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Program Updates
**NOTE: Girl Scouts of Frontier
Council does not endorse any program, event or commercial
enterprise referenced here. Troops, groups and individuals
should research and determine which activities they will
participate in.
Help Girl Scouts “GO GREEN”!
In keeping with this year’s Girl Scout Nut Program theme, Girl Scouts are striving to “Go Green”. All troops are encouraged to participate by completing the steps detailed below.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Email Toni Carey at, tcarey@frontiercouncil.org. The Troop Nut Manager Agreement will be emailed to you. Save it onto your computer with your three digit troop number and the name of the form, i.e. Troop 2 would be saved as, 002agreement.
- Complete the troop agreement and save.
- Send completed troop agreement via email as an attachment to Toni Carey at tcarey@frontiercouncil.org by August 8, 2008.
Once the troop agreement is received, you will be emailed the program handbook on August 15th. Review the remaining requirements for being part of this special “Go Green” program, i.e. completing all paperwork through “Nut-e”, emailing all paperwork to the Service Unit Nut Manager with attachments.
As an incentive for troops who participate in “Go Green”, and complete the program they will be entered into a drawing for a Girl Scout canopy valued at $175.00; two canopies will be awarded.
“Go Green” in the Council Shop!
Purchase a “Go Green” canvas bag for $5.00 and receive 5% off your future purchase when you shop using your “Go Green” bag – instead of using plastic bags. “Go Green” canvas bags will be available August 15th.
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Take a Healthy Getaway at Fit's Inn!
GSUSA is thrilled to announce the launch of Fit's Inn, a multimedia program funded by PepsiCo Foundation that encourages Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors, or girls in grades 2 - 5, to make smart choices about nutrition and fitness!
Through video episodes and girl-driven experiences, Brownies and Juniors are encouraged to get healthy, team up and take action, by moving away from the couch and onto the soccer field, yoga mat or even into the kitchen.
As part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, volunteers will be able to use Fit's Inn right alongside Girl Scout Leadership Journeys for Brownies and Juniors!
So, check in to Fit's Inn at: http://www.girlscouts.org/fitsinn and help girls build healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
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Older Girl Atlantis Aquarium
Come explore the deep blue sea. Learn about the ocean and the creatures who live there. Girls will learn all about the Atlantis Aquarium and get to participate in engaging, hand on activities and games in the classroom. This event includes the "Triple Badge Headstart". Complete all requirements except the service project for Wildlife, Shore to Sea and Why in the World.
When:Saturday August 9, 2008
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Code: PG_O_NA ATLNTS 02 080908
Registration deadline: July 25, 2008
Minimum: 15 girls Maximum: 30 girls
Cost: $3.00 per girl, no charge for adults
Location: Atlantis Aquarium, Caesar's Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Contact: Holly Smith at 385-3677, ext. 248.
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Math Wiz Badge Workshop
Math is more than adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. Math can be fun! Learn about the hidden math all around you. How shapes like circles, squares and more are math. How do secret codes figure in? Learn how to create a code only you and your BFF can crack. We will even create a logic game that you can take with you and anyone can play. Math Wiz badge will be provided for participants. (Please note: due to station capacity, larger troops may be divided into more than one group with different supervising adults.
 Code: PG_J_MA MATHWZ 01 091608
Age level: Junior Girl Scouts
Date: September 16, 2008
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Minimum: 50 girls
Maximum: 100 girls
Cost: $4.00 per girl
Location: Service Center
Questions: Holly Smith, 385-3677 ext 248.
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Girl Scout Journeys
Take a Girl Scout Journey
Girl Scouts are in for exciting times with the introduction of New Program Journeys. Through these journeys, every Girl Scout – including the new Ambassador level - will take part in adventures that will forever change their view of themselves and the world around them.
Girls may continue using existing badge books, handbooks, and STUDIO 2B books. Girl Scout books will remain available and viable resources.
