Academics

Earn Your Labcoat

Earn Your Lab Coat is a new program created by the Citrus Council Program Team to give young women the opportunity to explore the fields of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Girls will have unique behind the scene experiences to expand their knowledge and inspire them to think outside the box. Girl Scouts of Citrus Council has arranged several events with STEAM related partners in the Orlando Area such as SeaWorld, Universal Orlando Resort, the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life, and City of Orlando Wastewater Division.

The program is for Cadette-level Girl Scout members only and is design to be completed within a 2 year period. However, for the pilot program, girls will complete the entire program in a year. Girls who complete the entire program will receive a Girl Scouts branded lab coat and a special patch to commemorate their experience!

 

This incredible opportunity is valued at $350, but Girl Scouts selected for the pilot program will receive a special discounted price of $125.00! This cost includes all program expenses, meals and materials. Transportation to and from the main event locations is not included. Payment is not required at this time. Those girls selected will be required to make a $50 deposit to secure their space in the program by October 4.

This event only has 40 spaces available. All grade levels of Cadettes are encouraged to apply. This is not a troop event, but all girls from same troop can apply. Girls will be selected based on merit of their application process, so please read all questions and complete them in their entirety. Any submission not completely filled out will not be considered.

Deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 26 at 11:00 p.m. No late entries will be accepted. Girls who are selected will be notified via email on Thursday, September 28th by noon.

Please Note:

This is an amazing program and we are requesting only girls with a serious desire to learn and grow in a STEAM based program to apply. Also, those girls selected must commit to the entire program and participate in all scheduled events listed below.

SeaWorld Overnight Adventure – November 11, 2017

Behind the Scenes Day at I-Drive 360 – December, 2017

City of Orlando-Waste Water CON2 Field Trip- January 13th

Day Experience with Universal Orlando Resort-March date TBD

Special Graduation Ceremony- May date TBD

Outdoor

Let’s get your girls outdoors! Training, tips, and resources.

Let’s plan to get your girls outdoors this year! Whether you’re seasoned campers or are just beginning your outdoor journey, there are resources and training opportunities to support volunteers at every level.

Resources:

Girl Scout Outdoor Progression Chart

Get Outdoors Videos:

Developing Outdoor Skills in Girls
Taking the Journeys Outside
Planning Your Troop’s First Campout
Introduction to Campsite Set-Up
Introduction to Cooking Outdoors
How to Leave No Trace Outdoors
Introduction to Fire Building
Outdoor Songs and Games

Q&A: Are you ready to take your girls camping?

Do I need to take a first aid kit when taking the girls camping?
Yes, you should have a basic first aid kit with you at all times when you’re with the girls. Even during troop meetings.

Do I need a First Aid trained adult to accompany us on our camping trip?
Yes, you’re required to have a Basic First Aid/CPR trained adult with you any time you’re taking the girls on an activity/outing outside your normal meeting place and time.

When do we need to have someone that is qualified in the Girl Scout Outdoor Skills training?
If you are sleeping in a structured building such as a lodge or cabin and not having a camp fire or doing any outdoor cooking, including a grill, you do not need to have a Girl Scout Outdoor Skills trained adult with you.

If you are sleeping in a structured building such as a lodge or cabin and plan to either have a campfire or do some outdoor cooking, you do need to have a Girl Scout Outdoor Skills – Cabin or Tent (OS – I or OS – II) Camping trained adult.

If you plan to sleep in a tent no matter where and no matter what the activity or cooking method, you do need to have a Girl Scout Outdoor Skills – Tent (OS II) Camping trained adult.

Are there patrol boxes (pots & pans, bowls, utensils, knives, etc.) available for us to use when staying at any of the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council properties?
No, you should refer to the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council Property Guide for a complete list of what items are supplied and what items are suggested that you bring.

Academics

Toyota’s Making Lives Easier Scholarship Program

Girl Scouts live by the motto “be prepared,” and this includes being financially savvy. Fortunately for Girl Scouts, the good folks at Toyota Financial Services (TFS) not only offer support through financial education programs such as theDriving My Financial Future Tip Sheet , which helps prepare girls for their future, they also offer the Making Life Easier (MLE) scholarship program. MLE provides $1 million in scholarships annually to students affiliated with select nonprofits (including Girl Scouts of the USA) who both show high academic achievement and have a record of giving back to their community.

Scholarship applications are due October 31, 2017.

