Sunday, July 30, 2017

Operation School Supplies


GSCCC is excited to be supporting WAVY-TV 10's Operation School Supplies project again this year! For more than 20 years, WAVY-TV 10 has collected school supplies that they donate to local school districts so that students in need can start the year with the tools they need to be successful.

Girl Scouts can support this year's school supply collection drive by dropping donations off at A Place for Girls, located at 912 Cedar Road in Chesapeake, or by visiting one of these live Operation School Supplies events:

Friday, August 4
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Farm Fresh
2110 N. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach

Friday, August 11
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Farm Fresh
2190 Coliseum Drive, Hampton

Friday, August 18
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Farm Fresh
309 S. Battlefield Boulevard, Chesapeake

Friday, August 25
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Farm Fresh
230 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk

At each live event, Girl Scouts will take part in helping to collect and sort donated items. Tune into The Hampton Roads Show at 11 a.m. and WAVY News 10 Midday each Friday listed above to get a live update on how the collection is going and to see Girl Scouts taking action.

Last year, WAVY-TV 10 collected more than 50,000 items that made their way to hundreds of classrooms across the region. This year, the goal is to beat last year's total. Students in 12 school districts in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina will receive the donations this year.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Gold Award Spotlight: Hampton Roads History

Nina, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Newport News, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouts.

For her project, Nina worked with The Mariners’ Museum to self-publish a children’s book titled “Life on the USS Monitor: The Little Ship That Saved the Nation, as Told by Frankie the Cat.” The book, which includes hand-drawn illustrations, an elaborate story and images from the archives at The Mariners’ Museum, is a way for younger children to learn about an important event in history, the Battle of Hampton Roads.

“The battle between the ironclads not only affected the pathway of the Civil War, but it transformed shipbuilding for ages to come,” Nina said.

After publishing her book, Nina held book signings and numerous story time and craft workshops at The Mariners’ Museum, the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center, The Watermen’s Museum and the Main Street Library in Newport News. At each event, Nina was able to teach children from the ages of four to 10 about the Battle of Hampton Roads.

“I felt that by appealing to a younger age group through a fictional character like Frankie the cat, children might be more interested in historical fiction,” Nina said.

Nina also created videos in which she explains her project and reads her book that she placed online for anyone to access.

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

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Camp Fury Hampton

Last week, a group of 21 go-getter Girl Scouts took part in Camp Fury Hampton, a summer camp hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue to introduce girls to nontraditional careers for women, including firefighting, and provide them with experiences to try new things, develop teamwork skills and build self-confidence.


After a brief orientation, girls got started with firefighter training first thing on Monday morning. At Hampton Fire Station 9, they climbed an aerial ladder on a fire truck, rappelled four stories down a training tower, took part in fire extinguisher training and competed in a bucket brigade challenge. The following day of camp was also full of firefighting activities, from learning how to tie knots to how to carry ladders. They also took part in CPR training, watched a vehicle extrication demonstration and learned how to use a self-contained breathing apparatus. Highlights of the week included touring the Nightingale helicopter, taking a boat ride with the City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and staying overnight at Hampton fire station.

In addition to learning about firefighting, girls at Camp Fury spent a day with the Hampton Police Department, where they learned about forensics, internet safety, defensive tactics and homeland security. They also watched a demonstration by the K-9 unit.

“This was our fourth year doing Camp Fury in Hampton, and all of the girls who participate get an experience of a lifetime,” Jami Salvio, medic firefighter with Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and one of the lead organizers of Camp Fury, said. “I hope that Camp Fury taught them courage, confidence, character, respect and teamwork. Whatever they decide to do, I hope that they always believe that they can do anything they put their minds to.”

The concept of Camp Fury originated in Arizona and was brought to the Hampton Roads region by Medic Firefighter Salvio and Lt. Denee Nichols of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue. Since the inception of Camp Fury Hampton, Medic Firefighter Salvio and Lt. Nichols have helped fellow female firefighters start Camp Fury Chesapeake and Camp Fury Norfolk.

Camp Fury is designed to immerse girls in a supportive, all-girl environment where they can develop leadership skills and confidence as they embrace the unfamiliar, take risks and discover what they are capable of.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Nine Days in Costa Rica

By Girl Scout Senior Kilani from Moyock

I want to start by saying that for my first time leaving the country, Costa Rica was absolutely an amazing experience and a blessing for me to have gone. I made so many memories and new friends who I can share them with! This is one of the best reasons to join Girl Scouts, in my opinion.

