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.

Girl Scouts Learn About Careers in Law at Project Law Track

Is being a lawyer really like Law & Order? Do people really yell “order in the court”?

Earlier this month, Girl Scouts from across the council began learning what it takes to be a lawyer during Project Law Track, a series of four interactive sessions exploring the different facets of law.

DSCN3339 — Students learn about the different facets of law during Project Law Track.

The series was co-created by Monica Weed, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Navigant Counseling in Chicago and second vice president for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Board of Directors.

Throughout Project Law Track sessions, which take place in Chicago and DuPage, attorneys with the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women, DuPage Association of Women Lawyers and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois work with Girl Scouts on different facets of law and the series concludes with a mock trial.

“I just started high school and I’m looking into different careers,” said Angelica Williams, a ninth grader at Lane Tech High School. “I want to learn about things that may be of interest to me. Girl Scouts is great to meet new people and learn new things. I’m looking forward to learning about the different types of law.”

DSCN3322 — Girl Scout Senior Angelica Williams introduces herself to the group.

During the first session, girls received an overview of legal concepts from women lawyers, including reality versus depictions of lawyers in media; the origins of law; criminal versus civil law; ethics and responsibilities; direct and cross examination; as well as how to prepare of law school.

“It’s important to have programs like Project Law Track so you can see people represented in the field and know that we did it and you can do it, too,” Jasmine Jackson, a case processing analyst contractor for the U.S. Department of Labor, told the students. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have a lot of mentors and I want to encourage younger girls to get involved with law because it starts now.”

To learn more about Project Law Track and other specially-designed series offered by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, click here.

Girl Scouts Learn About Leadership at High Tea in Long Grove

Twenty-five Girl Scouts and troop leaders from Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Arlington Heights, IL had the opportunity to witness leadership in action during afternoon tea with local elected officials.

The event, which was held at High Tea with Gerri in Long Grove, IL, was hosted by Village Presidents Angie Underwood of Long Grove and Beverly Sussman of Buffalo Grove.

“These woman who make service a part of their everyday life wanted to give back to the Girl Scouts in the communities,” said Nancy Armstrong, regional community director for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.”And Gerri instructed us all on proper etiquette of women during high tea as the girls wore fancy hats and drank from vintage tea cups.”

As part of the experience, each of the mayors talked with the girls about their own stories of how they became leaders and attributed their beginnings in Girl Scouts, according to Armstrong. One of the mayors even brought along her beanie and Girl Scout handbook.

“They stressed the importance of always trying your best, and having your voice heard at any age,” said Armstrong. “They brought up examples of how even young children can make a difference and how important it is to have women in leadership roles.”

Recently, Underwood and Sussman declared March 12-19 Girl Scout Week in honor of the organization’s 104th birthday. With Girl Scouts present, the village presidents read and handed a proclamation to the girls at the town hall meetings.

Do you want your troop to participate in exceptional experiences such as this? Renew your Girl Scout membership today and receive exciting rewards!

Kellogg Executive Mentors Girl Scouts

It’s not every day you get to pick the brain of a top executive. But if you’re a Cookie CEO, it’s part of the job description.

Last week, Wendy Davidson, president of U.S. Specialty Channels for The Kellogg Company and Tribute to Achievement honoree, met with a few Cookie CEOs, the top five cookie sellers for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

During the meeting at the Chicago Gathering Place, Davidson, who’s a former Girl Scout, shared business tips, words of wisdom and lessons learned with the young entrepreneurs.

“The leadership skills that you’re learning in Girl Scouts are so important. Everything I’ve learned along the way has prepared me for what’s next,” she said. “Community involvement is also important. Communities don’t happen by accident. They happen when people lean in and invest. You’re doing that already in your communities and I hope you carry that with you.”

As part of her role with Kellogg, Davidson oversees the bakeries responsible for producing the iconic Girl Scout Cookies.

