What I Learned at Girl Scout Summer Camp

My name is Charlotte and I have been a Girl Scout for 10 years, from Daisy through to Senior. For the last four years, I’ve gone to Girl Scout summer camp. I’ve been to the Hoist your Sail, On Belay, Engineering Design and Backpacking Adventurer camps. The picture of our Backpacking group was in this year’s camp brochure, how cool is that?

Going to Girl Scout camp is great. There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met. It doesn’t matter if you go to camp by yourself (like I do!) as you always meet up with other girls from previous years camps. Even though we haven’t seen each other for a year we’re still the best of friends. I love camping in the outdoors, learning new skills and sharing those experiences with my new and old friends.

Sailing taught me how to work both on my own and with other crew members. Of course the best part was tipping the sail boat and trying to re-right it! It was so much fun to be on, and in, the water every day. Our group stayed in platform tents by the lake which was great as it was cooler by the water.

Rock climbing taught me that I must be responsible for checking my equipment and that no obstacle is too high or too scary to overcome when you have buddies encouraging you all the way. At Devil’s Lake we stayed in the coolest yurts ever. They had A/C and a TV, too (shhh … don’t tell your moms!). Mind you, it was 103 degrees when we were there, so it was much appreciated.

The Engineering program was one of my favorite camps. We worked in groups and individually to solve all sorts of problems using the items provided as well as improvising along the way. We also got to visit the Yerkes Observatory. I had never done any engineering before, but after this camp I looked into the engineering classes my future high school had to offer. As a freshman, I chose to do a class in engineering design and next year I’m doing civil engineering and architecture. If I hadn’t been on this camp I would never thought about doing engineering at high school.

Finally, the Backpacking camp taught me the value of teamwork: planning and doing our hikes, sharing responsibilities around camp and fine tuning our “leave no trace” skills. I also learned that I really don’t like powdered eggs for breakfast and that life without any electronics is possible and totally enjoyable when you have good company and lovely scenery.

So, what will you do this summer? Watch TV? Play computer games? I challenge you to go try something new!

As for me, I’m off to Girl Scout leadership camp this summer. It’s time to learn some new skills and how to give back to the Girl Scout community.

Have a great summer – see you at camp!

There’s so much to see and do at summer camp! Check out our full list of summer programs at day and resident camps across our council in the 2016 Program Guide and register today.

What I Love About Being a Girl Scout Volunteer

As the infamous saying goes, “Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout!” Growing up, I was a Girl Scout and I have wonderful memories of my mom being a volunteer for my troop. We’d go on our Brownie camping trip, sing songs and make S’mores.

My mom was so funny and had everyone laughing because instead of wood she picked up a mouse and she screamed. She was always sewing on different patches and making sure my uniform was always washed and ready to go. She also went rollerskating with us. My mom is a people person and everyone just loved her.

So when my 6-year-old daughter, Jenna, asked to be a Girl Scout Daisy, of course I said yes! I knew the troop leader well as both our daughters attended preschool together. I want the best for my daughter, as every parent does.

Being a volunteer has given me the opportunity to witness my daughter practice the skills that Girl Scouts has taught her firsthand.

As a volunteer for her troop, I was able to go caroling with the girls and help them make Christmas cards for a local nursing home. I used to work with the elderly and I swelled with pride as my young daughter showed kindness and compassion and got it back tenfold!

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, I was able to teach my daughter money management and people skills during booth sales. We shared many laughs as I stood on the side of the road waving the cookie sign!

Girl Scouts goes beyond the badges and the pins. Girl Scouts is about girl power … that anything is possible, to be kind and to help others. Just like a Daisy, my daughter and the wonderful girls in her troop are blossoming into wonderful girls. I can’t wait to see what they do next!

A former dancer and dance instructor, Jessica Barnes is a first-year Girl Scout volunteer in Elk Grove Village. When she’s not busy helping the Daisies, she is enjoys having fun with her two daughters, Jenna and Emilee, spending time with her family and friends and baking.

Don’t miss out on the fun, renew your Girl Scout membership today! Troop leaders who renew their troop members through the online Member Community now until June 30 will be automatically enrolled in our brand new GS Plus Loyalty Program, which includes exclusive discounts, a free Girl Scout planner and much more.

