Named after Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, being a Juliette is a great option for girls who:
want to work on Girl Scout activities on their own time
don’t have troops in their grade level at their school or community
whose troop has disbanded or doesn’t work with their schedules
Juliettes aren’t alone; instead of a troop leader, Girl Scout Juliettes have mentors, parents or trusted adults who volunteer to guide these Girl Scouts through girl-led experiences. And we have plenty of resources for Juliettes and their mentors, including:
The Juliette Guidebook – it includes everything available to Juliettes, who to contact information, a suggested layout of how to plan your Girl Scout year for each Girl Scout level
To be inspired is great, but to be an inspiration is an honor. – Juliette Gordon Low
To all the mentors, leaders, changemakers, and explorers who volunteer with us: thank you. Thanks to your leadership and know-how, our Girl Scouts at Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana have learned to listen to their hearts, think on their feet, and speak up for what they believe in. We know being a Girl Scout volunteer isn’t easy, especially recently, so we can’t thank you enough for your commitment, energy, and support. Guiding Girl Scouts—and yourself—through the past few years is nothing short of amazing.
Last month, we were able to gather in celebration of our volunteers for two Adult Recognition Ceremonies at the Joliet and Vernon Hills Gathering Places, formally recognizing just some of the amazing work GCNWI volunteers do. Adult Recognitions are defined by GSUSA and GCNWI, and awarded based on nominations and letters of endorsements reviewed by a dedicated team of volunteers—the Adult Recognition Committee.
From thanking our National Council Delegates, who influence the strategic direction of the Girl Scout Movement at the national level, to announcing the recipients of our formal recognition awards, these gatherings were wonderful opportunities to say hello and thank you to volunteers who have made an incredible impact in our community.
Honor Pin recipients Scott Bennett, Zahra Lalani and Heather Socie.
Every volunteer honored by an award has a storied connection to our council, whether through their enthusiastic leadership of a Service Unit, their preservation and recounting of our council’s history, their innovative and dynamic approach to Fall Product and Cookie sales, or over their 50+ year service. They include the Honor Pin recipients, Scott Bennett, Cathy Briggs, Robert Gale, Zahra Lalani, Scott Saunders, and Heather Socie. Zahra, as President of the Associate Board, initiated the Board/Associate Board mentorship program, which continues as a great success.
Hall of Fame awardees Gwen Ferguson, Levita Anderson and Lis Christensson
The Hall of Fame inductees this year, Levita Anderson, Lis Christensson, Gwen Ferguson, Heather Linehan, and Tresa Radermacher, have had a long and lasting impact on Girl Scouting in our council and have gone above and beyond their expectations of their positions as volunteers. As Service Unit Manager in the 2020-2021 year of challenges, Levita has used every form of communication to help her leaders: virtual meetings, additional telephone calls, emails galore, and even quick stops at leaders’ homes to deliver materials. She has passed on messages to find out who still had cookies when our cookie sales changed direction, connecting buyers with cookies.
Michelle Ptack, Thanks Badge honoree, shared: “I was honored to receive the Thanks Badge from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana. Even more celebratory was being in a cohort with 4 other volunteers with whom I served on our council’s 2017 National Delegation, Beverly Suen Macrito, Denise Urban, Catherine (Cathy) Ziemkiewicz Neely, and Kathy Scherer. Many thanks to a volunteer even more deserving of recognition than all of us combined…the woman who nominated me, Karen Schillings. Congratulations all around, Girl Scouts!”
Thanks Badge honoree Denise Urban worked tirelessly to help the delegation draft proposals and actively assisted delegation during the National Council Session, culminating in her representation of our council by presenting our proposal to the entire 2020 NCS live. With her help fielding questions as part of the resource room and advocating for the good of all Girl Scouts, two proposals, authored and presented by GSGCNWI were passed, the first time two proposals from the same council have been approved at NCS. We are incredibly proud of everyone who made this happen!
Volunteer Jodilyn Machota
Volunteer Jodilyn Machota shared, “Today I was surrounded by Girl Scouts as I received my 25-year Volunteer pin from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana. Thank you to the women who set me on this path in 4th grade—my mom and gram, Mrs. Kroth, Mrs. Richards, and then Mrs. Betty Koran & Mrs. Joan Marchese who helped me earn my Gold Award & travel the world. They led by example and started me on my journey of service to empower girls by nurturing their courage, confidence, and character. Thank you to my Girl Scout sisters who always have proved to me that family is what you make it and I’m never truly alone. I love you all and hold you close.”
