A VISION FOR CAMP PAUMALŪ STEM CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
The vision for the STEM Center for Excellence for the 21st century includes three major themes defined as Camp Paumalū:
- Host/ Guest Place
- Leadership
- Timeless Learning
The STEM Center will become an international gathering place for youth leadership and STEM learning.
Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is working with GSUSA and the World Association of Girl Guides to designate the center as an official worldwide “DESTINATION” which will assist in funding programs to attract international students. The unique cultural aspect that will be incorporated into the programming allows our community partners to encourage youth to come back and to give back.
The aging main lodge at Girl Scouts of Hawaii’s Camp Paumalu will be replaced by a STEM Center for Excellence that will provide exciting, 21st century experiential STEM learning facilities for 4,800 local Girl Scouts, students, and community members. The Center will include a new two-story building with a 4,160 square foot main upper level that will feature a large Innovation Center, welcome lobby, and observation deck for stargazing. The architectural design of the building will blend in with the site’s pristine surroundings and sustainable elements can be added such as photovoltaic panels, rainwater catchment, landscaping with native plants.
Girl Scouts of Hawaii anticipates that through the new STEM Center for Excellence, Camp Paumalu will continue to serve 3,200 Girl Scouts and other community members per year with an anticipated increased reach of 1,600 to 2,400 new participants. This project will serve as a critical step toward the following objectives of establishing a facility that will
- better support high-quality STEM engagement for Girl Scouts
- work with community schools’ students and educators as a training facility with curriculum support from some of our national partners
- help attract higher numbers of non-Girl Scout users to increase utilization of the camp to 50-75% of the year.
