Camp Skimino has a new indoor rock climbing wall

Did you hear? There’s a new indoor climbing wall at Camp Skimino! On Saturday, December 2, Girl Scouts scaled the new 16-foot-high climbing wall in Williamsburg.

Girl Scout Laine neared the bell—and range it—
at the top of the climbing wall at Camp 
Skimino on Saturday.

Because of a generous donation of more than $12,000 from the Lynnhaven Shores Service Unit, Linda Linke, Susan Ramsland and Carol Watkins, the climbing wall was able to be constructed.

If you haven’t tried your hand at rock climbing before, now is the time!

Not only does rock climbing help you build up your confidence and overcome fears, it also gives your body and mind a great workout.

While it’s a great physical challenge to climb, you’re also putting your problem-solving skills to the test by evaluating your next move up the wall.

To show the Council’s appreciation, Girl Scouts from the service unit were the first to ascend the wall.

“I was climbing up and I looked down and I was really nervous,” Girl Scout Addison Bremer said. “But then I felt like, ‘I got this, I got this.’ So I let go and I fell down and it was awesome.”

As our Girl Scouts proved on Saturday, it can also be a very social activity. Climbers often take turns holding the ropes and helping each other navigate the best climbing path. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen communication and relationships with your friends and troop!

As girls began to climb, those waiting their turn cheered others on to reach the top and ring the bell. For one girl, her experience took her from, "I am just going to watch" to "I will give it a try." When she reached the top, she rang the bell to signal that she had successfully completed her climb.

"The pure joy on her face was worth all the effort put into raising the funds to build the wall," said Susan Ramsland.

"It's a big deal to be able to offer this type of activity in anaa-girl environment," added Carol Watkins.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller with Girl Scouts Laine,

Maddie, Alexis and Climbing Wall facilitator Elizabeth Ramsland had

the honor of cutting the ribbon at the climbing wall dedication.

Girl Scout volunteers Elizabeth Ramsland and Janice Ingham ensured that all climbers were safe while testing out the wall by checking that all lines were straight and harnesses were correctly worn. Both are trained climbers. 

They also helped cheer on each Girl Scout as they took on the challenge.

“You want to make sure that safety is your number one priority,” Elizabeth said. “You want to be able to save people but also encourage them because going up high is kind of scary.”

Fall into STEM

Girl Scouts is all about being girl-led, and developing new programs is no exception. That’s why Girl Scouts of the USA surveyed girls to find out which STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) topics they most want to explore. The results weren’t surprising—computer science, engineering, and outdoor STEM landed in the top three!

Last month, Girl Scouts announced the release of a new set of STEM-focused badges and Journeys. Girls can now earn badges while they take part in science activities that they love, from designing race cars to programming robots to coding.

This fall, GSCCC is collaborating with community partners across the region to provide engaging opportunities for girls to explore the world of STEM and discover their interests in seeking challenges and solving problems. Check out these upcoming opportunities:

Science Alive
September 16
Norfolk State University 
Join us for our eighth annual Science Alive! Enjoy hands-on STEM activities in the fields of engineering, chemistry, medicine, biology and physical science led by NSU faculty and students. Spend time on a college campus and meet sorority sisters.

Synthetic Engineering
October 7
The College of William & Mary
What are SynBio and bioengineering? This event will put the science into everyday life. Ever heard of molecular biology? Understanding how scientists are able to work with DNA in the lab will help you explain SynBio. Participating in hands- on activities in a science lab with bioengineers will help you think like a scientist!

Engineering Women
October 14

Old Dominion University

Led by the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (HR-SWE), join us for exciting activities that explore the areas of robotics, electromagnetism, chemistry, hydrodynamics and structural engineering. All-new activities will focus on critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. These women engineers are excited to ignite the enthusiasm of tomorrow's engineers, innovators and scientists with a day of fun!

Girls STEAM Ahead

October 21

NauticusJoin us for a fun-filled night at our third annual Nauticus STEAM Night for Girl Scouts! Touch a shark, build and test underwater robotic ROVs and enjoy hands-on activities in our STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math)-themed stations. Meet local professionals in these fields and learn how to make STEAM your career!

