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Service Unit: Sunny Peaks
Troop 529 (Seniors – Ambassadors)
Years as a troop leader: 9
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop loves to socialize so we either have our regular meetings or meet at a local pizza shop. Some of our favorite activities include crafting and camping! Together, we’ve gone kayaking on the Verde River, and also enjoy going trick-or-treating in Uptown Sedona on Halloween.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
It’s hard to choose just one, but recently, while we were on a camping trip I watched the girls work together to set up their bunks, gather wood for the fire, and help with cooking and cleaning duties. It was satisfying and inspiring!
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I want others to know that volunteering as a Girl Scout leader is a real gift. The girls are inspirational and I’ve learned a lot from them about myself and about my relationship with my daughter. It’s a wonderful feeling to watch a group of girls evolve into wonderful young women. It’s truly special knowing that other volunteers and I played a small part in their growth.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
There have been so many inspiring moments – small and large. What I find most inspiring is watching the girls go from little kids to pre-teens to young adults, knowing they have learned a lot of valuable things in Girl Scouts and seeing them put those things into action. Their kindness to one another, the way they maintain respect despite their differences and then celebrate their achievements together is always inspiring and empowering.
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This blog is written by Girl Scout Volunteer, Troop Leader, and Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) member Bobbie Legg. ALC is centered around the principles of Authentic Girl Scout Leadership, formerly known as Leadership from the Inside Out. “We are committed to helping you discover, unlock and develop your leadership superpowers so that you can guide and empower your girls as they grow into leaders themselves.”
“So do Girl Scouts only do crafts and sell cookies?” Some version of this question is the most common inquiry I get when someone hears I was, and am, a Girl Scout. It falls on my ears with the same ease as putting your foot in a hand glove.
I started Girl Scouts later than other girls in my elementary school—I desperately wanted to join as a first grader but was told that I couldn’t participate if my parents couldn’t volunteer some hours. I waited patiently.
It was finally here. In grade 4, Girl Scouts started for me at Camp May Flather in Mount Solon, Virginia. To support my membership, my mom required me to save up money to pay for my fees. I was nine. I was scared.
I didn’t know a soul. But in a moment, there, my life changed. One vibrant and confident camp counselor heard my feisty, fearless humor and quickly took me under her wing and gave me the camp name Spunkie. My strengths were seen, and I felt like I belonged.
In the years to come, I paddled down rivers, climbed, rappelled, spelunked, and backpacked at camp. Then I found a troop that was open to new members. I was twelve years old, and they were saving up money to go to Our Chalet.
Our Chalet is an international Girl Scout / Girl Guide centre and one of five Wold Centres of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, located in Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. You can imagine how thrilled I was!
I’d never been on a plane and scarcely even been in a motel. But the idea of traveling abroad lit me up with excitement. Eighteen months later, we arrived in Switzerland. Within the picturesque Alps, sleeping on the attic floor at Our Chalet, I found the magic of international friendships through Girl Scouting.
During the next four years of Girl Scouting, I built up skills and confidence and found myself working in the halls of Congress. I greeted dignitaries at the Presidential Inaugural Ball. I traveled as part of the GSUSA delegation to Austria and Hungary to witness scouts from eastern block countries join troops that had been closed off to them for decades. In Girl Scouting, I learned about myself, what I valued in life, and what career I wanted to pursue. I earned scholarships to college—directly from Girl Scouting.
I double-majored in social work and camping & recreation (yes, that is an actual degree!), then I went back to Switzerland and served as part of the summer staff at Our Chalet. It was a full-circle moment for me.
Due to Girl Scouts, I found my voice. I discovered my strengths, and I found my path. I work in international humanitarian care in Africa and South Asia and am passionate about serving children and adolescents who lack needed resources.
When I moved to Phoenix, I found a Girl Scouting home in the GSACPC Authentic Leadership Community. Much like Juliette Gordon Low said, I found lifelong sisterhood in this circle of friendship united by our ideals. The Authentic Leadership Community offers resources, support, and transformative experiences for YOU to learn, grow, thrive, and be true to your authentic self.
Girl Scouts, it’s so much more than crafts and cookies.
Girl Scouts love to travel—from the field trips they take as Brownies to the global adventures they go on as teens. If you love exploring different places and cultures, then Girl Scouts is the place for you.
Check out Girl Scout Destinations, the ultimate adventure program for girls ages 11 and older. With a ton of different trips to apply for every year—from surfing camp on the east coast and breathtaking hikes out west to the crazy-cool wonder of new cultures abroad—there’s something amazing for everyone to experience, just like I did.
