Badges and Patches

Girl’s Choice Badge 2017

Girls have spoken! The winning Girls’ Choice badge topic for 2017 is in. So, without further ado, we’re pleased to announce . . .

The next Girls’ Choice badge will be Troop Camping! What a great way to build go-get-‘em problem-solvers, encourage challenge-seeking, and expose girls to new experiences as they grow their skills, confidence, and character. After all, camp life is the best life!

[Updated 2/28/17] Between February 13-17, girls across the country selected the design of the new badges!

Many thanks to everyone who voted and shared the poll with girls. That’s how we keep this process girl-led, which is so important!

We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get started on these badges. Daisies will get a first taste of the camping fun and excitement in their first-ever Girls’ Choice badge, and then the Brownie Ambassador badges will build on that foundation.

Badge requirements will be available for download on June 15, 2017; badges and printed requirements will be in council shops by August. Keep an eye out for the badge design poll, which will be open from February 13 to 17. We will share that link in February.

In the meantime, start thinking about where this adventure will take you: Troop Camping awaits!

And girls, always remember, it’s your world.

This article originally appeared on blog.girlscouts.org.

Badges and Patches

Shutting It Down: ‘Make Your Own Badge’ Site

In 2011, Girl Scouts of the USA rolled out a new national program – Journeys. At that same time, a great tool that provides girls the opportunity to create their own badge was released, but since the Girls’ Choice Badge voting process was released in 2013, the use of the tool has been declining.

The Make Your Own Badge site will be shut down on June 30, 2017. Effective on June 1, 2017, the design tool for creating badges will be shut down, so all badge designs must be submitted by this date. 

If girls are interested in pursuing a badge that is not currently available, they are encouraged to use another avenue to explore an area of interest, such as a Take Action project or a Destination trip!

National

Join the Girl Media Team for G.I.R.L. 2017!

Junior – Ambassador Girl Scouts are invited to apply for a position on the Girl Media Team for the National Convention! You’ll serve as official spokespeople for the entire Girl Scout Movement and get to flex your reporter skills throughout convention!

About Convention

The Girl Scout National Council Session and G.I.R.L. 2017 is a one-of-a-kind gathering to be held in Columbus, Ohio October 4-8, 2017. Held every three years, the National Council Session is the movement-wide business meeting for Girl Scouts, where our most important decisions are collectively made.

The G.I.R.L. 2017 (also known as “convention”) portion of the gathering focuses on issues affecting girls in our country and around the world. Thousands of people will attend G.I.R.L. 2017, including Girl Scouts of all ages, adult Girl Scout members, Girl Scouts staff, and non-members of all ages who care about the issues affecting girls today. As a member of the Girl Media Team, you will have a very important role at NCS/G.I.R.L. 2017!

About the Girl Media Team

Together with 11 other Girl Scouts from across the United States, you will serve as spokespeople for the Girl Scout Movement in pre-recorded “Convention TV” spots, live television and radio interviews, and more.

You might put on your reporter hat and interview G.I.R.L. 2017 attendees, exhibitors or speakers. You might serve as an “anchor” in the Convention TV news room. You might (and probably will!) be asked to answer questions about Girl Scouts and speak to the experience of a G.I.R.L. with reporters from both local and national media outlets. You will show event participants and the public what courage, confidence, and character look like! You will also participate in video and photo shoots to be used by Girl Scouts of the USA during and after NCS/G.I.R.L. 2017.

With support and guidance from staff members from Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, and Girl Scouts of Green and White Mountains, you will build leadership skills, explore personal areas of interest at an age-appropriate level (e.g. communications, public relations (PR), media relations, television broadcasting, and more), develop public speaking skills, and interact with professional experts, guest speakers, and reporters before and during the event.

As a member of this group you will be expected to attend and actively participate in scheduled planning and training meetings, complete training assignments, and communicate regularly with Girl Media Team staff. You must be able and willing to attend monthly virtual planning meetings and media training, and be able and willing to travel to G.I.R.L. 2017 October 4-8, 2017 (travel, lodging, meals and convention fees will be provided by Girl Scouts of the USA).

Read the entire description and qualification information and apply by March 12, 2017! Contact Jenn Hollern at jhollern@citrus-gs.org with interest in applying!

Sports

Sky Zone Daytona’s Exclusive Girl Scout Deal

Enjoy wall-to-wall trampolines or a foam pit for soft landings after huge air. Sky Zone Daytona is offering super-sweet discounts to Girl Scouts and friends or family at their entire indoor park.

Check out these TWO great ongoing offers from our friends at Sky Zone Daytona. With four high-flying attractions, your entire family or the whole troop will love the pure joy that comes with flying.

Girl Scouts and up to one friend or sibling can receive 10% off the price of admission anytime the park is open. OR, when you book as a troop, enjoy the discounted rate of $12 per girl for a 60-minute jump (that’s a $2.99 savings per girl).

Book directly with Sky Zone Daytona to utilize discounts.

Outdoor

Test-Drive Summer Camp: Open Houses 2017

Get behind the wheel of an incredible summer camp experience at one of our three camp locations. Bring the entire family to tour the property, meet the staff, learn about summer camp activities, and ask all of your burning questions!

PLUS, the first 10 girls who bring a friend and register for their summer camp experiences at the Open House are entered into a drawing for prizes!

Find a date and location that works for you. Of course, check out the Summer Book for complete camp details.

March 22, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Riverpoint Program Center

March 29, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center

April 5, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Celia Lane Little House

April 23, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Mah Kah Wee Program Center

 

Cookies

A National Cookie Challenge!

