Silver Award Spotlight: Chemo Kits

Girl Scout Cadettes Lily and Amelie took initiative to help out in a really meaningful way by creating "Chemo Kits" for children in the hospital who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy is often painful or uncomfortable, and children go through it all the time. These Girl Scouts decided to help make their experience a little more comfortable and show their support in a way they knew how.

In order to start working on the Chemo Care Kits, Lily and Amelie researched prices on many items and created a budget. Once they knew what they wanted to include, and how they could do it, they reached out to Love Your Melon, a non-profit whose mission is solely to accommodate those with cancer, mainly those undergoing Chemo. They happily sent over beanies to include in each kit. The girls constructed two kits per category. These are the categories they worked within and what they included for each kit:

 

all received: Love Your Melon beanie, port pillow

in addition,

girls and boys aged 1-4: teddy bear, baby blanket, baby book, cozy socks

girls and boys aged 5-10: coloring book & crayons, cozy socks, lemon drops

boys aged 11+: water bottle, lemon drops, cozy socks, earbuds

girls aged 11+: Pura Vida bracelet, lemon drops, cozy socks, earbuds

 

Through this experience, they learned skills in budgeting, teamwork, leadership, careful sanitization (due to COVID and the kids being immunocompromised), and community networking. Because of these girls, these kids will have a much better experience during something that can be super scary. 

Thank you, Lily and Amelie!

Gold Award Spotlight: Writing Right

Advocating for those who need a voice and bringing awareness to things we all can do to help is part of the Girl Scout way. Girl Scout Ambassador Cassandra earned the Gold Award in her project, Writing Right by doing those two things! 

Cassandra worked with a licensed occupational therapist to write a children’s book, Writing Right, aimed to help students with dysgraphia, a learning disability that affects fine motor skills like writing, cope.

The main character of Cassandra’s book, Writing Right, is a third grader Noah, who has dysgraphia. Cassandra shares experiences of Noah as he goes through school and faces various challenges that other kids might not be aware of.

She hopes that her book will spread awareness of dysgraphia to readers by getting to know Noah as a person and a friend. Cassandra’s book was designed to help others, especially kids, understand more about this lesser-known disability and help those affected through resources at the end of the book.

Cassandra was able to donate 40 copies of her book to local schools and public libraries. In addition, Cassandra’s book was published and offered online at cost for a print version or free on Kindle.

Visit writingright.org for more information or to purchase or download a copy.

Silver Award Spotlight: Build A Bridge

Girl Scout Cadette Gabrielle earned her Silver Award by doing a special project for a local troop. 

As we know, bridging is a beloved Girl Scout tradition that honors girls' achievements throughout the year and celebrates their "crossing the bridge" to the next Girl Scout level involving a special ceremony for the whole troop to enjoy.

Gabrielle wanted to do a project that would help make many girl’s bridging even more special by constructing the bridge needed for a local troop to use for its ceremonies going forward. 

Gabrielle contacted friends, family, local hardware stores, and a shadow box business to ask for donations of the supplies needed to construct the bridge for the troop to use to advance to the next level of Girl Scouts.

In addition to gaining new fellowship in the community, Gabrielle was able to learn more about construction, measurements, and safely handling power tools to accomplish a goal.

Way to go, Gabrielle!

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!”

Bronze Award Spotlight: Donations to the Pantry

Taking action to spread some joy is what Girl Scout Alexis did to earn her Girl Scout Bronze Award. She collected pantry donations from her community for a local church pantry. She brought resources in her community together for a good cause by creating handmade posters and a special video for friends and family to spread the word.

“At a few of our troop meetings, I asked my troop to help and we made flyers that could be placed in neighborhoods, asking for nonperishable food donations.” Alexis said. “I also asked my troop to help by giving donations of non-perishable food donations.” 

In total she, with the help of friends, were able to collect 136 non-perishable food items that were delivered to St. Pius X Church Food Pantry in Norfolk.

Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast (GSCCC) recognizes the need for food donations at this time and invites GSCCC Girl Scouts and friends to make a difference for families in need by getting involved in the July 30th food drive to support the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.  You may drop off any nonperishable food items at 2401 Aluminum Ave, Hampton. This will be a "drive by" donation effort and there are no tours of the Foodbank. Find details and register for this community service here.

