Girl Scout Volunteer Loves Running with her Daughter- Here's Why

If you talk to a seasoned runner, they'll tell you there's nothing like running to transform you. Running can teach important lessons and help you develop a healthy lifestyle. Yes, it can be difficult in the beginning but based on my friends that run, it's worth it. Once you beat that negative voice inside that says you can't, you'll learn you can beat any negative voice that comes your way. You'll conquer self-doubt and you'll be able to bring yourself to new heights. 

Mara Bates, a Girl Scout volunteer who was part of the founding group of Cookie Classic Run here at Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, loves to run and can't think of a better way to support our Council. She was thrilled when Couch to Cookie Classic challenge was introduced this spring. 

"In these new days of homeschooling, the computer and all the other fun mobile devices are being overused," Mara said. " When my daughter began remote schooling, Netflix was just a mouse click away and wins over most kids when it comes to what to do during spare time. When the Couch to Cookie Classic trainer started, I signed us up. Not only to get me off the couch, but also to give my daughter a healthy dose of vitamin D. The training progression has worked well for us. Not only is my daughter getting off the couch and away from electronics, but she's taking our youngest dog with her, too! t's always nice to share the road with a friend (and this one can stay within one to two feet of her too).

Mara (far left) at the 2020 Cookie Classic during the costume contest!

Tip 

Start small. Take the fitness challenge to get yourself ( and your daughter) prepared to add running to your daily schedule. Don't hurry. You'll soon be ready for the big Cookie Classic Race! Increase gradually.  It takes awhile for your muscles and tendons and ligaments and joints to adjust to the stress of running, and if you progress to rapidly, you’ll get injured. Increase but very gradually. Lastly, enjoy yourself and have fun. Exercising and running should be fun, not torture.

More about our 2021 Cookie Classic here- https://www.gsccc.org/en/events/cookie-classic.html

Preview of Camp Skimino's Updated Health Lodge!

Camp Skimino has an updated Health Lodge! The update started in the Fall of 2019 when some amazing volunteers from Sentara Williamsburg spent their Day of Caring service hours at the camp taking down walls and tearing out flooring.  

It was quite a job to go down to the framework on this 42 feet by 24 foot building that was constructed in 1976. But they did it and their work made it possible for construction to start. 

GSCCC property team and volunteers dedicated a lot of hours doing the manual work and were helped with material donation by Commonwealth Building Materials who gave drywall, insulation, and other needed materials. 

The inside is now looking new and ready for campers when we open our camp for overnight stays again! And the building meets ADA standards (ADA means Americans with Disabilities Act that accommodates persons in wheelchairs).  Plans for renewing the outside are tentatively scheduled for fall. 

Check out these interior photos:

 

Silver Award Spotlight: Toys for Cats with Special Needs

Girl Scout Cadette Kaleigh earned her Silver Award after time spent as a volunteer at the Virginia Beach SPCA inspired her to make a positive impact on the lives of the cats with special needs she met at the shelter. 

Kaleigh planted, grew, and dried her own catnip in her garden. After the catnip was dried, she used fabric and thread to hand sew cat toys in various shapes, designs, and colors and then filled them with her catnip. Her hand made toys were given to the staff at the Virginia Beach SPCA for the cats to enjoy. 

Kaleigh has always loved animals and is happy that her project could benefit a local shelter she has grown a connection with.  

“The best part was seeing the cats playing with and sniffing the toys, especially one cat that is blind. They responded immediately,” Kaleigh said.

Kaleigh assembles one of her cat toys

Kaleigh has now earned her Bronze and Silver Awards and has plans to earn her Gold Award in the future. She has a tip for other Girl Scouts looking for inspiration:

“Find something that is important to you in your environment and come up with a plan to help. Stick with it and see it through to the end.”

Congratulations, Kaleigh!

Gold Award Spotlight: Fire Safety at First Landing State Park

Our region is full of beautiful parks and historic landmarks. Some places, like First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach have both. Girl Scout Ambassador Ainsley earned her Gold Award by contributing to fire safety and park preservation at First Landing State Park.

First Landing has five historic cabins that were built in the 1930's

by the Civilian Conservation Corp. The cabins can be rented by visitors to the park and have fire circles for use outside. Unfortunately, bringing camp chairs or other portable camp furniture too close to a flame can easily cause them to ignite. In order to protect the cabins and grounds from fire damage, Ainsley created ten sturdy wooden benches for use around the campsites.

During her project, Ainsley worked right beside two benches that were under repair from previous fire damage. It was a reminder of how fast an accident can happen.

“The flames were contained quickly but could have easily damaged a historic piece of property. It’s a butterfly effect,” Ainsley said.

Ainsley did not stop there! To make a lasting impact, she designed brochures and a website that have blueprints and step-by-step instructions on how the benches are created. Ainsley’s project not only made the park better for visitors but she also has done her part to help preserve history.

Thank you, Ainsley!

Gold Award Spotlight: Be Positive!

