Blog Posts

  • Troop Leader Spotlight: Cindy Wilmer

    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.

  • Spring Girl Poetry Contest

    ’Til Next Time, Selling Cookies for the Future Generations of Girl Scouts

    This year’s cookie sales were bittersweet for me. I am graduating from high school this year, and this was my last time participating in the cookie program as a girl member. In 13 years, I have sold thousands of cookies. I have schlepped wagons full of cookies door-to-door. I have moved thousands of cases at cookie deliveries, and, believe it or not, I once froze half to death at a booth when it was snowing – in Phoenix!

    Every year, my favorite part of the cookie program (well, besides the access to boxes of Samoas) was to collect donated packages for Cookies for the Community. My service unit pulls cookies together, and we give them to a chaplain in the Air Force who gets them to deployed service people. The cookies bring a piece of home to those who are away from their homes, protecting our country.

    One of the first things I learned about selling cookies was that I needed to be friendly and outgoing! This tip works well when you are a small Daisy or Brownie, but as you become older, customers want to know your goals. Once I reached middle and high school, an important strategy was selling cookies door-to-door to the network of loyal customers who had known me since I was a Daisy. Of course, I learned other skills like goal setting, money management, and business ethics – all things I’ll use my whole life. I also learned things that aren’t as obvious and often not spoken. For example, I learned to accept rejection and to be resilient. Believe it or not, there are people out there who CAN turn down a box of Girl Scout Cookies! Not every sales pitch lands a sale. Sometimes people passed our booth without even looking at us. Handling rejection in a healthy way is critical to everyone’s development. Knowing how to accept that rejection, not take it personally, and move forward – or be resilient– are invaluable skills not just for someone’s professional development, but for their toolbox for whatever life throws their way.

    Every year my troop set a goal and decided what to do with our cookie money. We paid for and had the time of our lives at summer camp several times. We have used some money for community service projects. And in the last few years, I have sold cookies so that my troop could help fund Gold Awards for my Girl Scout Sisters and myself.

    And as we all get ready for the next step, this year is bittersweet since we won’t be going to summer camp and, instead, preparing for college. This year I sold cookies for the future. So that each of my troop members can get a Girl Scout Lifetime Membership. So that the camps we enjoyed so much will be there for our younger sisters. So that girls in the future will get to experience the excellent opportunities that we did. And I thank everyone who has supported girls like me through the cookie program to help fuel the experience and opportunity of Girl Scouting for everyone and for years to come.

    Brianna Iannone is a member of Troop 297, a Gold Award Girl Scout and GSACPC Girl Advisory Member, who plans to attend Arizona State University as a Girl Scout Alum. Her goals are to become a computer coder and developer. 

  • Troop Leader Spotlight: Katherine Millet

    Service Unit: La Promesa

    Troop: 3389, Cadettes

    Years as a GS: 5

    Years as Troop Leader: 4

    What inspired you to become a Troop Leader?
    I love to see girls take an active role in their own future. I became a leader to help girls develop those leadership skills and encourage them to try activities they may not have been exposed to, especially in STEM.

    What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
    Our troop has a variety of interests. Most of our girls love the outdoors and STEM-related activities. Working in a scientific field, I love to see the girls excited about sciences and how we impact our environment.

    What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
    In addition to the outdoors, our troop loves animals! We have worked with a local horse rescue to help them create a sustainable source of food for their rescues. In addition, we have helped our local community with cleanup projects and food donations. A few of our girls are currently working to educate the community about fostering animals to help end euthanizing animals.

    Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
    I love to see the girls bond at encampments. Recently we attended our Service Unit’s Encampment and the girls (almost half new to our troop) bonded over a pine cone competition. They developed their own game and were in tears with laughter at the end. That is what makes me come back to being a leader every year.

    What advice would you give fellow Troop Leaders?
    Having older girls certainly can bring its own challenges, but sometimes you need to step back and let the girls figure it out. Guidance is key but they need to be able to come to their own conclusions. While they learn independence and make choices on their own, I have learned to be flexible and take a step back while letting them lead.

