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.

Academics

23 New Badges in STEM and Outdoors

This summer, GSUSA introduced 23 new badges in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the outdoors—the largest programming rollout in almost a decade! Girl Scouts will be able to design robots and racecars, go on environmentally conscious camping trips, create algorithms, collect data in the great outdoors, try their hand at engineering, and so much more. And the best part? These new badges are girl-tested and girl-approved!

The new Girl Scout programming builds girls’ skills and encourages their interest in STEM and environmental conservation from an early age—areas girls are not typically encouraged to explore outside Girl Scouting—increasing their confidence in an all-girl, girl-led environment where they feel comfortable to try new things, take appropriate risks, and learn from failure.

Download a guide to year plans and journeys!

GSUSA created select badges with contributions from notable organizations in the STEM and outdoor industries, such as GoldieBlox, WGBH/Design Squad, the Society of Women Engineers, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Code.org, and SciStarter.

These awesome badges have debuted on Girl Scouts’ first digital platform for volunteers, the Volunteer Toolkit, making it more accessible than ever to unleash the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. The Volunteer Toolkit helps parents and volunteers easily plan meetings and activities; keep track of important information; and, ultimately, make it easier to support amazing experiences for girls!

In the toolkit, most programming for girls in grades K–5 is auto populated so troop leaders can view activity plans and necessary materials, customize meetings, and track troop finances all in one place. Plus, the instructions included throughout make subjects that might otherwise intimidate some volunteers—like STEM—accessible and understandable, so they can confidently carry out troop activities. Which means helping girls take the lead in their adventures just got a whole lot easier!

Outdoor

10 Firework Safety Tips for Your 4th of July

How great are fireworks! They light up the sky in incredible ways and come in all kinds of patterns and colors. While its always best to go to a public show and let the professionals handle it, some families still like to set up their own home show.

So if you are going to celebrate on your own, be sure to follow these 10 firework safety tips.

Leadership

Citrus Stories: Gina Rivera

 

Meet Gina, a recent graduate from the University of Central Florida who found confidence, initiative, and a role model through her experience as a Girl Scout.

Gina recently graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She was also recognized with one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a college graduate; graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Graduating Summa Cum Laude was not an easy feat. Gina dual enrolled in college courses while in high school to obtain her Associates degree, graduating with a 4.2 GPA.

How did she do it? Gina credits much of her success to her experience in Girl Scouts.

Gina began her Girl Scout experience in the 6th grade through the Get Real! mentoring program. As she became more confident and outgoing, Gina became more involved in school activities. In the face of adversity, Gina often drew from this experience and support to take action.

“My Girl Scout experience showed me that anything I dreamt of doing, I could accomplish… how to believe in myself and reach my full potential. Girl Scouts helped me take more of an initiative… to take action and lead when needed.”

Throughout her time at Girl Scouts, Gina mentioned a role model that continuously believed in her and supported her throughout middle school and high school, Cecilia Scott, the Director of Grant Programs at Girl Scouts of Citrus.

To Gina and her troop, they just know her as Miss Cece.

“Miss Cece has had such a positive impact on my life, that I probably wouldn’t be who I am and where I am, if I hadn’t met her. She has taught me to love myself for who I am and that I can become someone in life.”

When Gina graduated high school, Miss Cece gave her a book of quotes that to this day, she keeps at her desk. “I read it when I need encouragement, because it is as if [Miss Cece] is saying it. She is selfless and has the ability to overcome obstacles… and has inspired me to do the same.”

Gina plans to continue her education and obtain a Masters in criminal justice from UCF. Afterwards, she seeks to go further and obtain her PhD.

“I want to continue graduating with high honors and serve as a model for my siblings, and for other girls around the world.”

Leadership

Should She Be On Social Media? [Video]

Facebook. Instagram. Twitter. Musical.ly. Snapchat. Chances are at least one of these is a big part of your life—and of your daughter’s.

Despite the age restrictions on many social media platforms, a study from 2014 showed that roughly three out of every five kids had their own social accounts before age 10. And although these digital communities can help teens and tweens develop their social skills and form positive relationships, the digital world can still be a tricky place to navigate.

That’s why Girl Scouts’ Developmental Psychologist, Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald and Senior Digital Media Director, Kayla Santalla teamed up to tackle some major issues around kids and social media. Here are a few of their top do’s and don’ts:

* DO let your daughter know from the very beginning that you will be doing spot-checks on her social media—not because you don’t trust her, but because you want to make sure she’s staying safe and that nothing inappropriate or potentially dangerous is happening on her accounts.

* DON’T make a big deal about every little thing you see on her social accounts, though. If she posts something silly but harmless, let it go—save your lectures for bigger issues that could compromise her safety or that of others.

