Vestavia Hills Troops Spook Up Ronald McDonald House

Vestavia Hills Junior Troop 27 and Cadette Troop 145 spent Saturday morning decorating the Ronald McDonald House for halloween. Twelve girls, two siblings, and plenty of moms dressed up the house in black cats, pumpkins, witches hats and brooms. Afterwards, they enjoyed a picnic lunch and hula hooping at Birmingham's new Railroad Park.

The volunteer opportunity was made possible by Hands On Birmingham. They're a GREAT resource for finding local community service projects!

The Ronald McDonald House says they're always looking for groups to come in and help. Opportunities includes:

* making dinner for residents
* decorating for the holidays
* hosting a special event (i.e. ice cream social, game night, etc)

According to Inez (weekend supervisor and tour host extraordinaire!), "The only limit is your imagination! We love to have people come down and volunteer!"

Weekly Council Update

Lots of interesting things in this week's update including:

* a cool new opportunity for high school girls

* a call for National Convention delegates

and

* program updates.

Check it all out here.

Spotlight on Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient

Let's take a good look at some recent Girl Scout Gold Award stories! As everyone in Girl Scout world knows, The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout 14-18 may earn - and is a huge accomplishment.

In North Carolina, The Garner Citizen reports that Amanda Rose Lazaro received the Girl Scout Gold Award by the Girl Scouts-North Carolina Coastal Pines for creating a program to help preschool children with vocabulary and word recognition. Also in North Carolina, Wilmington's Star News reports that for her Gold Award project, Whitney Michelle Adams designed and made storytelling mitts for all kindergarten classes at Anderson Elementary School. The mitts provide a visual and tactile tool for each of the students while being engaged in literary activities. Raleigh's News Observer reports on April Anya Grossi who led three workshops on mandalas -circular art projects designed to help students reduce stress. Students also learned about coping with stress in a safe manner and created a group mandala. The News Observer also reported on Carolyn Marie Caggia, who hosted a booth at the Museum of Natural Science's Reptile and Amphibian Day to raise awareness of endangered sea turtles. Visitors to her booth stamped a scroll to ban gillnet fishing that she later presented to several state legislators.

Further north in New Jersey, The West Milford Messenger reports that Kayla Vanderbeek's project was the improvement of a well-used trail that leads students to high school baseball and hockey fields. Vanderbeek’s sister is on the field hockey team and her grandfather, who is disabled and in a wheel chair, could not make it down the trail to see his granddaughter’s games. Soon he, and others in similar situations, will be happily attending games.

In Eden Prairie, MN, Eden Prairie News reports that The Eden Prairie service units of Prairie Star and Prairie Sun of the Girls Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys recognized several girls who earned their Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scout Silver Award, Girl Scout Bronze Award and Diamond Troop Award this past program year. Gold Award winners this year include Miranda Anderson, Monica Nicholls, Cassie Norby, Simone Turner. Meanwhile Sarah Busse, Krista Anderson, Amy Cornish and Michele Knudsen have all begun their Gold Award Project this summer!

Last but not least, California's North County Times reports that as Hannah Gingrich was thinking of a way to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award - she looked to her younger sister, Elyse, who has Down syndrome, for inspiration. The Wildomar teen organized a winter formal dance for special-needs high school students in her area. She worked to find a venue and deejay for the event, secure donations for food and decorations, and round up volunteers to chaperon. It took more than 100 hours to put the dance together.

Kudos to all of these amazing and inspirational girls! Let's make sure the world knows the importance of The Girl Scout Gold Award and the impact Girl Scouts have on their communities.

Coca-Cola Foundation Donates $1M to Girl Scouts

This week Girl Scouts USA announced that it has received a $1 million grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, a global foundation established in 1984 and funded by The Coca-Cola Company.

The bulk of the grant will help support healthy living programs with a portion of the grant going towards engaging Girl Scout alumnae as the organization prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2012.

Girl Scouts in The New York Times: Trying to Shed the Campfire Image

In August, the New York Times ran a story highlighting all of the changes going on in Girl Scouting. From the re-brand to new programming intended to bolster girls’ self-esteem and decision-making, the article covers quite a bit - definitely check it out.

