It’s National Volunteer Month, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you, the dedicated volunteers who bring the Girl Scout experience to life for girls in their communities. Our volunteers are truly the backbone of our organization—you open the doors of possibility for girls and show them the power they have to make the world a better place.
You have enabled Girl Scouts across the country to continue their Girl Scout journeys and stay connected to their sister Girl Scouts even during the unprecedented challenges of the last few years. You serve as strong role models and are truly making a difference in their lives—championing, encouraging, and inspiring them to be the leaders and change-makers the world needs.
The power of Girl Scout volunteers is felt everyday by the girls and families of our Movement: 86% of girls say their leader makes them feel important, 80% say their leader helps them pursue their goals, and 70% say their leader helps them think about the future.
99% of parents/caregivers tell us their girl’s leader made her feel like part of a group, and 94% of them say their girl’s leader made their whole family feel like part of a community. And during a time of national crisis, this sense of community you foster—and how it empowers girls to give back—is vitally important. Over the past two years, Girl Scouts and volunteers like you have engaged in hundreds of thousands of hours of COVID relief efforts, including sending cards or letters to COVID patients and frontline healthcare workers, making and donating masks, donating and delivering meals, planning food drives, and donating cookies to bring joy to others. At a time when girls have been experiencing overwhelming feelings of anxiety and powerlessness in their day-to-day lives, you have shown them the difference they can make even under incredibly challenging circumstances.
On behalf of the entire Girl Scout Movement, I want to express my deepest gratitude to you, the 700,000 incredible Movement-wide volunteers across the country and the world for your commitment to Girl Scouting and for helping girls become their best selves.
You are building the trailblazers and changemakers of today who will have a lasting impact for generations to come.
(PHOENIX – March 23, 2022) — Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is celebrating a successful cookie season. From Jan. 17 to Feb. 27, participating Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona sold more than 2.6 million boxes of delicious cookies, building essential entrepreneurial skills imperative to leadership and future success along the way.
“Our 2022 Girl Scout Cookie season was the most memorable one yet. Despite selling during a pandemic and experiencing inventory shortages, our girls were confident and innovative as they engaged with customers across central and northern Arizona. We celebrate their entrepreneurial spirit and are grateful for the generous support from the community,” shared Christina Spicer, Interim Co-CEO of GSACPC.
The funds raised through the cookie program will allow local girls to take part in a variety of programs, community outreach projects and enrichment over the next year, including:
Fueling adventure by maintaining four camp facilities and outdoor programming year-round, including the NEW boulder wall, zip line and climbing tower at The Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain
Providing STEM, outdoor, life-skills, and entrepreneurial programs for Girl Scouts to participate in in central and northern Arizona, including providing access to programs for girls residing in the Navajo Nation and Hopi Lands
Volunteer training and support for over 6,000 volunteers
Financial assistance to cover membership, uniforms, and camperships for any family needing extra support.
Supporting girls’ passions, take-action project, and pursuit of the Girl Scout High Awards through service projects that make an impact on our community
The Girl Scout Cookie Program not only helps Girl Scouts earn money for these fun, educational activities and community projects, but also plays an important role in helping girls learn essential life skills like decision making, money management, people skills, business ethics and goal setting. It is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world! All proceeds from the cookie program support Arizona’s Girl Scouts.
How the cookies crumbled, by the numbers:
7,063 girls in central and northern Arizona sold 2,686,833 cookies
The per girl average was 380 boxes each, up from 320 boxes each in 2021
The top cookie seller, Kaitlyn of Troop 2232 in Glendale, sold 7,788 boxes of cookies
The top troop, Troop 558 in Peoria, sold 64,886 boxes of cookies
113 girls sold over 2,000 boxes each
843,710 packages were sold online through its Digital Cookie program
The most popular cookie sold was Girl Scout Thin Mints
In its first year, 247,456 boxes of Adventurefuls found their way to local homes
Girl Scouts hosted hundreds of booths thanks to restaurant and retail supporters, and long-term partners like Fry’s Food Stores, Bashas’ Family of Stores (Bashas’, Food City, A.J.’s), and Safeway
In other sweet news, 19 restaurants participated in the 8th annual Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge. The Dessert Challenge invites chefs from some of the state’s most popular restaurants to support Arizona’s girls by creating a special dessert using one of the beloved flavors of Girl Scout Cookies. A public voting component was introduced last year, allowing diners to vote for their favorite dessert! With 22% of the votes in the central Arizona area, Nook Kitchen and chef Amber Cumming took the title for best dessert with their Don’t Mind if I Do using Girl Scout Do-si-dos. In the northern Arizona region, Shift won with 37.5% of the votes for their Mint Chocolate Churros created by chef Dara Wong featuring Girl Scout Thin Mints. A portion of the proceeds from each dessert sold was donated to support Girl Scouting in our community.
