PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jan. 17, 2022 – Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust recently awarded $125,000 to Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) to support outdoor experiences for girls in central and northern Arizona over the next two years.
“We are deeply grateful to the Trust for their partnership over the years. This gift will help us create more opportunities for girls to bolster their confidence as they challenge themselves to take on outdoor adventures,” Christina Spicer, Interim Co-CEO said.
“This grant will give us additional resources to expand access to our outdoor programming through family engagement, volunteer-led outdoor experiences, community events, and specialty programs like climbing, archery, and mountain biking.”
After almost two years of disruptions to programming due to the pandemic, GSACPC is ramping up their in-person programs at their four camp properties located in Phoenix and in northern Arizona. “Technology and structured activities leave less time for girls to get outside and connect with the outdoors. However, girls who attend Girl Scout Camp or participate in an outdoor program benefit from a shared-learning experience and an all-girl safe space that offers plenty of opportunities to create their own outdoor adventures” says Spicer.
“Girl Scouts supports girls as they take healthy risks to try new things and achieve their ambitions. And when they reach the finish line, we’re there to cheer them on to the next challenge. We encourage girls to see failure as just another opportunity to get better at something so they can move ahead with determination to succeed. Our outdoor programs provide these confidence-building experiences, whether girls are putting up a tent for the first time, hiking to the top of a mountain, or scaling one of our climbing towers.”
GSACPC plans to address barriers and increase girls’ access to programs so they may benefit from unparalleled leadership opportunities in the outdoors that will help them build self-confidence, laying the foundation for a meaningful and successful future.
“These outdoor Girl Scouts programs help young women develop a more confident sense of self, which will serve them throughout their lives. We’re pleased to support programs that promote girls’ healthy development,” said Trust Senior Program Officer Laura McBride.
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was established upon the death of Nina Mason Pulliam in 1997 to support the causes she loved in her home states of Arizona and Indiana. The Trust seeks to help people in need, protect animals and nature, and enrich community life in metropolitan Indianapolis and Phoenix. Since its inception, the Trust has distributed over $353 million to 1,006 organizations. For more information visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 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. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.
Girl Scout Cookie Season – the World’s Largest Girl-Led Entrepreneurial Program – Takes Place Jan. 17 to Feb. 27 across Central, Northern Arizona
(PHOENIX – Jan. 11, 2022) – For six weeks each year, Girl Scouts in Arizona participate in the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world: The Girl Scout Cookie Program. This year, the cookie season for the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) will take place Jan. 17 to Feb. 27, 2022. As in year’s past, all the Girl Scout Cookies’ proceeds stay local to help girls fund impactful projects to benefit the community; embark on amazing girl-led troop adventures; provide programs in STEM, the outdoors, life skills and entrepreneurship; maintain and improve four camp properties; and provide financial assistance that keeps Girl Scouting available and affordable for all girls.
“As we continue to find our new normal and navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, many girl entrepreneurs will utilize digital sales in the upcoming cookie program. Cookie entrepreneurs are planning on a safe and fun season by opting into in-person and/or digital sales through Digital Cookies, Girl Scout’s e-commerce platform available for each girl to build and manager her own website,” says Mary Mitchell, interim Co-CEO for GSACPC.
Girls will also provide socially distant and contactless options in-person and apply CDC-recommend precautions like wearing a face mask, advising customers to pay with card, and applying hand sanitizer in between purchases. The goal is to provide a safe experience for Girl Scout Cookie customers, sellers, and create a successful sale for local girl members.
“The Girl Scout Cookie Program is more than a sale. It provides girls the skills they need to become successful women. Girl Scouts learn to invest in themselves, their troops, and their community. Encouraging girls’ interest in entrepreneurship prepares them for any future career pathway,” says Christina Spicer, interim Co-CEO for GSACPC. “The qualities that lead to successful entrepreneurship, like curiosity, confidence, and innovation, are essential for all types of academic and career success. There aren’t many organizations that help girls learn key entrepreneurship skills – Girl Scouting does!”
Bigger and better than ever, here is a snapshot of everything you need to know for the 2022 cookie season, from a NEW cookie, the first-ever family friendly 5K, and the return of the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge after taking a year off amid COVID-19:
GSACPC Cookie Lineup
NEW!! Adventurefuls: Brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt. $5
Lemon-Ups: Crispy lemon cookies baked with inspiring messages. $5
Thin Mints: Mint flavored with a delicious chocolaty coating. Vegan. $5
Tagalongs: Layers of peanut butter with a rich, chocolaty coating. $5
Samoas: Caramel and toasted coconut-covered cookies. $5
Trefoils: Iconic and delicious shortbread cookies. $5
Do-si-dos: Crisp and crunchy oatmeal outside and creamy peanut butter inside. $5
Girl Scout S’mores: Crunchy graham sandwich cookies with creamy chocolate and marshmallowy filling. $6
Toffee-tastics: Buttery (and gluten-free) cookies with sweet, crunchy golden toffee bits. $6
Adventurefuls
GSACPC and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) are pleased to announce that a new cookie – Adventurefuls – will join the nationwide lineup for the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Program. An indulgent brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt, Adventurefuls take cookie lovers on a delicious taste adventure just like Girl Scouts go on amazing adventures through the program. Girl Scouts in central and northern Arizona and across the United States will offer the Adventurefuls cookie next season alongside favorites like Thin Mints® and Samoas®.
Cookie CEO Fast Pitch – Jan. 22
Valley CEOs are training Girl Scout entrepreneurs at the virtual Cookie CEO Fast Pitch on Jan. 22. During this event, local CEOs/executives will guide Girl Scout Juniors, Seniors, and Ambassadors and help sharpen their communication skills, sales pitches, and give them sound business advice and tips.
“Participating girls will make their cookie sales pitch to one of the local CEOs or corporate executives in attendance. In exchange, they’ll get feedback on their pitch and develop confidence in their one-on-one coaching sessions,” said Spicer. “At the end of the event, girls will apply the strategies they’ve learned and give their best pitch to the mentors. If the CEO was sold on the pitch, they’ll purchase up to $500 worth of cookies.”
Girl Scout Night and Booker Bus Reveal with the Phoenix Suns – Jan. 30
On Jan. 30 leading up to the Phoenix Suns taking on the San Antonio Spurs at 6 p.m., for the first time ever, local Girl Scouts will be selling cookies at four cookie booths outside of the Footprint Center. And the cookie booths are just the beginning. Approximately 400 Girl Scouts will descend on Footprint Center to attend the game, and local Girl Scouts will reveal the mini bus funded by the Devin Booker Starting Five Grant as well.
“The $100,000 grant, which was announced in mid-October, was used to replace the mini-bus used to transports girls to and from educational and character-building activities and experiences,” says Spicer. “Due to vandalism and theft of the vehicle, GSACPC had no way to transport girls to programs and events. The lack of transportation often meant that girls would not have an opportunity to participate in activities.”
The Return of the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge – Feb. 1 to 28
The Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge is back for its eighth year! After taking a break in February 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GSACPC is pleased to present the return of the challenge taking place February 1-28, 2022.
Twenty-one esteemed chefs from venues throughout central and northern Arizona will participate in this year’s friendly competition to create a winning dessert with one of these Girl Scout Cookies: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils or Lemon-Ups.
“The participating chefs will use their culinary prowess to re-imagine these classic Girl Scout Cookies into a delicious dessert and feature it on their menus throughout the entire month of February. A portion of the proceeds will support Girl Scouting in Arizona,” says Mitchell.
This year’s returning competitors are:
Aioli Gourmet Burgers in Phoenix
Churn in Phoenix
Lovecraft in Phoenix
Lumberyard Brewing Company in Flagstaff
Proof Canteen at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Troon North
Rusconi’s American Kitchen
Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant in Chandler
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale
This year’s first-time competitors are:
Beaver Street Brewery in Flagstaff
Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails at Hotel Palomar in Phoenix
The Craftsman Cocktails & Kitchen in Scottsdale
Geordie’s at Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix
Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery in Flagstaff
Nook Kitchen in Phoenix
Oak on Camelback in Phoenix (formerly St. Francis)
Shift in Flagstaff
Taco Guild in Phoenix
Tarbell’s in Phoenix
The County Seat in Prescott
The Italian Daughter in North Scottsdale
The Mick Brasserie in Scottsdale
“Girl Scout Cookie fans and restaurant patrons will vote for their favorite dessert in central and northern Arizona during the month of February, helping us crown a 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge Champion for each region,” says Mitchell. “In addition to the fun, many of the venues have also opened their doors to allow local Girl Scouts to host cookie booths on-site during the challenge as well, a first for us and our challenge partners.”