These events are open to all girls, whether or not they are currently members of Girl Scouts. 

Gold Award Spotlight: The Stories of the Brave

Kathleen, a Girl Scout from Williamsburg, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouts.

The focus of Kathleen’s project was empowering students to be able to positively deal with bullying situations. Kathleen chose a book, “Smile” by Raina Telgemeier, and developed a discussion guide, resource bookmark and information about bullying that she donated in kits to the library. The kits can be checked out by any member of the library and be used in a book club setting. She then scheduled a discussion at the library for people to come and talk about the book and the issue of bullying.

Kathleen also held a book club meeting at a local middle school and donated five books to Hornsby Middle School and Berkley Middle School.

In order to raise awareness about the issue of bullying and her project, Kathleen sent a letter to the editor to let members of her community know about the new resource available at the local library and schools.

“I have experienced a great deal of bullying, which has taken its toll,” Kathleen said. “I wanted to find a way to provide empowerment to others who might also share my story.”

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

Girl Scout Camp Counselor Got Her Start as a Camper

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

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

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

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

We are Camp Skimino, the Mighty, Mighty Camp Skimino!

By Elizabeth Coyne, GSCCC Communications Intern and Camp Staff Member

GSCCC Outdoor Adventures Manager Tesi Strickland and
CEO Tracy Keller accepted the Bronze Award on behalf of the Council

Camp Skimino, a GSCCC camp located in Williamsburg, was recognized with a Bronze Award for Best Summer Camp by Coastal Virginia Magazine. The magazine held a reader’s choice contest from January 1 to the end of March. The camp will be featured along with other reader’s choice awards in their July/August issue. Yesterday, GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller and Outdoor Adventures Manager Tesi Strickland were on hand to receive the award certificate from Kathy Talmage, a representative from the magazine.

Elizabeth at camp last summer.

It was no surprise to me that votes from the public brought recognition to Camp Skimino. As someone who worked as a camp counselor there, I totally agree that Camp Skimino is awesome! Camp Skimino has everything a camper could dream of, from belaying 25 feet off the ground on the wobbly bridge of our high-ropes course to water fights from canoes on Skimino’s man-made lake, Lake Adahi. Camp also has a nice, big swimming pool to cool off in after playing capture the flag on the field on a hot, sunny day. And, you can’t forget about the Camp Skimino amphitheater that sits right on the lake that we use for our opening and closing campfires, which are filled with friends, camp songs and of course s’mores! Camp Skimino is the perfect place for girls and their families to experience the outdoors.

Camp Skimino is full of tradition and history that we share with campers each summer. The local Girl Scout council purchased the 98 acres that is now Camp Skimino in 1955, and it officially opened for camping in 1956. Skimino, a Native American word meaning “smooth creek” was used to name the Girl Scout campsite after the first human inhabitants of the area.

This summer, Camp Skimino is hosting a week of resident camp for registered Girl Scouts and their families for only 25 dollars per person, per night and children under five stay for free. Families may stay for one to five nights and choose their daily camp activities, including archery and arts and crafts, or pick to go explore Williamsburg. Located only 10 minutes away from historic Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and all that the area has to offer, Camp Skimino is the perfect family holiday trip. Your family will be staying in platform tents, which is a large canvased wall tent with a wooden floor, complete with cots, mattresses and bug nets. Modern shower houses, complete with flush toilets and hot water for showers, are located near the tents. Meals are not provided. Families plan and cook their own meals or eat at one of the many family and fast food restaurants in the area. For more information, or to book your family for camp, contact customercare@gsccc.org. Come enjoy this beautiful camp that is full of history.

Camp Skimino provides year-round activities for Council girls and adults. It also provides lodging to Girl Scouts from all over the country as they visit the historical Williamsburg area. Other youth groups, businesses, and organizations utilize the site as well for retreats, employee events, and weddings.

BASF and Girl Scouts Support Native Wildlife One Bee at a Time

A group of Girl Scouts from several troops in Virginia recently took part in a pollinator project hosted by BASF Corporation on their property in Williamsburg, Va.

The girls started the day with an educational session about the different types of native bees and the important role that bees play in today’s food supply. Per the Ecological Society of America and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, about one out of every three mouthfuls of food that people eat and beverages that people drink is delivered to them by pollinators.

