Girl Scout Troop 13433 from Elm Creek Elementary hosted Osseo Serivce Unit’s fall event. Girls and their families enjoyed a night of roller skating in their pajamas! It was a great chance to get together with old friends, and make new friends.
Girl Scouts caring for animals September 16, 2009
About us (Cora and Jess):
We connect caring for wild animals with Girl Scout badges.
We live on a hobby farm with horses, cows, sheep, goat, chickens, rabbits, cats, and dogs, so we’ve always had an idea of how to care for different animals. One day a fawn came into our yard, and we called a friend who cared for wild animals and asked him a lot of questions. My mother got a special license to have the animals at our place. Jess and I took training and tests and
got an advanced license so we could help her care for the animals.
We have cared for a lot of different animals — to name a few: beavers, raccoons, fawns, squirrels, turtles, frogs, fox, bear cubs, birds, ducks, eagles. We have been doing this over 13 years and all the food and medical expenses come out of our own pocket. It has been a wonderful experience and a lot of time and hard work.
We have been in Girl Scouts for 12 years and stuck it out through four leaders and a lot of girls. We enjoy working as Youth Event Assistants to help out council members and just help out Girl Scouts.
This is our last year of Girl Scouts; we are bridging to adults this spring. We will miss being Girl Scouts.
-Cora
Girl Scouts of All Ages Turn Out to Make Cards for Troops September 11, 2009
“Lots of hours of planning, workshops training the girls and their parents and the day finally arrived – August 9 in Champlin, Minnesota – and the Girl Scouts from 40 troops in the Champlin area gathered to create more than 1,100 holiday cards for [troops in Iraq and Afghanistan].”
Read the full article and see pictures at From Our Hearts’ website.
My Girl Scout Gold Award Story June 26, 2009
My senior year of high shool, I finished my Girl Scout Gold Award by redesigning the French language curriculum in District 112 to include aspects of francophone culture into a mostly euro-centric language program. Main goals of this curriculum include increased understanding of francophone culture, introduction to non-traditional vocabulary, mock experience solving world issues involving francophone countries, and monthly classroom immersion into the culture of one francophone culture through field trips or in-class activities.
Since the project’s completion, it has been slowly implemented in the Pre-French I- French II classes. At the end of 2012, this program will be fully active in Chanhassen High School as part of the main French curriculum.
Below is an article from the local newspaper covering Pioneer Ridge Freshman Center’s French II class’ experience with the new program.
French Classes Take Aim at Africa’s Problems (February 12, 2009)
AIDS, drug trafficking and global-warming may be daunting problems facing countries in Africa, but a group of students at the Pioneer Ridge Freshman Center are determined to help where they can.“We’ve seen how every vote matters in the local Senate election,” said Ivan Contreras. “The same applies to the the problems over there. Everyone can make a difference.”
Contreras was one of several French students who put their language skills to the test, researching problems in Africa and eventually developing a project to to help deal with AIDS in Rwanda.
Students in Michelle Maria’s French II classes produced their own movies describing a serious problem they encountered in research of French-speaking African countries.
“They then had to offer a way to be able to change it and make a difference,” said Maria.
Once finished with their productions, the class had a celebration to watch all the movies and pick one to take on as a service learning project for the remainder of the year. During the celebration, they enjoyed an African meal, sitting on cushions on the floor in a typical Moroccan setting, while feasting on couscous, dates, apricots, and mint tea. While they voted to address AIDS in Rwanda as their class project, other movie topics included lack of education for children in Madagascar, drug-trafficking in Maroc, and child trafficking in Togo.
“We are really motivated to make an impact,” said Ashley Kemp. “Helping just one person would be a positive impact.”
The students didn’t seem fazed by the extent of some of the problems they chose to research.
“We may not be able to stop big problems completely like the impact global warming has on ocean reefs in the Seychelles,” said Micha Mills. “But we can make a small difference.”
