Tag: Travel

Global Action Volunteer Team: Who We Are Part 2

The Global Action Volunteer Team (GAVT) is a group of volunteers who LOVE all things global and travel. They’ve traveled extensively locally, nationally and internationally with Girl Scouts and on their own. The team is here to serve the members of GSGCNWI to make global, cultural and travel experiences fun and accessible to our entire Girl Scout community. These adults are here to help you every step of the way, ensuring you are ready for your next adventure.

We interviewed each of the volunteers and asked them for their tips and tricks when it comes to local, national and international travel. Here are some of our favorite local destinations and where we’re headed next!

Madison in Peru.

1. What’s your favorite local destination (no flights involved)? ? 

Fawna: I like going to Milwaukee and exploring the lakefront there. The Garfield Park Conservatory and all of the beautiful parks in Chicago are also great places to visit.

Maureen: I love the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I enjoy wandering around the various gardens and photographing the flowers in bloom. I especially love the English Walled Garden and the Japanese Garden. 

Clarissa by a gorgeous waterfall.

Clarissa: I love to visit Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in DuPage County. I can hike for hours off-trail, climb up muddy walls, trek through water, and enjoy the peace and quiet. Sometimes I run, walk my dog, take my family, or take my Girl Scout troop. 

Camille: I grew up in Northern Indiana so my favorite place(s) to go are the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Warren Dunes in Michigan. I like to hike up and down the woodland trails and along the beach. In the winter you can sled down the dunes in Michigan, the fall has the colored leaves and the summer the beach.

Karen: My favorite local destinations are Traverse City, MI, Milwaukee WI, and Saugatuck, MI. 

2. Where are you going next? 

Shari: Our next three trips are Portland, OR, NYC and Montreal, QC.  We haven’t planned much yet. We’ll spend time on the coast in Oregon, horseback ride in the mountains and sight see with friends who live there. In NYC, we’ll see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, tour some attractions, hang out with some friends and then drive to Niagara Falls. We’re not certain about Montreal yet.

Alex: Germany! Road tripping around the country. 

Madison: This summer, I’ll head to Paris, London, Madrid, and Lisbon for work! I’ll be kicking off our international internship programs and consulting programs in all four cities!

Fawna on one of her many adventures.

Kimberly: My next vacation will be to Arizona/Utah – to see Antelope Canyon, Bryce and of course the Grand Canyon!  Plan to spend some time hiking, relaxing by the hotel and maybe take a helicopter ride if I get gutsy. 

Rosy: Southeast Asia – I plan to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore for my birthday!

Clarissa: My family are going to Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize, to enjoy the local culture, scuba dive in the Blue Hole in Belize, ride on speed boats between countries, and swim in the ocean and cenotes (a natural sinkhole). 

Maureen: Summer of 2019 will be busy for me. I’ll be traveling to India and Scotland. In India, I’ll be co-leading a Destination to the WAGGGS World Center, Sangam, and we’ll be heading to the Taj Mahal at the end of the trip. In Scotland, I will travel through the Highlands, see friends, and celebrate with family. 

Camille: For Spring Break our family is planning a trip to the San Francisco Bay area to see the sights and visit relatives.  We are planning on going to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Monterey Bay Aquarium, ride a trolley car and hopefully hit a baseball game.

Fawna: I’m going to Ireland! I am going see the Giant’s Causeway, Cliffs of Moher, Kilkenny Castle and the cities of Dublin, Belfast, and Galway.

Karen: I’m going to Savannah, GA. I’m going to do the polar plunge on New Year’s Day on Tybee Island (and other fun stuff). 

Shari on one of her many family adventures.

Interested in taking your own adventure?

Learn more about traveling with Girl Scouts GCNWI

Plan your trip with Girl Scouts Destinations!

Are you an adult interested in becoming a GAVT Member? APPLY NOW!

Girls can ALSO join GAVT! Email Ashley at achristensen@girlscoutsgcnwi.org for more information.