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.

Give Local 757

GSCCC is excited to be part of Give Local 757, the largest fundraising event in Hampton Roads! For 24 hours, starting at midnight on May 9, everyone can be a philanthropist by choosing a cause and making a donation to help make a positive impact on the community.

Here are the top five reasons why you should choose Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and invest in girls as part of Give Local 757 on May 9:

1. Girl Scouts are big thinkers, groundbreakers and role models. While some people still think of us as just cookies, campfires and friendship bracelets, Girl Scouts is so much more.
2. When girls succeed, so does society. We provide girls with a place to discover their passion, find their voice and make a positive impact in their communities. These girls are building a better world for all of us!
3. Giving for girls is giving for the whole community. Community service is a cornerstone of Girl Scouts. Every year, Girl Scouts collectively spend more than 75 million hours improving their communities. 
4. Girl Scouts teaches girls to take the lead. Girl Scouts gives girls the experiences they need to become bold, honest and determined to succeed. That explains why half of all U.S. businesswomen were Girl Scouts.
5. Girl Scouts design robots, start garage bands, and improve their communities— and yes, they sell the best cookies on the planet. These experiences are giving girls the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place.

Mark your calendar for May 9 to give for girls. Any amount you can give will help us build the next generation of G.I.R.L.s— go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leader. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates!

Cookie Blitz with TowneBank

Dawn Glynn, President and Regional Executive Officer with
Morgan Davis, President and Chief Banking Officer

Thanks to TowneBank, the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program season has had a super rocket launch! Not only has TowneBank supported the 2017 Cookie Kick Off held mid-November for girls, they are sponsoring this week’s Cookie Blitz. Throughout the week, GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller and select staff will be “cookie blitzing” donors, community leaders and friends, offering them a chance to sample and tell us what they think about the new Girl Scout Cookie - the S’mores cookie! The actual door-to-door, order-taking visits made by girls in neighborhoods begins Saturday, January 7.

TowneBank President and Chief Banking Officer Morgan Davis was on hand today at the bank’s headquarters in Suffolk to taste a Girl Scout S’mores cookie. He gives it a thumbs up!

Dawn Glynn with Jerry Kent, TowneBank Senior Vice President
of Private Banking

This year is a perfect time to have a cookie blitz because 2017 marks the 100th year of the first known sale of cookies by Girl Scouts. In 1917, the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project. Becoming more than a bake sale, the program has evolved into a highly recognized financial literacy and entrepreneurship program for girls that teaches them five essential skills – goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. There’s quite a bit of history when it comes to Girl Scout Cookies!

Nationally, nearly 1 million Girl Scouts participate in the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program – nearly 10,000 of those right here at Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast! Proceeds help fund troop activities, unique programs that girls may not get elsewhere, support the training of adult volunteers, and help maintain camp properties. We’re looking forward to a successful cookie season in 2017. We know it will be a whole lot sweeter for our girls, thanks to our TowneBank friends!

Car Care Workshop

For many teens, turning 16 is a milestone, as they look forward to obtaining their driver’s license and the accompanying sense of freedom. But, with the new feeling of independence that comes with getting behind the wheel, also comes a new set of responsibilities. To help new and soon-to-be drivers learn about car care and safety, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and GEICO teamed up to hold a workshop for nearly 40 Girl Scouts on May 4 at Elite Auto Body in Norfolk.

As the girls arrived at the auto shop, they had the chance to mingle with a member of the GEICO sales team to learn about insurance, as well as with representatives from RK Chevrolet, who shared tips about purchasing a car. After a welcome message from Toiya Sosa, regional public affairs and community relations with GEICO, and Tracy Keller, CEO of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, girl split into groups and rotated through four activity stations. Each station was run by members of the GEICO auto damage department from across Virginia and North Carolina.

The first two stations were hands-on opportunities for girls to learn about maintaining a vehicle. They checked the air pressure in car tires, learned about checking the depth of tire treads and practiced changing a car tire. They also looked under the hood of a car, where they checked oil levels and learned how to connect jumper cables to restart a car battery. Finally, while learning about why it is important to maintain their vehicle, the girls looked at examples of clean and dirty air filters.

