Troop proceeds from selling cookies can be used for fun, like taking a trip to Disney World!
Troop 35580 recently returned from a five-night, six-day trip visiting Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. When visiting Animal Kingdom, girls earned their Animal Habitat patch to enhance their Girl Scout experience.
“We saw the true meaning of sisterhood. They (Girl Scouts) all showed their courage and strength. Many of the girls stepped outside their box and rode rides they would have never ridden at all the parks,” said Troop Leader Kailey Gernenz.
The troop paid for this trip with the proceeds collected from selling 22,925 boxes of cookies over the past three years.
“Like Walt Disney says” IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT.” That is what got us to Disney,” said Kailey.
The troop made many great memories and has set another goal for 2025 to return and go to Sea World.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana created a plan to help troops continue to reach their cookie goals.
For every online shipped order (Digital Cookie, Ship-to-Customer) placed and paid for by a customer between February 27 and March 20, the troop will receive $1.15 ($1.25, if the troop opted out of rewards) per package as troop proceeds.
Girl Scouts, remember to email your customers on February 27 with your new Digital Cookie link.
After years of being a Girl Scout troop leader for Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes, I yearned to visit the birthplace of Girl Scouting, Savannah, Georgia. I viewed that as the ultimate pilgrimage to our founder’s home and, by extension, the birthplace of my Downers Grove-based Cadette Troop 606. It was the girls’ last year in this troop as they were faced with the decision to move on to a long-standing Senior Girl Scout troop, a “Mariner troop,” known as Ship 167, or end their active membership as they started high school.
At our meeting, we decided the trip would be a great idea, and we had enough cookie money in the bank to do it!
The troop applied for a date, as required by the birthplace, and chose a “high tea” program and house tour. Our reservation was for August 1, 1991. Now, all we had to do was to figure out the transportation costs, logistics, and the care and feeding of each member. Our troop loved camping and had been on short trips to Mackinac Island and Wisconsin and used Camp Greene Wood often, even in the winter, but this was much bigger! So, I called an airline. Tickets to fly would take all our cookie money plus more! We had to figure out another way.
My co-leader, Ginger, and I wondered if we could drive to Savannah, so we thought we’d check with the parents. We knew that we had parents who owned vans. We asked, and two dads volunteered, but they would need gas reimbursement to drive and would go for free. We calculated the miles, cost of gas, food, and activities.
At that time, the birthplace provided a booklet called Birthplace Bound.It had ads for accommodations, restaurants, local attractions, and some discount admission coupons for Girl Scouts. I called the hotels recommended for Girl Scouts and got a special Girl Scout rate reservation at Budget Inn.
The trip down to Savannah would take time, so we decided to leave early to do some activities on the way down and some on the way back; it turned into a 10-day trip. It was like a family vacation. We had snacks, drinks, games, camping equipment, luggage, and uniforms in each van.
The itinerary as told by a Girl Scout:
7/28 We visited the Kentucky Derby Museum and toured Churchill Downs. Afterward, we drove to Cave City, tent camped and cooked at Mammoth Cave National Park.
7/29 Mammoth Cave Tour and lunch in their cafeteria, then departed to Indian Springs State Park near Macon, GA, where we visited the Historic District. When we arrived at the campground at 7 p.m., we discovered we had lost our campsite for being late, so we just found a long stretch of grass, set up our tents in a single line, and shared a fire with the friendly campers next door. We made a snack and settled into our tents. After breakfast in the morning, we waded in the creek before we left.
7/30 We visited the Macon Historic District and a trinket store tourist trap, then drove to Savannah, GA, through a torrential rainstorm and arrived at a flooded Savannah. As troop leader, I was elected to wade through the water to check in to the Budget Inn, 3702 Ogeechee Rd., Savannah. It was an old, one-story motel with outside doors looking nothing like the ad in the Birthplace Bound booklet, but it was clean enough and turned out to be safe. The promised swimming pool was out of order and filled with rainwater, but we went swimming at one of the owner’s other properties. We ate at a real sit-down restaurant and ordered off the menu! Thank goodness!
7/31 Toured the Savannah Visitor Center, the Savannah Experience, and the Ships at Sea Museum. We walked along the ocean, visited the Andrew Low House and other mansions, learned about the city’s squares, had fun, ate popcorn, shopped for souvenirs, saw a movie about Juliette Low and her childhood, and more. We walked ’til we dropped and ate out, but not at the famous restaurant everyone else was eating at. It was way too long of a wait time for hungry girls!