Traveling builds life skills and allows you to make friends with people all over the country, see and learn new things, and pack your bags full of inspiring life-changing experiences and memories, which I hope you too get to experience.
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Girls love to be outdoors, but daytime temperatures rise quickly, as we know too well here in the desert. So how can we engage girls outdoors during the summer?
Consider having a night meeting with Girl Scout skill-building and traditions. Do your girls love to learn about the stars? Would your troop love a Songs “n” S’mores event? Maybe your girls are old enough to learn how to build a campfire, or perhaps they might like to learn some yummy Dutch Oven Recipes. Here are some ideas for you to take the fun outside and under the night sky!
Safety Tip: Don’t forget, campfire activities require a TCC2 certified adult to be present!
National S’mores Day – Aug. 10
This classic campfire treat has been popular with Girl Scouts for generations. In 1927, Girl Scouts published a recipe for “Some More” in Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. Over the years, the recipe name has been shortened to s’more. Check out this 2019 Girl Scout blog for some delicious variation options that you can make with your troop.
Skits
Skits are a fun form of entertainment that brings laughter. Skits are also a way to teach girls how to be comfortable speaking in front of a group. Girls enjoy watching each other and leaders perform skits. Here are two skits that your troop can do that are sure to brighten your day and make you smile.
Songs
Songs are a wonderful tradition. Many of our Girl Scout songs have been passed down from one Girl Scout generation to another. They bring about a sense of unity when we hear and sing them. Here is a list of 10 favorites for you to learn or share with other Girl Scouts:
- Percy the Pale-faced Polar Bear – Percy is one of our all-time favorite repetitive songs! It is easy to memorize and participate in, and girls love the funny hand gestures that go along with this song. Besides, who wouldn’t love a pale-faced polar bear?…GRRR!
- Hermie the Worm – Great to teach younger girls because it is a “repeat after me” song. This song has been one of the go-to songs, and the girls love little Hermie!
- Wadiliacha – A fun song of made-up words! The hand motions that go with it add another level of learning to the fun!
- The Bear – It isn’t a repetitive song but is interactive and full of storytelling. In short, a blast to sing with your troop.
- Princess Pat – A call and answer song following Princess Pat and her journey sailing with a “rick-a-bamboo!”
- I’m a Little Piece of Tin – A fun tune with motions, and girls can challenge themselves to sing it faster and faster.
- Black Socks – Best sung in rounds. A great way to learn about rounds and fun to teach girls of all ages.
- Jamie Boy – A slower song, this is best when sung in rounds and is great for older girls who love to sing.
- Rose, Hey Ho, Ah Poor Bird – As girls get older, they can learn how to combine songs into rounds. These three songs are a great start!
- On My Honor – This reflection song expresses our purpose as Girl Scouts and is known around the world.
Don’t forget, the Girl Scout Shop has CDs and songbooks available for purchase.
Movie Night
Take the movie-watching experience outdoors by setting up a TV in the backyard. You can make the experience more fun by setting up pillow cushions and ask girls to bring snacks and drinks to share.
Night Hike Fundana
Order these Night Hike Fundanas (bandanas) as a keepsake and guide to a night full of adventures. Challenge your Girl Scouts to complete all the challenges on the bandana, like identifying nocturnal animals and fining the north star!
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Mesa Service Unit
Troops 2195, 3555, 3095 (Brownies – Cadettes)
Years as a Troop Leader: 19
What inspired you to become a Troop Leader?
I loved Girl Scouts as a child and have many fond memories. I was inspired to become a Leader because I have first-hand experienced the benefits of being in Girl Scouts. The skills I learned in my youth have served me well throughout my life. As time went on and I had my daughters, who were also in Girl Scouts, and who then had their daughters, I knew I wanted them to have a Girl Scouting experience. Being their Troop Leader has been rewarding, and I am excited to be in their lives this way.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop likes to participate in a plethora of activities. Some of their favorite things involve camping and going on field trips. They also enjoy learning new skills and helping others learn. Our troop has helped host World Thinking Day celebrations for our Service Unit in 2019 and 2020.
Lastly, our troop enjoys giving back. Many of our girls have earned their Summit Awards, two girls earned their Bronze Award, and four have earned their Silver Award. Plus, eight of our girls are currently working on their projects to become Silver or Bronze awards Girl Scouts!
