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!

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!

Academics

Prepare for Kindergarten – Raising Awesome Girls

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

8 Steps to a Confident Kindergartener

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Academics

STEM Scholarship Essay by 5/31

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

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

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

AWARD

$1000 Scholarship

SYNOPSIS 

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

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

The STEM disciplines supported by the STEM program include:

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

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

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

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the $1000 award:

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

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

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

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

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

Academics

Let’s talk about report cards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Academics

STEM Mentorship Opportunity for Young Alumnae

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Academics

Girl Scout Graduation Regalia

Are you graduating? Congratulations! Wear your Girl Scout accomplishments with pride! Pre-order your Girl Scout Graduation Regalia now to sport Girl Scout green in the best way possible!

Items include:

  • Stole with Embroidered Profile: $25.00
  • Cord with Profiles Charm: $22.00
  • Tassel with Profiles Charm: $10.00
  • To order, contact us at the Council Shop!

Girl Scouts of Citrus Shop
341 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, Fl. 32803
407-895-7467
shop@citrus-gs.org

Academics

A Thank-You Message: Not Your Mother’s Career Fair

The inaugural Not Your Mother’s Career Fair was a smashing success, welcoming over 200 Girl Scouts and their champions to the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites Waterpark Hotel.

Dozens of community partners and vendors introduced girls to career opportunities, internships, summer job positions, and options for college. To no ones surprise, girls from Citrus Council were impressively prepared and professional 🙂

A huge THANK YOU is due to the all community partners and vendors, especially our presenters who offered engaging workshops for girls and adults.

CiCis Pizza
City of Orlando Wastewater Division
City Year
Gypset
Junior Achievement
Orange County Public Schools
Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Orlando Health
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology
The DAVE School
The Wandering Wonton
Visit Florida
Women in Aviation – The Heart of Florida Chapter
WonderWorks

Here’s to the 2nd Annual in 2018!

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.

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.