Join GSACPC and State Forty Eight Foundation for the first-ever Bring Home the Cookies 5K Run/Walk on Feb. 26 in Tempe. The family friendly event, open to Girl Scout families, competitive runners and the community at large, will start and finish at Sun Devil Stadium and feature music, food and cookie booths. All registered participants will receive a Girl Scout goodie bag with a State Forty Eight branded 5K shirt, a package of Girl Scout Cookies, a medal, and more!
“All members of the community are invited to join the celebration in spirit of local entrepreneurship and support Girl Scouts as they host cookie booths inside the runner’s village in a final attempt to reach their sales goals for the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Program,” says Spicer. “With the 2022 cookie season ending the day after the race, this event will help our local girls ‘sprint’ toward their goals.”
“As our nation continues to adapt to life with COVID-19, girls are still encouraged to expand their efforts to web safely with the options to sell online only or online and in-person,” says Czerina Harvey, Product Program Manager for GSACPC.
This year’s selling options for girls includes:
Digital Cookie: Through thisdigital selling platform, girls build a custom website so they can invite friends and family to purchase cookies, with the option of having cookies delivered in-person or shipped directly to their home. Girls can also use the Digital Cookie Mobile App to accept credit card payments on the go from customers. Digital Cookie also introduces lessons about online marketing, application use, and eCommerce to Girl Scouts, through building their own cookie website and managing their virtual sales.
Drive-Thru Booths: Local Girl Scout troops have the option to coordinate drive-thru booths, with cashless transactions being strongly requested. The drive-thru booths will be in parking lots that allow for plenty of distancing and space for the girls and their parents. Cars will have the chance to pull to the front of the line, make their orders, and have the contactless or near contactless ability to pick up their cookies as they would from a traditional booth. There will be parents stationed at each of these booths with sanitizing products to help the girls ensure maximum safety and monitor cookie transfer to cars.
Booths: As permitted and with CDC-recommended guidelines in place, including wearing masks and social distancing, girls will be setting up a temporary “shop” in front of local businesses providing socially distanced options for customers to purchase cookies. Booth locations this year include longtime supporters Fry’s Food Stores, Bashas’ Family of Stores, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Sonic and other retailers and small businesses.
“Over the years, community partners like Basha’s and Fry’s have been game changers for us and our local Girl Scouts,” says Harvey. “We are incredibly thankful for all of our retail partners small and large, who help our girls in their sale by simply sharing their space and support. We’d also like to acknowledge that because of partners like Bashas, our girls on the Navajo Nation and Hopi Lands also get the opportunity to reach cookie customers safely in more rural areas of our jurisdiction.”
Visit girlscoutsaz.org/cookiefinder and use the Girl Scout Cookie Finder to find a cookie booth near you. It’s simple – just enter your zip code and choose from a list of locations nearby. If you want cookie finder access on-the-go download the free Girl Scout Cookie Finder app onto your iOS or Android mobile device from Google Play or the Apple store.
Cookie Clarifications
Bakery Confusion: there are two commercial bakers licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies. The GSACPC bakery is Little Brownie Bakers. Therefore, some other councils offer different cookies.
Thin Mints are made with vegan ingredients.
Toffee-tastics, our gluten-free cookie, will sell for $6 a box. Only troops that have opted into selling this cookie will have them, so it will be available only in limited quantities.
All our cookies have no high corn fructose syrup, no partially hydronated oils (PHOs), zero grams of trans fat per serving and use RSPO certified (Mass Balance) palm oil.
FOR MEDIA ONLY
Questions Girl Scout Cookie Entrepreneurs love to answer at booths and in the media:
What skills has participating in the cookie program taught you?
What are your cookie program goals as an individual and troop? What is your troop working towards?
What does your troop have planned to do with the cookie proceeds?
What organization are you and your troop donating your Cookies for the Communities to and why? Are you planning any other service projects?
About Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 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. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
About the Girl Scout Cookie Program
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, generating over $700 million in annual sales. Nearly 200 million boxes of Girl Scout Cookies are sold each year to more than 50 million cookie customers. Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council sold over two million packages of cookies last year. Amid the challenges of COVID-19, troops are hoping to meet or exceed previous sales goals.
(PHOENIX –11 de enero, 2022) – Cada año durante seis semanas, Girl Scouts en Arizona participan en el programa empresarial más grande del mundo dirigido por niñas: El Programa de Galletas de Girl Scout. Este año, la temporada de galletas para el Concilio Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine (GSACPC) se llevará a cabo del 17 de enero al 27 de febrero de 2022. Al igual que en el año pasado, todas las ganancias de las galletas de Girl Scouts permanecen localmente para ayudar a las niñas a financiar proyectos impactantes en beneficio de la comunidad; o a embarcar en aventuras increíbles de tropas dirigidas por niñas; proporcionar programas en STEM, al aire libre, en habilidades para la vida y de negocio; mantener y mejorar cuatro propiedades del campamento; y proporcionar asistencia financiera que mantenga las Girl Scouts disponible y accesible para todas las niñas.
“A medida que continuamos a encontrar nuestra nueva normalidad y navegar por la pandemia de COVID-19, muchas niñas empresarias utilizarán las ventas digitales en el próximo programa de galletas. Las emprendedoras de galletas están planeando una temporada segura y divertida optando por las ventas en persona y / o digitales a través de Digital Cookies, la plataforma de comercio electrónico de Girl Scout disponible para que cada niña construya y administre su propio sitio web,” dice Mary Mitchell, co-CEO interino de GSACPC.
Las niñas también proporcionarán opciones socialmente distantes y sin contacto en persona y aplicarán las precauciones recomendadas por la CDC, como usar mascarillas, aconsejar a los clientes que paguen con tarjeta y aplicar desinfectante de manos entre las compras. El objetivo es proporcionar una experiencia segura para los clientes y vendedores de las galletas de Girl Scout y crear una venta exitosa para las niñas locales.
El Programa de Galletas de Girl Scout es más que una venta. Les proporciona a las niñas las habilidades que necesitan para convertirse en mujeres exitosas. Girl Scouts aprenden a invertir en sí mismas, en sus tropas y en su comunidad. Fomentando el interés de las niñas en el espíritu empresarial las prepara para cualquier trayectoria profesional en el futuro,” dice Christina Spicer, co-CEO interino de GSACPC. “Las cualidades que conducen un espíritu de emprendedor exitoso, como la curiosidad, la confianza y la innovación, son esenciales para todo tipo de éxito académico y profesional. No hay muchas organizaciones que ayuden a niñas a aprender habilidades clave de emprendimiento, ¡Girl Scouts lo hace!”
Mejorando en lo anterior, a continuación, encontrara todo lo que necesita saber para la temporada de galletas 2022, desde información de la GALLETA NUEVA, la primera carrera de 5 KM familiar y el regreso del Reto del Postre de Galletas de Girl Scout conocido como “Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge”:
Los Sabores de Galletas de GSACPC
¡¡NUEVO!! Adventurefuls: Una galleta inspirada por chocolate con sabor a caramelo y un toque de sal marina. $5
Lemon-Ups: Galletas crujientes de limón horneadas con mensajes inspiradores. $5
Thin Mints: Sabor a menta con una deliciosa capa de chocolate. Vegano. $5
Tagalongs: Capas de mantequilla de maní con un rico recubrimiento de chocolate. $5
Samoas: Galletas cubiertas de caramelo y coco tostado. $5
Trefoils: Icónicas y deliciosas galletas de mantequilla. $5
Do-si-dos: Avena crujiente por fuera y mantequilla de maní cremosa por dentro. $5
Girl Scout S’mores: Galletas crujientes de sándwich con chocolate cremoso y relleno de malvavisco. $6
Toffee-tastics: Galletas de mantequilla (y sin gluten) con trozos de caramelo dorado, dulce y crujiente. $6
Adventurefuls
GSACPC y Girl Scouts de EE.UU. (GSUSA) se complacen en anunciar que una nueva galleta, Adventurefuls, se unirá a la alineación nacional del Programa de Galletas Girl Scout 2022. Una indulgente galleta inspirada de chocolate (brownies) con crema con sabor a caramelo y un toque de sal marina. Adventurefuls lleva a los amantes de las galletas a una deliciosa aventura de sabor al igual que las Girl Scouts participan en increíbles aventuras a través del programa. Las Girl Scouts en el centro y norte de Arizona y en todo Estados Unidos ofrecerán la galleta Adventurefuls la próxima temporada junto con otras favoritas como Thin Mints® y Samoas®.
