Blog

Leadership

Did someone say FUN and ADVENTURE?!

I love taking my troop outdoors.  They always get to develop their skills and I’m able to give them new scouting challenges. The best part about the experience is as they get older you can expand on the outdoor activities. This helps to keep them engaged over the years.

We first started our outdoor adventures in 2011, when we attended Running River’s (now Wild River) Magical Camporee at Camp Mah-Kah-Wee. They made crafts, learned new campfire songs and took their first hike. There’s really nothing like that first hike.

My daughter Elyse and I, 2012

In 2012 we went to Riverpoint Program Center for a WOW Wonder of Water day program. This was out in Brevard, and they really enjoyed the water activities. The girls completed the Mailbox Trail activity that day too.

The following year, we ventured outside of Council properties and went to the Florida Elks Lodge for the Tradition Expedition Camporee hosted by the Wild River Community. The girls roasted marshmallows around a campfire, exchanged swaps, went canoeing and tried archery for the first time.

Elyse exchanging swaps at Tradition Expedition

Most recently, my troop attended the Wild River Cadette Retreat at Riverpoint Program Center. They cooked meals, completed two outdoor badges and participated in archery, paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking. It was great because no experience was like the last. There’s always something new and different we all got to share in.

 

Whether you are an outdoors enthusiast or prefer staying inside there are many options to get your girls exploring nature. Here are just a few ways I’ve come across that could help:

  • Attend a service community camporee… like I did with Wild River.
  • Earn an outdoor badge during your troop meetings.
  • Ask an older girl troop from your service community to host an outdoor badge workshop or teach an outdoor skill.
    • One of the bridging requirements is for girls to teach younger scouts a skill they have learned!
  • Reserve a Citrus Council property for a couple hours to canoe, kayak, or archery.

Girl Scout Camp!

Every year, Girl Scouts of Citrus Council will send out a Camp Book in the mail. The Camp Book has information on all types of camp programs being offered by Council. It can also be found online http://www.citrus-gs.org/en/about-girl-scouts/our-council/publications.html

Paddle Boarding at River Point

There are camp programs for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors. Camp adventures can include archery, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding, campfires, songs, hiking, and other activities.

If you’re a first time troop leader or a troop leader that hasn’t jumped into camp experiences, then you might want to attend a Citrus Open House. This can be very helpful to understand what is offered by Council and when. It can be even more useful for when parents have questions.

At these open houses, you’ll learn more about day camps, sampler camps, travel camps and resident camps. The Council staff is there to answer questions and you can take a tour of the sleeping and activity areas.

If you can’t make it to one of the Open House, then reach out to Council for additional information. There are great resources on the council website and you can always reach out to council staff for more info…especially if your interested in reserving a space.

Be Safe and Be Prepared

Whether you’re planning to take your troop camping or do an outdoor activity, here are some key things you want to keep in mind:

  • Visit your health provider to complete a girl physical and receive a current tetanus shot.
  • Watch the eight outdoor skill-building videos before taking girls outside at www.girlscouts.org/en/adults/volunteer/volunteer-resources/outdoor-resources.html. These videos can help volunteers give girls a sense of empowerment in the outdoors, show them how to use natural resources more wisely (including respecting our environment and wildlife), and help them become lifelong stewards of the land and our natural resources.

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) has some great resources to help plan your Outdoor Experience. Most recently, the VTK has been updated with some great activities in the STEM Journey & Badges, and the Outdoor Journeys & Badges.

Whatever you decide, I know it will be an amazing experience. As I look back at my time as a Troop Leader, I can say that some of my favorite time spent with my Girl Scouts, has been in the outdoors.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook @floridagirlscout

National

It’s Girl Scout Week!

Girl Scout Week is celebrated each March, starting with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a Saturday, and it always includes Girl Scouts’ birthday, March 12. On that date in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization’s first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.

There are so many ways to share your Girl Scout pride this week! And it’s never too late to celebrate. Check out these awesome ideas for girls, from our very own Girl Scout sisters!

