How Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Helps the Global Economy

How Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Helps the Global Economy

An Op Ed article by Emily Stanley BS MS 
Program Manager, New Initiatives Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

GSSI's Imagine Your STEM Future Program in East St. Louis

When I was 12, all I wanted to do was be old enough to volunteer at the Belleville Area Humane Society.  I think about half the girls in my junior high were the same – we all wanted to help people and make cute puppies and kittens better.  Today's 12 year old has the same goals for her future – to help.

I see it all the time in my job – girls who want to make a difference in the world and affect real change.  I am fortunate to have a career where I get to be around these girls who are tomorrow's leaders and encourage them.  The girls I work with are part of the Girl Scout movement, specifically the STEM initiative.  Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has approximately 13,000 girl members who are out to change the world for the better.  My job is to help them have positive experiences that help shape their future goals and contribute to the future of the United States in the Global Economy. 

Here's why it's important to reach all youth, but particularly young women interested in STEM careers.  The US News/Raytheon STEM index in 2014 showed that STEM employment has increased more than 30 percent from 2013 to 2014.  This isn't just the PhDs and researchers.  These are jobs that require analytical reasoning and problem solving.  A USA Today special report also noted that more than 2.5 million well-paying skilled labor jobs will be created over the next several years.  In the St. Louis area, a 12.4% increase in STEM jobs is projected compared to a 9.2% increase in non-STEM jobs, according to the St Louis STEM Workforce 2014 report published by St. Louis Community College.

GSSI Girl Scouts participating in FIRST LEGO League Robotics

With this growth, we will need a skilled and motivated workforce.  That's where Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois helps.  In 2009, we started to look for funding specifically for our Robotics and STEM programs.  We received a grant from Motorola Foundation and fielded one First Lego League robotics team from a small town in rural Illinois.  These girls learned basic computer programming and engineering, but what they learned more importantly was perseverance, team work and problem solving.  From that one robotics team in 2009, we have grown the program to include 10 First Lego League robotics teams, 12 First Lego League Junior teams and one First Tech Challenge team. Working on small, all girl teams, girls take on more active leadership positions.  They try programming and engineering.  They step outside their comfort zones when speaking publicly.

Over 100 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois also participated in a Made by Me camp this past summer, where, in addition to the normal fun outdoor activities like archery, hiking and campfires, girls voted on which Maker projects to try at camp.  The Maker Movement refers to the current wave of tech inspired DIY projects.  Our girls chose a wired light picture, a custom routed phone charging station, solar powered derby cars and battery powered flashlights created from Altoid mint tins.  Girl Scouts participation and sponsorship of Maker events is particularly important – the MakeHers study by Intel found that participation in Maker and STEM activities can help girls develop skills and improve their earning potential.  The study states, "As a result, the STEM talent pool expands, fueling competition and innovation and ultimately strengthening the global economy."

GSSI Family STEM Night 

What ultimately brings success to any program is volunteers.  In 2016, you will see girls learning origami and then wiring their creations with light and movement.  You will see girls learn leadership skills while working on their best slime recipe.  This summer, we will bring another great week of STEM camp – this time the Science of Superheros – and we need volunteer help!  Come for a half day, a couple hours or all week and share your skills to encourage a young woman in STEM!  Bring your girl and watch her grow in this exciting environment and beautiful outdoor setting.

STEM FOR THE SUMMER: GSSI STEM Day Camp (Jr.-Amb)   GSSI Mini STEM Day Camp

We have had a lot of success in the past 6 years and we still have much to do.  In order to continue to meet the demands of girls in our area for high quality and exciting STEM programs, we will need mentors, volunteers and donations.  So when you see that young entrepreneur asking you to buy Girl Scout Cookies, know that you are not just supporting her and her troop but also contributing to the future global competitiveness of the United States!

See what happened when GSSI FIRST TECH Challenge team Oops Robotics! paired Girl Scout Cookies with their design & programming power! 

Sarah's Girl Scout Gold Award Blog: Week 8 - Getting Things Done

 

 

Hey everyone!  Guess what?  I finished those bookshelves for the library!  Well, maybe not finished, but the only thing left to do to them is install support.  I’m very thankful for all the help from my handyman, Chuck.  I’m also so very thankful that his leukemia is gone and that he is feeling much better. 