Global Action Volunteer Team: Who We Are Part 1

The Global Action Volunteer Team (GAVT) is a group of volunteers who LOVE all things global and travel. They’ve traveled extensively locally, nationally and internationally with Girl Scouts and on their own. The team is here to serve the members of GSGCNWI to make global, cultural and travel experiences fun and accessible to our entire Girl Scout community. These adults are here to help you every step of the way, ensuring you are ready for your next adventure.

We interviewed each of the volunteers and asked them for their tips and tricks when it comes to local, national and international travel!

Maureen in Tanzania.

Get To Know GAVT

When were you first bitten by the travel bug?

Maureen: The travel bug bit me when I was in 7th grade, and I applied for my first Destinations (called Wider Opportunity when I was a girl), a trip to Wyoming (National Center West) for horseback riding. I loved traveling by myself, meeting girls from across the country, having my own horse for two weeks, and learning how much more traveling I could do. I ended up going on five Destinations! and I never stopped traveling!

Fawna: When I was in second grade my grandparents took me to California and I was blown away by the ocean and how different it looked from where I lived in Michigan. After that I was really interested in exploring other places and seeing as much as I could.

Shari: Growing up, my cousins lived in different states and we spent every Winter and Spring Break driving to see them. I loved exploring different parts of the Unites Stated and it inspired me to continue to travel as an adult.

What Inspired You to Continue Your Involvement with Girl Scouts?

Madison: I am currently involved as a volunteer on the Global Action Volunteer Team to help advocate for travel for girls from a young age. I want girls to know they can truly run the world (and seeing the world is the first part of that!).

Maureen: I was a Girl Scout for 12 years, then immediately became a Lifetime Member, volunteering first as a Campus Girl Scout and in various ways over the past 26 years. I still volunteer because I believe that Girl Scouts gave me the courage and confidence to dream big, give back, and engage in the community. I want to help more girls learn about different cultures and to see the world! 

Alex: I believe that all girls should be given the opportunity and the resources to experience the world. 

Karen: I joined Girl Scouts in 1977 and have been involved at all levels since then.  I have helped with or run many troops, been a national delegate 4 times, earned my Girl Scout Gold Award and everything in-between.

Camille in Machu Picchu, Peru.

What (So Far) Has Been Your Greatest Adventure?

Camille: The most adventurous thing I have done is take a boat trip down the Amazon.  My traveling partner and I had to take a ponga (smaller speed boat) to reach the larger cargo boat to travel from Iquitos, Peru to Manaus, Brazil.  We slept under the stars in net-hammocks that we tied up on the ship.

Clarissa: Recently, I traveled to Colombia, and I trekked for four days in the jungle during the rainy season to visit the Ciudad Perdida (“the Lost City”), which is a city built in approximately 800 AD by the Teyuna indigenous people.  Through this adventure, I met people from multiple countries, slept in hammocks, hiked barefoot after blisters prevented me from wearing shoes, crossed roaring rivers by only holding onto a line, and learned about indigenous Colombian peoples. It was amazing!

Rosy: I swam in a spring at the top of a mountain, on a cliff, overlooking a petrified waterfall in Oaxaca, Mexico. It was terrifying but the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. 

Karen: The most adventurous things I’ve done are night diving the coral reefs off an island close to Cuba, hiking my first 14er (a mountain over 14,000 ft high!) in a snow storm and taking my Girl Scout troop to Europe for 3 weeks!

Madison: I have a 3-way tie: riding a camel in Chefchaouen, Morocco; canyoning in Interlaken, Switzerland; and climbing Huayna Picchu in Peru!

Alex: Taking the Trans-Siberian rail all the way across Russia!

Rosy in Italy.

Interested in taking your own adventure?

Learn more about traveling with Girl Scouts GCNWI

Plan your trip with Girl Scouts Destinations!

Are you an adult interested in becoming a GAVT Member? APPLY NOW!