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Our troop LOVES giving back whenever we can. Here are some of the things we have done to give back to our community that can maybe serve as ideas to other troops:
- Participated in the Goodwill drives collecting shoes or gently used clothing and other items
- Collected and donated to local causes and food banks
- Made blankets during the holiday season
- Donated cookies to our military troops, frontline workers, teachers, and food banks
- Donated water to the Mesa’s Hydration campaign
- Collected books for Mesa United Way’s 12 Book program
- Collected socks and donated them to a local shelter
- Volunteered at a memory care unit by leading residents in different activities and performing Christmas songs
- Volunteered at an Alzheimer’s benefit walk and handed out water to participants
- Volunteered and cleaned up several community parks and roadways
- Planted a garden at a local elementary school
- Crafted and distributed “love rocks,” which are hand-painted rocks with positive messages on them for local teachers
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Watching my granddaughters be Girl Scouts and have their own experiences has pulled at my heartstrings. As a volunteer, it has also been a privilege to honor my Cadettes as Silver Award Girl Scouts. Seeing them dedicate so much time and work and being the one to acknowledge their success in that way was amazing!
The experience to also see your Girl Scouts grow is an honor. For most of the girls in our troops, I have been their Leader since kindergarten and have been blessed to see them grow into beautiful, kind, and caring young ladies.
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
My advice is quite simple, learn and live by the Girl Scout law, share materials and resources, and don’t take on more than you can handle.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
I want all new leaders to continue to be strong and remember as often as possible that they are making a difference in girls’ lives. I also recommend new leaders build a support system or have another adult to share the experience with. You’ll always need help, and many people want to lend a hand.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
The girls make it worth your time and effort – they are AMAZING!
Does your troop sell cookies?
Yes, and it’s a program that we look forward to. Participating in the program helps us fund our activities throughout the year but more importantly, it teaches so many important life and business skills. They learn to set goals, interact with customers, work as a team, and handle money, just to name a few.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
Our tips to other troops participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program would be to smile, have fun, and compliment people whether or not they buy cookies.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
One of the most inspiring moments I can think of is when my daughter was a Girl Scout, and I was one of her leaders (25 years ago). We did a troop exchange with a troop in Hawaii and had such a wonderful experience. The other troop and their families were so welcoming and genuinely exemplified the values of Girl Scouting that it made our trip that much more memorable.
To this day, my daughter and I are still close friends with her host family and their daughter. Every year, our Hawaiian Girl Scout Sisters buy a case of cookies from each of my granddaughters – that’s a true Girl Scout Sisterhood.
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Labyrinth at Camp Maripai, Prescott
What is a labyrinth?
Many cultures have used labyrinths as meditation and prayer tools for over 4,000 years. They are recognized as ancient symbols that relate to self-discovery and wholeness. The design of a labyrinth combines both the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our center and back again into the world.
Did you know?
Each one of our Girl Scout Camps has at least one labyrinth on the property! Girl Scouts can even contact camp directors to do a service project involving the labyrinths, or they can create one of their own! In addition, several troops from our council, including Troop 151 from Holbrook, AZ, have taken action to design and construct community labyrinths while earning a badge or completing a High Award.
Labyrinths that are open to the public can be found all over the state as well. Here are some links to help you find one (or several) near you:
Why should I use a labyrinth?
Having time and space for reflection has many benefits! Whether you walk solo or in a small group, you can use a labyrinth experience to reduce stress, establish a sense of living in the present, and embrace your personal journey. Group labyrinth walks can build a stronger sense of community and deeper relationships because walking together requires a foundation of trust and respect. If you are seeking new ways to emphasize self-awareness, practice decision-making skills, and develop an enhanced connection to our earth and others, you may enjoy visiting a labyrinth.
A Leader’s Labyrinth Story: JoDee Turner
Sometimes I think a labyrinth walk is just what is needed to ground us.
My first time experiencing a labyrinth was very moving for me. I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and took to the journey of the labyrinth. I was told that I should walk in with the thoughts weighing heavy on my mind and soul, go to the center, leave them there, and then walk the path out with lighter energy. I felt tears roll down my face as I approached the center. I took a moment at the center, left all my worries there, and started back the way I had entered but not as the same person that had entered. I was stunned that something so small as walking the labyrinth could change my life forever. I learned that if I embraced the calm and looked into myself, I would find my path within Girl Scouts and life.
