Silver Award Spotlight: Little Lending Library

Girl Scout Cadette Kathryn earned her Silver Award by designing and building a Little Lending Library for the students at Rena B. Wright Primary School.  

She designed a really cool two story library that can hold up to 75 books.  Kathryn's dad helped her shop for all the supplies she would need and taught Kathryn safe use of the power tools she would need for her project. 

After building the Little Library, she painted it using the school’s colors- blue and white.  Family and friends were happy to donate gently used children's books and Kathryn collected enough for several months of stock.

Once the library was complete and posted in the ground she made a special presentation to the faculty and staff of Rena B. Wright about the benefits of reading to small children and the process for designing, building and painting the library.  

The Little Lending Library has been well used.  Even since schools have been closed due to Covid-19, Kathryn has continued to restock books each week. 

“I am happy that the books are being used and I have restocked the books several times. I am very proud of my Little Lending Library and I know it will be used for years to come!”

GSCCC CEO Recognized with Angels in Adoption Award

Tracy Keller, Senator Mark Warner, Dan Keller

Senator Mark Warner celebrated Dan and Tracy Keller of Chesapeake as 2017 Angels in Adoption awardees for their outstanding advocacy of adoption and foster care issues. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates Angels in Adoption, honored the Kellers at an awards ceremony on September 26 and a gala on September 27 in Washington, D.C.

After learning that they would not likely have biological children, Dan and Tracy Keller embraced foster care parenting in 2005 with the goal of adoption. In 2010, they became the proud parents of four adopted children, who are now ages 11, 12, 13 and 14. While they have faced many challenges on their road to adoption, the Kellers navigated it all and have expanded the definition of “family” by creating a support system for their children with grandparents, relatives and caring adults who understand what the children desire most—permanency.

“While our journey from foster care to adoption was an arduous one, it led to the amazing family we have today,” Tracy said.

As a result of the Keller’s commitment to advocating for adoption and foster care issues, other children have befitted. Tracy, who works as the chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, has led many efforts, including Backpacks for Foster Care. She also gives volunteer time with groups such as the Great Bridge Rotary and the City of Chesapeake’s Human Services Advisory Board—groups that have championed projects for underprivileged children. Tracy also speaks about foster care and adoption at community events.

“Angels in Adoption is a unique, annual opportunity to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the power of adoption and the unspoken heroes who have made the dream of a family a reality for children,” Becky Weichhand, executive director of CCAI, said. “Since the program’s inception, more than 2,600 Angels have come to Washington to share their firsthand adoption experiences with members of Congress, highlighting the joys, as well as the barriers encountered in the process.”

Angels in Adoption is CCAI’s signature public awareness event and provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of children and orphans in the United States and abroad. The program was established in 1999 as a Congressional press conference to honor outstanding individuals. Since then, the program has developed into a yearlong public awareness campaign, culminating with the awards gala and celebration in Washington, D.C.

Top 5 Reasons New Volunteers Won’t Want to Miss the GSCCC Open House

Just like girls need mentors and role models, new Girl Scout volunteers need friends and guides to help them on their journey. A great place to find this support is at the bi-annual GSCCC Open House! The next one is scheduled for Sunday, November 19 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at A Place for Girls, the GSCCC regional program center in Chesapeake. Here’s why you won’t want to miss out:

1. Tour GSCCC facilities. Did you know that we have a nearly nine-acre nature area in The Outback behind A Place for Girls—perfect for learning outdoor skills? And, did you know your troop can rent The Lodge or the Fun Room at A Place for Girls for an overnight experience? Check out all of our facilities during a tour at the open house.
2. Meet GSCCC staff. Want to put a face to the name of the GSCCC staff members you communicate with via email and over the phone? Many staff members will be at the open house and would love to meet you face-to-face!
3. Shop and save. During the open house, volunteers can receive 10 percent off of their purchases in the GSCCC shop. 
4. Network with fellow volunteers. One of the most beneficial parts of the open house is the chance to share stories and swap tips with other Girl Scout volunteers. Share troop organization tips, talk about favorite spots for outings, discuss ways to engage parents and more!
5. Take a class. Stick around after the open house for some Girl Scout learning. From 3 to 5 p.m., you can take one of the following classes: Girl Scout Program Basics, Part II; Girl Scout Songs, Ceremonies and Traditions; or Troop Organization Tips. Be sure to register ahead of time for these!