  1. Recite the Girl Scout law to your family or friends, and talk about which parents are most important to you right now in your life.
  2. Wear your uniform to your religious service.
  3. Draw a picture of your troop and list 3 things you can learn from your Girl Scout friends. Post it at home or at school.
  4. Pick up 10 pieces of litter in your neighborhood.
  5. Tell a friend about why you love being a Girl Scout.
  6. Wear your Girl Scout uniform to school.
  7. Write a thank you note to your Girl Scout troop leader.
  8. Sing your favorite Girl Scout song – or learn a new one.
  9. Learn about the Girl Scout Gold Award and National Young Women of Distinction.
  10. Explore Girl Scout history with a little online research or by talking with an expert.
  11. Teach a Girl Scout tradition to a younger Girl Scout troop.
  12. Learn about a famous Girl Scout.
  13. Make a time capsule to open when you graduate from High School.
  14. Coordinate a community service project.
  15. Decorate cupcakes, sing Happy Birthday, and celebrate!

Learn more about Girl Scouts’ traditions and special days: http://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/traditions.html

Leadership

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. What you may not know is this event began as a small-town school event in California in the late 70’s and started out as a week-long event, known as Women’s History Week. International Women’s Day on March 8 was seen as the focal point for this week.

In 1980, President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring this week as National Women’s History Week. Over the years, several states had declared the month of March as Women’s History Month. The momentum influenced Congress to declare the month of March 1987 as National Women’s History Month.

Traditionally, Women’s History Month in schools has focused on the U.S. women’s suffrage and reform movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s, but there’s oh-so-much more! Girls and women are making history every day!

Ways to Celebrate:

  • Get inspired with videos from makers.com.
  • March 8: International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911.
  • Thank a woman who inspires you. Write her a letter. Send her a message on Facebook. Send her a gif of appreciation.
  • Read about women throughout history who’ve done amazing things.
  • Share your story through a creative outlet. Women’s stories need to be heard. Submit a piece to your favorite publication. Start a blog. Launch a YouTube channel.
  • Mentor a young woman or Girl Scout. Girls everywhere are in need of positive role models that can help them grow and develop into leaders.
  • Earn a Badge!Like the “Girl Scout Way” badge, Celebrating Community or My Family Story for Brownies, or Playing the Past for Juniors. Or check out the GIRLtopia Journey for Seniors.

Just a note: Throughout history, women trailblazers have fought both for and against controversial topics. As you explore the resources linked here, and do your own research and discovery alongside girls, you might find topics and causes that are still controversial today. If you’re a troop leader, communicate openly with parents of the girls in your troop so they know what you’ll be discussing at your troop meeting. If a polarizing topic arises, be sure to cover both sides of the issue briefly, and then move on.

Badges and Patches

We Don’t Need A Badge For That!

We Don’t Need A Badge For That!” is a program series where Girl Scouts connect with the community to work on community service projects.

This series is about community service and giving back throughout the year. Girl Scouts of Citrus Council will work with different community partnership to create a Take Action projects, clean-up events, or other services.

This series does not involve a badge or patch, but rather, encourages Girl Scouts and their families to volunteer and help support our Central Florida community.

Just Wing It! – March 24 – 11:00 am to 3:30 pm

The kickoff event to this program series is a take action project. Girl Scouts will be creating and establishing a butterfly learning garden. This is something anyone and everyone can do. Working with Orlando City they will be allowing Girl Scouts to use their land to design, create and build their garden for future events, generations, and environmental gains!

Come out and help us put together butterfly homes, plant flowers, create a peaceful garden for everyone. As teams we will build the homes, paint them and set them in place for the butterflies. Other teams will be planting trees, plants, flowers, and more. Lunch will be provided and an educational session will take place on importance and impact this has on our community. The girls will just need to show up in old clothes and Tennis Shoes and be ready to work.

Juniors can Register Here

Seniors and Ambassadors can Register Here

 

Cookies

Wrapping up your Cookie Season

Cookie Season is finally over! But before you shut down and focus on other Girl Scout activities, there are two questions you need to ask yourself:

  • Is all the money accounted for?
  • Did you meet your cookie goal?

Is all the money accounted for?
Collect all remaining cookie money and deposit to the troop bank account. Provide each girl/adult the remaining cookie balance and the final due date for the money collection.

Make at least three attempts to collect the money. The attempts to collect money must be documented in writing.

All outstanding parent debt must be reported immediately to Council’s Product team (by March 1, 2018 to Debbie Zito at 800-367-3906).

Enter each cookie deposit under Finances: girl transactions in www.abcsmartcookies.com.

Inform the troop of their total cookie profits.

Retain the ABC Smart Cookies Troop Balance Summary and share it with your troop leader(s) or troop finance manager to complete the June troop finance report.

…and of course, let the girls know which cookie incentives they earned as a result.