Girls can ALSO join GAVT! Email Ashley at achristensen@girlscoutsgcnwi.org for more information.

Fund Your Travels: Financial Assistance and Scholarships for Girl Scouts to Travel

A blog series to help girls, parents, and leaders learn ways to fund your Girl Scout travels!

Girl Scouts exploring the beautiful Door Co.

Are you ready to travel the globe and see what the world has to offer? Maybe you’re interested in joining a Girl Scouts Destinations trip or a Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) council-sponsored trip such as our upcoming You-and-Me Trips to urban/hip St. Louis, MO, or Door County, WI for the outdoor adventurer!

Whatever your future Girl Scout travels may be, you’re going to need some money, and now is the perfect time to start planning and earning!

Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance for travel is available through our council and GSUSA.

  • Juliette Low World Friendship Fund: If you apply for a Girl Scouts Destination to one of the WAGGGS World Centres, you will automatically receive $500 toward the cost of your trip;

Use these money saving tips towards upcoming You & Me trips! There is still availability on the beautiful Door County, WI trip!

Door County Trip Includes:

  1. A boat tour on Ride the Fireboat: Originally designed as a City of Chicago Fireboat, the “Fred A. Busse” was built in Bay City, Michigan in 1937 as a way to combat city fires from the Chicago River and Lake Michigan! Girls on last summer’s trip even got to try using the water hose! 
  2. Next up was a stop at The Farm where Girl Scouts can feed baby goats, cuddle with kittens, milk cows and see what life would be like working on a real farm.  
  3. A guided tour of The Ridges Sanctuary – state park that preserves the natural area with ridges and swells along the coastline.  
  4. A meal at Al Johnson’s where you can pet goats that live on the roof!
  5. Spending time with family members exploring Sister Bay and Egg Harbor. 
  6. A swim party! This was a favorite of many of the girls.

Explore the outdoors with your fellow Girl Scouts on You & Me Door County.

Fund Your Travels: Have Questions? We Got Answers!

A blog series to help girls, parents, and leaders learn ways to fund your Girl Scout travels!

Are you ready to travel the globe and see what the world has to offer? Maybe you’re interested in joining a Girl Scouts Destinations trip or a Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) council-sponsored trip such as our upcoming You-and-Me Trips to St. Louis, MO, or Door County, WI! 

Whatever your future Girl Scout travels may be, we have the answers to some of the questions you may have when it comes to planning your trip!

FAQ

Here is a list of the Frequently Asked Questions our Service Unit Support Manages receive!

  1. Can we do a GoFund me page? When it comes to earning money for travel, we want our Girl Scouts to exercise their skills and knowledge of fundraising that is why crowd sourced fundraising is NOT permitted.
  2. Wait, but can we ask people to donate to us for our trip?  Yes you can through fundraising and donation events set up by your Girl Scouts. For more info see guidelines in Volunteer Essentials, page 78
  3. Can we accept cash donations?  Yes.
  4. What do we do for the girls that aren’t going on the trip?  Be transparent throughout the process, carefully documenting all troop accounts and sharing with girls and parents so everyone is clear what money is for trip and what money is for “general stuff”.  
  5. Can our troop have separate accounts for girls with money earning for trips? They often have some girls who want to travel and some that do not so it is tough to decide what money goes where.   Any money raised/earned is the property of the entire troop, no individual girl or adult.  Again, be transparent and open and encourage the girls to develop guidelines as to how to allocate money based on fund-raising participation, the girls usually have great ideas and are very fair! 
  6. How do we go about getting a receipt for donor or an in-kind donation letter?  See Volunteer Essentials, page 80 
  7. Can troop leaders earn money for being on the trip as well? It is up to each troop to decide! Some have the leader pay their own way, while others support the leader to attend. Again, be clear upfront how many adult chaperones are needed, whether the troop will help pay for the chaperones, if other adults can attend and payment details.

Use these money saving tips towards upcoming You & Me trips!

