Hampton Youth in Government Day 2017

A group of Hampton scouts explored their local government during Hampton City Council Scout Youth in Government Day on March 22. The day was planned by Hampton’s Economic Development Department for youth to explore careers and learn about the importance of financial planning.

The day kicked off at City Hall, where the scouts took part in a financial literacy workshop with Bayport Credit Union. Each scout received a real-life scenario, complete with education and a career, and they had to fill out a budget sheet to live within their monthly salary while being able to afford housing, utilities, transportation, clothing and food. After calculating costs, the scouts sat down with a financial coach to review their choices. The morning’s activities ended with a guest speaker from New Horizons Youth Workforce Development, who spoke to the scouts about the variety of career opportunities and training available in Hampton, as well as the skills needed to acquire those jobs. The scouts then had lunch with members of the city council.

After lunch, the scouts boarded a bus and visited TE Connectivity, a sensor solutions operations company, and the New Horizons Mechatronics Lab, where students learn mechanical and electrical engineering and troubleshooting.

"The scouts were very interactive and engaged in both civic aspects of local government and their future career choices,” Mei Christine Stukes, a Girl Scout leader who attended the day with members of her troop, said. “They gained valuable insight into how to process and maintain improvements as a community. From this program, they understand that it takes teamwork, collaboration and research to achieve a common mission."

Hampton City Council Scout Youth in Government Day is an annual event designed to give youth an inside look in local government operations, as well as to prepare them to lead successful lives.

Thank a Girl Scout Leader

Every day, Girl Scout volunteers make fun, friendship and awesome new experiences possible for girls across the country. On April 22, we celebrate Girl Scout Leader's Day to celebrate the powerful and inspiring contributions volunteers make all year long.

Looking for a way to thank the troop leaders in your Girl Scout's life? Get started with some of these ideas:

1. Think BIG! Use poster board to create a giant thank you card. Have all of the girls in the troop sign it with messages of gratitude.
2. Say it with flowers. It can be arrangement of fresh flowers, a potted house plant or even a bouquet of origami flowers made by the troop members. 
3. Give some new Girl Scout gear. Add a new piece of Girl Scout apparel to your leader's collection. From fleece jackets to baseball caps, the GSCCC shops have something for everyone's taste and style.
4. Get punny. Give a candle with the message "thank you for spreading the light in Girl Scouting." Package a mug with tea and the message "thank you for being a tea-riffic volunteer." Pick up a dozen donuts and let the leader know you "donut know what you would do without her!"
5. Share your thanks. Post a message on your social media account with all of the reasons that you appreciate your girl's troop leader. Be sure to include #NVW2017 to call out National Volunteer Week, which runs April 23-29.
6. Send an eCard. Girl Scouts of the USA has prepared some digital cards! Pick your favorite card design, personalize it and send it to your leader's inbox!

Thank you, Girl Scout volunteers!

GSCCC Visits Capitol Hill to Champion Girls

Representatives from Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast traveled to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 29 to speak at a congressional briefing that focused on the top issues that girls and young women face today and how Congress can advance policies that empower girls. Savannah, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Yorktown, and Marcy Germanotta, communications and marketing director for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, joined representatives from Girls Inc. and YWCA USA to share what each of their organizations are doing to overcome challenges and implement programs that work to empower girls.

Germanotta spoke about bullying being a national epidemic and a public health issue. She cited research from The State of Girls 2017, a study conducted by the Girl Scout Research Institute that reported that 25 percent of teenage girls reported that they had experienced some sort of bullying or aggression from their peers.

“At Girl Scouts, we are committed to providing anti-bullying resources for our girls, leaders, volunteers and parents,” Germanotta said. “One of these resources is our highly-recognized program, Be a Friend First.”

Through Be a Friend First, which has been implemented in Girl Scout groups across the country since 2014, girls explore thorny issues, such as peer pressure, stereotyping, gossip and cliques through role playing, creative writing games and discussion exercises. Locally, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast uses the program in troop settings, as well as in-school and afterschool programs throughout the region.

Following Germanotta, Savannah reflected on participating in Be a Friend First with her Girl Scout troop. She shared how Be a Friend First taught her what makes a good friend, how to make a positive impact in her community and how to step outside of her comfort zone to speak out when she sees something wrong.

Savannah, who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting, also spoke about how Be a Friend First and hearing about a friend’s experience with teen dating violence inspired her to take action though her Gold Award project.

“Sometimes as teens we don’t feel that we have much control over our lives,” Savannah said. “But, Girl Scouts prepared me to identify a problem propose a solution and partner with people that can help.”

For her Gold Award project, Savannah partnered with Transitions Family Violence Services and Michelle Nicole, a local domestic violence author and advocate, to host awareness events at Thomas Nelson Community College, Christopher Newport University and the Hampton Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Savannah also created an educational brochure that is being used by her school and Transitions Family Violence Services to guide teens that may need help.

“The highlight of my project was when I planned a Wear Orange Day event at my school,” Savannah said. “During the event, more than 200 students and teachers signed a ‘Love is Respect’ banner, and I shared educational resources with the students.”

The congressional briefing on March 29 was the first in a series of briefings to highlight polices, strategies and innovative programs that help inspire girls and young women and prepare them to be leaders in their communities and beyond. Girl Scouts is committed to helping today's girls learn skills and behaviors that unlock their potential and put it to work for the good of all.

Girl Scout Day with the Harlem Globetrotters

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

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

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

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

2017 Samoa Soiree

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

This year’s winning dishes were:

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

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

Best Savory: Braised Pork by Catering by Farm Fresh

Best Presentation: Cyprus Grille at Embassy Suites Hampton

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

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

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

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

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

Guests enjoyed live entertainment by NO iD Music Group.

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

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

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

View more photos here.

Prepare Your Girl Scout Troop for Another Year of Fun!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STEM 4 Girls

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

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

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

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

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

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