Eligibility. Applicants must:

  • be between the ages of 16 and 26 as of the application deadline date and be members, alumni or staff of one of the listed non-profit partners* (volunteers are eligible only if they also meet organization requirements of being member, alumi or staff)
  • be high school seniors, graduates, current postsecondary undergraduate, or graduate students
  • have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent degree by September 2018
  • plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, professional school or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire 2018-19 academic year
  • have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
  • be in good standing in the community and at school (i.e. not on disciplinary or academic probation)

Review application process details and begin to apply here!

Short and Sweet

So many ways to save in the Citrus Shop!

Make the most of Back to Troop with great ways to save on Girl Scout essentials! Think: Starter Kits, Volunteer Resource Kits, Co-Leader gifts, and more!

Today through September 5, enjoy free standard shipping with purchases $99 or more. PLUS, have you seen the Buy Now, Save Later coupon? Spend $75 or more before October 16 to receive a $10 off coupon, good between November 1 – November 22, 2017.

Visit the Citrus Shop Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays) or shop online anytime at shop.girlscouts.org.

Uncategorized

Join the Citrus Singers!

Audition to join the Citrus Singers, a very active group of Girl Scout musical performers (who just released a must-watch parody music video) with shows across Central Florida!

AUDITIONS: The Citrus Singers Girl Scouts Chorus is now adding members to the group for their fall and holiday shows, and future video shoots.   3rd grade Brownie thru Ambassadors.  This is a great opportunity to perform around the Central Florida area for community, sporting, and scouting events!

MISSION: To instill confidence in girls thru public musical performance!

WHO: Any Girl Scout 3rd grade BROWNIE or ABOVE who can sing in pitch and has an enthusiasm to perform.

SHOWS:November & December we will perform holiday songs at a number of Central Florida venues. In the spring we will learn and perform pop and patriotic songs. September and October shows are optional for new additions.

AUDITION DATE: LIVE auditions will take place on Sunday September 10th 5pm – 7pm by appointment at 1355 Bennett Dr.  #269   Longwood, FL 32750.  Email Susie@RealeRealtyCFL.com for appointment time and details.

Have the singer prepare two songs: pop, holiday or musical theatre selections, each about 1-2 minutes long (such as a verse and a chorus, or the last half of the song, etc…). Pick any songs that can be sung with confidence, preferably memorized. (Remember… with any audition… just because it’s their favorite song doesn’t mean it’s one that is best suited for their voice…).  They must use a karaoke/back up music track that does not have the lead vocal on it.  Try YouTube.

VIDEO auditions are also being accepted. Email Susie@RealeRealtyCFL.com for details on how to submit your video audition.

ABOUT: Chorus rehearses 3-4x per month in October and November, usually on Saturday or Sunday late afternoon such as 4p– 6:30p (TBD). The Chorus currently rehearses in Longwood and downtown Orlando. Girls sing as a group with mics and a P.A. and most will have the opportunity for a small solo part(s). Some girls will sing harmonies and there will be some light movement. This is more of a beginners show choir than a formal choral ensemble (see performance videos).

The singer must sing in pitch and should have an interest in performing.   They can be new, but should be enthusiastic about participating.

The Citrus Singers are also now shooting music videos!

For this holiday session we will learn 9-10 holiday songs to perform, plus the National Anthem which we will perform at the Citrus Bowl.

For live audition appointment time or questions please email Susie@RealeRealtyCFL.com

 

 

ALSO NEEDED:   Adult Chorus Directors in Volusia, Lake and Osceola Counties.

Featured

In a World of Boys’ Clubs, Give Her One…

Although your daughter likely goes to school with boys, and might play Saturday morning sports and share the local playground with them, the realities of her day-to-day life are anything but the same as those of her male peers.

In fact, studies show that in coed learning environments, boys receive more praise than girls when they call out in class, making girls less likely to raise their hands. Furthermore, boys are allowed to problem solve on their own during class time, which fosters independence, whereas teachers tend to step in and “help” girls, leading girls to question their own abilities.

And outside of school? More than one in ten U.S. girls report being catcalled before their 11th birthday—and a whopping 85 percent report gender-based street harassment before they turned 17. Not only does this make girls see their worth in terms of their appearance but it also makes them more self-conscious and cautious overall when out in public. Add to that the fact that the worlds of tech, advertising, major league sports, politics, finance, and so many other fields are still considered “boys’ clubs”—sending not-so-subtle signals to girls about which industries or activities are for girls and which aren’t—and the world starts looking a whole lot less equal for your daughter.