“In driver’s education at school, we learn about some of these things, but we never actually do them, which is why I learned a lot tonight,” McKenna, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Chesapeake, said.

At the two other stations, girls participated in an interactive game to learn about the dangers of distracted driving and learned about the crash risks associated with young drivers. The girls also got a quick lesson in insurance, during which they learned about liability and different types of coverage.

“It’s important for girls to learn these life skills,” Sosa said. “They’ll feel empowered and confident on the road, and sharing this information with them is beneficial for traffic safety in general.”

The workshop concluded with a ceremony, where each girl received a GEICO Car Care Program patch. The Girl Scout Seniors, who are ninth and tenth graders, also earned the Girl Scout Car Care badge, which is designed to help prepare teens to become safe drivers.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and GEICO will offer the car care program for teen girls in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina again this fall. For more information about opportunities with Girl Scouts, visit www.gsccc.org.

View more photos from the event here.

2nd Annual Cookie Classic Run

More than 300 runners and walkers took part in the 2nd annual Girl Scout Cookie Classic Run on Saturday, January 30 at Bells Mill Park in Chesapeake. The race, which included a 5k Trefoil Trek and 1-mile Samoa Stroll, was organized by Girl Scout volunteers from Community 3, a membership area within Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast that includes Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk and surrounding cities.

The Trefoil Trek 5k race competitors took off at 9 a.m., following an opening ceremony with the Girl Scout Promise and Law and a welcome from Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller. Participants in the 5k ranged in age from 2, riding in a stroller along the course, to 63. Everyone was awarded with a Cookie Classic medal at the finish line.

An hour later, the 1-mile Samoa Stroll participants assembled at the starting line. They were awarded with a patch at the end of the race.

Between the two races, Girl Scout alumnae served as judges to choose winners for the Best Spirit and Best Costume contests. Many Girl Scouts were dressed as their favorite cookies, while others were decked out in tutus and other fun outfits. Top race finishers for each age category were also recognized during the event.

Girl Scouts who participated in either race completed requirements towards earning a badge for their age level, including the My Best Self badge for Girl Scout Brownies and the Staying Fit badge for Girl Scout Juniors.

Proceeds from the Cookie Classic will help provide programs for Girl Scouts, learning opportunities and training for Girl Scout volunteers and financial assistance for girls who would otherwise not be able to participate in Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program will run through March 20. Cookie booth sales will begin on February 20, and cookie customers can visit girlscoutcookies.org to enter their zip code and find a list of scheduled cookie booths nearby. Find more information about the local Girl Scout Cookie Program here.

View more photos from the event here.

Girl Scouts Explore the Outdoors at Norfolk Botanical Garden

Since Girl Scouts was founded over 100 years ago, the organization has provided opportunities for girls to get outdoors to explore the natural world around them and learn respect and appreciation for the environment. On Saturday, October 25, this tradition continued as over 150 Girl Scouts visited Norfolk Botanical Garden to learn about local plants and animals, as well as ways to conserve natural resources.

Girl Scouts spent the day in the WOW Children’s Garden, a three-acre area designed with interactive learning stations for families. The girls went on a scavenger hunt to identify different types of plants, made rubbings of tree bark and leaves and learned how to tell time on a sundial. They also decorated their own flowerpots that they later planted a seed in and learned about the parts of a flower. In Exploration Station, an indoor classroom in the garden, the girls made nature journals, where they were able to keep track of what they saw in the garden, as well as jot down the ways they learned to protect the environment.

“One of my favorite parts of the day was the educations station hosted by Merly Konathapally, a Girl Scout Ambassador who completed her Gold Award at the Garden over the summer,” Jen Erving, director of youth education at Norfolk Botanical Garden, said. “Her project not only taught younger Girl Scouts about the importance of protecting the monarch butterfly, but also inspired them to reach the Ambassador level of Girl Scouts themselves.”

For children, spending time outdoors can make them better problem solvers, more creative in their reasoning, less aggressive and better at concentrating; yet, research shows that children are spending half as much time outdoors than they were 20 years ago. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, with the help of community partners such as Norfolk Botanical Garden, is committed to providing girls with opportunities to explore and discover in the outdoors. In fact, the Girl Scout Research Institute found that 97 percent of Girl Scouts participated in at least one outdoor activity during the past year.