As you can see, GSCCC Open House is one event you surely don’t want to miss! We hope to see you there!

Day of Caring 2017

A team of staff from Chubb Insurance spent the morning at A Place for Girls, the regional Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast program center, on Friday, September 8 for Day of Caring. This annual event, hosted by the United Way of South Hampton Roads, connects local volunteers to nonprofit organizations to a fun-filled day of hard work.

On the agenda for the day, the volunteers added a fresh coat of paint to the picnic shelters in The Outback, a nearly nine-acre nature area behind A Place for Girls. They also helped with landscaping around the property—weeding garden beds, trimming hedges and clearing paths along the nature trail in The Outback.

Helena Lecke-White, chair of the branch outreach committee for Chubb Insurance, organized the volunteer experience for herself and her coworkers. During Day of Caring, she helped with both the landscaping and the painting projects.

“Many of our staff members are already volunteers in the community, and Day of Caring is just one more way for us to give back,” Lecke-White said. “We have been taking part in Day of Caring for at least 15 years, and we enjoy getting to work with and learn about different organizations in the community.”

Athena Cash of Chubb Insurance was especially excited to be working with Girl Scouts for Day of Caring because she was a Girl Scout while growing up in Newport News. One of her fondest memories was learning how to roller-skate as a Girl Scout.

“I remember how much fun my sister and I had as Girl Scouts,” Cash said. “We loved earning badges to add them to our uniforms.”

Day of Caring was established in 1991 to promote the spirit of volunteerism, increase awareness of local human service organizations and demonstrate how people working together for the common good can accomplish great things. This year volunteers from almost 60 companies are tackled more than 100 service projects in South Hampton Roads for Day of Caring.

Gold Award Spotlight: Teen Driving While Under the Influence

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

Jennifer’s project addressed the issue of teens driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. She developed a presentation that she shared with more than 200 students in their driver’s education classes at Deep Creek High School. She also made a presentation to the members of Students Against Destructive Driving at her school.

Jennifer also distributed fliers about the dangers of driving under the influence, as well as bumper stickers that she designed with the message, “Driving Impaired Causes Fatal Consequences.” She also designed a retractable banner about the issue that she displayed at her school and a local AAA Club.

“I know teenagers that drink alcohol, take drugs and huff household chemicals before or while driving,” Jennifer said. “I wanted to make them aware of the fatal consequences of their bad decisions.”

After presenting to students at her school, Jennifer sent a copy of her presentation to the principals at each of the high schools in Chesapeake. In an accompanying letter, she explained her project and asked that her presentation is shared with students at the schools. Jennifer also created a website, where she placed resources and information for anyone to use.

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

Chesapeake Girl Scout Recognized as a 2017 National Young Woman of Distinction

GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller, Lea and
GSCCC Board Chair Carolene Goodwyn-Harris

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast is excited to announce that Lea Bonner, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Chesapeake, was named by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) as a 2017 National Young Woman of Distinction, the organization’s most prestigious honor. GSUSA selects 10 National Young Women of Distinction annually among candidates who have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award®, which represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouts.

Approximately five percent of all eligible Girl Scouts earn their Gold Award each year— and just 10 girls in this already-high-achieving group receive the National Young Woman of Distinction honor. Applications are judged by GSUSA executives, previous National Young Women of Distinction, leaders from a range of fields and a representative from the Kappa Delta Foundation, which provides the honorees with college scholarships.

For her Gold Award project, Lea established a recycling program for oyster shells from local restaurants in her community. With the help of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Lea created a sustainable system for the shells to be returned to the bay to create reefs to help the oyster population grow.