Cookie CEO Fast Pitch – el 22 de enero
Ejecutivos de corporaciones del Valle estarán entrenando a las empresarias de Girl Scout en el Cookie CEO Fast Pitch virtual el 22 de enero. Durante este evento, los ejecutivos locales guiarán a las Girl Scout Juniors, Seniors y Ambassadors y ayudarán a mejorar sus habilidades de comunicación, argumentos de venta y les darán consejos y sugerencias de negocios.
“Las niñas participantes practicaran su presentación de venta de galletas con uno de los jefes locales o ejecutivos corporativos presentes. A cambio, obtendrán comentarios en su presentación y desarrollarán confianza en sus sesiones de entrenamiento individual,” dijo Spicer. “Al final del evento, las niñas aplicarán las estrategias que han aprendido y darán su mejor discurso a los mentores. Si el jefe fue vendido en el argumento de venta, comprará hasta $500 en galletas. “
El Regreso del Reto del Postre de Galletas de Girl Scout – el 1 al 28 de febrero
¡El Reto del Postre de Galletas de Girl Scout regresa por su octavo año! Después de tomarse un descanso en febrero de 2021 debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, GSACPC se complace en presentar el regreso del desafío que tendrá lugar del 1 al 28 de febrero de 2022.
Veinte estimados chefs de lugares de todo el centro y norte de Arizona participarán en la competencia amistosa de este año para crear un postre ganador con una de estas Galletas de Girl Scout: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils o Lemon-Ups.
“Los chefs participantes utilizarán su experiencia culinaria para inventar delicias usando estas clásicas Galletas de Girl Scout en un delicioso postre y lo presentarán en sus menús durante todo el mes de febrero. Una parte de las ganancias apoyará a Girl Scouts en Arizona,” dice Mitchell.
Los competidores que regresan este año son:
Aioli Gourmet Burgers en Phoenix
Churn en Phoenix
Lovecraft en Phoenix
Lumberyard Brewing Company en Flagstaff
Proof Canteen en el Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Troon North
Rusconi’s American Kitchen
Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant en Chandler
ZuZu en el Hotel Valley Ho en Scottsdale
Los competidores por primera vez de este año son:
Beaver Street Brewery en Flagstaff
Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails at Hotel Palomar en Phoenix
The Craftsman Cocktails & Kitchen en Scottsdale
Geordie’s en Wrigley Mansion en Phoenix
Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery en Flagstaff
Nook Kitchen en Phoenix
Oak on Camelback en Phoenix (antes era el St. Francis)
Shift en Flagstaff
Taco Guild en Phoenix
Tarbell’s en Phoenix
The County Seat en Prescott
The Italian Daughter en North Scottsdale
The Mick Brasserie en Scottsdale
Los fanáticos de las galletas de Girl Scout y los clientes de los restaurantes votarán por su postre favorito en el centro y norte de Arizona durante el mes de febrero, ayudándonos a coronar a un Campeón del Reto del Postre de Galletas de Girl Scout 2022 para cada región,” dice Mitchell. “Además de la diversión, por primera vez, muchos de los lugares también abrirán sus puertas para permitir que las Girl Scouts locales tengas sus puestos de galletas en el lugar durante el desafío.”
¡NUEVO! Carrera/Caminata de 5km “Bring Home the Cookies” – el 26 de febrero
Únase a GSACPC y la Fundación State Forty Eight para la primera carrera/caminata de 5km “Bring Home the Cookies” el 26 de febrero en Tempe. El evento familiar, abierto a las familias de Girl Scouts, corredores competitivos y la comunidad en general, comenzará y terminará en el Estadio Sun Devil y contará con puestos de música, comida y galletas. ¡Todos los participantes registrados recibirán una bolsa de regalos de Girl Scout con una camisa marcada State Forty Eight 5K, un paquete de Galletas de Girl Scout, una medalla y más!
“Todos los miembros de la comunidad están invitados a unirse a la celebración en espíritu del emprendimiento local y apoyar a las Girl Scouts mientras organizan puestos de galletas dentro del pueblo de los corredores en un último intento de alcanzar sus objetivos de ventas para el Programa de Galletas Girl Scout 2022,” dice Spicer “Con la temporada de galletas 2022 terminando el día después de la carrera, este evento ayudará a nuestras niñas locales a ‘correr’ hacia sus metas.”
“A medida que nuestra nación continúa adaptándose a la vida con COVID-19, todavía se alienta a las niñas a expandir sus esfuerzos de usar el internet de manera segura con las opciones de vender solo en línea o en línea y en persona,” dice Czerina Harvey, gerente de programa de producto de GSACPC.
Las opciones de venta de este año para niñas incluyen:
Digital Cookie: A través de esta plataforma de venta digital, las niñas construyen un sitio web personalizado para que puedan invitar a amigos y familiares a comprar galletas, con la opción de que las galletas se entreguen en persona o enviados directamente a su hogar. Las niñas también pueden usar la aplicación móvil Digital Cookie para aceptar pagos con tarjeta de crédito de los clientes. Digital Cookie también introduce clases sobre mercadotecnia en línea, uso de aplicaciones y comercio electrónico a las Girl Scouts, a través de la construcción de su propio sitio web de galletas y la administración de sus ventas virtuales.
Puestos de Autoservicio: Las tropas locales de Girl Scout tienen la opción de coordinar puestos de autoservicio, y las transacciones sin efectivo que son muy solicitadas. Los puestos de autoservicio estarán en estacionamientos que permiten un gran distanciamiento y espacio para las niñas y sus padres. Los autos tendrán la oportunidad de llegar al frente de la fila, hacer sus pedidos y tener la capacidad sin contacto o casi sin contacto de recoger sus galletas como lo harían en un puesto tradicional. Habrá padres estacionados en cada uno de estos puestos con productos desinfectantes para ayudar a las niñas a garantizar la máxima seguridad y monitorear la transferencia de galletas a los automóviles.
Puestos: Según lo permitido y con las pautas recomendadas por la CDC, incluido el uso de mascarillas y el distanciamiento social, las niñas establecerán una “tienda” temporal frente a las empresas locales que ofrecen opciones de distancia social para que los clientes compren galletas. Las ubicaciones de los puestos este año incluyen a los partidarios de largo patrocinamiento, Fry’s Food Stores, Bashas’ Family of Stores, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Sonic y otras tiendas y pequeñas empresas.
“A lo largo de los años, los socios de la comunidad como Basha’s y Fry’s han sido de gran beneficio a nuestras Girl Scouts locales,” dice Harvey. “Estamos increíblemente agradecidos por todos nuestros socios pequeños y grandes, que ayudan a nuestras niñas en su venta simplemente compartiendo su espacio y apoyo. También nos gustaría reconocer que gracias a socios como Bashas, nuestras niñas en la Nación Navajo y el Pueblo Hopi también tienen la oportunidad de llegar a clientes de galletas en las áreas más rurales de nuestra jurisdicción”.
Visite girlscoutsaz.org/cookiefinder y utilice el Buscador de galletas de Girl Scout para encontrar un puesto de galletas cerca de usted. Es sencillo: simplemente ingrese su código postal y elija de una lista de ubicaciones cercanas. Si desea acceder al buscador de galletas sobre la marcha, descargue la aplicación gratuita Girl Scout Cookie Finder en su dispositivo móvil iOS o Android desde Google Play o la tienda de Apple.
Clarificaciones Acerca de las Galletas
La Confusión de las Panaderías: hay dos panaderías comerciales con licencia de Girl Scouts de los Estados Unidos para crear las Galletas de Girl Scout. La panadería de GSACPC es Little Brownie Bakers. Por lo tanto, algunos otros concilios ofrecen diferentes galletas.
Thin Mints están elaborados con ingredientes veganos.
Toffee-tastics, nuestra galleta sin gluten se venderá por $6 la caja. Solo las tropas que hayan optado por vender esta galleta las tendrán, por lo que estará disponible solo en cantidades limitadas.
Todas nuestras galletas no tienen jarabe de maíz con alto contenido de fructosa, ni aceites parcialmente hidronados (PHO), cero gramos de grasas trans por porción y utilizan aceite de palma certificado por la RSPO (Balance de masa).