Pre-pay for your “Leadership Journey” book in the council shop before August 8, 2008, and be guaranteed delivery in September. Journeys Order Form (PDF 35KB)
Daisy Flower Garden & Facilitator Guide - $15.00
The Daisy Flower Garden - $7.00
In this journey for kindergarteners and first-graders,
a favorite pastime – gardening – meets
the Girl Scout Law. The result is a storybook
world of flowers and little girls who, together,
do great things, Girl Scout Daisies will especially
enjoy meeting the colorful, global characters who
teach them to live the Girl Scout Law.
The adult “how-to” guide
offers Garden Story Time tips, key ideas for garden
projects, and all the Girl Scout history and traditions
needed for an adventure starring Amazing Daisy, a
new flower friend for Girl Scout Daisies.
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Brownie Quest & Facilitator Guide - $15.00
Brownie Quest - $7.00 This quest, has second and third-graders, traveling along two colorful trail, one they can enjoy on their own and one they explore with their Girl Scout Group. Along the Quest, Girl Scout Brownies will meet three new friends and a bright and shinning elf – in a brand new Brownie story meant to inspire their own Take Action project.
The accompanying adult guide offers all the tips needed
to create and maintain a sense of fun and mystery along
the entire Quest. Instructions for a Brownie Brainstorm,
Brownie Team Trade, and other activities ensure a quality
and fun time for the girls.
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Agent Change & Facilitator Guide - $15.00
Agent Change - $7.00
Power! In this journey, for fourth and fifth graders,
there’s a whole spiral of it waiting for Girl
Scout Juniors. This powerful journey is filled
with ceremonies and circles, real-life heroines,
and special new characters, including the fashion-savvy
spider named Dez. Along the way, girls learn
how their own power combines into team power and
then moves out to become community power. The journey’s
centerpiece is a comic story of girl heroines who
will inspire the Juniors as they take action to improve
their own community.
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aMAZE! The Twists and Turns of Getting Along & Facilitator Guide - $15.00
aMAZE! The Twists and Turns of Getting Along - $7.00 Life is a maze of relationships and this journey for sixth, seventh and eighth graders has Girl Scouts Cadettes maneuvering through all its twists and turns to find true friendships, plenty of confidence, and maybe even peace.
The adult guide offers tips for talking about relationship
issues with girls, and pointers for understanding Cadettes’ development
and creating a safe, welcoming space
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GIRLtopia & Facilitator Guide - $15.00
GIRLtopia - $7.00
Girl Scout Seniors know the world is not ideal. The journey for ninth and tenth graders is their chance to imagine a perfect world – for girls. They’re invited to create their vision as an art project – in any medium of the choice. Then they’ll take action to make their vision a reality. Leaders after all, are visionaries. |
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Your Voice, Your World: The Power of Advocacy & Facilitator Guide - $15.00
Your Voice, Your World: The Power of Advocacy - $7.00 How often have you seen something that really needed to be changed and wondered, “Why isn’t someone doing something about that?” The journey for eleventh and twelfth grades give Girl Scout Ambassadors a way to be that someone – an advocate with the power to start the first flutter of real and lasting change. While creating their own “butterfly effect”, they’ll learn skills – such as networking, planning and speaking up for what they believe – that will prepare them for life beyond high school. |
• Journeys will provide an important foundation for each age level in Girl Scouting for girls and volunteers. Just by following a journey, members will be engaging in the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience (and practicing some Girl Scout traditions!). When the journey ends, girls and their volunteers can apply what they have learned to everything else they do in Girl Scouting.
• The journeys have been created to provide meaningful experiences centered on the three keys to leadership—for girls participating during a troop year and girls participating during shorter time periods. The “sample sessions” in the adult guides are intended not as a “set number of meetings” but to provide momentum and a road map for a “whole adventure” that has more impact then any one activity in the journeys.
• No matter how much time girls spend on a journey, the whole is always greater than any single part. When a Girl Scout journey comes to a close, girls and their adult volunteers will truly feel a sense of accomplishment. The awards girls earn on journeys mark their achievements—so let’s encourage everyone to take their time with the “learning and earning”! Plenty of tips in the girl and adult books provide suggestions for ceremonies and reflections to make earning the awards a more meaningful part of Girl Scouting.
