Girl Scout Day with the Harlem Globetrotters

Nearly 200 Girl Scouts enjoyed a Sunday afternoon with the Harlem Globetrotters during the Norfolk-stop on their 2017 World Tour. Prior to the game, Firefly, known for holding the record for most consecutive 4-pointers made by a Globetrotter, met with the Girl Scouts and a group of Boy Scouts to talk about the ABCs of Bullying Prevention.

The program, which was designed in coordination with the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV), focuses on teaching children about Action, Bravery and Compassion. During the interactive program, Firefly talked to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts about how to take a stand against bullying behaviors.

Firefly also went over the types of bullying, including physical, verbal and cyber, and gave the children in the audience an opportunity to share ways that they can take action against bullying behaviors that they witness or experience. After learning about the ABCs of Bullying Prevention, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts enjoyed watching the Harlem Globetrotters take on the World All-Stars.

An estimated six out of 10 teens witness bullying at least once a day. Both the Harlem Globetrotters and the Girl Scouts believe that reaching children with bullying prevention tips early in their lives can teach valuable lessons in character and empathy. Through The ABCs of Bullying Prevention, the Harlem Globetrotters hope to show children that they can offer support to one another to help stop bullying.

2017 Samoa Soiree

On Saturday, March 25, more than 300 guests tasted Girl Scouts Cookies like never before at the ninth annual Samoa Soiree, hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Eleven local restaurants competed to make the tastiest sweet or savory dish using a Girl Scout Cookie as the key ingredient.

This year’s winning dishes were:

The winning dishes by Catering by Farm Fresh,
Mixxer's Kitchen and The Bee & The Biscuit

Best Dessert: Coconut Dulce Cupcakes by Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar

Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

Best Presentation: Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

Most Creative Use of a Girl Scout Cookie: Lemon Asiago Macaroni and Cheese with Savannah Smiles and Trefoils by The Vineyards Trattoria

People’s Choice for Best Dessert: Heaven and Earth Cupcakes by The Bee & The Biscuit

People’s Choice for Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

The culinary delights were judged by local celebrities and foodies, including Angela Blue, editor-in-chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine; Don London, vice president of operations at Entercom Communications Corporation; Marisa Marsey of VEER Magazine, Xerxes Nabong, Yelp community director; Steve Parnell, account executive with Little Brownie Bakers; Ashley Smith, 13News Now reporter and Peggy Sijswerda, editor and publisher of Tidewater Family Magazine and Tidewater Women Magazine.

This year’s participating restaurants included: The Bee & The Biscuit, The Butcher’s Son, Catering by Farm Fresh, Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton, Mermaid Catering, Event and Personal Chef Services, Mixxer’s Kitchen, RJ’s Café at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Sweetwater Café, Tap It Local, Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and The Vineyards Norfolk.

Guests enjoyed live entertainment by NO iD Music Group.

Proceeds from the event will fund opportunities for girls to take part in programs that will teach them about how to be go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders.

The event was generously sponsored by A. Reddix and Associates, Enspyr, and Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer P.C.

Thanks to the generous media partners who supported the event: 2WD 101.3, 13News Now, Coastal Virginia Magazine, Tidewater Women Magazine, VEER Magazine and Yelp.

View more photos here.

Prepare Your Girl Scout Troop for Another Year of Fun!

It’s that time of the year again— spring renewal! Troop leaders, check out these tips for preparing the girls in your troop for another year of fun and adventure in Girl Scouts.

Plan ahead. Encourage the girls to talk about their plans for the future—what activities to spend their cookie money on, what badges they would like to earn, what trips they would like to take.

Make it girl-led. Engage girls in planning a celebration for the end of the year or a bridging ceremony. When girls get to take the lead, they are happier with their Girl Scout experience.

Calm their nerves. Are the girls in your troops bridging to a new level? Invite a few older girls to a troop meeting for them to share the adventures and opportunities they have had as Girl Scouts.