The deadline to apply to be a National Council Delegate for the National Council Session has been extended to Nov. 21!
Apply to be a part of the 56th National Convention in July 2023 (dates TBD), an opportunity for Girl Scouts and volunteers to play a vital role in providing strategic direction to the Girl Scout Movement.
For four years now, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) has been proud to participate in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Our Girl Scout Go-Getters, a team of 25 volunteers (19 of which completed the marathon), were ready to grab their running shoes and fundraise on behalf of our Girl Scouts, and this year they were able to raise over $24,000 for our council! Congratulations to them and thank you for your hard work and dedication to powering amazing experiences for Girl Scouts!
For some of the Go-Getters, like Natalie Stopka and Elise Gluck, the best part about running the marathon was “running the real thing” and “finishing,” while others like Joy Kogut, Rachael Ross, and John Chase enjoyed running with friends and family and enjoying the city. Dan Pietroburgo set a personal best and finished in the top 200!
Others thrived off of the “sense of accomplishment” and “encouragement from the crowds” along the way, and Wendy Cartier enjoyed “getting to meet other runners, especially the veterans. I was able to chat with a man who was doing his 30th Chicago marathon who was able to offer up some words of encouragement at the start line.”
For Autumn Oley, “the best part was definitely the cheering. I could not tell you how many times my mood and mindset was restored when I heard so many people cheering for the Girl Scouts. So many girls and parents were cheering for the Girl Scouts, calling me sister, yelling me their troop numbers. It was what I needed to remind me why I was running the marathon.”
As one can guess, running a marathon is no easy feat. Our Go-Getters had to contend with heat, humidity, wind, and even overcoming injuries. Getting ready for the marathon involved many practices runs and training, which often conflicted with the runners personal lives and work schedules—but they were motivated by the mission to support Girl Scouts.
Elise was motivated by her Girl Scout history: “I was a Girl Scout for 12 years. I am so thankful for the opportunities that being a Girl Scout gave me and I was excited to help other girls have those same opportunities!” And Michael M. Spagnolo ran for his daughter, a Girl Scout herself. The same for runner John Chase: “Girl Scouts has had a profound and lasting positive effect on my daughters’ development, helping them to become the strong, confident women they are today.”
“The Girl Scouts had always been a huge part of my life and when provided an opportunity to support it so they can make a similar impact on others, I couldn’t pass it up,” shared Michele Strouth. “I was a Girl Scout Daisy through senior year of high school. I am still best friends with some of my troop mates and loved being a part of the organization. When I saw GCNWI was an option for fundraising, it was an easy choice.”
Become a Girl Scout Go-Getter!
This is our fifth year hosting a team and we are excited to be growing each year. Don’t wait to apply! Space is limited.
The Chicago Marathon is one of six Abbott World Marathon Majors, and an experience of a lifetime! Each year, runners from 50 states and more than 100 countries run through 27 Chicago neighborhoods on a flat and fast course that starts and finishes in Grant Park.
After you apply, there will be a phone interview before you are approved and on the team. Applications will close on March 30, 2022 or when the team is filled.
Fundraising Minimum is $1,250 prior to the lottery on December 9 and $1,750 from December 9 to March 31.
When you run with the Girl Scout Go-Getters, you will receive:
Guaranteed entry into the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Free virtual and in-person training options with Chicago Endurance Sports
Official Girl Scout Go-Getters team running shirt and running belt
Customizable fundraising page to help reach and surpass your goal
Access to all team events (kick-off meeting, pasta party, and other events decided by team)
Free access to Race Day Resort on race day (located next to start line with food, drinks, indoor restrooms)
Our girls need us, now more than ever. Girls younger than ever are facing unprecedented challenges navigating mental, social and emotional wellness and it is affecting how they navigate their daily lives.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana recognizes the effects lifestyle changes presented from a pandemic can have on our members. Girls have not been interacting with friends and family in a manner that they are used to. Their social interactions at school or extra-curricular activities had been paused or severely adjusted. Some girls encountered challenges with being in quarantine for extended amounts of time. Other girls had to process and deal with the aftermath of societal responses to racial injustices.