* DO set up social media and technology rules as a family. Discuss what areas of your home should be screen-free, and during what hours social media and phones in general should be off-limits. When your kids are involved in creating the guidelines, they’ll be a lot more likely to follow them.

* DON’T forget that the social media and technology rules apply to the whole family—adults included. You might not even realize how much time you spend attached to your phone, but your children certainly do! Besides, you’re your child’s first social media role model. If you’re attached to your screens 24/7, she’ll want to be, too.

* DO talk to your kids about what is and isn’t appropriate to post online. If it’s not something they’d feel comfortable with their grandmother or a college recruiter seeing, it’s probably not worth putting online. Remember, even “temporary” or “private” posts can be captured, saved, and shared.

* DON’T post sensitive content about your daughter on your social media account. Being a tween or teen is hard enough without mom or dad posting cute-to-you but mortifying-to-her baby bath time pictures or toilet training moments. Some special memories are meant to be kept in the family—notshared with the world.

Watch the whole conversation in the video for more on navigating social media with your daughter.

Uncategorized

Unleash Her Inner Wonder Woman

With unstoppable bravery, super-human strength, and unwavering dedication to truth and justice (not to mention that awesome outfit) it’s easy to understand why little girls might be obsessed with Wonder Woman right now—and why parents might find the classic super hero to be a good role model. What mom or dad wouldn’t want a daughter who knows what she believes in and stands up for what’s right?

Gal Gadot, who plays Wonder Woman—aka Diana, Amazon Princess—discussed a plot point from the movie that parents might want to pay close attention to. “When you first meet Diana on the island, she’s 5 or 6, and she’s this very curious little girl who’s very courageous, who’s very sassy,” the actor said in an interview released by Warner Bros. “She wants to learn how to fight, but she’s being very sheltered and very protected by her mother, who does not allow her to do so.”

Wonder Woman’s mother, Queen Hippolyta, may be a Greek Goddess, but her instincts to coddle and keep watch over her daughter—even when it’s not what’s best for her—couldn’t be more human. In fact, a 2015 survey by the Pew Research Institute found that the vast majority of modern-day mothers—seven out of ten!—self-identify as overprotective of their children.

The problem is of course, that when girls are “kept safe” from even the smallest risks or failures, they are also being deprived of valuable experiences that could build up their resilience and help them grow into confident, strong, capable young women. And just as it’s only by taking the risk to leave home and her mother’s side for the first time that Diana realizes her full potential and transforms into the Wonder Woman we all know and love, your daughter may also need some freedom and space to realize her full potential.

Basically, the lesson here is whether your daughter is six or sixteen, you have to let go to let her grow. Here are just a few ways you can start doing that today:

Stand Back

When you see your daughter stretching to reach the cereal on a high shelf, do you walk over and grab it for her? Do you still order for her at restaurants, even though she’s old enough to read the menu and make her own decisions? When she has a problem at school, do you step in right away rather than letting her try to work it out first? If you said yes to any of these, you might be in need of some tough love similar to what Hippolyta’s sister, Antiope, had to offer—that a mother is delinquent in her duties if she doesn’t prepare her daughter for life. We might not phrase it in such harsh Amazonian terms, but the essence of the sentiment is true: when you step in, you’re essentially blocking your daughter from stepping up and growing her own skill set (and the confidence that goes along with that). Plus, you could actually be making her doubt her own abilities. After all, if she were capable of handling these situations on her own, why would you be so eager to problem solve for her?

Encourage Adventure

Slumber parties and residential summer camp stays will help your daughter gain independence and see how brightly she can shine on her own. As she gets older, meeting up with friends for an unsupervised afternoon of fun—or even taking a day trip with her best friend—will give her a little more freedom and make her even more self-reliant. After all, your daughter is going to want to leave the nest someday, just as Diana knew she needed to leave her sheltered island home. These baby steps will prepare her to stand courageously on her own when that day comes.

Cheer Her On

When Diana tells Hippolyta she wants to go help end the war, her mother replies, “If you choose to leave, you may never return!” Although of course Diana joins the war effort anyway—and becomes Wonder Woman in the process—we’re pretty sure her mother’s nay-saying didn’t do much to build up her confidence. So, if you’re worried that your not-so-coordinated daughter will hurt herself if she tries skateboarding? Keep those thoughts to yourself and let her hop on board. Think your tween daughter’s dreams of going to an Ivy League college one day are unrealistic? Tell her to look into what kinds of grades and scores she’ll need to get in, then encourage her to work for it. You know how people say if you shoot for the moon, you’ll at least reach the stars? The same goes here. If your daughter’s aiming for really big or slightly out-of-reach things and doesn’t succeed, it’s not a total wash. In fact, it can be a big win in terms of her learning about herself, her abilities, and where she has room for improvement. It’ll also help her grow more resilient and ready to handle life’s ups and downs. But who knows? Maybe she’ll hit her target. Life’s full of surprises, and your daughter is, too.