Get girls involved in recruitment. Schedule a time to talk to the girls about how to grow your troop. Draft a plan and include how girls will help welcome and include the new girls.

Get outside! Research shows that girls love outdoor activities more than any other. Engage your troop in monthly outdoor activities to keep them coming back. From scavengers hunts to a campfire with s’mores, possibilities in the outdoors are endless!

You can register for the next Girl Scout membership year starting April 1. All girls who renew before May 15 will receive a free Power of G.I.R.L. patch!

STEM 4 Girls

Local Girl Scouts were among the nearly 100 middle school girls who took part in STEM 4 Girls, an event hosted by the Virginia Beach Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on Saturday, March 11 at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach. The day is designed expose girls to a variety of careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, as well as introduce them to women in STEM careers.

STEM 4 Girls started with an exciting keynote address from Kelsey Winters, a forensic scientist at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science in Norfolk. Winters talked about her job in the trace evidence section, where she tests evidence from fire scenes for the presence of ignitable liquids. She also shared her personal story about how her love for STEM classes in middle school led her to a career in science.

Brielle, a Girl Scout Cadette, watches the robot
she made using a toothbrush move around the table.

During the day, each girl took part in four different classes covering a wide range of topics. Activities included: making robots out of toothbrushes, learning about how oysters filter water to clean the Chesapeake Bay, architectural drafting, looking at brain samples, extracting DNA and more. As part of the day, parents and caregivers took part in workshops as well. They attended adult-only sessions of the STEM activities and parenting workshops, including a session about understanding the teen brain and the social and emotional challenges faced by middle school students.

Carol Curtis, president and founder of Noah Enterprises, Inc., delivered a keynote address after lunch. Curtis, civil engineering technologist, shared how her love of math at a young age led her to taking accelerated classes, including physics and trigonometry, and eventually to starting Noah Enterprises, Inc., a full-service general contractor company.

All too frequently, society shows girls that they do not belong in the STEM fields. By seventh grade, many girls start to pull away from their interests in STEM. And, oftentimes, women who do pursue STEM education are met with bias when they enter the workforce. Both AAUW and Girl Scouts are committed to breaking down barriers for girls in the STEM fields by providing opportunities, such as STEM 4 Girls, for girls to explore and discover in the STEM fields through fun, engaging educational activities.

Camp Skimino Family Camp

Spend the Fourth of July in the great outdoors during GSCCC’s Family Camp at Camp Skimino! Registered Girl Scout girls, adults and families are invited to enjoy Camp Skimino between July 2 and 7—stay for as many nights as you would like! There will be plenty of time to swim, hike, canoe, fish, take part in all-camp activities and enjoy nature. Or, families can take day trips out. Colonial Williamsburg, Water Country USA, Busch Gardens and other attractions are nearby—create your own adventure! Plus, Thursday, July 6 is parents' night out!

Families are responsible for their own meals. They can cook them at camp or take a short drive from camp to enjoy a Williamsburg restaurant. If you choose to cook at camp, bring your own supplies, but we’ll provide ice for your coolers at no additional cost. Each tent site has a screened in shelter with picnic tables and a refrigerator for all campers at the site to share.

Family Camp is $25 per person, per night. Children under five stay for free. Families will stay in platform tents with cots and mattresses for up to five people. Modern shower houses with hot water and flush toilets are located nearby.

Family Camp at Camp Skimino is the perfect way to enjoy Williamsburg on a budget. Explore this popular tourist destination without paying for a hotel. Spend a night or the whole week—it’s up to you!

Find more information and register for Family Camp here.

Gold Award Spotlight: Arts and Crafts with Kylie

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

For her project, Kylie created an arts and crafts class at First Colonial Inn, a senior living community. During each session, Kylie led residents in creating a new craft project for them to keep. They made wreaths, sun catchers, clay bowls, picture frames, greeting cards and more. Kylie also helped the seniors create a large, grapevine wreath and a mosaic table that are on display for everyone at First Colonial Inn to enjoy. Kylie’s arts and crafts sessions were not only a fun experience, but also helped the residents maintain motor skills and stimulate the creativity in their brains.

