While the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Centres are closed, you can still take a trip there from your own backyard! Try your hand at a new recipe, drive by a nearby place of worship, or learn a new dance move all while learning about where the World Centres are located in this blog series.

Our Cabaña is located in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Get to know Mexican culture by doing some of these.

1. Order in from a traditional Mexican restaurant in your neighborhood. Try a dish you’ve never had before – whether that’s tacos, horchata, or beef tongue stew!
2. Hop in your car or on the train to Pilsen, a neighborhood in Chicago well known for its Mexican heritage. GSGCNWI even has a Neighborhood Walk you can take and a patch you can purchase for visiting Pilsen.
3. Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 1 and 2. It’s a time to honor deceased loved ones through altars and offerings. Learn more about this holiday with our Day of the Dead patch program (purchase your patch here). Hint: You don’t have to wait until November to celebrate!
4. Time to learn a little Spanish, Mexico’s national language. Here are a few phrases you should know:
   • Hola = Hola
   • Adios = Goodbye
   • Uno Dos Tres = One Two Three
   • Gracias = Thank you
   • ¿Cómo estás? = How are you?
5. Churros are a famous – and very delicious – Mexican dessert. Find a recipe online and make them at home.
6. Do you love to dance? Vamos a bailar (that’s “Let’s dance” in Spanish)! There are several traditional Mexican dances; read about and watch videos of the various dances. Get those dancing shoes on, amigos!
7. If you’d rather make the music than dance to it, make a maraca. All you need is a plastic spoon, plastic Easter egg, some dry rice or beans, and either masking or painters’ tape. Add some rice or beans to the Easter egg, place it on the spoon, and tape the two together. You can decorate the outside to look like a beautifully colored instrument. Turn on some mariachi music and shake away!
8. Check out Our Cabaña on their website, Facebook, or Instagram. A girl can dream about where she wants to travel, can’t she?

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There is only one more day to register for #GIRLFest! Don’t miss out on the fun with your Girl Scout sisters!

Learn all about the event and how you can join in on the fun!

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• Becoming a Girl Scout Brownie 
• How Girl Scouts Are Leading the Charge for Environmental Change 
• Girl Scouts Celebrated Girl Scout Birthday at Sneaker Ball
• 2022 Annual Report Available Now
• Remembering Girl Scout Volunteer, Pat Walenga

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.

There’s no reason you can’t dream big and start planning amazing trips right now! Take a look at our council-sponspored travel opportunities coming to you in the future, and get to thinking about where you want to go next.

Dreaming of 2021 travels?

Adventure in Colorado

Summer is a great time for exploring the great outdoors! Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado, offers many fun activities including canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, archery, ropes courses, zip-lining, wall climbing, and much more. Group activities include a day at Rocky Mountain National Park, whitewater rafting, and team-bonding experiences!

Approximate Cost: $1,100 plus cost of activities chosen, and $400 trip deposit due December 3, 2020

When: July 1-8, 2021

Who: Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors (Grades 6-12); troops and individually registered members are invited to register. Leaders and parents are invited to attend and serve as group chaperones.

Register for the Colorado Adventure!

Camping in the UK 2021

Apply for the chance to camp with 6,000 of your closest Scouting and Guiding friends on the lawn of Windsor Castle at the WINGS 2021 Jamboree. The group will spend 3 days in Liverpool before the Jamboree, and stay the night at Pax Lodge, the WAGGGS World Centre in London, afterwards. There are 8 girl spots to fill. 

Cost: $2,500 per person

When: 2-week trip in July 2021, exact dates TBA

Who: Seniors and Ambassadors (must be in grades 9-12 during the 2021-2022 school year)

Girl applications are due October 29, 2020!

Is travel in 2022 calling your name?

Intro to Travel: Montreal

Calling all Cadettes! Girl Scouts of GCNWI will be inviting 12 girls and 2 adults to join us on a Canadian adventure! Next up in our Intro to Travel series for Cadettes, we’re headed to Montreal, Canada, the home of poutine, *many* churches, and steamed bagels. On this introduction to travel, you’ll learn the ins and outs of how to plan a travel adventure, including budgeting, itinerary planning, and how to find accommodation. 