To start off our journey to Costa Rica we had a nice, comfortable flight, but I was so excited to just land. Once we did, I’ll admit that I was terrified that no one would understand me, and I’d get lost. But this was illogical seeing as how we had adults, groups and plenty of girls who spoke some Spanish.  Once everyone had got their passports stamped, we were on our way out the door to the beautiful city of San Jose! We made our way to the hotel and quickly settled for the night. We had a long day ahead the next morning.

One word to describe our second day would be hectic. We ate breakfast and left for a long day of traveling. We gratefully pulled up to the coffee plantation after a long day on the road. The coffee was phenomenal and was like nothing else! Later on, we went to a waterfall, which was terribly cold, and a hot spring. The hot spring was so relaxing.

The next day, we hiked all morning until we came across a volcanic rock trail and went up to see everything. Once we climbed past the clearing, we could see everything. It was so beautiful. We took pictures and then climbed down and made our way back. Back on the bus we went, and we were on our way to go kayaking. We got dropped off and made our way down to the lake. We were instructed on what to do, and it took a lot of work until you got the hang of it. I ended up with calluses by the end of the day, but I don’t mind them because they have a story. We all boarded the bus once more and drove back to the hotel room to change so we could go to the chocolate tour.

On our fourth day, we left for the next hotel. After a quick meal, we headed out to go zip lining. It was scary because there was a lot you had to do, and I was afraid to mess something up. But we had help, and that was extremely appreciated. You never appreciate the world until you’re soaring above the treetops looking over all the valleys, hills and lakes. It was like some other unknown planet. That night, we went on  a night walk through the rainforest. We saw so many creatures, including spiders, snails, snakes, birds and much more.

The next day, we went on a hike in the cloud forest. It was quite calming and miraculous, all at the same time. There was so much biodiversity and everything was covered in green. After the walk, we made our own footprint on the world and planted a tree. After, we were all excited to go horseback riding! I was so thrilled because I haven’t been horseback riding since I was 10, I believe. Once I got on my horse, most people told me I looked experienced which really boosted my confidence. One part of the group ended up splitting up from mine. I happened to be in the very front so I was the leader. I felt so free and my horse was amazing.

It was our sixth day there, and we were all ready to see our families but some parts of us didn’t want to leave. We traveled to a new hotel, dropped off our stuff and left for a crocodile tour. After arriving at the tour, we got on the boat and saw a few crocs and left to go to a treetop tour. We saw a butterfly room and soon after ascended into the treetops looking at all the flora and fauna. We saw many sloths and some birds. After the tour, we went back to the hotel and settled down. The downside to this day was the fact that we were having power issues. We spent some time in the pool, and after swimming, we came back to the room to find a little lizard inside on our window.

On our seventh day, we were finally going to the beach. We ate breakfast, packed up and headed out for the day. It’s nothing like the beach here, let me tell you. The water was so clear and the sand was super soft. Wildlife was everywhere. We saw monkeys and raccoons, and they even tried to take our food. We enjoyed playing in the water and walking on the beach.

After our long day, we went back to the hotel and changed just to turn around and go to visit the scouts of Costa Rica. It was by far one of my favorite experiences. We got to experience the amazing culture of this beautiful place! I got to make a lot of friends from Costa Rica. I still keep in touch with a few of them now. After singing and doing activities, we went to get ice cream and socialize. 

The next day would be our eighth day, we packed up and left for San Jose again. On our way, we stopped for a lesson on ox cart paintings and a little bit of last minute shopping for souvenirs. I was jersey obsessed and bought so many! On our drive back, we stopped at one of the local churches. Everything was so extravagant! After stopping at the hotel for awhile, we went to a folklore show. 

On our ninth day, we went whitewater rafting. .After a full day of fun, we went back to our room and packed everything and went to sleep.

Sadly, we got to our last day, and we went to breakfast and packed up the bus. We said our goodbyes to San Jose and went on our way to Atlanta. This trip was by far was one of the best experiences of my life.

