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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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Service Unit: Desert Valley
Troop 579, Brownies-Cadettes
Years as a GS: 3
Years as Troop Leader: 6
What inspired you to become a Troop Leader?
When my second oldest granddaughter, Savette, wanted to be a Daisy like her older sister, Sophia, the Daisy troop was full. That’s when I decided I can create a new troop, and I did as a co-leader. I also experienced an unfortunate event where my co-leader became ill and I was the leader until she could come back.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
WI think their favorite activities are encampment and family camping. However, we do many other activities directed by the badge requirements. Some of our favorites are the badges centered around art.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We donated cookies to the food banks in Paulden and the Chino Valley Community Church. At Christmastime, we’ve also contributed gifts to the Elder Tree in Paulden. However, our biggest effort was at the Empty Bowls event last September where people purchase a hand-made bowl for $20 and receive a meal of soup, bread and water. Troop 579 washed the bowls before and after they were used for soup and packed them for the people to take them home. The event generated over $19,000 on one day alone and all the proceeds of the sale went to the food banks.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out for you.
Being able to volunteer with my troop at other events where we serve others together, like the Empty Bowls event
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
Find the time to use the resources provided by Council – from your service units’ MSE (Member Services Executive), and the website. Getting ideas and help from other Troop Leaders is also a huge help! Lastly, the monthly leader meetings also provide a wealth of ideas and information from your fellow leaders that all leaders should attend.
Completed this activity? Send us a photo or post it on social media and tag us using #GSACPC.
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In April, we celebrated National Poetry Month by launching a poetry contest! We’re inviting girls to participate by submitting their poem for a chance to win prizes!
- A grand prize of a $25 gift card to a Girl Scout Dessert Challenge restaurant and Girl Scout swag bag with be rewarded in each age category.
- Runner up in each age category will win Girl Scout swag bag filled with goodies!
Please review the contest guidelines; all girls are encouraged to submit an entry. Entries will be shared in our Fall issue of GS Connections magazine.
Girl Scout Daisies – Juniors
In the style of an acrostic poem, a poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word or message, write a poem in which the first letter of each line spells the word GSACPC.
Girl Scout Cadettes – Ambassadors
In the style of an acrostic poem, a poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word or message, write a poem in which the first letter of each line spells the name GIRL SCOUTS.
How to Enter: Girls must be current members and submit their entry by 12:00 am on May 22. All entries must be submitted via email to our Marcom Team with the contest name in the subject line. When submitting your entry, include your name, troop number, Girl Scouting level, and parent email.
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As troops get into a new routine of meeting virtually, we’d like to share with you some activity ideas to try out! It’s great to host virtual meetings after working on badge work, to wrap up a week, and just for fun socializing! Hosting for the first time? Refer to this check list first.
On Virtual-GS, we’ve included Resources to Meet Virtually – which lists free video and audio-conferencing tools for troop meetings. There are also chat and collaboration apps and additional low-cost tools. Once you’ve selected which virtual meeting resource works best for you, try these meeting ideas:
- Start with a check-in – To start the meeting, pose a question to the group and invite each participant to take a turn responding. For your first virtual meeting, consider keeping the topic light – What is your superhero name, and what powers do you have? As the girls become more accustomed to the practice, include more in-depth topics that allow the girls to express their concerns and feelings. The questions can also relate to the focus of the meeting. For more suggestions, check out this article.
- COVID-19 Time Capsule – Long Creations has developed free time capsule digital downloads “for fellow families with children living through this difficult time.” Individuals can use them to document their personal experiences during what will become a landmark event in history. Send to your troop ahead of a meeting and allow girls to share their thoughts, feelings, and time capsule creations during your virtual meeting.
- Pen Pals – While this activity is typically delivered through USPS, and done with pals who are far away from each other, modify this activity for troops to connect on a smaller scale! Troop Leaders match girls as Pen Pals within a troop, with another troop in your neighborhood, or other Girl Scouts across the state! And a simpler alternative to postal service is to set up the pen pal system via email. To find a pen pal troop within our Council, connect with other leaders on Facebook. Girls can then share stories during a troop meeting and leaders can share suggestions about what to write about.
- Play games together – games like charades, Scattegories, Kahoot app trivia, and Minute to Win it make fun group interaction online.
- Take a virtual field trip together – Visit Exploring the World Wide Web on Virtual GS and view the different museums that are offering virtual tours! Girls can also choose to explore a popular travel destination like the Great Wall of China, National Park like Yellowstone, or country through Google Earth virtually and share the screen to travel together.
- Stay @ Home Challenge – invite girls to report on how they are earning points to earn the patch. If the activities required crafting something, invite girls to share what they did.
- Earn the Safety Award for your level – most of these awards focus on being prepared. Refer to your level Girl Scout Guide Book for the activities.
- Plan Community Service – Now is a great time for girls to be thinking about giving back to their community in safe and responsible ways. Make cards and notes for first responders, learn some songs together and make a video to send to your local nursing home, or brainstorm sustainable changes you can make to earn your High Awards. Start with a brainstorm during your next meeting, and then get down to planning in future meetings. For ideas, reference our Girl Scout Guide: Helping Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Show & Tell – no matter the age, sharing something they love gets the girls comfortable speaking online, and it’s an excellent way to practice listening and being open-minded to others’ ideas.
- Scavenger Hunt – Create fun and friendly competition by providing a list of items for the girls to find at home within a time limit. Girls can quickly go off-screen to find the item and return to the meeting with the thing they found. Prizes can be picking the next activity, being a virtual assistant for the next meeting, or something unique to your troop!
