Blog

Leadership

Girl Scout PSA Challenges Us To Lead Like a…

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

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

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

Ready to lead like a Girl Scout?

National

Get Girls Outdoors: A Beginner’s Guide

If you are just beginning to help girls get outdoors, we have some great tools to get started! The outdoors have always been a place where Girl Scouts naturally develop courage, confidence, and character. You’ll love watching them flourish in these girl-led experiences.

Girl Scouts have long been pioneers in encouraging outdoor exploration for girls, and we have never wavered in that tradition. Now, more than ever, girls need to spend time outside, but getting them there might be easier said than done.

If you’re struggling to introduce your girls to the outdoors, use this super-helpful Outdoor Progression Chart, developed by GSUSA, to slowly introduce these new experiences.

Our national girl experts have created three initial steps to take when introducing girls to the outdoors.

First, ensure that your outing is girl-led. This, of course, is the cornerstone of the entire Girl Scout experience, but it is especially important that girls can ask questions, lend ideas, and come up with a plan together.

Next, offer girls age-appropriate ways to engage in cooperative learning. The video above will point out that Daisies can plan which snacks to bring on a hike, while older girls can choose their destination and pack their own materials.

Finally, make sure that girls are learning by doing. There are so many opportunities during outdoor adventures for girls to take the lead, even if they make mistakes, such as preparing food, pitching tents, leading a hike, and reflecting on their trip.

For more tips and tricks, visit the GSUSA resource page.

Badges and Patches

Exclusive Girl Scout-Only Events for Older Girls

Have you ever been behind-the-scenes at the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye? No, you haven’t, because nobody is allowed! Until now…

This spring, it is a great time to be a Girl Scout – especially for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. A lineup of events just for you are truly exclusive experiences not available anywhere else. Take a look:

Ambassadors: Earn the Water Badge!

Nearly a dozen women working in the STEM field are lining up to talk to Ambassador Girl Scouts about their interests in STEM careers. Girls will visit Shingle Creek to see how a wastewater facility can impact the Everglades and beyond in a one-of-a-kind experience through the City of Orlando.

Saturday, March 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Registration ends March 1 or when event is full
City of Orlando Water Reclamation Facility
$5 per person
Ambassadors

Behind the Scenes at the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye

Not only will you ride the iconic 400-foot observation wheel, but Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (as well as tagalongs of the same age) will have an exclusive, Girl Scout-only behind the scenes tour. Learn the physics, engineering, and technology behind one of Orlando’s newest attractions.

Saturday, April 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Registeration ends March 20 or when event is full
I-Drive 360 Entertainment Complex
$25 per person
Seniors and Ambassadors

Not Your Mother’s Career Fair & Overnight at Holiday Inn Waterpark

Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors. Let’s get a handle on #adulting in a way that works for us. This is not your mother’s career fair. This is college + career + party. Meet with companies to discuss career. Talk to professionals from universities to discuss college. Then party all night with your friends with a laser maze, arcade games, 4D theater, and much more.

Saturday, April 22 from 10:30 a.m. to Sunday, April 23 at 6:00 a.m.
Registration ends April 14 or when event is full
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites and Waterpark
$15 – $70 per person
Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors

Academics

Gold Award Scholarship at Paul Smith’s College

Paul Smith’s College in New York is offering a $1000 scholarship for any Girl Scout who earned her Gold Award. The scholarship will renew every year and be offered in addition to other scholarships or grants offered by the college.

Paul Smith’s College, set in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, values the characteristics built by Girl Scouts who earn their Gold Award. The college has a strong focus in the environment and hands-on, student-led learning.

For more information on scholarship opportunities for Paul Smith’s College, please visit their website.

Outdoor

2017 Luv 2 Run 5K

Hosted by Girl Scout Troop 1957, register yourself or your team for a race that benefits the Girl Scouts of Citrus GIFTs for Girls program.