To finish off my blog and my amazing adventure I’d like to thank my friends, including my new ones, for making this such a memorable experience. I’d also like to thank Mel .B, Ms. Eileen and the other adult volunteers for dealing with us crazy girls. All of you made this trip more enjoyable by far! I’d like to thank my parents for getting the money for this trip and letting me go. I most of all would like to thank Girl Scouts in general because without this I would’ve never gone to Costa Rica. Girl Scouting has played a huge role in my life and I can’t wait to continue on. I’m proud to call myself a Girl Scout! Always remember to keep adventuring!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The Impact of Girl Scouts

Children need a wide range of skills, behaviors and attitudes in order to work well with others, achieve their goals and be their best. Today, the Girl Scout Research Institute released findings that show how participation in Girl Scouts helps girls develop key leadership skills proven to help them achieve bright, successful futures.

Compared to their non–Girl Scout peers, Girl Scouts are more likely to be leaders because they:
  • Have confidence in themselves and their abilities (80 percent vs. 68 percent)
  • Act ethically and responsibly, and show concern for others (75 percent vs. 59 percent)
  • Seek challenges and learn from setbacks (62 percent vs. 42 percent)
  • Develop and maintain healthy relationships (60 percent vs. 43 percent)
  • Identify and solve problems in their communities (57 percent vs. 28 percent)
  • Take an active role in decision making (80 percent vs. 51 percent)

The most powerful part is that no matter where girls live or what their age or background is, Girl Scouts can help them develop to their full potential and excel in all aspects of life. There has never been a better time to stand with girls. And Girl Scouts is the best place to do it. If you believe there is power in every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™, join Girl Scouts today and unleash it!

New STEM and Outdoor Badges

We are excited to announce the release of new badges and Journeys in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and the outdoors! The requirements for the new program content are available on the Volunteer Toolkit.

With the introduction of 23 new badges, which marks the largest program rollout in almost a decade, Girl Scouts can earn badges for designing robots and race cars, going on environmentally-conscious camping trips, writing code, collecting data in the great outdoors and so much more. GSUSA created programming that included contributions from many notable organizations, including: Code.org, GoldieBlox, SciStarter, Society of Women Engineers and WGBH/Design Squad, as well as the outdoor-focused Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

New Journeys

Outdoor 
Anchored by the new Troop Camping badges, the Outdoor Journey will deepen girls' outdoor skills through badges that lead to a Take Action project and inspire girls to take an interest in environmental stewardship. Available for Daisy, Brownie and Junior troops. Formatted as downloadable PDF on the Volunteer Toolkit for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.

Junior Think Like an Engineer
Award Badge
Think Like An Engineer 
Girls will learn how to think like a designer by participating in hands-on design challenges and completing a Take Action project. Available for Daisy, Brownie, Junior and multi-level (K-5) troops.

Think Like a Programmer 
Girls participate in interactive computational-thinking activities to learn how programmers solve problems. Girls also complete a Take Action project.  Available for Daisy, Brownie, Junior and multi-level (K-5) troops.

Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Girls learn the scientific method by undertaking a citizen science project that involves making observations, collecting data and working with scientists to receive feedback on research and findings. Girls also complete a Take Action project. Available for Daisy, Brownie, Junior and multi-level (K-5) troops.

New Badges

Brownie Programming Robots Badge
Robotics
Girls design their own robots after learning how they are built and programmed. Available for Daisy, Brownie and Junior troops.

Mechanical Engineering
Girls complete hands-on engineering activities, such as building and testing roller coasters, race cars and robots. Available for Daisy, Brownie and Junior troops.

Daisy Outdoor Art Maker Badge
New Badges for Daisies
Two new Daisy badges: Outdoor Art Maker and Good Neighbor, give the youngest Girl Scouts a chance to get in on the creativity other Girl Scouts already enjoy and discover all about their school, city and state.

Girls' Choice- Troop Camping
Girls from across the United States had the chance to vote on their favorite badge category, and earlier this summer, we released a new set of Troop Camping badges. Available for Daisy, Brownie and Junior troops on the Volunteer Toolkit.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Join Us to Do S’more with Girl Scouts!

Families interested in learning more about Girl Scouts are invited to celebrate National S’mores Day with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast at the events listed below. Make your own delicious s’mores, try your hand at cool science and engineering activities and sign up to become a Girl Scout! Register to attend an event here.