For most kids, school is usually a happy place to be. There are friends, fun and time to learn interesting things. Unfortunately,  sometimes students may experience negativity and unhappy thoughts while at school from different causes like family issues, peer-pressure, low self-esteem and bullying. Negative feelings at school can be distracting and might even get in the way of learning. 

Girl Scout Ambassador Lauren knew she could help kids in her community have a better experience during their school day by using her talent in painting. To address this issue, Lauren created four colorful murals throughout Grafton Bethel Elementary school in York County, Virginia, that featured messaging like “Throw kindness around like confetti,” and “Great Grizzlies are respectful, responsible, safe, and kind.” 

“Through my paintings, I strived to create a positive environment in all areas of the school where children could be reminded that they are safe and respected individuals,” Lauren said.

In addition to the murals, Lauren visited the classrooms of third, fourth, and fifth grade students at the school to do educational activities and read a book about friendship.

Sometimes there are bumps in the road. Lauren got an injury from soccer while working on her Gold Award- but that did not stand in her way. Once recovered, she picked up where she left off and continued to fulfill her commitment to bring positivity to the students at Grafton Bethel Elementary.

Lauren hopes her murals to bring positivity and spark kindness for many years to come.

Thank you Lauren for making the world a better place!

Cookie Season Wrap-Up and Top Ten sellers!

The 2020 Girl Scout Cookie season here at GSCCC is over and we want to recognize all of the hard work and dedication that went into making this cookie season a success- and a HUGE success it was. We had over 6,000 girls participate in the cookie program, many for the first time as a Girl Scout.

During this unprecedented time, our girls faced challenges and proceeded to find creative ways to reach their goals. A total of 1,571,512 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies were sold! Our Girl Scouts were also able to donate 68,159 boxes of cookies to the United Services Organization (USO) as well as to local heroes. 

A special congratulations to our Top Ten - these Cookie Entrepreneurs met outstanding goals! 

2020 Cookie Program Top 10 Sellers

1) Makiyah M. (Troop 1320) sold 5,605 boxes

2) Danielle S. (Troop 5) sold 5,115 boxes

3) Jasmine B.B. (individually registered girl) sold 4,713 boxes

4) Maureen K. (Troop 359) sold 4,691 boxes

5) Morgan N. (Troop 373) sold 4,659 boxes

6) Abigael S. (Troop 235) sold 3,605 boxes

7) Lorelei T. (individually registered girl) sold 3,138 boxes

8) Amiyah S. (Troop 40) sold 2,833 boxes

9) Alexis V. (Troop 628) sold 2,804 boxes

10) Madison M (Troop 661) sold 2,607 boxes

All girls who participated in the cookie program deserve to feel proud of their cookie entrepreneurship and willingness to help the community! Read on to hear some more exciting stats about this cookie season-

• 60 girls sold 1,500+ boxes ( a free Lifetime Membership is among the rewards given out in this category) 
• 148 girls sold 1,000+ boxes and have achieved CEO status 
•  247 girls sold 750+ boxes and have achieved Super Seller status
• 46 girls sold 132+ Gift of Caring boxes

Thank you to all - girls, parents, volunteers and, of course, our customers -  who made this season a success!

Girl Scout alum Frances Carr Celebrates a Lifetime of Friendship with Memorial Brick

Girl Scout alum Frances Carr from Suffolk has many memories of leading a troop and the fond friendships made through Girl Scouts. She became involved as a Girl Scout leader when her daughter, Dabney, became interested. Both found a lifetime connection with Girl Scouts, a true sisterhood that has held up over time. 

While there are many great memories, Frances recalls traveling to England to visit the Pax Lodge and then onto Switzerland to the Chalet - both centers part of the Word Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, as a favorite. As the troop was camping most of their time in Europe, this meant months of detailed planning for meals and essentials they would need to pack. Frances still has those planning records and photos and other memorabilia from the trip. She remembers fantastic hikes, and side adventures- one particularly memorable trip involved caving.  

The trip was a learning experience and an opportunity to meet Girl Guides, great friends they would continue to keep in touch with over the years. Frances said there are so many great stories to be shared from that trip! There are also countless fond memories from other trips including another to Canada where the group stayed together at a Girl Guide camp. 

The troop members have kept in touch over the years, first through letters, then emails and now through social media. They have even held reunions regularly. One of the reunions was held at the Francis Land House, an historical home and museum in Virginia Beach. Their trip was among those showcased in an exhibit on Girl Scout Wider Opportunities - now called Girl Scout Destinations. 

With a lifetime of memories and friendships made, Frances decided this year to purchase a brick in honor of the troop and hopes the "girls," now in their 50s, will attend the brick ceremony and dedication in July that will be held at A Place for Girls in Chesapeake, Virginia as a way to immortalize their journeys together. 

Here is a video interview with Girl Scout alum Frances Carr:

Visit our site at gsccc.org or visit our Buy a Brick page.