We started the day bright and early on Saturday, August 1^st.  My friend, Isaac, and Chuck bought all the wood and screws we would need and brought them back to their house.  We unloaded the truck and got straight to work.  First, we discussed possible dimensions and measurements for the shelves.  Chuck broke out a yardstick and a pencil and marked the proper lengths on the wooden boards.  Once they were all marked, we carried each board one by one to the cutting table and sawed off the excess wood.  It was my first time using a power tool, so it was a little intimidating.  However, Chuck talked me through the whole process and I grew a little more confident with each cut.  He even let me handle the saw by myself for a while.  Thankfully, I didn’t lose any of my fingers in the process!  After we finished all of our cuts, we moved our wood to the deck and began piecing the parts together.  Chuck showed us what to do as he built the skeleton of the first bookshelf.  Board by board, the structure came together.  He used brackets and screws to attach the shelves and nails to attach the backing.  Within a couple hours, the first bookshelf was finished.  The second one would be all up to Isaac and me to build.  We spent the rest of the day trying to construct a bookshelf of as beautiful as the first one.  By sunset, our second bookshelf was finally completed!  Fortunately, it looked identical to the first one!  There wasn’t enough light to install support, so we saved that for another day during the week.

A week later, I went back to Isaac’s house to finish the shelves.  We used the extra wood from the first day to create dividers.  We figured out how to tier the dividers to create the most support.  Once we agreed on those, I kept them steady while Isaac drilled them into place.  It took another whole day to complete the support, but the effort was definitely worth it. Now, the biggest and most difficult portion of my project is complete!  This week, I painted my rolling library crates.  The only thing left to do on the agenda is buy the rest of the fish supplies, set up, and host the grand opening party.  Only two more weeks to go!

 

Sarah's Girl Scout Gold Award Blog: Heavy Lifting

 

Hey guys!  Several exciting things happened this week!  First of all, all of my books received library pockets, cards, and labels.  Secondly, all of my sensory bags and flour balloons have been made.  Thirdly, my mother and I finished sewing the pillowcases for the 24x24 inch cushions Cindy wanted for the children to lounge on.  Unfortunately, the bookshelves will have to wait until August 1^st though because of scheduling issues.

This week had a bit of a stressful start, I do admit.  I managed to break two sewing machine needles within two days.  Not only that, but the thread also kept getting caught and tangled in the fabric.  Many of the stitches did not come out clean and pretty, so we had to rip out all the seams and start over.  I can honestly say that I never wanted to touch another sewing machine ever again because mine was causing me so much grief.  It took four days to complete all three pillowcases. I was ecstatic when the little stinkers were finally finished!  They are beautiful, and I hope they look well in the library.

The next issue I needed to tackle was the creation of more sensory toys.  My leader, Karlene suggested balloons filled with flour because they are colorful and have an interesting texture.  We went to the store and purchased a 25 pound bag of flour and 157 balloons.  I asked for volunteers in and out of my troop to help me create these balloons on Sunday afternoon.  Karlene, her co-leader, Penny, my best friend, his friend, and one girl from my troop came over to join my workforce.  I even baked them cookies!  We succeeded in filling every balloon within 2 hours!  Since we had time to spare, we headed downstairs to my hoard of books and organized them alphabetically so we could label their library cards.  It took a lot of cookies and patience, but we managed to finish the job!  I love my help so much! They are truly superheroes when it comes to monotonous tasks.  Every project needs support.  Volunteers make every task quicker and easier.  Soon enough, the job will seem like clockwork.

Most of the heavy lifting for the project is done (thankfully), but there is still more to do.  The literal heavy lifting will be done the day before the grand opening (getting two bookshelves up three flights of stairs). Sounds fun, right?  Regardless, I’m blessed to be gaining progress.  I won’t even have to worry about the books again until the day we set up the library.  Onward and upward!

 

 

Sarah's Girl Scout Gold Award Blog: Week Four

 

 

Hello all! Sorry about this late update.  I was at a family reunion in South Dakota last week.  It was nice to have a short break and spend some time with the family, but I’m back and ready to get to work. 

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t meet my goal of documenting all of the books by last Tuesday, but that’s okay.  More donations came rolling in, and I’m going to pick them up from Mrs. Karlene’s house tomorrow.  We definitely won’t run out of books, that’s for sure.  I’m so thankful for all the support I received thus far. 