“No matter what age someone is, they can express themselves through art,” Kylie said.

Kylie held classes twice a week for six months. They were so popular that the classes will continue with the help of staff at First Colonial Inn. 

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 Kylie to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

Envision Lead Grow

Angela D. Reddix, president and CEO of ARDX, a multi-million dollar healthcare management and technology consulting company based in Norfolk, is offering a series of workshops for teen Girl Scouts at A Place for Girls, the regional Girl Scout program center, that focus on how to become a successful entrepreneur. She is using her vision to give the future generation of girls a helping hand as she launches a new endeavor – the Envision Lead Grow (ELG) nonprofit. The mission of the nonprofit is to break the cycle of poverty for 1,000 girls in underserved communities in the U.S. each year. Angela is determined to help them build their futures through entrepreneurship. She is also determined to earn her doctorate in organizational development while making a difference.

“It’s not how your life starts, it’s how you end your life,” Reddix said to the 20-plus girls who attended the first of four workshops on March 4.

Her inspiring story of how she took charge of opportunities given to her inspired the girls to get out of their comfort zones and share their own life journeys. Reddix told them that confidence and caring about themselves is key to any success in life.

ELG will be taking a similar workshop similar to the one shared with Girl Scouts on the road this summer. Reddix is collaborating with colleges and community groups in six cities to deliver the program. Girl Scouts going through ELG program are receiving a tailored version to help them meet requirements for the Girl Scout Entrepreneurship badge.

“Partnering with Girl Scouts is smart on so many fronts,” Reddix said. “As a donor and supporter, I want to invest in organizations that are change agents and that’s how I see Girl Scouts.”

In addition to the workshops, Reddix is also offering free online webinars for teen girls that focus on helping them gain confidence through business skills. The hour-long webinars are designed to bring together girls between the ages of 13 and 19. Visit EnvisionLeadGrow.org for details of upcoming webinars. Upcoming webinars will be held at 7 p.m. on April 27 and May 25.  

Spread the Scouting Word

On April 1, we are hosting an event in conjunction with Boy Scouts to introduce families to all of the fun and adventure that scouting has to offer. If you know someone who is interested in joining, please share this event with them!

Family Scouting Sampler Day is a free event that will take place on Saturday, April 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Thalia United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach.

Girls and boys will get to visit stations to complete activities and learn about scouting. At each station, they will receive a stamp in their “passport.” After they earn all of the stamps, they will receive their first patch! Stations will include pottery painting with Color Me Mine, building a mini first aid kit, making an edible campfire, learning about community service opportunities, finding out about outdoor activities in scouts and more!

Girls who register to be Girl Scouts during the event will receive a free ticket to Girl Fest on April 29 at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach!

Currently registered Girl Scouts can participate by sharing this event with their friends. Spreading the word about Family Scouting Sampler Day can count as one activity towards earning the Girl Scout Recruiter patch!

Meet Samoa Soiree Judge: Xerxes Nabong

When it comes to finding the highly-recommended restaurants and businesses, many people turn to Yelp, an online community where users can write reviews, post photos, find events and more. Xerxes Nabong is the Community Manager behind Yelp Hampton Roads. He has weighed in on more than 1,000 restaurants and businesses since he joined Yelp in 2011, posting reviews about the good, the bad and the ugly. He also organizes parties and get-togethers for top Yelpers in the region, oversees a weekly enewsletter, hits the streets to attend festivals and events and, most importantly, spreads the word about Yelp.

This month, Nabong is taking on one of his tastiest challenges yet—he is serving on the judging panel at Samoa Soiree, an event hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast where local chefs make a sweet or savory dish using a Girl Scout Cookie as the key ingredient.

Xerxes receiving a plaque for Yelp's sponsorship of
the 2015 Samoa Soiree.