“For me, it was like coming full circle,” she said. “I was at the Louisville [Kentucky] bakery and I was like a little kid. I got to see them make the Thin Mints and got to try one hot off the production line. I was giddy. I think I have one of the best jobs ever.”

Once the Cookie CEOs are in pursuit of their dream jobs, Davidson advised them to “always lend a hand before you need a hand.”

“As you move forward, reach back and help the people behind you,” she said. “Your giving back never stops and your need to receive never stops.”

After their meeting with Davidson, the Cookie CEOs took her advice to heart and payed it forward by sharing cookie-selling strategies with younger Girl Scouts from the GirlSpace program, which brings the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls in at-risk communities.

DSCN3269 — Cookie CEO Nina Grotto (center) shares advice with younger Girl Scouts.

“Girl Scouts has opened a lot of doors for me, so I’m really glad I stayed with it,” said Nina Grotto, a 17-year-old Cookie CEO who raised nearly $18,000 to send about 4,500 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to members of the armed forces through the Gift of Caring program.

Davidson also met with the GirlSpace Girl Scouts, participated in their healthy living program and answered questions about her role with Kellogg.

“One of my favorite parts about my job is partnering with Girl Scouts to help grow and develop future leaders, so that one day you can all take my job,” she said.

Davidson will receive the Luminary Award at this year’s Tribute to Achievement dinner on Monday, April 25. For tickets and more information, please visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

Arlington Heights Student Spearheads Project for Autistic Classmates

Creating a sensory room for students on the autism spectrum at The Academy at Forest View in Arlington Heights was a cause close to Kaitlyn Kropp’s heart.

Kropp, 17, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, said she knows all too well the struggles she and many of her classmates face during the school day, particularly when they are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.

“Sometimes we get sensory overloaded or we just can’t stay still,” said Kropp, a junior at the academy in Township High School District 214. “Instead of buying junk food, I thought to myself, ‘why can’t I buy something else that everyone would benefit from?'”

This month, as Autism Awareness Month celebrations across the world aim to educate people about a disorder that affects one out of 68 people, Kropp is sharing her story with hopes of inspiring other teens like herself to advocate for their community.

On a recent morning, she was delighted to be excused from class to give a visitor a quick tour of the sensory room that opened earlier this year, and which she has named, “Chillax,” shorthand for “chill-out and relax.”

After district administrators agreed to her project and she was awarded a $1,000 IDEA grant, Kropp said she researched sensory rooms, compiling a list of features she liked and which would be suitable for the space, a former storage room.

Determined to accommodate every sense but smell and taste, she sought out an array of materials that provide calming and tactile experiences and protect students with padded mats in a muted gray color on the walls.There’s a “bungee chair,” which Kropp described as feeling like “a warm hug,” and manipulative features like Play-Doh, stress balls and weighted blankets.

“A sensory room should not be too cool, but not too hot, we have a dimmer switch for the lights, and a music player so we can listen to something simple and soothing, like ocean sounds or white noise,” Kropp said.

When asked what kind of events or situations might trigger the need for a student to visit the sensory room, Kropp described a social scenario common to all teens, which she sums up as “too much drama.”

“When my friends fight, sometimes they want me to choose sides, but I’m more like Switzerland,” Kropp said. “It makes me feel like I want to cry, or to punch something. I just feel very, very overwhelmed.”

Kara Kendrick, director of The Academy at Forest View and Life Transition Program, said the sensory room project is being recognized with a prestigious Girl Scouts Gold Award. It will be presented to Kropp in June.

“We have never had a student earning a Gold Award, so this is a big, big deal for us, and we certainly wanted to support her,” Kendrick said. “Through Kaitlyn’s efforts, we were able to give this sensory space to our students, and she did all of the work.”

To read the full story, visit chicagotribune.com.

Photo via Karen Ann Cullotta / Pioneer Press

Four Girl Scouts Attend the United Nations’ 60th Commission on the Status of Women

Imagine being on the forefront of change. Imagine being able to have your voice heard. Imagine standing up for a cause you believe in and making a difference.