I talked to my best friend to see if his dad would be available to help us build the bookshelves, and he said we might have to wait a week.  His dad was recently diagnosed with leukemia and just received his first round of chemo.  When I found out, I told him he shouldn’t worry about the bookshelves, but he insisted on still helping me with the project.  He still wants to donate the wood and give oral instructions, but building the shelves will be up to my friend and me.  I am completely okay with that. 

In the meantime, I need to finish counting and inventorying my books.  After they are all tallied up, I need to go online and purchase library check-out cards and pockets.  I looked up the prices this week to find a bargain.  I try my best to be a savvy shopper and save money.  With college just around the corner, saving money is a must.  However, I can spare some expense to make a comfortable, stylish library.  Like any typical teenage girls, I love to go shopping.  I might need to put in a few extra hours working at Dairy Queen, but it will be worth it!  I also have a nanny job two days a week that will help cover some costs as well. 

When pursuing the Girl Scou Gold Award, it’s very important to create a budget and try to stick to it.  Part-time jobs or self-organized fundraisers will make the project easier on your wallet.  Of course, donations always help!  This coming week, I hope to wrap up all book documentations and start making toys and eventually the bookshelves.  It’s time to get cracking!     

Sarah's Girl Scout Gold Award Blog: A Productive Week

Greetings!  How is everybody?  This week has been very productive, if I do say so myself.  Lots of progress has been made on my project so far.  Someof the work took whole days to complete, but it was definitely worth it.

My first goal of this week was to dig through the rest of my donations in order to decipher which books could and could not be used.  On Tuesday, I recruited my best friend to come over and help me sort the books.  He was more than happy to help.  We tackled each box together, looking for damage or graffiti.  It was obvious that some of the books had been in the hands of a mischievous toddler because there were Barbie stickers plastered on every page! 

 Not only did we have to worry about the stickers inside the book, but we also needed to tear off the price stickers that were stuck to the back.  Many of those pesky stickers refused to come off!  Even if they did, they left a sticky residue.  Several de-stickered books became stuck together!  Besides ripping stickers, we had to wipe away the crusty scum that covered the fronts and backs of most of the books.  After several dirty Wet Wipes, our books were smooth and sparkling.  It took nearly five hours to clean and remove stickers from every book.  I think it’s safe to say that I never want to peel another sticker off of anything ever again.  We were tired, but we finally finished the job!  My friend and I celebrated our victory with a grilled cheese break.  After lunch, we packed the books back up in their boxes and set them aside for further use.

Later in the week, on Friday, I decided to take another crack at those books.  I grabbed a laptop and parked myself in a comfy chair.  I pulled up an Excel spreadsheet and began documenting each book.  Book by book, box by box, I recorded the title, author, and ISBN number of each usable book.  It took me two days to catalog 193 books.  With the push of a button, the list was alphabetized from A to Z by author names.  The good news is, over half of my books are organized and documented on the computer.  There are still one or two boxes left to inventory, but I plan to finish them all by Tuesday of next week.  After that, I plan to use my spreadsheet as a system of how to organize the books on the shelves and as a check-out roster for the students. 

 

Remember to use your project resources whenever to can in order to be efficient.  Some things you create such as lists can come in handy later on.  Also, not every task you complete will be easy.  It will take a lot of determination and motivation.  I learned that some aspects of this project will definitely test my patience, but if I focus on the outcome, the effort will pay off.      

 

Sarah's Girl Scout Gold Award Blog: Step 1 - Picking a Project

Hi! My name is Sarah, and I wanted to document the process of completing my Girl Scout Gold Award project. 

The goal of this blog is to help and inform any girls who are possibly interested in pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Award.  Trust me, I know that creating, organizing, and leading a large scale community service project sounds intimidating, but it is possible to accomplish.  The key is finding a project that motivates you and you are passionate about. 

My goal for my project is to create a functional library and stress-free therapy zone for students with special needs at a local middle school.  The school currently has an operating library, but all of the books are too advanced for these students to read and comprehend.  The kids I’ll be working with are only able to read from a preschool to a third grade level.  I want them to be able to relate and feel included with their peers.  I also plan to add a shelf to one of the school’s rolling carts and make it into a “rolling library”.  This will allow more special needs classrooms access to the books.  