- Karaoke Battle – girls create a list of karaoke songs they like to sing. Depending on the size of your troop, divide girls into pairs or small groups, and have them practice their song (tip: this is seamless when using breakout rooms feature in Zoom). Then, come back together to perform for the group as a whole.
- Unconventional Fashion Show – use recycled items around the house to make new fashions! Items can be newspapers, magazines, tissue paper flowers, garbage bags, sheets, (toga party anyone?), or anything else that sparks creativity. Then, everyone struts their wares at the end, or at the top of a future meeting (like show & tell!).
- Free Chat Space – at the end of the meeting, consider leaving the video connection open for girls to visit with each other. Spending time with their friends is the best part of Girl Scouts.
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Thinking about hosting a virtual troop meeting? This checklist is a great place to start! You’ll realize it’s easy as pie, just like planning for one in-person and with the virtual tools we share, you’ll quickly learn how easy it is to get started!
How to set up a virtual troop meeting:
Determine the virtual meeting tool the troop will use to meet. See Resources to Meet Virtually on the Virtual-GS page for our recommendations. Next, contact your families to confirm that everyone has internet access and the comfort level to connect online. Many tools have multiple ways to call into a group meeting, including just through the cellphone and not using a computer. Plan to keep the first gathering short and focus on the relationship more than a group activity or badge content. Once everyone is comfortable, you can plan more ambitious agendas. Treat the first virtual meeting as you would with any first meeting; set up expectations and ground rules, such as not using the chat log for side conversations during the meeting. Create a schedule that works with families and girls, and provide agenda items, so they know what to expect and plan for! This gives girls something to look forward to as well. Collaborate! Work with families and the girls to get ideas and feedback on what the girls would like to do! Now that you’re ready to host your first virtual meeting, check out these fun Virtual Troop Meeting Activity Ideas!
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When it comes to owning your story and living out your dreams, Omei Eaglerider (aka Chef ‘O’) is a testament of what it means to wholeheartedly commit to your journey, while teaching and serving others along the way.
And for Omei, her dedication to persevere and excel, began with Girl Scouting.
Omei’s drive to excel and the creative gifts that were made known to her throughout her 18 years Girl Scouting as a girl and staff member served her well. Not only was she a recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award at the age of 17 (then called the First-Class Award), but she even held the Guinness World Record for ‘Continuous Yo-Yo’ while in high school.
Over the last 53 years, Omei has made it a point to stay involved with Girl Scouts in some capacity. As the Executive Chef at Fry’s Signature Marketplace Culinary School in Paradise Valley, Arizona, she offers a wide variety of cooking classes and often works with troops from around the Valley to help girls earn their cooking badges.
Chef O Loves to concoct Girl Scout Cookie-inspired creations. We invite you make her latest recipe, Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Toffee Cookie Bites.
CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER-TOFFEE COOKIE BITES
Yield: 48 | Heat oven to 325° | Place paper liners in 2 mini muffin tins.
COOKIE CRUST CUP
- 1 cup Girl Scout Trefoil or Toffee-tastic Cookies*, crushed
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (about 50 grams)
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
In a small bowl, mix crushed cookies, graham cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in melted butter. Spoon a tablespoon of cookie mixture into each. Press down and up the sides to form a cup. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 5-8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for a few minutes then set in the fridge to completely set.
PEANUT BUTTER MOUSSE
- 1/3 cup natural-style smooth peanut butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Pinch of coarse kosher salt
- 2/3 cup chilled heavy whipping cream, separated
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix the peanut butter, brown sugar, and coarse salt together until well blended. Gradually mix in 1/3 c heavy whipping cream. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the remaining 1/3 c of cream, the sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form; fold into peanut butter mixture in 3 additions. Chill until ready to use.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (114 g / 4 ounces)
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate (70 – 72%), finely chopped (170 g / 6 oz)
Heat the cream in a small pan until it’s very hot; it should be steaming, just short of a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, and let the mixture rest for 5 minutes. This gives the cream a chance to soften the chocolate. Using a hand whisk, stir the mixture until the chocolate and cream are smooth. Let cool.
ASSEMBLE THE BITES
- 2-4 ounces dulce de leche or caramel sauce, optional
- 2 ounces peanuts, crushed or toffee bits, optional
Spoon or pipe about a teaspoon of ganache into the bottom of each cookie cup. Scoop or pipe the peanut butter mousse on top of ganache, dividing it evenly among the cups. If using, drizzle some dulce de leche over the top of each and sprinkle with peanuts or toffee bits. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
NOTES
If you happened to have eaten all your Girl Scout Cookies, you could substitute regular shortbread cookies or all graham cracker crumbs for the crust. You don’t have to have a fancy piping bag. Just use a heavy-duty freezer bag and snip a corner to pipe.
To make these gluten-free, use 2 cups of Toffee-tastic cookies and omit the graham crackers.
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Girl Scouts change the world! Nowhere is this more apparent than in Girl Scout High Awards, through which girls address community issues by identifying an issue in their community and implementing sustainable change. Thirty-three Girl Scouts in our Council earned their Gold Award this year, for making a lasting impact in our local communities.
Meet the young and remarkable women changing the world for good:
Margaret AtkinsGilbert Water Safety 101Margaret was inspired by her summers spent as a lifeguard to share her knowledge of water safety with her community. She organized and hosted three water safety events at the Gilbert Fire Department, The House of Refuge, and her neighborhood pool. At her events, she taught people of all ages the importance of knowing how to prevent drowning and what to do in case of emergency. Margaret also created a “Water Safety 101” video. She posted on YouTube and it currently has over 300 views. This video will continue to help others learn about staying safe in the water. Margaret credits Girl Scouts for giving her the confidence to become a strong leader and speaker and the determination to overcome adversity. Margaret has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to study journalism or communications after graduating from Chandler Preparatory Academy. 