8/1 Birthplace Day! – JULIETTE LOW DAY AT HER HOUSE! We had a lovely tour and took pictures. Saw all the rooms, including her bedroom and the old library. We went to the garden and learned all about JGL, her art, her wedding, the history behind the birthplace, and some things about the Civil War. We saw the real oil painting of Juliette Low in her pink party dress hanging in the living room. The docent answered all our questions. Then it was time for our activity program in the basement. We did a project to learn about the Girl Scout history of helping others and interacted with another troop that had signed up to try-on dresses that girls and women might have worn in JGL’s time. We invited the “dress girls” to our tea party.We had fun. Then we went to the gift shop for souvenirs. We all got a Birthplace Pin with a Daisy on it. Our precious spending allowance was also used, so everyone could bring home a keepsake.
One of our troop’s favorite fun songs was Boom Chica Boom.We came up with new lyrics that didn’t really fit the tune but went like this:
I said a Boom Chica Boom – a little bit Southern Style:
“So down to Savannah we went, I said a Boom Chica Boom,
Little did we know that the Budget Inn, I said a Boom Chica Boom!
Would be only a little better than a TENT,
I said a Boom Chica Rocka Chica Rocka Chica Boom!”
8/2 We started heading home but not stopping the fun. We made our way north to Stone Mountain. This was a place where a large bare rock was carved to show the Confederate Generals. Although we were mostly Northerners, it was interesting to see and part of our country’s history. We stayed in the beautiful campground behind the rock. It was a lovely place. At night, a laser light show reflected off the rock carving and special effects to make it look like the generals were actually riding their horses across. It was kind of like a fireworks show. Very cool. We had a good time, and I shared with the girls that my maternal grandfather, Josepha Bouska, who had been a stone cutter in Chicago, was one of the cutters hired to work on carving the rock.
I bought a book with a picture of all the stone carvers in a big group. I told the girls I could not figure out which one was my grandfather, but I wanted it anyway.
8/3 We went home a different way through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We stayed at the Tanglewood KOA Swannanoa, North Carolina, near Ashville, which had a swimming pool! It had a big hall in a red building with screens all around, but no windows. We visited the National Park Shop and signed up to learn horseback riding. We had hoped to do this activity while planning the trip, so we packed the helmets. We learned how to lead a horse, not be scared of the horse, and we went on a trail ride. Then we brushed the horses and helped put them in the stable. It was great! There were many water activities around the area as well. Although we could not do the tubing activity because no lifeguard was going down the stream with the group. We still interacted with the water at the edges of the stream and got very wet. This area was beautiful to drive through.
8/4 Driving home through Indiana, it got to be late, so we decided not to camp. We found a nice hotel and a restaurant for a late dinner and collapsed from all the vacation activity.
8/5 Arrived back home. We called our moms to let them know we were home. We cleaned out the vans and gave them a car wash to thank the drivers. We had a little goodbye ceremony on the front lawn. It was not only the end of the trip but the last thing for our beloved Troop 606, as we disbanded with hugs and tears all around.
Here, Karen shares her timeline for planning a Girl Scout trip:
18 months out
Brainstorm ideas for 3-4 locations that would be age appropriate for your group to travel to. A great place to start is GSUSA’s travel webpage!
Let your Girl Scouts’ parents know that you’re beginning to plan a travel adventure and ask them to “save the date!”
Depending on the ages of your Girl Scouts, ask them to research potential locations, how to get there, where to stay, what to do etc. This takes some time, but eventually the girls will want to have a vote!
12 months out
Leaders will need to make sure they have trainings up to date and their paperwork filled out. GCNWI is here to help with this, and our travel webpage has it all listed!
Keep your parents updated with travel plans including how your troop has decided to pay for their trip and any special items they might need for the adventure.
Financial Assistance and Travel Scholarships are available! Scholarship funds provide girls with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys.
Start looking at making your reservations for overnight accommodations and travel. Always ask if discounts are available for Girl Scout troops—you would be surprised by how many do!