Cost: Approximately $1,200 per girl

When: 5-day trip in June 2022, exact dates TBA

Who: Cadettes only (must be in grades 6-8 during the 2021-2022 school year)

Girl applications due October 29, 2020.

Hiking the Swiss Alps

Take the Swiss Hiking Challenge with your fellow Girl Scouts! This once-in-a-lifetime experience will be full of adventure, challenge, nature, new friends, and LOTS of fun! The trip will include a visit to Our Chalet, a WAGGGS World Centre, where you’ll hike some of the most popular trails in the area, rock climb, learn about the Swiss culture, and make new friends from around the world. GSGCNWI is looking for six girls to serve on a Girl Planning Committee to help plan a Switzerland adventure before our time at Our Chalet.

Approximate Cost: $3,500

When: approximately 2 weeks, Summer 2022, exact dates TBA

Who: Seniors and Ambassadors (must be in grades 9-12 during the 2021-2022 school year)

Applications to join the trip and the trip planning committee are due October 29, 2020!

Adventure is Out There

Check out our Travel webpage for more info about travel opportunities and at-home exploration!

Have questions? Reach out to Ashley Christensen at achristensen@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

Each year, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) hosts a Choose Your Own Adventure trip where Girl Scout Cadettes and Seniors get to choose where the group travels! This year, the girls chose Southeast Wisconsin, including Kenosha and Milwaukee.

Read on to learn about their adventures and how you can Choose Your Own Adventure!

Day 1: Bowlin’ and Ballin’

Written by Girl Scouts Megan and Lucy

We had a great first day on the Girl Scouts Choose Your Own Adventure Trip! Last night and this morning we planned out what we would be doing for the next couple of days.

We started in Rosemont today. In the afternoon, we had a great time at King’s Bowling. After that, we went to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago and enjoyed shopping, dinner, and dessert.

We are settling down in Kenosha tonight and are so excited for what the next couple of days will bring!

Day 2: Go Ahead and Jump!

Written by Girl Scouts Kelsey, Isabella, and Peyton

On our second day in Wisconsin, we did a lot of things. First, we had breakfast at the hotel and headed to an escape room. The escape room was really fun and challenging. Sadly, we didn’t escape, but we had a good time!

Then, we headed to lunch at the Public Market. It was very delicious. We then headed to the Mitchell Domes and saw a lot of beautiful nature. We also got some delicious treats and candy at the mall!

After that, we went to the Helium Trampoline and Adventure Park. We had so much fun jumping around and going in the obstacle course. Even Ashley joined in on the fun!

We later had dinner at MOD Pizza. It was wonderful. Then we went to Target and bought crazy stuff. We went back to the hotel, and now we’re writing this report.

Day 3: Jelly Belly Joy!

Written by Girl Scout Kesley E.

Today we went to the famous factory of the Kringle called Racine Danish Kringle. Then, we went to a vintage shop. We enjoyed shopping and eating at the Mars Cheese Castle. We then went to the Jelly Belly factory and bought a lot of jelly beans!

Where to next?

Interested in joining GSGCNWI on another adventure? Check out our travel webpage!

Want to plan your own version of Choose Your Own Adventure? Check out our CYOA Travel Resource or contact Ashley Christensen at achristensen@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

The new year is quickly approaching, and it’s time to make the best of 2020. Get ready to get out there, because Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana has some exciting trips coming your way so you can start the new year with a bang!

Read on to take a look at where we’re headed–– and how you can come along with us.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Midwest!

A girl-led adventure awaits eight Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts this Jan. 17 through 20! Start out the new year with a chance to travel to either Milwaukee, WI; Louisville, KY; Cincinnati, OH; or Starved Rock, IL. Whatever your group chooses to do, this is your own girl-led adventure where you will practice budgeting, planning and personalizing your 3-day trip!

The group will meet at Camp Greene Wood Friday night. On Saturday morning, after planning the trip, you will hit the road for the adventure of the decade! This trip is girls only. There will be two Girl Scout chaperones attending.

Registration closes December 12, and there are only three more spots available, so register here as soon as possible!

Capital Tour: Nashville!