After attending Samoa Soiree for the past for years as a guest and sponsor, Nabong is looking forward to putting in his two-cents as a judge. He enjoys trying new foods, never knowing quite what to expect. For Nabong, it is all about that anticipation and excitement.

Although each dish at Samoa Soiree is made with at least one type of Girl Scout Cookie, among the desserts are plenty of savory dishes, which Nabong tends to prefer. He says that he can always go for a steak, and chicken wings are a close second. But, that does not mean that he hasn’t ever made a big dent in a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Samoa Soiree isn't the only way that Xerxes
supports Girl Scouts. In 2015, he joined the
organization as part of the Man Enough to
 Be a Girl Scout campaign.

“I do recall a cheesecake that I couldn’t help but get seconds, okay thirds, of a couple of years ago at Samoa Soiree,” Nabong said.

Before the big night, March 25, Nabong offers a bit of advice to this year’s competing chefs. He says that he appreciates dishes that are simple. He’s looking for something that anyone could make, but the chefs have executed perfectly and presented the cookie in an unexpected way.

“Sure, the stylish, fancy ones are nice to enjoy, but when simple dishes get a little pizazz added to them, it gives us regular folks some hope of throwing our own creativity into some of the simplest things,” Nabong said.

And, one other word of advice to the chefs—Thin Mints are Nabong’s favorite Girl Scout Cookie.

Samoa Soiree will take place on Saturday, March 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Great food and drinks, along with live music and a silent auction—all for a great cause. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at www.gsccc.org.

Cookie Captain Abby

Like most Girl Scouts this time of year, Abby is on a cookie mission. Abby, who is a fifth grader in Girl Scout Troop 308 in Virginia Beach, set a goal to sell at least 200 boxes of cookies this year, and she has already exceeded her goal by more than two-fold.

For Abby, this accomplishment is exceptional. She was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of four and has faced years of treatments, a bone marrow transplant and complications. In July, her health deteriorated to the point that her family brought her home for hospice care. But, Abby had bigger plans. She has gained strength and has returned to school for a couple of hours each day. Through all of this, Abby has kept up with her Girl Scout troop.

In November, she attended the Cookie Kickoff at the Children’s Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth. Abby has to carefully plan how to spend her energy, and this event had been on her family’s calendar for months. At the Cookie Kickoff, she had the chance to spend the evening with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller, who presented her with a Cookie Captain shirt and cape. The two rotated through cookie-themed activity stations together, especially enjoying the chance to sample the new Girl Scout S’mores cookie.

This winter, Abby’s story was published in the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast magazine. It was here that Lin Olsen, executive director of the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation, read Abby’s story and wanted to support Abby’s cookie goal. She reached out to Keller, who introduced her to Abby. On March 1, Abby, her mom, and her younger sister Emily loaded up the family van with cookies and headed to A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast regional program center in Chesapeake, and met Olsen and some her friends, who all purchased cookies.

Abby set up a makeshift cookie booth in the lobby at A Place for Girls. She talked about her busy cookie season and enthusiastically talked about each flavor of cookie. She also shared that she is collecting cookies to donate to People in Need (PiN) Ministries in Virginia Beach, an organization that provides food, clothing, shelter and medical care for people who are homeless or living in poverty in Virginia Beach. Abby’s troop has served food, held a clothing drive and sewed items for people at PiN in the past, and collecting Girl Scout Cookies for them is just one more way for them to make a positive difference in the community.

After purchasing cookies for herself, family and friends, Olsen also bought five boxes for Abby to add to her collection for PiN. Thanks to the support of Olsen and her friends who came to buy cookies, Abby has now sold more than 500 boxes of the sweet treats.

This spring, Abby, who is an avid hockey fan, is looking forward to attending Cookies on Ice, an annual Girl Scout night out with the Norfolk Admirals, with her Girl Scout troop.

Samoa Soiree Silent Auction- Buy it Now!

This year, we’re giving our Samoa Soiree guests – and others – a chance to buy three of the awesome Samoa Soiree silent auction items in advance of the event. Buy it Now silent auction items are only available for purchase from March 15 to 22, on a first come, first purchase basis. Read to the end for purchasing information.