Lea joined GSCCC Board Chair Carolene Goodwyn-Harris and
CEO Tracy Keller on a visit to Rep. Scott Taylor to discuss issues
that impact girls and Girl Scouts, referencing the 2017 State of Girls
 report published by the Girl Scout Research Institute. 

To honor Girl Scouts’ National Young Women of Distinction, the Kappa Delta Foundation grants the selected girls a combined $50,000 in college scholarships, reflecting Kappa Delta’s commitment to girls’ leadership and pursuit of education. This includes $5,000 for Lea. An additional $100,000 in college scholarships, which includes $10,000 for Lea, is provided by Susan Bulkeley Butler, founder of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders.

Lea will be honored during the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Volunteer Kickoff on Saturday, September 23 at Old Dominion University, where she will be featured as a keynote speaker. In addition, GSUSA will honor the National Young Women of Distinction at G.I.R.L. 2017, the largest girl-led event in the world, October 6–8 in Columbus, Ohio. In line with the theme of the event, “Experience the Power of a G.I.R.L.,” G.I.R.L. 2017 will provide every participating girl and girl supporter with amazing opportunities to celebrate achievements, build on aspirations, get inspired, and gain the tools girls need to empower themselves and create change in their communities―both locally and globally.

A Girl Scout Reflection

By Christiane, a Chesapeake Girl Scout

As I embark on my journey to college, I love looking back on my time as a Girl Scout. I first began Girl Scouts in kindergarten as a cute, little Daisy and have made the full journey to becoming a Girl Scout Ambassador as a high school graduate. Many people tend to think that Girl Scouts is just doing arts and crafts, camping and selling those delicious cookies! Boy, are they good! However, this is not the big picture. Girl Scouts is about working with each other to accomplish a common goal, having fun while learning new skills and having each girl discover who she truly is! Most of all, Girl Scouts is about supporting your fellow sisters and helping them to make the world a better place. 

Being a Girl Scout has allowed me to be a part of adventures and experiences I never could have imagined. Girl Scouts has helped me to develop the confidence to lead, the determination to reach my goals, the perspective to view the world in new ways and the ability to learn from setbacks.

This past year, I revitalized the outdoor classroom at Yorktown Elementary School, completing my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The purpose of the project was to restore the outdoor classroom because it was damaged and in a state of decline. I built benches to replace those that were damaged by misuse, built and planted a flower bed and constructed two interactive work stations. The setback I experienced during this project was a delay due to construction that was occurring around the school. However, as I worked with the school’s administration and used my communication and leadership skills, my team and I successfully completed the project! Honestly, it was difficult, but it is a great feeling to know that I helped make a difference, especially for the students at Yorktown Elementary School!

Through Girl Scouts, I also met some of my best friends! We are not only a troop of sisters, but truly a family. We had so many great laughs as we would stay up at night playing board games during camping trips or singing silly songs and making gooey smores around the campfire. Yum! We also got down to business to make a difference in the world, one Take Action project at a time. Some of my favorite experiences completed in scouting include volunteering with the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team to help set up beds and make lunches for the homeless, learning an Indian dance and making curry for the Girl Scouts’ annual World Thinking Day and traveling to Orlando with my troop for our last trip together before we all part our ways for college.

Girl Scouts has shown me to be more encouraging, braver, stronger, a risk-taker and leader! I believe that every girl should be part of the scouting movement, and I am proud to say that I will always be a Girl Scout!

GSCCC Announces New Hours of Operation

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast is pleased to announce new hours of operation, effective September 2, 2017. The change, which includes extending the workday by thirty minutes from Monday to Thursday, will help to accommodate our customers’ needs!

Here at GSCCC, it is important to us to provide the best customer service possible to our volunteers and caregivers, and it was with your valuable input that we made these changes to our office hours. We look forward to better serving all of our members as we continue to work together to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place!

The new hours are as follows:

Chesapeake Office Location

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Chesapeake Retail Location Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on designated Saturdays
*First Saturday in April through second Saturday in June; and
*First Saturday in September through second Saturday in November

Peninsula Office 

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Peninsula Retail Location

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (This retail location only, closed 1 to 2 p.m. for lunch)
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
NO SATURDAY HOURS

Council retail staff are happy to take orders by phone and have them ready for pick up during office hours, or customers may request that the package is mailed. Online shopping continues to be an option.