I have experienced labyrinths at three of our camps, plus a retreat. I think out of all my walks, two stand out to me for bringing peace and making my heart warm. Both were night walks and included music. One was at Willow Springs. It was candlelit, with wooden flutes playing while everyone took on their journey. The only lighting was stars in the sky and the tealights throughout the labyrinth. The music echoed through the trees and wrapped me in a warm blanket. One of my other favorite night walks was at a retreat with my fellow Girl Scouts. We had spent a couple of days deep-diving into Leadership from the Inside Out. We ended one of our sessions with a night walk. All of us bonded together through our experience and shared an even deeper connection. We sang in unison, walked in sync, and wound our way in and out of the labyrinth.
I have taken these deep connections and tried to share them with my Girl Scouts to experience it too. I am honored that I have the opportunity to help guide our young girls and teach them about the wonders of the labyrinth. I am also excited these young girls are learning and experiencing the outdoors at an early age in this introspective way.
Getting Your Girls Involved – Badge Connections
We invite leaders and families to explore Arizona and find a labyrinth near you. Girl Scouts offers many outdoor badges where you can incorporate a labyrinth into the experience. Girls can use their surroundings to create a labyrinth by including rocks from the region to set the center and to line the borders of their pathways. They can set the mood by listening to their surroundings and embrace nature in their walk, and create miniature ones on the go.
Here are some of the badges you can incorporate labyrinths into:
- Daisies Use Resources Wisely Petal – Practice being resourceful and design a labyrinth using the materials that girls have available. While most labyrinths are constructed from local stones, girls can also create a labyrinth utilizing pillows, blankets, and even stuffed animals! This is a great way to encourage creativity with untraditional resources.
- Brownie Letterboxing & Hiker Badges – Have fun hiking and hiding a family letterbox near a labyrinth site to encourage more girls to visit the labyrinths located in your area. Find more details on Letterboxing on our council website, including instructions for logging your letterbox location and clues.
- Junior Gardener Badge – Labyrinths are a traditional feature in garden sites and are a creative way to incorporate hardscape design within a green space. Explore a local labyrinth in a garden near you and enjoy the opportunity to walk and smell the roses!
- Cadette aMAZE Journey – Life is a maze of relationships, and this Journey has girls maneuvering through all its twists and turns to find true friendships, plenty of confidence, and maybe even peace. Visiting a labyrinth can represent the challenges girls have encountered and provide a safe space for reflection as girls begin, or a symbolic way to celebrate completing the Journey.
- Senior Outdoor Art Expert Badge – Explore a labyrinth to gather creative inspiration and use the opportunity to also observe and tune into nature all around you. Girls can capture their experience through music, visual arts, or digitally and may also decide to design their labyrinth outdoors.
- Ambassador Outdoor Art Master Badge – Teens can bring art and the outdoors together by experiencing a labyrinth. Together, get inspired by the beauty in nature and the connections made when walking the paths as a group.
How to Draw a Labyrinth
You can create labyrinths in many ways. For example, you can draw them with chalk outside, on a paper plate (using your finger to “walk” the path), you could mow one (if you have grass), or use molding clay.
Use this guide to help you draw your own!
This blog is written by JoDee Turner and Jenny Sharbaugh. ALC is centered around the principles of Authentic Girl Scout Leadership, formerly known as Leadership from the Inside Out. “We are committed to helping you discover, unlock and develop your leadership superpowers so that you can guide and empower your girls as they grow into leaders themselves.”
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Hey, GSACPC! Summer is a time to make memories with new friends and your current Girl Scout Sisters! As you get ready for the new school year, we encourage you to try some new activities, learn something, and get together with your troop/group at least once a month!
Here are some ideas to try (that also offer a cool reprieve from summer temps):
- Get Ahead with Summer Badge Work
For those troops who choose not to pause their Girl Scout experience until fall, approach every potential activity with a Girl Scout mindset, and you are bound to find a way to earn a badge! You can use Badge Explorer to find badge ideas for all levels.