The season also marked the first-ever Girl Scout night during a Phoenix Suns game at the Footprint Arena and Bring Home the Cookies 5K Run and Walk, which took place on Feb. 26 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The family friendly event, open to Girl Scout families, competitive runners and the community at large, featured music, food and even a Girl Scout business or two. In total, more than 400 girls and their families took part with the community in this special event day-of.
The overwhelming success of this year’s cookie program was possible only with the support of the community. All funds raised stay in Arizona, ensuring girls will have the resources they need to develop into tomorrow’s leaders.
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.
Times change. People change. Places change. But deep inside, your heart’s inner compass knows the way. Years of Girl Scouting taught me to be true to my own values and ambitions. As a Girl Scout Cadette, my involvement in the organization helped me gain the courage to pursue my own interests outside of what was popular in the world around me. This strength followed me into higher Girl Scout levels and other areas of my life. I learned to follow my true North.
The pandemic that struck in 2020 has changed all our lives. Repeated surveys have reported that at least 55% of Americans are seeking a new job. People are looking at their lives through a new lens and are considering changes that may help them feel more congruent to their values. Given this time to look back and evaluate our lives, we ask, “Are you happy with the life you are living?”
Do you know your true North? What does your authentic self, crave? Listen to that voice. As we emerge out of this stormy time, know that you have a true purpose. Let your self-awareness guide you in path that leads you to excel at what is most important to YOU.
Looking for your true North? Take time to journal and reflect on these thirty questions written by Bill George, author of Discover Your True North.
What do you want your legacy to be? 10, 20, 50 years from now, what will your name mean?
What one word do you want people to use to describe you? What do you think they’d currently use?
If money was no object, how would you spend your time? What would your day look like?
Fill in the blank: My life is a quest for _______. What motivates you? Money? Love? Acceptance?
If you were to donate everything you have to a cause or charity, which would it be?
What is your biggest regret? If you could go back and have a ‘redo,’ what would you change?
When was the last time you told a lie? Why? What would have happened if you had told the truth?
If you accomplish one thing by the end of the year, what would make the biggest impact on your happiness?
What do you think is the meaning of life? Do you live your life accordingly?
What would others say is your biggest asset? What would they say is your biggest flaw? Be honest.
What did you like to do when you were 10 years old? When was the last time you did that activity?
What do you love most about your current job? What do you wish you could do more of?
What do you think you were put on this earth to learn? What were you put here to teach?
What keeps you awake at night when you should be sleeping? What gets you out of bed in the mornings?
List your core values. Use your company’s mission statement to list its core values. Do they match up?
What skills do people frequently compliment you on? These may not be what you think you’re best at.
If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would you say?
What do you not want others to know about you? Use your answer to find and conquer insecurities.
List the five people you interact with most frequently (not necessarily friends). How is each helping you to reach your goals (or not)?
If yourself from ten years ago met you today, would he/she be impressed with where you’ve gotten? Why or why not?
What bugs you? If it makes you mad, you’re passionate about it! Can you make your anger productive?
Fast-forward ten or twenty years. What is the one thing that, if you never pursued, you’d always regret?
When was the last time you embarrassed yourself? You have to be vulnerable to find your purpose.
Who or what energizes you? What makes you feel depleted? Do you thrive on chaos, or prefer order?
Who do you look up to? Who are your mentors, both those you know personally and those who inspire you from afar?
Think about your talents, passions, and values. How can you use them to serve and contribute to society?