On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the Oviedo Mall, runners and enthusiasts from across Central Florida will run for their love of Girl Scout Cookies!

Participants will receive a t-shirt, finisher award, Girl Scout Cookies, and the chance to win more prizes.

Register now.

National

Girl Scout Cookie-Inspired Gum!

GSUSA has partnered with Project 7, an innovative specialty treats company that supports global causes in seven areas of interest, to manufacture and distribute Girl Scout Cookie-inspired, sugar-free gum and mints.

Project 7’s Girl Scout Cookie-inspired sugar-free gum (Thin Mints and Caramel Coconut flavors) and Thin Mints sugar-free mints will be available at all 1,800 Target stores nationwide the first week of January 2017, with other retailers expected to get on board throughout the spring.

Each package of gum and mints, as well as the display units, features Girl Scout recruitment messaging, sending our message to millions of consumers.

GSUSA earns royalty revenue from licensed products, which is invested in program innovation to improve the Girl Scout experience for all. Specifically, initiatives such as the Volunteer Toolkit are made possible through licensing revenue.

Project 7’s Girl Scouts Caramel Coconut and Thin Mints gum and Thin Mints mints contain no GMOs, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and are sweetened with xylitol and stevia.

National

World Thinking Day 2017: Let’s Grow!

On World Thinking Day, we rally with our global sisterhood to celebrate, connect, and inspire one another to be the best G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) we can possibly be.

When you’re a Girl Scout, you’re part of so much more than one troop, one community, one geography, and that’s part of what makes this journey so unique and so life-changing. Because when you’re a Girl Scout, you’re part of a very special, very expansive network of extraordinary girls and women that spans all the way across the world. And every single one is a force to be reckoned with. Whether she’s in the United States, Italy, Japan, or anywhere in between, one thing’s for sure. She’s a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ and she’s out to change the world—it’s in our DNA and it’s something to celebrate!

And celebrate we do—every year on February 22 Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 146 countries (yes, 146!) observe World Thinking Day (WTD) by rallying our global sisterhood around a particular theme, and supporting girls as they travel internationally by donating to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. It’s a fantastic way to connect with sister Girl Guides and take action globally. World Thinking Day gives us the chance to honor the incredible depth of our Movement across borders and oceans in a big way.

The 2017 World Thinking Day theme is “grow”—inspiring girls to explore, stretch, and take on new challenges, while celebrating what it means to be part of the global sisterhood that is Girl Scouts and Girl Guides.

Here are three ideas to get you geared up for your most impactful World Thinking Day yet. Remember, this year, it’s all about stepping out of those comfort zones and finding new and unexpected ways to grow, grow, grow. But hey. You’re a Girl Scout, so you’ve got this

Earn your 2017 World Thinking Day badge!

If you’re a Daisy, Brownie, or Junior, you can earn your 2017 World Thinking Day badge by growing in “shine” and friendship, or by taking action to address something that’s important to you, like making your very own badge or planting a “worldly” garden.

And if you’re a Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador, you can earn your award by growing in storytelling, adventure, service, self-awareness, and reflection, or by making your very own badge.

Get the full scoop and list of activities by grade level, and let’s get to growin‘ and earnin‘!

Make your environment bloom! Plant a tree as part of the 2017 World Thinking Day challenge.

As Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, building a better world through environmental stewardship has always been close to our hearts. This World Thinking Day gather your troop and your gardening supplies and get outside to plant a tree, or two, or three! Then snap some fun photos of the activity and post them to your social media with the hashtags #LetsGrow and #WTD2017. Let’s show the world how Girl Scouts are taking the lead to make the environment bloom! It will be fun to see how your fellow Girl Scouts around the world stepped up to the challenge.

Decide on three new things to try with your Girl Scout friends in 2017 and map out your plan of action!

At Girl Scouts, growing is all about trying new things, challenging yourself to embark on adventures, and learning from those experiences to create meaningful change in yourself and in the world.