Families interested in learning more about getting outdoors with Girl Scouts and joining the organization can attend Step Outside with Girl Scouts on November 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at A Place for Girls in Chesapeake. This event, which is free and open to the public, will include family-friendly outdoor activities and the opportunity to register to become a Girl Scout. Find more information at www.gsccc.org.

View more photos from the day here.

Day of Caring at Camp Skimino

Nearly 40 volunteers from Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center gave a helping hand to Girl Scouts on September 19 as part of Day of Caring. This annual event is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Williamsburg to connect local volunteers to nonprofit organizations for a fun-filled day of hard work to build a stronger Williamsburg community. This is the third year that volunteers from Sentara have helped Girl Scouts for Day of Caring.
  

Volunteers spent the day at Girl Scout Camp Skimino, a 98-acre property used year round by Girl Scouts and community groups for camping, outdoor activities and meetings. They painted the exterior of the Enmeier Center, a three-story building that houses the dining hall, kitchen and program rooms at the camp. Two years ago, Sentara volunteers painted the interior of the center for Day of Caring.

“I’ve been organizing Day of Caring for 18 years, and by far, Camp Skimino has been a favorite spot for Sentara employees to give back,” Don West, director of support operations for Sentara Healthcare, said. “We have lots of new faces helping out this year, and a group who have been coming to Camp Skimino all three years.”

A lot of preparation went into the Day of Caring efforts. Members of the hospital’s maintenance department visited Camp Skimino ahead of time to test paint colors and assess any repairs that needed to be made to the exterior of the building. On Day of Caring, all except for one member of the maintenance staff was at Camp Skimino to help with the painting project. Other volunteers hold a variety of roles at the hospital, including nurse manager, director of surgical services, cook and social worker. Sentara purchased all of the paint and supplies needed to make improvements to the Enmeier Center.

In addition to taking part in Day of Caring, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center employees help provide food for over 300 children in the area through a backpack program, which sends food home with children who rely on food at school for nourishment. They also sponsor Project SEARCH, which gives students with disabilities a one-year internship at the hospital.

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. Each year, hundreds of volunteers from the business sector participate in Day of Caring and give service to nonprofit organizations.

View more photos from the day here.

Day of Caring at A Place for Girls

Twenty-two volunteers from TowneBank branches across Hampton Roads gave a helping hand to Girl Scouts on September 11 as part of Day of Caring. This annual event is sponsored by the United Way of South Hampton Roads as a way to connect local volunteers to nonprofit organizations for a fun-filled day of hard work to build a stronger South Hampton Roads community.

Volunteers spent the day at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast regional program center and headquarters in Chesapeake. They worked in The Outback, a nearly nine-acre nature center behind A Place for Girls, to pull weeds and power wash the boardwalk. They also painted the handrails and applied a fresh coat of stain to the handicap ramps at The Lodge, a program annex building next to A Place for Girls.

This is the third year in a row that volunteers from TowneBank have selected to help Girl Scouts during Day of Caring. 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. Each year, hundreds of volunteers from the business sector participate in Day of Caring and give service to nonprofit organizations.

View more photos from the day here.

Attorney General Herring Visits Camp Apasus

Attorney General Mark R. Herring got a chance to be a camper today at Girl Scout Camp Apasus. As part of his tour of camps using the Virginia Rules curriculum, he spoke to both girls and boys attending a camp being sponsored by the Sheriff Bob McCabe Foundation.

Attorney General Herring autographed T-shirts for the campers

During his visit, he spent some time getting to know the campers and heard about their week-long experience which included camp favorites such as archery, swimming and canoeing, as well as a bike safety course and a trip to the Virginia Zoo.

“We’ve had a super week,” said Deputy Debbie Vogler who served as a camp counselor for the camp and is a Girl Scout alumna. “ The Virginia Rule module is a program that covers a wide range of subjects and issues that kids are facing today. I know it has made an impact on the kids just by listening to them during our discussions on gang violence, bullying and internet safety. ”

Maranda White, a Girl Scout alumna who attended Camp
Apasus and is will be entering the Norfolk Sheriff's Office
Academy, and  Deputy Debbie Volger were camp counselors.

