help reduce financial pressure on families while the council stabilizes operations and plans for future growth.

Will the Council Service Fee return or be increased in MY28? toggle arrow

The Board has not made any decisions about Council Service Fees beyond MY27. Any future considerations will be evaluated thoughtfully, with input from volunteers, members, and delegates, and with a focus on long-term sustainability and the best interests of girls across the council.

Why did the Board decide to sell a camp property? toggle arrow

The decision reflects a careful evaluation of participation, use, and long-term sustainability. The Board determined that aligning council resources with how girls participate in Girl Scouts today is necessary to support long-term stability and impact.

Why was Rancho del Chapparal selected? toggle arrow

Camp Rancho del Chaparral was identified based on participation levels, operational considerations, and long-term sustainability factors. Additional context is available in the Background and Context on Recent Board Actions document.

Does this mean Girl Scouts is moving away from outdoor experiences? toggle arrow

No. Outdoor experiences are a core part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and will remain central to the council’s programming. The focus moving forward is on ensuring that more girls across New Mexico can access meaningful outdoor leadership and adventure experiences in a variety of ways.

How many girls currently participate in council camp programs? toggle arrow

In a typical year, approximately 7% or about 200 of girl members participate in programming at council camp properties. Most girls engage with Girl Scouts through troop activities, council-led programs, and community-based experiences.

Why is this happening now? toggle arrow

Temporary federal relief funds and one-time financial supports that helped stabilize operations during the COVID period are no longer available. At the same time, operating and maintenance costs continue to rise.

The Board determined that maintaining two camp properties—given the council’s size, geographic footprint, and current levels of girl participation—would require significant ongoing capital investment that is not sustainable. Taking action now allows the council to responsibly address infrastructure and maintenance needs while aligning resources with how most girls engage in Girl Scouts today.

Will this decision affect current camp programs or reservations toggle arrow

Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails remains committed to providing girls with outdoor experiences and opportunities for adventure. Given the financial and practical considerations involved in maintaining and upgrading camp facilities, staff are currently evaluating how best to offer those experiences this summer and beyond. Additional details will be shared as plans are finalized.

What happens next? toggle arrow

The council will begin due diligence related to the potential sale of Camp Rancho del Chaparral. As with any business transaction, certain details are not appropriate to share publicly, and the council will provide updates as information becomes available.

What changes can volunteers expect in communications and engagement? toggle arrow

Throughout this process, the council heard feedback about communication, timing, and feedback loops. Moving forward, we are focused on strengthening engagement with Delegates and Service Unit leaders through clearer communication, more consistent opportunities for dialogue, and renewed investment in volunteer leadership structures.

Will there be a Closing Ceremony for Rancho? toggle arrow

Yes! Planning is set to begin after cookie season, starting with a survey for input. This spring, we will also form a planning committee and a Girl Advisory Group. We’d love to hear your initial ideas—please send them to Customer Care as we prepare to honor Rancho’s history.

Who should I contact with questions? toggle arrow

Questions can be directed to Customer Care at [email protected]

Recent Board Actions toggle arrow

Suspension of the Council Service Fee (MY27)
- In October 2024, Girl Scout delegates approved an increase in national Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) membership dues, effective in Membership Year 2027. Youth membership will increase to $65, and adult membership will increase to $30.
- In anticipation of this increase, the Board elected to suspend the Council Service Fee for MY27. This action is intended to help reduce financial pressure on families while the council stabilizes operations and plans for future growth.
- As a result, for Membership Year 2027, families will pay the GSUSA membership dues only, with no additional council service fee.
Authorization to Sell One Camp Property
- The Board authorized the sale of one camp property and identified Camp Rancho del Chaparral as the site for sale following evaluation of participation, use, and long-term sustainability factors.
- This action reflects the Board’s responsibility to steward council resources in a way that aligns impact, participation, and long-term viability.

How this work began toggle arrow

When Celia Tellez joined Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails as CEO in March 2025, her initial focus was on listening and learning.

Over the past year, this included conversations with girls, families, volunteers, donors, staff, and community partners across the council’s geographic footprint. In parallel, the council completed an independent sustainability assessment to better understand long-term membership trends, program participation, financial structure, and organizational capacity.

This work was undertaken to ensure leadership and the Board had a clear understanding of the council’s current reality and future options.

What we learned toggle arrow

Several consistent themes emerged from this work:

Families deeply value the Girl Scout experience, particularly leadership development and outdoor opportunities.
Families’ lives and schedules have changed, with increased demand for experiences that are more accessible, local, and flexible.
Council-led programming declined significantly between 2019 and 2025 due to financial constraints and pandemic impacts.
The Girl Scout brand remains strong across New Mexico, but market share is lower than national averages, indicating an opportunity for growth if programs and resources are aligned with current needs.
Volunteers and Service Unit leaders play a critical role in delivering the Girl Scout experience and consistently identify the need for clearer communication, stronger feedback loops, and better support structures.

Camps in context toggle arrow

Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails currently stewards more than 1,700 acres of camp property, one of the largest land footprints among councils of similar size.

In a typical year:

Approximately 7% of girl members (about 200 girls) participate in programming at council camp properties.
The majority of girls engage with Girl Scouts through council-led programs, troop activities, and community-based experiences.

Operating and maintaining two camp properties requires significant investment, including operating costs, deferred maintenance, and basic infrastructure needs related to health, safety, and emergency preparedness. These demands must be considered alongside participation levels and overall organizational capacity.

Outdoor experiences have always been foundational to Girl Scouting, and that remains true today. The work ahead is focused on ensuring that more girls across our council can participate in meaningful outdoor experiences. Whether through camp, community-based programs, or other outdoor leadership opportunities designed to meet girls where they are.

Why action now? toggle arrow

Over the past several years, the council benefited from temporary federal relief funds and one-time financial support introduced during the COVID period. These resources helped stabilize operations during an extraordinary time but are no longer available.

At the same time:

Operating costs across programs and facilities continue to rise.
Financial reserves are limited.
Maintaining the current structure restricts the council’s ability to invest in programming, facilities, and growth.

The Board determined that taking action now was necessary to reduce the risk of more disruptive outcomes in the future and to preserve long-term stability and local decision-making authority.

Governance and decision-making toggle arrow

Under the Girl Scouts of the USA governance structure, major asset decisions, including the potential sale of property, are the responsibility of a council’s Board of Directors. The Board has a fiduciary obligation to steward organizational assets in the best interest of the council as a whole, both today and in the future.

Delegates play a vital role in shaping the direction of Girl Scouting through policy, representation, and leadership. Both roles are essential to a healthy, accountable organization.

What this decision enables toggle arrow

Authorizing the sale of one camp property allows the council to:

Invest more deeply in one camp with strong participation and operational viability
Expand outdoor and leadership experiences beyond a single fixed location
Improve alignment between resources, participation, and impact
Create greater flexibility to serve girls across the full geographic footprint of New Mexico

Looking ahead toggle arrow

As the council proceeds with due diligence related to the potential sale, there will be information that can be shared and information that must remain confidential.

Throughout this process, leadership and the Board heard clear feedback about the importance of communication, timing, and feedback loops. As a result, the council is committed to strengthening engagement with Delegates and Service Unit leaders through clearer communication, more consistent opportunities for dialogue, and renewed investment in volunteer leadership structures.

Additional opportunities for connection and information-sharing will be communicated in the weeks ahead.