Gold Award Spotlight: Skills and Drills

Girl Scout Ambassador Poppy from Poquoson has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting. For her project, Poppy organized a seven-week basketball skills and drills camp that she hosted for 74 students at Sanford Elementary School in Newport News. She chose to run a camp at Sanford because the school has very few afterschool activities, and she wanted to provide an outlet for children to release stress, learn, play and be active.

During the camp, Poppy and a team of volunteers that she organized, taught the children basketball skills, including dribbling, passing and shooting. They also played games to help work on their skills and ended the camp with a basketball game tournament.

“Playing sports has given me amazing opportunities and made me the confident person I am today,” Poppy said. “I wanted to share my love for sports and make all the kids who participated feel how amazing it is to be a part of a team.”

After the camp, Poppy donated the basketballs that she purchased for the camp to Sanford Elementary Schools so that the students would continue to have access to them. She also gave her lesson plans for the camp to the physical education teacher at Sanford so that she can continue to help the students develop basketball skills.

The Gold Award requires girls to identify an issue in their community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. Nationwide, less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, which adds Poppy to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

Science Comes Alive for Girl Scouts

Building telescopes, discovering the world of nanotechnology and programming robots were just a few of the activities on the agenda for over 200 Girl Scouts on September 27 during the fourth annual Science Alive, an event hosted by Norfolk State University to introduce girls to the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Girl Scout Cadette Emily tests out the
telescope that she built.

During the full-day event, faculty and students at Norfolk State University led sessions that covered a wide range of topics in the STEM fields, including biology, geometry, atmospheric science and nursing. Girl Scouts made tornados in a bottle while learning about atmospheric pressure, put together snap circuits for a lesson in electronics and engineering and looked at shells, barnacles and a jellyfish under the microscope during a biology session.

Girl Scouts, along with the Norfolk State University volunteers, also participated in a traditional lunchtime dance party, and the girls had the chance to talk to the students about college life. While the Girl Scouts were experimenting, parents had the opportunity to participate in workshops about preparing for college and receive training to facilitate Techbridge, a STEM kit that volunteers can use to introduce girls to a variety of topics in science and engineering.

Dr. Morsi from Norfolk State University helps
Girl Scout Junior Anna get started with snap circuits.

Science Alive is designed to give girls the chance to explore and discover in STEM in the supportive, all-girl environment of Girl Scouts, where girls feel more comfortable asking questions and trying new things. Today, women hold only about 25 percent of STEM careers, and Girl Scouts are working to fill the gap by engaging girls in opportunities to learn from female STEM leaders, who inspire girls to envision themselves in similar careers. Science Alive is a fun and informal way for girls to work as part of a team to become resourceful problem solvers and build leadership skills.

Girl Scouts is committed to giving all girls the opportunity to participate in STEM experiences. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the local chapter of the Society of Women Engineers will be presenting workshop for girls in fourth and fifth grade on Saturday, November 1 at Old Dominion University. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast is also partnering with the Virginia Living Museum to host an evening of science and exploration on Saturday, December 6 at the museum for girls from kindergarten through 12th grade. These STEM opportunities are open to all girls, whether or not they are currently registered as a member of Girl Scouts.

View more photos from the day here.

Virginia Beach Woman Recognized for 65 Years as a Girl Scout

Lila Davis was 8 years old when she first joined a Girl Scout troop in Virginia Beach. She has fond memories from her childhood as a Girl Scout— earning badges, spending time in the outdoors and forming friendships with her fellow troop members. Now, 65 years later and a lifetime member of the organization, Davis continues to be an active volunteer and supporter of Girl Scouts. On September 24, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast hosted a reception for Davis at Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, where they pinned her with a 65 year pin and recognized her as a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society for her commitment to the future of Girl Scouts through planned giving.

GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller pins Lila Davis to recognize
her 65 years in Girl Scouts

During the reception, Davis had the opportunity to share some of her favorite memories from her time as a Girl Scout. She told a story about traveling by train to Michigan in 1956 as one of eight local girls who were chosen to attend the first Girl Scout Senior Roundup, an international gathering to show off the best of Girl Scouting. Davis had such a wonderful experience that three years later, she traveled to Colorado Springs for the second Roundup as a troop leader.

The spirit of Roundup is something that has stayed with Davis throughout her life, and she has had the opportunity to reconnect with other Roundup attendees at reunions over the years. Next September, she plans to attend the reunion in Idaho.