St. Louis, MO and Door County, WI

Read Blog 1 in our series: Fund Your Travels: Money-Earning Tips for Funding Girl Scout Trips

Read Blog 2 in our series: Fund Your Travels: Planning Tips for Funding Your Girl Scout Trips

Fund Your Travels: Money-Earning Tips for Funding Girl Scout Trips!

A blog series to help girls, parents, and leaders learn ways to fund Girl Scout travels!

Are you ready to travel the globe and see what the world has to offer? Maybe you’re interested in joining a Girl Scouts Destinations trip or a Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) council-sponsored trip such as our upcoming You-and-Me Trips to St. Louis, MO, or Door County, WI!

Whatever your future Girl Scout travels may be, you’re going to need some money, and now is the perfect time to start planning and earning!

Ways to Earn Money to Fund Your Girl Scout Trips

Sell Girl Scout Cookies Right Now!

Cookie season is the perfect time to start earning money for trips and travel! You can participate in the cookie program in multiple ways: sell online with Digital Cookie, set-up a cookie booth with your troop, and circulate cookie order cards through the Goal Getter program.

Girl Scouts earn $0.90 – $1.00 of each package of cookies they sell!

The proceeds earned from participating in the cookie program can be used for traveling with your Girl Scout troop. As your troop sells cookies it earns $0.90 for each package sold. Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors (grades 4 – 12) can earn even more per package by choosing the proceed option: in lieu of earning rewards, she can choose to earn $1 per package of cookies sold.

Cookie Dough

Once a Girl Scout sells 1,000 packages of cookies she can opt to earn Cookie Dough as her reward for various levels. View the 2019 Cookie Program Rewards. If Cookie Dough is chosen as the reward, it will be issued to the girl’s parent as a gift card that can be used toward any council-sponsored activity including travel.

Note: New this cookie season, the Digital Cookie platform makes it easier to reach the 1,000-packages goal! Girls create their website and email friends and family, near and far, reaching more customers easily and quickly. Cookies are shipped directly to the customer!

Conduct a Money-Earning Activity

If you and your troop have participated in both the Cookie Program and Fall Product Program, you may then organize additional money-earning activities to earn funds as a group!

Here are some fun ideas to earn money with your troop:

Applications for your money-earning activity are due at least 4 weeks before your trip.

You cannot conduct a money-earning activity during a time that will compete with the Girl Scout Product Programs (so not during October, January, February, or March), but it’s good to begin planning early!

If you and your troop are interested in organizing a money-earning activity, there are several guidelines you must follow. Familiarize yourself with the Money Earning Activities section of the GCNWI Volunteer Essentials (VE) starting on page 75.

Learn More about Traveling with Girl Scouts »

Travel with Your Girl Scout

Registration deadlines are approaching quickly for our upcoming You-and-Me trips to St. Louis and Door Count! On these trips, the first step in the travel progression, Girl Scouts and their mom, grandma, aunt, or an adult female friend can travel together!

Learn more:

Read the blog Series!

Click here for Funding Your Travels:  Planning Tips for Funding Your Girl Scout Trips; Fund Your Travels: Financial Assistance and Scholarships for Girl Scouts to Travel; Fund Your Travels: Have Questions? We Got Answers!

Destinations Spotlight: Space Camp

Destinations Spotlight: Space Camp

It was Saint Augustine who wrote “The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page.” So why not open a new chapter?

While Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana provides amazing travel opportunities, for those interested in different travel experiences should explore Girl Scouts Destinations. Girl Scout Destinations are the ultimate adventure for individual girls ages 11 and older! With different trips every year, there’s something exciting for every individual. You will not only acquire new life-changing experiences, but you will also make friends from all over the country as you travel with Girl Scouts from different states.

This past summer, some of the girls in our council went on their own Destinations adventures; three of our Girl Scouts participated in Space Camp at the US Space and Rocket Center in Hunstville, Alabama, one to the Costa Rica rainforest and one all the way to Europe! We hope you enjoy the stories from Space Camp attendees Maysa, Simone and Emma and become inspired to take a trip yourself.