- Beat the Heat Activity
Consider a fun day at a roller-skating rink or indoor ice-skating rink. Have your girls been to the bowling alley or watched a movie at the drive-in theatre lately? There are a variety of venues and attractions to visit indoors! - Experience Local Museums and Art Exhibits
Have you heard about Wonderspaces, an immersive art museum with rotating installations? Museums are a cool place to enjoy a day of fun exploration and learning. Some of our program partners, such as the i.d.e.a. Museum (Arizona Museum for Youth), Arizona Science Center, and the Musical Instrument Museum, have some great Girl Scout Badge activity opportunities as well. - Learn a New Skill
Learning a new skill is in the “threadwork” of Girl Scouting. For example, sewing is a life skill that all Girl Scouts can learn, and then they can be responsible for sewing their badges and patches on their uniforms! Teaching skills like this can be simple, with plenty of online resources like these sewing practice sheets. - Get Active
For those who don’t want to pick up their needle, complete a service project. Idea: make environmentally friendly reusable bags and have the girls make or collect items to donate to a shelter! Girls can create DIY positivity notes or host a drive to collect personal care items – the ways to give back are endless!
Host monthly wellness-inspired virtual or in-person get-togethers! Check the Activities Calendar for upcoming events or host your own. You can do yoga or another exercise online or in an outdoor space, or even learn some mindfulness techniques together.
Other skills are fun to learn outdoors. Have you tried Kick-the-Can-Ice Cream or DIY chalk with your troop? Both activities guarantee instant fun during and once the activity is complete! - Water Fun & Games
During the Phoenix summer, what could be better than exploring and playing with water? Do your girls want to spend a day having fun at Hurricane Harbor? Perhaps a field trip to Arizona Falls where girls can learn about the transformation of a historic waterfall into a hydroelectric plant would be the choice for your troop? Girls can enjoy interacting and reflecting on the three waterfalls, and all the wonders water brings. Make plans to visit or take a virtual tour.
If you are looking for a creative water activity idea for a troop meeting rather than a field trip, look no further! Try making this glowing rainbow water, or maybe the girls would like to make their very own waterfall wall out of recycled materials!
Who doesn’t love games? Add a little water to ‘em and just wait for the laughter and cheers! Check out these water game ideas, and see how you can connect them to water-themed badges and Journeys!
We hope you have a safe and fun-filled summer! Please make sure to review the Safety Activity Checkpoints and follow COVID-19 guidelines while planning for any activity.
- Get Ahead with Summer Badge Work
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Cactus Patch Service Unit
Troop 761, Cadettes
Years as a Troop Leader: 9
What inspired you to become a Troop Leader?
I first became a parent volunteer when my daughter, Em, was a Girl Scout Daisy. In one meeting, our wonderful Troop Leader, Jennifer, asked me if I could take on the Girl Scout Brownie level in our troop since their level leader could not continue. That’s when I stepped in, and since the start, both Jenn and Em continue to inspire me to be the best leader I can be.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop enjoys working on Girl Scout Badges, Journeys, and completing service projects. We also enjoy art-inspired activities as well. We have made our own t-shirts to wear during the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and created kindness rocks and positivity chalkboards. One of my troop’s favorite thing to do is Journey in a Day programming. I also enjoy getting outdoors and teaching archery to all our fellow Girl Scouts.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We’ve completed a few service projects! Over the years 2014-15, my Girl Scout Brownies collected pencils and donated them to schools in Avondale and Goodyear. In 2017, my Juniors made blankets and hosted a kitten adoption event. Then in 2018, my Juniors created positivity stones for our local church to use for parishioners who needed a bit of sunshine.
In 2019, my daughter also continued the pencil donation and collected over 20,000 pencils. She donated them to schools in Arizona, Texas, and New York! She was even featured on the news!
This year we’re working on two projects. One is supporting a free library in the City of Goodyear, and the other is making pet blankets and beds for a no-kill animal shelter. There are always ways to give back, and we enjoy doing so! ❤
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
I have volunteered for a lot of Council events, from girl events to product delivery events. I have also hosted several events like “Badge in a Day, Journey in a Day,” to mother/daughter tea parties. But, of all these events, what stands out most to me, is the extraordinary support from our Service Unit (a.k.a., designated neighborhood group). We may be small, but we all pitch in to help each other out. No woman or volunteer stands alone. We help, sometimes even without asking, and simply show up! It is truly what our Girl Scout Sisterhood is about – supporting our Sistas!
Overall it is just great to be a part of this sisterhood, movement, and community. When you volunteer, not only do the girls create friendships and a support team, but we adult volunteers do too.
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
Don’t be idle, and don’t wait for some to ask you to join them. Step up! There are so many ways you can help your troop, your neighborhood, and all Girl Scouts! You can share your passions and be an active, positive influence in the lives of so many girls, women, and other adult volunteers!