Girl Scouts are already cookie bosses. They’re crushing their cookie goals, building confidence, and learning leadership skills not found anywhere else! Now, it’s time to celebrate—

by accepting the #gsCookieBoss Instagram Challenge! 

We’re asking YOU, Girl Scout, to go on Instagram and tell us how you’re the ultimate cookie boss this cookie season. It’s simple!

How to enter: 
1. Follow @girlscouts on Instagram.
2. Upload a selfie using #gsCookieBoss and tagging @girlscouts.
3. Share how you’re a Girl Scout cookie boss by telling us how you overcome challenges, build your confidence, learn awesome new skills, and take the lead through your cookie sales.
4. Once you receive a confirmation message, claim your post to complete your entry.

All participants will be featured in a fun gallery, and five lucky winners will be randomly selected to win an awesome camera bundle pack and a special prize from Stella & Dot. Each winner will also be highlighted on our social channels and blog!

The sweepstakes will be open until March 24, 2017, and one winner will be selected weekly starting February 24.

Let’s do this! 

This article originally appeared on blog.girlscouts.org.

Outdoor

Hosting Girl Scout Sisters: Troop 407

Ambassador Troop 407 rolled out the (outdoor) red carpet for 50 of their Brownie and Junior sister Girl Scouts for a weekend at camp.

When older girls lead the way for their younger Girl Scout sisters, it touches a special, deep place in our little Girl Scout hearts.

The Ambassadors of Troop 407 spared no detail when they planned badge activities, a bonfire with s’mores (YUM!), complete flag ceremony, and hot pancake breakfast at Riverpoint Program Center.

 

The group was especially excited to see improvements to the property, including new carpet and furniture, bigger beds on the upper floor, and new equipment in the kitchen.

Ready to book your weekend at camp? Find more information on reserving a special event at any of our locations online.

National

STEM Inspiration: 22-Year-Old Engineer

At just 22 years old, Tiera Guinn already holds a position at NASA and is on her way to graduating from MIT with a 5.0 GPA. Impressive.

Tiera Guinn is just 22 years old and she’s already working with NASA.

As a Rocket Structural Design and Analysis Engineer for the Space Launch System that aerospace company Boeing is building for NASA, Guinn designs and analyzes parts of a rocket that she said will be one of the biggest and most powerful in history.

Guinn, whose career trajectory seems like a sequel to the much-acclaimed “Hidden Figures” movie, has been aspiring to become an aerospace engineer since she was a child.

Her mom, who noticed her daughter’s skills from a young age, made sure to Guinn stayed sharp by putting her intelligence to use…at the supermarket.

“When [my mom and I] would go to the grocery store, she would get me to clip coupons [and] put it in my coupon organizer,” Guinn told WBRC News. “By the time we got to the register, I’d have to calculate the exact total, including tax. And I did that since I was six years old.”

“One day I saw a plane fly by and I just had this realization, ‘huh, I can design planes. I’m going to be an aerospace engineer,”’ Guinn said.

She chose all of her middle school classes accordingly and commuted an hour to go to the high school that would best prepare her for the future.

Now, Guinn will soon be graduating from MIT with a 5.0 GPA and is clearly on a path to success. She said she’d advise young girls looking to follow in her footsteps to expect obstacles throughout their journey.

“You have to look forward to your dream and you can’t let anybody get in the way of it,” she said. “No matter how tough it may be, no matter how many tears you might cry, you have to keep pushing. And you have to understand that nothing comes easy. Keeping your eyes on the prize, you can succeed.”

This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post.

National

Girl Scout Membership Increase to $25

Beginning in membership year 2018, the price of a Girl Scout membership will increase from $15 per person to $25 per person. The price increase will go into effect during Early Bird Re-Registration on April 1, 2017 for all 2018 membership purchases.

GSUSA has announced that the price of a Girl Scout membership will increase to $25 per person beginning in the 2018 membership year. 100% of all membership dues directly support Girl Scouts of the USA, covering fundamental services such as:

  • accident insurance for members participating in approved Girl Scout activities
  • program development and research
  • technology and digital innovation
  • protection of the Girl Scout brand
  • service to councils

Girl Scouts of Citrus is committed to ensuring that all girls are able to participate in Girl Scouts, regardless of financial means. Thanks to the consistent, ongoing participation of our donors, members, and community partners, the GIFTs for Girls program is able to provide financial assistance to those in need.

[UPDATED 3/10/2017] At this time, Girl Scouts of Citrus does not have any information on the potential price increase for Lifetime Memberships. When we do, we’ll let you know here. It is, however, always a good time to turn your annual membership into a lifetime membership! Graduating Girl Scouts will receive a discounted rate at $195 beginning on April 1, 2017. Applications must be submitted to CustomerCare@citrus-gs.org or mailed to the address below by September 15, 2017!

Take a look at the national announcement for more information and feel free to contact Customer Care at customercare@citrus-gs.org with questions.

 

Leadership

Girl Scout PSA Challenges Us To Lead Like a…

Girl Scouts has been around for a long time. Although the organization is always evolving, the symbols that have come to represent it have not. People still associate Girl Scouts with cookies, badges, and friendship bracelets.

The truth is, Girl Scouts are groundbreakers. They program robots, start garage bands, and change their communities. A Girl Scout is a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)TM—and yes, these G.I.R.L.s are still selling the best cookies known to (wo)man.

Girl Scouts are prepared to take on challenges big and small in their lives—whether they’re breaking out of their comfort zone to try something new or making their dreams a reality. Girl Scouts lead through practicing grit, problem solving, risk taking, and leading with empathy.

Ready to lead like a Girl Scout?