 

Since these children have disabilities such as behavior disorders and autism, the classroom can be a very stressful environment for them.  Not only do I want to create a space where they can read, but I also want to make a safe area where they can relax and enjoy themselves.  To do this, I am going to make sensory and therapy toys for them to play with.  I will also provide games, puzzles, lounging furniture, and even a fish tank for their enjoyment.  Even though I have only an 8x8 ft area to build my library, this is going to be a big project.

The first and most difficult step to starting my Girl Scout Gold Award project was coming up with an idea.  For months, my troop leader would ask me if I had an idea so we could get started a project.  Every time, I drew a blank.  I could NOT come up with a single idea!!!  My older sister had completed her project a year before and she had set the bar pretty high.  Her project’s goal was to host fun events where patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital could paint pictures, decorate cupcakes, and meet their heroes like policemen and firefighters.  She even managed to bring Olympic athletes in to meet with the kids! 

 

Long story short, I was stumped.  When my leader informed me that a friend of hers was looking for help to create a library for her students, I jumped on the opportunity.  For me, it was like a match made in heaven.  I love reading more than almost anything.  To give other kids the opportunity to share in the joy of reading sounded like a worthy cause to me.  Finding the perfect project idea can be a trial all on its own, but if you look into your hobbies, you might be surprised to find a need in the community.  Also, be sure to ask several different sources about possible projects like school advisors, charitable organizations (remember to stick to Gold Award rules), and even your troop leader.  Research lots of ideas before you ask to get approved.

Once I had my idea on lock-down, I met with my project advisor, Cindy, the teacher who asked for my help.  She told me the conditions of her students and she pitched to me her own ideas for the space.  I wrote her ideas and my own down in a handy dandy little notebook for future reference.  My leader, Karlene, and I measured the area Cindy gave me to work with and also jotted down possible dimensions for book shelves and other furniture.  We also discussed therapeutic amenities for the space.  Cindy’s only restriction was that anything we brought in had to be large enough to not be able to fit into a sneaky student’s pocket.  That seemed easy enough J. 

 

After our meeting with Cindy, we headed back to Mrs. Karlene’s house to fill out the paperwork for the Girl Scout Council of Southern Illinois.  4 hours and a whole pizza later, the paperwork was done and ready to be reviewed.  Since I had cut it pretty close to the submission deadline, Mrs. Karlene had to personally drop the paperwork off to Council the next morning while I was at school.  All that time writing up my project ideas and goals had paid off! I was approved!  With school drawing to a close and summer just around the corner, I’m ready to kick off my project. 

From India to Illinois: Girls Around the World Have the Same Hopes, Dreams and Goals

Villie M. Appoo, CEO

All around the world, girls have many of the same hopes, dreams and goals.  They desire to make lifelong friends, learn new things, become strong and confident and make a difference in their communities.   They dream of days filled with laughter and fun, of adventures they will  go on, of having successful futures and taking a stand on issues that matter most to them.

From India to Illinois, these are things girls and their families tell us they want in Girl Scouting.  This was what I wanted as a young girl growing up in Mumbai, India as a member of the Girl Guides.  And, this is what I perceive that our Girl Scouts and their families in southern Illinois want today. 
 

As Chief Executive Officer for Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois  for the past five years, it has been my goal, and that of the Board of Directors and our dedicated staff to give our Girl Scouts what they say they want and need.  How does a girl accomplish her goal of learning about robotics?  Or defy gender stereotypes and become a firefighter, leading a team of heroes?  Or set in motion her dream of becoming a leader when opportunity seems like only a buzzword to her?

How?  It’s simple...Girl Scouts.
 

Growing up in India, my experience with the Girl Guides was instrumental in my decision to pursue a career in social work.  It was the Girl Guides that started me on my journey and led me to where I am today...leading 4,500 adult volunteers to provide a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience for our 14,000 girls in southern Illinois.   One of my most memorable experiences as a Girl Guide was working with the Society for the Education of the Crippled which ran a school for physically challenged children.

We took these children camping one year -- which was a fantastic experience for both them and us.  Many of these children had never been away from home, and had never gone out of town on a train.  Taking care of them 24/7 was a great responsibility as well as a very enriching experience.  Today, I see this same compassion and love for helping others in our girls and volunteers right here in southern Illinois.   Our girls love to help others and make the world a better place by sewing blankets for sick children in local hospitals, sending care packages to our service members overseas or visiting with senior citizens at local nursing homes.

