Monday, March 31, 2014

Thin Mint Sprint Spirit Contest Open to GSSI Troops!




Win TWO FREE NIGHTS at camp while participating in Thin Mint Sprint! 

GSSI is calling all troops to come get active during our Thin Mint Sprint being held Saturday, June 7 at Camp Chan Ya Ta in Worden. GSSI is offering a timed 5K Trail Run, timed 5K Obstacle Course and a Fun 5K* Obstacle (untimed).

We are holding a Spirit Contest for troops to participate. Sign up for the event (any of the three) and attend with your troop showing your team spirit in whatever way you want! Wear Girl Scout Green, dress in a team theme, or show your Girl Scout spirit in your own unique way. We will award 1st and 2nd place prizes to the troops displaying the best Team Spirit. Prizes will be TWO FREE nights of camping at a GSSI campground. To register online or get more information go to www.gsofsi.org or call 800.345.6858.

*There will be an option on the course to shorten the length of the route during the untimed event to less than 1.5 miles but may not include all the obstacles.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Did You Know? GSSI Camps Have Canoeing and Archery Available!






Canoes are available at Camp Butterfly, Camp Cedar Point, Camp Chan Ya Ta, Camp Wassatoga and Camp Whispering Oaks with prior approval and proper certification.



Archery is available at every camp with prior approval and proper certification. For more information about GSSI camps, please visit us at www.gsofsi.org or call our Property Department at 618.692.0692.

Friday, March 28, 2014

March Membership Mania: Week 3




March Membership Mania is coming to a close…..hurry and submit your completed girl and adult 2014 registrations to council before 3.31.14.  Remember, in order to earn incentives for your March registrations your SU must have turned into Council completed registrations for this CURRENT year according to the number of troops you had at the start of the month.  If you want to know where you stand with your numbers, please call your MDM. 
 Here are some highlights: 
Service Units that have met their March Mania recruitment goals and are eligible to select one of the awesome incentives:
  • Service Unit 101 Alton/Godfrey
  • Service Unit 09 Centralia
  • Service Unit 87 West Frankfort
 
The following Service Units are so close!
  • Service Unit 12 Clay County -  only needs 5 completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
  • Service Unit 521 Western Coles  – only needs 3 completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
  • Service Unit 39 Lawrence County – only needs 3 more completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
  • Service Unit 78 - only needs 9 more completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
  • Service Unit 211 Waterloo – only needs 11 more completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
  • Service Unit 533 Clark/Cumberland - only needs 8 more completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
  • Service Unit 85 Wayne/Hamilton/White - only needs 8 more completed girl or adult registrations to reach incentive goal
It’s not too late! You still have until March 31, 2014 to turn in completed registrations to GSSI to qualify for March Membership Mania. 
 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Sarah Gruenewald from Millstadt Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award




Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Sarah Gruenewald from Millstadt has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 
 
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Sarah renovated the Millstadt Area Food Pantry, which had not had any updates for almost 30 years and was in dire need of new storage and an updated working space.  To help the volunteer-based organization, Sarah was able to reorganize, rebuild and replace worn out fixtures by engaging Millstadt community members and her classmates at Belleville West to share donations, time and skills.  She also worked hard to finance the project by raising funds through participating in babysitting nights, car washes and the Girl Scout Cookie Program with her troop.
 
Under Sarah’s management, the food pantry received new flooring and counters, sturdier shelves and storage that was streamlined to meet volunteer needs and to open up working space.   Belleville West’s Art Club also painted the walls with an upbeat theme to provide an overall more welcoming, positive environment for volunteers and patrons. 
 
“I hope the Food Pantry will be able to serve more hungry people and that those people will receive a bit of encouragement when they step inside,” said Sarah. “I feel that the Food Pantry is now at its full potential.  I wish I had started this sooner.”
 
Along with fulfilling her goal to make a positive impact in her community, Sarah was also grateful for the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills.  “This project really made me jumpstart skills I didn’t know I have, like speaking in front of a large group and budgeting,” she said.  “Most importantly, I learned that the key to good work is having the right intentions.  The key to success is caring where the work is going and how it will benefit others.  All of these traits will be engrained in me for the rest of my life and affect everything I do. ”
 
Sarah is the daughter of Sharon Gruenewald and David Gruenewald.  She is currently a senior at Belleville Township High School West and a member of Girl Scout Troop #463.
 
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life.  To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable.   The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work.  Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Bridget Ray from Lebanon Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award


Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Bridget Ray from Lebanon has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

Bridget dedicated her Girl Scout Gold Award project to designing an interactive sensory room for Route 21, a transition house at O’Fallon Township High School that helps autistic students become accustomed to life after school. 

“Resources in public schools are decreasing while the rate of autism diagnosis is increasing,” said Bridget.  “Nationwide, medical and education specialists are learning more and see that autistic students can gain from sensory environments.”

She first researched the therapeutic benefits of sensory room to plan her design and to create an instructional booklet for others who wanted to help in the future. Next, she secured donations so that she could create a library of sensory materials.  Bridget herself bought and donated a swing chair for the room and hung wind socks made of donated fabric.  As a final touch, she enlisted a local artist to paint a mural in the room.  To celebrate the room’s opening, Bridget also organized a party for Route 21 students and staff that was hosted by other teen Girl Scouts that she trained to run activity stations with the special needs students. 

