At the STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars, Girl Scouts develops both hard and soft skills critical for STEM, college, and career readiness. The STEM ecosystem that has developed around our first-of-its-kind STEM Center of Excellence includes corporations, universities and other non-profit organizations. These groups are passionate about builing the workforce pipeline in North Texas, in STEM Careers, or wheverver a girl's confidence can take her.
Girl Scouts are the next generation of scientists, engineeres, innovators and leaders who will break the glass ceiling and soar beyond.
On its 92-acre campus near Downtown Dallas, The STEM Center of Excellence provides girls year-round opportunities in robotics, computer coding, botany, chemistry, the science of music and more through field trips, council-led workshops, DIY activities, Resident Camps, STEM Center day camps, and weekend programs.
Click here to find summer camp experiences at Camp Whispering Cedars, home of the STEM Center.
Our Impact
We are changing the workforce pipeline in STEM to meet the urgent need for female voices, engagement and leadership in the fastets growing sector of the U.S. economy. Girl Scouts is cultivating STEM by:
- Exposing young women to educational and professional opportunities available in science, technology, engineering and math
- Broadening her world-view of what is possible for her future
- Developing her confidence and addressing gender parity in STEM careers
Photos of the Camp Property
Workshops and Events
Field Trips
Resources for Educators
Robotics Clubs
History of Camp Whispering Cedars and the STEM Center of Excellence
Girl Scouts began in Dallas in 1920 with two troops of girls.
Girl Scouts of the USA chartered the Dallas Council in 1924. In the
same year, Ms. R.M. Hammond donated 20 acres of land and Mr. Alex
Sanger donated 13 acres of land to form a camp for girls in southwest Dallas.
1926: The Kiwanis Club built a lodge and bath house on
the camp property and the property was named Camp Kiwanis.
1927: The Kiwanis Club built the first pool and first version of Tanglewood cabins on the camp property.
1930: The Dallas Girl Scouts bought an additional 13 acres of property at the camp, bringing the total acreage, including some leased acres from the Dallas Community Chest, to 53.
1950: The site was renamed Camp Whispering Cedars.
1954: Tents were replaced with cabins for Cedar Lodge and Glen Oaks. Tanglewood cabins were replaced.
1963: The Dallas Council and the Chisholm Trail Council merged to form the Tejas Council.
1975: Camp Whispering Cedars was refurbished.
1991: Tejas Lodge was rebuilt after the building was destroyed by a fire in 1988.
2007: Tejas Council, Cross Timbers Council and Red River Council merged to become Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX).
2015: Construction began on The STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars
2018: Grand Opening of The STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars
History of Camp Whispering Cedars/STEM Center in Photos 
1930 - Girl Scouts meeting together outdoors
1954 - Girl Scouts tidying the front stoop of their cabin
1963 - Girl Scouts toasting marshmallows at a campfire
1970s - Girl Scouts at flag ceremony
1970s - Girl Scouts clearing a trail
1991 - Girl Scouts gather for flag ceremony
2015 - GSNETX leaderships breaks ground for the STEM Center of Excellence
More About The STEM Center
The Case for STEM
Imagine her taking on some of the biggest challenges and problems our planet faces—and helping solve them. Or having a career that’s engaging and well paid. Imagine her teaming up with others to invent the future. That future can be a reality, thanks to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Research shows that girls are keenly interested in STEM and excel at it. Yet, for a variety of reasons, girls often don’t pursue STEM—starting as early as elementary school. The proof is in the numbers, and when they graduate from school, the numbers are even more telling. But we can change that! Let your girl see that STEM can help her make the world a better place!
To put it simply, there aren’t enough women in STEM despite the fact that STEM careers are the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy, and often the highest paying opportunities.
To be competitive in the global market, over the next decade the U.S. will need an astounding 1 million more STEM professionals than it’s on track to produce. Where will they come from? With your help, they’ll come from Girl Scouts! Reports show that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) occupations are growing at double the rate of other professions, and we’re committed to filling the STEM workforce pipeline.
"At the end of the day, we want to change the workforce pipeline for north Texas. We want more girls to eventually become STEM professionals especially focusing on careers where women are really underrepresented."