Girl Scouts is making the world a better place while making lasting impressions in the lives of both its volunteers and girl members.  Demonstrating this, a recent Girl Scouts Research Institute study shows that 94 percent of Girl Scout volunteers and 97 percent of girl members believe Girl Scouts provides them with new, fun, and exciting experiences.  And, Girl Scout research also shows that when parents were asked to describe the benefits of Girl Scouting using one word, the top responses were:  friendships, confidence, fun, community and leadership.

At Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, we are committed to serving more girls and providing them the tools, resources and experiences that will help them achieve their hopes, dreams and goals.  But, we can’t do it without YOU!  We need more volunteers to help us mentor a Girl Scout robotics team, to teach a girl how to paddle a canoe at camp or give her words of encouragement so she can gain the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place for her family, for her community and for her country.

From India to Illinois, dedicated volunteers, parents, donors and supporters are working together to ensure girls have experiences and opportunities to make the world a better place for all of us.  For more information on how you can be involved with the Girl Scout movement and help more girls on their journey, visit the Girl Scout website at www.gsofsi.org or check out all of the great things our girls and volunteers are doing on our Facebook page.

Together we can ensure that Girl Scouting is a place where all girls from India to Illinois can achieve their hopes, dreams and goals.

  

Villie M. Appoo
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Boehning: Girl Scouts Empowered Me

As a young kindergartner, I can recall sitting in a circle and singing songs with many of my close friends during Girl Scout Daisy meetings.  My mom and I worked on earning try-its over the weekends when I was a Brownie.  Being a Junior Girl Scout allowed me to lead weekend Girl Scout camps with younger troops.  One of my favorite Girl Scout memories is when my troop and I walked across the Eads Bridge to bridge from Juniors to Cadettes.  I assisted building a “Square Foot” Garden in Madison, Illinois for the Sow What? journey as a Girl Scout Senior.  Finally, I completed my Girl Scout gold Award  project as an Ambassador, the highest award given in Girl Scouts.  Overall, my journey through all of the stages of Girl Scouts has empowered me to be the strong and independent woman I am today.

One important value Girl Scouts taught me in the value of friendship.  When I was a Daisy, there were about 25 girls in my troop.  Now there are only six girls remaining.  Though our numbers shrank, the remaining girls are some of my closest friends today.  Without Girl Scouts, I may not have encountered the women I call my best friends.  Also, I learned how enjoyable it is to make new friends.  I made many new friends at Girl Scout camps when my troop worked alongside members of another group. My favorite Girl Scout song says “Make new friends, but keep the old.”  I’ve learned to live by that rule because of Girl Scouts.

Also, Girl Scouts has allowed me to develop valuable leadership skills.  During my high school career, I directed overnight camps and assisted leading Troop #329.  For my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I mapped the trees and benches in the parks around O’Fallon and designed a website that allows community members to view the project.  I worked with the men from the Public Works office in O’Fallon by leading them through my website design vision.  These leadership opportunities not only allowed me to give back to my community, but also taught me how to work with both children and adults. 

Most importantly, Girl Scouts showed me the joy of helping others.  Girl Scouts allowed me to help around my community with projects such as building a Square Foot Garden for underprivileged families, mapping dedication trees around the city of O’Fallon, and assisting at local animal shelters.  These valuable experiences have shaped my life goals.  In the future, I want to help others like I did in Girl Scouts.  I hope to obtain a job working towards perfecting alternative sources of fuel.  With the price of petroleum continuing to rise, energy sources like nuclear, wind, and solar become more viable options.  My innovative ideas can improve these alternative fuel choices to fulfill their maximum potential.  I want to be responsible for major improvements in the world around me.  Girl Scouts, because it empowered me to help others so much already, has inspired me to work hard to achieve this dream.   

Looking back on the thirteen years I have been a Girl Scout, I am so thankful to have been a part of it.  The experiences I gained through this activity have ultimately shaped who I am today and my goals for the future.  I recommend Girl Scouting to all girls, young and old, because the friends and skills you gain while participating in this group are immense and deeply satisfying.  I plan to become the leader of my future daughter’s troop so she can experience the great things Girl Scouts has to offer.




Rebecca bridging from Daisies to Brownies.