Currently, Davis is an active member of the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Archives Committee, where she has taken on the responsibility of helping create and place many historical exhibits throughout southeastern Virginia. She is also a member of the local Girl Scout Sing Along group. Earlier in the year, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast recognized Davis with the Dorothy Barber Lifetime Achievement Award for her success in her personal and professional life, as well as her contributions to the community and Girl Scouts.

Lila shared her special day with Girl Scout friends.

At the reception, Davis invited her friends to share their own memories from their experiences in Girl Scouting. Some of the favorite memories that women shared were from their times at Girl Scout camp, both as campers and counselors. Guests also enjoyed refreshments and fellowship, as well as the chance to browse items from the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast archive collection relating to the Girl Scout Senior Roundups.

View more photos from the reception here.

The State of Girls: Unfinished Business Forum

Although girls in the United States have made substantial progress in the classroom and elsewhere, persistent disparities and challenges exist that could keep girls from achieving their full potential. On Tuesday, September 23, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and Women’s Center at Old Dominion University hosted a forum, The State of Girls: Unfinished Business, to discuss a groundbreaking report released by the Girl Scout Research Institute that stakes out key issues and major trends affecting girls’ leadership and healthy development in the United States today.

Speakers at the forum included La Wanza Lett-Brewington, director of the ODU Women’s Center; Lynn Waltz, MFA, director of ODU Peninsula Center and Theveline Felix, ODU senior communications student. Barbara Hamm Lee, host of Another View on WHRV, served as the moderator for the forum and led engaging discussions about education, media and leadership.

Throughout the evening, panelists spoke to the importance of having programs in place to give girls and women the opportunity to take on leadership roles. They also talked about the importance of helping women realize that caring for children and taking care of a home are management skills that can translate into the workforce.

“Many girls in college are apprehensive to look for leadership,” Lett-Brewington said. “We need to redefine leadership so that women know they’re capable and experienced in managerial roles.”

These thoughts parallel findings from the Girl Scout Research Institute that for most girls, self-confidence is the factor that most strongly influences their desire to actively pursue leadership roles. In fact, researchers found that while 92 percent of girls say that anyone can acquire the skills of leadership, only 21 percent believe that they currently have most of these key qualities.

Panelists also spoke about the importance of education and how poverty can directly affect a child’s access to education. Waltz shared that children in poverty have a dropout rate seven times the rate of children who come from financially stable homes. The Girl Scout Research Institute reports that for girls, completing high school is essential for their success later in life, as having a high school degree leads to better job opportunities, higher earnings and increased access to health insurance.

“Engagement is the best indicator of success,” Waltz said. “We need to find ways to engage young people in their education.”

Other topics the panelists talked about included the issue of wage disparities between genders, the role of the media in reinforcing traditional gender roles, the benefits of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education for girls and ways to mentor girls to help them understand opportunities for them in education and the workforce.

A report similar to The State of Girls: Unfinished Business has never been conducted, making it a much-needed resource in the field for educators and advocates. Through the forum, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and Women’s Center at Old Dominion University were able to increase awareness about the need to create policies and programs that will address issues that impact girls today and in the future.

View more photos from the event here.

Girl Scout Earns Silver Award for Hosting Integrated Dance Festival

Girl Scout Jaya from Kill Devil Hills has earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting.

For her project, Jaya organized and hosted the Dare County Integrated Dance Festival at the Dare County Arts Council. Integrated dance incorporates people of all ages, with and without disabilities, who perform as a group. Jaya planned this event because she wanted to raise awareness in the community about integrated dance and help dissolve stereotypes about disabilities.

For the festival, Jaya organized performers and dances from her church’s dance ministry, Liberty Christian Fellowship, and the Monarch Beach Club, a day program that provides support, services and activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also choreographed and performed a dance at the festival with her sister, as well as prepared and performed solo pieces. In addition to the dances, Jaya gave a speech that she wrote about dancing and disabilities, and hosted a question and answer session with the audience. At the end of the festival, Jaya welcomed members of the audience on stage for them to try integrated dance for themselves. Additionally, Jaya created an informational brochure about integrated dance that she distributed at the festival.

Jaya also scheduled community partners, including the Outer Banks Family YMCA and the Monarch Beach Club, to set up tables at the festival to share their mission with those who attended the festival.

“I think that my dance festival really had an impact on people,” Jaya said. “I was so happy that everything went so well, and everyone had a good time.”

After the festival, Jaya created an online scrapbook, a public service announcement and a blog about integrated dance in order to further educate people about the subject. Jaya continues to update her blog so that followers can stay updated about recent news on integrated dance.

To earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, girls must identify an issue in their community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award that can be earned by Girl Scouts in middle school.

Virginia Beach Girl Scout Troop Participates in Day to Serve

In Girl Scouts, girls are always looking for ways to make the world a better place. On Sunday, September 14, members of Girl Scout Troop 924 from Virginia Beach spent the day participating in an International Coastal Clean-up at Little Island Park, located in the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach. Not only did the girls pick up trash and litter to clean the beach, but they also recorded everything that they found in order to submit it to a data summary that is used by an international organization for conservation research.

Alexandria, Eliza, Natalia, Journey and Kelsie from Troop 924
helped clean the beach as a Day to Serve community service project.

The members of Troop 924 chose to do this community service project as part of Day to Serve, an effort across Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington D.C. during the month of September to promote volunteerism. Day to Serve is an annual event intended to break down barriers, build friendships, unite people and make a positive impact on the community. Find a volunteer opportunity near you on this interactive map, or add your own community service project here. 

To submit your Day to Serve project, send an email to marcomm@gsccc.org. 

Day of Caring at Camp Skimino

On Friday, September 19, over 25 staff members from Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center gave a helping hand to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast as part of Day of Caring, sponsored by the United Way of Greater Williamsburg. Volunteers spent the day at Camp Skimino, a nearly 100 acre Girl Scout camp in Williamsburg used year-round by Girl Scouts and other community organizations. 

During the day, the volunteers split into two groups to work on improvement projects at the camp. One group volunteers put a fresh coat of paint on the Health Lodge, as well as the porch and ramp leading to the lodge. They also replaced a window and water-damaged wood on the building. The second group painted a lodge used by Girl Scouts for camping and special events. 

The annual United Way Day of Caring was established to promote volunteerism, as well as to raise awareness about organizations that are making a difference in the community. Each year, hundreds of volunteers from the business sector participate in Day of Caring and give service to nonprofit organizations to show how people working as part of a team for the common good can do great things and make a positive impact on the community.

With updated camp facilities, Girl Scouts will be able to provide an improved experience at Girl Scout camp, which provides a safe, all-girl environment where girls learn new skills, build confidence and try new things. Day of Caring was a fun-filled day of hard work, as volunteers from across the Greater Williamsburg area gave their time and energy to help build and strengthen the community.

View more photos from the day here.

Gold Award Spotlight: Sports Safety

Girl Scout Ambassador Margaret from Chesapeake has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting. For her project, Margaret focused on the increased number of sports-related injuries among young athletes. In order to educate the public about this issue, as well as help prevent future injuries, Margaret hosted three workshops at two Chesapeake Montessori schools and held clinics at local sports tournaments at Virginia Wesleyan College. She also created an interactive presentation about the issue that she presented at the Greenbrier YMCA’s Healthy Kids Expo. Through these events, she was able to reach a wide variety of people and spread the word about preventing and recognizing sports injuries.

“I chose this project because I have aspirations to become a physical or occupational therapist where I would encounter many sports-related injuries that are similar to the ones I researched during my project,” Margaret said.

Margaret also created brochures that include statistics, facts and tips on sports injury prevention and recognition, which she placed at the Chesapeake Central Library and the Great Bridge Recreation Center to reach even more members of the community.

The Gold Award requires girls to identify an issue in their community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. Nationwide, less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, which adds Margaret to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

Day of Caring at A Place for Girls

Eight volunteers from TowneBank gave a helping hand to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast as part of Day of Caring, sponsored by United Way of South Hampton Roads. Organizations across the region are benefitted from this special day, held on Friday, September 12.

Volunteers spent the day at A Place for Girls, the headquarters and program center for the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast located in Chesapeake. They put a fresh coat of paint on one of the picnic pavilions in The Outback, a nearly 9 acre nature area situated behind A Place for Girls. The pavilions are used by both Girl Scout members and visitors all year long as they enjoy the boardwalk that meanders through the tidal wetlands, a health and fitness trail, two boat docks for canoeing and kayaking on Bells Mill Creek and a 50 foot observation tower.

Barbara Tierney and Dee Kloskin

Among the volunteers was Barbara Tierney, retired senior vice president at TowneBank and Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast board member. This is the second year in a row that she and a team from TowneBank have worked with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast for Day of Caring.

“I was a Girl Scout when I was growing up, and it certainly enhanced my life.” Tierney said. “It’s amazing to see the great things that girls are doing today, and I am glad that we can help make a difference for Girl Scouts.”