The Attorney General thanked the Sheriff and his team for holding the camp and said that the work they do is very important.

“When kids spend time with local law enforcement officials it builds a sense of community, helps prevent crime and gives kids the tools they need to make good decisions," Attorney General Herring said.

This is the third year that the Sheriff Bob McCabe Foundation has partnered with Girl Scouts to offer a summer day camp aimed at building relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The special camp will continue to be offered for another week. A Girl Scout day camp will be offered at Camp Apasus in August.

5 Steps to Earning Your Ranger Patch

This past weekend, Girl Scouts announced an exciting partnership with the National Park Service to launch the “Girl Scout Ranger Program,” a joint venture connecting girls with National Park Service sites throughout the United States, including monuments, seashores, and urban sites.

Through this program, girls are invited to play outdoors and learn about national parks while developing essential leadership skills. Even better, girls have the opportunity to earn patches, complete Journeys and achieve Take Action and Gold Award projects!

So, how can a girl earn the Ranger patch? It's simple!

1. Choose a National Park Service site.Visit the National Park Service website. Choose a national park, a monument or any of 407 sites protected by the National Park Service. Explore nature, learn the history and read the stories to discover why it is important to preserve your park.

2. Imagine Yourself in a National Park.Brainstorm activities that you might want to experience at a national park. Consider working outside with a geologist or inside identifying fossils. Maybe wildfire restoration, building a bridge or a night sky project interests you.

3. Contact the park and make a plan.Call the park (the phone number is on the park’s website under Contact Us). Identify yourself as a Girl Scout. Ask if there is someone who works with the Girl Scout Ranger program or a volunteer coordinator. Express your ideas to the coordinator. Together, plan a project to help the park and fulfill your goals.

4. Go to the park and have fun!If your park does not have a volunteer program or is too far away to visit, create a Take Action Project.

5. Share the experience.Send photographs or emails of your project and time spent in the park or submit completed Take Action projects to GSUSA’s Map It Girls Changing the World.

Ready to learn more about becoming a Girl Scout Ranger? Click here to read FAQs!

Girl Scouts Announce Partnership with National Park Service

On May 2, Girl Scouts of the USA announced a new partnership with the National Park Service to launch the “Girl Scout Ranger Program,” a joint venture connecting girls with National Park Service sites through the United States, including monuments, seashores and urban sites.

Through the Girl Scout Ranger Program, girls can participate in a variety of organized educational or outdoor service projects. Girl Scouts may also design their own project that aligns with various badge activities or a project to earn one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting, including the Girl Scout Gold Award. Girls who successfully complete projects will be awarded certificates from the National Park Service and Girl Scout patches.

Girl Scout Cadette Sianna from Norfolk and
Superintendent Kirsten Talken-Spaulding at Fort Monroe

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, which serves girls in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, has an ongoing partnership with Fort Monroe National Monument to engage girls in unique activities to teach them about history, culture and the environment. Kirsten Talken-Spaulding, superintendent of Fort Monroe National Monument, is a Girl Scout alumna and a recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting. In her role, Talken-Spaulding has the opportunity to work with Girl Scouts who visit the park and help spark girls’ curiosity and interest in the outdoors.

Currently on display at the Casemate Museum on the Fort, is a Girl Scout archive exhibit, Sisterhood on the Fort, about the history of Girl Scouting on Fort Monroe, starting with the first Girl Scout troop that formed on the military installation in 1926. The exhibit is free and open to the public to view.

Girl Scouts who wish to participate in the Girl Scout Ranger Program can visit the National Park Service website to locate a park (“Find Your Park”) near their home. There, they can also learn about the history of the park and explore its natural and cultural resources. Girl Scout parents and volunteers can arrange for activities, including hiking, biking, wildlife watching and guided interpretive tours.

