Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida (GSTF) and the City of South Miami share a long history of partnership and civic involvement. Girl Scouts have had a presence in the Miami area since 1923 with the founding of Alligator Troop 1 in Coconut Grove.
Troops began organizing in South Miami in the early 1930s.Today, South Miami is home to over 150 Girl Scouts and adult volunteers; across Miami and the Keys there approximately 6,000 girl and adult volunteer members.
The center of Girl Scout life in South Miami is the Little House. Commonly known as South Miami Little House (or SMLH), it is a multi-acre wooded site, located in the vicinity of South Miami Middle School. In 1954, Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida and the City of South Miami entered into a 99-year lease agreement for this special place.
The site is designated a Natural Forest Community and is home to a variety of species, native and non-native alike. Many small birds and animals live there. Girls love adventuring and hiking through the nature trails, learning about the habitat, and caring for the environment.
Girl Scouts have stewarded and cherished this lovely location for over 60 years. Generations of girls have explored the wooded areas, walked the trails, attended summer camp, learned outdoor skills, and made lifelong connections at the Little House.
Today, summer day-camp at SMLH is the most popular camp offered by Girl Scout council. Additionally, volunteers, and community members are actively working to upgrade the facilities and address ongoing landscape maintenance in the wooded areas.
“We are extremely proud of this unique property, and look forward to many more decades of caretaking and nurturing of this wonderful Little House,” said Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida.
“Girl Scouts are champions of outdoor recreation and the positive impact derived from being outside. South Miami Little House plays an important role in getting girls from across Miami to explore the outdoors.”
In addition to South Miami Little House, Girl Scouting thrives throughout the City of South Miami. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls have opportunities to discover their strengths, passions, and talents. Girl Scouts are the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place – and they make South Miami a better place every day.
Recent community service projects range from installing a Little Free Library at ChamberSOUTH, to constructing bat houses to help with mosquito control, establishing an annual community-wide food drive, participating in parades and municipal activities, and much more. Through the annual cookie program and other opportunities, girls develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills, while earning income which supports service projects, troop travel and activities, and camp.
On behalf of Girl Scouts throughout Miami and the Keys, Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida congratulate the City of South Miami on their 90th anniversary and join the community in celebrating this meaningful milestone!
Do you know if the Girl Scout house in Hialeah still stands? My father built a map of the USA made of stones on the wall in the 40′ or 50’s