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
It’s ok to step back and take a breath. Don’t strive for perfection.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
No role is small. Everything you do counts and makes a difference. Becoming a volunteer gives you the opportunity to get to know your Girl Scouts on a deep level. You’ll be the person they come to when they need that boost to keep on moving forward or need advice. So, it’s enriching to be that for girls.
It also is a great time to solidify your bond with your daughter… this journey is twice as rewarding when you share it with your daughter.
Does your troop sell cookies?
Yes, every year. The Fall Product and Girl Scout Cookie program is such a rewarding program. It teaches girls business and life skills like inventory management and reconciliation, forecasting sales, reconciliation of funds, and accounting skills. All these skills girls will get to apply later in their personal and professional lives.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
A tip from our troop would be to create your own cookie booth table cloth. We like to decorate our booth in a way that shows who we are as salespeople and apply that as our marketing strategy. That unique look can entice prospective buyers and open a line of communication even for the shyest of young Girl Scouts.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
My Girl Scouts always inspire me. They are independent thinkers always striving to help others. They always want to donate their hard-earned cookie proceeds to local womens’ shelters and no-kill animal shelters and volunteer their time at local food banks. They inspire me to be a better, kinder, more generous person and leader.
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Sinagua Service Unit
Troop 3182, Cadettes
Years as a Troop Leader: 6
What inspired you to become a Troop Leader?
My daughter’s troop was disbanding, and I saw how much Girl Scouting benefited her and the other girls. I didn’t want them to miss out, so I decided to step up and become a volunteer.
I’m so glad I did because it’s been such an incredible experience. I learn as much from them as they learn from me.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We have done fun and educational trips around our state. Our troop has enjoyed tie-dying arts and crafts, painting kindness rocks, camping, and horseback riding. We’ve even gone to several state parks and earned our Junior Ranger badges!
Especially during this past year, our troop has realized how important it is for us to stay connected. Once we were given the okay to meet in person, any face-to-face meeting we could have has been our favorite thing to do. This past year has been hard for everyone, but it was hard not to see our Girl Scout Sisters regularly. We’re applying all the recommended guidelines so our troop stays safe and healthy and so we can continue to plan in-person meetings.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Our troop enjoyed giving back to the community regularly. We’ve volunteered with a couple of different animal rescue sanctuaries to help feed, walk, bathe dogs and puppies. We’ve also volunteered at our community senior center and made blankets for babies in the hospital, which we enjoyed.
Each year we also look forward to our neighborhood hosting a community Turkey Dinner, where all our troops help serve our community members dinner.
Our troop recently installed a Little Free Library at a local park to help our community have access to books. Our local paper, The Verde Valley Independent & Camp Verde Bugle, even wrote an article about us!
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
My favorite thing about being a volunteer is seeing these girls grow over the years.
Some were very shy and introverted when we started, and I’ve seen them blossom into strong, confident young leaders.
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
Stick with it. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but it’s so rewarding in the long run. You don’t have to have elaborate meetings every time. Sometimes it’s good for the girls to get together and play a game. Sometimes that’s when the best memories are made.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
Don’t hesitate to ask for help, and don’t try to do everything on your own. It’s okay to delegate tasks and get help from your parent volunteers! You’d be surprised that they are willing and want to help!
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with Girl Scouts?
It’s so worthwhile! If you’re considering it, I can tell you firsthand that it’s worth pursuing!
Why is it important to participate in the GS Cookie Program?
We sell cookies every year not only to help fund our troop activities but for the girls to learn essential life skills.
They’ve learned business skills and money management, how to be confident, and strong communication skills. It’s such a well-rounded program in regards.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
This year we weren’t sure how things would go due to COVID-19, so we used the Digital Cookie site. And guess what? We wound up having one of our best years ever! Our customers loved our free local delivery offering and how they could press an online order through the girls’ and troop Digital Cookie websites.
I highly recommend that all troops enroll in Digital Cookie to offer this option to customers and so girls can learn other skills like e-commerce and digital marketing.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
I think I’ve been most inspired by my Girl Scouts when I see them work together to problem-solve and overcome challenges.
When we went to encampment with our neighborhood, one of my troop members was terrified to the point of tears by the rock climbing wall, but all our neighborhood Girl Scout Sisters built her up and encouraged her. She was able to complete the course! Girl Scouts is the ideal space for girls to support one another and thrive.
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Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Girl Scouts is excited to partner with DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit Untamed to celebrate the power of girls.