For four local Girl Scouts, this was a reality. During the week of March 11-18, Mariel Boden, Nina Grotto, Laila Kassar and Eva Lewis represented Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana at the United Nations’ 60th Commission on the Status of Women in New York City and joined thousands of delegates from around the world.

“The trip was truly amazing,” said Laila, an 18-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador. “I learned a lot about all the different types of feminism and other things related to it.”

The theme of this year’s two-week commission was the link between sustainable development and women’s empowerment, as well as preventing and ending all acts of violence against women and girls.

The delegates attended various discussions about these topics and two of the Girl Scouts – Mariel and Eva – were able to participate in panels, such as “Girls at the Table,” about girl activists and their efforts to address local challenges within the context of sustainable development goals.

“Speaking at the Girls at the Table event made me realize the power I have, as well as the impact of my voice, even though I’m only 17 years old. There were many important people in the room and a few walked up to me afterward to convey their reactions to to my speech and answers to my questions,” said Eva, a Girl Scout Ambassador.

“I left the panel feeling so much positive energy from the audience as well as the other incredible girls I shared the panel with. I spoke at the United Nations,” she continued. “And that’s such a blessing in itself. The experience only validated my efforts and affirmed that I can only go up from here.”

Laila was also inspired by the panelists.

“One of the girls on the panel had a project where she taught self-defense to girls in India so they’d be better able to defend themselves,” she said. “Her advice was to start with six people, then 60, then 600, then 6,000 and so on to make a big difference. It inspired me to start thinking doing my Gold Award project to help Syrian refugees.”

Nina was particularly touched about a panel regarding violence against women in Ireland.

“It was my favorite because they didn’t just have ideas about how to prevent violence, but they’d implemented a program they’re using with other countries and communities to change the culture around domestic violence,” said Nina, a 17-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador.

And she can’t wait to share what she learned with her classmates and other Girl Scouts.

“I want other girls to know that even though you’re still young, what you have to say is important and you can still be advocates,” said Nina. “The issues and problems you’re facing are valid and there are people in the government who care about your problems and are working to fix them. If you want things to change, you have the power to advocate for yourself, your friends and your community.”

For more information about programs available to Older Girls, please visit gsgcnwi.org.

Gold Award: A Look Back

I can still remember 2008 when I was asked what my greatest accomplishment was for my college essay, and I wrote, getting my Gold Award.

Very few people at the time stayed in Girl Scouts to get their Gold Award. The cute faces no longer sold all of those Girl Scout Cookies and the stigma of being a good girl “Girl Scout” wasn’t very popular in high school.

I was part of the cool Girl Scout group. We liked volunteering. We spent our Girl Scout money on a cruise to Mexico and we stayed at Embassy Suites rather than a campsite for our annual Girl Scout meeting. Girl Scouting really is what you make it and it can be cool at any age.

I love volunteering and building community and that desire began with Girl Scouts – it began as my sister did her Silver Award project cleaning a home for pregnant teenagers and sewing baby bags for them with her troop. It began as we planned a trip to Savannah, Georgia to visit Juliette Gordon Low’s House or the Kennedy Space Center where we slept under a rocket. It began as I worked on badges to learn how to cook.

When I was 17, I started working on my Gold Award project. I was one of two girls in my troop to get her Gold Award. This service project for a Gold Award had to be over 60 hours and had to be something that lasted. So, if it was an event, it had to be an annual event. To start, I had to analyze my community and various issues within my South Florida community. I was more involved with my church community as a Sunday School teacher. I decided to make a mural of all of the kids in my Sunday School class for my Gold Award. I’m not the best artist, so I worked with other artists to help draw and paint my students. I think when we are young, we see our limits and don’t realize how powerful and impactful we are. It was rewarding to have my students represent a piece of the church and be a visual reminder to the diversity different voices within the congregation.