6 months out
Double check that all of your paperwork has been approved via Girl Scouts. Put together a binder with a day-by-day outline of your trip and Girl Scout paperwork including release/medical forms for your girls. You will need to have this with you everywhere you go!
3 months out
Everyone should be very excited! You might want to think about making a troop t-shirt, bandana, headband, bucket hat, etc.—not only a fun souvenir but a great way to visually keep track of them in busy areas.
This is also when you want to confirm all your reservations you have made, including hotels, tours, and restaurant reservations.
As a volunteer traveling with Girl Scouts, you will have the greatest adventures of your lifetime. Check out GSUSA’s Travel Resources for even more great info!
When you travel with Girl Scouts, near or far, you’re doing more than making memories — you’re also exploring your passions and making global connections! Learn more about traveling with Girl Scouts GCNWI.
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
We’re so excited to launch our programs for winter because we have in-person and virtual opportunities for Girl Scouts to press play and get back in the swing of things. Get ready to start the New Year off with new programs!
Are you a STEAM enthusiast? Then join Team STEAM, where you can connect with other girls who love STEAM and women in STEM careers. Once you complete your first STEM badge as a troop, individual, or council, you can sign up to join the team! You will receive some Team STEAM swag and information about our meetings every other month to connect to other STEAM enthusiasts and hear from women who work in STEM careers.
All Girl Scouts are invited to celebrate our Virtual Cookie Badge Bash on January 8 by joining us for two very special workshops catered to earning NEW cookie badges!
The digital world is run by technology. If you want to change the real or digital world, technology can connect you to people, information, and causes in an instant. It provides tools to help you inform, organize, and mobilize others.
For more than 100 years, Girl Scout camp has brought girls outdoor adventures full of learning, challenges, a whole lot of friendship, and tons of fun. This happens through a community—each girl who comes to camp is welcomed into a group of girls who together can:
Discover their ability to better solve problems and overcome challenges.
Develop leadership skills, build social bonds, and become team players.
Increase their level of overall happiness and gratitude, and care for the environment.
As always, we have plenty of opportunities for v[AC1] olunteers, so be sure to browse those as well! These include resources for the cookie season, our Adult Enrichment series, CPR and First Aid, and more!
On August 7, 1965, twenty-three girls and four leaders from Des Plaines Troop 64 and Wheeling Troop 609 boarded a bus for a 10-day trip to Washington, D.C. According to a letter sent to parents outlining the details of the trip, the total cost per girl was $65.00, which would be $565 today, with a food budget set at $1.24 per day ($11 today).
Girls left in their “full Girl Scout Uniform—including hat, black or brown flats or heels, hose (no anklets) white g1oves, and the two-piece Senior Green uniform.” And then changed into their traveling clothes: “Girl Scout green Bermudas, white Girl Scout blouse, white knee-high hose, white tennis shoes and red flashes.”
In their one duffel and one carry-on tote, the girls needed to pack “towels, wash cloth, soap, toothbrush, tooth paste, head scarf, sewing kit, rain coat, plastic boots or something for [their] feet if it rains, flash light, jack knife, pencils, pen, drinking cup (have it handy on the bus), stationery, stamps, plastic bags for clothing and laundry, Scout uniform,” and much more.
While in the D.C. area, the girls and their leaders stayed at Rockwood National Girl Scout Program Center, located about 15 miles from the capitol in Bethesda, Maryland. The sixty-eight acre site was donated to the Girl Scouts in 1936 by Mrs. Carolyn G. Caughey, who had a vacation home there. The site included a mansion, tennis courts, a swimming pool and cottages—two of which had electricity, modern kitchens and bathrooms.
The camp opened in 1937 and was first operated by the local District of Columbia-Montgomery County Council, which started improvements and renovations to the site, but supply shortages during World War II halted the work until 1949 when the national organization assumed responsibility for the property.
By 1979, the area surrounding the camp was quickly becoming residential and the property was sold. Part of the former Rockwood property is now a facility of the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and continues to be used by Girl Scouts and the public.
Around the World and Around the Corner
These Girl Scouts visited the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama: where will you go? 🌎
When you travel with Girl Scouts, near or far, you’re doing more than making memories — you’re also exploring your passions and making global connections! Learn more about traveling with Girl Scouts GCNWI.