The fact is, 99 percent of your daughter’s life is experienced alongside boys, where she either has to fight for attention or dodge the unwanted kind. Not only can that get exhausting but it can also lead your daughter to keep her head down and stop seeking attention completely. And when this is her day-to-day norm, it’s easy for her believe dynamics like this are normal or acceptable. Scary, isn’t it?

So, what can you do to raise a smart, confident daughter who’s equipped to succeed in this world? Make sure she’s getting some high-quality time surrounded by girls and girls only.

Now, we know this concept raises some questions. Isn’t putting girls in an all-girl environment basically like telling them they can’t compete with boys or do the same things boys can? In short, no.

Girls are already mixed in with boys in so many areas, but because of society’s stereotypes about girls and the ways girls are treated—either consciously or subconsciously—by the people in their lives, girls are less likely to take risks or engage in competition in environments where boys are present. They’re also more likely to shy away from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities and sports for fear of being seen as less than feminine, or because they’ve been conditioned to believe that boys will simply be better at those things.

All-girl environments—be they all-female sports teams, regular slumber parties, or even her Girl Scout troop meetings—work as a type of oasis in her world. When there are no boys to be compared to (or to compare herself to!), she can discover her passions, stretch her limits, and shine her absolute brightest without the social pressures of being seen as too girly, too masculine, or really too anything.

Essentially, she’s allowed to be herself and learn her own strengths on her own terms. She can build the bravery, confidence, and resilience that come with taking risks, struggling, failing, and trying again. She can learn to innovate and problem solve without anyone assuming she can’t do it on her own. And she can carry these experiences and skills with her into the wider world, where they’ll bolster her and help her rise to new limits despite any barriers in her way.

And as for the theory that girls in all-girl environments just end up getting catty and tearing one another down? Quite simply, it’s wrong.

Here’s the thing: the harmful stereotype of girls and women being backstabbing “mean girls” has existed for hundreds of years. But girls are more likely to be ultra-competitive with one another in environments where there’s only one or two spaces for them to take the lead. In all-girl environments? Every leadership opportunity in every area will be given to a girl, so girls learn to champion one another and collaborate rather than feel threatened. The friendships she’ll forge through these groups will form the basis of a powerful network of women who can support one another as they grow.

And these benefits—a greater sense of confidence, a higher comfort level with taking risks, the ability to claim every space as a space where girls and women belong, and the support and encouragement of a strong female network—truly will help your daughter throughout her life. Studies show that girls who take part in certain all-girl activities go on to have more successful careers, experience higher levels of education, and be happier in life in general.

What can you do to give your daughter the benefits of the girls’ club? Set up playdates with female schoolmates early and often. Point out examples in real life and in the media where girls have joined together to support and lift one another up. Get her involved in an all-female activity like Girl Scouts, an all-female dance or sports team, or a STEM class filled with girls. Invite the neighborhood girls or perhaps her female cousins over for regular slumber parties or weekend day trips, exploring your local area and the adventures it has to offer. Not only will she have fun and make memories to last a lifetime but she’ll also grow stronger, more capable, and more confident than you ever dreamed.

[Article originally appeared on GirlScouts.org]

Leadership

Citrus Stories: A Letter of Thanks

To whom it may concern,

Girl Scouts runs in my blood. My mother, a Pine Castle Scout and now lifetime member, registered me the minute I was able to join. I was a member of the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council where I started as a Daisy, and continued all the way through Ambassador.

Let me tell you something, Girl Scouts is more than camping, selling cookies, and earning badges. It is a place where all girls, from all backgrounds, are encouraged grow. It joins girls together and shows them how to be agents of change. Girl Scouts, without a doubt, is the organization that will create the next wave of female leaders.

More importantly, Girl Scouts gave me the ability to conquer my dreams.

The very principle of Girl Scouts is to create strong, confident, women who are empowered to do whatever they set their minds to. For me, though I aged out of scouting some 5 years ago, I am just now seeing the full extent to which this organization allowed me to grow.

In school I was always the quiet one, focused on my studies and making it to the next step in my life. I was never confident in myself, or my abilities. I spent most of my time trying to conform to the norm, because I did not want to stick out, I just wanted to be accepted. However, the longer I spent with Girl Scouts the more I saw my life changing. I became empowered and realized that conforming to norms was not the path I wanted to head down.

By the time I reached high school I started to see the world beyond my life, I found passion in humanitarian work.  While attending William R Boone High School, and being a proud member of the Sound of the Braves, I spent most of my weekends volunteering and giving back to my community. I had no mission or underlying goal, I just wanted to help. In fact, while I was still in high school I was awarded the Presidential Gold Award for Service on two separate occasions. But like most humanitarians, I never said anything about my achievements. I did not want to be known for awards, I wanted to be known for my actions and the kindness of my heart.