Get excited for this NEW PROGRAM: 50 state capitals, 50 new Girl Scout trips! Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts are invited to travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for a cross-country adventure from Feb. 15 to 17! Once we get to Music City, we’ll tour the Capitol Building, take part in a service project, and visit the sites. You’ll practice your budgeting and trip-planning skills while we’re at it.

Group will leave from the Friendship Center in Country Club Hills, Illinois. Sorry, parents, this is a girls-only trip! There will be two Girl Scout chaperones heading the adventure.

Register here by December 12–– there are only four more spots available!

Junior Jetaway to Milwaukee

Junior Girl Scouts are invited to a brand-new girls-only getaway to Milwaukee, Wisconsin from Feb 16 to 17! Girls will depart from the Vernon Hills Gathering Place and head to the Dairy State. You will get a chance to check out a museum of your choice, eat cheese curds, walk through the historic Third Ward, and more.

Accommodation, sightseeing, and all meals included in the cost. There will be two Girl Scout chaperones attending.

Registration for this trip also closes on December 12! Register here to snag a spot.

Brownies Day Out in Chicago

Meet Brownie Girl Scouts at Hostelling International-Chicago to participate in the Brownies Day Out in Chicago on May 16! With 77 distinct neighborhoods, Chicago is a giant city with so much to explore. Will you choose to visit the Bean, walk around the Art Institute, or take a city tour? Maybe you’ll visit cultural neighborhoods like Chinatown or Pilsen?

Whatever your group chooses to do, the girls will take off on their own girl-led Windy City adventure! Each troop must have at least one chaperone, or if girls are attending without their troop, each Girl Scout must attend with a parent or guardian. Fun patch and public transportation card included!

Register here by May 10 to secure your spot on this awesome exploration of the city!

You-And-Me on Mackinac Island!

Grab your mom, aunt, or grandma and board the GSGCNWI coach bus for a weekend getaway on Mackinac Island from Aug. 9-11. Girl Scouts from Brownies to Cadettes will have the chance to take horse-drawn carriage tours, photograph beautiful butterflies, and more!

This 3-day, 2-night trip includes multiple meals, hotel stay, various group activities, and coach bus ticket! Bus leaves from the Friendship Center in Country Club Hills, IL.

Right now, registration requires a $200 deposit. Registration closes Feb. 28, or until trip is sold out! Register here.

G.I.R.L. 2020

Prepare yourself for a mega-event full of fun, friendship, and amazing experiences! On behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA, we cordially invite you to G.I.R.L. 2020, from October 21-25, 2020, in Orlando Florida, for the largest girl-led event for girls and women in history.

This year’s GSUSA National Convention will provide attendees with unforgettable experiences as they gain inspiration, tools to empower themselves, and the know-how to lead change in their communities, connecting with some of the most influential women in the world along the way.

Registration to attend opens in January 2020. To learn more, visit GSUSA’s website, and check back often–– updates are on the way!

Which Way to Adventure?

Clearly, there’s a lot to be excited about for next year, and not just for our awesome travel opportunities! 2020 is a big year for Girl Scouts–– from brand-new programming and events, to GCNWI’s Green for Good Expo, to Journeys, Highest Awards, and so much more, GCNWI has got you covered.

Check out our program’s page to see all of the amazing things we have planned for Girl Scouts of all ages.

TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD WITH GIRL SCOUTS DESTINATIONS!

Do you love planning exciting trips, but dread the process of packing your bags? One of our awesome Global Action Volunteer Team members, Karen Zeller, has graciously shared with us her tips and tricks to help you through it! With her years of experience, you are sure to learn some useful information to make that process not-so frustrating.

Packin’ On Up

Written by Troop 50368 and Karen Zeller, Global Action Volunteer Team member and Troop Leader

A trip to Our Chalet (the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts world center in Switzerland): the experience of a lifetime. Add to that a few extra days, and our troop had a true European adventure. The girls couldn’t wait. They had been preparing for this for years. The fundraising was done, the arrangements booked, the forms filled out, the money exchanged. All we had left to do? Pack.

Packing, depending on who you’re talking to, can be the least favorite part of any trip. But somehow, over the years, our girls had come to take pride in their packing. They know what was needed to succeed, and how to make that success happen.