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
Written by Global Action Volunteer Team Member Maureen Ewing and Senior Manager of Travel Programs, Ashley Christensen
As you start to plan what your troop will be doing this Girl Scout year, have you considered planning a trip? The trip doesn’t have to be big or long or even very far away – just enough for girls to practice planning, making girl-led decisions, and working together as a team.
Want to take your girls on a local trip but not sure where to start? Try one of these local sights in the Chicagoland area!
Enjoy a night or weekend in downtown Chicago. Stay at HI Chicago, right downtown, and reserve a dorm room just for your girls. Explore our wonderful city from museums to outdoor parks to public art.
Take a hike at Starved Rock State Park. The park boasts beautiful trails, picturesque waterfalls, and a great view of the Illinois river. The fall is beautiful at Starved Rock! There is a lodge at Starved Rock and local campgrounds if you want to stay the night.
Visit a pumpkin patch and plan a pumpkin carving party! There are many pumpkin patches around Chicagoland where girls can choose their own pumpkins and enjoy outdoor activities.
Keep your girls excited about travel, reminding them what lies just outside their doorstep. From planning where to go, how to get there, and what their budget is, girls learn leadership skills as they become travelers.
The Global Action Volunteer Team produced a series of videos showing off their neighborhoods! Watch the series on our YouTube, then check out these neighborhoods with your troop or family.
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
Our Girl Scout volunteers are just like our Girl Scouts: fearless and determined! If you haven’t heard of the Global Action Volunteer Team (GAVT), it’s time to get to know them! This month’s Volunteer Spotlight goes to a special group of volunteers from Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) who are passionate about travel, cultural awareness, and sharing their knowledge with the Girl Scouts.
The Global Action Volunteer Team began in 2012 in conjunction with the GSUSA Global Girl Scouting initiative, and is lead by Maureen Ewing and council staff liaison Ashley Christensen. Current team members include Camille Gonzalez Jensen, Davia Wilkerson, Denise Urban, Fawna Black-Cicotte, JodiLyn Simmons-Machota, Karen Zeller, Kimberly DeWitt, Shari Schmidt, and Taylor Tengelsen, with new members Yaqoota Aziz and Geraldine Adams joining in 2021.
All the members LOVE to travel! The GAVT uses their experiences to engage and inspire girls to want to learn more about the world around them. They aspire to increase awareness of Global Girl Scouting amongst girls, parents, volunteers, and staff. The team wants to help other Girl Scout volunteers, especially leaders, understand the importance of and feel comfortable with travel and its progression throughout the Girl Scout program.
Global Action Volunteer Team members Shari and Fawna
Maureen said, “Travel fosters confidence, compassion, curiosity, leadership, and independence. [Through travel,] girls learn to be citizens of the world and commit to making the world peaceful and equitable for all.”
Shari also believes that traveling with Girl Scouts helps girls in many ways: “Travel is an education that cannot be replicated with a video game or in a book or in a classroom. The best part of travelling is that the lessons are embedded. You don’t have to have a formal plan, even wandering from one place to another creates lifelong learnings that create the foundations for new adventures.”
The GSGCNWI GAVT believes that those who expand their worldview through global programming and travel opportunities will become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world. The team hopes that every Girl Scout has the opportunity to become a responsible and effective global leader. They want Girl Scouts to understand the world in a more open-minded, empathetic way. By seeing, and hopefully understanding other cultures, Girl Scouts can grow into conscientious citizens of the world.
If you want to learn more about traveling as a Girl Scout or about the Global Action Volunteer Team and how to join, check out our council’s travel webpage. If you are interested in giving a gift to the Travel Scholarship, you can do so on our website!
All of us at Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana say a big thank you, to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Global Action Volunteer Team (GAVT). We appreciate you, your dedication, work, and wonderful contributions to Girl Scouts!
The GAVT has their own blog series so you can get to know them a little better (and hear some awesome travel stories and tips, too!).
The Global Action Volunteer Team produced a series of videos showing off their neighborhoods! Watch the series on our YouTube, then check out these neighborhoods with your troop or family.
We want to know about your favorite town or neighborhood with your very own video! You can even bring Flat Juliette with you on your tour. Once you’ve made a video, share them on our website!
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
Pax Lodge, located in London, England, is one of the WAGGGS locations you can learn about even from the comfort of your computer, or by exploring British Culture here in the Chicagoland area. Read on to learn how you can get going on your own tour!