Girl Scouts Take Over Downtown Chicago During Loop Site Day

If your commute was a little sweeter this week, you can thank a Girl Scout.

On Wednesday, March 23, Girl Scouts took over downtown Chicago for the first of four Loop Site Days this spring. During Loop Site Days, girls sell Girl Scout Cookies in the lobbies of downtown businesses.

Ryeleigh M., 6, and Fabiola V., 5, both Girl Scout Daisies from Troop 55190 in Algonquin, Illinois were excited for their first Loop Site Day.

“We’re saving our cookie money to go to Build-a-Bear,” Ryeleigh said.

“And buying crafts for children at the Ronald McDonald’s House,” added Fabiola.

12898236_10153539457897709_9129322370687462259_o (1) — Ryeleigh (left) and Fabiola (right) created signs to promote their cookie business.

Meanwhile, Caity S., 10, Zoe V. , 9, and Stephanie B., 10, Girl Scout Juniors from Troop 40306 from Mundelein, Illinois plan to use their cookie money to go camping at Camp Juniper Knoll in East Troy, Wisconsin.

“It feels so grownup to sell cookies and it’s just so amazing that adults are trusting us to do this,” shared Zoe.

Stephanie agreed.

“It’s great because we’re cookie bosses and we can decide what to do with the money and where we want to go on trips,” she said.

10329196_10153539367577709_7077368341584995569_n — (From left to right): Zoe, Caity and Stephanie from Troop 40306

In addition to meeting new people and learning new business skills, Cara C. an 11-year-old Girl Scout Junior in Troop 41101 from Lake Villa, Illinois enjoys helping people while selling Girl Scout Cookies.

“During our site sales at grocery stores, we offer to help people take their groceries to their car,” she said. “It feels good to give back.”

Missed the first round of Loop Site sales? Be sure to get your fix at downtown Chicago businesses on March 31, April 7 and April 19!

Become a Superhero with the Girl Scout Super Gold Power Patch Program

If you’ve ever wanted to become a superhero, now’s your chance.

In celebration of the centennial of the Highest Award this year, we’ve developed a program for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors to learn about what it takes to be a super Girl Scout!

The Super Gold Power Patch Program features fun, high-energy games about the history of the Highest Awards in Girl Scouting; colorful comic strips featuring real-life examples of Bronze, Silver and Gold Award projects that have had a deep impact on the community; activities for girls to create their own one-of-a-kind superhero comic strip and emblem – and envision their own Highest Award project for the future.

The curriculum and patches are $5 for each Girl Scout participant. To learn more about the Super Gold Power Patch Program and to register, click here.

Experience Leadership at Camp CEO

What does it take to be a leader in today’s world? What is it really like being a woman in a management position?

You can find out the answers to these questions and more at the 10th annual Camp CEO, a fun-filled, five-day overnight camp hosted by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

An experience like none other, Camp CEO brings together a select group of teen girls to engage in outdoor leadership activities with some of Chicagoland’s most prominent female business leaders.

“Camp CEO had managed to bring a diverse crowd of women and girls together to learn from each other, ultimately so that we could utilize our acquired skills in the real world,” said Eva Lewis, a 17-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador, who participated in last year’s session (pictured above, right). “We were bettering ourselves to make the road to become a successful woman easier. Not only were we investing in our futures, but by doing this we were investing inthe futures of those who will come after us.”

From campfire conversations to archery practice, Camp CEO is an exceptional experience combining the adventure of overnight camp with the personal growth and business savvy of leadership seminars.

“Camp CEO taught me to be ambitious, courageous and passionate – and it all started at a game of kickball with my Camp CEO mentor,” said Kavya Anjur, a Girl Scout and Camp CEO alumna. “After following her advice, I networked with a local lab and got a summer internships, which helped me win a national science contest. I recommend Camp CEO to every high schooler out there – you’ll learn the skills necessary to be successful in this day and age.”

Camp CEO takes place Aug. 7 -12, 2016 at Camp Butternut Springs in Valparaiso, Indiana. Tuition is $150 for Girl Scouts and $180 for non- Girl Scouts and include accommodations, meals and more. Financial aid available.

For more information and to apply, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org/campceo. Applications are due May 9.