There has never been a more urgent time to help girls connect with others, make friends, and learn techniques that build resiliency in times of great stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Advocating for the health and safety of girls in a physical sense is what we have always done. Extending that care and concern to the emotional and social health and wellness of our members is critical. As we enter a new membership year, Girl Scouts is committed to building an ecosystem of wellness, health, and social-emotional wellbeing around girls.
GCNWI has provided training for staff and volunteers designed to help them anticipate an increase in unpredictable and unusual behaviors that indicate a girl may be experiencing a mental, social, or emotional struggle.
Our curriculum and training modules help volunteers and families recognize trauma and put into practice ways to resolve conflict and build empathy, mindfulness, and coping skills. Log in to your Girl Scout account, select gsLearn from the menu on the left, and click on “content library” to take the available trainings:
Trauma-Informed Practices – Support all girls (and yourself) with best practices in social-emotional learning, developed with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago’s Center for Childhood Resilience.
Basics of Inclusion– Inclusion is at the core of who we are—sisters to every Girl Scout!
Grade Level Training for Bridging Leaders – Empower yourself with the confidence to lead girls as they bridge into their next program level.
“Girl Scouts is no longer a nice thing to have; it is a necessity,” says Girl Scout GCNWI CEO Nancy Wright.
It is time to do more than worry about girls and their well-being. It is time to act. If you haven’t already, renew your membership for FY22 and get ready for a fun, yet safe return to Girl Scouting!
“I volunteer for Girl Scouts because the opportunities for girls seem limitless. Girl Scouts empowers girls to explore their interests and dreams.”
Thanks to the mentorship, support, and leadership provided by volunteers, Girl Scouts are getting ready to change the future and make the world a better place! We can’t thank you enough for the work you do to champion our Girl Scouts, which is why we dedicate a spotlight to a volunteer who has made an impact on girls’ lives in Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI). Read on to hear Monica Reed’s story!
“I have been a volunteer since 2004. I started a Pre-K Daisy troop and was the girls’ leader through 12th grade. I’ve been all levels of Girl Scout leader, Membership Coordinator, and Fall Product and Cookie volunteer. I began my current troop as a way for the girls to be involved in Girl Scouts during an unconventional school year. We were 100% online and the girls’ Zoom skills were unparalleled. I often commented that they had better manners than most adults on Zoom calls. We earned all our Daisy petals last year. Now we are working on our badges. We are also sending our Flat Daisies around the globe (this was a great activity so we could travel vicariously with our Flat Daisies)!”
“I fondly remember seeing my daughter singing “ The Camp Greene Wood Song” to a Grant Park crowd during the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts. Overall, seeing the “A-HA moments” when the Girl Scouts try something new is very rewarding. (I learn new things too!).”
“I can’t say enough about our troop leader, Miss Monica! We have been so privileged to have her as our guide. She goes way above and beyond to bring not just the girls, but the families, together. She puts so much effort in all that she does, and it shows from all the little personal touches she puts on things, and personalized cards and photos. It also amazes me how she has gotten to know each one of the girls and their unique personalities in just a brief amount of time. This is no small feat as most of our time together has been spent on Zoom, due to COVID. That’s another thing, she has always made sure to make everyone feel safe and comfortable during these very uncertain times,” shared Girl Scout parent Sabrina.
Thank you for all you do, Monica!
You have the power to change girls’ lives as a Girl Scout volunteer, helping to craft their experiences from the way they run their cookie business to the way they speak up in meetings. As girls learn, grow, and lead, you’re there through it all—shaping the future right along with us.
Working to make the world a better place, and protecting our natural world and resources, is part of the Girl Scout DNA and founder Juliette Gordon Low’s legacy. Girl Scouts are an integral part of the mission to serve and preserve our environment, and a few Girl Scouts from Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) have been recognized for their efforts by receiving the Phillip J. Becker Eco-Advocacy Endowment.
The Philip J. Becker Eco-Advocacy Endowment Fund honors the memory of Philip J. Becker, a life-long educator who was devoted to inspiring young people to embrace careers in the sciences, especially physics, energy, and astronomy. He felt a deep calling to help his children, grandchildren, and all young people understand the urgency of transitioning to innovative, renewable, and sustainable energy sources. His family, with strong Girl Scout ties, honors his memory and his passion for the environment by funding these grants to inspire girls to take action to make the world a better place.