As an adult, I wanted to volunteer in my community, and I did a Google search for empowering women organizations to volunteer. The first result was Girl Scouts. I was afraid to be a Girl Scout leader because I didn’t have children, and I didn’t know if I could still relate to children. But I pursued that option.

The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana paired me with another single twenty something, and we started a new Girl Scout troop in Edgewater, Illinois. We started in the middle of Girl Scout Cookie Season and thankfully sold all of our cookies and made more in donations than in profits, so we could buy books and Girl Scout uniforms for every girl in our combination Brownie and Junior troop.

My girls constantly surprised me with their insight, their energy, and their creativity. We participated in World Thinking Day by choreographing a dance, learning about Ivory Coast, and making too many plantains to share with the other Girls Scouts. We took a day trip to the Art Institute and completed our first Girl Scout badge. I got to teach and prepare the financial statements and most importantly, I got to know kids and families in my community.

It was a great experience and the four troop leaders who replaced us also were twenty-somethings without kids. I like to think we started a trend.

Amanda Elliott is a Chicago-based marketing professional and blogs about city life and the Chicago start-up community for Windy City Cosmo.

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.

Area Girl Scouts Surprise Gurnee Firefighters with Care Packages

Participating in Girl Scout Birthday Week (March 8-13), local Girl Scouts gathered together to make survival kits for area police officers, firefighters and senior citizens to show they care.

About 30 girls gathered to assemble 100 bags during the week-long celebration. On March 21, the Girl Scouts visited Gurnee Fire Station No. 1 on Old Grand Avenue, in Gurnee, to surprise firefighters with the survival kits.

Survival kits included: Life Savers (to remind firefighters of the many times they’ve been one); Starbursts (for a burst of energy); PayDays (because service isn’t about money); paperclips (to hold it all together); Hershey Kisses (because firefighters deserve them); gum (to help the crew stick together); Tootsie Rolls (to roll with the punches); Peppermint Patties (to keep their cool); Snickers (for humor); and Mounds (for mounds of courage).

To read the full article, visit mysuburbanlife.com.

(Photo by Candace H. Johnson – For Shaw Media)

Local Girl Scouts Honor Famous Alumnae for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, Girl Scouts at Sator Sanchez Elementary School in Joliet, Illinois paid homage to famous Girl Scout alumnae during an after-school performance.

Aranza S., an 11-year-old Girl Scout Junior, presented the biography for Christa McAuliffe, a former Girl Scout and troop leader. She was an astronaut killed in the Space Shuttle Challenge disaster in 1986.

“The thing I like most about being a Girl Scout is that we get to learn about different things,” Aranza said. “I liked learning about Christa because she went to outer space. I’m really into space and like to learn about all the different planets.”

Other famous Girl Scouts honored during the performance included Josephine Groves, who founded the first African-American Girl Scout troop in 1942; Sandra Day O’Connor, retired associate justice of the Supreme Court; and first lady Michelle Obama, the honorary national president of Girl Scouts of the USA.

“I never knew she was a lawyer and a writer,” said Luz M., an 11-year-old Girl Scout Junior, who presented the biography for Obama. “It also surprised me she was born in Chicago.”

During the performance, the girls also thanked United Way of Will County for supporting the GirlSpace program, which serves girls in at-risk communities and seeks to bring the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to life through a variety of curricular areas, including science, technology, engineering and math, financial literacy and healthy living.

“Without the generosity of supporters, such as United Way, we can’t make this program grow,” said Patricia Colin, a GirlSpace facilitator.

Erika Diaz, assistant principal at Sanchez Elementary School, said it’s important for girls to learn about other influential Girl Scouts, especially during Women’s History Month.

“A lot of times, girls don’t hear about women scientists or inventors,” said Diaz, who was a Girl Scout growing up. “They need to feel empowered.”

Lisa Marie Moreno, principal of Sanchez Elementary School who was also a Girl Scout, agreed.

“It’s so necessary for girls to feel confident, have a sense of purpose and learn about giving back to the community,” she said.

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