Please email customercare@gsccc.org if you have any questions.

Camp Fury Chesapeake

On Monday morning, 21 Girl Scouts were issued turnout gear, helmets, gloves and safety glasses at the Chesapeake Fire Department Central Supply Warehouse. The girls were preparing to spend the week taking part in Camp Fury Chesapeake, a firefighting and emergency preparedness camp hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Chesapeake Fire Department.

With stormy weather threatening their scheduled activities for Monday afternoon, the Girl Scouts made some adjustments and headed to Norfolk International Airport, where they watched an airport fire training demonstration and learned about the airport’s unique fire department and equipment.

Later in the week, the girls had the opportunity to put firefighting skills to the test at the Southside Regional Fire Training Academy in Portsmouth, where they climbed an aerial ladder on a firetruck, learned forcible entry skills using a Halligan bar, took part in confined space training and operated hose lines. For many of the girls at Camp Fury, the highlight of the week was rappelling inside Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.

Amber

Amber, who will be a senior at Western Branch High School next year, attended Camp Fury Chesapeake for the second year. Inspired by her first experience with the camp, Amber took an emergency medical technician training class during the school year.

“I thought that the class would be complicated, but it wasn’t, especially because I had gone to Camp Fury,” Amber said. “I am now planning to pursue a career as a firefighter.”

In addition to the firefighting experiences they had during the week, the girls learned about other nontraditional careers for women and met women who work in those fields. A panel of female scientists and engineers from NASA spoke to the girls about their experiences in the field of aeronautical engineering. They also welcomed guest speakers from the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office and a female commanding officer in the United States Navy. During the week, the girls also toured the emergency department at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and learned defensive tactics with the Chesapeake Police Department.

This is the second year that Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Chesapeake Fire Department have partnered to host Camp Fury. The concept of Camp Fury originated in Arizona, and Chesapeake Firefighter Paramedic Mandy George brought the camp to Chesapeake after volunteering at Camp Fury Hampton for a couple of years.

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. 

Math and Movement

Seventeen Girl Scouts spent Sunday afternoon learning about movement and math during a workshop hosted by Young Audiences – Arts for Learning- Virginia at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scout regional program center in Chesapeake. Sheena Jeffers, arts integration director for Young Audiences, led the workshop to teach girls about math and healthy living through modern dance.

Jeffers led the girls in a warm up activity, and explained to them that they could use the same warm up routine before any physical activity, from a soccer game to a hike with their Girl Scout troop. She then shared with the girls how math concepts are integrated in dance in a variety of ways.

“I didn’t always love math class in school,” Jeffers shared. “But I really love dance, and the deeper I got into dance, the more ways I saw that math is hidden in dance. Now I like to teach others about how math can be fun.”

Jeffers taught the girls about some fundamentals of dance, including levels, speed and shapes. She then introduced the girls to their first mathematical concept of the day— geometric reflection. Girls paired up and mirrored each other’s movements, trying to create the same shapes with their partners across from them. Their challenge was to incorporate the fundamentals of dance that they had just learned into their movements. For this activity, Jeffers also talked to them about symmetry and asymmetry.

Jeffers then used pivot turns to go over fractions, degrees and percentages. The girls made quarter turns, half turns or full turns based on the command from Jeffers—make a 360 degree turn or turn 50 percent of the way around. They also went over acute, right and obtuse angles using their legs to make different angles. Then, the girls broke into small groups and choreographed at 32-count dance incorporating everything they had gone over that day.

Next on the agenda, Jeffers talked to the girls about healthy living and calories. Jeffers shared that an hour of dance, which they had just completed, burns about 350 calories. The girls then mixed their own trail mix to fuel their bodies with the same amount of energy they had just burned. Jeffers showed the girls how to read the calorie about on the nutrition label and calculate the calories they were adding to their trail mix. After enjoying their snacks, Jeffers and the girls worked creating more choreography that included math concepts.