The annual United Way Day of Caring was established to promote volunteerism, as well as to raise awareness about organizations that are making a difference in the community. Each year, hundreds of volunteers from the business sector participate in Day of Caring and give service to non-profit organizations.

Thank you to all of the volunteers from TowneBank for making a difference at Girl Scouts!

Guest Blogger: Girl Scout Cadette Sianna

This blog post was written by Girl Scout Cadette Sianna from Norfolk.

My name is Sianna  and I am a first year Girl Scout Cadette. I went to Fort Monroe in August because I was doing a photo shoot, representing Girl Scouts and helping launch the Junior Ranger Program for kids.

Fort Monroe is in Hampton, Virginia, and it’s completely FREE! Now if you go to the museum, you don't have to go through security and the museum is lots of fun. It’s an amazing place to visit, and I learned lots of facts while I was there. For example, the Junior Ranger mascot is a cartoon version of a real dog that helped out at the base. I also got to walk into the real cell that Jefferson Davis was imprisoned in for about four months.

Sianna was sworn in as a Junior Ranger at Fort Monroe by
Kirsten Talken-Spaulding, who is superintendent of
Fort Monroe National Monument and a Girl Scout alumna.

The Junior Ranger Program is meant for kids ages 5-12 but you don't have to be a kid, lots of adults do it too (they are called “Not So Junior Rangers”). All you have to do to complete it is pick up the book from the Visitor Center, finish the book, (you have to do most of the book if you're over 8, and less if you're younger) then one of the rangers will swear you in as a Junior Ranger, and you get a pin.

I went out West this Spring and did the Junior Ranger program and collected badges and patches from seven national parks. You can collect park stamps by going to the visitor center and you will get a stamp for that park. My favorite park was the Grand Canyon, because I went there when I was 3, and it brought back memories from when I was little. While I was there I got sworn in as a Junior Ranger for the Grand Canyon.

I hope you all go to Fort Monroe and enjoy all they have to offer.

Gold Award Spotlight: Merry Melodies

Girl Scout Ambassador Mary Elysse from Moyock has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting. For her project, Mary Elysse developed a program to bring weekly live music performances to the Currituck House, a senior living facility in Moyock. Mary Elysse used her talents for singing and playing ukulele and guitar to entertain the residents at the Currituck House. She also invited guests, including the female quartet from her church, to perform along with her once in a while. During each performance, Mary Elysse engaged the residents in a variety of songs, ranging from hymns to show tunes.

“I have always loved music and my grandfather was my first music teacher,” Mary Elysse said. “He was a resident of the Currituck House during the last summer of his life and he always said he wished there was live music to enjoy, so I decided to do my Gold Award project in his memory.”

Her favorite part of the project was having the opportunity to get to know some of the residents at the Currituck House. She got to learn about their fascinating lives and saw firsthand how music reaches people in a way that words cannot.

After nearly a year of running the live music program, Mary Elysse shared her project with her fellow members of the chorus at Currituck County High School and the students are going to help continue the project after Mary Elysse graduates.

The Gold Award requires girls to identify an issue in their community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. Nationwide, less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, which adds Mary Elysse to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

Tidewater Community College Students Lend a Helping Hand to Girl Scouts

On Saturday, August 16, more than 15 students from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus gave a helping hand to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast as part of the Society’s Day of Community Service. The volunteers spent the morning at A Place for Girls the headquarters and program center for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast located in Chesapeake.

The group of students added a fresh coat of paint to one of the picnic pavilions in The Outback, a nearly 9 acre nature area situated behind A Place for Girls. The pavilions are used by both Girl Scout members and visitors all year long as they enjoy hiking the trails, climbing the outlook tower, canoeing on Bells Mill Creek, picnicking and more.

Phi Theta Kappa provides opportunities for the development of leadership and service for college students. Members of the Alpha Zeta Lambda chapter at Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus have been making a difference in the local community for over 30 years.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast relies on volunteers all year long to not only serve as mentors and guides for nearly 15,000 girls across the region, but also to help maintain camp properties and program facilities. If you are part of an organization that would be interested in partnering with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, please call 757-547-4405.

Hampton Girl Scouts Meet with Senator Tim Kaine

Last month, seven Girl Scouts from Hampton had the opportunity to meet with Senator Tim Kaine while he was in Norfolk for a senatorial forum. The Girl Scouts organized this meeting in order to inform Senator Kaine about the organization’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for girls to explore and discover in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.

GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller presented Senator Kaine with the
Council's STEM patch.

During their meeting, the Girl Scouts presented Senator Kaine with the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast STEM patch, which was created in honor of Dr. Sandra DeLoatch, when she was served as the dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Norfolk State University. The patch is just one of the ways that Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast creates oopportunities for girls to explore their interests in STEM.

Senator Kaine then sat down with the girls to hear about how being a part of Girl Scouts has not only given them opportunities to participate in STEM activities, but to do so in a supportive and encouraging environment.

“At school, I really became interested in science and engineering, and I've had even more opportunities to learn about science through Girl Scouts,” Girl Scout Senior Ashleigh told Senator Kaine. “Last year got to go to Science Alive with Girl Scouts at Norfolk State University, and my favorite part of the day was making ice cream with liquid nitrogen.”

Members of Girl Scout Troops 1289 and 1361 from Hampton
with Senator Kaine and GSCC CEO Tracy Keller.

After hearing from each of the girls, Senator Kaine shared his support of STEM education and talked about his belief in the value of career and technical education, as well as the importance of higher education being affordable. He also shared his recognition of the challenges that women face in joining the workforce, and he talked to each girl about her future aspirations. The girls, whose interests range from becoming an architect to a geneticist, each shared what interests them most.

The Girl Scout Research Institute has found that girls are overwhelmingly interested in STEM, but, despite women making great strides in education over the last 50 years, they continue to be underrepresented in the STEM fields. Girls need more exposure and better education about what STEM careers are and what they can offer. As the premier leadership organization for girls, Girl Scouts given a variety of ways to participate in hands-on STEM learning all year long.

This fall, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast has numerous STEM events planned for girls, including Society of Women Engineers Day on November 1 at Old Dominion University and Think Like a Scientist on December 6 at the Virginia Living Museum. All Girl Scout events are open to all girls, whether or not they are currently registered members of the organization.

Elizabeth City Girl Scout Troop Takes Action to Make a Difference

When it comes to the members of Girl Scout Troop 1624 in Elizabeth City, they’re all about taking action. The 15 members of the troop, many of whom are starting their second year in Girl Scouts this year, meet on a weekly basis to plan and take part in fun and meaningful activities. Though many of the troop members are still in elementary school, they have already learned about how they can make a positive impact on their community.

In April, when strong storms brought tornadoes through northeastern North Carolina, Troop 1624 partnered with Chick-fil-a to deliver sandwiches and water to families in neighborhoods affected by the storms. The Girl Scouts, along with other volunteers in the community, handed out 1,500 cases of water and 5,000 sandwiches to local residents in the days following the storm. The volunteer leader of the troop, Diane Siniard, is always looking for ways that girls can help out in the community and learned about this project on social media.

Diane with troop members Samantha, Marlie and Brianna
during Operation School Supplies.

Most recently, members of the troop helped collect school supplies through WAVY-TV’s annual campaign to help ensure that children in the region have the resources that they need for a successful start to the school year. The girls spent a day helping to “stuff the bus” for Operation School Supplies, collecting and sorting donations of notebooks, glue, scissors, pencils and more outside of a Chesapeake Farm Fresh.

“Community service teaches girls that there are people less fortunate than they are, which gives them a new perspective on the things they do have,” Siniard said. “It is important for them to learn about civic duty at a young age, and I try to give them plenty of opportunities to make a difference.”

Siniard, who spent a short time in Girl Scouts while growing up, reconnected with the organization when her daughter started kindergarten and was old enough to join Girl Scouts. In addition to providing girls with community service opportunities as the leader of Troop 1624, Siniard also keeps up to date with trainings in order to provide outdoor experiences for girls through camping trips, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities through TechBridge, a hands-on learning program to expand academic and career options for girls.

The troop has more community service projects on the horizon, including collecting clothing and blankets to donate to the homeless through a local shelter and adopting a highway segment to keep clean. They’ll also be supporting local families during the holidays through Angel Tree, through which they’ll provide gifts of clothing, personal care items and toys to those who are unable to afford such gifts.

Community service has been a cornerstone of Girl Scouting since the organization was founded over 100 years ago. Through their work to improve the community, the members of Troop 1624 have learned to identify community needs, become resourceful problem solvers and inspired others to take action. These lessons will last them well beyond their youth years in Girl Scouts and will give them the courage and confidence to continue to take on leadership roles in the future.

To share your troop's community service efforts, email kaitlins@gsccc.org.