Here are some of our troop’s tried and true tips for making packing as pleasant as possible!

Getting Started

It all starts with putting together the perfect list to match what you need with what you’re allowed to carry. To fly internationally, we were allowed a bag that totaled no more than 62 inches in total dimensions and weighed no more than 50 pounds. We were also allowed one carry-on, plus one personal item.

To make sure you bring the essentials and make the most of your space at the same time, it helps to:

• Make a packing list together as a troop to have everyone on board from the start.
• Discuss basic clothing needs, appropriate dress for the location and activities planned, and a maximum amount of each item needed.
• Figure out how to get access to a washer and dryer–– you don’t want to spend all your time washing clothes, but for long trips this is a must.
• Remember you can comfortably re-wear and layer clothes throughout the trips!
• Keep in mind the kinds of activities planned and how this will affect your packing list. For example, we were doing everything on this trip from hiking in the alps to visiting sacred sites in Rome, so girls had to decide between weighing their bags down with boots or wearing them while traveling.

Toiletries: To Share or not to Share?

This is obviously important to discuss! In previous trips, we had opted to buy toiletries when we got to where we were going and share as a group. We didn’t think this would work as well in Europe, so if you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what we did:

• Each girl either brought their own toiletries or worked in a group to share.
• We brought a couple of hairdryers to share between us.
• We tried our best to limit extras, like makeup, etc.
• The leaders carried first aid kits and any extras the girls might need (lots of Band-Aids).
• Make sure to clear out any hotel rooms of their soap before you leave–– you might as well!

Compressing and Compacting

Once our list was made, it was up to the girls to make the magic happen. They used several great techniques for consolidating suitcase space:

• A favorite for several of the girls was packing cubes, which flatten out clothes for extra room.
• We taught the girls how to roll clothes instead of folding them, another great tip for saving space.
• We also talked about bringing extra Ziploc® bags for dirty and wet clothes, so they don’t get mixed in with the clean ones!
• The girls bought expandable suitcases so if they left them un-expanded on the way over, they would have room for souvenirs on the way home.

Carryons and Cautionary Tales

For the long plane ride there and back, the girls made sure they had everything they needed in as little a bag as possible. In their carry-ons, they had:

• An extra set of clothes
• Any needed meds and small travel size toiletries
• Compression socks or fuzzy socks for comfort
• eBooks and downloaded movies on their devices

The girls also made a playlist for the trip, and all brought some sort of headphones and a small speaker for their hotel rooms!

Of course, you always have to leave room for souvenirs. Like I mentioned above, expandable suitcases made it possible for the girls to pick up some awesome items from our travels. This worked like a charm for everyone–– except for me. After leaving behind a couple things I didn’t need to bring back home and buying an extra-large “personal item” for the way home, I was still worried my suitcase was too full. Turns out: it was exactly 50 pounds! The girls, of course, were all well under the required maximum.

We may have done a good job teaching our girls how to pack over the years, but somehow, I am still learning.

What are you waiting for?

We would like to thank Karen so much for her contribution and wonderful advice (which we’ll all keep in mind next time we get ready for a trip)!

Now you have all these tips–– what are you gonna do with them? There are so many opportunities for traveling around the United States and abroad with the Girl Scouts, and it’s up to you to decide where you’re headed. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you are sure to embark on an unforgettable journey.

Are you interested in helping provide incredible travel experiences to Girl Scouts? Find out what it takes to join the Global Action Volunteer Team and what their mission is all about!

For more inspiring travel advice, check out our other guest blog posts by Global Action Volunteer Members:
Who We Are Part 1 | Who We Are Part 2 | Why You Should Try Backpacking | Daydreaming About Travel | A WAGGGS Adventure in Mexico | Guide to Safety While Traveling | Research travel as a Gen Z | Girl Scouts Will Travel

Visit our travel page for more information on where we’re headed this year and the next.

Want to take YOUR OWN ADVENTURE? Check out Girl Scouts Destinations!!!

Get ready to get out there: all of our Girl Scout programs are live for this Girl Scout year, including all of our new travel opportunities! Below is a short and sweet description of each, along with the registration link. If you have any questions on these trips, contact Ashley Christensen at achristensen@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

Download this flyer to share with your friends!