When I was attending college at Florida Gulf Coast University, I continued to spend my free time volunteering at hospitals and with school clubs. I worked part time as a Resident Assistant and Resident Life Team Assistant being a confidant to both residents and student leaders during the sometimes difficult transition period in life. Somehow, I even managed to be the President of FGCU’s National Honor Society for a year.

But with all that I had done there was still something missing in my life. Girl Scouts taught me the importance of being a global citizen and I knew I wanted to make an even bigger impact; I wanted to do something that was greater than me.

Or as us Scouters refer to it as: I want to make the world a better place.

I spent years and years learning life skills from Girl Scouts, and at 22 years of age I finally felt as if it was my time to accomplish my dreams.

Less than a month after my college graduation, I packed 3 bags and left the United States. I had one goal in mind, and that was to finally make the world a better place. Where was I going you may ask?

I was being routed to Uganda; I was starting my 27 month long service as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Though I am a health volunteer, I happen to be stationed in a Let Girls Learn initiative focused country. Just as Girl Scouts helped me to become the person I am today, I use the same guiding principles and teachings to help impact the lives of adolescent girls here.

More than anything else, Girl Scouts gave me the confidence to make the world a better place. It taught me that though I may not be able to change the world, I can make a difference trying.

So to every troop leader, mother, father, and person of support to Girl Scouts, I want to thank you. Because of you, new generations of empowered, strong, and determined, female leaders are born.

With much love,

Kelly Sizemore

Uncategorized

Citrus Stories: Marry a Girl Scout Troop Leader, Marry…

Samantha Dumont is the troop leader of multilevel troop 4051, and a 26 year long Girl Scout member. Needless to say, Samantha bleeds green. Like many dedicated troop leaders, the girls she guides and mentors hold a special place in her heart. So much so, that she knew they would play a key part at her wedding.

“…my troop means the world to me. When I got engaged, both Matt and I knew that we wanted to include my girls on our special day.”

Having a wedding without her Girl Scout troop was simply not in the cards for this bride to be. But what could they do to include her troop in the wedding? Samantha and Matt thought about having a few of the girls as flower girls. But how could they decide which ones?

After hours of back and forth, Matt suggested to have all of them as their flower girls. A little unconventional as weddings go, but then again, every wedding is different. So, with that in mind, the couple started planning on what the girls would wear and how to tell them.

“…given my lifelong membership with the Girl Scouts… I had the idea to have the girls wear their uniforms for the wedding. When I told Matt, he thought it was a wonderful idea!”

Now, the fun part…asking them. The initial idea was to ask the troops during a meeting. They would all be together, and it would make for a great surprise. In March 2016, during a troop meeting, Samantha and Matt asked the girls why they believe they would make the best flower girl. It was only fitting that the couple then make the formal later in October during a troop ceremony.

“When we asked them, we gave them hand-made necklaces in our wedding colors. The squeals and hugs were well worth the wait. The wedding excitement started right away for them. They even helped with the decorations and favors.”

Everything seemed to be falling in place. The wedding planning was done, the caterer selected, the venue confirmed, and a Girl Scout troop setup to guide Samantha down the aisle.

“When the day of our wedding dawned, it was a beautiful… a cool sunny day in June. The girls looked great in their uniforms with flowers in their hair. I loved having them in my wedding and couldn’t imagine them not being included.”

Samantha and Matt were married June 2017.

Cookies

Sell like a Girl Scout Top Cookie Seller!

Many girls often wonder what it takes to be a top seller in Girl Scouts. Are there girls who just have extraordinary selling skills or some kind of edge? We thought we’d ask our 2017 Top Cookie Sellers to see what kind of things go through their minds when they sold, and if there are any tips they could share with some other up-in-coming top sellers.  Here’s what they had to say…

What are three important qualities a Girl Scout needs if she wants to sell the most cookies?

The 3 important qualities a Girl Scout needs to have to sell the most cookies are determination, motivation and people skills. She has to be determined to reach her goal; whatever it may be. She must be constantly motivated to work hard every day to reach that goal. Selling cookies also requires some good people skills. She must be willing to speak up and be friendly to everyone.

 

At the beginning of the cookie season, did you plan on selling this many cookies or did it just happen?