Bringing Music for the Gold

California's Thousand Oaks Acorn has a story about Girl Scout Erica Williams, who is bringing her love of music to low income children as part of her quest for a Girl Scout Gold award. The high school senior-to-be knows she would not be the person she is if she hadn’t participated in music programs since elementary school. The article points out the money needed to fund such extracurricular activities is increasingly scarce, denying the next generation of students the same opportunities she enjoyed.

Fulfilling a project that’s been two years in the making, Williams has brought together three local nonprofit agencies to teach music to kids from lower-income families in Thousand Oaks.

Are there any Bronze/Silver/Gold Award projects you would like to share?


(via blog.girlscouts.org)

Girl Scouts With Guitars

In August, Daisy Rock Girl Guitars - the original girl guitar company - presented a girl guitar day to Girl Scouts during the week long Musicpalooza camp held at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA.

The girl guitar day began in the Daisy Rock Girl Guitar museum exhibit with Daisy Rock Founder and President, Tish Ciravolo, showing the Girl Scouts her signature Daisy electric guitar that was inducted in 2006 as a landmark, culture-changing music product innovation. The campers learned about what makes the guitar a “girl guitar” - the “Slim & Narrow” neck that fits girls hands and is easier to play, the lightweight design that makes the guitar easier for girls to hold and play, and colorful inspiring designs. Campers then gathered around tables to draw their very own girl guitars. Sounds totally awesome to me!

More awesome is the evidence illustrating the positive effects children can gain from participating in music oriented programs. In an analysis of U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students, researchers found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12." This observation holds regardless of students' socio-economic status, and differences in those who are involved with instrumental music vs. those who are not is more significant over time. For an in depth compilation of music related data, check out this run-down provided by The Children's Music Wokshop.


(via blog.girlscouts.org)

Building Homes with Cookie Cash

The Long Island Herald has a fantastic and extensive article about Valley Stream Girl Scout Troop 2053, who recently spent a week working for Habitat for Humanity in Salem, N.J. After years together as a troop, the girls decided that they wanted to do something meaningful as a group before they went their separate ways, and with everyone entering either college, or senior year of high school, this would be their last chance. They decided that after years of cookie sales, they wanted to do something with their money that would introduce them to a new experience while helping those in need at the same time.

The article relates that Habitat for Humanity was the obvious choice as it offered a great life experience as well as important lessons in home improvement, and gave the girls an opportunity to see their work materialized in the form of a house for a single mother of two young children. Definitely read the entire article!

Also, when I was reading this article and looking through the pictures, I was reminded of our new Brand Campaign - specifically the ad about building homes. Cool stuff indeed.

What did You do Today?

(via blog.girlscouts.org)

Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout!

Girl Scouts of the USA has recently launched an Alumnae Online Community. A fantastic resource for all Girl Scout Alumnae - it serves as a site for Alumnae to reconnect with and to rediscover Girl Scouting. Definitely check it out!

Since 1912, Girl Scouts has been dedicated to building girls of courage, character, and confidence who make the world a better place. In two years, 3.5 million active Girl Scouts and volunteers will join some 50 million Girl Scout alumnae in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting. This momentous occasion provides a unique opportunity for alumnae to reconnect with each other, discover what today’s Girl Scouts are doing as well as learn about our plans for the 100th Anniversary. We invite all adult Girl Scouts (18 years and older), including former Brownies, former and current volunteers, and former and current Girl Scout staff to register for the New Girl Scouts Alumnae Association; Online Alumnae Community. This is the place to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and learn about our plans for the 100th Anniversary.

(via blog.girlscouts.org)

Camp Coleman Horseback Riding Lessons

It is not too late to register!

Horseback riding lessons at Camp Coleman begin September 7. Lessons are available for children (ages 5 and up) and adults of all riding levels. Classes of 3-6 students meet weekly afterschool for 1 1/2 hours. Students are assigned to classes based on age and ability. Lessons cost $120/month plus a $25 registration fee.

Join the equestrian team at Camp Coleman and work toward becoming the next Champion Equestrian.

For more information and to register, go to http://girlscoutsnca.org/camps and click on the link to register for select programs for individuals.