Are you Going to Disney World? – Value $1,915 – Buy It Now Price - $1,500

Treat yourself to an unforgettable family vacation from May 25 through June 1, 2017, at Marriott's Grande Vista. These elegant resort villas are ideally placed in Orlando, Florida near a host of Disney® attractions, world-renowned golf courses and more. Make yourself at home in your spacious, one bedroom accommodations for four people. Visit our luxury resort in Orlando, Florida to benefit from creative, challenging course play at our Grande Vista Golf Club, a vast selection of on-site restaurant options, a state-of-the-art luxury spa, four heated swimming pools and a complete fitness center with free classes. Along with placing you near the unparalleled excitement of Walt Disney World®, our resort villas are only minutes away from Universal Studios Florida®, SeaWorld® and Amway Arena. Contemporary excellence is waiting for you at Marriott's Grande Vista. 

Four Walt Disney World One-Day Park Hopper Passes are included so you can start enjoying the sights as soon as you arrive.

Compliments of Michael Mendelsohn, GSCCC Board of Directors

Adventure is Out There! – Value $800 – Buy It Now $600

There’s nothing like a day at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium! The amazing aerial forest park features climbing and zip lining through majestic trees near the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Marsh Pavilion. Your group of 16 people can take to the treetops on 15 trails that weave between tree platforms on a 6-acre site. Trails are marked by the degree of challenge they provide, offering adventures for ages 5 through adult.  Explore the park on your own or make memories with your family and friends. This is a perfect outdoor activity for birthday parties, scout groups, school field trips, and corporate events or team building programs. Ages five to adult are welcome!

Compliments of The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium

Get Away to Mexico – Value $4,060 – Buy It Now Price – $3,500

Celebrate the 4th in Mexico this year! The Mayan Sea Garden Mazatlán has a luxurious one-bedroom suite for four waiting for your arrival on July 1-8, 2017. This beach-front property adds deluxe leisure-time amenities to one of the most breathtaking beaches in Mexico.  Enjoy your favorite water sport or experience the best fishing in the Pacific Ocean, all from the comfort of Mayan Sea Garden. Or take advantage of the multiple swimming pools and fine dining. Called "The Pearl of the Pacific," Mazatlán has the feel of a small town by day and energetic city by night.

Compliments of Michael Mendelsohn, GSCCC Board of Directors

Here’s how it works:

Buy it Now silent auction items are available for purchase one week only-- March 15-22, 2017, on a first come, first purchase basis.

Contact us at philanthropy@gsccc.org if you are ready to Buy it Now. Intent to buy messages sent to philanthropy@gsccc.org will be processed in the order they are received.

All winning bidders must claim their items within 24 hours, paid in full, to secure it. Payment in full is accepted with credit (online) or check (in person).

Any items not paid in full within 24 hours will go to the next bidder or remain available the week of March 15-22, 2017.

Items not purchased during Buy it Now will be available at the Samoa Soiree on Saturday, March 25, 2017.

NO iD

Three years ago, Rebekah Gray was out enjoying an evening of live music, one of her favorite ways to wind down after another week as a middle school teacher. At the concert, she met Jay Terry, who a fellow audience member. Soon after they started talking, their shared love of music was realized. The two decided that with her talented singing voice and his writing skills and musical talent, they could start their own band. Soon after, NO iD was born. Today, Gray and Terry have added three more members, and they have become well-loved across Hampton Roads for their cover renditions of popular R&B, pop, classic rock and soul tunes.

NO iD

Earlier this year, Gray was approached by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast about performing at Samoa Soiree, their adult-only tasting event where top chefs use Girl Scout Cookies to make desserts and savory dishes. Gray was excited to sign NO iD on to perform this year, as she has her own special connections to Girl Scouts.