- Jennifer Bartkowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
STEM Center Property Overview
Property Sustainability
STEM Seal of Approval Patch Program
We are committed to building girls’ interest, awareness, and
competence in STEM. Your girls can join the fun by working on special
GSNETX Council STEM patches. The black, center patch, and State
Farm patch are free and will be earned after completing the online
reporting form. Please allow 2-3 weeks to receive an email about
pick-up details.
Looking to host a STEM event where girls can earn their STEM Seal of Approval patch or have any questions regarding this program? Contact stem@gsnetx.org.
GSNETX will provide handouts at STEM events that explain which portion of the STEM Seal of Approval will be earned.
STEM Advisory Committee
The STEM Advisory Committee is composed of community leaders, educators, STEM professionals, and advocates who are leading the charge
in helping Girl Scouts provide the best STEM experiences for girls across northeast Texas.
Workshops and Events
Pursue Girl Scout "journeys" and badges in cybersecurity, eco-camping, robotics, college prep, space science, and more.
FIND EVENTSWe’re always evaluating—and enhancing—what girls do, how girls
connect, and how girls grow as Girl Scouts. We listen to what girls,
parents, and volunteers tell us about what they like most, and we take
action to keep our program relevant and engaging.
We
recently added new journeys and badges in STEM and the outdoors.
Combined with existing STEM and outdoor programs, as well as
programming that addresses life skills and entrepreneurship, these new
Journeys and badges help girls empower themselves to take the lead
like a Girl Scout as they accomplish amazing things.
Field Trips
Developed and presented by our expert STEM staff, our co-educational field trips are open to students K-12. (See important note below.)
INQUIRY FORM**Field Trips note for the 2023-2024 school year: We are currently booked for the current school year and are only accepting reservations for the 2024-2025 school year. Please note that our staff can only discuss field trips for the 2024-2025 school year and any inquiries with 2023-2024 dates will be placed on our waitlist. **
Through the STEM Center of Excellence, we are changing the workforce
pipeline in STEM to meet the urgent need for female voices,
engagement, and leadership in the fastest-growing sector of the U.S.
economy. By providing a space where students, especially girls, can
thrive in an environment rich with various STEM experiences, we are
poised to ensure this mission will become a reality. For more
information about field trips, costs, and the booking process, send an
email to cwc@gsnetx.org.
Field Trip FAQs
What is the STEM Center?
What happens on a field trip?
Are the field trips TEKS aligned?
Are boys allowed?
How long is a field trip?
Is lunch included?
What is your cancellation/ rescheduling policy?
Resources for Educators
More learning. Bright outcomes. Find useful assets for building the women leaders of tomorrow.
RESEARCHGirl Scouts complements the great work you do at school every day. Our programming introduces and opens girls up to so many things—like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); entrepreneurship; life skills; financial literacy; and outdoor experiences—that are vital for a successful future and that enable girls to build social and emotional skills; exemplify anti-bullying behavior; and develop confidence, resiliency, and leadership skills.
Have interest or questions? Please send an email to cwc@gsnetx.org.
Resources for Educators
TEKS Alignment for Grades 6-8
National Girl Scout Studies
Robotics Clubs
Have Girl Scouts excited about creating robots and things that move? Start a FIRST LEGO League Junior Robotics Team! Learn more below.
DOWNLOAD INFOFIRST LEGO LEAGUE
Inspire innovation by teaching girls all about robotics, engineering, and problem solving while partaking in this exciting program. Teams explore a topic based on the years themed challenge and present their research about innovative solutions. Each team will participate in an end-of-season showcase or competition to show off their robot creation. For more information on how tostart your own LEGO Robotics Team contact stem@gsnetx.org.
Dowload (PDF) this flyer to learn more about adult coaching opportunities with FLL.
FLL Explore
Cost: $70/team
Age: Daisies & Brownies (age 6 -10)
Team: Between 4-6 girls
FLL Challenge
Cost: $150/team
Age: Juniors & Cadettes (age 9 - 14)
Team: Between 4-6 girls
Cost covers:
- Funding for teams registration fee
- Robotic kit rental & field elements to be returned at the end of the year
- Coaches Training session
- Registration Fee to 1 Festival or Competition of their choice.
- Curriculums or extra materials
Interest meetings and workshops will be listed at gsnetx.org/events
