The Girl Scouts' temporary closing of Camp Woodland at Albany, Mo., will become permanent, while leaders maintain that commitment to the region remains strong.

"This decision is difficult for all of us because of the many wonderful memories our camps bring," said Trudie Hall, the council's board of directors chairwoman.

The closing is part of the area council's restructuring efforts. Camp Woodland offered a wide variety of programs, but the council determined the camp was hindered by its distance from a population center and by its proximity to Camp Winding River near Dearborn, Mo. The Girl Scouts had temporarily closed the Albany camp in September 2008.

The permanent closure is part of a comprehensive properties plan that involved research, surveying and discussion at multiple levels within the council. The plan focuses on better service and financial security for the six remaining camps.

A property committee recommended all moveable assets, program features and cultural elements of Camp Woodland be moved to Winding River.

Once a buyer is found for Camp Woodland and a sale is completed, the funds from that action will be dedicated to program improvements at the remaining camps, said Dr, Carol Hansen, CEO of the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri Inc.

Three camps will be destinations for older girls, and each will have specialized programs and curriculum based on building the traits of courage, confidence and character. Winding River will be one of those three, and will have a focus on horseback riding. Winding River will also have a component that provides activities for younger girls.

The redeployment of resources and staff focus ensures the camps will be destinations where girls want to be, Mrs. Hansen said.

The current council serves a total of 35,000 girls and 11,000 adult volunteers in 47 counties after combining the councils in St. Joseph, Kansas City and Topeka. In the St. Joseph area, girls annually perform more than 280,000 hours of community service.

The reality of limited financial resources forced the closing of an office on Buckingham Street adjacent to the Boy Scouts Pony Express Council office. In May, the Girl Scouts opened a new office at 3300 Dale Ave., across from the North Belt Kmart.

To find a troop in your neighborhood or to learn more about the programs, call 279-7438 or visit www.girlscoutsksmo.org.

Marshall White can be reached

at marshall@npgco.com.