Ambassador Troop 10903 learned about car sense and how difficult it can be to change a tire as part of the Diamond Troop Patch program. The troop thanks Mr. Jerry Borscheid for instructing the girls on the basics of car maintenance and safty.
Girl Scouts at Feed My Starving Children April 5, 2010
Girl Scout Troop 10512 (Eden Prairie, MN) volunteered this week at Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization that packs meals formulated specially for starving children and ships them to more than 60 countries around the world. The troop helped pack 8,424 meals – enough to feed 23 kids for one year!
UPDATE: Girl Scouts can officially raise money for Haiti January 22, 2010
GSUSA Communications Alert
FROM: Kathy Cloninger, National CEO, GSUSA
RE: Fundraising for Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts
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The outpouring of support for the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake last week has been remarkable, and Girl Scouts across the country have pitched in to help in many different ways. We know, however, that after natural disasters like these, sending funds is often the best way to help.
Given the catastrophic events in Haiti, the Executive Committee unanimously adopted, and the National Board this morning ratified, the following:
THAT the Executive Committee of Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Board of Directors, on the National Board’s behalf, adopts a special rule of order to allow girl members to engage in activities, which may include the direct solicitation of money, from January 14 through September 8, 2010, to support emergency relief for the January 12 earthquake disaster in Haiti. Monies raised shall be contributed only to organizations on the approved list of agencies (listed here); additions to the list shall be approved by the National President and CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA.
This now makes it possible for our girls to raise much needed funds for relief efforts in Haiti. Please take note that the money our girls raise can be contributed only to approved agencies. Much of Haiti is in ruins and a second major earthquake struck the country on Wednesday. The loss of life and suffering has been heartbreaking. I hope that this action by the National Board will serve as yet another opportunity for all of us as a Movement to do what we can to help the people of Haiti in their time of need.
Girl Scouts May Raise Money for Haitian Relief Efforts January 15, 2010
From Girl Scouts of the USA:
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Our thoughts and prayers are with Haitians, friends, and families, as they begin the process of managing the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake of January 12. We have received numerous calls from Girl Scouts around the country asking how to help.
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the National Board suspended the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations. We are working with the Executive Committee of the board to suspend this policy once again. We will keep you informed of any action. In the meantime, all Girl Scouts councils should work though their local community groups to assist in relief efforts.
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The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has issued a list of organizations that are accepting donations for relief efforts. I have included the list below. WAGGGS is also reminding all Girl Scouts that the theme of World Thinking Day this year is “ending extreme poverty and hunger.” The tragic events in Haiti can clearly serve as a way to educate our girls about the issues of extreme poverty and hunger throughout the world.
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It is at times like these that Girl Scouts throughout the world come together in sisterhood and to take action to help those in need. We have seen our Movement rally in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters over the years, and I know that all of us in Girl Scouting will do everything we can to help Haiti and its people in the weeks and months ahead.
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Below is list of ways to help:
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The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is accepting donations through its International Response Fund..
Pan American Development Foundation
The foundation is encouraging people to donate through its website at www.PanAmericanRelief.org..
UNICEF
UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF..
Oxfam
You can donate to online at Oxfam America at www.oxfamamerica.org..
Save The Children
Save the Children has launched an emergency relief effort for Haiti. Donate to Save the Children..
Mercy Corps
Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to:
Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund
Dept NR
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208.
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders has set up clinics to treat people in Haiti. Donate to Doctors Without Borders..
The UN World Food Programme
The UN World Food Programme is gathering all available resources to deliver food to the recently homeless and impoverished in Haiti. Donations can be made through www.wfp.org/donate/haiti..
CARE
CARE is deploying emergency team members to Port-au-Prince to assist in recovery efforts. It’s focusing its efforts on rescuing children who may still be trapped in schools that collapsed. Donate to CARE..
The International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is deploying an emergency response team to Haiti. Donate to the IRC Haiti Crisis Fund..
World Vision
World Vision has more 370 staff members in the Haiti. Donate to World Vision..
United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
This fund is used for emergencies like the earthquake in Haiti. Donate online.
Girl Scout Court of Awards January 13, 2010
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 13433, third graders out of out of Elm Creek Elementary, recently held their first Court of Awards. These 14 girls earned more than 47 Try-Its in the last few months. They have been working very hard and are in the process of planning a service project.
Back: Isabella, Anna, Rhiannon, Bailey, Abby, Molly, Emma. Front: Ellie, Analise, Ana, Leah, Paula, Matigann, Kaeley.