SOLO PARA LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN
Las Girl Scouts emprendedoras les encanta responder las siguientes preguntas en los puestos de galletas y en los medios de comunicación:
¿Qué habilidades has aprendido participando en el programa de galletas?
¿Cuáles son tus metas en el programa de galletas como individuo? ¿Qué meta se ha propuesto tu tropa?
¿Qué ha planeado hacer tu tropa con las ganancias de las galletas?
¿A qué organización están apoyando por medio de donaciones de sus Galletas para las Comunidades y por qué? ¿Están planeando algún otro proyecto de servicio?
Sobre las Girl Scouts
Las Girl Scouts hacen realidad sus sueños y trabajan juntas para construir un mundo mejor. A través de programas de costa a costa, las Girl Scouts de todos los orígenes y habilidades pueden ser ellas mismas sin disculpas a medida que descubren sus fortalezas y se trabajan para enfrentar nuevos desafíos, ya sea que quiera subir a la cima de un árbol o a la cima de su clase, ponerse las botas para una caminata o abogar por la justicia del medio ambiente, o hacer sus primeras mejores amigas. Apoyadas por voluntarios adultos de confianza, mentores y millones de alumnas, las Girl Scouts lideran el camino a medida que encuentran sus voces y hacen cambios que afectan los problemas más importantes para ellas. Para unirse a nosotros, ser voluntario, conectarse o donar, visite girlscouts.org.
Las Girl Scouts—Concilio de Arizona Cactus-Pine (GSACPC)
En asociación con 6,000 voluntarios adultos, GSACPC atiende a más de 11,000 niñas de grado K-12 en más de 90 comunidades en el centro y norte de Arizona. Desde 1936, GSACPC ha ayudado a las niñas a desarrollar habilidades y herramientas de liderazgo para el éxito en un entorno que cambia rápidamente. Sabemos que dada la oportunidad, cada niña puede convertirse en una líder, actuar con confianza en sus valores y conectarse con su comunidad. Para más información, visite www.girlscoutsaz.org, y síganos en Facebook o en Instagram.
Sobre el Programa de Galletas de Girl Scout
El Programa de Galletas de Girl Scout es el programa empresarial dirigido por niñas más grande del mundo, que genera más de $ 700 millones en ventas anuales. Casi 200 millones de cajas de Galletas de Girl Scout se venden cada año a más de 50 millones de clientes. El Concilio de Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine vendió más de dos millones de paquetes de galletas el año pasado. En medio de los desafíos de COVID-19, las tropas esperan cumplir o superar las metas de ventas anteriores.
“Mom, I want to join Girl Scouts.” That’s how it all started.
Thank you to my daughters Malissa and Jessica, who begged me to join Girl Scouts in grade school. While I wasn’t sure exactly what our journey would be like, I did see the program as a way for my girls to learn how to become effective, confident leaders in their own right while giving back to our community. Little did I know that I too, would be a Girl Scout (leader). I would have the opportunity to forge a path towards enhancing my leadership skills, collaborating, and working with incredible people to create a great girl and leader/volunteer experience.
As a Girl Scout leader, new or experienced, we are given many resources to help us live out the Girl Scout Law and traditions and get started. When I began my Girl Scout journey, I did what all leaders are guided to do; complete trainings, review Council rules, apply safety rules when traveling with our troops, and observe and practice traditions. This helped me become a confident troop leader and I quickly dov ein.
However, it wasn’t until I attended an Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) retreat called “Hit the Pause” in 2020 that Girl Scouts genuinely changed my life. Girl Scouts created a program that encouraged me to be my authentic self and develop into a better leader and person through discussions that involved the adoption of Authentic Girl Scout Leadership Methods in everyday situations.
As a member of the ALC, I am honored to be a part of a team that aims to help our leaders learn and experience the essential elements of Girl Scouting. Several of these elements may be familiar to you, and for those that may not be as familiar, you can learn all about it as well. Here is what ALC aims to provide:
Circles – Safe spaces where everyone is equal, heard, respected, and valued. There is no hierarchy. Examples include Friendship circles and Circle Agreements.
Reflection – Pausing to take time for self-discovery and awareness; helping girls and adults connect with their inner compass related to their life’s purpose. The ALC offers a variety of programming for adult leader development to identify personal core values, enhance interpersonal communication skills, and navigate /appreciate personality differences.
Ceremony – Recognizing, celebrating, and marking an accomplishment or beginning of a new program. Examples include bridging, investiture/rededication and candle lighting.
Co-Generational Community – All levels of girls and adults working together. No one outgrows their potential, and the profound effects it has on the whole community.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) – The unique differences of individuals that make up our Girl Scout Community – the intentional inclusion of every girl, family, and adult no matter their background, while also making sure every member belongs, and their inputs are valued. ALC offers a variety of programming for adult leader development to incorporate DEI thinking in your Troop / Service Unit activities.
ALC is currently offering an Introduction to Authentic Girl Scout Leadership for Service Units. If you would like to schedule this workshop please connect with your Service Unit Manager and complete this form.
A Girl Scout myself, I really enjoyed my experience and wanted my daughter to have the opportunity to create her own Girl Scout memories. One day my daughter brought home a call for volunteer flyer from school and I didn’t think twice about joining. I filled out the form to get started as a volunteer and the rest has been history!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My troop enjoys various activities! We especially like participating in community service projects, product programs (like selling Fall Product), and doing crafts! We have also enjoyed presenting girl programs within our neighborhood, camping, and traveling.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We have volunteered at Feed My Starving Children events and at Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that build beds for kids who are in need of one. We also participate in a neighborhood project called “Books Bears and Blankets” that the girls enjoy.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
There are multiple moments for me. I enjoy the “ah-ha” moments with the girls. For example, the first time they see snow, when a concept clicks, the sense of pride when they cook or clean for themselves, or when they conquer a problem.
I also treasure random, unexpected hugs and knowing that the girl that drives you nuts is the one that needs you the most. Additionally, a volunteer moment that stands out has been sitting on the Board of Directors and getting to be a part of the historic decision to rebuild Camp Sombrero into the wonder that is now known as the Parsons Leadership Center.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
The advice I’d give to another troop leader is “you do you”. Be a little selfish when setting meeting times and activities. If it doesn’t work for you, you are more likely to experience burn out and leave. Have thick skin and don’t take issues personally. Remember your why – the girls, they make everything else the little stuff great and worth it, so don’t sweat it.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
Gosh, that was a long time ago! I wish someone had told me that there would be ups and downs, but to stay on the high road. I have, and it has served me well! Also, to participate in product sales fully to be able to do more without stressing out parents.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with Girl Scouts?
You only get so much time with your children and volunteering with her troop is an amazing way to spend time with her as well as the unknown impact you will have on other girls along the way.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the cookie program?
Yes! Girls gain so much from the Girl Scout Cookie Program. I have seen a girl who started off hiding behind the cookie packages because she was afraid of taking to others move into performance arts. I have had a girl who attended speech therapy stop going during the program because her parents thought she got more speech practice selling cookies.
The cookie program has funded many wonderful activities and trips that we would have not been able to participate in otherwise! The understanding of profit and expenses, budgeting, customer service, and goal setting are invaluable tools for the girls that they will use throughout their lives.
What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
We start the cookie season with a troop meeting where we make signs for our booths and do a troop walkabout. This gives the girls the confidence to do walkabouts (door-to-door sales) on their own, in their own neighborhoods.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
It has been so inspiring to see my troop become independent and grow into capable and courage young women. For example, watching the girls deliver program to younger girls, and allowing them to run the program, and them adjusting things along the way as they see fit. These are priceless experiences and memories that we have had together as Girl Scouts.
My daughter wanted to join Girl Scouts, and her troop needed a leader. Having been a Girl Scout for 14 years, I wanted her experience to be as amazing as mine had been, so I volunteered to help!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My troop likes to do it all! We participate in many of the activities our Council or its partners host. We also have hosted many events for our neighborhood, Cactus Bloom, including Mother-Daughter Tea, Journey at Night Lock-In, and Operation Christmas Child Packing Party.
We also love to explore the outdoors. We have gone on many hikes in Sedona and have visited both caves at Kartchner Caverns. We’ve even gone indoor skydiving! My troop loves to volunteer, and we love helping at the Arizona Animal Welfare League and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
My troop has helped pack and send over 500 boxes of toys and personal items for Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan’s Purse. We sewed “joey pouches” that hold baby kangaroos whose mothers were injured during the Australian Wildfires. And last year, we hosted a holiday food drive for our neighborhood where we collected and donated over 1,900 pounds of food for St. Mary’s Food Bank. Additionally, we used our cookie money to make “Just for Me” bags for the Glendale Family Advocacy Center.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Every year I let the girls throw a whipped cream pie in my face for “creaming” our cookie goals. I end up completely covered in whipped cream, and the girls have a blast doing it. Our togetherness, ability to laugh together and make memories is what I appreciate most – I love making them smile!