Choose Your Own Adventure: Chicago Style!

A new twist on an old GCNWI classic! This time we’re taking it to the Windy City. We’ll stay the night at the hostel downtown, and girls will plan the whole weekend!
November 09-10, 2019 (SIGN UP SOON! Registration closes Oct. 27!)

Choose Your Own Adventure: Midwest!

It’s baaaacckkk! A favorite of many GCNWI travel groupies, this trip is a 4-day adventure to somewhere in the Midwest. Where you ask? That’s for the girls to decide. Hurry! Only 3 spots left (told ya it was a favorite!)
January 17-20, 2020

Capital Tour: Nashville!

This is a brand-new type of trip we’re particularly excited about. In its inaugural year, GCNWI is planning a trip to Nashville, the capital of Tennessee. Each year following, we’ll pick a new state capital for a new exciting adventure!
February 15-17, 2020

Junior Jetaway: Milwaukee

Another BRAND-NEW trip–– this time for Juniors! We’ll head to Milwaukee for a 2-day journey. Did someone say cheese curds?!
February 16-17, 2020

Brownies Day out in Chicago

Yup, you guessed it… another new program idea! As we work our way down the travel progression to younger Girl Scouts, we’ll give Brownies the day to plan a trip to the Windy City. What shall we see and do? That’s for the Brownies to figure out!
May 16, 2020

You-and-Me on Mackinac Island

One of the all-time favorites of hundreds of Girl Scouts! We’re headed on a coach bus with our moms, grandmas, and aunts to the island of no cars, lots of bicycles, and lots of fudge. If you haven’t been on this trip before (or even if you have), it’s time to join us!
August 9-11, 2020

Are We There Yet?

Traveling is more than just a fun adventure–– it’s a learning experience. Join us and explore what the Midwest (and beyond) has to offer!

Financial assistance is available for most council-sponsored trips. Applications will be sent to travelers who register for a trip.

Visit our travel page for more information!

Contributed by Global Action Volunteer Team Member (GAVT) Maureen Ewing

Maureen Ewing is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts with 12 years as a girl member and over 25 years as an adult volunteer. Maureen studied abroad for a full academic year at Nottingham University in the UK and did graduate studies at Rhodes University in South Africa, where she earned her Master’s Degree. She currently serves on the Global Action Volunteer Team and co-led a Destination to India (check out the blog series here!) and the WAGGGS World Centre Sangam this summer. Maureen believes that her travel experience as a Girl Scout helped form her into the independent and curious traveler she is today (30 countries and counting)!

As a Global Action Volunteer member, she hopes to grow the conversations and travel opportunities available to girls in this council. She’s been kind enough to share some tips and tricks on how to make your travel dreams happen without breaking the bank. Read on for her exclusive advice on budgeting and saving for your next adventure!

Written by Maureen Ewing

Over the past two decades, I’ve talked to many girls and women about traveling. One of the first questions I receive is always, “How do you afford it?” My response is always: I save for it.

Daydreaming about travel is fun, but making it happen can feel daunting. Life happens and sometimes it feels difficult to carve out the time and money to travel. Yet, you want to see the world. Planning a trip well, working and saving for it, means that when you take the trip, you’ll appreciate every day and every dollar.

Step 1: Choose the Trip

You’ve been daydreaming about traveling to a specific place for a long time, and it’s time to make the dream a reality. Answer a few key questions:

• When do you want to go?
• How long do you want to go?
• How much can you afford?

Once you have a goal, you can begin to make it a reality. How much time can you take off work or school? Do you need to schedule it around holiday schedules or other people’s schedules?

The more in advance you plan, the more you can take advantage of travel deals and discounts.

Step 2: Do Your Research

Go to the library and check out all the travel guides you can find about where you’re going (yes, books are still relevant and very useful). Choose books that give suggestions appropriate for your budget. Go online and read all articles and blogs from other travelers about the location where you want to travel. Follow travel sites and hashtags on social media to see what other travelers are doing!

Make a list of all the things you want to do. Dream big! You won’t do everything, but you’ll understand the possibilities. Doing pre-trip research builds excitement for the trip, and your trip will be even better for it!