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Summer Health & Safety
Summer is a great opportunity to take activities outside.
Here are a few tips for staying safe and healthy when
outdoors:
Stay Hydrated
- Have cold water available for
your girls at all times.
- Popsicles and frozen treats are a great way to add extra
liquids.
- Children sometimes need reminders.
It’s a good
idea to schedule water breaks if there are youngsters on
your team.
Get Shady
- Look for a shady spot to hold
your event, or one with nearby shade for break times.
- No shade? Make sure your girls
wear hats, sunglasses and loose cover ups to create their
own shade.
Set Snack Time
- Plan snack time in advance so
you’ll be prepared.
- Wholegrain snacks are great for energy, while fresh fruits
are a sweet way to add extra hydration. Try granola bars
and in-season fresh fruit.
Stay Together
- Make sure group members are always in your line of sight.
- Use the buddy system.
- Plan for extra volunteers to help keep an eye on everyone,
especially if you are working with young children.
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The Sun-Smart Camp
Today, when children head to summer camp, there's more to worry
about than horseback-riding accidents, bee stings, and capsized
canoes. We know enough now to worry equally about the sun's
harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Over 90 percent of all skin
cancers are caused by exposure to the sun.
Fortunately, there's much that parents can do to keep sun
damage from spoiling an otherwise fantastic summer.
Going with a Sun-Sane Camp
When you ask camp directors about safety precautions, don't
forget sun safety. Find out what systems are in place to
protect children from overexposure and sunburn. For example:
- Are counselors trained in sun safety? UV
protection should be a regular part of training. "We impress
on counselors that they basically have a parental role
in making sure campers are protected," says Michael Humes,
director of a particularly sun-safe camp called Regis-Applejack
in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.
- When are outdoor activities scheduled? Most
should be scheduled for early morning or late afternoon.
UV is most intense from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and those hours
should generally be spent in shaded areas or inside.
- Are campers directed to apply sunscreen before
going outside? SPF 15+
sunscreen needs to be used regularly. Campers and staff
should be instructed to bring it from home, apply it
30 minutes before outdoor activities, and reapply it
every two hours and right after swimming. The camp also
should have a supply.
- Are campers urged to wear protective clothing? Historically,
campers wore only a T-shirt, shorts, and perhaps a baseball
cap. We now know that's not enough. "We ask campers and
staff to wear broad-brimmed hats, which protect more of
the face than baseball caps do," says Humes. The Skin Cancer
Foundation also advises wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long
pants, and UV-protective sunglasses. And wearing a T-shirt
when swimming is a smart idea.
- What shade is available? Since even
conscientious camps have some activities outdoors between
10 and 4, shade should be easily accessible. At Camp Regis-Applejack,
campers' cabins lie among tall pine trees, and the athletic
fields, beach, and tennis court are all tree-lined.
What Else You Can Do
Rather than leaving all responsibility to the camp, parents
should stay involved in their children's sun protection,
even from afar. Some suggestions:
- Keep communicating. If your child comes
home from day camp burned or reddish, alert the camp. If
children are at sleepaway camp, send them letters with
gentle reminders about sun safety. A drawing often works
for young kids. Show the sun's beams coming down on a child,
and use the caption, 'I'm glad I have my sunblock on.'
- See for yourself. On visitors' days,
check out the camp's layout and routines, and judge how
well sun safety is being practiced. Discuss your reactions
with the director and counselors.
- Make recommendations. Suggest places
where trees, deck umbrellas, tents, or gazebos could be
added for extra shade. Point out activities that could
be relocated to shaded areas or held when the sun is less
intense. Ask the camp to post signs about the dangers of
UV overexposure.
Camps are much more enlightened today about the importance
of UV protection, so directors shouldn't consider it intrusive
if you express your concerns or offer advice. They may even
be grateful to you for helping them better carry out the
camp's stated sun-safety practices. Ultimately, the camp's
interest should be the same as yours — the children's
well-being.