What better way to celebrate World Thinking Day this year than to gather around with your Girl Scout friends and decide on three new things you will commit to trying together? Whether it’s getting involved in a service project you’ve never done before, visiting a park you’re not familiar with, taking a big trip, learning a new skill, or just challenging yourselves to try a sport you haven’t played yet—there’s so much to choose from.

Once you pick three things, spend some time mapping out a plan of action along with a timeline to make sure you try all three things before 2017 is over. Now, that’s a year full of growth to look forward to!

Have your own fun plans to celebrate World Thinking Day in 2017? Make sure to inspire your fellow Girl Scouts by sharing your plans on social media with the hashtag #WTD2017. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store!

This article originally appeared on blog.girlscouts.org. 

Uncategorized

Last Weekend – Reed Nissan has $500 for your…

Our incredible partners at Reed Nissan have a super-sweet offer to make your car-buying experience even more enjoyable!

If you’re in the market for a new or certified pre-owned vehicle, Reed Nissan will give $500 to the Girl Scout troop, program, or campaign of your choice! Share with friends and family to earn SERIOUS cash for your troop – just present this flyer at the time of purchase.

Academics

Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Essay Contest

Honor the Past. Create the Future.

Throughout history, African-Americans have been instrumental to the progress we’ve made together as a nation. In honor of their extraordinary achievements – and Black History Month – we’re proud to offer the Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Essay Contest. High School and College students can enter for an opportunity to win a $5,000 or $3,500 scholarship.

Who inspires you?

Is there a particular African-American who inspires you because of the significant achievements in our society that he or she has been responsible for?

Write about an African-American who has inspired and motivated you, and you could win a $5,000 or $3,500 scholarship. Your essay should, in 500 words or less:

  1. Address how an African-American has been an inspiration in your life
  2. Discuss the contributions of the African-American individual who has served to inspire and motivate you

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award, you must be either a high school senior or a college freshman, sophomore or junior and meet all of the following criteria.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS:

  • Be a legal U.S. resident of either Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas
  • Be age 13 or older
  • Be enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the states listed above
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Plan to attend an accredited college in the U.S. during the 2017-2018 academic school year

COLLEGE STUDENTS:

  • Either be a legal U.S. resident of one of the following states or a legal U.S. resident (of one of the 50 United States or D.C.) currently attending an accredited college located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas
  • Be age 16 or older
  • Be currently enrolled as a full-time college undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college in the U.S. and have least one year (or 18 credit hours) remaining before graduation
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Plan to attend an accredited college in the U.S. during the 2017-2018 academic school year

How to Enter

1. COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION
Click here to enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest between January 16, 2017, and February 28, 2017. Complete and save all requested information.

2. WRITE YOUR ESSAY
Choose the African-American you want to write about. It could be someone famous, a relative or a person you know. Just make sure the individual inspires and motivates you. For guidance, review the “How to Enter” instructions and the “Contest Judging Criteria” in sections 4 and 5 of the Official Rules, and be sure your essay is 500 words or less. You can write your essay directly in the application or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.

3. REVIEW AND SUBMIT
Review your information, check your essay for spelling and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on February 28, 2017.

4. AWAIT NOTIFICATION
Winning essays are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. Students with winning essays will be notified by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS) in April or May 2017. If your essay is selected, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information. Scholarship checks will be awarded by July 31, 2017.

Academics

NASA Recognizes Girl Scout Gold Award

NASA will congratulate Girl Scouts earning the Gold Award with a certificate of recognition!

Girl Scouts who have earned the prestigious Gold Award have the opportunity to receive personal recognition from NASA.

To request a certificate of recognition, one of her many Girl Scout Champions (Troop Leader, mentor, parent/guardian) can apply online or via mail, providing:

  • Full name of the award recipient
  • Full name and mailing address of the requester

Mail your request to:
Public Communications Office
Suite 5K39
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546-0001

For more information, visit NASA’s website.