Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Around the Council: October 2018

Check out what's been happening around the 40 1/2 counties that make up
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' council!

Service Unit 42 - East Williamson County kicked off their Nut, Candy & Magazine Program by learning about "This Able Vet" service dogs. 

Effingham County Troops #2032, #2013, and #2300 traveled to Kentucky, where they toured Mammoth Cave and Crystal Onxy Cave, earned the Cave Explorer patch and two Junior Ranger badges offered by the parks.  They also visited Abraham Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home.

Girl Scouts marched in the Jefferson County Fall Fest Parade.

Girl Scouts hosted a registration booth at Pinckneyville Mardi Gras. 

Paris Troop #2555 has been busy!  Some of the activities they welcomed the new Girl Scout year with included raising the flag at school, touring the local historical society, planting trees, geocaching, meeting police officers and firefighters, exploring the inside of an ambulance bay, volunteering at a soup kitchen, holding a fishing derby, earning the Junior Ranger badges at Walnut Point State Park, programming robots and coding, appearing in the Honeybee Parade and going to Disney on Ice. WOW!

Troop #8037 from Thompsonville and Troops #8005 and #8007 from West Frankfort welcomed veterans back to Southern Illinois from an Honor Flight at Williamson County Airport.  Each Girl Scout was able to walk a veteran off the flight down Freedom Path. 

Girl Scout Seniors from Service Unit 101 - Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana completed the first part of their Car Care badge with mechanic Chris White.  Girls learned everything they need to know about taking care of their car including changing a tire and changing their oil.

New Baden Junior Troop #242 hosted a Juliette Gordon Low birthday party for their Service Unit - complete with games from her era!  There was also a storytelling session about Juliette's life, a sign language lesson because Juliette had hearing loss and tea party style refreshments because Juliette would ask girls to join Girl Scouts by inviting them to tea.  

Girl Scouts from SU 522 - Eastern Coles County had a float in the Eastern Illinois University homecoming parade in Charleston, IL. 

DuQuoin Troop #8843 had some outdoor fun at Camp Wartburg. 

Girl Scouts from SU 54 - Perry County went to the Trunk and Treat parade together.

Johnston City Troops #8863 and #8084 made a great Girl Scout banner.

Troop #113 donated a branded sign and tablecloth to Metro East Humane Society.

Girl Scouts baked together at the Girl Scout information night in Ashley, IL.

Daisy Troop #8046 from Benton participated in the Fall Take Action project by having a Juliette Gordon Low birthday bash. Girls learned about Girl Scouts' founder with a story, craft and cupcakes.  They also discussed how important it was to JGL that girls serve their communities.  To honor JGL, each girl brought a donation to make a birthday party in a bag and donated 12 bags stuffed with party supplies to The Night's Shield Children's Shelter in West Frankfort.

Troop #688 enjoyed goat yoga.

DuQuoin Troop #8123 learned how to paint a girl dancing in the rain from their friend Joyce Ellege.  The inspiration for the artwork was the quote, "Don't wait for the storm to pass, instead learn how to dance in the rain."

Girl Scout Troop #8653 enjoyed Halloween festivities with residents of the Countryside Nursing Home in Mount Vernon.  They made BOOtiful crafts and decorations, listened to music together, wrapped mummies and painted pumpkins. 

Girl Scout Troop #8653 learned about Financial Literacy with Legence Bank.  Girls had a bank tour, explored all aspects of banking, looked at different currencies, and learned about the importance of saving and setting a budget. 

Femme Fit 618, an all women's gym in Mount Vernon, welcomed Girl Scout Troop #8653 and #8631 to get active and learn more about fitness and healthy eating. 

Girl Scouts Bringing NASA Created Program to Southern Illinois

Elizabeth Sanders, I'Anna Hubbard, Kayloni Howes and Esra'a Ross Jaber
take measurements before building a prototype solar-powered water pump.

Girls on Mars? On June 21, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) hosted a STEM program at North Elementary School in Godfrey that explored the idea that humans could use engineering to live on Mars. Nineteen girls from ages 11-14 participated in the “Powered and Pumped Up!” challenge created by NASA’s Glenn Research Center to plan, build, test, and improve a stand-alone solar powered water pump. While developing their hands-on project, girls learned about light intensity, lenses and manipulation of light, and how mirrors can be used to focus energy, along with other scientific concepts. The curriculum ties into current research being conducted by engineers at Glenn Research Center regarding space travel.

Tyrriah Parker, Amariyah McClenney, and Nariah Bick build a solar-powered
water pump from their own design.

GSSI was one of 13 youth-serving agencies in the Midwest to receive a grant to incorporate the NASA program into their summer curriculum. By the end of the summer, “Powered and Pumped Up!” will also be delivered in Effingham, Carterville and Glen Carbon. STEM is one of four areas that form the foundation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, along with Outdoors, Life Skills and Entrepreneurship.


This fall, Girl Scouts of the USA pledged to bring 2.5 Million girls into the STEM Pipeline by 2025. The organization also launched new programming that includes 23 new STEM and Outdoor Badges and plans to introduce 18 Cybersecurity badges and a series of Space Science badges over the next two years.

Madison Slack inspects her team's solar-powered water pump.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois: Around the Council May 2018

Check out the exciting things that Girl Scouts have been up to all around Southern Illinois!  See our photo album to catch Girl Scout troops in action!