Our Becker Eco-Advocacy Grant recipients are Girl Scouts currently working on a service or highest award project exclusively dedicated to environmental issues. Congratulations to this year’s Becker Eco-Advocacy Award grant recipients, Natalie, Sofia, Ava, Sloane, Rebecca, and Rachel from Troop 70748 and Ariella, Harper, Hailey, Olivia and Abby from Troop 50367! Read about their efforts toward making the world a better, healthier, and safer place for all.
Pollination Station
Girl Scout Ava from Troop 70748
Natalie, Sofia, Ava, Sloane, Rebecca, and Rachel (Cadette Girl Scouts from Troop 70748) will use their grant funds to plant a pollinator garden and distribute seed packets, to help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators pollinate, and to teach others about the importance of pollination. “This will also help put more oxygen in the air,” Ava explained.
“We hope to encourage more people to start planting from our seed packets, bring people to see our pollinator garden, help pollinators live a better life, and last, grow healthier plants for a healthier environment,” Sloane shared. “We are very excited to be given the chance to share more about the importance of pollinators and help our environment to be a more nature friendly area for pollinators and people to enjoy their surroundings.”
“I love animals and I know bees and other pollinators are important, but their numbers are decreasing. I am also worried about climate change, and the more plants we plant, the better,” Ava also shared. “We need to start thinking about the effects of what we do. The more people that reduce, reuse and recycle the better, [because] we only have one earth. I think Girl Scouts will help in many ways like spreading the word and doing projects that help the earth.”
Cleaning up the Beaches
Ariella, Harper, Hailey, Olivia and Abby (Cadettes Troop 50367) have a history of doing park, beach, and local waterway clean-ups, and want to start encouraging others to join their mission. They will use their funds to set clean up stations at local lakes to facilitate voluntary trash pick-up to keep our beaches clean: “Trash at beaches and rivers and parks can accumulate, harming the animal habitats, hurt wildlife and aquatic life, and interferes with our enjoyment of the nature that surrounds us.”
Their troop leader Keri shared, “This troop has been a set of girls that are passionate about animals and wildlife. They have donated to local shelters and Willowbrook Wildlife Center, and just have a pure love of animals and therefore their environment they live in. For example, as part of [earning] their Silver Award they collected thousands of bottle caps to turn into a bench. The bench they donated to their middle school. This exemplifies the Leave No Trace while enjoying nature’s beauty.”
We are so proud of your accomplishments, Girl Scouts! Thank you for sharing your stories and for making the world a better place.
Guest Written by the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Historians
Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon was born in Savannah Georgia on October 31, 1860, but did you know she descended from early Chicago pioneers? Her great-grandparents were John Kinzie and Eleanor Lytle McKillip Kinzie, who in 1804 bought a home that had originally belonged to Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, which was situated on the north bank of the Chicago River approximately where the Tribune Tower now stands.
Their son, John Harris Kinzie and his wife, Juliette Augusta Magill were Juliette’s grandparents. In 1857, they lived at Cass and Michigan Streets (now Hubbard and Wabash). Near the end of the Civil War, Juliette lived with her grandparents for a short time.
Juliette’s Pearls
Juliette owned a beautiful strand of natural pearls that had been a wedding gift from her husband. She liked to wear her pearls on special occasions. In 1915, when the young Girl Scout organization needed funds, Juliette sold her pearls for $8,000. In today’s dollars, that generous gift would amount to nearly $217,000.
Illinois’ first all-women veteran honor flight to Washington, D.C. took off from Chicago Midway International Airport last week, and Council Delegate, volunteer trainer, and Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Historian and alum Carol Macola was among the 93 honored veterans who participated. Carol’s service to Girl Scouts GCNWI has spanned over 40 years, and we are incredibly proud to share her story about her military service and Operation Herstory with you, in her own words.
I was a Girl Scout for 10 years (Brownie through Senior Girl Scout), and after my military service, I became a leader for the different age levels over the years, as well as Service Unit Manager. I have been an adult volunteer and Liftetime Member now for over 40 years.
I learned many things as a Girl Scout: how to cope with changing conditions at camp, how to make new friends, how to work as a team, and how to turn a disaster into a learning experience. Most of all, I learned how to put on my “Brownie smile” when grumpiness would have been easier.
I was a Second Lieutenant Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army, and as a female at that time, with a platoon of 42 men, I was challenged. I led by example. I had to know each person in my platoon. I had to put my best foot forward — usually in a spit-shined boot rather than polished pumps (ladies small heeled shoe).