Your girls might go to a movie together, do a fun summer service project or go on an exciting adventure. Whatever it is, getting together over the summer will help girls stay engaged and excited about being in Girl Scouts. Continue reading to get fun summer activity ideas, plus, learn more about Spirit Untamed Activity Book and how to enter for a chance to win a DreamWorks swag bag!
As summer break approaches, now is a good time to introduce girls to the planning process of Girl Scout Activities.
Start by introducing the Preparing for Activities page in an age-appropriate manner and have girls vote on and plan at least one troop activity a month over the summer.
- Give earning badges and patches a fun flair – whether it’s taking a road trip along Route 66, exploring Kartchner Caverns, or visiting Riordan Mansion State Park.
- Explore our Council’s Own Patches and patches as summer fun options.
- Participate in the Get Outdoors Challenge and get your girls outside.
- Take part in a Community Service Project – part of the Girl Scout experience is giving back. Help girls consider taking part in a community service project this summer. Either locally or nationally, there are a plethora of options available. Here are just a few:
- Ronald McDonald House Patch Program – Girls feel connected to their communities by learning about the Ronald McDonald House and contributing to the House through tab collection and service projects.
- Arizona Humane Society Service Project – Girls can join us in this Council-wide service project by making homemade pet supplies that can be donated to the Arizona Humane Society.
- Have you seen our national mission to protect the planet from the effects of climate change? This is a great opportunity to talk to your girls about how they can make a difference in protecting our planet. If your girls are interested, show them how they can be a part of the Girl Scout Tree Promise – to plant, protect and honor 5 million trees by 2026! Make sure to consult the Safety Activity Checkpoints when planning this project!
- Spirit Untamed: Start making your own wildest dreams come true with Girl Scouts’ and Dreamworks Animation’sSpirit Untamed Activity Book (PDF). Alongside your favorite characters from the movie, you’ll go on a scavenger hunt, unleash your creativity, and more.
- After completing the activities in the book, head to the Girl Scout Shop to get a free, limited-edition Spirit Untamed fun patch! Simply use the code SPIRIT at checkout to claim yours. *Limited supply available, based on first-come, first-served basis.
- Enter for a chance to win a DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit Untamed Swag Bag. To celebrate the spirit of Girl Scouts, 25 girls will win swag bags filled with DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit Untamed goodies plus four Fandango gift codes (valued at $125). To enter the sweepstakes, comment on this post, tag two friends, then share the post to your stories with #GirlScoutSpiritPromo. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Read the official rules.
Lastly, don’t forget our Program Partners! Our “More Stuff To Do” page has many options to consider!
Artwork: DreamWorks Spirit Untamed © DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Many things have gone virtual this past year – like movie releases and healthcare appointments–and Broadway productions. In fact, a Broadway production was performed virtually for the first time, and one of our Girl Scouts had the opportunity to be part of it.
Amber Chan, a Junior in Troop 3835, has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten and has been a young actor for a few years. This past year she auditioned and gained a role in the world’s first 100% live and virtual full-length off-Broadway musical, Newsies. For this production, Actors Technique NY (ATNY) theatre company used proprietary technology developed by the director, Broadway veteran Carl Anthony Tramon, to make the production as seamless as possible.
While she’s not auditioning for roles, Amber is busy studying and Girl Scouting. She’s participating in this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program with plans to sell 560 boxes. To learn about how Girl Scouting has impacted her career on stage, she takes us behind the scenes in this interview!
Tell us a little about the off-Broadway production and your character’s role.
Newsies is a well-known musical based on the 1899 Newsboy Strike, in which a ragtag group of boys and girls shut down the most powerful newspapers in New York City in their quest for higher wages and better working conditions. Like Girl Scouts, they wanted to make the world a better place. I played Spot Colon, the leader of the Brooklyn newsies.
What was unique to this production, and how did you prepare for it?
This was the world’s very first 100% live, entirely virtual production. There have been streaming “virtual musicals” before, but they have all either been live streams of a theatre company on stage together, or the actors film their scenes on their own at home and send them in for editing to produce a “virtual show” that is then viewed at specific times. ATNY’s Newsies was completely live and virtual, with all actors broadcasting from their own homes worldwide. We performed in front of a green screen in our living rooms, so each performance was unique, subject to all the whims of live theatre because it was live theatre. The proprietary software helped sync the music, voices, and dancing. Have you ever tried to sing over Zoom? Here’s an experiment – sing “Happy Birthday” with a few friends. It’s hilariously awful, but that’s why a live virtual production had never been tried before.