While growing up in Virginia Beach, Gray joined the Girl Scouts when she was in elementary school. She has fond memories of going on camping trips with her troop. Girl Scouts gave her the opportunity to take part in some of her first unique outdoor experiences—cooking over a campfire and exploring nature with hikes through the woods. Now, Gray’s five-year-old daughter, Genesis, is a Girl Scout Daisy, and Gray is getting to take part in some of her favorite Girl Scout experiences again with her daughter.

“I am really looking forward to Samoa Soiree,” Gray said. “I am excited to be involved in Girl Scouts again with my daughter, and it’s exciting to be involved on another level as the entertainment at Samoa Soiree.”

Gray is also looking forward to being able to introduce her fellow band members to Girl Scouts and how the organization benefits girls. As with their other performances, at Samoa Soiree, NO iD will take old school R&B and add a modern pop and soulful twist to the sound. They enjoy making music that makes people feel good.

Samoa Soiree will take place on Saturday, March 25 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Everyone is invited to taste Girl Scout Cookies like never before at this adult-only event. The evening will include great food and drinks, along with live music and silent auction – and all for a great cause. Tickets are $60 each until March 1 and then increase to $75 each. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.gsccc.org.

Meet TNT, a Harlem Globetrotter

Harlem Globetrotter TNT Lister is a go-getter who leads the way for women in sports. When she joined the Globetrotters in 2011, she was the first woman to be on the team since 1993. In the past six years, her success has paved the way for other women to join the team as well.

One of TNT’s favorite parts about being a Harlem Globetrotters is the opportunity to meet her fans, especially through the ABCs of Bullying Prevention program that she helps to facilitate before games. It was through this program that she began to meet hundreds of Girl Scouts. Although she was not a Girl Scout as a child, she joined the organization in 2013 after being so impressed with all of the Girl Scouts she was meeting.

“I joined Girl Scouts because I wanted to become more familiar with the organization so that I could better relate with all of the Girl Scouts I was meeting,” TNT said.

TNT knows how important it is for children to be involved in extracurricular activities to learn important life skills they may not have the chance to practice in the classroom. When she was growing up, she volunteered at the local Boys and Girls Club to host arts and crafts activities for kids—one of her first leadership opportunities. She admires Girl Scouts for being able to teach girls important life lessons in a safe, all-girl environment where they feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things.

When she meets Girl Scouts, TNT openly talks about the challenges that she faces as a female member of the Harlem Globetrotters because she wants to be a role model for girls who are interested in any career in a male-dominated field.

“There’s extra pressure on me to prove that I’m good enough to be on the team,” TNT said. “But I look at it as a positive pressure. It gives me the opportunity to show girls that they can do anything.”

When girls ask TNT for advice about how to overcome a gender barrier, she reminds them to not count themselves out too early. She knows firsthand that the thought of conquering something big can seem overwhelming, but she tells girls to believe in themselves and to not give up on their dreams.

TNT and her fellow Harlem Globetrotter team members will be playing in Norfolk on March 26 at 4 p.m. at the Ted Constant Center. Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to enjoy the game and take part in the pregame bullying prevention workshop. Purchase tickets online using promo code ABC. For groups of 10 or more, call Todd McKeating at 757-683-7087.

Troop 292 Hosts Journey Jam

Genesis, Mary and Peighton, Girl Scout Ambassadors from Troop 292 in Virginia Beach, hosted a workshop last month for nearly 100 Girl Scout Juniors to earn the Get Moving Journey, which takes girls on an adventure to become leaders to energize, investigate and innovate.

The members of Troop 292 kicked off the morning with a discussion about what energy is and what fuels the world. The Girl Scout Juniors learned about what changes they can make in their lives to be more energy efficient. They then made energy-related crafts, completed an energy crossword puzzle and enjoyed an energizing snack.

A favorite activity of the day was making wind-powered cars out of cardboard tubes and recycled paper and cardboard. The girls attached sails to their cars and used their own wind energy—breath— to race their cars and check the energy efficiency of their car design.