Girl Scout Troop Stocks Veterans Home Pantry

Girl Scout Cadette Troop 30457 from Cedar Lake Service Unit 308 collected and delivered items to the Indiana Veterans Home in West Lafayette as their Silver Award project. The Silver Award is the highest achievable award for the Cadette Girl Scout. Their project was to help stock a cart that is supplied by the American Legion Auxiliary with items not normally available at the home for the residents. Ramen noodles, pudding, microwave popcorn, Vienna sausages, chips, snack cakes, batteries, socks and toiletries were among the items. Collection sites included Hanover Middle School, Lincoln and Wanatah elementary schools, LaCrosse High School and Strack and Van Til stores in both Schererville and Cedar Lake. The girls’ families also contributed to their collection.

Customers at the grocers were given lists with items needed and combined with collection boxes at the schools. More than 4500 individual items filled a 12’x8′ trailer. Terri Rene, the American Legion Auxiliary member, was happy to have her pantry at the Indiana Veterans Home restocked. The girls also provided a check for $200 from cash donations received along with gift cards to Sam’s Club and Target donated to the Troop by the stores.

To read the full story, visit nwitimes.com.

Girl Scout Writes Letter to Hasbro About Missing ‘Star Wars’ Character

There’s no doubt the force is with Annie Rose.

Earlier this month, the 8-year-old Girl Scout Brownie from Evanston, Illinois wrote a letter to Hasbro asking why Rey, the heroine in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was not included in the Monopoly version of the popular sci-fi series.

“I didn’t like that the main character was left out,” she explained. “It’s important because a lot of kids buy the game and kids need to see women are as strong as men.”

Two days after Annie Rose’s mother tweeted a picture of the letter to Hasbro with the hashtag #WheresRey, the toy and game company said it would include Rey in the Monopoly: Star Wars game available later this year.

“I feel very accomplished,” said Annie Rose. “I feel like I did what I had to do to get my point out there. Now everyone, boy or girl, young or old, can see that they can do almost anything.”

And it’s not the first time Annie Rose has spoken out on issues important to her. Last year, she wrote a letter to President Barack Obama about helping Syrian refugees. She takes her inspiration from another president, Abraham Lincoln.

“After I went to the Lincoln Museum and learned about the Emancipation Proclamation, I thought it was awesome that one person could do something so big and so inspiring,” she said. “I was amazed.”

Next on Annie Rose’s agenda is petitioning brands to make age-appropriate Halloween costumes for little girls. And, of course, she’ll be first in line when the new Monopoly version comes out with Rey.

“I like Rey because she’s really strong,” said Annie Rose, who wants to be a paleontologist or archaeologist when she grows up. “When there’s a problem, instead of saying ‘you do this for me, I’m a girl’ she goes and tries to fix it the best way she can. I really admire her for that.”

Girl Scouts Kick Off Cookie Sales at Allstate Arena

Allstate Arena was a sea of green and brown uniforms 2,800 strong Saturday afternoon as the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana held their seventh annual cookie kickoff.

The event, meant to inspire girls and show them sales and business practices that make for solid fundraising, is followed by a Chicago Wolves hockey game the girls and their families can attend.

Nina Grotto, 16, of Troop 51324, was the No. 1 seller of cookies last year at 6,300 boxes — 4,500 of which were donated to troops overseas. It took three months of hard work and determination to sell that many boxes, she said. She spent the day Saturday autographing pictures for other Girl Scouts.

To read the full story, visit DailyHerald.com.

(Photo via Mark Welsh, Daily Herald staff photographer)

How Girl Scouts Changed My Life

Whether it’s hiking 20 miles of canyon at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, presenting an award at our council’s annual Tribute to Achievement dinner honoring civic and corporate leaders, or teaching 25 women executives to makes S’mores around the campfire at Camp Butternut Springs in Indiana as part of Camp CEO, Girl Scouts has been featured everywhere in my life.

Girl Scouting is a timeless wonder uniting different generations of women and developing strong relationships of empowerment. From the moment you become a Girl Scout, you’re connected to a variety of women leaders.

Reflecting on my own experiences, I realize Girl Scouts has grown with me as much as I have grown with the organization. The advancement of technology and current push for more females in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields have not only enhanced quality of life in America, but also guided my individual journey. For 12 years now, Girl Scouts and I have flourished together.