    What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
    There is not one-size-fits-all to Girl Scouting. Let the girls tell you their interests and help them explore new options. The most important thing is to let the girls take ownership of their Girl Scout Journey.

    What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
    Community volunteers help make all the programming possible. “Many hands make light work” is our Service Team’s motto and volunteers help make our girl programming and Girl Scout Cookie Program a success.

    Tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Cookie Program?
    Our troop sells both Fall Product and Girl Scout Cookies. These programs help girls learn goal setting, business development and customer service. I have seen girls blossom during product sales and learn to take an active role in their business success.

    What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
    Don’t be afraid to ask businesses to be able to booth in front of their stores. Self-scheduled booths brought in a significant amount of our troop’s total sales. Plus, you can build a relationship with a business and they can be a resource later for your troop.

    What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
    One of the most inspiring moments has been watching girls find something they are so deeply passionate about and wanting to be that driving force for change within their community.

  • Reading and Resources on Antiracism

    We’ve compiled helpful content previously shared, as well as some newly available pieces, in one place. Keep checking back as we’ll continue to update this list. 

    Parenting/Kids

    Articles/Resources

    Books

    Videos

    Have a resource we should add? Send it to us. 

  • Ways to Take Meaningful Action Against Racism

    As an anti-racist organization, Girl Scouts stands firmly against the racism and violence that continues to silently seep into every part of our society. We choose to amplify our mission of building leaders who make the world a better place. We choose to live up to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who once described Girl Scouts as “a force for desegregation.” We choose equality and equity for all people.

    We recognize and claim this as a moment for us all to stand up and speak out against racism and violence. And to speak up for justice for all humankind. This is a critical moment in time and history. We must listen and we must act. Change will only come from action.

    Taking Action is in Girl Scouts DNA. If you’re looking for additional ways to use your voice, take action and create change, we’ve gathered tips and resources to learn about antiracism and inspire advocacy:

    1. Don’t think you need to be perfect. Just be prepared to do the work.

    Oftentimes, the desire to “get it right” stops people from speaking up and taking action. Too often the result is saying nothing, not wanting to rock the boat. This silence gives way to oppressive culture. Don’t let concerns about how you show up prevent you from showing up ― even if you’ve been slow to get involved in the past.

    The first step is listening, no matter who you are. It hurts to hear that you might hold prejudice, especially if you consider yourself an open-minded person. But instead of getting defensive or jumping in to explain your own perspective immediately, listen to other points of view including those of Black change-makers, elected officials, friends and coworkers. Push back on prejudice in your own social circles, even if it requires awkward conversations. And educate yourself on your own inherent bias, even if you don’t think you hold any.

    It’s important that you prepare yourself to understand that coming to terms with your own privilege will not be a pretty or fun experience. It is necessary to feel feelings of guilt, shame, and anger throughout the process in order to grow, and build strength and resilience.

    2. Check-in on your Black friends, family, partners, loved ones and colleagues

    This is an emotional and traumatic time for the community, and you checking in, bearing witness and listening can go a long way to supporting your loved ones’ mental health. Ask how you can provide support.

    3. Educate yourself

    It is not enough to dislike racism, rather, we need to work towards antiracism. A good place to start is to read up on antiracist works.

    As with any civil rights movement, don’t expect the oppressed party to educate you and tell you what to do. Search for the answers on your own in ways that work for you. In addition to reading books, you can listen to podcasts and watch documentaries, or follow activists online.

    Girl Scout Alum Katie Couric put a thorough listing of resources together, including kid-friendly options for youth and teens. Check it out>>

    4. Avoid sharing traumatic content

    Whatever your intentions, it is vital to consider sharing videos of black people being abused and hurt can be both traumatic and triggering for many black people. Avoid sharing this content as it also contributes to the dehumanization of black people.

    5. Take [civic] action, like a Girl Scout

    Girl Scouts learn to use their voices to speak up and take action on issues that matter to them. Each person has the power to create change through using their voice, advocacy and civic engagement.