The same is true for every Girl Scout. As a Girl Scout, one moves through levels, always mindful of being a model for those younger, and always building leadership skills. As a Girl Scout, one knows what is right and what is wrong, what will help another girl, and what could damage a girl’s self-esteem. Every person counts and is valuable. This translates into a team spirit that can improve the world around us—be it at home, at school, in our community, or beyond.
I laughed when I returned to Chicago after my military commitment and referred to Girl Scouts as the “mini-militia.” Like the military, Girl Scouts serve in so many ways and Girl Scouting sets values that are forever.
That courage, confidence, and character from my Girl Scouting years led me to my service in the U.S. Army, and still guide my life today.
Thank you, Carol, for your service to Girl Scouts, our council, and for being a shining example of courage and strength for all of us.
Our volunteers are clearly incredible — you can be a part of an organization that works to develop girls’ dreams, from the time they’re starting their first cookie business to the time they’re getting their first diploma. Whatever they want to do, you can support them. Learn more about volunteering with Girl Scouts today.
This is a very exciting opportunity for Girl Scouts and volunteers to share their voices and make change in our national community. National Delegates play a vital role in providing strategic direction to the Girl Scout Movement, and last year, two proposals authored and presented by GSGCNWI were passed, so your input is especially important. No experience is necessary!
To be a National Delegate for GCNWI, you must:
Be available to attend the National Council Session/56th National Convention in Orlando, Florida, July 2023* (at no expense to the Delegate)
Be a citizen of the United States (this is based on our Congressional Charter, not GSUSA policy)
Be 14 years of age or older at the time of election (GSGCNWI Annual Meeting April 7, 2022)
Be committed to participating in National Delegate training and preparation sessions offered by the council
Be committed to a three (3) year tenure as a National Council Delegate (April 7, 2022 – April 2025)
Be committed to participating in National Council Session follow-up activities sponsored by the council
Be committed to participating in GSGCNWI Delegate Meetings, including Delegate Quarterly Meetings and the GSGCNWI Annual Meeting while a National Delegate
*Exact dates of the National Council Session will be announced soon. Historically, it takes place over three days.
Applications are being accepted through November 3, 2021!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to be a National Delegate?
Any registered member of GSGCNWI (youth or adult) who is 14 years of age or older by time of election (April 7, 2022).
What is the application process?
National Delegate Applications will be open online between September 1 and November 3 2021. National Delegate Applications will be reviewed and applicants will be asked to attend a virtual interview in November or December. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application in early 2022.
Do I need any previous experience to be a National Delegate?
No previous experience is required. Training will be provided to all National Delegates on Robert’s Rules of order, parliamentary procedures and items of business prior to the National Council Session.
What is the time commitment?
National Delegates and Alternates serve a 3-year term, from April 2022-April 2025 and must be able to attend the National Council Session (NCS) in Orlando, Florida, July 2023 (Exact dates TBD). Typically, the National Council Session takes place over 3 days. Prior to NCS, National Delegates and Alternates will be expected to attend training and webinars offered by GSGCNWI and GSUSA to prepare for NCS. They will also be asked to read and review materials on their own to be informed on important topics related to NCS.
In addition to NCS related meetings, National Delegates are asked to attend and vote at the GSGCNWI Annual Meeting and Delegate Quarterly Meetings. Many of these meetings happen virtually via Zoom or other webinar/conference call methods. National Delegates and Alternates should expect robust engagement in the 6 months leading up to the National Council Session, with occasional engagement outside of that time frame.
I am graduating high school between April 2022- April 2025. Can I still apply?
Yes! If you are graduating during the 3-year term, you are still welcome to apply! We just ask that all Delegates keep an active registration with our council.
Is there a cost to being a National Delegate?
GSGCNWI will cover many of the costs associated with travel and attendance of the 56th National Council Session. There may be additional minimal costs for Delegates. For example, Girl Scout Uniform is typically worn at certain National Council Session meetings, which is the responsibility of the National Delegate (Financial Aid is available to assist with certain uniform needs).
What is an Alternate National Delegate?
Each council is allotted a certain number of Delegates based on their membership numbers the year before NCS. GSGCNWI always selects multiple Alternate Delegates in case a National Delegate is no longer able to serve in their role. Alternates will be called up to replace National Delegates as needed and are an important part of our democratic process and making sure the voice of GSGCNWI is heard.