Before the end of the workshop, Girl Scouts took a pledge to cut back on their use of electricity, minimize the amount of trash they throw away and speak about issues that affect the environment so that they can inspire others to make a difference. Each girl who attended the workshop received a Get Moving Journey patch.

For Genesis, Mary and Peighton, who are high school seniors, the Get Moving Journey workshop was a fundraising activity. They will be putting the proceeds towards a troop trip to take this summer before they head off to college.

Gold Award Spotlight: Revitalization of Outdoor Classroom at Yorktown Elementary School

Christiane, a Chesapeake Girl Scout, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

For her project, Christiane revitalized the outdoor classroom at Yorktown Elementary School, which had been vandalized and was in a state of disrepair. Yorktown Elementary is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Magnet School, and Christiane wanted to renew and update the space so that students can continue to have hands-on experiences in the outdoors.

Christiane built four eight-foot benches and designed and built two work tables with fun facts about nature. She also rebuilt and planted a new flowerbed. In addition to her work in the outdoor classroom, Christiane created dry erase teaching aids about the life cycles of butterflies and frogs that teachers can share and reuse among their students.

Christiane chose to complete this project to earn her Gold Award because women are underrepresented in STEM careers, and she wanted to help create a space for young girls to engage in STEM learning activities.

“The most successful part of my project was the fact that children at Yorktown Elementary School can now spend more time outside learning about nature and the environment,” Christiane said. “I enjoyed working with others and accomplishing a task that was for the greater good of the community.”

Christiane also worked to inform members of the community about her project and the importance of STEM learning opportunities for young students. She made a presentation at the Yorktown Elementary School Back to School Night and made video that she placed online to reach a wider audience.

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 Christiane to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

Young Adult Soiree

With a makeshift pantry stocked with everything from Thin Mints to shrimp, a group of 30 Girl Scouts took part in a culinary challenge on February 25, where they were charged with cooking up an appetizer using a Girl Scout Cookie as a key ingredient. The event, named Young Adult Soiree, put a youth-twist on Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s upcoming Samoa Soiree, an adult-only event with the same concept—chefs use Girl Scout Cookies to create desserts and appetizers.

Working in groups of five, the Girl Scouts spent just a few minutes planning among themselves before firing up their stoves and getting to work on their dishes. Many of the groups picked their Girl Scout Cookie variety first and developed a recipe around the flavors in the cookie.

Among the finished meals was a lemon beef pasta, cooked up with ramen noodles and Savannah Smiles, the lemon-flavored Girl Scout Cookie. Another group ground up Trefoils, a shortbread cookie, and used them to bread chicken, which they paired lemon shrimp, green beans and potatoes.

After plating their appetizers, the girls changed from their cooking clothes and aprons into formal wear and gathered for a soiree, where they had the opportunity to taste the finished pieces from each of the groups. The girls enjoyed hearing about each other’s recipes and tasting the creative dishes.

The Young Adult Soiree was led by Chef Dedra Blount of Now You’re Cooking Culinary Studio at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast regional program center and headquarters in Chesapeake. Chef Blount competed in last year’s Samoa Soiree and took home the award for Best Savory for her Thai chicken salad made with the Do-si-dos Girl Scout Cookie. Chef Blount was excited to give girls the chance to get creative in the kitchen and take part in their version of Samoa Soiree.

“I was really impressed with what the girls came up with for their recipes,” Chef Blount said. “A few girls mentioned that they had never cooked without a recipe before, so this was a new experience that pushed them to think outside the box.”

Samoa Soiree will take place on Saturday, March 25 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Everyone is invited to taste Girl Scout Cookies like never before at this adult-only event. The evening will include great food and drinks, along with live music and silent auction – and all for a great cause. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.gsccc.org.

Gold Award Spotlight: Striped Bass Sustainability

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

When Caneel learned that the striped bass population in the Chesapeake Bay has been decreasing since 2003, she decided to help protect this species of fish for her Gold Award project. She started by learning more about the issue from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local fisherman. She then took action to help find solutions, educate the public about why it is important to save the striped bass and gather support from the community to help bring back the striped bass population.