At the beginning of the season, I set a goal for myself. I planned to sell 3,000 boxes of cookies when I started. After I reached my goal I decided to keep going. As I kept selling, I thought it might be possible to be the top cookie seller. That became my new goal.

What advice could you give younger girls who are trying to become one of the top sellers?

I would tell them to set a goal and figure out how many boxes per day you’ll need to sell to stay on track for that goal. It’s important to work hard. Which means you might need to sacrifice after school activities and hobbies along the way. But it will be worth it in the end. I would also tell them it is helpful to invest in your business. I had cookie business cards made for my business. Customers would text my Mom and I would get the orders ready and deliver them. Lastly, it’s important to remember your previous customers. You can sell cookies to them and have repeat business.

 

What are some of the business skills you learned while selling Girl Scout cookies?

There were several business skills I learned throughout my time selling Girl Scout cookies. Setting goals before the season was always a starting point for me. Building and maintaining a customer base was also very important for a successful selling season. Lastly, being visible through signage and vocal was key…after all you need to advertise some way.

 

Why did you want to become one of the top seller of Girl Scout cookies?

I wanted to do the most in my Girl Scout career. I set that personal goal. Also, talking to people has always come naturally to me. Through the cookie sales I was able to do that every day and leverage my skills.

What advice can you give girls who want to accomplish the same thing?

Make small goals, like selling at least 100 boxes of cookies a day each week. Some days you might go over that goal, and some days you might fall a little short. If you stay on top of these small goals, they’ll add up quickly. Before you know it, you will have numbers in the thousands.

 

Do you think selling Girl Scout cookies is an important experience for younger girls who want to learn about the business world? If so, why?

Yes, I think it’s a great experience, because they will learn a lot of important skills about setting and achieving goals, handling money, being honest, and working hard. You meet lots of new people by selling cookies. I did a lot of door-to-door sales. You can’t be afraid to walk up and knock on a door.

At cookie booths you meet hundreds of new people and you can’t be shy and not talk to them or you won’t sell many cookies. I know when I get older and am in the business world, all of these things I have learned selling cookies will be very helpful. I’m not scared of new situations and I will be a good employee or boss!

What does being one of the top sellers of Girl Scout cookies mean to you?

I was a little surprised. It means a lot to have reached that level. It makes me feel very happy and excited! I worked very hard and spent every day after school and on the weekends going door-to-door, even in the rain. During cookie booth time, my troop and I were at booths every weekend, sometimes several in one day.

For next year, do you want to exceed the amount of cookies you sold this year? If so, why?

I’m going to try! I set a big goal for myself this year and I didn’t know if I was going to make it. It took a lot of hard work, planning and lots of hours to get there. I was also working on my Silver Award project and homework too, so I was very busy. It would be cool to be top seller more than one year!

Featured

7 Simple Icebreakers for Making Friends

Being reserved or even shy shouldn’t stop your girl from having a super fun social life! If she’s having trouble making friends, suggest some of these oh-so-simple ice breakers that will help her meet new kids!

  1. “The cat on your shirt is so cute! I love cats, too—do you have one?”
    Teach her to look for cues that she and the other person have something in common, like a character that might be on her clothing or lunch bag.
  2. “Have you read anything cool lately?”
    Asking about something particular, like a book she may have read or a movie she may have seen, gives them a clear subject to talk about and can lead to plenty of other topics. Just make sure she has a book in mind to talk about in case the girl wants to know what she’s been reading, too!
  3. “I thought the story you wrote was awesome! What made you write about outer space?”
    Everyone loves a sincere compliment, and following it up with a question about what she’s accomplished will show a genuine curiosity and hopefully lead to a great discussion!
  4. “I’m signing up for Girl Scouts this year—are you?”
    Bringing up a potential shared experience will get the girls talking, even if they’re not both doing the same activities.
  5. “Do you want to share my orange?”
    Being generous with toys or snacks is a universal offering of friendship, and will likely spark a conversation between the two girls.
  6. “How did you feel about today’s game?”
    If the girls are on the same soccer team, or even in the same classroom in school, they’ll have plenty of shared experiences they can discuss. All it takes is your daughter to bring one of them up!
  7. “Want to study for the vocab quiz together?”
    Suggesting tackling an activity that both girls have to do anyway will make the task easier on both of them, and give them a chance to get to know each other better.

Having to make new friends might be intimidating to your child, so go over these ideas and see if she can come up with more on her own. Of course not every person your girl wants to be friends with will feel the same way, and that’s OK, but the more she puts herself out there and connects with other kids, the more opportunities she’ll have to grow her social circle.