Why do you want to find your purpose? Write the answer down and put it somewhere you can see it. The journey isn’t always easy.
What in your life is ‘on hold’? Until you lose weight, until you retire, etc. What are you waiting for?
What price would you take to give up on your dreams? What price would you be willing to pay to achieve them?
Now that you’ve answered these questions, what is your action plan? What steps will you take today?
In Girl Scouting, we support and encourage one another in our journeys. Join us in the Authentic Leadership Community as we all look to improve our own lives and the lives of the girls we serve.
(PHOENIX – Feb. 23, 2022) – Join Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC), State Forty Eight, and State Forty Eight Foundation for the first-ever Bring Home the Cookies 5K Run and Walk on Feb. 26 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The family friendly event, open to families, competitive runners and the community at large, will start and finish at Sun Devil Stadium and feature music, food and even a Girl Scout business or two. 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.
“For six weeks each year, Girl Scouts in central and northern Arizona participate in the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world: The Girl Scout Cookie Program,” says Christina Spicer, interim Co-CEO for GSACPC. “Bring Home the Cookies 5k is a celebration of all our incredible girls and their dedication, innovation, and creativity during these unique times. Girl Scouts are learning first-hand entrepreneurship and financial skills they will carry with them their whole life. We are also honored to celebrate with State Forty Eight and State Forty Eight Foundation as we close out this year’s cookie season.”
“We are thrilled to have joined forces with Girl Scouts to celebrate the spirit of local entrepreneurship,” says Mike Spangenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of State Forty Eight. “They do so much to equip and empower the young women of our community to be leaders, that it was an easy decision to choose them as our partner for our first-ever 5K.”
In addition to the race itself, the event will feature special appearances from the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, Arizona Cardinals’ Cheerleaders and Big Red, and a Runner’s Village both with traditional booths and vendors as well as food trucks and even a couple Girl Scout entrepreneurs, notably 9-year-old Giselle, a Girl Scout Junior with Troop 2894 in Goodyear, who will exhibit her Pawsome Pet Boutique.
“Giselle used the skills she learned and confidence she gained through the Girl Scout Cookie program to start her own business,” says Mary Mitchell, co-interim CEO of GSACPC. “Her business, through which she sews and personalizes over-the-collar pet bandanas, makes pet bowls and creates handmade gemstone jewelry for pet lovers, even donates 10% of all sales to Sun City 4Paws Rescue, paying it forward as part of her business model.”
The Runner’s Village will open at 7 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. It will be followed by a celebration and medal ceremony. The course is a fast-paced route that loops with a minimal elevation change. This course is perfect for attempting a personal record or having a fun, leisurely run or walk. Water will be available for runners and walkers at the start, finish and midpoint. Restrooms are public and near the start, finish and expo areas. Sports strollers, running chairs, handcycles, sports wheelchairs, prostheses and canes are allowed on the course.
Girl Scouts and their accompanying family members can participate in the race untimed for free. For those who wish to sign on as timed runners or walkers, registration starts at $80 and there are team options for sign-up.
“This event would not be possible without a village – a Runner’s Village, to be specific – of supporters, including sponsors at State Forty Eight, State Forty Eight Foundation, Ardie & Steve Evans, Clear Channel Outdoor, Lovett & Touché, Helios Education Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, KITCHELL, Duffy Group, Mutual of Arizona Financial Group, As You Wish, Bashas’, Burrito Express, Circle K, Kappa Delta, and LAVIDGE,” says Spicer.
“This a cause that is deeply aligned with the mission of our foundation,” says Alyssa Moore, Executive Director for State Forty Eight Foundation. “To co-create a fun event with our local Girl Scout chapter that will in turn support Arizona’s future leaders and business owners is very exciting for us.”
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
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.
*** Please note that Girl Scout Cookie Program dates are set by each of the 112 councils throughout the United States and vary based on the local market and environment. The 2022 cookie program for Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is Jan. 17 – Feb. 27, 2022. GSACPC is one of two councils in Arizona. GSACPC includes central and northern Arizona. The second council, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona (GSSoAZ), includes Tucson and Yuma, and their cookie program is Jan. 22 – March 13, 2022.