Alton area Girl Scout Brownie Troop #55 had their first-ever camp out!  The girls went hiking, practiced first aid and put up tents!

Troop #792 from Madison County collected 192 lbs of tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of St. Louis - and received a trophy prize for their efforts! 

Cadette Troop #2141 from Charleston earned their Field Day patch where, among other games, they played a match of Quiddich! 

Girl Scouts from SU 202 ClinClair worked on their Outdoor Journeys, as well as Junior Aide and Leader-in-Action awards. 

Freeburg Troop #8349 learned a lot of OWL Flight School. 

Troop #8163 from Carbondale learning water safety

Troop #8163 from Carbondale has been busy - they learned water safety, earned their Pottery badges, went camping and explored the 3 Cheers for Animals Journey at Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge.

Marion Troop #8869 honored WSIL TV anchor Evie Allen with the Inspiring Woman award at their 2nd Annual The Empowerment Project and Empower You Career Fair.

Girl Scouts from SU 107 South Macoupin County marched in the Staunton Memorial Day Parade.

Girl Scouts from SU 101 Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana marched in the Alton Memorial Day Parade.

Girl Scouts placed flags on veterans' graves at the St. Peter and Paul Cemeteries in Waterloo to honor Memorial Day. 

Girl Scouts from Troop #238 held a Court of Awards and potluck. 

West Williamson County Girl Scouts marched in the Herrin Festa Parade. 

Girl Scouts at Scott Air Force Base learned more about firefighting. 

Troops #238 and #513 from Scott Air Force Base took a fire station tour and learned about the engines on the flight line. 

Girl Scouts from Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Troop #370 bridged to Ambassadors by serving as Pages in the Illinois House of Representatives. 

SU 202 ClinClair held an awards and bridging ceremony at St. John's United Church of Christ. 

Troop #130 from Wood River placed flags on veterans grave sites as part of their Memorial Day commemorations. 

Brownie Troop #744 and Daisy Troop #1044 volunteered to serve the monthly community meal in Gillespie. 

Troy Cadette Troop #717 completed their Breathe Journey Take Action project by placing plants in the classrooms at their middle school, thanks to a donation from Sunnyside Nurseries.  Each plant removes volatile compounds from the air.  

Girl Scout Troop #717 added plants to their middle school classrooms.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Around the Council

Check out the exciting things that Girl Scouts have been up to all around Southern Illinois!  See our photo album to catch Girl Scout troops in action!

Junior Troop #83858 from Vandalia, IL has been honoring community members as "Everyday Heroes" - including a local police officer and the town's only crossing guard.

Daisy Troops #283 and #676 stayed overnight at Camp Torqua.

Girl Scouts testing water at Scott Air Force Base

The Bioenvironmental Unit at Scott Air Force Base helped Girl scouts do water testing for PH, chlorine and bacteria as the girls worked on their World of Water Journey.

On April 21, Girl Scout Seniors from Service Unit 101 Alton/Godfrey/Roxana/Wood River hosted an Enchanted Friendship Day for younger Girl Scouts.  Girls played games, put on friendship skits, made flower pots for each other and learned to pass the friendship squeeze. 

Girl Scout Troop #8653 from Mount Vernon, IL discussed respecting authority at their April troop meeting.  They had special guests including Mr. Wayne Stone, Field School Principal, Casey Hanes and Lynne Mulch, parents of Girl Scouts and Police Officer Christina Drage.  Visitors discvussed how to show and give respect to peers, adults, parents and authority figures in charge.  

Troop #688 from Clinton County has been working on their Girl Scout Bronzw Award.

West Willamson County Girl Scouts helped welcome veterans home from an Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Girl Scouts from Troop #8125 from Pinckneyville, IL introduced STEM activities to local pre-K students.

Girl Scout Troop #8626 from Mount Vernon, IL donated 26 baby baskets to Angel Cove.

Katie, Mia and Delaney from Troop #8115 discussed earning their Girl Scout Bronze Award and community service with the audience at Girls World Expo.

Girl Scout Troop #8597 at the Anna Veterans Home

Girl Scout Troop #8597 created a Fairy Garden for the Anna Veterans Home.

Girl Scout Troop #8843 from DuQuoin, IL went to Build-A-Bear. 

Madison County Girl Scout Troop #130 visited Sherry's Snacks in Alton to earn their Business badges and learn what it takes to operate a small business. 

Service Unit 42 Marion held a weekend campout.

Girl Scout Victoria was honored at Girls World Expo.

Jackson County Girl Scouts held a successful Arbor Day event.  Girls helped plant trees in Attucks Park in Carbondale, potted their own dogwood saplings, made seed paper, created nature-inspired paintings and chalk pictures, learned nature photography, made bamboo windchimes and made rain sticks. 

Girl Scout Junior Troop #145 from Staunton explored Chicago together.  Over the course of the weekend, the girls walked nearly 22 miles while visiting Willis Tower, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Millennium Park and Pizano's. 

Girl Scout Troop #8349 from Freeburg has been busy lately - including attending Tab Top Pandemonium with Ronald McDonald House, enjoying Great American Human Foosball and visiting Lincoln's New Salem Home.