Spencer Banister said the standard of living in some of these countries is so low that anyone from the United States can make a difference.
“These people live off of 10 cents a day,” he said. “Donating just $10 can go a long, long way over there.”
Potential
During the time Jeffry Lyman was researching childhood nutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a cease fire in the civil wars there occurred.
“These countries have so much potential for fixing their own problems,” he said. “They just need to be pointed in the right direction.”
Dan Schanus was also working on the Congo project and agreed with the potential the country has.
“Children are starving all across the country, yet it has huge ore deposits that could make it one of the richest countries in Africa and solve those hunger problems,” he said.
The projects were part of the students’ French class, so they were expected to use and develop their French speaking abilities.
“While I was developing my presentation, I was surprised at how I could say pretty much whatever I need to in French after only two years of studying it,” said Ali Souza.
The students had to pick problems they felt they could actually do something about, said Maria.
“We’re asking these students to become global citizens, so what better way than to ask them to pick the project to work on for the rest of the year,” she said.
-Chuck Friedbauer
Hawk Talons
When I started my Girl Scout Gold Award, I had no idea it would have this much of an impact on my school district. French teachers now have the option to share the francophone world with students who may not otherwise be introduced to alternative French cultures. While it is still a work in progress, I am optimistic this is a step in the right direction for increasing cultural awareness in students and modernizing curriculum development to include opinions of students.
Thanks to the guidance of my mentors Katherine Martens and Kris Rydland, I am now in college studying education policy and have since learned just how lucky I have been to be supported by such amazing teachers. It is fantastic to know a single student can have such a large impact on a community.
Lauren
Donation to support Camp Lakamaga June 9, 2009
Linda Keene, Phyllis Willerscheidt, Linda Hudepohl, Steve Hudepohl, and Jan Johnson.
Linda Hudepohl and Jan Johnson from the North Pines Service Unit presented a check for $4,500 to Linda Keene, CEO and Phyllis Willerscheidt, Board Chair. The donation represents proceeds from last year’s Camp Spookamaga and will be used to support girl programming at Camp Lakamaga. Camp Spookamaga is an annual Halloween event created by Girl Scout troops and adult volunteers for Girl Scouts and their families and friends. It’s an opportunity for families to visit Camp Lakamaga, celebrate Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday, and for older girls to display their creativity, leadership, and organizational skills. The event will be held this year on October 10.
Linda and volunteers from the North Pines Service Unit represent the thousands of amazing volunteers who support Girl Scouting through the leading and executing of great girl programming and investment of financial resources.
Adopting a Soldier May 21, 2009
by Audrea Horejsi
Ellendale/Geneva Girl Scout troop leader
In July 2008, while looking for projects for our Girl Scout troop to work on for the coming school year, I read an article about another troop that had “adopted a soldier” and thought it sounded like a wonderful idea and a great experience for the girls. I contacted www.mysoldier.com, and they sent me the contact information for a soldier currently serving in Iraq. They also sent me some red bracelets for each of the Girl Scouts to wear, symbolizing their part of adopting a soldier. Each girl in the troop has been given one to wear if and when they wish.
Our soldier’s name is Charles (Charlie) Enebrad. He grew up on the coast in South Carolina and worked on shrimp boats before joining the military. The movie “Forest Gump” was filmed in his hometown. He joined the military at age 17 and has been an active member for nine years now. He is stationed out of Fort Lewis, Washington and is an army fire fighter currently working with a construction unit in Nasariyah, Iraq. He has been married for six years and has a four-year-old son and twin two-year-old daughters, whom he says he wants to join the Girl Scouts as soon as they are able to; he feels it is a wonderful organization to be a part of. He currently has 122 soldiers in his company.