Cynthia BatemanMesaArt and Ag PatioCynthia’s passion for agriculture inspired her Gold Award, which involved developing a small area of unused land at her high school, Highland High. An empty dirt-filled area at her school was transformed into an outdoor patio filled with garden beds, a tree, and a seating space to host students for academic purposes but also for them to have a place to wind down. Cynthia says her Gold Award has taught her the importance of communicating effectively and how to adapt to situations while working on completing a challenging goal. Through Girl Scouting, she has made lifelong friends who have taught her to be the best version of herself. She was a Girl Scout for nine years and is currently attending Northern Arizona University. 
Kori BerraPrescottRestorative Justice in Prescott High SchoolWith the recent rise in mass shootings, schools throughout the nation have begun enforcing active shooter drills. Kori noticed these drills weren’t being taken seriously by her classmates – so she took action. Kori implemented a program at Prescott High School called Restorative Justice, which is a theory of justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by hurtful behavior. The practice is conducted by holding a productive conversation to address how an event affected those involved personally. Kori’s research led to the creation of a student-led Restorative Justice club at her school that was qualified to take on cases turned in by school administrators. The club created a safe space for students to proactively address conflict and misunderstandings before they lead to revenge-oriented actions, often a motive of school shootings. Kori was a Girl Scout for 13 years and is studying biomedical science at Northern Arizona University. 
Sara CurryPhoenixCostume Closet MakeoverIn charge of costumes for her high school’s play, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Sara had a difficult time accessing the school’s full inventory and quickly pulling costumes. She found that costumes had been stored incorrectly, and it often took too much time to search for a single piece. To solve this problem, Sara sorted through their one thousand costume items and designed an online database that featured a description and photo of each one. Now theatre club members can quickly search the inventory by keyword to find where an item is located. By creating an online database to manage the inventory, she has also garnered more interest from students to join the club. Sara has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and said this project has helped her recognize her strengths as a leader. She is currently enrolled at Arizona State University, studying environmental engineering. 
Sadie DeShonChandlerTaming Trichotillomania WorkshopSadie’s Gold Award was personal. Struggling with trichotillomania, a disorder causing compulsive hair-pulling, she aimed to bring awareness of it and educate students at her school. Sadie hosted a day-long workshop for students and their parents who struggle with trichotillomania. The workshop consisted of team-building activities, group discussions, and presentations from three professional counselors. She also created a Facebook support group for students to continuously encourage each other, share their stories and progress. In their feedback, participants called the workshop helpful and uplifting. By being vulnerable and sharing her personal story, Sadie felt rewarded to see how she had inspired and encouraged others to be brave. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to attend a university to study history. 
Kansas EarnshawTollesonBuilding a Fence Around a Non-Retrieval Area From a family with a strong agricultural background, Kansas was determined to protect the food source for elk and deer in northern Arizona when she learned they were not getting enough nutrients. Wet grasslands, called riparian meadows, were constantly being destroyed by large vehicles driving through the meadows near Long Valley, north of Pine. Kansas teamed up with the Arizona Elk Society to build a log fence to protect the riparian meadows from further damage and allow the natural vegetation in the area to regenerate, directly supporting the growth of the elk population. It took over two years to complete this, as drought and forest fires intermittently put work on pause. Kansas credits her Gold Award for teaching her to stay motivated and persevere no matter the circumstance. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to major in environmental studies and sustainability at the University of Arizona. 
Juliet FarrTempeA New Chapter in ReadingReading has always been a passion for Juliet, and she wanted to encourage more reading among elementary school students in her community. To increase accessibility to books for the students, Juliet created “library boxes” in the Tempe Elementary School District. Library boxes are small-scale versions of a library where students can trade in books they’ve already read for new ones. This system allows students to borrow books and exchange them for others at their leisure, thus sustaining the supply for other students. Juliet also created book logs for the library boxes she built to track the number of books borrowed or given. Juliet has been a Girl Scout for 11 years and plans to double major in Marketing and Design with a minor in Mandarin once she graduates high school. 
Nichole GeistMesaRainbow GoldAfter noticing a limited supply of LGBTQ+ books in her school library collection and community libraries, Nichole decided to take action by introducing resources into her high school and the Gay-Straight Alliance clubs in her area to help educate teens. She also built lending libraries at local foster homes, support groups, and youth centers, allowing people to trade in old books for new ones. Among the resources she provided were over 500 LGBTQ+ fiction books featuring positive representations of LGBTQ+ characters and a website that she created where the community can learn about local events, support groups, and read about others’ LGBTQ+ journeys. Nichole has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and credits her troop for showing her that each person is unique, and everyone has something special to contribute. Visit Nichole’s website to learn more about her Gold Award and how to access LGBTQ+ resources. 
Jasmine GoodePhoenixKnitting Know-HowInspired by her grandmother’s passion for sewing and knitting, Jasmine dedicated her Gold Award to reintroducing textile arts to youth in her local community. She started a club called “Knitting Know-How” where women of all ages would teach each other to knit, crochet, and participate in other crafts. Her club appealed to people from ages two through 80 which gave all generations the rare opportunity to regularly collaborate and converse together. She brought inspiration to the young participants and sparked creativity in the seniors at local senior housing facilities. Many members expressed that this club gave them confidence, new friendships, and social skills and encouraged them to try new things. Jasmine says her Gold Award increased her leadership and time management skills. She was a Girl Scout for eight years and currently attends Phoenix College. She plans to transfer to Arizona State University and major in geoscience. 