    Our Council is looking at what more we can do to support racial healing in our community and Girl Scout family and will be looking for your involvement to help us find our way. Please contact us if you’d like to volunteer with these efforts. Together we can create a more just world for everyone.

  • A Message from our CEO and Board Chair

    Dear Girl Scout Friends and Family,

    We must not be silent. We choose to be present in the conversation, we choose to be of the times, and deliberate in our actions. We choose to live up to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who once described Girl Scouts as “a force for desegregation.” We choose equality and equity for all people. We recognize and claim this as a moment for us all to stand up and speak out against racism and violence. And to speak up for justice for all humankind.

    For far too long, our Black sisters and brothers, and all people of color, have faced discrimination in education, jobs, voting rights, health care, law enforcement and opportunity. And far too many have suffered abuse, and even death, at the hands of people misusing their authority and power caused by systemic racism.

    We must not be silent. This is a critical moment in time and history. We hope and pray that this moment is a pivotal and powerful turning point to justice. We must pay attention – that’s why the protesters are marching across the nation and calling us all to claim this moment and to be a collective voice and outspoken advocate for real change. We must listen and we must act. We must call out the injustices. Change will only come from action.

    This is everyone’s problem. What can you do, you ask? Take action. That’s what Girl Scouts do. Here are three suggestions:

    1. Take the Pledge to Stand Against Racism. Educate yourself about racism and its historical context in this country (read a book, take a class, go to a seminar). It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.
    2. Remember, you don’t have to be a perfect ally to speak up. Speaking up about human rights violations is not political, it’s moral. Don‘t be silent.
    3. Become more civically engaged locally. If there is violence or brutality against people of color in your community, speak up – call or text your local district attorney, your mayor, and your police chief to pressure for justice.

    More suggestions for taking meaningful action. 

    We stand together with our Black Girl Scouts and their families, and all people of color, in the sisterhood that is Girl Scouts. We love and support you. As an anti-racist organization, Girl Scouts stands firmly against the racism and violence that continues to silently seep into every part of our society.

    We must not be silent. We choose to amplify our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character whose actions will make the world a better place. Our girls and young women are watching us, and we endeavor to live the values we believe. 

    In the coming days, our council will be looking at what more we can do to support racial healing in our community and Girl Scout family and will be looking for your involvement to help us find our way. Together we can create a more just world for everyone.

    Yours in Girl Scouting,

    Tamara Woodbury & Lupe Camargo

    GSACPC CEO           GSACPC Board Chair

  • DIY Pressed Flowers

    Pressed flowers are used by artists to create beautiful designs and by scientists to record specimens! As a #DIY activity, make an at-home flower press! Shout out to our Girl Scout sisters at Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona for these fun instructions! 

    Materials Needed:

    • Several heavy books
    • Cardboard
    • Scissors
    • Flowers
    • Leaves
    • White paper
    • Rubber bands

    Directions:

    1. Select a thin hardcover book to be your base. With your cardboard, cut several pieces to match the size of the hardcover book. Place one sheet of cardboard on your book, and one piece of white paper on top of that.
    2. Place your flowers on the white paper, ensuring they are spread out. Place another sheet of white paper on top, and another sheet of cardboard. 
    3. Continue layering with the sequence of cardboard, paper, flowers/leaves, paper, cardboard. Once you have finished layering, place another thinner hardback book on top. 
    4. Use rubber bands to bind the hardback books together tightly. Place extra books on top of the stack to compress further. 
    5. Allow flowers to dry in an indoor dry space for at least 48-72 hours; larger flowers will take even longer. 
    6. When your pressed flowers are dry, make them into a project, such as a card, paste them onto a canvas, or create a wall hanging. 

    Completed this activity? Send us a photo or post it on social media and tag us using #GSACPC. 

  • Troop Leader Spotlight: Glenna Hudson

    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. 

  • Spring Girl Poetry Contest

    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. 

  • Girl Scout Alum Chef O’s Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Recipe

    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.

  • First Time Virtual Meeting Checklist

    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!