In addition to Fort Monroe National Monument, the following sites run by the National Park Service are within the service area of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast:

Captain John Smith National Historic Trail

Colonial National Historical Park

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Girl Scout Cookie Classic Run

On Saturday, January 31, over 250 people braved the cold and took part in the Girl Scout Cookie Classic Race at Bells Mill Park in Chesapeake. The race, which included a 5K and 1-mile option, was organized by Girl Scout volunteers from Community 3, a membership area within Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast that includes Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk and surrounding cities.

The 5K race started at 9 a.m., following the Girl Scout Promise and Law led by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller and an air horn blast from Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff. Racers were decked out in cookie-themed costumes that included a mother-daughter duo in Thin Mint outfits. Participants in the 5k ranged in age from 6 to 76 and everyone was awarded with a Cookie Classic medal at the finish line.

The 1-mile Samoa Stroll started just after 10 a.m. and had over 100 people participate. Racers were awarded with a participation patch at the end of the race. The Cookie Classic also featured a virtual race option for those who could not attend the race but wanted to support Girl Scouts.

Over 20 Girl Scout troops participated in the races as organized teams and with their family members. Girl Scouts who participated in either race completed a portion of the requirements to earn badges for their age level, including the My Best Self badge for Girl Scout Brownies and the Staying Fit badge for Girl Scout Juniors.

Following both races, prizes were awarded for best costume, best team spirit and to the top finishers in each age category.

Proceeds from the event will help provide the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for local girls, by providing them with camp and outdoor experiences, leadership training, special events and more.

Members of the public can support the Girl Scout Cookie Program by purchasing cookies from local Girl Scouts. Booth sales begin on February 22 and the cookie program runs through March 22. When booth sales start, cookie customers can find nearby cookies by using the free Cookie Finder app, available in both the iTunes Store and Android Marketplace. Another opportunity to support Girl Scouts is at Samoa Soiree, an adult-only tasting event where top chefs create original desserts and appetizers using Girl Scout Cookies as the key ingredient. Samoa Soiree will be held on March 7 in Norfolk. Details and ticket information here.

View more photos from the day here.

Sisterhood on the Fort—Social Enjoyment and Civic Engagement

On Saturday, October 4, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe National Monument held an opening reception for a new exhibit, Sisterhood on the Fort, about the history of Girl Scouting on Fort Monroe. This exhibit, which will be on display through April 2015, represents the first time that the Casemate Museum has partnered with a community organization to create a historical display.

GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller, Girl Scout Cadette Sianna,
Casemate Museum Director Robin Edward Reed, Nicole Stuart
and Chris Stuart, owners of Top Guard Security

During the reception, Girl Scout Cadette Sianna helped with the ribbon cutting to officially open the exhibit, along with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller and Chris and Nicole Stuart of Top Guard Security, the sponsors for the exhibit and reception. Girl Scout alumnae and friends from the community had the opportunity to view the exhibit and share memories from their own experiences in Girl Scouts. 

“I really enjoyed my time in Girl Scouts,” Eola Dance, chief of visitor services and resource management at Fort Monroe National Monument. said. “I think it really played a part in my interest in history, nature and service organizations and helped me get to where I am today.”

Eola Dance, right, and her mother Elvena Lewis

The exhibit explores the formation of Girl Scouts on the military installation in 1926, 14 years after the organization was founded in Savannah, Ga. Through photographs, letters and stories, as well as vintage uniforms and handbooks, the exhibit examines the development of the Girl Scout Movement in the unique setting of Fort Monroe, a place that many military families have called home over the years.

The display also includes accounts of the Girl Scout experience on Fort Monroe during World War II, as well as the troop activities and community service projects in the decades that followed. As girls moved on and off of Fort Monroe with their families, Girl Scouts offered a familiar activity that allowed girls to make new friends and be involved in their community.

Items from the collections of both Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Casemate Museum are featured in the exhibit.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast has also recently partnered with Fort Monroe National Monument to create a Junior Ranger patch for girls to earn while visiting the site. More information about Girl Scouts can be found here.

Admission is free for self-guided tours of the Casemate Museum, which includes the Girl Scout exhibit. The Casemate Museum is open Tuesday- Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about museum hours and location, call 757-788-3391.

The State of Girls: Unfinished Business Forum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

View more photos from the event here.

Guest Blogger: Girl Scout Cadette Sianna

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

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

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

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

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

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

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