Caneel made a flier about the issue of the decreasing striped bass population and distributed it to members of the community, restaurants, tackle shops and marinas. In order to reach broader audience, she made a Facebook page and website about the issue. She placed an ad in the newspaper to raise awareness and promote her website. Caneel also met with a team from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife National Conservation Training Center to share her flier with people who come from all over the country for training and designed a bumper sticker that she handed out to community members.

“I have always loved fishing and life on the Chesapeake Bay,” Caneel said. “Because of that, I was involved in the fishing community and saw firsthand that the striped bass population has declined. I realized that not only does this iconic fish play an important part in the ecosystem, it also helps brings a lot of tourist dollars to our economy. But, most people don’t know what’s happening. I decided that I could help by sharing information and raising awareness.”

Caneel also developed a workshop for children that she shared with second and third graders to encourage them to get involved in saving the striped bass by helping to clean the bay.

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 Caneel to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

Meet Caitlyn: Cookie Entrepreneur Officer

This year, Caitlyn's initial cookie
order was 960 boxes!

Williamsburg resident Caitlyn Rogerson is just 15 years old, but that does not stop this go-getter from successfully running her own business. For the past few years, Caitlyn has been the top Girl Scout Cookie seller in Williamsburg, a position she has earned as a result of her goal-oriented mentality, innovative ideas and a lot of hard work. Last year, she sold 1,084 boxes of the sweet treats, and she hopes to sell more than 1,000 boxes again this year. She’s excited about being able to sell cookies during the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies and giving customers a chance to taste the new anniversary cookie—the Girl Scout S’mores cookie.

As each cookie season passes, Caitlyn learns from her business experiences to improve her selling strategies. Over the years, she has learned how important it is to reach customers first. She never wants to hear from people that they have already ordered their cookies for the year. Caitlyn also likes to remind customers that Girl Scout Cookies last for months in the freezer.

“There’s nothing like a cool Thin Mint in the middle of July,” Caitlyn said.

For Caitlyn and her fellow members of Troop 1377, selling cookies is so important because it is how the girls fund their community service projects and activities for the year. Using last year’s earnings, the girls improved the outdoor courtyard for the residents at Envoy Assisted Living Facility. Caitlyn’s part of the project included building a raised garden bed and outdoor garden boxes so that residents at Envoy could enjoy an outdoor space. Thanks to her hard work, the residents were able to harvest a crop of fruits and vegetables over the summer. For her work with this project, Caitlyn earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, which is the second highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Troop 1377 is also sure to send a taste of home to military troops overseas through the cookie program. Each year, they sell extra boxes of cookies to donate to the troops.

“There are active military parents in our troop, and we fly cookies directly to them abroad to enjoy and share,” Caitlyn said.

Caitlyn’s drive to help others expands beyond her role as a Girl Scout. She and her mother have taken shifts to ring bells for the Salvation Army at Christmastime since Caitlyn was four years old. When she was in fifth grade, Caitlyn took the lead and started organizing her classmates to take shifts ringing the bell as well.

“For four years, I have been able to schedule classmates to cover eight shifts over two days with two students per shift,” Caitlyn said. “This year I had to fill a Christmas Eve shift. It was tough, but I was able to find volunteers.”

This winter, in addition to taking cookie orders all over Williamsburg, Caitlyn and her troop members will soon be meeting to decide how to spend their cookie earnings this year. The girls will work together to budget their projected funds and choose how they can make the biggest impact in the Williamsburg community. Powered by the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Troop 1377 is making the world a better place.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the nation’s leaning financial literacy and entrepreneurial program for girls. Girl Scout Cookies not only help girls earn money for fun, educational activities and community projects, but also play a huge role in teaching girls how to be go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders as they learn essential life and business skills.

Girl Scout Cookie booths will run through March 26. Customers can find a booth near them by entering their zip code into the Cookie Finder at www.girlscoutcookies.org.