Did you meet your cookie goal?

Before the cookie sale started your girls set individual and/or troop cookie goals.

If they reached their goal:

  • Be sure to congratulate the girls on accomplishing their cookie goal.
  • Plan a cookie celebration with your troop.
  • Look at the cookie sale pin, earned cookie badges and fun cookie items available at the Citrus Council Shop.

Didn’t meet your cookie goal:

  • Meet with the girls and discuss how they can meet their goals next year.
  • Look at what you did well and what didn’t go so well.
  • Discuss different ways to increase cookie sales at booths and during walkabouts.
  • Suggest increasing online cookie sale participation.

 

Remember to Say THANK YOU

Lastly, be certain that your booth locations are recognized and appreciated for supporting the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council. In the past I would provide each booth location with some token of appreciation. They can be thank you cards, thank you certificates, handmade swaps or even some Girl Scout cookies.

Troop 763

Thanking each booth location is a great way for your service community to have the opportunity to return for booth sales next year. This is especially important when the location was a high traffic area.

It’s also good practice for each service community to thank their community cookie chair(s) and troop cookie troop chairs for their time, talent and support.

Troop 154

They’ve worked hard to make this a successful cookie season for all and showing appreciation can go a long way to make the experience a rewarding one.

Thank you to all the parents, girls and volunteers who made this cookie season a great experience for all.

 

 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook @floridagirlscout

Cookies

Finish Strong this Cookie Season

When I say Girl Scout you say COOKIES!

This has been an amazing cookie season for the girls to learn and complete their 5 cookie skills: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, Business Ethics.

There are a couple days remaining and the girls are almost at the finish line. The girls are looking to their adult volunteers for a cookie victory! That’s you by the way J

 

Cookie Booth Management

Check your cookie inventory after each cookie booth. Visit your cookie cupboard regularly for additional cases of cookies. Oddly enough, customers really want cookies when they can’t find them or when cookie season is almost over. Funny how that works right?

Encourage your girls to continue selling door to door, at cookie booths and at local businesses.

Promote cookie sales using different booth posters or marketing ideas.

  • Fill your Easter basket with Girl Scout Cookies!
  • Don’t be a fool on April Fools Day… give a box of cookies to your friends and family.
  • Purchase cookies for Teacher Appreciation Month in May.
  • Girl Scout cookies freeze well to eat during the Summer.

Cookie Sale Management

Deposit cookie money into your troop banking account after each cookie booth. Be sure to collect cookie money from initial cookie orders and deposit into your troop bank account.

Check the cookie money you have received and provide the girls their remaining cookie balances. Provide receipts for cookie money received. The cookie receipt booklets are provided to your cookie chair at the end of the cookie season.

Check your cookie paperwork for accuracy and contact your cookie chair for assistance or support. It’s important to know your remaining cookie inventory to prepare for cookie cleanup.

Provide the cookie sale ending date to your adult volunteers and girls.

  • Cookie Booths end February 25
  • Digital Cookie Program ends February 25

National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend

From February 23 through February 25 Girl Scouts across the nation will band together to speak as a single, powerful voice to raise awareness of the Girl Scout Cookie Program and increase cookie sales.

Wild River Cadettes attend a woodworker badge workshop to prepare for the National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend. Several troops will display their project at cookie booths.

Make sure you have plenty of cookie booths this weekend and let your community know that this is the last opportunity to purchase cookies.

For those selling cookies this weekend, There’s a National GS Cookie Weekend Patch you can purchase from the Citrus Council Shop at www.girlscoutshop.com/CITRUS-COUNCIL.

 

 

Girl Scouts of the USA’s Cookie Pro Contest 2018

This cookie season, let’s show them how the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world prepares girls to lead, learn, succeed, and shine – not only for today but also for the future.

Enter the National Girl Scout Cookie Pro Contest 2018 now through April 30, 2018 at www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/just-for-cookie-sellers/cookie-pro.html

 

Leadership

CIT and VIT…what you’ll need to know to earn…

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) I (must be currently enrolled in 9th grade)

Mentor younger girls in a camp setting as you build skills toward becoming a camp counselor. To earn this award, complete these steps:

  1. Take a leadership course designed by your council on outdoor experiences.
  2. Work with younger girls over the course of a camp session.

 

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) II (must be currently enrolled in 10th grade and earned your CIT I)

To earn this award:

  1. Earn your CIT I award
  2. Work with younger girls over the course of at least one camp session while focused on increasing your skills in one specific area- such as riding instruction, lifeguarding, or the arts.

