HOWELL — Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts, headquartered on Route 524, has initiated a $3 million campaign to fund major new facilities being built on its 140-acre campus. The major capital fund-raising effort, first in the council’s 42-year history, has been seeded by a $1 million Green Acres grant.
According to a press release, the campaign is being chaired by well-known community leaders Margaret and Paul Franklin, of Colts Neck. Ann Ferguson, of Fair Haven, a veteran of 30 years in Monmouth Council leadership, is serving as honorary campaign chairwoman.
Serving more than 12,000 girls and 4,000 adult members in Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, numbers that are growing annually, the Board of Directors took the step to secure the resources required to meet demand on programming and space in the immediate future and for decades to come, said council President Barbara L. Birdsall, of Wall.
“More girls are involved in Girl Scouting today than ever before,” she said. “Monmouth Council has kept pace and answered the need, but several programs have grown to maximum capacity and several programs are being conducted in space being rented in other facilities.”
According to Sue McClure, Council CEO, the $3 million capital campaign will fund current development on the site of an 11,520-square-foot activity center; new athletic fields for field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and softball; tennis and basketball courts; a 12,480-square-foot equestrian center with stables, indoor arena and corral; and an infirmary to serve as a care center and an educational resource.
The activity center features an arts and crafts center, flexible meeting space, a 4600-square-foot great room/auditorium, a computer laboratory, full kitchen facilities, administrative offices and storage space.
The infirmary, being constructed of logs, will provide professional care for campers at Camp Sacajawea and double as a training facility for programs in first aid, CPR and other health-related courses, according to the press release.
The equestrian center will offer horseback riding as well as programs in animal care, community service, health and fitness. In a unique collaboration, said co-chair Paul Franklin, the Girl Scout program will be joined with a therapeutic equestrian program conducted by Chariot Riders, a nonprofit organization.
“This collaboration,” Franklin said, “provides greatly expanded capacity for Girl Scout equestrian training while serving the greater community by providing state-of-the-art space for an exemplary service organization.”
The Franklins have been involved in Scouting since moving to Colts Neck more than 11 years ago. Margaret is the Colts Neck Service Unit Manager and serves as a troop leader and Girl Scout trainer. Paul is a member of the technical team at Lucent Technologies, Holmdel. He volunteers at Trenton State Prison and serves as eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s Church, Colts Neck. The Franklins have four Scouting children: Justin, 20; Aleathea Chris, 17; Julian, 12; and Samara, 10.
Further information about the capital campaign and the opportunities for commemorative gift-giving may be obtained by contacting Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts, (732) 938-5454, ext. 52.