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
I would tell other Troop Leaders to enjoy the journey even when the road is bumpy. Celebrate little victories because they matter too. And to learn from your girls as much as you can.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
I wish someone had told me that no matter how prepared you think you are, it’s ok not to have any idea of what you are doing in running a troop. It will all be ok and work out how it’s supposed to. Girls learn and benefit from watching you learn too. And there are tools and resources to help you in the process or get started.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with Girl Scouts?
Girl Scouts is more than just the cookie program! Also, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is not just for young girls but for older girls too. They gain so many valuable life and entrepreneurial skills. If they start from a young age, the program is developed to grow with them, progressing the skills or teaching them new ones at every girl level. For example, learning to count change for younger Girl Scout Daisies, to learning how to manage inventory online for older Girl Scouts.
Why is it important to participate in the Cookie Program?
My troop has come a long way from shy little Daisies to the young women they are today. The cookie program has truly allowed them to take ownership of their cookie business and build resilience and confidence to speak to customers and handle small challenges. The girls have learned to be experts in their business, express their creativity, and showcase their leadership and communication skills by answering questions and helping customers make decisions. You really do see their growth and maturity shine.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
Something that our troop discussed is when a cookie customer first says they’re not interested in cookies because they’ve recently started a diet for the New Year – since our cookie program begins after the new year, typically in mid-January. A way to overcome this that my troop has mastered is asking customers to purchase cookies to donate! It works nine times out of 10, and the girls turn a “no” into a “yes.”
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
It has been inspiring watching my girls take on challenges and learn new skills. And even more when overcoming fears like sleeping outdoors, going down a zipline at an encampment, or fear of heights while climbing a rock wall, or venturing into a darkened cave to see rock formations. It makes me proud to be a Girl Scout Troop Leader and watch them unleash their potential and showcase their courage and confidence!
My Troop Leader story started with a love of Girl Scout Cookies! My husband is a huge fan, and during cookie season, he would sometimes struggle to find a booth. Those cookie hunts sparked an interest in Girl Scouts as a whole.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My troop loves spending time together and being their genuine selves. However, our community service events and summer camp are the two areas that really excite us!
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Some of the projects my troop has completed include:
Trash pick-ups
Animal supply drive
Community food drive
Crafted holiday cards for a local nursing home
Collected and donated books
Made water conservation bookmarks for a library
Donated computers to schools
Packing food for Feed My Starving Children
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
I attended the end-of-the-year meeting and was able to see how successful our Council is; it was inspiring. The commitment displayed by each employee, volunteer, partner, and board member has allowed GSACPC to expand the opportunities available to girls with each passing year. Our Council’s success really makes the difference, and in my opinion, we are doing a great job in securing a future for many generations of Girl Scouts to come.
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
Communication is the key to everything, especially in Girl Scouts. Don’t be afraid to connect with other leaders in your Service Unit to get advice, suggestions for fun activities, and most of all – perspective. Ask yourself, “what do the girls want?” Their voices and opinions matter.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
I wish someone had told me that every troop is different, and the dynamic can change over time. There is no template for what a troop should look or act like; the girls will ultimately decide how the troop will be run and how they interact. Every possibility is the right possibility.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
Volunteering with Girl Scouts is an excellent opportunity for someone to grow their professional skills. Pull any job posting, and you’ll see how being a part of Girl Scouts aligns! Team building, creating a growth strategy, networking, financial bookkeeping, and so much more. Whatever area in which a person is looking to grow, a volunteer opportunity within Girl Scouts can fit their personal and professional goals.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us why it is important to participate in the GS Cookie Program?
My troop always participates in any fundraising opportunities, especially cookies. With each year that the girls get older, they gain more independence in handling the details of the cookie program. The program is a highly engaging experience for all troop members as they experience the value of running a business in real-time. They can see how vital product, timing, location, and commitment are to making their goals. Fall Product Program is a great entrepreneurial tool for preparing the girls for cookie season. I highly recommend not passing up either of these opportunities with your troop.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
My tips for cookie season are as follows:
Keep calm, it’s only cookies. Things can get stressful around this time of year, but it is essential to stay grounded and remember to have fun!
Support is a plus – getting parents to sign on as volunteers are the key.
Timing is essential when it comes to sales. Think about the dates and times when choosing your cookie booths.
A good partnership with a local business for self-scheduled booths is priceless.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
Camping with my troop is the absolute best! Watching how independent they are is so inspiring as both a volunteer and a parent. The way they engage during camp activities and how their eyes light up as they take in nature’s beauty warms my heart.
It takes an exceptional person to be a Girl Scout Volunteer. The saying goes, “our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization.” Girl Scout Volunteers are essential to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place and have a tremendous impact on the girls we serve. Now more than ever, we are reminded of our volunteers’ unique qualities, and we want to express just how deeply your efforts are appreciated. Throughout the pandemic, you’ve provided spaces for girls to connect in so many ways, and continuing to do so keeps the Girl Scout Movement alive.
It is no secret that the pandemic created significant challenges for our volunteers and staff. Many troops and Service Units have had difficulties finding meeting spaces and have been navigating the presence of reentry anxiety. With the ever-changing environment, now is an excellent time to look at how you can grow your impact if you desire to do so.
Some Service Unit teams have experienced vacancies in critical positions. If you love leading your troop and would like to help make a difference on a larger scale, consider having a conversation with the Service Unit Team and your Member Support Executive to see where you can offer your skills and talents.
Another way you can grow your impact is to encourage the girls in your troop (Juniors and up) to plan and host an event for your Service Unit. You will be amazed at the ideas your girls come up with, and helping to bring their vision to life will give you a sense of pride and purpose. Reference Covid-19 protocols when planning.
Finally, consider finding out if your employer offers funds for volunteer hours or if they will donate to your charity of choice. To find out if your employer offers this opportunity, connect with your Human Resources Department. If your employer does have this possibility, consider having them donate to Girl Scouts! More on how to handle donations can be found in the Troop Money Management Guide.
Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker likes to surprise people, particularly when he’s handing out $2.5M in grant money from his Devin Booker Starting Five program.
On Wednesday, after the Suns preseason game with the Portland Trail Blazers, Booker may have struck a new enthusiasm level when Girl Scouts from the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council unexpectedly met their favorite player and then were gifted $100,000 by him.
The Girl Scouts were initially excited by the invitation to attend Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. They had no idea what awaited them.
Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council consist of more than 20,000 from more than 90 communities, including Indian Reservations and military installations across 75,000 miles in central and northern Arizona.
The $100,000 grant officially tips off the 2021-22 class of the Devin Booker Starting Five – a $2.5 million commitment made by Booker in 2019 to grant $100,000 each to five nonprofits each season over five years. The remaining nonprofits of this year’s class will be announced soon.
The transformative funds from the Devin Booker Starting Five will help the Girl Scouts, among other things, replace their mini-bus necessary to transport youth to and from educational and character-building activities and experiences. Due to vandalism and theft, the nonprofit is without a functioning vehicle to support Girl Scouts served across the state of Arizona.
For Christina Spicer, interim Co-CEO of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, the funds could not have come at a better time as the nonprofit returns to in-person camps and day trips.
“The Devin Booker Starting Five grant will provide an incredible resource for our girls,” said Spicer. “Having our bus need fully funded will allow our girls more access to girl-scouting and will be a huge gift for us. The fact that Book is supporting our girls and standing for women and girls is an enormous gift.”
Booker has excelled on the court for the Suns over the past six seasons, becoming a two-time All-Star and led his team through an exciting run to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. But his dedication off the court has been equally important to the city of Phoenix. For the past several years, Booker has treated youth from around The Valley to holiday shopping sprees, pledged more than $100,000 to Phoenix Suns Charities in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and is a Special Olympics Global Ambassador promoting inclusion through sport, especially opportunities involving basketball.
What is Authentic Girl Scout Leadership and how does it impact you?
Join us and discover Authentic Girl Scout Leadership principles and practices.
Explore deeper into bridging perspectives and traditions with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Enhance your Girl Scout toolkit and take action to strengthen your leadership, communication, and relationships.
