National

Girl Scout Membership Increase to $25

Beginning in membership year 2018, the price of a Girl Scout membership will increase from $15 per person to $25 per person. The price increase will go into effect during Early Bird Re-Registration on April 1, 2017 for all 2018 membership purchases.

GSUSA has announced that the price of a Girl Scout membership will increase to $25 per person beginning in the 2018 membership year. 100% of all membership dues directly support Girl Scouts of the USA, covering fundamental services such as:

  • accident insurance for members participating in approved Girl Scout activities
  • program development and research
  • technology and digital innovation
  • protection of the Girl Scout brand
  • service to councils

Girl Scouts of Citrus is committed to ensuring that all girls are able to participate in Girl Scouts, regardless of financial means. Thanks to the consistent, ongoing participation of our donors, members, and community partners, the GIFTs for Girls program is able to provide financial assistance to those in need.

[UPDATED 3/10/2017] At this time, Girl Scouts of Citrus does not have any information on the potential price increase for Lifetime Memberships. When we do, we’ll let you know here. It is, however, always a good time to turn your annual membership into a lifetime membership! Graduating Girl Scouts will receive a discounted rate at $195 beginning on April 1, 2017. Applications must be submitted to CustomerCare@citrus-gs.org or mailed to the address below by September 15, 2017!

Take a look at the national announcement for more information and feel free to contact Customer Care at customercare@citrus-gs.org with questions.

 

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.

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. 

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.

Academics

STEM-Related Gold Award Scholarship!

Provided by the Arconic Foundation (formerly Alcoa Foundation), the Chuck McLane Scholarship is a $10,000 college scholarship awarded to two Girl Scout Gold Award recipients whose projects involved science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM).

In June of 2013, GSUSA announced the five year Chuck McLane Scholarship available for Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients. The scholarship program awards a $10,000 college scholarship to two (2) recipients each year, up to a total of ten (10) recipients by 2017. Meet the eight scholarship recipients awarded to date. 

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Girl Scout Gold Award recipients who completed a STEM Take Action Project (project
    involves a STEM field – Science, Technology, Engineering or Math)
  • Recipients who will attend an accredited four year college or university as a freshman beginning in the fall 2017 to pursue and complete studies in a STEM-related field. (At time of submission, applicants may not be enrolled in college yet but will have to confirm enrollment before scholarship can be awarded.)

The parameters and structures of the scholarship include:

  • Scholarships are awarded to Gold Award recipients with an innovative, sustainable
    STEM-related Take Action Project that has significant impact on a community.
  • Strong focus on girls from diverse and underrepresented communities.
  • Recipients must be enrolled in an accredited four year college, beginning their freshman
    year in the fall of 2017, and complete their studies in a STEM-field. (Recipients will be
    required to submit transcripts after their sophomore year showing they are pursuing
    studies in a STEM-related field and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0.)
  • Distribution of payments will be as follows: Recipients will receive the first $5,000 for
    their freshman fall semester followed by the second $5,000 for her fall junior year.
  • Scholarship funds may be used exclusively to defray educational costs such as tuition,
    fees, books, and supplies, as well as room and board in a college dormitory.

Application process:

  • Review the scholarship application to eligible Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients.
  • Girls should submit completed applications to their council by February 13, 2017
  • Girl Scouts of Citrus will review the girls’ applications and select up to two nominees utilizing the scholarship parameters.
  • Applications should be submitted as a Word document and the file name should include “First Name_ Last Name_Council Name_2017 Alcoa Scholarship.” A panel of corporate and community leaders will assist GSUSA in choosing two scholarship recipients from the pool of nominees.
  • Councils and applicants will be notified by May 8, 2017.
National

The nation’s largest G.I.R.L. party is coming!

You’re invited to the largest gathering of girls and women in the world—G.I.R.L. 2017!

What an exciting time to be a G.I.R.L.! This October, join us for G.I.R.L. 2017, an one-of-a-kind event for every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ who wants to stand up, take charge and make the world a better place.

You don’t need to be an official delegate to attend. Whether you’re an alumna, volunteer, staff, or just a big believer in all the amazing things Girl Scouts do, you’re invited to G.I.R.L. 2017! 

[UPDATE 3/15/17] Registration is OPEN for the 2017 National Convention! Make a plan with your Girl Scout crew to join us in Columbus, Ohio for a HUGE girl party!

We’re so looking forward to welcoming you to Columbus, Ohio, October 6–8, 2017. You won’t want to miss out on the events, incredible speakers and entertainers, influencers,leaders and policy makers from across the country and around the world who are joining us to celebrate and advocate on behalf of girls and women.

This is an extraordinary opportunity not to be missed. So don’t wait!

This is your year to reunite with friends, deepen and share your knowledge of Girl Scouts, and help invigorate a global movement of girls, women and men around the theme, “Experience the Power of a G.I.R.L.”Don’t delay!

Learn more at www.girlscouts.org/girl2017

National

Invite a Friend to Start a Troop

You’re a Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader. You live for the sound of the Girl Scout Promise recited in unison on Tuesday nights. Your email inbox is full of coupons from Michaels and notes from troop parents. January – March is reserved for one thing, and one thing only: Cookie Time.

So share the fun! Nominate a parent in your troop or a friend (from outside your Girl Scout circle) to start a new Girl Scout troop and you’ll BOTH earn awesome gifts!

Invite your friend to volunteer, and once they’ve formed a Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, or Junior troop…

  • You get $50 to spend at Girl Scouts’ official online store—sweet!
  • Your friend gets awesome resources (a $50 value!) to help them get their troop up and running—so cool!
  • Plus, when you double the friends, you double your prize…
    $100 for you and a Volunteer Resource Pack for each friend—awesome.

The best part? A toss up between having another friend to help with hauls from the Girl Scout shop or knowing you just made a great match between girls eager to start their adventure and an awesome role model. #winning

Claim your prize

Once your friend joins as a Girl Scout and starts a new troop, you’re ready to redeem your reward. 

Offer ends December 15, 2016 January 31, 2017.
Please review official Terms and Conditions