See also Quick
Facts About Teen Tanning.
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100th Anniversary Celebration on the West Coast
Submitted by: Robyn Ratcliffe Manzini,
Frontier Council - Volunteer, rrmanzini@ratcliffe.com
Girl Scout Singers, GreenBloods, Scouts, Alumni, and others,
Each time the Nation's Capital Council has offered the Still
Singing After All These Years program I've wanted to
go. Unfortunately, time and cost of travel to DC
and the reality of school still being in session for my
California troop have kept us from going. I've often
wondered how many other west coast girls and adults have
had similar challenges. Now the 100th Anniversary is approaching,
and the team at Frontier Girl Scout Council (based in Las
Vegas, NV) is exploring options for a 100th anniversary
celebration on the west coast.
The idea: We are considering a large-scale
event, most likely to be held in Southern California (because
of the large population base there), possibly at a large
location such as the Rose Bowl. We currently envision
an afternoon to evening event that will include both traditional
GS singing as well as possibly additional entertainment and
fireworks. Many, many details are yet to be determined. Are
you interested?
Here is where we stand: Our council has had several
brainstorming meetings to explore options and our CEO has
reached out to Nation's Capital to learn from their experience
with their large Sing Along Events in past years. In
addition, she is reaching out to her counter-parts the other
western councils in CA, OR, WA, AZ and UT. She will
be asking to see which are interested/willing to help and
what they feel their organizational strengths may be for
such a program. Once we know what level of support
we have from the other councils we will be able to move forward
with the details of the planning.
This is what we would like from you: It is
too early to ask for anything beyond your interest and moral
support, however: 1) We are collecting an email distribution
list of supporters who would like to learn more as the details
develop. Please let me know if you would like to be
included. 2) If you have the opportunity to mention
your interest in this project to your local council we'd
appreciate it. 3) Ideas are always welcome and one
day soon we'll ask for specific support from volunteers. Please
stay tuned.
I look forward to hearing from you and, if you ask to be
included, I will be in touch as we know more.
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Welcome to WINGS2009
WINGS2009 is an international experience for Guides and
Scouts from all around the world. It will be based in Windsor
Great Park in the Royal County of Berkshire in the UK for
a week starting 1 August 2009. All who attend will have fun,
be challenged, have adventures and make new friendships that
will last.
WINGS2009 will have all the great favourites from WINGS2003,
WINGS'98 and WINGS'93 and some spectacular new ideas to match
the start of the second hundred years of Scouting and Guiding.
The WINGS2009 Experience will provide a week of international
adventure coupled with lots of fun and friendship. The WINGS2009
programme is open to all Units with members aged from 10
through to 25 as well as Adult Leaders.
WINGS2009 provides a full international experience in which
everything is provided, the site, the facilities, the day
programme, the evening programme, the food - all your Unit
needs is some tents and cooking gear.
Members of a Unit will be based together in a Sub-Camp and
there will be sub-camps for 10-14, 14 - 18 and 18 to 25 year
olds.
Here's the website for WINGS 2009: https://www.wings2009.org.uk/index.html
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Revised Water Drop Patch Project
Manual - 
The popular Water Drop Patch Project, co-produced by Girl
Scouts of the USA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
has been given a face-lift!
The manual has been updated to
include such activities as building a rain garden and creating
a YouTube outreach video. The manual is designed for adults
to use with Girl Scout Brownies through Ambassadors (grades
2-12) and is divided into grade-level, age-appropriate activities
aligned to the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience. It is
nationally recognized as part of Girl Scouts of the USA’s Linking
Girls to the Land (LGTTL) Program.
The resource
is now available online at http://www.epa.gov/adopt/patch/
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Linking Girls to the Land Video
Through an in-kind collaboration with the U.S. Department
of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal
natural resource agencies, an 11 minute promotional video
was produced in 2002.
The video is now avaliable for online
viewing at http://clu-in.org/studio/linking_girls_full.cfm.