When my oldest daughter was a Daisy running her Girl Scout Cookie business for the first time, I helped her write her very first handwritten thank-you cards to her cookie customers. This is a tradition that has continued with both of my daughters every year since, both during cookie season and the Fall Product Program. The only thing better than receiving an order of Girl Scout Cookies is receiving a handwritten letter of gratitude with them. I’ve heard numerous cookie customers of my daughter’s comment on the thank-you cards they received, and I’m convinced that the cards are a factor in cookie customers coming back the following year.
There’s something intimate and delightful about receiving a hand-written card, especially one that arrives in the mail. On one level it’s just scribbles on processed tree pulp, on another level it is magic. A handwritten note takes effort. It takes time. It takes intention. It says that the person writing it stopped everything for a few moments of their day to think of you and offer their appreciation.
What better way to engage in self-care during cookie season than to write yourself a handwritten card?
This form of self-care has seven steps. These steps can be done with others or in solitude, whatever you prefer.
Hand-Written Note – Self-Care Activity
First, take yourself on a trip, in-person or virtually, to a store that sells stationary. I like to visit local bookstores like Changing Hands in Tempe/Phoenix, but any bookstore, drugstore, dollar store, or online retailer will do. Find some eye-pleasing stationary or thank-you cards that delight you, even if (perhaps especially if) someone else would find it silly.
Second, find yourself a fancy pen, a marker, a colored pencil, or a crayon. The brighter and more unusual and fun the color, the better.
Third, scavenge for stickers. Splurge on a pack if you don’t already have some. Consider splurging on a pack even if you do have some.
Fourth, write yourself a thank-you letter. Consider writing in your non-dominant hand if you’d like to invoke the spirit of your younger self or write with your dominant hand if you love how your handwriting looks on the page. Write with intention and answer questions like what are you thankful for? Why is this amazing human that you’re writing to so amazing? Consider making a list of five things that you’re thankful for. Then consider expanding it to ten. The quicker you write, the better (and the easier the gratitude will flow). Add stickers for emphasis.
Fifth, fold your letter, place it in an envelope, address it to yourself, stick a stamp on it, as another sticker or three to the envelope, and walk it out to the mailbox, or take it to the post office. Take a selfie with the envelope before you drop it in the mailbox and post it on social media.
Sixth, check the mail like you’re waiting for a reply to fan mail you just sent to your favorite band. When it arrives, let your inside feelings come right out. Squeal, do a happy dance, do a cartwheel- whatever suits your mood. Then make yourself a yummy beverage, grab your favorite Girl Scout Cookies, and open that envelope. What’s it like reading those words? Journal about it or share it with someone close to you. Consider even writing one for someone else and mailing it to them!
Seventh, put your note to yourself somewhere close-to-hand so you can read it as often as you wish. You’re worth it.
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (January 21, 2022) — The STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math are the foundation for the country’s fastest-growing occupations, yet women and girls are underrepresented across all levels of the STEM pipeline. Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is working to close that gap through STEM programming on the Navajo Nation designed to spark girls’ interest so they can become part of this expanding sector.
Thanks to a $35,000 grant from the APS Foundation, 250 girls on the Navajo Nation will experience STEM learning opportunities during the school year through Girl Scouts. Programs will include a three-day summer camp this June at Diné College in Tsaile, AZ that will serve more than 70 girls.
Christina Spicer, Interim Co-CEO of GSACPC shares, “We are deeply grateful to the APS Foundation for being a long-standing supporter of Arizona girls. We are honored that they continue to invest in girls throughout our jurisdiction.”
Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council provides experiential STEM opportunities for girls who are part of the Navajo community through culturally relevant programming and delivery models that meet their specific needs. Girls are encouraged to ask questions about the world, problem-solve, and use natural creativity through play and experimentation while fostering their internal qualities such as self-confidence, self-esteem, and a strong work ethic.
Throughout the school year, girls will have opportunities to earn badges in cybersecurity, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science, and space exploration. The outdoor STEM camp at Diné College in June, also supported by Navajo Transitional Energy Company, will offer additional opportunities to get hands-on with science, technology, engineering, and math.