Studies have shown that girls lose interest in math and science during middle school and that STEM interest is low for girls, compared to boys. According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, much of the research on this topic has focused on representation of girls and women in these fields, primarily on the obstacles preventing more girls and women from entering them. Girl Scouts is shifting the focus toward understanding and developing solutions for what works for girls who show interest and engage in the fields of STEM. By collaborating with organizations, such as Young Audiences – Arts for Learning- Virginia, Girl Scouts can provide opportunities for girls to learn about how to lead healthy lives and engage in activities to explore the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Girl Scouts also offers nearly 40 badges for girls to earn through STEM activities, including Money Manager and Home Scientist.

Through exposure and education, both formal and informal, Girl Scouts and their partners in the community will send the message to girls that STEM careers can fulfill their desires to solve problems and make the world a better place.

Mad Science at Spring Break Camp

In Girl Scouts, girls are always counting down to the next adventure they will go on together. With summer camp still a couple of months away, nearly 60 Girl Scouts are spending the week getting a taste of the fun to come when school lets out during Spring Break Day Camp at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast regional program center in Chesapeake.

The action-packed week has been full of activities for girls to spend time outside, take part in science experiments, let their creativity flow through art projects and make new friends. On Tuesday, the girls enjoyed an interactive workshop with Mad Science of Hampton Roads all about fire and ice. Foggy dry ice storms and playground balls floating in the air amazed the Girl Scouts as they learned about chemical reactions, air pressure and the states of matter.

“Our goal is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children,” Jen Marcus, owner and marketing director of Mad Science of Hampton Roads, said. “It’s really important to introduce girls to science, since there remains an issue of girls taking advanced science classes and pursuing science focused careers. That’s why I love to partner with Girl Scouts – we’re on the same page with this. I weave in stories about women scientists into the presentations and make a special effort to give them more hands-on experiences. When children learn that science is fun, they don’t see it as difficult or complicated.”

Mad Science of Hampton Roads offers programs for Girl Scouts all year long. They will be at Girl Fest on April 29 at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Registration closes for Girl Fest on April 15 and can be completed online here.

Still to come this week, Girl Scouts will be practicing their aim on the archery range, making slime, exploring the world of engineering through LEGOs with BrickHeadZ, putting their culinary skills to the test during a cooking class and so much more. The girls are looking forward to Thursday night, when they will sleepover at A Place for Girls and have an up-close look at the sky with the Back Bay Astronomers.

Dorothy Morrison, a senior in the recreation management department at Old Dominion University, has been interning with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast since January to plan and organize the spring break camp. Her goal was to plan a week of fun and adventure for the Girl Scouts, full of time in the outdoors and opportunities to take part in engaging STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities.

Similar to the spring break camp, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast will be hosting Camp Outback, a summer day camp, at A Place for Girls from July 31 through August 25. All girls in grades one through eight are welcome to attend, and registration is open now.

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.  

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.

Chesapeake Girl Scout Earns Silver Award

Annalee, a Chesapeake Girl Scout, has earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. For her project, Annalee focused on collecting donations of pajamas and flip-flops for Union Mission Ministries, an organization that serves homeless men, women and children in the community.

To collect donations, Annalee set up boxes at A Place for Girls, the regional Girl Scout program center, and the YMCA. She also distributed handouts with bags for donations to 50 neighbors and went back through her neighborhood to collect items. She shared her project in her church bulletin, in a letter to families at her school and through a presentation at a Girl Scout leaders meeting. To try to collect even more donations, Annalee wrote letters to 14 clothing companies asking for donations, and, with the help of a fellow troop member, she tie-dyed and sold T-shirts to her troop members and used the profits to purchase pajamas. As a result of her hard work, she was able to donate 226 pairs of pajamas, 120 pairs of flip-flops and other gently used clothing to Union Mission Ministries.

