Troop 2119 went exploring!

This summer, Troop 2119 from Camden, North Carolina traveled to Camp Sacajawea in Lynchburg Virginia and used their incredible experience as an opportunity to learn more about the area's wildlife and environment. 

The girls participated in nature hikes, explored the mountains and learned about the historical sites near Appomattox. During their time at Sacajawea, they developed a better understanding of the importance of water quality and the way dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity benefit the survival of wildlife. 

The girls also planted herbs in the community garden to act as a natural pest repellent. Troop 2119 hope to use their experience and new knowledge to better aid their community’s resources.

2018 Famous Formers

The list of women selected to be 2018 Girl Scout Famous Formers is in!

Congratulations to the following Girl Scout alums who will be recognized at our 2018 Famous Formers Luncheon being held on November 29th at Hilton Norfolk The Main:

• Stephanie Adams, dean of Old Dominion University's Batten College of Engineering and Technology
• Kim Curtis, CEO/president of Tidewater Homefunding
• Michelle Ferebee, computer engineer at NASA Langley Research Center
• Daun Sessoms Hester, City of Norfolk treasurer
• Vickie Kearn, executive editor of mathematics and computer sciences at Princeton University Press
• Lisa Schulz, director of operational logistics with the U.S. Coast Guard
• Charity Volman, market president and commercial division sales team manager with SunTrust Bank

We also would like to congratulate Sarah Buck, public affairs manager at Cox Communications, for being selected as a 2018 Future Famous Former.

Please plan to purchase a ticket to the 2018 Famous Formers Luncheon and meet these awesome women.

Each membership year, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast recognizes local Girl Scout alums who are leaders in their field as Famous Formers. These women serve as role models for girls today- the future leaders of tomorrow.

Tickets are on sale now! For more information, please email customercare@gsccc.org or click here to reserve your spot.

Media Girls tour WCTV Chesapeake Television

The GSCCC Media Girls got together for some fun this summer. 

Thanks to City of Chesapeake’s Senior Public Communications Coordinator Elizabeth Vaughn, who is also a Girl Scout alum, Media Girls toured the WCTV Chesapeake Television station and got to take over the controls. 

They received direction from Video Production Coordinator Ron Strickland, Video Operations Coordinator Maynard Scales and Public Communications Specialist Michael Barnett. 

While on the set, the girls learned firsthand how much work goes into producing the weekly broadcast. From rolling the prompter for the Girl Scouts on air to floor directing, the Media Girls communicated with one another to make sure the final product was well put together.

"This was such a fun opportunity," Girl Scout Senior Summer Tatum said. 

Juniors through Ambassadors are invited to learn the ins and outs of media and communications and how to represent GSCCC in the media through the GSCCC Media Girl team. The application period to be part of the team starts again in October. As a Media Girl, girls are invited to write for the GSCCC blog, take part in TV or radio interviews, create Girl Scout videos, represent Girl Scouts at exciting events and more! 

Watch a recap of their afternoon by clicking here.

Girl Scout Mia has earned her Silver Award

Girl Scout Cadette from Troop 13 in Virginia Beach, Mia Mcmillan, recently earned the Girl Scout Silver Award for completing “We are kindergarten and we like to Read, Read, Read," a project she designed and implemented.

Passionate about reading, Mia went to Holland Elementary School and taught kindergarten students the importance of reading. She used Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss Month to teach the students in a fun and engaging way. 

Mia led a variety of activities such as a word sort game, Seuss name puzzle, wall cards, group reading and so much more! She also decorated the classroom to fit the Dr. Seuss theme using door designs and a large banner where the students could pledge to read more often. She worked alongside the kindergarten teachers in picking out new books, rotating reading materials and organizing the stations. Mia left her students with the message “Keep reading and as Dr. Seuss says, Oh the Places You’ll Go."

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the top award that middle school age Girl Scouts can earn. To earn the award, girls have to identify a need in the community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work.

Camp Fury Hampton

Last week, a group of 18 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 entire week girls learned firsthand just how challenging firefighting can be. From learning how to tie knots to how to carry ladders, this group of leaders worked hard every day at camp. They also took part in CPR and first aid training, enjoyed a boat outing with the City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue and practiced search and rescue missions. Highlights of the week included touring the Nightingale helicopter, staying overnight at Hampton fire station and completing confined space training, a new addition to the Camp Fury Hampton experience this year.