With help from Kathryn Sommo, a senior scientist with Roux Associates, Inc., a BASF contract partner, the group then installed cavity-nesting solitary bee houses in an adjacent native wildflower meadow. BASF also provided the girls bee houses to take home and install in their yards to encourage the population growth of native solitary bees, such as mason and leafcutter bees. The girls also learned about ways to educate others in their communities to help grow native bee populations by growing food in gardens and planting native wildflowers.

Girl Scouts have a long history of inspiring girls to develop a lasting commitment to the environment by promoting activities that focus on care, conservation and responsibility. Through relationships, such as the one with BASF to help protect bee populations, Girl Scouts cultivate a lasting appreciation for their environments and native wildlife.

Camp Skimino Family Camp

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

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

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

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

Find more information and register for Family Camp here.

Meet Caitlyn: Cookie Entrepreneur Officer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Erase the Waste

Sorenna, a Williamsburg Girl Scout, has earned the Silver Award, the second highest honor a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Sorenna, who is a student at Lois S. Hornsby Middle School, noticed that a large amount of recyclables was being placed in trash bins at her school. For her Silver Award project, Sorenna implemented a recycling program at her school, which included a recycling center in the cafeteria, recycling bins for each classroom and monitored recycling at school events, including dances and plays. To promote the new program, which she titled Erase the Waste, Sorenna hosted a recycling poster contest and displayed the winning entry in the school.

Sorenna was inspired to make an impact on the environment when she worked on completing the Girl Scout Breathe Journey and learned about pollution and what can be done to prevent it. She wanted to find a place in her community where there was an opportunity to reduce the amount of trash going to the landfill.

“At Hornsby, a little more than 900 kids were disposing recyclables the wrong way,” Sorenna said. “I wanted to change that one recyclable at a time.”

Sorenna also started a Recycling Club at her school, and the members will be responsible for monitoring the recycling program, collecting recyclables from classrooms, making posters to promote recycling and making sure that recyclables are collected at special events held at the school.

“My project impacted our community by lowering the amount of recyclables being put in local landfills and also impacted my school by helping it be more environmentally friendly,” Sorenna said. “It also helped students and staff have a different thought process each time they throw away a recyclable.”

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award earned by Girl Scouts in middle school. To earn the award, Girl Scouts have to identify an issue in the community and carry out a Take Action Project to address the matter through leadership work.

The winning entry of Sorenna's poster contest

Sea Turtle Endangerment Awareness

Carsan, Virginia, Abby, Maggie, Ava

Five Williamsburg Girl Scouts from Troop 1270, Abigayle, Ava, Carsan, Margaret and Virginia, have earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the third highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. For their project, Troop 1270 focused on raising awareness about sea turtle stranding and what can be done to protect sea turtles in our region. The girls were inspired to do this project after a trip to the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Facility.

To raise awareness about sea turtle, Troop 1270 planned and hosted an activity night for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors to teach them all about sea turtles. During the event, Troop 1270 shared what they’ve learned about sea turtles over the past year, including their visit to the Virginia Aquarium. They then read an informational book about sea turtles and led the girls at the event in an educational game about sea turtle eggs to show them how most eggs do not survive in the wild.

Next on the agenda, Troop 1270 led the girls through activity stations, which included decorating a sea turtle cupcake, making sea turtle crafts and creating a sea turtle mural that will be hung at the local library. During the event, Troop 1270 also had the girls sign a thank you card that they had created for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team volunteers.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award requires girls to make a difference in the community through leadership work. It is the top achievement earned by Girl Scout Juniors—fourth and fifth graders.

Williamsburg Girl Scout Earns Silver Award

Paige, a Williamsburg Girl Scout has earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest honor a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. For her project, Paige used her woodworking skills to make improvements at Williamsburg Montessori School, a nonprofit private school.

The first part of Paige’s project was building shelves in a shed used by school faculty for storage. The shed was disorganized, and some items had been damaged because of how they were piled into the shed. Paige built new shelves, inventoried the contents of the shed and organized everything into boxes that she clearly labeled.