Complete this form to set up a visit with the ALC. All Service Units will receive a 30-minute demonstration of the workshop with instructions on how to successfully complete it at their monthly meetings. Service Units who complete the entire workshop will receive a special gift from ALC.
You know it when you feel it. The world seems to be resting on your shoulders, and you are stretched so thin that you seem as sturdy as the tattered pages of your jam-packed planner. Throughout the day, you’ll continue to give and give to those you care about, but it may feel less fulfilling. This is known as compassion fatigue.
Think about it; a cord plugged into an outlet can still light the lamp to which it’s connected, even if it’s a bit ragged with wires poking through the plastic covering. Would we consider this lamp cord to be efficient? What if the cord was not plugged into a lamp but instead into rows of hospital beds to provide power for heart monitors and life-saving equipment?
When serving others, there are profound effects that can present themselves as burnout over time. Burnout typically occurs from continuously being overwhelmed by responsibilities and the amount of them. Compassion fatigue can be seen as a type of burnout; it’s the feeling that you have no more empathy to give. When individuals witness trauma or learn of suffering, the emotions that follow can build over long periods. If left unattended, they can increase and ultimately separate individuals from their ability to care for themselves and others.
Compassion fatigue builds slowly and is influenced by what we observe, read, and the duties we perform. It can progress until an individual is exhausted of energy and needs a lifestyle or career change in extreme cases.
Feelings associated with compassion fatigue:
Exhausted psychologically and physically
Feeling helpless, hopeless, or powerless
Irritable, sadness, or numbness
Detachment or decreased pleasure in activities
Connecting to the suffering of others and feeling anger towards events or people causing it
Blame towards yourself and having thoughts of not having done enough to help people
A decreased sense of personal and professional accomplishment
Taking time out of your day to practice self-care can make all this difference. This could be taking planned breaks from work, exercising regularly, being present in your emotions, taking a step back when feeling overwhelmed, or seeking professional help. Here are some additional ways to maintain wellness and improve self-care:
Follow healthy routines, such as reserving time for sleep and rest, enjoying nutritious meals, being active, and connecting more with friends. Activities should replenish and rejuvenate you.
Avoid “information overload.” Pay attention to how stressful or traumatic information affects you.
Be in the present moment and practice gratitude towards positive things, relationships, and opportunities.
Focus on what’s in your control and build awareness of unrealistic expectations about changing something beyond your control.
Becoming aware of the signs of symptoms associated with compassion fatigue, getting support, and taking action to inform others can improve the wellness of our communities. We are all working towards a common goal, but to move forward efficiently, we must prioritize self-preservation.
GSACPC’s Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) appreciates the compassion that resonates throughout our Girl Scout network and always provides support and resources. We invite you to learn more and be part of this group that can introduce you to self-care tactics for Girl Scouts and personally.
We hope these tips help you become aware of compassion fatigue and help you rejuvenate yourself or anyone in your care. For professional support and help, reach out to your doctor.
With the fall weather approaching, now is a great time to start talking to the girls in your troop about community service and Take Action Projects. Giving back is work of the heart; it brings smiles to our faces and is a core component of the Girl Scout experience. Giving girls an opportunity to choose how they would like to give back shows them that their voice matters and focuses on issues they are passionate about. It helps girls eliminate the word “can’t” from their vocabulary, learn leadership skills, and deal with failure through critical thinking and accepting responsibility.
Here are a few ideas you can share with your troop when discussing how they’d like to give back and make an impact:
Spruce up a neighborhood park – Work with your town/city and see if a local park could use some TLC. Working with your girls, show them how cleaning up a neighborhood park can bring joy to the community.
Bring treats to First Responders – Have your girls earn their cooking badges by making snacks or a meal for First Responders. Or think of another way to show gratitude for everything they do for our community. Seeing how much they are appreciated will brighten their day.
Random act of kindness – Have the girls do a brainstorming session and then use the app Goosechase to create a “Random Act of Kindness Scavenger Hunt race!” Tape popcorn to a Redbox, drop off quarters at a laundromat, pay for someone’s ice cream, or help shoppers carry groceries to their car. The sky is the limit!
Participate in Make a Difference Day – Girl Scouts are always making a difference in the world. Explore different activities that will help your troop make an impact on Make a Difference Day on Oct. 23.
Re-stock a free library – Have girls ask their friends and families to donate their gently used books and locate little free libraries around the community to re-stock. (Make sure to get permission from the library owner).
There are so many great ideas for the girls to choose from! Whatever you do, tell our Council Staff and the world – don’t forget to submit all of your photos and reflections using our stories form!
I feel strongly about the role we, as trusted adults, play in girls’ lives, helping create a safe and fun place for them to support each other.
When my daughter entered kindergarten, her teacher started a Girl Scouts troop. I immediately got involved and volunteered as a cookie mom and led activities. When her teacher left the district, I decided to take over as their Troop Leader! I thought that if I was starting a troop for one grade, I might as well expand to all grades! We do not have many resources here in the Navajo Nation, so I knew I would need to take it on if I wanted Girl Scouts to continue in our community. I received a grant and partnered with the local school district to offer Girl Scouts to all elementary grades, and over the years, we went from six to over a hundred girls!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop loves earning badges and planning group trips. Our goal is to have weekly meetings as part of the after-school program and participate in summer trips together. Recently, however, our school has been entirely virtual since March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We decided to keep running our program weekly on Zoom for the 20-21 school year. And while it has been a challenge, we still could earn badges and connect with other Girl Scout troops across the country! We like using Google JamBoard and having fun online to stay connected. It’s challenged us to be creative in this new space – for example, we even had a Zoom sleepover where we watched a movie together and shared fun TikTok videos!
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We’ve supported local community efforts with coat drives, community clean-ups and worked with our elders. During the pandemic, Troop 1430 collected and distributed pet food, PPE, and cleaning products. We gave a mini-PPE kit with gloves and masks to all 1,400 post office box holders in our community!
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
I love taking my Girl Scouts to the GSACPC Annual Meeting because it is a great place to experience the Movement from an overarching and more formal lens. It also allows me to take the 5th grade girls in our troop to see the fantastic girl-led activities – especially since they will be transitioning into middle school. This event is important because I want them to know the leadership skills that Girl Scouts can offer them.
Another moment that stands out to me was when we participated in the Parsons Leadership Center dedication. I felt so honored. Here, our girls had the opportunity to recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law in the Navajo Language!
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
There are so many resources available to Troop Leaders and so many ideas and paths that you can do with your troop. Every year I feel like we accomplished so much yet, there was much more that we could have done. It can be hard to do everything offered and provide all the experiences; it is overwhelming. Just focus on what your girls want to do and know that being there for them is what’s important.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
I wish someone had told me to get parents on board and involved early – be sure to connect and engage them! Also, don’t be afraid to accept help and delegate – I am still working on that one.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
Any help is appreciated! Leading a troop is a big commitment, but there are so many other jobs and positions where you can offer support. The opportunities are flexible with time and welcome many special skills and talents as well!
Why is it important to participate in the cookie program?
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a great way to connect with your girls’ family members. Especially with our program offered after school, we send the girls home on the bus and do not connect with the parents as often. During the cookie season and Fall Product Program, I get to build relationships with the families. It is also a fun project where our troops can work together to host a cookie booth across all ages. I also feel that learning to communicate and work on people skills is a HUGE benefit for our girls, and that is something girls can learn in both product programs.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
The good and the bad part about being in a small community is that there are not too many other troops selling cookies. Everyone gets very excited about buying early, but then everyone gets “cookie’d out”! We try to schedule a trip to set up a booth in the Phoenix area along with a badge earning activity or camp to make the most of it and provide more boothing opportunities for our cookie entrepreneurs.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
I am so proud of all the youth I work with. I always tell girls the famous phrase, “Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout!” Even if a girl takes time off and is not active, she still thinks of me as her Troop Leader, and I think of her as one of my girls. Even if I only have a hundred active Girl Scouts, there are many more girls I have worked with over the last ten years, and they are all special and forever part of our sisterhood.
Each moment spent helping them succeed, witnessing them achieve their goals, and growing their confidence is what inspires me.
(PHOENIX – Sept. 14, 2021) – Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is delighted to announce the receipt of a $2 million grant from Trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. Announced on Monday, Sept. 13, theNow is the Moment Grants Commemoration awarded a total of $123 million to 71 nonprofit organizations across Maricopa County in one day. The grant, which will be used to support GSACPC’s programs and volunteer training and increase access to Girl Scouting for more girls in Arizona, is the Council’s second-largest single gift ever and the most significant one-time gift from Piper Trust, a long-time supporter.
