Short and Sweet

Focus Group Survey

Help us shape the development of future Girl Scout programs!

It’s easy to get involved! Simply answer some questions in the survey found at https://girlscoutscc.wufoo.com/forms/q1oi5ngg1u3itj2/ for a chance to participate in a focus group on June 11.

The girls participating will visit the council office for a morning of program brainstorming, followed by a supervised trip to Universal Orlando and the Blue Man Group show!

IMPORTANT: To be considered for this focus group, please complete the survey by Friday, June 2, 2017.

Academics

Prepare for Kindergarten – Raising Awesome Girls

This content was originally found at http://www.girlscouts.org/en/raising-girls/school/BacktoSchool/start-kindergarten-with-confidence.html#school%7Cparenting.

8 Steps to a Confident Kindergartener

Your little one officially joins the big leagues on her first day in kindergarten—and as her parent, you can set her up for major success. Follow these simple tips from Girl Scouts’ Developmental Psychologist Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald to give her a strong start to the school year.

1. Set the Mood
Your daughter picks up a lot of emotional cues from you, so show her how excited and proud you are of her for taking this big step! Talk to her about all the fun she’ll have and cool new things she’ll be able to learn. Then, head to the library and pick up a storybook about kindergarten to read together. There are loads of them!

2. Help Her Know What She Knows
Does your child already know her alphabet? Her colors? Can she count to ten or higher? Celebrate those skills with her and make sure she knows that those abilities will help her when she starts school. Calling out her strengths will give her the confidence she needs to take her learning to the next level.

3. Help Her Make Friends
If possible, get a class list before the school year starts and invite a few other children for a play date. Having a few familiar faces in the crowd will help your daughter feel less alone and give her an instant crew to hit the jungle gym with!

4. Take Her On a Dry Run
Check to see if your daughter’s new school offers tours or meet-and-greets with teachers. Visiting the actual classroom space, seeing the playground, knowing where she’ll have snack, and even locating the bathrooms will put her mind at ease.

5. Work On Introductions
Your little one is going to be meeting all kinds of new people when she starts kindergarten, so make sure she knows how to introduce herself with a smile and eye contact. You can playact introductions with her stuffed animals until she’s delivering, “Hi, my name is _________,” like a pro.

6. Practice Makes Perfect
In a sea of kids waiting to have the teacher help them zip up a coat or put their shoes back on, your girl will feel extra confident being able to do it herself. So, practice buttons, zips, Velcro, and whatever other fasteners she might need to do and undo during the day to ensure she’s prepared.

7. Give Her Emergency Info
Making sure your daughter can spell her name and that she knows her phone number will give you both peace of mind that in case something happened, she could get help and be reunited with you. Make sure that information—her full name and your contact information—is on a card in her backpack as well, just in case.

8. Respect Her Style
Let your little scholar pick out her own clothes for the first day. She’ll feel more confident in an outfit she loves and is comfortable in (yes, even if it doesn’t really match!). Lay out her choices the night before to reduce first day of school morning stress.

9. Charge Her Up
Make sure your daughter gets a good night’s sleep and that she eats a nutritious, balanced breakfast. Not sure what that looks like? Nix the sugary cereals and opt for something with protein and whole grains—even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread is healthier than a donut or other treat, and will help ensure she doesn’t have a sugar crash (and the confidence crash that would go with it) halfway through her big day.

Outdoor

Mah-Kah-Wee Turns Green Again

Just five weeks after a wildfire consumed more than 150 acres of Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center, damaged acres are already experiencing new growth. On May 10, Karol Young, Board Member and longtime member of Girl Scouts of Citrus, toured the property with CEO, Maryann Barry:

Yesterday, was an emotional day as I saw Camp Mah-Kah-Wee (MKW) for the first time since the fire. Mah-Kah-Wee, the camp I love so much. I went to MKW as a child both for troop camping and resident camp. I worked at MKW all thru college, what a great job!  I have camped with troops, camporees, trainings and events (too many to even remember).

So many memories…I have an undying attachment to this piece of Girl Scout sacred ground.

So how did I feel as I gazed upon this charred piece of earth? I have seen the photos, and the videos but to walk thru it, to smell it, to experience it up close was different. It took my breath away.

So much of it is gone. Heartbreaking. I had to tell myself to breath.