Poll your friends and family for their tips on travel. What did they enjoy on their trips? What would they do differently?

Pro Girl Scout tip: Check out our blog on researching your travels as a Gen Z!

Step 3: Make a Budget

Use books and online resources to find out how much plane tickets cost, the range of accommodation prices, the sights you want to see.

Make a preliminary budget that takes into account the big expenses you’ve researched: flights (and baggage costs), travel insurance, accommodation, food, local transit, sightseeing, souvenirs, etc.

Prepare for the unexpected costs in your budget:

• Do you need to make any pre-trip purchases like new clothes, a new backpack, a portable charger for your phone, a new camera, etc. ?
• If you are going out of the country, will you need to use your phone, and if so, what does your company charge?
• What immunizations do you need?
• Do you have a passport or does it need to be renewed (your passport must be valid for 6 months after you return from your trip)?
• Do you need a travel Visa to visit this country (a special application process to visit the country)?
• How much baggage allowance do you get on your flight?

Add a little padding to the budget in case there’s something you don’t want to miss, or something unexpected happens, like you miss your train.

With a preliminary budget, you can set realistic expectations for how much money you need to save and how quickly (or slowly) you can manage it. You’ll also be ready to jump on a cheap plane ticket and other not-to-miss-early-bird opportunities.

Step 4: Plan a Savings Schedule

When you know your budget, plan out how much money you need to have saved before the trip. There will be some pre-trip expenses you will need to buy in advance like flights or accommodations or tickets to that can’t-miss-show. You might buy your flights eight to twelve months before you leave to take advantage of a great deal, and you should prepare for that in your savings schedule.

How much ready cash do you want to have with you and available when you travel? Some trips may give you easy access to use your credit or debit cards, but some trips may take you places where you’ll need to have cash on hand.

You might open a special savings account or a special checking account at a different bank, that you will use only for travel. You can squirrel away your money in this account so it is out-of-sight of your day to day expenses.

If it’s for a Girl Scout trip, you can look up money-earning options. Check out this blog post for money-earning ideas and these FAQs!

Here are a couple examples of savings schedules:

• If you know your trip will cost $2,500 and you have 12 months to save up for it, that would be about $208/month. You can then begin to plan how to save that money each month. Can you cut back on your regular expenses to cover that amount, or do you need to be creative in your fundraising?
• Let’s say you want to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland in August because you want to visit the various festivals, take tours into the countryside, and attend a Highland Games. This timing will affect your budget because it’s high season and in a city. If you plan early, you can get cheaper flights and better deals on accommodation. You might decide to stay in a hostel or Airbnb to save money for the experiences. Taxis and Ubers can add up, so research the local transit options (trains, buses, trams) and figure out how to get around the city.
• Let’s say you want to travel to Paris, France, and you want to go during spring break! You’ve got a tighter $1,500 budget and only one week to travel. European cities can often be cheap to fly to in the off-season, such as spring, and you’ve been following sites that track flight prices for you. You’ve been saving for six months, so you’re able to buy that amazing deal as soon as it pops up. You have much more money in your budget now to do more, maybe even splurge a little on a hotel or a Bed and Breakfast.

Dream it. Plan it. Travel!

Traveling is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. There is always a new place to go, new people to meet, beautiful experiences to be had. There is always a reason not to go but don’t let money stand in your way. Start saving now so when you’re ready to go, you’re ready!

On the Global Action Volunteer Team, we believe travel opens up our minds and hearts and gives us fresh perspectives. If you can dream it, you can plan it, and you can afford to travel.

Which way to adventure?

Saving up for a big trip can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. With hard work (and maybe the help of a travel scholarship) your day-dreams can become reality. Special thanks to Maureen for her super-helpful advice!

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is a council committed to providing incredible opportunities for girls to experience the world. Whether you’re going on a weekend trip to Milwaukee, or a two-week adventure in England, the Girl Scouts have your back.

Are you interested in providing unforgettable travel experiences to Girl Scouts? Find out what it takes to join the Global Action Volunteer Team!

