New activity area at Camp Liberty

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (GSEIWI) announced the opening of a new activity area at Camp Liberty in New Liberty, Iowa, thanks to a $200,000 donation from Hy-Vee, Inc.

The camp’s new features will help girls build leadership skills and further a love of the outdoors.

The new activity area, now known as the Hy-Vee Healthy You Activity Area at Camp Liberty, was unveiled Thursday by Diane Nelson, Girl Scouts CEO, and Sheila Laing, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of industry relations and chief customer officer, in front of several dozen Girl Scouts attending summer camp at Camp Liberty.

“Hy-Vee and its employees are a significant piece of the communities where many Girl Scouts live. Not only does Hy-Vee provide numerous services to help our families stay healthy, they also make major investments back into the areas they serve,” Nelson said. “We are thrilled to partner with them on this renovation project that will provide our girls with skills and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Hy-Vee’s major donation helped update the camp’s aquatic center, adventure trails and sports and activity field. The donation will also help renovate a former lodge into an indoor activity center. The renovated amenities will help thousands of Girl Scouts in Iowa and Illinois learn the value of making healthy choices, staying physically active and taking care of the environment.

“At Hy-Vee, our company is built on the fundamentals of friendliness, helpfulness, honesty and respect — all of which are taught through the Girl Scouts and their camp programs. This project was a perfect fit for us,” Laing said. “While this donation will assist the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, it will also help local communities as the girls put their knowledge and skills to use in their hometowns after they attend camp.”