Despite a tumultuous year due to the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 and economic uncertainty across all sectors, many individuals and institutions with large investments in the stock market experienced extraordinary growth in the value of their holdings. Piper Trust reported its endowment grew by $123 million in the 15 months following the start of the pandemic. With these two opposing forces at work, and as stewards of the Trust’s founder, Virginia Galvin Piper, Trustees felt compelled to share all of the earnings with the community.
“We are deeply grateful to the Trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and their ongoing support of and belief in our efforts to introduce more girls to Girl Scouting,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “Every girl deserves the opportunity to be a Girl Scout, which we know is proven to have a positive impact in girls’ lives and their surrounding communities.”
“Girl Scouts has been a consistent force for good in our community for many years and for our resilience through this pandemic. The program impacts our community in ways that matter today and tomorrow,” said Mary Jane Rynd, President and CEO of Piper Trust.
“Everything girls do in Girl Scouting is designed to help them grow into well-rounded adults prepared to meet the future successfully,” says Woodbury. “Girl Scouts helps girls navigate our changing world and build the futures they want to see. Through collaborative, experiential learning, access to caring adults and mentors, badge experiences and activities and service programs, girls build essential skills, explore and connect with their community, and become leaders who take action to make a positive difference in their communities.”
According to Woodbury, amid seismic shifts in technology and culture brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Girl Scouts are constantly evolving and innovating their programs and offerings to address girls’ evolving needs and interests in ways that resonate with them.
“Girl Scouts has been a source of connection, support, and joy for girls throughout the pandemic and is addressing current issues girls, parents, and caregivers care about,” says Woodbury.
With some girls back to school, some girls still learning from home and others doing a hybrid of both, the Council is innovating ways to make Girl Scouting flexible and accessible at every level and turnkey for parents and caregivers to take part in, leading their girl through the experience in whatever way works best for them. This grant will directly support this mission.
“We love the work GSACPC does in our community and are proud to invest in the future of Arizona. Girl Scouts represent the next generation of social, civic, philanthropic, and economic leaders,” says Rynd.
To celebrate what is quickly becoming one of the most significant years in our Council’s history, GSACPC is actively recruiting new Troop Leaders and forming new troops to allow more girls to participate throughout the region. Joining the movement today is easier than ever. Girls can join a troop this new school year – right now! – and entire families can be part of the Girl Scout experience. Even dads/male caregivers! GSACPC is hosting fun, free events and programs for families new to Girl Scouts or who have not yet joined but want to learn more through the end of the year. Among the free virtual and in-person events are:
Make New Friends, a four-part online series designed to boost your girl’s social skills and self-confidence while she learns to focus and thrive in a virtual group setting.
Animal Dance Parties, an interactive Zoom party for girls to have fun, meet new friends, and learn about Girl Scouts. After the physical dance party ends, the girls are encouraged to work on an independent activity. During this time, grown-ups are invited to join us for a quick overview of Girl Scouts.
Robot Building Parties, an interactive Zoom party for girls to work together – albeit virtually – on “building their own robot at home” while learning about all of the other adventures, science experiments, and outdoor activities they can participate in as Girl Scouts.
In-Person Events throughout the Valley and northern Arizona, families are invited to learn more about Girl Scouts at one of the local open-houses-style events closest to them. View the interactive map and calendar to find a location and time that works best for you.
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 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. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.
About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $644 million in local nonprofits and programs. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations.. For more information about Piper Trust, visit pipertrust.org and/or its Piper Fellows program, visit pipertrust.org/piperfellows. @PiperTrust | Facebook.
(PHOENIX – Aug. 17, 2021) – Today, Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) are pleased to announce that a new cookie – Adventurefuls – will join the nationwide lineup for the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie season. An indulgent brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt, Adventurefuls take cookie lovers on a delicious taste adventure just like Girl Scouts go on amazing adventures through the program. Girl Scouts in central and northern Arizona and across the United States will offer the Adventurefuls cookie next season alongside favorites like Thin Mints® and Samoas®.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program, which will take place across central and northern Arizona from Jan. 17 to Feb. 27, 2022, helps girls develop skills in five areas: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics. These are essential skills needed to successfully navigate life—whether working on a high school science project team, running a household, becoming a project manager, or a company CEO.
“Every purchase of Adventurefuls, and the whole portfolio of iconic cookies, during cookie season, fuels local Girl Scouts’ adventures throughout the year: exploring what interests them, discovering their passions, and taking action on issues they care about,” says said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “Whether they’re using their STEM skills to solve a problem, changing a law to help their community, having a courageous outdoor experience, or starting an innovative nonprofit, Girl Scouts build a better future for themselves and the world.”
Also new this year, GSUSA recently announced new Cookie Business badges that help girls think like entrepreneurs as they run their own cookie businesses and incorporate online sales via the Digital Cookie® platform. The badges progress from goal setting and effective sales-pitching in person and online to market research, creating business plans, and implementing digital marketing campaigns.
Consumers can visit www.girlscoutcookies.org to sign up to be notified as soon as cookies are available in the area, and can visit www.girlscouts.org/join to join the movement as a Girl Scout, Girl Scout Volunteer, or Troop Leader today.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 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. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.
About the Girl Scout Cookie Program
It’s more than money. It’s the lifelong skills that girls learn by doing and the confidence they build doing it. The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls develop skills in five areas: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics. These are essential skills needed to successfully navigate life—whether working on a high-school science project team, running a household, becoming a project manager, or a company CEO. Not many organizations offer these essential business skills to girls. Girl Scouting does, with the largest girl-led business in the world!
Over the last several years, GSACPC has been committed to the vital work of researching, evaluating, and implementing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the organization.
In that spirit, the Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) worked together to revise and update the Leadership from the Inside Out booklets, incorporating the principles of DEI. DEI refers to the practice of intentional inclusion regardless of one’s background or circumstances.
We’ll review how to add simple techniques that emphasize the concepts of communication, growth mindset, goal setting and more in your troop meetings to support inclusivity through a discover, connect, and take-action process.
Discover
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment, or a history of one, that substantially limits one or more life activities; or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”
The Social Security Administration reports that more than 1 in 6 American children are living with disabilities. Most common among school-age was Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, next Autism Spectrum Disorder, then learning disabilities, and mental health illness. This means that around 20% of girls ages 5-17 are living with a mental or physical disability.
However, not all disabilities are visible or physical. Cognitive disabilities and/or mental conditions, especially those with learning differences1 and neurodiversity2, may not be apparent just by looking at or talking to someone.
A part of making Girl Scouts a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization is thinking about how the policy applies to this subset of our population. The umbrella term of “differently wired,”3 allows us to center on creating ways to make what we do inclusive for all girls. Often, when we make changes for inclusion, it benefits all.
Understanding the foundation of DEI is only the first step in achieving an inclusive troop environment. To ensure that all girls are given a safe space regardless of disability or background we must incorporate techniques which prioritize acceptance, joy, and celebration of self.
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Researcher Carol Dweck coined two terms when working around students’ attitudes about failure.
Fixed mindset refers to one’s belief that intellect and ability are stagnant -“I can’t recite the GS Promise and Law!”
Growth mindset refers to one’s belief in their ability to learn and develop skills – “It may take some time, but I’ll learn to recite the GS Promise and Law!”
As you can imagine adopting either of these mindsets can impact achievement throughout someone’s life.
Incorporating Growth Mindset
The power of “yet”
When girls say they “can’t” do something, simply add the word “yet” to their statement. This gives them the power to believe in themselves, which in turn activates the growth mindset.
Example: “I can’t tie my shoelaces…yet.”
KWL chart or similar visuals
One tool that can be used to incorporate the growth mindset is a KWL chart. Here is how you can utilize this during a troop activity:
Create a chart with three columns: One labeled K for “Know,” W for “Want to know,” and L for “Learned.”
At the start of an activity, ask girls what they already know about the topic and put it in the K column.
Write any questions regarding the topic in the W column.
After completing the activity, have the girls reflect and write what they learned in the L column.
This can be a great way to organize ideas while working on a take-action project.
Connect
One of the greatest gifts you can give girls is helping them attain self-knowledge – learning who they are, how their brain works, and what they need to do to create the life they want. You can empower them to understand this and feel good about who they are. All girls can use this knowledge to connect with others from different and varied histories, life stories, physical and/or developmental abilities.