Friday, August 4
6 to 7 p.m.
A Place for Girls
912 Cedar Road, Chesapeake

Thursday, August 10
6 to 7 p.m.
Camp Skimino
448 Fenton Mill Road, Williamsburg

Thursday, August 10
6 to 7 p.m.
Courthouse Community United Methodist Church
2708 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach

Sunday, August 20
6 to 7 p.m.
Camp Apasus
8420 Granby Street, Norfolk

Sign up for Girl Scouts, and you are in for a year of opportunity, excitement and new experiences! Staff will be on hand at each event to help you register. Girl Scouts is open to all girls in grades K-12, and parents and caregivers are invited to join the fun as volunteers.

Take part in your first Girl Scout community service project by bringing school supplies that will be donated to local schools through WAVY-TV’s Operation School Supplies.

For more information about Girl Scouts, visit www.gsccc.org or call 757-547-4405.

Friday, July 21, 2017

5 Reasons You Won’t Want to Miss Science Alive

For the past seven years, Norfolk State University has hosted hundreds of Girl Scouts for Science Alive. The day is full of cool science activities, inspirational women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and so much more! This year, Science Alive is scheduled for September 16. Here’s why you don’t want to miss out on the fun:
  1. Hands-on STEM experiences like no other. Norfolk State University opens the doors of its state-of-the-art facilities for Girl Scouts to use. This year, girls can expect to learn the ins and outs of creating and designing video games, uncover the mysteries behind slime and goo, explore how tools are used at the nano level and more!
  2. Meeting the experts: women who are studying and teaching STEM. Each workshop at Science Alive is run by faculty and students at Norfolk State University. Girl Scouts get to spend the day learning from women in STEM, who show girls that they can be anything they want to be!
  3. Beyond the classroom. Outside of the fun STEM activities, Science Alive is a great opportunity for Girl Scouts to explore life on a college campus. They get to tour academic buildings and the student center, as well as speak to students about college life. This helps girls prepare for their own academic futures.
  4. Workshops for the parents, too! A special adult session is offered during Science Alive for parents, caregivers and troop leaders to learn more about tutoring and college readiness.
  5. DANCE PARTY! One of the highlights of Science Alive each year? The lunchtime dance party! Girl Scouts and Norfolk State University students dance to the beat before kicking off the afternoon STEM sessions.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Meet Popsicle and Blossom, the High Adventure Counselors!

Blossom, left, and Popsicle
If you look up in the trees at camp, you will probably see Poppy Crawshaw and Tessa Coughtrey, also known as Popsicle and Blossom by their campers, they are two of the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s adventure counselors for our summer residence camps.

Poppy joined Girl Scouts as a Daisy and went on to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. She completed her Gold Award project in 2014 when she ran a basketball camp for 75 third, fourth and fifth graders at a Title I school. Her goal was to give kids a safe, healthy way to let out energy and frustration from their school and home lives. The elementary school where she did the program at is in a low-income area and 75 percent of the students are on free-and-reduced lunch. Poppy has always been inspired to give back to her community, which led to her decision to become a camp counselor for GSCCC.

“I became a counselor to give back to the Girl Scout community because they gave so much to me,” Poppy said. “I went to camp as a kid and looked up to my counselors as role models and I hope to be that for these girls.”

Poppy’s favorite part of camp is seeing the girls grow in just one week of camp. She knows how to follow the Girl Scout motto by helping girls grow in confidence by being surrounded by strong girls and women.

Tessa became a Girl Scout at the age of five. Twelve years later, Tessa earned the Gold Award by writing a U.S. History curricula for second, fifth and eighth graders around her hometown of Edenton, NC. The curricula was about the Edenton Tea Party, which was a major event in women’s history and is largely considered the first organized political actions by women in the United States. A total of 51 women signed a petition to stop using British goods during the American Revolution. Tessa continues to empower young girls as a high adventure counselor.

“I love Girl Scouts as an organization, and it is the perfect thing to do while I’m off school for the summer,” Tessa said. “I’m an adventure counselor, and I love watching and encouraging girls’ confidence through adventurous activities. And, I’ve met some of my best friends here!”

GSCCC summer camps continue through August. There are still spaces to register your daughter for a week, or more, of fun and adventure at Girl Scout camp.

Friday, July 14, 2017

Girl Scout Troop 626 Retires Flags for Bronze Award Project

Girl Scout Troop 626 from Virginia Beach recently earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award for their project, which focused on respect for and proper disposal of American flags.

The troop members started their project by learning about the origin and history of the American flag. They also researched ways to respectfully retire the flag and how to identify when a flag just needs to be repaired instead of retired. They learned that as long as repairs are not noticeable and do not alter the dimensions of a flag, that minor damages can be repaired. Flags with large tears or excessive fraying, however, should be retired.