After completing the shed project, the principal of the school mentioned to Paige and her father about a garden that the school was trying to cultivate to create an outdoor learning space for preschoolers and kindergartners. However, the school needed a fenced area to start the garden. With the help of her father, Paige spent her spring break cutting wood and putting together a fence for the garden. That same week, Paige also completed the third part of her project, building a balance beam at the school’s playground.

“The newly-organized shed will give the teachers and administrators a safe place to put their materials, which are a core part of the Montessori teaching method,” Paige said. “The garden will allow kids to learn about the earth and the balance beam is a new piece of playground equipment sturdy enough to bring joy to kids for decades.”

For Paige, the most successful part of her project is the longevity of the impact. The items that she built, along with the help of her father, will last the school a long time. She is proud to have made a difference in her school before graduating. 

Gold Award Spotlight: Sew Cool

Elly, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Williamsburg, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

For her project, Elly created a sewing club at Walsingham Academy to teach children a way to creatively engage their minds without spending time in front of a screen. She also wanted to teach children an important skills that they can use throughout their life.

Elly’s sewing club met twice a month at the school. Elly first taught the club members the basics of hand sewing and how to sew a button onto fabric. She then taught them how to use a sewing machine, and the club members made placemats, Christmas stockings, pillows, bags and other projects.

“I was incredibly impressed that the students became inspired to be creative not only during the club meetings, but also at home,” Elly said. “I began sending home needles, thread, buttons and scraps of fabric because the children loved sewing.”

At the end of the school year, each club member used their new skills to design a quilt square that Elly sewed together and presented to the school to hang on the wall to encourage children to engage in activities to stretch their creative thinking. Each club member was also given their own sewing kit to continue mastering their sewing skills at home.

The Gold Award requires girls to identify an issue in their community and carry-out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. Nationwide, less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, which adds Elly to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.

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.

Second Annual "Duck" Tape Regatta

Nearly 80 Girl Scouts gathered at Girl Scout Camp Skimino in Williamsburg on August 15 for the second annual “Duck” Tape Regatta, hosted by The Wild Things, a Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast outdoor adventure group. Eighteen teams of Girl Scouts spent the morning designing and building boats— using just cardboard and duct tape— that could hold at least one team member long enough for a race across the camp pool. The teams were also given two pieces of PVC pipe to use to make paddles.

Each team took a unique and creative approach to their design. There were high-sided boxy boats, long and narrow raft-like crafts and everything in between. One of the winning teams taped together small boxes to create a stabilizing platform as the base for their boat. After a few hours for construction, teams raced in heats based on age-level with the goal of staying afloat to make it from one end of the pool to the other, all vying for a coveted rubber duck trophy. At the end of the races, awards were given out for best times and best design.

“We thought this would be a great way for girls to have fun while participating in a hands-on engineering activity,” Bonnie Taylor, a Girl Scout volunteer who helped plan the event, said. “It was fun to watch all of their ideas come to life and put to the test.”

Girl Scouts has a long history of getting girls outdoors to participate in fun and enriching activities that allow them to take risks, try new things and build confidence. Girls who are interested in engineering and design can attend Design Divas, a workshop hosted by experts from Booz Allen Hamilton, on October 17. The next activity for this outdoor adventure group will be a backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park next month. For more information about these activities and joining Girl Scouts, visit www.gsccc.org.

VIP Day at Camp Skimino

Guests at VIP Day included Delegate Brenda Pogge, representatives from the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance, the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula and Thomas Nelson Community College, as well as Girl Scout alumnae and volunteers.

On July 28, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast hosted local leaders and Girl Scout alumnae at Camp Skimino in Williamsburg for VIP Day. For this special day at camp, guests were invited to tour the camp, have lunch with the girls in the dining hall and talk to the campers about their community involvement.

After arriving at camp and learning about its history from Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller, guests were led on a tour of the property. They saw where girls stay at camp, both the platform tents and cabins, walked past the camp lake and pool and visited with campers inside the arts and crafts cabin. They ended the tour in the dining hall, where they ate lunch and enjoyed songs with campers.