Each year, the APS Foundation, which has focused its support on STEM education since 2012, partners with organizations like Girl Scouts to fund programs that inspire the next generation of leaders.
“Studies show hands-on STEM learning truly ignites a passion for continued STEM education,” says APS Foundation Executive Director Tina Marie Tentori. “When you bring STEM to life through fun, interactive activities such as mountain biking, archery, and astronomy at summer camp, it adds a whole new dimension of learning. It’s exciting to see young minds turned onto careers in the sciences as a result of this type of programming.”
“Over the last two years Girl Scouts had to pause some programs to protect the health and safety of our members, especially those on the Navajo Nation as the community endured the unimaginable. Not surprisingly, the program we get asked about most is our STEM Camp. Girls and families are anxiously awaiting its return this summer,” says Mary Mitchell, Interim Co-CEO of GSACPC. “We’re excited to offer not only a small glimpse of normalcy for girls but also provide them an important opportunity to increase their STEM confidence and inspire them to pursue STEM in their futures.”
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.
The new year is upon us and with it comes the excitement of setting new year’s resolutions! Around this time also our cookie season begins and girls set goals and make thoughtful, strategic decisions about how they want to achieve them. We’ll show you an activity you can introduce to your troop that will show them the strength of outline steps to big goals.
My daughters have often aimed high when it comes to goal setting during cookie season. They’ll be the first to tell you that the recognitions for high achievers are enticing. When it comes to showing up for the work required to meet those lofty goals, though, the enthusiasm that comes with goal setting can dwindle. Established habits and desires to do other things may end up taking precedence, and if they do, disappointment about the failure to meet goals can surface.
Making a resolution for the new year is like setting a goal for cookie season. How does one strike a balance between setting resolutions and developing habits that support the actions required for them?
Below is an exercise you can do in a hands-on way to explore this balance and reach your goals.
Supplies
6 strips of colorful cardstock or paper (1″ wide, 8.5″ long)
A colorful marker/pen
Clear tape
One marble
Instructions
Step 1: On the first strip of cardstock, write down your resolution. On three additional strips, write down three steps that will support your success in meeting that resolution. These steps may include actions you know you’ll need to take as well as subsequent actions you’ll take if/when your initial interest begins to fade.
Step 2: Hold up your marble. This is your resolution. Now use the strips of paper to pick up your marble. How well do the strips hold your resolution?
Step 3: Arrange two of the strips next to one another vertically on a flat surface. Then weave two strips horizontally through the vertical strips, alternating between going over and under. Once this is done, you’ll have a plus sign with a woven square at the center. This square is the floor of your container. From here, fold the ends of the strips so that they stand straight up above the floor of the container. These will be the walls of the container.
Step 4: Take another strip and fold it every two inches along its length to form a square shape. Tape the ends of this strip together to secure the square shape.
Step 5: Position your square from Step 4 so it is parallel with the floor of your container. Weave the square from Step 4 onto the upstanding ends of your container from Step 3. The ends of the container from Step 3 should alternate over and under the square from Step 4 on all four sides. Once this is done, repeat steps 3 and 4 with a second strip of paper.
Step 6: Fold the ends of the vertical strips from Step 3 over the second square from Step 5 (fold it toward the inside of the container if the strip is on the outside of the square, and fold it toward the outside of the container if the strip is on the inside of the square). Tape the folded ends to the walls of the container.
Step 7: Put your marble in the container you’ve woven and pick up the container. How does the container support your marble compared to the individual strips of paper? Describe what was it like to weave a container for your resolution. What do you imagine it would be like to try weaving a container again for a new resolution? Journal for 5-10 minutes about the process and share your insights with someone you know.
Try this activity with your troop and have a discussion on goal setting. Share your troop’s experience with creative goal setting at stories@girlscoutsaz.org
This article is hosted by the Authentic Leadership Community. The Authentic Leadership Community is currently running a new workshop for Service Units – Introduction to Authentic Girl Scout Leadership. We would love to visit your SU! To learn more and sign up, please complete our interest form.
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.
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!
(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.
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