But as Maryann and I toured the property, we noticed how much new green growth was popping up out of the ashes, little green sprouts of hope.

It has been just 5 weeks and Mother Earth is trying to heal her scarred remains. I saw the greenest sprouts of grass and leaves emerging from the ground, so bright and so beautiful. Animals are returning. We saw gopher tortoises digging new holes and heard bullfrogs croaking. We saw a huge deer on the east side heading towards the west side.

All these things gave me hope.

As we made our way back towards the east side of camp we began to discuss ways to reclaim this land and make it a viable part of our camp again. We will revision how our camp will look in the future and how we will meet the needs of our girls and adults.

As we left MKW, I felt hope and even a sense of excitement for the future. I will miss what has been lost as it will never be quite the same, but I feel confident it will once again be a place where so many new memories will be made.

Karol Young currently serves on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Citrus and Chair of the Property Committee. She has been a member of Girl Scouts of Citrus since childhood and now proudly serves as an educator for Orange County Public Schools. 

Badges and Patches

Cadettes: Are you looking toward the Silver Award?

It’s that time in your Girl Scout career to look toward earning the Silver Award. But what is it? What do you have to do? When are trainings?

Great questions. Let’s start with the basics:

What is the Silver Award?

The Silver Award is the highest award that a Cadette can earn. Through about 50 hours of service to the community, you define a Take Action Project that will have a positive impact on the world around you. These hours are just a guideline, though. Read the Silver Award Guidelines for all the must-knows.

What do I need to do?

In general, this is how it breaks down:

  1. Go on a Cadette Journey.
  2. Identify issues you care about.
  3. Build your Girl Scout Silver Award team or decide to go solo.
  4. Explore your community.
  5. Pick your Take Action project.
  6. Develop your project.
  7. Make a plan and put it into motion.
  8. Reflect, share your story, and celebrate.

But first, it really starts with training. That’s the key right now:

When are trainings?

We schedule these often. Here are the two upcoming trainings scheduled at this time.

Lake County
May 22, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Orange County
May 23, 2017
6:45 PM – 8:15 PM

Academics

STEM Scholarship Essay by 5/31

Girl Scout Ambassadors with a knack for STEM: don’t miss out on a chance to earn a $1000 scholarship thanks to a generous donation from General Dynamics!

The Girl Scout program has long been recognized for introducing girls of every age to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Our local council, Girl Scouts of Citrus, offers a number of creative programs that engages girls in a fun, collaborative atmosphere, but recognizes the need to do more.

Through the very generous gift from General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company that values a commitment to good corporate citizenship, sustainable business practices and community support – a STEM career is a bit closer to attaining.

AWARD

$1000 Scholarship

SYNOPSIS 

A well-educated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce is a significant contributor to maintaining the competitiveness of the U.S. in the global economy.  Recognizing that financial aid alone cannot increase retention and graduation in STEM, the proposed scholarship will advance efforts in the field of study for a well-deserving girl.

The award seeks: 1) to increase the number of academically talented students in STEM and entering the workforce or graduate programs in STEM; 2) to improve the education of future scientists, engineers, and technicians, with a focus on academically talented students; and 3) to generate knowledge to advance understanding of how factors or evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities affect the success, retention, transfer, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM.

The STEM disciplines supported by the STEM program include:

  • Biological sciences;
  • Physical sciences (including physics, chemistry, astronomy, and materials science);
  • Mathematical sciences;
  • Computer and information sciences;
  • Geosciences;
  • Engineering; and
  • Technology areas associated with the preceding disciplines (for example, biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology, etc.)

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

This award provides $1000 towards an educational opportunity for a girl seeking an undergraduate degree from a fully-accredited institution within a STEM discipline.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the $1000 award:

  • Ambassador Girl Scout
  • Proof of acceptance into a higher education institution
  • Demonstrated affinity for Girl Scout STEM programs
  • Written essay of 500-800 words
    • Essay should include name and contact information
    • Topic to be addressed, “How has my Girl Scout journey prepared me to become a successful young adult?”