Armed with new knowledge, the troop members collected flags that needed to be retired from their local library. The flags were worn, soiled, faded or torn beyond repair. During their research, the girls learned that oftentimes, flags are cremated with American military veterans. They set aside a number of flags and donated them to a local funeral home to be used in this manner.

For the remaining flags, the girls organized a flag retirement ceremony, and they invited their families to take part in the event. In keeping with the guidelines of the United States Flag Code, the girls respectfully cut the flags and burned them in a small fire. They made sure that the flag retirement ceremony was solemn and dignified.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the third highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. In order to earn the award, Girl Scouts identify a need in their community and organize a Take Action project to put their solution for the need in motion.

Community in Costa Rica

By Troop 771

Troop 771 from Chesapeake traveled to Costa Rica this summer. Although the timing of the trip was exactly the same as the Council sponsored trip, it was not the same trip. But, our itinerary was almost exact, and we even ran into each other a few times.

We did have a couple of exceptions. We had the opportunity to interact with the Maleku indigenous tribe.  Their numbers are dwindling rapidly and they are expected to be extinct within 60 years. We were treated to their traditional drink and they danced for us. We also painted either a butterfly or toucan on balsa wood with their guidance.

We also met with local Scouts on the beach where we made guacamole together and then built a fire and roasted marshmallows. We took turns singing songs to each other.  Our girls got to practice their Spanish and the Scouts were able to practice their English. Then, two days later, we met the Scouts at their school where we donated more than 100 pounds of school supplies and about 15 soccer balls!!!!  They were so excited. We spent the morning painting shelters in the schoolyard with the Scouts. They use these shelters for their break time and sometimes eat their lunches there. We were able to see some classrooms and then we played some typical games with the Scouts. We then were given special coins from the Scouts as SWAPs.


We experienced so much it’s hard to say what was the most fun! We were able to see four kinds of monkeys, two kinds of sloths, four kinds of toucans, scarlet macaws, crocodiles, snakes, tarantulas and tree frogs! We visited coffee, chocolate and pineapple plantations! We ziplined, climbed a volcano, hiked down a waterfall, cruised on a crocodile river and went whitewater rafting!

If you ever get the chance to go to Costa Rica – you simply must go!

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Troop 310 Earns Bronze Award

Congratulations for the nine members of Girl Scout Troop 310 in Chesapeake for earning the Bronze Award! The Bronze Award is the third highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

For Troop 310, the process to earn the award started months ago, when they decided that they wanted to take action to make a difference for the Portsmouth Humane Society. The girls invited a representative from the Portsmouth Humane Society to speak at a troop meeting to learn more about the organization's needs. She shared with the girls that the shelter is always in need of toys and treats for the animals.

Armed with new knowledge, the girls researched projects, keeping in mind that they had a budget, they wanted their project to be environmentally friendly and they wanted to be able to engage other children in their community in their project. In May, the girls toured the Portsmouth Humane Society and that same night, they attended the Greenbrier YMCA Parents Night Out and lead the children there in creating 48 cat scratchers, 46 cat toys from wine corks, 47 dog pull toys from T-shirts and 78 frozen dog treats. The next weekend, the girls delivered their donations to the humane society, visited with the animals there and learned about volunteer opportunities there. 


Other members of Troop 310 will be holding a similar event this fall to complete their final requirements to earn the Bronze Award as well. 

Monday, July 10, 2017

A Touch of the Tropics

An adventure of a lifetime—two years in the making. On June 24, 38 travelers from GSCCC took off from the Norfolk International Airport. Final destination: Costa Rica.

The group started their trip in the Arenal region of Costa Rica, named for the Arenal Volcano that dominates the landscape. There, they visited a coffee plantation and a chocolate planation, complete with tastings at each site. They also hiked in Arenal Volcano National Park, kayaked on Arenal Lake, swam in hot springs heated by the volcano’s geothermal activity and trekked to La Fortuna Waterfall.


From there, they traveled by bus to the Green Mountain region of the country, where they toured the Saint Elena Cloud Forest, went horseback riding in Monteverde and soared over the treetops while zip lining. The group left a positive mark in Costa Rica as they worked together to plant a tree on a reserve.