The Linking Girls to the Land video/DVD is designed to increase
the awareness of, and motivate participation of Girl Scout
councils and federal natural resource agency personnel in
the Linking Girls to the Land program. This video/DVD demonstrates
some of the benefits and forms that partnerships between
Girl Scout councils and federal natural resource agencies
can take. It also illustrates the importance of Girl
Scouts and multi-agency partnerships that provide conservation
and environmental related leadership development opportunities
for girls from more diverse and underrepresented audiences.
Please note:
- The video/DVD is in English and is closed-captioned
- A copy of the video was distributed to every Girl Scout
council in 2003.
- Each Linking Girls to the Land
federal natural resource agency partner received copies
of the videos for distribution.
- View the video/DVD online or contact
your local Girl Scout Council to borrow a hard copy.
- To order copies of the video/DVD contact:
Video Transfer
5800 Arundel Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852
ATTN: Maria Spotswood (301) 881-0270.
The maximum cost per video tape is $12 and DVD is $12.50
plus shipping.
For more information on Linking Girls to the Land activities
refer to the website http://www.epa.gov/linkinggirls/ or
contact linkinggirls@girlscouts.org or
call 212-852-8076.
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Six Flags Friends and GSUSA Announce
Volunteer Incentive Program
NEW YORK /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Monday April
21, 11:06 am ET
Six Flags,
Inc. announced today that Six Flags Friends, its community
outreach division, will partner with Girl Scouts of the USA
to launch a new volunteer incentive program that allows people
to volunteer at a selected Girl Scout council and in return
receive a free ticket to any Six Flags park around the country.
Through the Girl Scouts partnership, Six Flags Friends
will provide one complimentary ticket to any Six Flags park
for anyone who registers via http://www.sixflags.com/gsfriends and
then volunteers six hours of their time with select Girl
Scout councils around the country.
Girl Scouts of the USA has enlisted Angela and Vanessa Simmons,
from the hit MTV reality series "Run's House," to
encourage people to make a difference in a girl's life by
volunteering with the Girl Scouts. "In life, you get
what you give," said Angela
Simmons. "Volunteering
is the best way to give. I love to give and I am so happy
that I can give back to the community." "I'm thrilled
to be working with the Girl Scouts. Growing up I didn't have
the opportunity to become a Girl Scout, so being involved
now as a role model/mentor means so much to me," said Vanessa Simmons.
"This volunteer program with Girl Scouts of the USA
supports our collective mission of encouraging local community
involvement as a way of building a positive future for youth," said
Michael Antinoro, Six Flags Executive Vice President of Entertainment
and Marketing. "We are excited to welcome Angela & Vanessa
to Six Flags and to join with an iconic brand like Girl Scouts
of the USA to promote the importance of volunteerism among
young people."
"Collaborating with Six Flags Friends and the Simmons sisters is a great
way to show people how fun volunteering for Girl Scouts can
be," says
Laurel Richie, Chief Branding Officer, Girl Scouts of the
USA. "Our volunteers
remain the backbone of everything we do in Girl Scouting."
To register and earn a FREE ticket to Six Flags please visit http://www.sixflags/gsfriends.
About Six Flags, Inc.
Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park
company with 21 parks across the United States, Mexico and
Canada. Founded in 1961, Six Flags has provided world class
entertainment for millions of families with cutting-edge,
record-shattering roller coasters and appointment programming
with events like the popular Thursday and Sunday Night Concert
Series. Now 47 years strong, Six Flags is recognized as the
preeminent thrill innovator while reaching to all demographics
-- families, teens, tweens and thrill seekers alike -- with
themed attractions based on the Looney Tunes characters,
the Justice League of America, skateboarding legend Tony
Hawk, The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine. Six Flags,
Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in New
York City.
About Six Flags Friends:
Six Flags Friends is a series of programs throughout the
Six Flags family of parks that make a difference in communities
by encouraging local involvement, supporting the mission
of various non-profit organizations, and bringing the thrill
of Six Flags to children and families across North America.