Kimberly HartleChandlerHelping HandsWhile taking her first sign language class, Kimberly realized how little she and her fellow classmates knew about the language and the deaf community. She decided to spread awareness by creating a website called Simple Signs. It contains lessons on basic American Sign Language as well as information on the deaf community and their unique culture. The website garnered over 1,200 visits in just a few weeks and continues to grow. People from countries around the world have accessed Kimberly’s website and several visitors have reached out to her expressing their enthusiasm about the site. Kimberly is thankful for her nine years as a Girl Scout, especially for reminding her how unique each person is. She believes learning about others’ differences helps build a stronger and closer community. Kimberly is studying biological sciences at Arizona State University. Visit Kimberly’s website to learn more about her Gold Award. 
Ashley HoltGlendalePeople Helping PetsAshley wanted to give back to the AZ Humane Society through her Gold Award because of her own experience of adopting a dog and her general love for animals. She toured the facility and learned they were always in need of blankets because typically, cats and dogs are given blankets when they are sent home. Ashley created an educational brochure detailing shelter services and the need for blankets. She also organized a no-sew blanket event where she explained the need for donations and led 60 people in creating 156 no-sew blankets. Through her experience, Ashley learned that she is capable of being a leader and the importance of communication and time management. She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and plans to study engineering at the University of Arizona. 
Holly HoogstraChandlerMindful, not Mind FullIn 2018, Chandler High experienced a tragedy when that year’s valedictorian committed suicide. This was a hard time for everyone at the school and left Holly wondering how students cope with stress. She decided to develop and implement a mindfulness program to help students learn emotional coping techniques to manage stress and anxiety. She worked with staff, including her psychology teacher, and had a Mindfulness Room designated along with 1,000 positive affirmation bookmarks and 500 stress balls. She also created a club, Instagram page, and brochures to spread awareness of mental and emotional health. To measure her success, she surveyed students using a 1-5 grading system, five being healthiest. The school average was 3.6, and after a few months, it rose to 4! Holly says this project has taught her project management and communication skills. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to earn her degree in economics. 
Emma HornPhoenixSTEM Educational ProgramA passionate STEM scholar, Emma decided to make STEM education more accessible to all students by designing a STEM activity program from the ground up. In partnership with the staff at Guadalupe Library, Emma developed an easy-to-deliver curriculum for the staff and library volunteers. Along with the initial pilot program, multiple programs have been successfully hosted and Emma’s goal of making STEM programming more accessible for children in her community has been realized. Through her Gold Award, Emma learned the importance of communication and conducting research prior to building a project. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and credits Girl Scouting for building her confidence and her drive to pursue her passions. She is currently enrolled at Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University studying mechanical engineering. 
Alexa HowellQueen Creek#PlantASeedAfter taking an American Sign Language class during her sophomore year of high school, Alexa gained greater awareness of the need to create more accessibility to activities for those who are differently abled. Alexa connected with her school’s Garden Club mentor and offered to rebuild the garden, so more students were able to participate. Alexa built standing garden boxes, a shed, and stools for the garden. She then created captioned videos with lessons on how to plant and care for the garden so those who are hard of hearing can participate. Alexa’s efforts encouraged more students to join the Garden Club and existing students to come back the following year. Having been a Girl Scout for 11 years, Alexa feels the sisterhood has shaped her into the person she is today. She plans to study mechanical engineering after graduating from Queen Creek High School. 
Ashley HuffordGilbertHope for the Homeless AnimalsAfter visiting animals at the Maricopa Animal Shelter, Ashley knew she wanted to support the animals with supplies as well as make pets more adoptable. After raising $700 through donation efforts, Ashley sponsored 15 spay and neuter procedures at Altered Tails, a low-cost spay, and neuter clinic. She also educated students at local schools about overpopulated shelters and hosted an event for Girl Scouts to create pet toys to donate. Ashley also led a donation drive where she collected pet supplies and over 500 pounds of dog and cat food. Lastly, she paid the adoption fees of two animals who had been at the AZ Animal Welfare League for a long time to make the dogs more adoptable. Ashley has been a Girl Scout for 10 years and says this program has given her a platform to express her voice. Ashley will be attending Arizona State University to study interior design. 
Lauren HylandMesaA Contemporary Tin Pan-Alley Lauren has a passion for music. She grew up playing the bass but only had access to a low-quality instrument due to the lack of affordable quality instruments. This inspired Lauren to help people find high-quality, affordable instruments and teach others tips and tricks to play on below-par instruments. Lauren traveled to three schools and taught the basics of playing guitar and bass as well as giving a presentation on common issues students face when playing used instruments. She then put all her valuable information on a website she created called Contemporary Tin Pan Alley. Lauren also hosted two community talent shows where she raffled two guitars for the community to win. She credits Girl Scouting for shaping her into a well-rounded person through countless activities. Lauren has been a Girl Scout for 10 years and will be studying business management at Northern Arizona University. Visit Kimberly’s website to learn more about her Gold Award. 
Samantha JanssenGilbert Plants Need to Be ConservedSamantha noticed the vegetation at Riparian Reserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert was suffering. She teamed up with a local naturalist to help guide her through the process of rehabilitating the desert landscape. After laying out her plans, she received a generous donation from Mountain States Wholesale Nursery to completely revamp a quarter of an acre of land on the reserve. Samantha cleaned out dried vegetation and replaced them with new native plants to promote a healthy environment. Samantha then created a YouTube video to spread a message to the community on the importance of the conservation of native plants and landscapes. Through the Riparian Reserve’s Agents of Discovery App, Samantha was able to share information about the conservation work she had done and inspire others to continue to protect the land. Samantha has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and plans to study engineering at Arizona State University. 