Maysa getting ready for Space Camp!

Maysa

On June 17th, I flew to Huntsville, Alabama to attend Space Academy at the US Space and Rocket Center. I am so glad I found out about this camp thanks to Girl Scouts Destinations. From the activities and missions to the trivia and fun facts, Space Academy was a great opportunity and the experience inspired me to see space careers differently and take action to make the world a better place.

During my week at Space Academy I was involved in so many exciting projects including space missions, rocket launching, and special theme nights. I had two space missions; a lunar mission and an orbiter mission. During the lunar mission, I was in the Orion capsule as LMS 6. During the orbiter mission, I was in mission control in the position FOO. The missions were very important learning experiences and we earned points for Commanders Cup based on our team’s successful execution of them. The missions helped me understand the importance of the different roles individuals play in a space mission and also the tremendous responsibility one takes on to fill these roles. We also launched rockets that we built and designed in groups of four. This project helped us get to know our teammates and be creative. My teammates were sister Girl Scouts from all over the world. They came from many different places, including New Zealand, Canada, and almost every region of the U.S. With us all being Girl Scouts on a Destinations trip, we got to do a special swap party that allowed us to get to know each other and share some special things about where we all came from.

Going to Space Academy inspired me to see something differently. Specifically, before this destinations trip, I had no idea of the many careers in space exploration and at NASA beyond being an engineer or astronaut! There are all kinds of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) careers that are needed at NASA, including chemists, botanists, even teachers! My destinations trip to the US Space and Rocket Center inspired me to continue to take action as a Girl Scout and as a student who loves math and science. Taking action in this case means taking advantage of every opportunity available for me to learn all I can about STEM. Currently, I aspire to be a biochemist. As a biochemist, I would make the world a better place with my work by exploring chemical compounds and molecules of different organisms and how they react in various combinations. Biochemists have very important jobs that include research to find cures for diseases as well as solving simpler problems like how to make safer and more effective beauty products.

I am very grateful for the scholarship that helped make this Destinations trip possible for me. Thanks to Girl Scouts, I continue to be inspired to follow my dreams. I would love to do another Destination and see what else I can learn and discover. Learn more about the scholarship here.

Simone looking snazzy in her astronaut uniform!

Simone

For my destination, I went to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The trip taught me many things about outer space, the devices used in space, and what people do there. Prior to this trip, I thought the only people who went into space were astronauts who collected different samples and  bring them back to earth. Now that I was able to experience space camp, I learned that people who go into space are scientist who doesn’t just collect samples, but actually do experiments and others from different fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) also get to go into space. This trip has allowed me to see things as a puzzle and each person/item is a piece.

Once again THANK YOU for this wonderful opportunity.

Emma participating in one of the many activities offered at Space Camp.

Emma

This trip inspired me to see different careers of the women in STEM careers. Before, I used to think that it was great that we had so many women in the STEM field, but it wasn’t until my trip to Space Camp that I got a better understanding of their careers and learned about my passion for mine.

Now, because of all the smart women I met, I realize, that it is good that we have so many women in STEM, but we need more. The Space Program in the U.S.A could benefit so much from having more women involved. So many women, in history (from the Space Program), played a pivotal role in helping the U.S. get to the moon and beyond. Some examples are Katherine Goble Johnson and Mary Sherman Morgan. I feel that with more women in NASA, the program will speed up, and help us to get to Mars and beyond much sooner!

If you’re interested in going on a Destination, check out the GSUSA website.

Learn more about the 2019 Space Camp Destination, click here.

Get to Know…Your Friendly Senior Manager of Travel Programs: Ashley Christensen

Get to Know…Your Friendly Senior Manager of Travel Programs: Ashley Christensen

When I stepped off the plane in Beijing in May 2004, during my sophomore year of college, I knew that I was destined to live in China someday. That month-long study abroad throughout China and Hong Kong changed my life forever.