Learn about the British love of tea by learning about different types of tea, perhaps even doing a tea tasting at home! After the pandemic is over, make a plan to enjoy high tea in Chicago at the Palm Court at the Drake Hotel or the Pavilion at The Langham.
London Guarantee Building at 360 N Michigan Avenue was first built for a British insurance company; today it is the home of the London House Hotel.
The Great British Baking Show on Netflix has captured the baking dreams of people all over the world. Watch a few episodes and try your hand at some of the recipes!
Want to try out English food? Check out Pleasant House Pub for a traditional English pie.
Start a book club and read the Harry Potter (or another British) series together! After you finish reading, watch the films and discuss what was different than the books! With regards to Harry Potter, learn more at Wizarding World online, take quizzes, and learn more about the characters. Want to learn about Harry Potter even in Chicagoland? Go to Hero Coffee, Pickwick Lane (so very Diagon Alley-esque). Head to your local magic shop (might we suggest Magic, Inc.?).
Castles abound in England. Explore the English Heritage sites virtually and the Royal Residences. After the pandemic, plan to take a short road trip to Givins Castle in Beverly, Chicago, Clayshire Castle in Indiana, or Ravenstone Castle in Harvard, Illinois.
In the summer, London swells with people shopping at markets. Most famous is the Portobello Road market, very similar to the Maxwell Street Market in Chicago.
While Brits may play some of the same sports as we Americans do, why not try one of their oft-played sports like badminton or cricket? Watch Bend It Like Beckham, a movie about girl soccer (called football in England!) players.
How do you get around the big city of London? Find out more about the London Underground and the famous Tube Map. How does it compare to Chicago’s CTA, Metra, and Pace transit systems?
Travel expands your horizons; travel as a Girl Scout and you can take that experience and add leadership skills and a sisterhood to back you up. Whether you’re interested in going abroad to Paris or exploring the states, you can go with Girl Scouts. Learn more on our website!
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
From your own backyard to the great outdoors to international cities, traveling as a Girl Scout unlocks a world full of possibilities. When Girl Scouts travel, they embark on the journey of a lifetime with their Girl Scout sisters, taking home precious memories, breathtaking photos, and the confidence it takes to start their own globetrotting adventures.
Have you ever read any books set in India or watched any films or tv shows? Call your local library or search online for some. Here are some suggestions:
Film: Bride and Prejudice, Period: End of Sentence, Lion, Gandhi, and many other Bollywood films!
Book: Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier, Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman, Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh
Learn all about the Sari and create one out of items in your house!
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
Traveling with Girl Scouts prepares girls to take on the world around them, whether it’s a mountain to scale or a new metropolis to explore. When Girl Scouts travel, they learn practical skills for the wildest of adventures, skills they carry for their rest of their lives abroad or otherwise. Exploring your own neighborhood; going on overnight camping trips; flying to one of the four World Centres; when you travel with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, you’re expanding your horizons.
If you’re considering the beautiful snowy alps of Switzerland someday, on a council or troop trip to Our Chalet, or you just want to have a cultural experience without going too far from home, here are a few ideas to get you dreaming about Switzerland travel.
Our Chalet is located in Adelboden, Switzerland, a Swiss Alpine village in the Bernese Oberland region. It’s known for the ski resort of Adelboden-Lenk, host of the FIS Ski World Cup. The central village church dates from the 15th century. Outside of town, at Engstligen Falls, several Alpine streams join together to become the Engstligen River. Farther north, the river forms the deep, narrow Choleren Gorge, which is accessible via bridges and walkways. To explore more about Our Chalet in Switzerland, check out the WAGGGS website.
Load up your bikes or plan a walking day to explore Swiss architecture, food, and more in New Glarus, Wisconsin (about two hours from Chicago). Read more about this Swiss-influenced city!
A short trip to Rockford, Illinois (just an hour and a half away from Chicago), you will find the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens. Take the guided tour to learn more about the family and their love of Swiss architecture!
Are you a “foodie?” Try the most iconic dish in Switzerland: Raclette! It is different from fondue, and the Swiss with be impressed you know the difference!
Join WAGGGS and some incredible speakers, including The Honorable Maryam Monsef, Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, as they come together to discuss appearance-based discrimination, low body confidence and self-esteem.
Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.