How has Girl Scouting helped in your Broadway career/experience?
Girl Scouting has taught me to take risks and try new things. The great thing about theatre is that you can be whoever you want and create a new character with each show. Being in Girl Scouts has given me the confidence to go out on stage and give it my all, as well as take risks like auditioning in a nationwide casting call and broadcasting a full-length musical from my living room.
What are some of your favorite Girl Scouting memories?
My favorite memory was getting to speak in the Rose Garden of the Arizona Capitol at a press conference about the bill my troop had inspired to ban the intentional release of balloons.
Now that it’s cookie season, how has performing helped your Girl Scout Cookie business?
Being in shows has taught me to think quickly, and like the cookie program, it has made me more outgoing, which is essential when speaking with customers.
What do you/your troop plan to do with the proceeds?
Right now, we’re working on our Bronze Award to raise awareness of the dangers of releasing balloons into the atmosphere. We had planned to take a trip to California this summer to celebrate the end of elementary school and bridging to Cadettes, but we will put that off until next year now. And hopefully, we’ll do something even bigger and better.
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(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz – April 26, 2021) – Fiesta Bowl Charities has awarded Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) $100,000 to support the organization’s newly created mountain biking program for Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona. The grant will support the purchase of a trailer for supporting and transporting the mountain bikes, a truck to pull the trailer, and all the equipment for the girls to hit the Arizona trails.
“We are extremely grateful to Fiesta Bowl Charities for providing funds to expand our program offerings which include giving girls access and resources for new outdoor experiences,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “Over the lifetime of the bikes, we’ll be able to provide tens of thousands of girls the opportunity to experience outdoor adventures while also learning the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and learning new skills.”
GSACPC was among 44 nonprofit organizations across the state of Arizona that benefited from Fiesta Bowl Charities grant funding in the 2020-21 season. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and various community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted $16 million in charitable giving for the past five years alone.
“We are committed to enhancing the lives of Arizonans, and by supporting GSACPC and their amazing grassroots efforts, we are collectively making a meaningful difference,” said Patrick Barkley, chair of the Fiesta Bowl board of directors. “Giving back to the Arizona community has been core to the Fiesta Bowl mission since we were founded 50 years ago, from our board of directors to Yellow Jacket committee, volunteers and staff.”
Through Girl Scouts, local female leaders of tomorrow practice essential life skills and develop the confidence they need to create their own success, whatever that looks like to them. They receive support and mentorship from an inclusive network of girls and women who champion every girl’s potential to do amazing things. Girl Scouts helps girls thrive in five key ways as they:
- Develop a strong sense of self
- Seek challenge and learn from setbacks
- Display positive values
- Form and maintain healthy relationships
- Identify and solve problems in their communities
The grant will allow GSACPC to further its proven Girl Scout Leadership Experience – a one-of-a-kind leadership development program (and the largest in the world!) focused on helping girls:
- Engage in healthy activities
- Explore the great outdoors
- Learn the foundations of the sport through bike safety, maintence knowledge, and skill development
- Participate in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skill-building
- Take risks in a safe, all-girl environment
- Develop confidence and grit
- Take the lead in her own life and the world
“The last year has been incredibly challenging for us all, and that is why it is imperative that the Fiesta Bowl still deliver these necessary funds to Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scouts,” said Fiesta Bowl executive director Mike Nealy. “The heroes are nonprofits like Girl Scouts across Arizona who use these funds to improve people’s lives, specifically girl’s lives, right where they need it. We are part of this community, and it’s our mission to give back to the community.”
Quick facts about Fiesta Bowl Charities:
- $5.5 million given in charitable giving for 2020-21 season
- 44 nonprofits benefit from Fiesta Bowl Charities’ grant cycle in 2020-21
- $16 million in charitable giving over last five years
- $21 million in charitable giving over last 10 years
- $3.7 million granted through Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers in program’s first five years
- Fiesta Bowl gives more in annual charitable giving than any college bowl organization
- More than 1 million people served in 2020-21
- 3,723,570 meals served in 2020-21
- 50,000 PPE face masks distributed in 2020-21
ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS–ARIZONA CACTUS-PINE COUNCIL (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves 11,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. Since 1936, GSACPC has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. Girl Scouts grow courageous and strong through girl-driven programs, ranging from summer camp to troop activities and product sales. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.
ABOUT THE FIESTA BOWL
Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaBowl.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter and Instagram.
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