Not only did it inspire me to be more globally aware and a worldwide, lifelong traveler, it was the catalyst to me living in Hong Kong. Two college degrees, two elementary teaching positions, and six years later, I stepped off another plane, this time in Hong Kong.

I was carrying a bundle of nerves along with my three giant suitcases. Of course I was nervous about living in this strange world, but I was doing it all alone which increased my worry tenfold. Even though I got lost on innumerable occasions, had a hard time making friends at first, and missed my friends and family back home like crazy, this was an adventure that I had chosen and was excited about.

It took me many months to find my confidence. One month to go to a coffee shop and actually eat there by myself, not just take it and run back to the safety of my tiny apartment. Two months to go a movie alone. Three months to make my first real friend outside of the school where I taught. Four months to stop crying to my parents every week on our weekly Skype dates (this was before smartphones, mind you!).

And yet I found my confidence. For that, I am really grateful. Not only did I survive those first few hard months, I flourished for my nearly two years there. Hong Kong helped me to become a published writer, a certified yoga instructor, a world traveler (country #28 was ticked off in September!), and a confident, brave woman.

At first, I was honestly so worried about doing any single thing alone. “How in the world will I ever meet a friend if I can’t even leave the house?” I often asked myself. Then one day, I grew the gumption. I was gonna do it! I went by myself, of course, to see one of my now all-time favorite sites: Ten Thousand Buddhas. I’d been putting it out into the universe that I wanted to make a new friend, and lo and behold on this day that I’d shoved myself outside of my apartment, I met a friend.

I titled my blog post that day “Ten Thousand Buddhas and One New Friend.” From there, my social life skyrocketed. I have been in a friend from Hong Kong’s wedding, traveled to several countries with others after moving back to Illinois, and have Whatsapped for hours on end. In fact, one friend is even visiting Chicago as I type this!

Ten Thousand Buddhas
Ten Thousand Buddhas, Hong Kong

Not only was I changed during those two years, I often look back at my time in Hong Kong and the difference I made with my students. By profession, I’m an elementary school teacher, so I was able to teach third grade at an American school. When I went back to Hong Kong in 2016 to visit, I went to my school and saw some of my former students.

I wish I had a video camera recording their faces the day when they realized who I was; their faces of surprise and excitement were priceless. It still makes me teary-eyed thinking about the kids whose lives I impacted. On my birthday in September, I received an email from a former student wishing me a “Happy Birthday” from Hong Kong! I hadn’t seen this girl in five years!

Hong Kong students
Visiting my students in Hong Kong, December 2016

Some of my fondest memories of my time in Hong Kong are with my students, first in our tiny, dripping classroom, and then to the new school. Though I am no longer a teacher, I still hope that in my current position at the Girl Scouts planning travel opportunities, I am able to make a difference in the lives of the girls.

I hope that through this work I can inspire these girls to be more globally aware and worldwide, lifelong travelers. Maybe, someday, these girls, too, will take that first step off the plane and just know, “Someday, I’m gonna live here!”

Girl Scouts in Mexico
With Girl Scouts in Mexico, August 2017

Learn more about the travel programs Ashley plans at girlscoutsgcnwi.org! 

What I Learned from Traveling as a Girl Scout

What I Learned from Traveling as a Girl Scout

The following is a guest post from Girl Scout Lillian H…

The Eyes to the Skies Destination at Camp WaBak in Marietta, South Carolina has inspired me to do things differently in many ways. One of those ways is to always look up, because you never know what you might see. Another one is to try new things, even if you think you won’t like them at first. Finally, don’t be afraid to mess up or fail, everyone makes mistakes.

During the solar eclipse, we all thought that the sky was going to remain cloudy during totality. However, when it reached totality we all looked up and the clouds had parted.

Even when it was cloudy we all kept looking for changes in the environment. On the brink of totality an owl flew from the woods surrounding us to a secluded pine tree.