Throughout the week, the Girl Scouts were faced with challenges that encouraged them to work as a team to overcome various obstacles.

“This gives me a sense of accomplishment,” fourth year camper Lavender Oman said. She keeps coming back to Camp Fury Hampton for many reasons, including the opportunity to talk to different people from the community.

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.

Girl Scout Cassandra Madden from Troop 1225 loved Camp Fury Hampton so much, she came back for a second year! She enjoyed the new additions to camp and loved the plan fire simulation at Norfolk International Airport.

The concept of Camp Fury originated in Arizona in 2009 with the leadership of Assistant Fire Chief Laura Baker and Fire Chief Cheryl Horvath who both still serve in Arizona. The camp was brought to the Hampton Roads region five years ago by Medic Firefighter Salvio and Captain Denee Nichols of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue. Since the inception of Camp Fury Hampton, Medic Firefighter Salvio and Captain Nichols have helped fellow female firefighters start Camp Fury Chesapeake and Camp Fury Norfolk.

To honor five years of Camp Fury Hampton, Salvio and Nichols invited Horvath to join the celebration last week.

“To reach this five year milestone is a huge accomplishment,” Horvath said. “We need more women in public safety careers. The ‘why’ behind this program is more important now than it ever has been.”

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.

“The first day was scary because I’m afraid of heights, but all of the people around me being encouraging helped me get to where I needed to go,” Girl Scout Cayla Duncan said. Cayla had a blast at camp and is planning to go again next year.

Congratulations Camp Fury Hampton on five years and thank you to all of the generous donations that help make the camp possible.

Click here to view more photos. 

Girl Scouts explore STEM at school

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast brought the Girl Scout Experience to several public schools this year to allow girls to learn more about Girl Scouts, leadership, STEM and how they all work together.

In Franklin, girls in grades K-5 at S.P. Morton Elementary School participated in enrichment programs that focused on STEM related projects. During the six-week adventure, girls worked on many STEM Journeys and earned a badge that included the Think Like an Engineer journey. They had fun with circuitry kits and other engineering activities that showed them just how valuable Girl Scouts is!

The administration at S.P. Morton Elementary School also got in on the fun.

In February, Franklin Schools Superintendent Tamara Sterling and Principal Sherie Davis participated in an investiture ceremony to become Girl Scout members at a sign up event. They were there to talk to parents and to support the in-school STEM program.

“This type of community partnership with our schools will help us meet the needs and interests of more girls and will encourage them in explore STEM outside of the classroom,” Superintendent Sterling said.

Girls at Joseph P. King Jr. Middle School got to participate in Girl Scout activities through a partnership with the school and with the help of Franklin Southampton Charities. Girl Scouts helped them “Be a Friend First.”

The Hampton School Age Program and Newport News Shipbuilding also allowed Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast to bring the power of Girl Scouts to a group of students in Hampton Public Schools.

At Samuel P. Langley Elementary School, girls interacted with circuitry kits and learned more about the engineering field. Several girls even said they are considering a career in STEM as they wrapped up their time in the program.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast would like to thank Franklin Southampton Charities, Newport News Shipbuilding, Franklin and Hampton Public Schools for allowing us to bring the Girl Scout Experience to these amazing girls.

Camp Fury Norfolk

The last week in June was an exciting time for a group of go-getter Girl Scouts who took part in Camp Fury Norfolk, a summer camp hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the City of Norfolk Division of Fire & Rescue to introduce girls to nontraditional careers for women, including firefighting. 

While at Camp Fury, the girls were encouraged to try new things that helped them develop teamwork skills and build self-confidence.

Each day was a new adventure and challenge for the girls. The week began with physical training followed by a variety of events which allowed the girls to work alongside female firefighters and learn about what it takes to keep the community safe. At Norfolk Station 9, the Girl Scouts rotated through stations designed to enhance their firefighting skills. 

Once the campers were fitted with their gear on the first day, they practiced CPR, forcible entry and search and rescue missions. Other activities throughout the week included: observing a vehicle extrication demonstration, repelling in Downtown Norfolk, spending the day with Female Norfolk Police Officers to learn more about their important role in the community and learning more about NASA from female engineers.

"Women are more powerful and capable of things than other people think. We have more intelligence and more power and it's just hidden and people need to see that," Girl Scout camper Lynae said as she thought about her time at Camp Fury Norfolk.

On Thursday, the girls spent the night aboard the USS Battleship Wisconsin before graduating from the program on Friday.