Ashley LucasPeoriaPeoria Goes GreenAfter discovering the shortage of recycling bins at her school, Peoria High, Ashley dedicated her Gold Award to making her school more environmentally conscious. She created a club and hosted informational booths about the importance of recycling, reducing waste and the impact it has on our earth. After successfully securing a donation of 40 recycling bins, she developed a schedule where her club would pick up the bins and properly dispose of the recyclable materials. Through this process, Ashley was able to measure her results by how many bins they had to empty on a weekly basis and the number of materials each week. Ashley’s Gold Award inspired her to focus her future studies on sustainability and has taught her to be a better leader. She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and plans to major in sustainability at Arizona State University. 
Shannon MaloneyChandlerSaving the Environment One Step at a TimeShannon was disappointed the recycling program at her school ended due to a cost increase. She set out to reinstate it by educating her peers on the importance of recycling and how contaminated recycled materials negatively impact the program. Then she created sustainability initiatives following the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. To reduce, Shannon collected over 300 signatures pledging to reduce their plastic straw usage and gave out 500 environmentally friendly straws. To reuse, Shannon worked with her principal to have water bottle filling stations installed at her school. And lastly, she reinstated the importance of recycling to faculty, recommending a new recycling company to her principal, and additional recycling bins. She also added one more R: Refuse, which encouraged her peers to refuse the use of plastic straws and bags. Shannon has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to study geology after graduating high school. 
Ashley MinksGilbertCaring for the HomelessIn researching the homelessness crisis in our state and around the nation, Ashley decided to dedicate her Gold Award to raising awareness of this issue and support the local organization La Mesa Ministries. She organized a donation drive and collected clothing and blankets for the organization, which offers services to people experiencing homelessness. She also helped expand La Mesa’s children’s ministry program and created social media accounts and content to reach more people in need. She credits Girl Scouts for preparing her with skills she can use later in life and skills necessary to be an effective leader. She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and plans to study neuroscience and cognitive science at the University of Arizona. 
Megan NelsonGilbertMath PathWhile math may be a subject some students despise, Megan learned to love math and hoped other students could, too. She learned that students with a stronger math foundation are more likely to take advanced courses, more likely to earn an undergraduate degree and have a higher income. For her project, she established the first math tutor center at her local Boys and Girls Club. She asked for donations from local businesses to purchase supplies, recruited high school student tutors, and students from elementary and middle schools who needed tutoring. As of February 2020, her club had successfully tutored 604 students, with over 90 hours of tutoring work recorded. Megan feels this project increased her self-confidence, improved her writing techniques and communication skills. She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and plans to attend a university and become a scientific researcher. 
Gabrielle NeversPeoria Glittering GuardAs an active member of the Color Guard program at her school, Gabrielle dedicated her Gold Award to supporting, improving and growing this team. Gabrielle noticed a lack of interest in this activity. To combat this, she hosted a “Try It Out Night” for incoming freshmen students to learn about the program and rehearse intro-level routines. During this process, she also re-organized, properly stored and cataloged all the flags. Her organizational efforts were applauded from visiting band directors in the region and her recruitment efforts led to the team doubling in size. Gabrielle learned time management, problem-solving and organizational skills. She credits the Girl Scout Cookie Program for helping her become a better leader. She has been a Girl Scout for 11 years and will attend Northern Arizona University to study elementary and special education. 
Emma ParryLitchfield ParkTheatre for YouthTheatre and performing arts were some of the ways Emma learned to be more confident. Throughout her involvement in theatre, she noticed fewer people attending or auditioning and wanted to bring awareness to performing arts to youth in her community, especially to those who are shy or don’t have access to theatre programming. For her Gold Award, Emma wrote and performed an anti-bullying one-act play inspired by The Wizard of OZ to 40 special needs students in her community. She managed the team and put together the logistics and supplies needed to perform the play. She then developed virtual kits and made them accessible to anyone via a website. Her Gold Award taught Emma that hard work and help from others can lead to making a difference. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to attend Northern Arizona University to major in biology and chemistry. 
Brooke PfingstenMesaAwareness of MentalityAfter Brooke’s best friend tried to commit suicide multiple times, she wanted her Gold Award to bring more awareness to this problem and educate other teens on suicide prevention. She produced a video with different testimonies of people who have contemplated suicide, have been depressed or have experienced PTSD. In this video, she included prevention information and resources, as well as hotline information for people in need. She uploaded the video to YouTube and conducted surveys, which showed most viewers learned something new. Through this process, Brooke now feels like she can accomplish any task. She has been a Girl Scout for seven years and plans to study elementary or special education at Grand Canyon University. 
Davina SaberMaricopaMulticultural Club To help her foreign student peers, Davina founded a Multicultural Club at her school and provided opportunities for students to make new friends and learn about each other’s cultures. Davina led the club to participate in school events and service projects. They volunteered in school athletic activities, stadium clean-ups and at neighboring schools’ events. In total, they completed over 75 volunteer hours. Davina’s goal of inclusivity made a great impact not only at her school but on the club members. She learned that no matter how small, the effort one shows to an individual can impact their whole life, and despite differences, all kids want to experience true friendships. She has been a Girl Scout for 9 years and plans to join the U.S. Air Force. 
Jacey SalisburyTempeJacey Feeds at Jaycee ParkAfter witnessing the number of people and pets experiencing homelessness in her community, Jacey took a different approach to help them. She reached out to her city’s Councilwoman, Jennifer Adams, and learned that people with pets are often denied housing because government housing assistance requires pets to be vaccinated. To help, Jacey enlisted a local veterinarian to provide vaccinations for seven homeless pets, ultimately leading to their owner’s acceptance by housing requirements. She also handed out over 800 one-gallon bags of cat and dog food, dog booties, leashes, collars, and other necessities to homeless pets. Her work was recognized by Mayor Mark Mitchell, who declared Oct. 29 Jacey Salisbury Day in Tempe. Jacey says that through Girl Scouting, she has learned teamwork, responsibility and project management skills. She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and plans to study psychology and business at Arizona State University. 