In addition to her pajama and flip-flop collection drive, Annalee made sure to raise awareness in her community about Union Mission Ministries and the people they serve. She inspired her Girl Scout troop to collect nearly 100 hats and scarves for Union Mission Ministries and donate bus tickets and Girl Scout Cookies to the organization. Also inspired by Annalee, a family friend purchased and donated 30 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies and her sister made Thanksgiving cookies for Union Mission Ministries. Through her project, Annalee motivated others to make a difference and do their part to help those who are homeless.

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.

Girl Scout Troop 329 Tastes New Girl Scout S'mores Cookie with Special Guest

Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout! This motto rings especially true for Veronica Thomas, who has been a member of the organization for more the 50 years. Earlier this month, she visited Girl Scout Troop 329 from Chesapeake during their regular meeting to share her Girl Scout story and take part in a special tasting event—trying the new Girl Scout S’mores cookie.

Speaking in a room of Girl Scouts from kindergarteners to middle school-age girls, Thomas wanted to impress upon them how being a Girl Scout opens doors for girls—and women—of all ages. As a young girl, she did some of the same activities girls are doing today, including attending camp and earning badges. Later in life, as an adult in the 1980s, she had the chance to lead a trip to Girl Scout National Center West in Wyoming. Always eager to make a difference for Girl Scouts, she has also served as a board member for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, represented the Council at five national conventions and has shared her love and knowledge with hundreds of fellow Girl Scouts over the years as a volunteer trainer.

The members of Girl Scout Troop 329 enjoyed hearing Thomas’s stories and thinking about plans for their own Girl Scout futures. After the chance to chat with Thomas and ask her questions, the girls opened a box of special treats to share with her—the new Girl Scout S’mores cookie. It was also the first chance that the troop members had to try the new tasty treat that they are selling this year as part of the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Everyone gave the new cookie two thumbs up.

“The love for Girl Scout Cookies will never change,” Thomas said.

Kayleigh, a fifth-grader in the troop, said that the S’mores cookie is her new favorite Girl Scout Cookie, knocking Samoas down to number two on her list. Inaya, a Girl Scout Daisy, enjoyed the cookie so much that she can’t wait to share it with her customers at cookie booths this year.

Girl Scout Cookies will be on sale in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina through March 26. To find cookie booths near you, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org.

All About Bees

For nearly 100 Girl Scouts, Saturday morning was all about bees as they took part in a workshop to learn about the important role bees play as pollinators in the ecosystem. The event was hosted by Carrie “Honeybee” Brown, who in addition for her background in beekeeping, also works as a retention advisor at Norfolk State University. Brown led the workshop with help from 40 students from Norfolk State University.

Dressed in all black, wearing bee wings on her back and a headband with antennae, Brown kicked off the morning by talking to the girls about her experiences as a beekeeper. Girls then jumped into action and made their own beehives using PVC pipes and cardboard. They also made wildflower seed balls to plant at home and garden markers to keep track of where they planted the flowers for bees. Adding to the fun, girls had the chance to their own headbands with antennae to match Brown’s bee-themed outfit.

As part of the morning’s agenda, Brown spent time talking to the girls about how bees are responsible for pollinating healthy foods and discussed the different roles bees play in the production of honey. Girls listened intently to Brown speak about bees and were especially interested in hearing about hierarchy in beehives and the role that the queen bee plays. To show as examples of beekeeping tools, Brown brought along her beekeepers hat, beehive smoker and examples of beehives that she shared with the girls. She also talked about ways that girls can support local beekeepers and spoke about the importance of the diversity of flowers that bees need to survive.

In today’s world, where women hold only approximately 25 percent of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers, Girl Scouts is committed to providing experiences for girls to explore and discover in a wide variety of STEM fields. Through partnerships, including the one with Brown, Girl Scouts is able to create opportunities for girls to be engaged in fun and unique STEM-learning experiences.

Brown previously hosted the Spartan Beekeepers Club at Norfolk State University, which made the college the first HBCU to have a rooftop apiary, or bee farm. It was also the first of its kind in the City of Norfolk. This spring, she will be introducing a beehive at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast regional program center and headquarters in Chesapeake. 

Chesapeake Resident Honored with Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Award

United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Engler of Chesapeake was recognized with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for her outstanding public service as a troop leader with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast from January 2012 to present.