Throughout grade school, my troop’s annual traditions of badge-earning, cookie-selling, camp sing-alongs, and service to our community laid foundations for lifelong learning, interpersonal leadership, and a healthy sense of self-esteem. Girl Scouts transformed me into a young woman of “courage, confidence, and character.”

It’s that can-do attitude that inspired me to start a fishing club in conjunction with the national nonprofit Trout Unlimited during my senior year at Riverside-Brookfield High School. And I was able to lead an overnight fishing trip in July 2015 to Alto, Michigan.

GirlsFishing — Lauren (right) with members of her high school fishing club

In addition to serving as a former camp program aide, Camp CEO alumna, and Camp CEO counselor, I have had the privilege of being an honorary award-presenter and emcee for corporate fundraising events in downtown Chicago. By guiding younger girls at Camps Green Wood, River Trails, and Butternut Springs, I learned the importance of taking the initiative, collaborating ideas, and leading by example. By delivering speeches before a ballroom of CEOs – including Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA – I discovered value in effective communication, networking, and poised professionalism.

Both youthful and wise, the women leaders I’ve encountered reflect how dynamic and diverse Girl Scouts is. It evolves with the girls it prepares. Generation after generation, young ladies now grow to be proactive chief executive officers, problem-solving chief engineers, determined entrepreneurs, and all-importantly: beautiful women who become stronger each and every day.

Today, I am an honors engineering freshman and Stamps Leadership Scholar at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana surrounded by a world of thinkers, scholars, athletes, and activists. In my first-year endeavors, I have incorporated the Girl Scout ideals of citizenship, empathy, and global mindfulness.

Processed with VSCOcam with a5 preset — Lauren (left) with former U.S. Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall

Through the Cultural Companions program, which pairs international students with domestic students, I have found sisters from various ethnic backgrounds. In the Old Masters program, which introduces undergraduates to alumni, I have received words of wisdom from President Barack Obama’s former Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall. At Purdue’s 20th Annual Space Day, I had the honor of presenting a handcrafted plaque to Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon.

Dr. Aldrin — Lauren with former astronaut Buzz Aldrin

Next year, I will travel abroad on an eight-day medical trip to Quito, Ecuador during my spring break. One of 20 Purdue students selected by Timmy Global Health, a nonprofit sustained by medical professionals and student volunteers to expand healthcare access worldwide, our clinics will provide checkups, medications, hospital referrals, and over 15,000 vitamins to 600 children, adults, and senior citizens.

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset — Lauren (center) with fellow Purdue students

As a future biomedical engineer with the desire to make a global impact, I look forward to this opportunity to touch lives abroad. To this day, Girl Scouts maintains great presence in my life. Had I not been motivated to pursue a STEM career by Android app development workshops with my Camp CEO mentor at Motorola Mobility and hikes through the woods with physician executives and CEOs of engineering firms, my life’s path would have surely taken a different course. For this, I am grateful.

If I have learned anything after twelve years of being a Girl Scout, it is this: “We are the innovation generation, the game changers, the ground breakers. Each an integral part of herstory.” And, of course, I can’t forget this quote from a classic camp song: “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.”

Lauren Primer is a Girl Scout alumna and freshman engineering student at Purdue University. She’s also a Stamps Leadership Scholar, Trustees Scholar and Honors Engineering Learning Community Board Chair among other accomplishments.

Lisle Girl Scouts Offer Free Ski Lessons for Those with Autism

A Lisle Girl Scout troop is inviting adults and children with autism to try skiing for free at Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports on Jan. 17.

Maeve Doyle, Amanda Laurinec, Marley Malczewski, Emme Moore and Briana Ortiz — the five Lincoln Junior High School eighth-graders in Troop 50796 — came up with the idea more than a year ago while brainstorming ways to achieve their Silver Award.

Troop Leader Sue Laurinec said the girls decided they wanted to melt down old Crayons and make new, bigger “super Crayons” that would be easy for children with autism to use. She told them it was a good thought but not enough to earn their award, which requires them to spend at least 50 hours organizing and completing a community project.

Emme then suggested going skiing with the children. Laurinec made a call to Four Lakes at 5750 Lakeside Drive in Lisle, and the managers agreed not only to host the event but also to offer free admission to the autistic skiers and their families.

“I was blown away by the generosity,” Laurinec said.

To read the full story, please visit dailyherald.com.

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