 

Rebecca excelled in many areas during her high school career -- including honors academics, a variety of school clubs, volleyball, marching band and teaching Sunday School. Even with her busy schedule, Rebecca participated in many community service projects during her thirteen years as a Girl Scout.  This commitment to helping others guided her to earn the Trifecta Award, which is a new GSSI award presented to Girl Scouts who earn the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Award.  In Fall 2013, Rebecca plans to attend University of Illinois to major in chemical engineering. With her dedication to exploring alternative energy, Rebecca joins the Girl Scouts legacy of alumnae who go on to thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers, including virtually every female U.S. astronaut.

Cati Cronin: Born to Be a Girl Scout!

Cati Cronin, Girl Scout Ambassador

My name is Cati Cronin, and I am with Ambassador Troop 541 from O'Fallon.  I was born to be a Girl Scout!  My grandma, my mom, my sister, and even my dad, have always been part of the Girl Scout family. 

Girl Scouts gives me a great feeling that I am part of something bigger than just an average organization.  It gives me a chance to express myself through programs and activities.  As I entered into middle school and high school, my friends started saying how being a Girl Scout isn’t cool, but it is my passion!  I strive to be a part of every opportunity that comes my way.  Without Girl Scouts, I’m not sure I would be the person I am today.  My thirteen years have helped shape my character and have provided me with a set of morals and principles.  Girl Scouting has given me the ability to become a leader, learn from positive role models, and become a truly caring part of society. 

Girl Scouts is an amazing organization that allows girls to discover who they are, create long lasting friendships, explore new things, and to become strong and independent people.  I tell everyone about the great experiences I have had.  Such as the time I got to talk to astronaut Sandy Magnus while she was in space, or all the times that I helped with programs and all the younger girls gave me hugs because they appreciated the hard work we put into the events.  I would tell them about our council’s Century Celebration, and how cool it was to be the only girl that was part of the committee that planned it.  .  I also cherish the trip I took to Savannah with my mom and my sister, my co-leaders, and two of my best friends!  It was awesome to see where it all began, and to walk in Juliette’s footsteps.  Girl Scouts is a chance to feel like you fit in and be yourself

Throughout my thirteen years as a Girl Scout, I have encountered many truly inspirational people, and all of these amazing once in a life time opportunities are thanks to them.  I know so many wonderful volunteers who donate their time and resources to make sure girls have a great time during programs and events.  Most of the volunteers I know have families, full time jobs, and also volunteer in their communities.  Volunteers are the heart of Girl Scouts! They have helped guide me into the person I am, and always wanted to be.  I admire all of them, and I am truly thankful for having them in my life. 

I thank them for giving me the courage, confidence and character to find success in Girl Scouting, in school, and in every aspect of my life.  I am forever appreciative of all that my Girl Scouting experience has given and taught me, and I look forward to having a troop of my own!

During her thirteen years in Girl Scouting, Cati has served GSSI in many capacities, including as a GSSI Apprentice and a Girl Scout ex-officio Girl Board Member.  She was named a 2013 Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout .  She plans to study Elementary Education in college, to pursue a career as a teacher.

Displaying vintage uniforms with Troop #541 during
GSSI's celebration of the 100th Annversary of Girl Scouts.

Jennifer Randolph: Girls Grow Outdoors

Jennifer Randolph, Outdoor Program Manager

March is one the hardest months for me to be inside. As I sit here typing, I am hearing the beautiful serenade of our friends the spring peepers through the window and the birds are scurrying around in the underbrush preparing for spring.  We are so lucky to live in Southern Illinois, where the bounty of nature is all around us!  What a secret treasure we have in Shawnee National Forest, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and several state parks for the public to enjoy. Many of these agencies offer FREE programs not only to the general public but also to Girl Scout troops!  Talk about inexpensive, fun and educational entertainment!

Each season in Southern Illinois holds so many outdoor treasures for us to enjoy. Winter brings an opportunity to really see what is in the woods. With leaves out of the way, we have a great vantage point for wildlife and the lay of the land. What a great time of year to watch for Bald Eagles! Spring brings wildflowers, the wonderful smell of earth and rain and all of that lovely green comes back! Fall brings the beautiful colors of changing leaves, campfires and hiking trips.

But summer perhaps, is the best time of year in Southern Illinois! Why, you say? Because summer opens the door for hundreds of excited girls to attend GSSI resident and day camps!

Each year in June and July, there is a buzz in the air as sleeping bags are dug out, canteens are washed and backpacks are filled with camping essentials! Not only is camp crazy fun, but it plays an important part in a girl’s development, as well!