LCDR Engler’s troop is one of the few in Hickory that accommodates girls of various age levels, catering to a high percentage of military families. She provides the girls in her troop with opportunities to participate in a wide variety of activities, including camping trips and Powder Puff Derby, a pinewood derby event for Girl Scouts. She has also led her troop in projects to make improvements to school grounds and city parks. In addition to making a difference in the lives of girls, Engler takes time to train fellow volunteers with the skills they need to be Girl Scout leaders.

LCDR Engler was presented the award by Rear Admiral J.E. Pitts, Commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center.

“It is with great pleasure that I commend you for your outstanding volunteer work, which reflects positively on the command and the United States Navy,” Rear Admiral Pitts wrote in a letter to LCDR Engler.

Since joining the Navy 17 years ago, LCDR Engler has moved all over the country and traveled all over the world. One thing that has been a constant through all of these moves is Girl Scouts. With each move, LCDR Engler says that getting involved with local Girl Scouts allowed her to also get involved with her new community outside of military life. LCDR Engler also spent nine years as a Girl Scout as a child.

Meet Maureen: Cookie Entrepreneur Officer

Maureen shared taste of the new Girl Scout S'mores cookie
with Chesapeake Vice-Mayor Rick West and Mayor Alan Krasnoff

Maureen is a 10-year-old on a mission. With her go-getter attitude and innovative ideas, she became the top Girl Scout Cookie seller in Chesapeake last year. This year, she has set her sights even higher and has set a goal to be the top cookie seller in the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast council, which covers southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Never afraid to step up and take on a challenge, she has set a hefty goal—intending to sell 3,500 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies this year.

For months, Maureen has been making plans to find success and reach her goal. Her first step is to contact her customers from the year before to see if they would like to place a cookie order again this year. She keeps a spreadsheet of customers on her computer and spends the first days of cookie season making phone calls, even reminding customers of the cookies they ordered last year and asking them if they would like to place the same order or update it. This year, she is excited to be able to offer her customers a new option—the Girl Scout S’mores cookie.

Maureen has also taken her sales online. She uses Digital Cookie, an online platform where she sets up her own store and sends emails to friends and family members asking them to purchase cookies online.

"With Digital Cookie, I send emails and then I am even selling cookies when I am sleeping or at school because people can log on to order when it’s convenient for them,” Maureen said. “I also love that I can track my sales online. There are pie charts, and I can see which cookie I sell the most of.”

Maureen’s inspiration for success comes from a fellow Girl Scout, Ashleigh Peterson, who held the region’s top cookie seller title for seven years before graduating from high school in June. Maureen has gotten to know Ashleigh over the years at Girl Scout events, and carries with her an inspiring and motivating message from Ashleigh.

“One time, Ashleigh told me that for every 10 times a customer says no, you will get one yes,” Maureen said. “This gives me the courage to keep asking people and not get discouraged if someone doesn’t want to buy cookies.”

Last year, Maureen helped load Gift of
Caring cookies into a truck to be donated
to the USO.

Part of Maureen’s goal includes selling cookies for the Gift of Caring program. Through this program, Maureen asks customers to purchase an extra box of cookies to be donated to members of the military. Inspired by her troop leader who is a veteran, Maureen likes to do her part to send a taste of home to soldiers overseas as a thank you for the sacrifices they make to protect our country.

After cookie season, Maureen and her fellow members of Troop 805 have big plans for their cookie earnings. They have scheduled a trip to attend the Girl Scout Jamboree in West Virginia. They are looking forward to a long weekend of high adventure activities, including zip lining, rappelling and mountain biking. They also intend to use a portion of the money they earn from cookies to give back to the community.

Last year, Maureen earned her Bronze Award, one of the top awards a girl can earn in Girl Scouting, for her project with the Crayon Initiative, which collects broken and used crayons and turns them into new crayons that are donated to children’s hospitals for patient entertainment and learning programs. Earning her Bronze Award showed Maureen how she can make the world a better place and has inspired her to continue to give back to others.