Of the 18 girls that currently attend Girl Scouts in Ellendale/Geneva, 16 wrote letters to Charlie in November 2008, and he, along with a fellow soldier named Logan Hastings from St. Paul, Minn., wrote an individual letter back to each and every girl. They thought that was pretty cool and they each have taken their letters home to keep. Along with the letters, we made and sent some Christmas decorations, hand-crafted with construction paper, glue, glitter, puff balls, markers, and crayons. The girls were very creative, and the decorations looked awesome. When Charlie received the decorations, he hung them up for everyone in his company to see and enjoy throughout the holiday season and wrote to tell us it added a “touch of home” for the soldiers.
In February, we hand-crafted Valentine decorations for Charlie and his company, and he also hung those up for everyone to see and enjoy.
The month of February was a sad one for Charlie as one of his friends was killed in a road side bomb in Iraq and left behind a wife and four children. I’m sure Charlie probably sees, hears about, and deals with this type of thing on a daily basis, but it is even harder when it is one of his own and a personal friend.
Charlie sent us some photos in February showing the large trucks he drives over in Iraq and the girls were in awe when they saw the size of them.
Most recently, the girls each bought and donated Girl Scout cookies for Charlie and the other soldiers, and we sent them right to his attention in Iraq.
He sent back pictures showing many of the soldiers sorting through and eating the cookies as they unpacked them. He said we have no idea how much they all appreciate and LOVE Girl Scout cookies – another little touch of home to them.
The girls and I have totally enjoyed our activities and communications revolving around Charlie, and we are looking forward to more. We plan to stay in communication with Charlie for the duration of his stay in Iraq. We feel like we know Charlie, even though we have never personally met him and probably never will. We talk about him as we would someone we see and talk to every day. Our communication with him has meant a lot to us and it probably always will. I think the girls in the troop, who range from ages 5-10, will all remember Charlie when they look back and think about the days they were a Girl Scout.
Update
The girls were touched and honored to receive the following letter from Charlie:
Hello,I have a “special gift” for your troop. I have an American Flag that was flown out here in Iraq that I plan on sending to you once I get home. A certificate will accompany it stating such. I hope it is something that can express the gratitude my guys and I have for your troop. I cannot thank you for the overwhelming support you have provided during my time here. I still have a month or so to go, and I am busy as ever, but I just wanted to let you know I will be sending this so you will have something to look forward to … Thanks again and God bless.Charlie
Another Caps Off success May 13, 2009
The Prairie Star Service Unit had a dance on April 24 and sent out a flier troops introducing the Caps Off with Girl Scouts project. The timing for the project and the dance was perfect. The response was amazing. Caps just kept showing up. In all, they collected 8,324 caps. They were brought to the Brooklyn Service Center Monday on April 27. One cap seemed like such a small thing to collect that the girls almost didn’t want to do it. But as you can see from the photo, if the girls all work together, we really can make a difference. This was an eye opening project for everyone involved.
Pictured (left to right): Laura and Wednesday of Troop 10651.
Congratulations Karen! April 8, 2009
Karen Beebout, service unit manager for Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, received the LIVE UNITED award at the United Way of Southwest Minnesota’s Progress & Thank You breakfast. Karen was recognized for her extra effort to lead the Marshall Service Unit. In addition to serving as service unit manager, she works with two troops of girls. Karen’s dedication and enthusiasm has made a difference in the lives of more than 120 girls.
Photo (left to right): Jodi Gorres, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys; Karen Beebout; Ruth Ascher, United Way of Southwest Minnesota.
Girl Scout Brownies have fun at Clay Daze March 26, 2009
Girl Scout Brownie Troop 13433 trekked to Camp Lakamaga to attend Clay Daze in March. They had a great time making original creations from clay. The are looking forward to doing it again next year!
Pictured: Kaeley, Matigann, Leah, Paula, Analise, Ellie, and Emma.
Why do you value your Girl Scout leader? March 3, 2009
Leader Appreciation Day is coming, and we want to know why you value your Girl Scout leader. Leave us a comment; let us know why your Girl Scout leader is great.
If you are a leader, why do you love being a Girl Scout leader?