Jessica SchuchmanParadise ValleyBunnies and BooksThe fear of being judged by her peers pushed Jessica to overcome her dyslexia by improving her reading skills with the help of some furry critters. As a child, Jessica would read to animals to develop her reading and build confidence. For her Gold Award, Jessica wanted to give this same opportunity to other children. She started a reading program called “Books and Bunnies” for children ages five to 12 at the Tranquility Trail Animal Sanctuary, where children could spend their time reading to bunnies. Jessica also partnered with the Jones Gordon Lower School, which arranged quarterly field trips to attend her program. Jessica’s reading program is now available to the public once a month. She credits her Gold Award to teaching her how to lead and organize large tasks. She has been a Girl Scout for seven years and hopes to attend Stanford University. 
Sierra SmithPhoenixPhysics of FlightSierra’s love of physics and aviation-inspired her to share her knowledge with others in a fun and interactive way. After multiple trial and error experiments, Sierra created a mock wind tunnel for under $100 that physics teachers around the world could use in their classes. Sierra designed blueprints, created an instructional guide, material list and lesson plans for others to be able to create the wind tunnel. Once she gathered everything needed, Sierra created a YouTube video where she demonstrates the entire production process. Sierra shared this resource with the public through social media. She credits Girl Scouts for inspiring her love of STEM over the past eight years and plans to go to college to become a Naval Aviator. 
Tressa StevensonChandlerComputer ConfusionAfter witnessing her grandma struggle to operate a smartphone and navigate through social applications, Tressa realized there was a need for senior tech classes. For her Gold Award, Tressa developed curriculum, volunteered as the computer tutor at Chandler Senior Center, and taught computer classes to a group of 35 seniors. Her curriculum not only taught seniors how to use smartphones and computers but also how to be safe and efficient online and while using social applications. The seniors she taught expressed how this helped them feel up to date with modern communication styles and less isolated and lonely. Tressa has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and credits Girl Scouts for helping her speak up for change. She plans to attend Arizona State University and study global politics and Spanish. 
Elise StoopsGilbertBirthday Bags for Foster ChildrenElise has always enjoyed helping others, especially young children. As she learned about children in foster care, she thought of ways to help them and bring more awareness to their experience. She created an informational website about children in Arizona foster care, with information on how to help, and articles about this issue. Elise also hosted a donation drive at her school to collect birthday gifts and gift bags to donate to AZ Helping Hands, a non-profit that provides basic needs and care to children in foster care. Her drive successfully collected over 100 items and provided the opportunity to share key information on this issue with the community. Through her Gold Award, Elise learned time management skills and how to be a better leader. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to major in nursing at an in-state university. Learn more about Elise’s Gold Award by visiting her website. 
Emily StopherChandlerBetter Bags, Better DesertEmily participated in a clean-up event at South Mountain Park and Preserve, where nearly 8,000 pounds of trash was collected. After realizing most of the trash was plastic grocery bags, Emily dedicated her Gold Award to building awareness of the impact plastic bags have on our environment. Emily educated over 300 people on the importance of using reusable bags and how to properly dispose of them. Emily hosted drop-off destination events to exchange plastic grocery bags for reusable bags. In each reusable bag, she included a handout with information about her Gold Award and how to assist in reducing plastic bag usage. Emily collected over 12,000 grocery bags and worked with Sprouts Farmers Market to properly recycle them. Emily expresses how Girl Scouts has given her a platform to advocate for causes she’s passionate about. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to study environmental engineering. 
Amanda YorkLaveenInternational Distinguished Scholars ClubWith a mission to instill the importance of education in her peers, Amanda started the first student-led club at her high school called the International Distinguished Scholars Club. The club aimed to promote peer-to-peer learning and teach skills like teamwork and goal setting. The club also focused on providing resources to pursue post-secondary education and provided a safe space to grow and plan for the future. She shared all the resources the school has for club members and how to use them. The club organized a school-wide community project and collected 250 children’s books to donate to a local daycare. They also read to children, organized books and assisted teachers at this daycare. Amanda’s club increased the desire for members to pursue college. Her experience taught her many levels of leadership. She has been a Girl Scout for ten years and plans to major in chemistry to pursue medical school. 
Diana ZaunSedonaFoster FeverAfter fostering two puppies for the first time, Diana felt she needed to bring greater awareness about fostering animals and how it provided needed help to shelters that are at capacity. Diana raised money to purchase pet supplies and created 60 care packages to be given to future foster families. In addition, she personally fostered 28 puppies and 2 adult dogs, all of which, except five, were adopted. Through her efforts, she has grown the foster animal program at the Coconino Humane Association and helped more dogs be nurtured in a family environment to help prepare them for adoption. Diana feels that earning her Gold Award has helped solidify her plans for the future and has improved her communication and leadership skills. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and plans to major in veterinary science at University of Arizona. -
Service Unit: South Phoenix
Troop 4009, Multi-Level, K-12
Years as a GS: 14
Years as Troop Leader: 12
What inspired you to become a Troop Leader?