Submit the required documents including proof of acceptance into a higher education institution, demonstration of completion of Girl Scout STEM programs, and the written essay to Toni Castillo, Chief Relationship Officer, at tcastillo@citrus-gs.org. Submissions may be electronic or hard copy. If mailing submission, send to:

Girl Scouts of Citrus Council
341 N. Mills Ave.
Orlando, FL 32803
c/o Toni Castillo

Deadline for submission May 31, 2017. Winning recipient will be notified within the next week.

Presentation of the award will commence at the 2017 In Her Honor event on June 10, 2017 at the Citrus Club located at 255 S Orange Ave., Ste 1800, Orlando, FL 32801.

Academics

Let’s talk about report cards

[This article originally appeared on Raising Awesome Girls on GirlScouts.org.]

Think back to when you were a kid in school. Did you dread report card day, or even try to hide your grades from your parents? Or were you psyched to show off how you’d aced that super tough class?

Either way, the day those grades were given out was probably a big one emotionally—and your daughter is likely dealing with some big emotions of her own now that her grades are coming in.

Whether you like it or not, report cards are a big deal. Not because grades are the end-all-be-all measure of your child (they’re definitely not, even though they will help her get into college someday!), but because she spends the vast majority of her time at school and studying. School isn’t all there is to your daughter’s life, but it’s a big part of it, and showing interest and investing the time to discuss how she’s doing will show that you care about her and what’s going on in her world.

Talking about report cards can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, sitting down and going over her end-of-term marks can bring you closer. Let Girl Scouts’ resident Developmental Psychologist, Andrea Bastiani Archibald walk you through the big grade talk with these simple tips.

  1. Find the good first
    Your daughter shines in math, so tell her you’re proud of her grade, and ask her why she thinks she does so well in it. Understanding what she likes about a subject she excels in can help you strategize how to make other areas that she doesn’t like as much more appealing.
  2. Value effort more than the grade itself
    An A that she earned super easily shouldn’t be praised more than a B that she truly had to work for. Ask her what was difficult for her about that particular subject and what helped her earn such a solid grade in the end. Did she make flash cards or study after school with a friend? The ability to work through problem areas will take her far in life, and the strategies she’s using now will help her for years to come. Celebrate her determination!
  3. Question perfection
    Speaking of that A that she earned super easily . . . is she being challenged enough? If your daughter is barely studying, cruising through homework, and still skating by with great grades, there’s a good chance she should be in a more advanced class. And no, it’s not better to keep her in the easier classes so she gets straight As and a higher GPA. Think of it this way—years from now, when she’s in college, and then eventually when she’s employed in a competitive field, it’ll be hard work and determination that will get her through. If she’s not learning how to deal with challenges now, she won’t be as good at handling them later on!
  4. Ask how she can do better
    If she has a not-so-great grade, or one she’s feeling embarrassed about, first ask if she was surprised by the grade she received. If she’s been reading the feedback on her assignments and communicating with her teacher, she should always know how she’s doing in any given subject. If she’d been expecting a low grade for a while, ask her what she’s done to try to bring it up—and teach her to be her own advocate. Ask if she’s gone to her teacher for extra help or if she’s asked a friend who’s doing better in the subject to explain areas she’s unsure about. If your daughter insists the grade is unfair and that the teacher just “hates” her (we’ve all been there!), hear her out and think about whether or not you think there’s some merit to what she’s saying. It’s extremely doubtful that any teacher hates your child, but there can be personality mismatches or simply miscommunications in the classroom. If you think that’s the case, take some time to get to know the teacher yourself and perhaps set up a conference with him that your daughter can also be a part of. The big point here is that you want her to take ownership over her own grades, working through solutions that will help her succeed. It might seem simpler to handle it on your own, but that won’t teach your daughter much about leadership or independence!

When you’re done going over your daughter’s report card, make sure to reinforce that you love her no matter what, and that you’re on her side and want to see her do as well as possible in all areas of her life. And as the new term starts, keep talking about how she’s doing in school. Ask her about her goals, her trouble spots, and even her tiniest victories. Knowing you care means more than you might know.

Troop Tips

Know an incoming Kindergartener? Send her to Sprouts!

Set your girl up for success in kindergarten with Sprouts to Scouts! We’ll give her a summer of FREE magazines plus more!

This is a big moment – starting kindergarten. At Girl Scouts, it’s a transition that we’ve been through with millions of girls across the country.