Your Own Cookie Business January 6, 2010
On December 12, 20 girls from the Beta Gamma Girl Scouts (BGGS) program attended Your Own Cookie Business Council sponsored event in Blaine, MN.
The event’s goals are aligned with the Financial Literacy program for which BGGS receives funding. Girl Scouts wants to build financial leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, BGGS girls learn about marketing, market analysis, finances, and other business strategies. All these activities are part of an extensive college preparatory curriculum that goes in depth about being financially ready for college.
During the Your Own Cookie Business Program, girls were able to learn about 2010 Cookie Program Activity goals and objectives. They also had a chance to learn about business planning, marketing, and branding.
“Before coming to this event, I did not know that selling cookies had so much financial planning behind it … I learned a lot about selling more cookies by having an well-defined marketing plan,” said JuTon, a Junior grade High School student from Minneapolis.
View more pictures in the Facebook photo album.
Girl Scout trip to Yellowstone December 22, 2009
Troop 22213 spent the last week of July enjoying Yellowstone National Park. The vacation started early on Sunday morning. The girls were excited and settled into the 12-passenger van that would become their “home” for the next 23 hours. As we were leaving town, we decided to take a detour and see Mount Rushmore. It added on some time to the trip, but it was worth it. The girls enjoyed being able to see this national monument, and it was amazing seeing something that we had only seen in pictures. After the stop, we continued on our way to West Yellowstone. We arrived at 3 a.m. The girls were sent right to bed for a few hours of sleep before our activities really began.
The first day, we went to Fountain Paint Pots and Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. The girls learned that you cannot rush mother nature!
Day two brought us to a ranch where they taught us how to Fly Fish. It was a great experience. We then had supper with a Girl Scout Junior troop from West Yellowstone. They brought their flags, and we had a flag ceremony. After supper we went to the local Smokejumper base and learned all about smokejumping. It was a lot of fun.
Day three was exhausting but fun. The morning started with a nine-mile horseback ride that lasted two hours. One of our guides’ grandparents were from Faribault! After our ride, we enjoyed a great lunch of buffalo burgers and brats. The girls even had some time to rock climb.
Then the adventure began. We went white water rafting. It was the most fun experience we had. We all slept great that night!
Our last day, we spent at the Canyon in Yellowstone. We had “hobo lunches” that we made over a fire, and then we went on a ranger hike to look at the falls. They were wonderful. While in Yellowstone, we completed the Jr Ranger badge and learned a lot along the way! There was a little time found to do some shopping as well.
The next morning was early as we loaded up and got ready to call the van our “home” again. This time the trip only took us about 18 hours. All in all, we had a great time. The girls were wonderful, and we could not have asked for a better trip!
- Robin, troop leader
Operation Christmas Child December 10, 2009
Wow what an awesome night! We had a great meeting this past Monday night. Our 10 Girl Scout Daisies in Troop 13601 put together 17 boxes of gifts for Operation Christmas Child. We are so proud to see them give to a child they most likely will never even see. What a gift to learn to give. We are very fortunate to have received a large donation of small items to fill the boxes from Scholastic Book Fairs and to have the pleasure of working with Grace Fellowship Church. Tracy and I are so proud of our girls!
Shari Grundy & Tracy Weber
Girl Scout Daisy Troop 13601
Girl Scout Halloween December 1, 2009
The Stewart/Brownton Girl Scouts recently held their annual Halloween/Juliette Low Birthday Party. Girl Scouts were encouraged to invite non-Girl Scout friends to come and party with them. They all came in costume and brought canned goods for the local food shelf. The Girl Scouts had planned several activities for all to participate in, including “bobbing” for apples and donuts (suspended from a sting on a broom handle), making witches brooms and witches brew, and assorted games. The girls also learned about Juliette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, whose birthday is on October 31. Snacks were enjoyed by all.
Girl Scout vegetable garden October 19, 2009
Mound Girl Scout Troop 12415 planted a vegetable garden in May and donated produce throughout the summer to the Westonka Food Shelf. The final harvest of the season was Friday, October 9. In total, the girls donated more than 100 pounds of food over the course of the growing season using seeds, a few donated plants, and girl power!
Jack Wiest coordinated the produce deliveries to the Westonka food shelf, and free use of the garden plot was provided by Our Lady of the Lake Church.
See more photos on River Valleys’ Facebook page.