Following lunch, Delegate Pogge spoke with a group of girls who were attending a counselors in training session at Camp Skimino. These girls are the oldest campers at Skimino and get to help plan activities for younger girls, as well as enjoy traditional camp activities, including canoeing and archery.

Pogge talked to the girls about her background and how important it is for her to be able to represent the voices and opinions of her in the many offices of the state government. She shared some insight about why she thinks that it is important for women to take on leadership roles in government.

"Out of the 100 members in the Virginia House of Delegates, there are only 15 women," Delegate Pogge told the girls. "We have to do better, don't you think? Women outnumber men in the population, and we need more proportionality in our representation. Women tend to look at things to be fair, honest and just. Those are qualities that we need in government officials."

Pogge also talked to the girls about ways that they can get involved in government, starting with the page program, which allows teens to develop a deeper understanding of the legislative process by participating in floor sessions and committee meetings while the House of Delegates is in session.

By the end of the afternoon, it was clear to the camp visitors that Girl Scouts are building more campfires at Camp Skimino. Camp is a place where girls have the opportunity to learn to new things and develop leadership skills that will last them well beyond the summer.

Girl Scouts Explore History at Jamestown

Nearly 600 Girl Scouts and their families took a step back in time on Saturday, May 2 during Girl Scout Day at Jamestown Settlement. This event was an opportunity for girls to experience the world of Pocahontas, John Smith and the first permanent English settlement in North America.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1624 from Elizabeth City
learn about washing clothes in a tub over fire.

During the day, girls participated in a variety of activities at Jamestown. They took part in cooking and blacksmithing demonstrations, learned colonial games and explored the ships. They also learned about animal habitats, grinded corn and participated in canoe-making demonstrations in the re-created Powhatan Indian Village site

In addition to exploring the settlement, girls also had the opportunity to learn about careers at Jamestown, including what it’s like to be a curator and costumed interpreter. This career exploration activity gave girls the chance to discover the wide variety of jobs that are required to run a living history museum, as well as what education is required to work in the museum field.

Girl Scout Junior Victoria tends
to a garden at Jamestown.

While at Jamestown, older Girl Scouts had the opportunity to participate in a community service project to help clean up and plant new seeds in the fort’s garden.

Girl Scouts offers a wide variety of opportunities, such as Girl Scout Day at Jamestown Settlement, for girls to explore and discover, as well as make a difference, in their community. For more information about joining Girl Scouts or upcoming Girl Scout events, visit www.gsccc.org.

Girl Scout Sunday in Williamsburg

Each year, Girl Scouts across the country commemorate the birthday of Girl Scouts during Girl Scout Week. This year’s celebration of the 103rd birthday of Girl Scouts kicked off on March 8 with Girl Scout Sunday, a day of recognition for Girl Scouts in their place of worship. On Sunday, 40 Williamsburg Girl Scouts who meet at Stone House Presbyterian Church in Toano shared Girl Scouting with the church’s congregation by participating in the service.

Girl Scout Troops 1347, 1382, 1538 and 4117 during
Girl Scout Sunday at Stone House Presbyterian Church

Members of Girl Scout Cadette Troop 4117 and Girl Scout Senior Troop 1538 served as ushers and greeters during the service. They also volunteered in the nursery and helped teach Sunday School. A Girl Scout Daisy from Troop 1347 read the call to worship, and a Girl Scout Brownie from Troop 1382 led the responsive reading, which was the Girl Scout Promise and Law Litany.

Following the worship service, Girl Scouts hosted a cookies and milk reception for the congregation. The cookies and milk were served by the members of Girl Scout Troop 1058.

Everything that girls do in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which includes many of the principles and values common to most faiths. At all levels of Girl Scouting, girls are encouraged to take spiritual journeys through their faiths’ religious recognitions. Girl Scouts can also earn the My Promise, My Faith pin, which was developed by Girl Scouts of the USA for girls to further strengthen their connection between their faith and Girl Scouts.

To learn more about becoming a Girl Scout or earning religious recognitions through Girl Scouting, visit www.gsccc.org.

International Girls Day at The College of William and Mary

On Saturday, November 8, over 100 Girl Scouts in grades 2 to 5 from across the region gathered in Williamsburg at The College of William and Mary for International Girls Day, an annual event hosted by the Kappa Delta Sorority at William and Mary to teach girls about confidence, leadership and healthy living. This year over 100 members of the sorority volunteered as mentors, activity leaders and organizers for the event.