I was a parent volunteer with my stepdaughter’s troop, and I helped out here and there. Then the leader approached me when she was retiring to see if I wanted to lead the troop. I have always loved kids and love to help, plus I always wanted to be a Girl Scout.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We let the girls choose badges and outings. We have visited attractions all over the state, including Tombstone, Bearizona, the MIM, Kartchner Caverns, Biosphere, and so many more. The girls love to try new things; see things they’ve never seen. One of their favorite trips was Bearizona, where they saw snow for the first time. We also like to teach them life skills. One of their favorite activities is when we make pancakes. Every level in the troop gets to participate – staging, measuring, mixing, making the pancakes, and setting the table.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We have participated in a few service projects like graffiti cleanup, trash clean up in a park, helping at the annual Laveen Pit BBQ, Feed Your Starving Children, collecting blankets and socks for the homeless, and donating bags for the homeless containing essentials.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
This is difficult after twelve years and countless memories with my troop. Seeing one of the shyest girls talk in front of a crowd of people, seeing how excited a girl gets at a cookie booth, watching the girls blossom as they grow.
One recent memory that stands out is when I saw Girl Scout Senior Lina get up on stage during a sister-troop encampment. When Lina joined Troop 4009 as a kindergartner, she was so shy – she didn’t talk to me for the first year. Fast-forward 10 years – she was on stage with another girl performing during a lip sync battle, and was so animated, not shy! I teared up. Lina is also on an Academic Decathlon team, and we (Lina, her mom, and me) all agree that Girl Scouts played a considerable role in helping to build her confidence to stand in front of hundreds of people and give speeches during competitions.
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
Be open – learn from the girls, learn from others, embrace the moment, ask for help, have fun. I encourage leaders to be involved in their Service Units – to attend meetings, participate in neighborhood functions, etc.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
Don’t try to do it all yourself! Start slow and build; you don’t have to try to do a million activities all at once.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with Girl Scouts?
People have misconceptions about volunteering – that you had to be a Girl Scout as a kid, or you must have a biological child participating to volunteer. I would encourage people to find where they fit in. Maybe a leader isn’t the fit for you, but there are so many other avenues to take as a volunteer. Find your passion and see where it fits with Girl Scouts.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
Yes, we do sell cookies. I encourage parents to have their girls participate primarily because of the five skills the program helps develop in girls. I tell them that working a cookie booth helps the girls with confidence, teaches them essential life skills (e.g., math, communication), and teamwork. Participating in the program also affords our troop all the experiences we have.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
Greeting everyone who walks by the booth. Being kind to every potential customer, even if they don’t buy. And simply thanking people.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
Not sure I can pin it down to one moment. Being part of my troop members’ lives inspires me. I am invited to high school graduations, college graduations, baby showers for girls who bridged to alums, weddings of parents. I am part of their family, and they are part of mine. I was at a wedding on Leap Day for one of my troop moms. At this wedding, I sat at a table with a group of women that I met through Girl Scouts. None of us would be friends if it weren’t for Girl Scouts. My friends (now family) are all possible because I decided to become a Leader. The friendships I have made, and deeply treasure, are what inspire me every day. The bonds I have made with these families is heartwarming. We have seen each other through celebrations, birthdays, weddings, divorces, death, and everyday life. Having this support system inspires me.
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With the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie season coming to an end soon, we’re here to help you finish on a high note!
- Keep up the enthusiasm – six weeks can start to feel long. When it does, remember the enthusiasm you had on day one and your goals and excitement that fueled it! Customers are still excited to see cookies for sale, so make them feel like cookie season just kicked off.
- Create urgency – make signs, tell customers that cookie season is ending and that they won’t be able to buy cookies for another year!!! (P.S. tell them our cookies are delicious frozen, too!)
- Make your final Walkabout rounds – knock on doors one last time and let them know this is the last time you’ll be going on a Walkabout – this is their last chance to buy from you!
- Tell customers about Cookies for the Community – remind people who have already stocked up that they can donate cookies for a cause important to you/your troop!
- Remind them where cookie proceeds go – cookie proceeds help girls go to camp, plan troop travel, fund activities for the year, buy uniforms, and start community service projects. Let customers know that all proceeds stay local!
Now who’s ready to rock the last leg of cookie season? We sure are! Here’s to reaching all your goals!
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La registración para los campamentos de verano de 2020 del Concilio de Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine (GSACPC) está abierto para los cuatro campamentos: El Centro de Liderazgo Parsons para Niñas y Mujeres en el Campamento de South Mountain (Phoenix), Camp Maripai (Prescott), Shadow Rim Ranch (Payson) y el Centro de Programa Willow Springs (Prescott). Cada campamento tiene sus propias ofertas, junto con las actividades tradicionales del campamento, para acomodar los diversos intereses de cada niña. Sin embargo, el propósito del campamento de Girl Scout sigue siendo el mismo: proporcionar a las niñas un lugar seguro y de apoyo para divertirse, hacer nuevas amigas y tomar riesgos mientras aprenden nuevas habilidades y exploran al aire libre.
“Vivimos en un mundo de pantallas: celulares, computadoras, televisores y tabletas. En el campamento de verano de Girl Scout, las niñas pueden alejarse de todo, experimentar el aire libre en un ambiente seguro para todas las niñas mientras desarrollan habilidades que son difíciles de obtener en cualquier otro lugar”, dijo Tamara Woodbury, CEO de GSACPC. “Habilidades como construir una fogata, montar una tienda de campaña y pasear una canoa a través de un lago. Además, probarán nuevas actividades, descubrirán sus pasiones y establecerán nuevas metas para ellas mismas.”.
Los estudios muestran que cuando las niñas asisten al Campamento de Girl Scouts, prosperan física, emocional e intelectualmente. Las niñas pueden experimentar un mundo lejos de casa y descubrir que pueden resolver mejor los problemas y superar los desafíos; desarrollar habilidades de liderazgo, construir lazos sociales, y son más felices en general; y se convierten en jugadoras de equipo y se preocupan más por proteger nuestro naturaleza y vida salvaje.