At this destination, at least for me being from Illinois, there were tons of new opportunities. We all went for barbecue, I tried hush puppies for the first time. There was a flight simulator at the Challenger Learning Center, I was a little scared at first, but it turned out to be tons of fun. Trying new things will never be a disappointing opportunity to experience.

There were a lot of things that I messed up on. We made bottle rockets out of two two-liter bottles, mine wasn’t the best but I wouldn’t necessarily say that it failed. We also did creek walking and I have to say, that’s the one thing that I messed up. Once we had gotten to the waterfall I slipped and fell into the knee deep water and skinned my knee on a stone. After that I had tons of fun wading in the ankle deep water with some of my new friends.

This destination has really taught me to always look up, try new things, and not to be afraid of messing up.

 

If you’d like to learn more about our council’s travel opportunities, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

Traveling with Troop 50384

Traveling with Troop 50384

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The following is a guest post from members of Girl Scout Troop 50834…

Recently, our troop traveled all throughout Europe visiting London, Paris and Barcelona. The trip was very interesting. We were able to see many famous landmarks: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London, Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Notre Dame, La Sagrada Familia.

We also saw famous people: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Camilla – Duchess of Cornwall, Felipe VI and Letizia – King and Queen of Spain. We also enjoyed seeing the play Wicked in London, it was amazing! We were able to meet one of the actors after the show.

Wicked

We rode the train everywhere we went and met different cultures of people from around the world; we also saw many different currencies. We visited PAX Lodge in London and received a Girl Scout pin. The Spanish markets had so many different foods and the crepes in France were fabulous! It was a trip of a lifetime that we will always remember.

Savannah

We also went to Savannah, Georgia. Getting the opportunity to experience the history of how Girl Scouts began was amazing. We were accompanied by another Girl Scout troop from Kansas during our time there as well.

Some of the highlights of our trip were visiting the birthplace of the Girl Scout founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and learning about how she interacted with and helped girls. Other high points were going on a dolphin cruise on Tybee Island and collecting seashells on the beach. We had a great time discovering our Girl Scout history and more about each other.

If you’d like to learn more about our council’s travel opportunities, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

Your donation of any amount can help girls continue to experience adventure!
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You-and-Me: The First Step in Travel Progression

You-and-Me: The First Step in Travel Progression

You-and-Me on Mackinac Island 2018 marks the fifth Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana-sponsored trip to the Michigan island.

During this three-day, two-night adventure, Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes travel with their mom, grandma or favorite female adult friend for a fun-filled weekend adventure. The total price of the trip is approximately $350 per person which includes coach bus, accommodation, multiple meals and activities.

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The trip takes place from Aug. 5-7, 2018, and the group stays at the iconic Mission Point Resort in shared accommodation. Group activities include a horse-drawn carriage ride, butterfly house and admission to Fort Mackinac.

Girl Scouts and their family members get a full afternoon and evening to explore – whether that’s renting a bike to circle the 8.3 miles around the island, horseback riding, eating free fudge samples or shopping.

Following the success of GSGCNWI’s You-and-Me on Mackinac Island, the council has now added a second You-and-Me option in Door County, Wisconsin. Travel dates for this new opportunity are June 24-26, 2018.

Door County

Again, Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes travel with their mom, grandma or favorite female adult friend for a three-day, two-night adventure. The total cost of the trip is approximately $275 per person, and includes coach bus, accommodation, multiple meals and activities.

Door County Trolley

The group will take part in a trolley tour, guided hike at the Ridges Sanctuary and a boat tour. There will also be free-time to explore the towns of Egg Harbor and Sister Bay. Accommodation is shared-suites at Newport Resort in Egg Harbor.

Registration for both trips closes on January 31, 2018 and requires a $150 deposit. You can register for the Mackinac Island trip here and register for the Door County trip here.

If you’d like to learn more about our council’s travel opportunities, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org.