Due to changes in when the National Delegate Application process happens, councils will be electing their delegates before they know the exact number of delegates they are allotted. For this reason, GSGCNWI will be bringing on additional Alternates with the hope that they will be able to move up to National Delegate once the allotment is received. Alternates will participate in training and meetings to be informed on the process and prepared to step into the role should they be pulled up. Alternates are not allowed to vote on council or national issues until they are pulled up and they do not attend the National Council Session unless they are pulled up as National Delegates. In the case an Alternate is not pulled up, they may attend the National Council Session at their own expense.
Alternates are welcome to attend local governance meetings, such as the Annual Meeting and Delegate Quarterly Meeting.
All of our volunteers deserve a spotlight because they make sure our Girl Scouts thrive! This week we are recognizing an extra-special volunteer from Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI), Cyndee Timmerman!
Read on to learn more about Cyndee’s work for our council, in her own words.
Making Precious Memories
I was a Girl Scout when I was in elementary school and I absolutely loved it. I remember singing songs and being silly with my friends, going to a sleepover in our town’s Girl Scout Little House. I remember selling cookies door to door and trying to meet my 100-box goal that seemed almost impossible at the time. All the girls in our troop that sold 100 boxes got to go on a trip to an amusement park that year. That was a big deal for me because I lived in a very small town in Kansas, hours away from any amusement park. I ended up meeting my goal and getting to go on the trip, and it was the first time I ever had the chance to ride on a big roller coaster. I was terrified, but my best friend was also on the trip and she told me not to be scared. I listened to her and ended up loving it.
I wanted my daughter to have the same experiences I had when she started school. Since there weren’t any Daisy troops at her school, I created one and became the leader. We started out with 12 girls in our troop during her kindergarten year and this past year, my third year as a leader, we became a multi-level troop with 26 girls.
At the very first service unit meeting that I attended, I met our Service Unit Manager and told her I would be happy to help her if she ever needed anything. She soon took me up on my offer and asked me to be the Fall Product coordinator for our entire service unit. Although I had never sold Fall Product before, I willingly took on the role. I have also helped our service unit with cookie sales the past two years, and will be a co-manager of our service unit this year in preparation to become the Service Unit Manager next year!
Although I have a busy life outside of Girl Scouts, I love everything about Girl Scouts and find it worth my time to volunteer.
I want to give girls the opportunity to try new things and have experiences that they might not have otherwise. Since we live in Chicago, I really want my daughter to be able to experience nature like I did growing up in Kansas. I want her to experience camping, canoeing, and all the other million fun things that there is to do in nature.
I remember a moment from a Girl Scout training session that I attended, where a leader shared that her goal was to get girls out of the zip code that they live in. That is also my goal as a leader. As a child, I never had the chance to travel internationally, but I hope to be able to give the girls in my troop that chance as a young adult one day.
I have so many great memories as a Girl Scout leader that is hard to narrow it down to just one! From the very first troop meeting, where we taught the girls what it meant to give someone a compliment and we had them practice by going around the circle and giving each other a compliment, to the time we read a book about Juliette Gordon Low and learned how brave she was to start an organization like this for girls during a time that it was unacceptable for them to play outside and do fun things in nature.
We have visited so many cool places and done so many fun things in just three years even though half of that time was during a pandemic, that I can’t imagine all of the fun experiences we still have to come! We have gone hiking several times, toured a vet’s office, a fire department, and a police department, made gingerbread houses with residents at a nursing home, went to a hockey game, went to a musical, created and maintained a sensory garden for our school, went indoor climbing together, made pet beds for a pet shelter, donated food to a food pantry, experienced a cat café, cuddled with bunnies, and rode horses.
For one of our service projects this year, the girls voted on making blessing bags for those without homes. I had the older girls in our troop plan this project and shop for the items needed for the bags. They did an incredible job leading this project and helping the younger girls assemble the bags.
Although sometimes it feels like I’ve bit off more than I can chew, I always end up being able to juggle it all and happy that I did when it’s over. A grandmother recently pointed out to me that my children will not always be this age and I won’t regret spending this valuable time with them creating memories. Do you want your children to remember sitting at home watching tv with you or would you rather them remember going camping and canoeing with you?
Thank you to Cyndee for your years of service and contributions!
Her next adventure to take, new territory to explore, or barrier to break, is all waiting her in the new Girl Scout year! We have carefully curated experiences to help girls think creatively and discover their interests, passions and ambitions without limitations.