¡Además, las niñas pueden elegir cómo quieren experimentar el campamento! En GSACPC, las niñas pueden elegir entre cuatro campamentos diferentes, el tiempo y duración, además de elegir qué programa de campamento y habilidad quieren experimentar y aprender.
El enfoque del programa en cada uno de los cuatro campamentos es el siguiente:
- El Centro de Liderazgo Parsons, Phoenix, un campamento moderno de 18 millones de dólares con sesiones para campistas de día y de noche. Los programas incluyen actividades relacionadas con STEM, tiro con arco, natación, artes y artesanías, y paseos.
- Camp Maripai, Prescott, ofrece una experiencia de campamento tradicional, como tiro con arco, canoa, artes y artesanías, habilidades al aire libre, junto con programas de equitación para principiantes a través de jinetes avanzados.
- Shadow Rim Ranch, Payson, ofrece aventuras al aire libre y experiencias como excursiones de senderismo y canoa y sesiones de viajes con mochila, además de cocina al aire libre, tirolina, paddle surf y tiro con arco.
- Willow Springs, Prescott, enfatiza los esfuerzos artísticos como la cerámica, la moda y el teatro, tambien la pesca, el senderismo, el tiro con arco, un curso de sogas y la aviación.
Los cuatro campamentos ofrecen sesiones que varían en duración, desde campamento familiar de fin de semana y campamento diurno hasta campamentos nocturnos y misiones de tres semanas de duración. El campamento de verano comienza la semana del 31 de mayo y dura nueve semanas, con la última semana del campamento en cada lugar empezando a partir de finales de julio.
Como las Girl Scouts creen que todas las niñas deben tener la oportunidad de experimentar el campamento de verano, la registración ofrece precios escalonados y asistencia financiera. Las niñas que no son Girl Scouts son bienvenidas a registrarse. Para inscribirse, por favor visite http://www.girlscoutsaz.org/campamento.
Para obtener más información sobre Girl Scout Camp, se invita a las familias a asistir a un campamento con Open House donde pueden visitar las áreas de actividad, recorrer las cabañas y conocer a los directores del campamento. Las Open Houses se llevarán a cabo en cada propiedad del campamento en las siguientes fechas:
- El Centro de Liderazgo de Parsons: 29 de mayo, 5 p.m. a 7 p.m. en 1611 E. Dobbins Rd., Phoenix
- Shadow Rim Ranch: 24 de mayo, 12 p.m. a 2 p.m. en 530 N. Shadow Rim Rd., Payson
- Camp Maripai: 30 de mayo, 11 a.m. a 3 p.m. en 201 E. Marapai Rd., Prescott
- Willow Springs Program Center: 30 de mayo, 10 a.m. a 1 p.m. en 775 Camp Willow Springs Rd., Prescott
Información Adicional
Cuando las niñas asisten al Campamento de Girl Scout, ellas:
- Descubren que pueden resolver mejor los problemas y superar los desafíos
- Desarrollan habilidades de liderazgo, construyen lazos sociales, y son más felices en general
- Se convierten en jugadoras de equipo y se preocupan más de proteger nuestro medio ambiente
El ambiente único de solo niñas de GSACPC les da a las niñas el espacio para seguir desarrollando un imagen positivo de sí mismas, desarrollar valor, confianza y carácter conectando con los demás y su entorno natural.
Más detalles y estadísticas de Girl Scout Research Institute: More Than Smores: Successes and Surprises in Girl Scouts’ Outdoor Experiences (2014)
Una Aventura de Campamento para Cada Niña
Con tantos programas, las niñas pueden usar esta lista para ayudar a decidir qué campamento es el mejor para ellas. El senderismo, el tiro de arco y las artes y artesanías son elementos básicos para todos los campamentos.
Tipos de Campamentos:
- Campamento de día: Este programa solo dura cinco días en el Centro de Liderazgo de Parsons
- Las niñas pueden asistir al campamento de día de lunes a viernes con la opción de pasar 1- 4 noches si la campista está lista.
- ¡Las niñas pueden asistir al campamento de día y participar en la programación como natación, tiro con arco, cocina, habilidades al aire libre, STEM, juegos, moda, fotografía y más!
- La novedad este año es una parrillada familiar los viernes para las niñas y sus familias. También hay una opción adicional de cuidado posterior para las niñas que desean quedarse más tarde durante las noches de semana.
- Campamento para residentes: Las niñas pueden elegir la duración de su experiencia de campamento nocturno en nuestros tres campamentos ubicados en el norte de Arizona (Camp Maripai, Shadow Rim y Willow Springs). Dormirán en cabañas o tiendas de campaña (si se especifican) con niñas de edad similar. Las niñas son bienvenidas a experimentar el campamento por su cuenta o con una amiga.
- Noche de 3 días – 3 días, 2 noches
- Noche de 4 días – 4 días, 3 noches
- Noche de 6 días – 6 días, 5 noches
- Viaje de 8 días – 8 días, 7 noches
- Para las niñas de grados 9-12, que quieren experimentar el campamento y viajar para el siguiente nivel de aventura de campar al aire libre.
- Liderazgo – 6 a 24 Días/Noches
- Niñas mayores que ayudan a dirigir actividades para niñas más jóvenes y grupos en el campamento. Estos programas ayudan a desarrollar las habilidades y la experiencia necesarias para ser consejeras del campamento.
- Tropa y Familia – 3 Días, 2 Noches
- Oportunidades para que las Girl Scouts experimenten el campamento con sus familiares y participen en la programación ofrecida por cada campamento específico.
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