Along with fulfilling her desire to make a meaningful difference, earning her Girl Scout Gold Award project also allowed Bridget to develop valuable skills such as organization, communication, conflict management and project leadership.  She also developed a greater sense of confidence in her ability to make a positive impact on the world.

 “It was a joy to spend time with the students at the transition house,” she said. “This project showed me that one person really can make a difference.  I hope to inspire others to get involved in their community.”

Bridget is the daughter of Brian Ray and Kathy Ray.  She is currently a sophomore at O’Fallon Township High School and a Girl Scout Senior in Troop #1123. 

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life.  To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable.   The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work.  Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Rose Detmer Named Pearl of the Month for March 2014




GSSI is pleased to announce that Rose Detmer from Germantown has been named the March Pearl of the Month. GSSI’s Pearl of the Month Award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has delivered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that the approximately 14,000 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Nominees must meet several criteria, including completion of all required training for his or her volunteer position as well as providing outstanding service to his or her Service Unit or the Council.

Since January, Rose has volunteered her time on weekly basis to assist GSSI with the implementation of E-Biz. This commitment involves weekly meetings, homework and hands-on training, as well as knowledge in working on existing computer systems and entering data. She has provided valuable input to ensure this vital process goes smoothly. Rose’s biggest accomplishment within the Service Unit is excelling as the Service Unit Director for SU 15 - Clinton County. Since Rose has taken this role, Service Unit membership has grown exponentially. There are now 25-30 volunteer leaders participating at each monthly meeting. She is committed to making sure new volunteers are not only placed as troop leaders, she goes the extra mile and trains all of them and makes sure they’re comfortable with troop finances. She provides continuing education to newer leaders and always sees to it that they are successful. She’s also an excellent treasurer and keeps Service Unit funds in order. Rose is a true asset to Clinton County and GSSI.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

2014 Day Camp Opportunities from Southern Illinois!






Camp
Location
Date
Grades
Deadline
Bond County
Contact:  Misty Mezo at 217.556.1887
First Presbyterian Church
Greenville, IL
June 9-12
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1-6
5/8
Coles County
Contact: Heather Todd at 217.549.6305
Fox Ridge State Park
Charleston, IL
June 16-20
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1-12
5/15
Effingham County
Contact: Dawn Quicksall at 217.342.4233
Camp Wassatoga
Effingham, IL
June 16-20
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
6-12
5/5
Camp Wassatoga’s Dude Ranch*
Contact: Dawn Quicksall at 217.342.4233
Camp Wassatoga
Effingham, IL
1-5
5/5
Jackson County
Contact: Anne Townsend at 800.345.6858
Camp Cedar Point
Makanda, IL
June 30-July 3
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1-5
4/29
Jefferson County
Contact: Joan Foltz at 618.315.2218
Mt. Vernon Little House
Mt. Vernon, IL
June 26-27: 6-9 p.m
June 28: 10 a.m. -3 p.m.
1-6
6/1
Madison County
Contact: Laura Oesterle at 618.520.2856
Camp Chan Ya Ta
Worden, IL
June 9-13
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1-3
4-7
5/23
Contact: Julie LaFrance at 618.581.6537
Highland Silver Lake
Highland, IL
June 9-13
6-9 p.m.
K-12
5/2
at 9 p.m.
Contact: Poonam Jain at 618.978.1847
Camp Chan Ya Ta
Worden, IL
June 16-20
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
1-12
5/15
Contact: Denise Coad at 618.444.2775
Camp Torqua
Edwardsville, IL
June 23-27
9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
1-7
5/10
Contact: Laura Keiser at 618.659.1022
Camp Torqua
Edwardsville, IL
July 14-18
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1-6
5/15
Contact: Mary Buchanan at 618.692.0692
Camp Torqua
Edwardsville, IL
July 21-25
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
4-12
6/23
Contact: Mary Buchanan at 618.692.0692
Camp Torqua
Edwardsville, IL
July 24-25
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
2-3
6/23
Massac County
Contact: Jennifer Larrison at 618.638.2582
Fort Massac State Park
Metropolis, IL
June 18-20
9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
1-12
6/1
Monroe County
Contact: Teresa Bushong at 618.975.1469
Camp Vandeventer
Waterloo, IL
June 23-27
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1-7
5/16
Randolph County
Contact: Beverly Vanover at 618.559.8974
Randolph Co. Conservation Area – Chester, IL
Aug. 1-3
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1-12
7/1
St. Clair County
Contact: Jodie Herbstritt at 618.978.5703
American Legion Post 58
Freedom Farm - Freeburg, IL
June 9-13
9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
1-12
5/17
Contact: Karlene Hoefener at 618.531.5918
Horner Park
Lebanon, IL
June 16-20
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
K-8
5/26
Contact: Sandy Nelson at 618.410.5329
Dupo Park
Dupo, IL
June 23-27
5-9 p.m.
K-12
5/15
Union County
Contact: Marci Malnar at 618.697.3738
Cobden Park
Cobden, IL
June 16-20
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1-8
4/15