[Article originally appears on girlscouts.org]

Badges and Patches

Celebrating 2017 Gold Award Recipients!

The Gold Award is the highest achievement that a Girl Scout can earn. The prestigious award challenges a girl to change the world – at least her corner of it. This year, 19 girls from Girl Scouts of Citrus were recognized for their amazing contributions to Central Florida and beyond.

There is perhaps no better way to see the mission of Girl Scouting come to life than to hear girls talk about their Gold Award projects. On Saturday, June 10, 2017, Girl Scouts of Citrus honored 19 Girl Scouts who have completed a lengthy seven-step process to solve a problem in their communities.

Girl Scouts of Citrus CEO, Maryann Barry, penned a letter of congratulations to the young women:

“You have achieved a rare and prestigious national honor, establishing yourselves as young leaders in your community and the builders of our future…Today, we celebrate you and are proud to welcome you to the special sisterhood of those who have earned Girl Scout’s highest award.”

This year, Girl Scouts of Citrus also introduced three new Council Awards to recognize graduating Ambassadors: Outstanding Troop, Young Entrepreneur, and Future STEM Leader.

Introducing, the Council Award winners and 2017 Gold Award Recipients!

Elizabeth Abel
Room Redo at Women’s Shelter

Rebuilt a room at the Women’s Residential and Counseling Center, including new lighting, air conditioner, paint, and furniture.

Morgan Benson
Math Locker

Constructed a Math Coach Locker for Kid’s Place Day Care Center at Indian River City Church, complete with games, lessons, supplies, and activities, including teacher materials.

Samantha Brewer
Signage for Stone Mountain Chimneys

Designed signage and landscape features around two historical chimneys at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta to teach visitors about local flora and legacy of Stone Mountain.

Sarah Brouillard
Tying Lesson Wooden Shoes

Created over one thousands wooden shoes to donate to local schools, daycares, and other organizations that assist kids in learning to tie their shoes.

Caroline Carlton
Non-Profit For Coins Collected at MCO

Partnered with Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Foundation to place donation bins outside TSA checkpoints to collect loose change for a charitable foundation.

Ashley Chase
Hands On Curriculum for Preschool

Collaborated with Firm Foundation Preschool to create a curriculum with hands-on activities for kids, including a health unit that explains the importance of healthy living and exercise.

Maggie Decoursey
Anti-Bullying Summit

Held an anti-bullying summit for girls ages 11-15 with guest speakers; created YouTube video with anti-bullying message to increase awareness.

Francesa DeVito
STEMology

Created a STEM Portal (thestemportal.com) to inspire students to enter STEM fields; created learning resources and a sustainable week-long STEM camp.

Michaela Issacs
East Wing Rehab at Retirement Home

Re-landscaped the yard at Tuskawilla Nursing and Rehab Center using drought-resistant and butterfly-attracting plants.

Samantha Krell
Recycling at CFLA

Placed recycling bins in each classroom of her high school and educated the school’s teachers and students to increase recycling; received commitment from administration to continue efforts.

Katie Lange
Yellowbrick Road at Clay Springs Elementary

Collaborated with the Physical Education department at her elementary school to create a new activity that teaches children K-5 seven locomotive skills (run, walk, skip, slide, gallop, leap, hop).

Madison Love
Camp Boggy Creek Cabin Family Journals

Created journals for campers at Camp Boggy Creek to reflect on their experiences at camp; journals presented at banquet events to encourage an increase in donations.

Elizabeth Marvin
You Are Beautiful Murals

Collaborated with Hagerty High School to create murals addressing women’s positivity and self-love.

Tess Marvin
Spanish Library at Hagerty High School

Created a Spanish library with fiction and non-fiction books at Hagerty High School.

Annaliese Poliner
Appreciation Workshop and Mural

Held a series of Art Appreciation Workshops for children in grades K-8; created comprehensive guides for all of her workshops for future use; painted a mural on the outside wall of the church.

Judith Wages
Bat Houses at Moss Park

Constructed 12 bat houses and placed them around Moss Park to improve the park’s ecosystem.

Ciara Watkins
Spaying and Neutering Animals

Collaborated with Seminole County Animal Services to spay and neuter 28 animals.

Elizabeth Williams
United Nations Game

Created an activity to supplement geography classes which were removed from Florida’s middle school curriculum; teaches students territorial geography.

Emily Worthington
Emily Cares – Change Florida Statutes Regarding Foster Kids

Advocated for the rights of foster kids through Florida Statute Chapter 39, Paragraph 3 which only requires foster families to provide trash bags for foster children to keep their belongings in.

 

Interested in earning your Gold Award? View the Gold Award guidelines and start the process now!