For more advice from our Global Action Volunteer Team Members, check out their other guest blog posts:
Who We Are Part 1| Who We Are Part 2|Why You Should Try Backpacking|Daydreaming About Travel|A WAGGGS Adventure in Mexico|Guide to Safety While Traveling Research travel as a Gen Z|Girl Scouts Will Travel (Maureen’s other featured guest post!)

Visit our travel page for more information on where we’re headed this year and the next.

Savannah, Georgia: the Hostess City of the South. The birthplace of the Girl Scouts of the United States, and of the Founder, Juliette Gordon Low. Savannah is an oasis on the coast. It is a special place for Girl Scouts–– not only is it naturally beautiful, but it is a city flooded with history.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) took some amazing advice from leaders in the council who recently traveled with their troops to Savannah! We featured the first half of their recommendations, and now, we are sharing more of their tips and tricks!

Check out part one of this blog series to learn about accommodations, the JGL Birthplace, Girl Scout perks, sightseeing, and travel to, from, and around Savannah.

What You Need to Know

1. Restaurants
2. Savannah Favorites
3. Money-earning advice
4. Additional tips

Restaurants

There are many restaurants in Savannah, and the leaders have shared with us their tried-and-true favorites!

• Paula Deen’s Lady and Son’s, ya’ll
• The Wright Café and Chocolatier
• The Pirate’s House, open since 1753
• 17Hundred90 Restaurant, purportedly haunted by a few ghosts
• The River House for seafood and sea-view
• Leopold’s Ice Cream, known for their unchanged 1919 recipe
• Tondee’s, rumored to have been the site of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence
• Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, classic Southern comfort food in a communal setting
• Mellow Mushroom for your pizza fix
• Corleone’s Trattoria, casual Italian dining

Savannah Favorites

Here are the activities that left the best impression on the leaders and Girl Scouts during their visits to Savannah:

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace

The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the home where JGL was born and raised, is an obvious Girl Scout favorite! This home offers guided tours, pinning ceremonies, and has a Girl Scout shop. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section on the Birthplace website for more information.

Tybee Island

Tybee Island has plenty of awesome things to do! The leaders’ favorites included are hitting the beach and taking a dolphin tour (there are two to choose from: Captain Mike’s and Captain Derek’s).

Kayaking Trips

There are plenty of opportunities to kayak in Savannah around the coast and in the waters of Skidaway Island State Park. Check out Savannah Canoe and Kayak tours or Moon River Kayak!

Ghost Tours of Savannah

Thrill-seeking Girl Scouts will definitely enjoy a ghost tour of this haunted city, and because it is one of Savannah’s most popular activities, there are plenty of ways to do this! You can also embark on a dark and spooky evening on a haunted nighttime narrated carriage tour!

Old Fort Jackson

History buffs will appreciate the Civil War era activities and daily cannon firings at the National Historic Landmark Old Fort Jackson.

Historic Trolley Ride

Like ghost tours, historic trolley tours are a definite favorite of Savannah visitors, so there are many ways to hitch a ride around town.

Money Earning Advice

Leaders suggest:

• Putting your Cookie and Fall Product revenues toward the trip
• Referring to our Funding your Girl Scout Travels blog series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)
• Planning this trip well in advance and calculating everything!
• Not forgetting about possible Girl Scout discounts for Girl Scout activities!

Additional Tips 

• Use PBnJ Tours or a local travel agent to help plan your trip.
• Make the trip as girl-led as possible; give the girls options and help them curate their own experience.
• Make sure to fill out your trip & travel forms well in advance.
• Wear matching shirts every day to keep track of your girls.
• Make reservations early, especially if you’re traveling in the summer.
• It is a hot place, so make sure to drink plenty of water!
• Plan ahead for lots of activities, but be ready to take breaks when the girls need it.
• Do your research!
• Get patches to commemorate the experience (some can be found at the JGL Birthplace store).
• If your accommodation doesn’t provide breakfast, try buying it yourselves at a local grocery store to save some money.

Southern Comfort from GCNWI

Please note that we aren’t endorsing these places, but passing along advice from others. All places should be further researched to see if they fit your needs and wants!

We would like to thank these leaders for their wonderful advice! Check out the first part of this blog series to learn about where to stay, what to do, and why!

Check out our travel page for more opportunities!