Especially important to this discovery is the way you communicate with girls. Here are some suggestions of how to lead conversations, adapted from the novel Differently Wired:
Check your thoughts/beliefs. When faced with a challenge, identify the thoughts/beliefs that could influence the message you give your troop. Modeling authenticity, honesty, and transparency could be beneficial for your girls.
Make open and honest communication a core value and work towards it constantly. Commit to prioritizing this and create a safe place for sharing and discussing relevant topics; your girls get to choose what and how much to share. This is something that could be incorporated as a check-in at the beginning of meetings or events.
Make conversations about strengths AND challenges a part of the experience. Create a closing ritual to end meetings/events by asking, “What went well today and what was hard today?”
Don’t shy away from difficult conversations. Keep in mind how to talk with your girls in an age-appropriate manner but aim to have discussions that help them feel respected and seen. This will help them feel secure in coming to you when challenging topics/issues come up.
Within all of this, parents/guardians can be your best source of how to approach working with the challenges their child experiences; you don’t have to do it all alone.
Set girl-led troop goals. Connect what is learned (reference the KWL chart) to future goals. This can help the girls figure out what they would like to accomplish. A good example is product sales and what to do with the proceeds.
Use girls’ strengths to improve weaknesses. You can help your girls grow by using one of their strengths to support a weakness. Say a girl in your troop enjoys math but is unsure how to talk to others; they can collect money from a customer at a cookie booth to help strengthen their conversational skills. When your girl ventures outside of her comfort zone to grow, make a point to acknowledge it. They may not be aware of this accomplishment until you point it out!
Take Action
The above information and suggestions are non-specific. How you apply them will depend on the level of girls you’re working with, where they want to go, and what they want to accomplish.
This blog is written by Rebecca Oakes. Rebecca Oakes holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She has been sharing her authentic self as a GSACPC volunteer for 14+ years, including various troop capacities, and seven years with our Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) group. Rebecca is also the mother of two neurodivergent children.
ALC is centered around Authentic Girl Scout Leadership principles, 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.”
School is back in session, and Girl Scouts across Arizona are getting ready to begin the new member year! Whether you’re a new or seasoned troop, here are a few tips to ensure a great start to your year.
Start with the GSLE (Girl Scout Leadership Experience) in mind! Hold an age-appropriate planning meeting to capture what kinds of activities and programming your troop would like to accomplish and participate in:
Badges and Journeys
Don’t forget GSUSA just announced 28 New Program Badges focused on entrepreneurship, math in nature, and digital leadership that emboldens girls to navigate a changing society and build the futures they want for themselves and the world.
Council’s Own Badges and Patches include badges/patches like South Mountain Trails and the Wild Wonders Outdoor Experience patch program.
Additional Awards – In addition to the High Awards, Girl Scouts can earn other awards like Community Service Bars, Counselor in Training, faith-based, and teen mentor awards.
Product Programs
Fall Product Program – gives girls the chance to step up and shine and earn rewards along the way. Build entrepreneurial skills, teamwork, and raise troop proceeds for the year. Sign up soon!
Girl Scout Cookie Program – get ready for the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program and be the first to sell the newest cookie, the Girl Scout Adventurefuls!
Once the girls have done their planning, hold a parent meeting to set the expectations and have everyone begin the year on the same page.
Hold a parent meeting. Use this meeting to build your Troop Committee for the year. This parent committee identifies support roles for parents and their responsibilities for the troop year. Ask parents to share talents and skills that can be helpful for the year and provide support by signing up for specific tasks.
Tip: Consider having the girls present for this meeting and share their excitement about the decisions they came up with in their planning meeting. Have the girls and parents sign the code of contact form together.
Re-commit to the Promise and Law. Plan an investiture and rededication ceremony at the beginning of the new troop year to welcome any new Girl Scouts and have returning Girl Scouts re-commit themselves to the Promise and Law.
Reconnect with each other by planning some team-building activities and games. For example, have the girls create a troop mural that captures their troop’s personality. Use the mural as a background for the troop to create their kaper chart.
Take a moment to read the Authentic Girl Scout Leadership booklet and use the information to discover how to lead from the inside out. Discover the magic of circles, the wisdom of reflection, the rites of passage ceremonies can provide, the value of co-generational communities, and DEI principles in Girl Scouts.
I enrolled my oldest daughter a few years back as a Girl Scout. After witnessing the wonderful opportunities and experiences she had, I was inspired to learn more about becoming a Troop Leader. I wasn’t a Girl Scout growing up, so this was a new experience for the both of us. My daughter’s confidence and personal development grew immensely, and the experience opened a whole new world of opportunities for both of us. As a mother of three, I wanted the same for my younger girls too, so I knew I wanted to become a Troop Leader for them as well.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop loves to do anything that involves the outdoors. Some activities we have done with the older girls include camping, encampments, attending Jamboree, overnight trips out of state, horseback riding, hiking, and a ton of other activities.
We are a troop that values badge earning, completing Journeys, and working towards High Awards – this is the first year my girls will be working towards becoming Gold Award Girl Scouts.
My Brownie troop also enjoys earning a variety of badges. Before the pandemic, they participated in an overnight camp experience at Parsons Leadership Center and continued to meet virtually to complete badges through February 2021. They really enjoy camping experiences, so this was an exciting activity and something they look forward to doing more of!
They currently like hands-on activities and recently just completed their Home Scientist Badge. They enjoy connecting and socializing at the park after their meetings.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Community service and giving back is very important to my troops. Here are some of the projects we have completed over the years:
Revitalized a garden at a local community resource center
Supported families by providing diapers and food
Volunteered at a local food bank
Volunteered at Special Olympics events
Participated with the Operation Christmas Child
Served as flag bearers at an annual 911 memorial
Installed lending libraries at preschool centers
Volunteered with Feed My Starving Children
Installed a sensory wall at Aimee’s Animal Sanctuary
These are only a few of the many community service projects in which we have participated. Through these experiences, I hope the girls have developed a heart of giving and a lifelong commitment to service.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
One of the many moments that stand out was a couple of years ago when we adopted a family during the Christmas holiday. Our troop family rallied together to provide Christmas decorations, Christmas dinner, gifts, and furniture to a family in need. We delivered everything to their home, and their humbleness and appreciation were immeasurable. What stood out to me most was how the kindness of the family moved our entire troop, leaders, and girls. That experience is something I will always carry in my heart.
What advice would you give other Troop Leaders?
My best advice for other Troop Leaders is always to remember why you were inspired to be a Girl Scout leader. Stay present, maintain your wellness, and don’t beat yourself up by comparing yourself to other leaders. Just like the girls in our troop, we all have unique gifts and talents!
What do you wish someone had told you as a new Troop Leader?
Most importantly, don’t sweat the small things, and always be flexible in your planning! Remember to enjoy every special moment as the years will go by way too fast!
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I would want others to know that there are many ways to volunteer with Girls Scouts besides being a Troop Leader. I would recommend that interested volunteers reach out to their Council and ask about service unit opportunities. There is a great need for a variety of skills and talents at all levels of Girl Scouts. Many potential volunteers don’t know you don’t have to work directly with a troop, that you can provide services that make a large contribution to the Girl Scouts experience through other part-time and flexible volunteer opportunities.
Why is it important to participate in the Cookie Program?
Yes, we participate every year! It is important to participate because it teaches girls how hard work leads to future rewards. What better way for girls to gain customer service, public speaking, money management, and entrepreneurial skills? Recently my oldest daughter interviewed for her first job, and she specifically used her Girl Scout Cookie-selling experiences to showcase her customer service skills.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
Our best cookie-selling tip is that there is ALWAYS an opportunity to sell cookies. When selling, always present your best self, wear your uniform, have your best attitude, and most importantly, have fun working with your Girl Scout sisters!
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a Troop Leader?
Recently I have been inspired by my Brownies’ confidence to either share or speak up about subjects and topics that often adults find difficult to discuss. When we started meeting in person again, the girls asked questions on why “God” is in the Promise, why we start meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance, and why it isn’t appropriate to describe a person only by their race. At first, I was taken aback because I thought these subjects were beyond their years to understand, much less have an opinion about them. The girls answered these questions on their own and showed such empathy and compassion that truly touched my heart. Given the social environment, the topics that tend to make adults uncomfortable, they answered confidently and easily. I am proud that through Girl Scouts, I have given them a space where they can be comfortable expressing 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.
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!
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 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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