 

Volunteer-in-Training (VIT) (must be currently enrolled in 10th grade)

This award is for girls who’d like to mentor a Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, or Cadette group outside of the camp experience. If you’ve completed 9th grade, you’re eligible to earn this award. Your VIT project should span 3-6 month period.

  1. Find a mentor volunteer who is currently the adult volunteer for a group of girls at the level you’d like to work with. This volunteer will help you through your training and internship, and you’ll help the volunteer with her group of girls for the 3-6 month period.
  2. Complete a council-designed leadership course
  3. Create and implement a thoughtful program based on a Journey or badge that lasts over 4 or more sessions. Be responsible for designing, planning, and evaluating the activities. If you’re passionate about a topic like art or technology, you could design the activities around the area you love or in which you have expertise.
Short and Sweet

On Your Marks, Get Set…GO

In early January, over 2,500 scouts from across the country traveled to take part in Scout Days at Daytona International Speedway. This three-day annual test session known as the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” was the start to the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) racing calendar.

And although it was pretty cold for Florida…that didn’t stop Girl Scouts from showing up. Troops braved the freezing temperatures as they camped two nights in the tracks infield. Over the weekend scouts got up-close and personal with the teams and drivers from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.

Girl Scouts were given their own dedicated camping area, participated in special question-and-answer sessions, and went on tours with some incredible G.I.R.L.s. The female drivers, engineers, and mechanics that make it all possible.

Minnesota Crouch, Kristen Bedard

For the first time in event history, a race was added to the “Roar Before the Rolex 24.” Above the track, Relationship Development Director, Kristen Bedard and Ambassador Girl Scout, Minnesota Crouch, waived the green flags as honorary starters for the IMSA Prototype Challenge season opener.

“To stand above the speeding race cars, motioning the start of their race while representing Girl Scouts of Citrus was a unlike anything I had ever experienced,” said Bedard.

The weekend ended in true Girl Scout fashion with a collectible fun patch earned by all!

Badges and Patches

Earning your LiA and PA awards

Leader in Action (LiA) (must be currently enrolled in 6th grade)

You can earn a Leader in Action (LiA) award by assisting a Brownie group on any of their National Leadership Journeys. There are three different LiA awards, one for each of the Journey series: ‘It’s Your World—Change It!’, It’s Your Planet—Love It!, and It’s Your Story—Tell It!. To earn a LiA, you’ll share your organizational skills, use one of your special talents (such as creating and demonstrating a science experiment or craft), teach Brownies something important from their Journey (such as making healthy snacks or getting exercise), and reflect on your experience. For more information about each LiA, network with the adult volunteers guiding Brownie groups in your Girl Scout community. Complete requirements can be found in their Brownie Leadership Journey adult guides.

*Cadettes can earn this award through Council programming or by working with a Brownie troop in the community.

Upcoming 2018 Training events:

March 9-10 – Leadership in Action LiA

 

Cadette Program Aide (PA) (must be currently enrolled in 6th grade)

To earn a Cadette Program Aide award, follow these steps:

  1. Earn one LiA award.
  2. Complete council-designed leadership course training. Part of your leadership course training will involve learning to work with children, and gaining a deeper understanding of a specialty such as science, art, the outdoors, or adapting activities for girls with disabilities.
  3. After completing PA Training work directly with younger girls over six activity sessions. This might be assisting girls on Journey activities (in addition to what you did for your LiA), badge activities, or other sessions. You might work with a group, at their meetings, at a day camp, or during a special council event.

Upcoming 2018 Training events:

April 14- Elements- Leadership Training Program Aide RSVP by April 2nd

Outdoor

Girl Scout Camp Open House

Enjoy one of our Summer Camp Open Houses with the entire family! Visit camp and get to know the staff: come on down to one of our 3 open houses.

Take a tour of our sleeping and activity areas. Learn about the different activities that girls will explore this summer. Sit down with our staff, over a plate of cookies and cups of “bug juice”– our campers’ favorite treat – and get answers to your questions, bring up any concerns, and get excited for summer fun.

The first 10 girls that bring a friend and register for camp together at one of our open houses will be entered into a special drawing! Prizes will vary each week and each girl can only win once.

*This event is free but advanced registration is required.

March 6: River Point Open House

March 13: Mah Kah Wee Camp Open House

April 5: Celia Lane Open House