Juliette Gordon Low started the Girl Scout Movement in 1912 and brought it to the Chicagoland area in 1917. Today, Girl Scouts - Illinois Crossroads Council serves more than 36,800 girls and 9,500 adults in 102 communities in Northeastern Illinois. The largest Girl Scout council in the state, and the fourth largest out of 317 councils chartered by Girls Scouts of the USA, was formed in 1993 with the consolidation of the former Illinois Shore and Illinois Prairie Girl Scout Councils. It was enlarged with the addition of Moraine Girl Scout Council in 1996 and Lone Tree Area Council in 2000. The combined councils have offered more than 86 years of Girl Scouting. One in every five girls between the ages of 5 and 17 within the council’s jurisdiction is a Girl Scout. Girl Scouting is for every girl, everywhere, and is open to all girls who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Illinois Crossroads Council is responsible for the delivery of high quality, comprehensive Girl Scout program within its jurisdiction. Governed by an elected volunteer board of directors, chaired by Stephanie Springs, and administered by Wende Wilson, CEO, the council operates four program centers and one service center, used for a variety of program activities.
Program Centers
Service Centers
For operational and governance purposes, the council is divided into 15 VISTAs managed by volunteer teams drawn from local communities or special groups.