On day six of the trip, the group headed to the Pacific coast. They hiked into the rainforest, where they saw tropical plants and exotic wildlife, including iguanas, tree frogs, and butterflies. They spent the afternoon up close with crocodiles, monkeys and birds on a river cruise.

“One of the best parts of the whole trip was getting to meet Girl Guides and Boy Scouts from Costa Rica,” Eileen Livick, the GSCCC travel volunteer, said. “Despite some language barriers, the girls got the chance to learn more about life in Costa Rica, and the scouts taught us some of their traditional songs in Spanish.”


Before heading back to the United States, the group enjoyed a traditional Costa Rican dinner, complete with folklore dancing, and went whitewater rafting on the Sarapiquí River.

For Kilani, a Girl Scout Senior from Moyock who travelled with the group, the journey to Costa Rica was her first time leaving the country. For her, this adventure was all about opportunities to meet new people, taste new foods and see new places.

Want to explore the world with Girl Scouts? Spots are still open to join GSCCC on a Mediterranean adventure in July 2018 and a trip to Scotland and Ireland in the summer of 2019. For more information, contact Eileen Livick at queenleen221@gmail.com.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Girl Scout Camp Counselor Got Her Start as a Camper

Sarah Petengill spent many weeks of her childhood summers at Girl Scout Camp Skimino. At camp, she always admired her camp counselors, and she knew that one day, she wanted to be a camp counselor to be a role model for girls too. This summer, Petengill made her dream a reality, and she is working as the arts and crafts manager for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Throughout the summer, she is travelling to Girl Scout camps across the region-Camp Darden, Camp Apasus, Camp Skimino and Camp Outback-to bring her creativity, leadership and inspiration to hundreds of girls.

Last week at Camp Apasus in Norfolk, Petengill helped girls think outside the box in the arts and crafts cabin through a variety of projects. On Friday, the girls designed their own boats out of paper bags and craft sticks. This project not only allowed girls to use their creativity, but also required them to use their resources wisely so that their boat would float in a vat of water.

After a summer of fun and adventure with Girl Scouts, Petengill will be attending Radford University in the fall.

There are still spaces open for girls to attend summer camp with Girl Scouts. All girls are welcome. Find more information at www.gsccc.org.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

My First Year as a Girl Scout Leader

By Emily Holmes, leader of Girl Scout Troop 723 in Moyock

My first year as a Girl Scout troop leader was a great success. I started out with seven girls in mid-October and eight more girls joined the troop by the time summer came around. All of them were first year Daisies, half in kindergarten and half in first grade. During our first year, 12 girls completed earned all of their Petals, and the remaining three are not far behind.


All of my girls participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Together, they sold more than 2,500 boxes of cookies. About half of the girls sold more than 200 boxes and one sold more than 600 boxes! My girls also participated in parades, took part in Earth Day activities, went caroling and attended World Thinking Day, just to name a few of the wonderful things we did this year. We had an end of year party where we awarded the girls their Petals, rewards from the cookie program and fun patches. The girls earned a combined 130 fun patches this year!

Our entire troop renewed for next year, and we had three moms step up to become co-leaders. As a leader, I have become CPR/AED/First Aid certified, completed Outdoor I/II training, attended Girl Scout Program Basics I/II as well as many online trainings. We have had a great year and we have learned so much. I am already excited about next year— half of my girls will be bridging to Brownies in the fall and new adventures will begin.

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Gold Award Spotlight: Volleyball for All

Morgan, a Virginia Beach Girl Scout, has earned the Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

For her project, Morgan created a volleyball camp for teens in the Green Run and Kempsville neighborhoods to have a low-cost, close-to-home opportunity to play volleyball.

“I love volleyball, but it can be expensive,” Morgan said. “I know that many kids might not have extra money to spend on sports or parents available to drive them across town for volleyball clinics. That’s why I took it upon myself to bring the camp to them.”

Morgan connected the Kempsville High School and Green Run High School volleyball coaches to bring skills clinics and conditioning programs open to students at both schools, as well as the neighborhood middle schools, for no cost.

Morgan also created website to serve as a resource for players, parents and coaches. It includes sample drills, information about rules of the game and things that players and families can do off the court to condition and work on skills at home. Through her project, Morgan aimed to not only increase players’ skills, but also create an opportunity for fitness through a fun sport that families can do together.

After running her clinics for two years, they have been expanded to Tallwood High School, and Tallwood High School will be offering clinics for middle school students in addition to the school’s own students.

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