Sprouts to Scouts is a no-obligation, free program for girls entering kindergarten in the Fall of 2017. Your girl will get a magazines throughout the summer designed to help her prepare for this big step.

PLUS, you’ll get exclusive invites to FREE events all summer long!

[We think this is the best part!] If you decide to start a troop for your girl and her new friends in the fall, we’ll give you all the training and resources you need to get started PLUS $100 to the Citrus Shop to get your new troop off to a great start!

Just text SPROUTS to 555888 to opt-in to a summer of magazines for your girl. So simple!

Academics

STEM Mentorship Opportunity for Young Alumnae

Young Girl Scout alumnae who are currently majoring in a STEM-related field can take advantage of this opportunity from the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS)!

NYAS is re-launching their very successful and empowering virtual mentoring program called Next Scholars. This program pairs highly motivated female STEM professionals as mentors for female undergraduates in STEM majors.

NYAS will select 300 young women from across the country to be Next Scholars. Potential Next Scholars are:

  • Strongly interested in a STEM or computer science career
  • Self-identified females
  • Available to dedicate 1–2 hours a month to the program
  • A student at an American college or university
  • Excited by the idea of having a mentor!

Those selected will participate—along with their mentors—in online program modules and live events that focus on areas such as career readiness, communication, leadership, and critical thinking, with an underlying focus on computer science for STEM careers.

The goal: to grow a global network of like-minded women and keep talented women in the STEM pipeline throughout the United States.

In addition to their one-on-one mentors, Next Scholars will have access to female STEM professionals who can support them with advice and internship or job referrals. They will also receive a free one-year membership to the New York Academy of Sciences.

The application window for the 2017 Next Scholars program is currently open and has rolling admission, so anyone interested should apply as soon as possible to not miss out on this great opportunity.

Find more information and the program application here. Note: In the application, mention your affiliation with Girl Scouts – this is a national partnership with NYAS.

Please contact Julie Nadel at NYAS with any questions. Her email is jnadel@nyas.org.

Outdoor

A Decade of Summer Camp

Bunks, cabins, s’mores, and the challenge course. Chenna knows a thing or two about summer camp at Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center: she’s been attending for more than 10 years. That’s more than half of her lifetime.

This outdoor girl has been a performer since birth. She started dancing at age 3 and has been singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar ever since. Even offstage, Chenna is known for singing while walking to classes. Fitting, since she plans to major in music in college to become a music teacher.

The summer camp experience has been exhilarating for Chenna – bringing her back to train as a Program Aide (PA) and most recently, a Counselor in Training (CIT). Soon, she will be on her way to holding a position as a Camp Counselor!

Favorite Camp Recipe

“Smackos! It’s kind of like a s’mores taco: you start with a tortilla, fill it with peanut
butter, chocolate chips, and marshmallows, then wrap it in tin foil and stick it on some hot
coals. Might sound gross but it’s delicious!”

On attending summer camp

“At camp, you can be yourself and have fun! Camp lets you make so many great memories
and I love what it teaches you – leadership and life skills.”

Parent to Parent

Chenna’s mom, Cherie Cook, with advice for parents of new campers Sending your kid to camp. It can be one of the biggest milestones in their young life, and an even bigger one for you.

“I know it is hard to let your precious child go somewhere away from you, but when they come back, full of stories, smiles and just a bit more independent than when they left, you will realize it is so worth it.”

Girl Scouts of Citrus has a long track record of conducting awesome summer camp experiences for girls ages 5 – 18. Homesickness is part of the package. But the number one cause of homesickness might surprise you: worrying about home, not necessarily missing it. Girls worry about their parents, siblings and pets!

“The counselors and staff at camp are safety conscious and exemplary; they
treat every child with respect, regardless of ability level.”

To find a summer camp adventure for your girl, visit www.citrus-gs.org/camp.

[Originally printed in the 2014-2015 Citrus Peel, Volume 2]

Badges and Patches

Did you know? We have Bridging Kits!

Graduation. Summer break. Year-end tests. It’s that time of year, but it also means it’s Bridging Season!

And we have the perfect thing! Check out Bridging Kits that contain everything you need to give a girl who bridges to the next Girl Scout program grade level!

The kit includes a bridging kit, certificate, membership star and disc, and pencil! Contact the Council Shop at shop@citrus-gs.org or 407-895-7467 to order yours!