Morgan and Emilia

The morning began with a presentation from two Girl Scout Seniors, Morgan and Emilia, who talked to the girls about their personal leadership journeys and their trip to represent Girl Scouts at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Morgan and Emilia were two of four local Girl Scouts who traveled to New York to participate in this event dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Since returning, they have been able to share what they learned with fellow Girl Scouts and classmates.

“It was so amazing to be at the United Nations for such an important event,” Morgan said. “Attending the Commission on the Status of Women made me want to become more involved in educating others about gender equality.”

For the rest of the day, girls rotated through workshops where they talked about body image, practiced a Zumba routine, made bracelets and more. Throughout the day, members of Kappa Delta spread the message that girls can do anything.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1076

“International Girls Day is a way for Kappa Delta to give back to the community and inspire confidence in girls,” Maren Leibowitz, a member of the planning committee for the event from Kappa Delta, said.

The partnership between Kappa Delta Sorority at The College of William and Mary and Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast also allows girls to experience a college campus, interact with young women who are academically successful and see the opportunities available to them by attending college.

Nationally, the Kappa Delta Sorority has been working with Girl Scouts since 1998. International Girls Day was created on behalf of the Confidence Coalition, which was founded by Kappa Delta Sorority in 2009 to motivate organizations and individuals to help boost self-esteem and confidence among girls and women.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast is committed to offering opportunities for girls to build courage, confidence and character.

View more photos from the day here.

Day of Caring at Camp Skimino

On Friday, September 19, over 25 staff members from Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center gave a helping hand to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast as part of Day of Caring, sponsored by the United Way of Greater Williamsburg. Volunteers spent the day at Camp Skimino, a nearly 100 acre Girl Scout camp in Williamsburg used year-round by Girl Scouts and other community organizations. 

During the day, the volunteers split into two groups to work on improvement projects at the camp. One group volunteers put a fresh coat of paint on the Health Lodge, as well as the porch and ramp leading to the lodge. They also replaced a window and water-damaged wood on the building. The second group painted a lodge used by Girl Scouts for camping and special events. 

The annual United Way Day of Caring was established to promote volunteerism, as well as to raise awareness about organizations that are making a difference in the community. Each year, hundreds of volunteers from the business sector participate in Day of Caring and give service to nonprofit organizations to show how people working as part of a team for the common good can do great things and make a positive impact on the community.

With updated camp facilities, Girl Scouts will be able to provide an improved experience at Girl Scout camp, which provides a safe, all-girl environment where girls learn new skills, build confidence and try new things. Day of Caring was a fun-filled day of hard work, as volunteers from across the Greater Williamsburg area gave their time and energy to help build and strengthen the community.

View more photos from the day here.

Girl Scout Earns Silver Award for Project Benefitting Peninsula Pet Pantry

Girl Scout Senior Katie from Williamsburg has earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. For her project, Katie focused on bringing awareness to and collecting supplies for the Peninsula Pet Pantry, an organization that provides temporary pet food and supply assistance to pet owners on the Peninsula facing financial hardship.

Katie delivers pet supplies that she collected to Geralyn Nelson,
volunteer coordinator and co-founder of Peninsula Pet Pantry.

For her project, Katie hosted a pet food drive by placing collections for pet supplies at her school and at local businesses. She helped to promote her efforts by writing letters to the editor to local newspapers, writing public service announcements for radio and making announcements at her school. Through her project, Katie aimed to not only collect donations for the Peninsula Pet Pantry, but also to educate her community about mission and efforts of the organization.

“In this day and time, humans aren't the only ones who need food assistance in the community,” Katie said. “My project focused on bringing attention to the plight of pet owners who may have to decide whether to feed themselves or their pets.”

The Peninsula Pet Pantry was founded to help decrease the number of pet surrenders to local animal shelters due to people not being able to afford pet-related expenses. They help pet owners with food, flea and tick prevention, referral services and more.

The Girl Scout Silver Award requires girls to identify an issue in their community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second- highest a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.