“My favorite part of the week was repelling because it was energizing,” second year Camp Fury Norfolk Girl Scout Taerion said.

Camp Fury Norfolk started in 2017 when Darlene Braun, Norfolk firefighter and paramedic, decided to bring the camp to the city after volunteering with other Camp Furys in the area. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast also partners with the City of Chesapeake and the City of Hampton to bring the Camp Fury experience to Girl Scouts in Hampton Roads.

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. 

Click here to view more photos.

Williamsburg Girl Scout Caroline has earned her Silver Award

Girl Scout Cadette, Caroline Fuller, has earned her Girl Scout Silver Award for her project “Full STEAM Ahead!”

For her project, Caroline developed her own STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities and shared them with students in public schools as well as the home school academy. With the help of her lesson plans, students in preschool through sixth grade crafted things like magnets and simple machines.

To the left is a photo of an activity Caroline put together to supplement a third grade classroom teacher's unit on counting money up to $2. She set up a store with prizes. Students chose two prizes, added up the total cost, and practiced paying (using play money) in two different ways. The students got to keep the prizes!

To sustain her project, Caroline kept a binder with all of the different lessons that she created so that they could be recreated in the future. In total, she taught over 25 lessons to children in the public school and home school academy.

Although Caroline has completed her leadership project, she is still teaching her lesson plans.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the top award that middle school age Girl Scouts can earn. To earn the award, girls have to identify a need in the community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work.

Vulcan Materials Company donates 42 tons of stone to Camp Skimino!

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast appreciates our volunteers and donors!

From the military to clubs like the Rotary and our Girl Scout families, so many people and organizations in the community help us to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

Vulcan Materials Company, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, recently donated 42 tons of stone to Camp Skimino. The stone is currently being used to keep the road and trails safe at camp!

The company has donated stone and gravel to Camp Darden and Camp Skimino since 2012.

With the help of Vulcan Materials Company and other organizations, the GSCCC property team is able to keep our camp locations safe for Girl Scout campers and guests.

Thank you, Vulcan Materials Company, for your generous donation and continued support of Girl Scouts!

If you would like to make a donation to one of our camp locations, please contact customercare@gsccc.org or call 757-547-4405.

Girl Scouts in Virginia Beach earn their Inside Government Badge

 Girl Scout Troops 208 and 828 recently learned more about the inner workings of government from a Virginia Beach Delegate with the help of Girl Scout Junior Julissa.

Julissa led her troop to receive the Inside Government Badge after meeting Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler at the Beach Girls Rock seminar for fifth graders.

A requirement for the badge is to interview an elected official to learn more about their role in the government. While girls are working on the badge, they also can learn how to become active citizens. Julissa led a meeting to complete their badge requirements and invited Delegate Fowler to talk to the girls about the government and her role in it.

A week prior to their meeting, the girls learned some general information about how the government works, including how a bill becomes a law. When it came time to meet with Delegate Fowler, the girls were prepared and had a lot of questions.

Delegate Fowler was elected last year after beating incumbent Ron Villanueva. She explained to the girls that she never expected to be in the government. She was once a third grade teacher, and before getting elected, she became a Real Estate Agent. Once she got to the Virginia House of Delegates, she was placed in the Election Committee as well as the Science and Technology Committee, where she votes on bills that are related to those committees. While she explained how bills become laws, she also elaborated on the importance of talking to your local representatives to enact change in your community.

“If you don’t call, email or write a letter to your representative, they are not going to know what you want and what needs to be done,” she said.

After her talk, Delegate Fowler opened the floor to the girls and answered some of their questions. The girls asked questions about Amber Alerts, school shootings and how they can be active citizens.

This group of go-getter Girl Scouts shared with Delegate Fowler how they were already using their voices to change things in their community. The girls had been hard at work trying to get their neighborhood streets repaved because they hadn’t paved in over 30 years! The girls helped by having members of the community sign a petition to send to their elected official. Delegate Fowler applauded the girls for their hard work and told them who they could contact to get the roads repaved. 

After their questions, the girls held their own mock election where they each ran for different branches of the government. They even made signs and had campaign speeches prepared to share with the group. Then, they each voted with ballots and homemade voting booths.

From this experience, all of the girls learned a lot of different things about how the government works. Julissa learned that in order to be an active citizen, “you must speak to your elected officials so that they can help solve the issues in your community.”

Thank you, Delegate Fowler, for teaching the girls more about the government!