**Also
please note volunteers must complete 6 hours and register
online to get their ticket.**
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CHARACTER COUNTS! Week
 October
19-25, 2008
It began as a week-long party. It became a nationally celebrated
event. Now it’s a movement for change. Last year over
5 million kids in 51 countries celebrated the Six
Pillars of Character. Join us this year and connect with
others around the globe. No matter what your political or
religious affiliation, this event is about the universal
values we share.
Register online, and begin receiving lesson plans, ideas
for parents, Red Ribbon Week tie-in activities, downloadable
curriculum resources, and so much more! Learn more by downloading
the information at: http://charactercounts.org/programs/ccweek/index.php
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From WAGGGS:
The Right to Food: A Window on the World
Receive this second edition of the educational story book ‘The
Right to Food: A Window on the World’ and the accompanying ‘Resource
and Activity Guide’ by sending an e-mail request to:
RTF-Youth@fao.org
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Olympia Badge 2008 launched
The Hong Kong Girl Guides Association and WAGGGS have designed a new Olympia badge to celebrate that the Games of the XXIX Olympiad which will be held in Beijing in August 2008. The aim of the badge is to promote the WAGGGS message to “discover your potential” in many different ways, including sport.
The resource
pack, which you can download, includes a range of
activities for girls. By taking part in the activities,
you can learn about people in China, the Olympic sports,
the athletes’ preparation and the peace and friendship
between countries that the Olympic Games promote. A
special
appendix of Olympia Badge activities for younger
GS
(age 5-7 years) is also available.
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad – Beijing 2008 will take place from 8
to 24 August 2008. Approximately 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games, which include 28 different summer sports.
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“ready.
set. go. Walkabout!”
Participate in the Southern NV Health District
online walking program that
will help girls and their families increase their daily
physical activity. Cost is $5.00 per person to join; you
will receive a patch and a pedometer to help you count
your daily steps and/or miles.
Already registered, click
here to login and record you steps and/or miles.
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2008 National Girl Scout Leadership Institute
Live HEALTHY Lead HEALTHY October
29-30, 2008
The 2008 Girl Scout Leadership Institute (GSLI) (formerly Girl Congress)
is part of the leadership experience for girls in grades 6 -12, designed
to develop and hone their leadership skills, provide an opportunity
to discuss key health issues relevant to them and engage in a fun and
interactive learning environment with peers and adults. Sponsored by
Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Inc., the
GSLI will be held on October 29-30, 2008, in Indianapolis, Indiana,
prior to the national council session.
Over 2000 girls from across the country and the world will have the
opportunity to participate in this unique and exciting event. The 2008
GSLI will serve as a model for future national, regional and local
GSLIs to be implemented throughout Girl Scouting. As part of this leadership
experience, girls will have the opportunity to engage in myriad workshops
in an environment that fosters inclusion and pluralism. Workshops will
focus on key health issues identified by girls (e.g. eating disorders,
stress management, etc.). With experts from these fields leading
group sessions, girls will be provided a safe space to discuss ideas
and issues that are important to them. Through participation in these
workshops girls will identify ways the information is personally relevant,
as well as strategies to take action back in their communities.
GSLI will offer two workshop tracks for girl participants: a middle
school track (grades 6-8) and a high school track (grades 9-12). Girls
will attend workshops they have selected from five different categories:
• physical health
• emotional health
• diversity/global issues
• advocacy
• physical activity
In addition, workshops will be provided for adult advisors/mentors
who accompany girls to GSLI. They will mirror some of the topics
offered to girls, in order to further the connectedness of the learning
by all participants. In addition, adults will have an opportunity
to learn about the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
As councils determine the number of girls to send to GSLI, it is recommended
that the number of adults not exceed the Safety Wise ratio.
GSLI is scheduled to start Wednesday, October 29 at 1:00 p.m. and
end Thursday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m. and is located at the Indianapolis
Convention Center and Westin Hotel.
Registration info:
Registration opens January 31, 2008
Fee is $125 per participant.
Registration deadline is July 31, 2008
For more information check out www.girlscoutsindiana.org
See also National Council Session
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National
Service Calendar
SEASONS
OF SERVICE AND SPECIAL EVENTS
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