Camping is so much more than just sleeping outside in a tent or a cabin!! These camping experiences are teaching girls life skills, independence and, for Pete’s sake, it’s getting them out of the house and away from technology for a while. By sending girls to camp, parents are helping their daughters build courage, confidence and character while exploring a new world of experiences. Girls have the opportunity to make new friends, learn how to work together in a unit and try fun and new activities that they may have previously thought they couldn’t do.

Camping also helps girls foster a love and appreciation of the outdoors. It is important now, more than ever, that children feel a connection to nature so that in turn, they will grow to be environmentally responsible adults.

So you see, something as small as attending a session at resident camp or day camp can really make a long term difference in a girl’s life! Why not give it a try this summer!    You can view GSSI’s summer camp opportunities online at: http://bit.ly/13GSSIcamp.

Girl Scouts having fun at camp last summer.



Jessica Stanley: Why Girl Scout Product Programs Matter to Me

Jessica Stanley, Product Program Manager

I just turned 30 years old as the Fall Product Program was ending and it made me take a step back and remember all of my experiences in life thus far.   I graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Bachelors of Science in Marketing.  I remember being a freshman in college and being so overwhelmed at all of the options for degrees.  You are 18 and you have to make this major life decision that will affect you for the rest of your life, but how are you supposed to choose the right one for you?  I actually attended three different colleges and changed my major four different times before I found my love and passion for marketing and business. 

That’s why I strongly believe the Girl Scout Product Programs are so beneficial for girls.  Through these programs, girls are learning so many skills that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives.  They get to try new things. They learn business and financial skills that, no matter what career field they go into, they are able to adapt to help them succeed.   Even something as simple as learning how to set a goal and then figuring out how to achieve it makes such a big impact.  I remember a few years ago, taking girls to pick out the rewards that they earned during a Product Program.  One of the girls said to me “I wanted an ipod for a long time.  I saw we could earn one selling cookies, so I said to myself, ‘I am going to get that.”   She was kind of a quiet, humble girl, but you could tell by the look on her face that she was incredibly proud for setting and reaching her goal.  

I am so proud of all of our girls.  I think back to the Annual Meeting last March, when we recognized the girls that sold over 1,000 packages of cookies through the Girl Scout Cookie Program.   Everyone in the room stood up, clapped, and celebrated with them. Realizing that their hard work was admired was a special moment that those girls will remember for the rest of their lives and something that I will also never forget.  It meant so much to them and it puts into perspective how much these girls are gaining from being in Girl Scouting. 

The skills and experiences that girls are learning by participating in Girl Scout Product Programs will help provide them with a variety of experiences to help them understand what they want to do in life.  They will have confidence to know that if they set their mind towards achieving a goal, they will succeed. 

Gabrielle, last year's Top Cookie Seller, grins as she receives a standing ovation
from the crowd at GSSI's 2012 Annual Meeting.

Angie Suhre: Real Girls Tri...and Win



Angie Suhre, Director of Program

Being active has always been a passion of mine.  I remember playing outside all day as a kid, riding my bike, climbing trees, and creating obstacle courses around our yard.  We were lucky enough to have an awesome swing set in our backyard that I used countless hours.  When middle school approached, the sports offered to me were volleyball and basketball.  Since I loved being active, I signed up for both.  Although I enjoyed playing sports, I discovered quickly I was HORRIBLE at both of the sports offered.  I stuck with it, even though I was always on the ‘B’ team.  At least I was doing something, even if that ‘something’ was sitting on the bench at games. I thought about trying softball or other sports, but after my failed attempts at volleyball and basketball, I figured ‘ball’ sports may not be for me. 

My freshman year in high school, my cousin convinced me to join the track team.  After some resentment, I gave track a whirl.  Low and behold, I LOVED it!  As uncoordinated as I was at ‘team’ sports, I wasn’t too bad on the track.  I spent my high school career running track (the mile and two mile), as well as cross country.  I discovered that running was a sport that I could do as an individual, as well as with a team. 

In college, I majored in Community Health because I wanted to share my love of physical education and healthy living with others.  When I joined the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, I was eager to share my love for recreational activities with other Girl Scouts.  I wanted to encourage girls to try something new and different, and maybe spark their interest in a sport or activity.  Girls who are active in sports and recreational activities have greater self-confidence and self-esteem, so it seemed like a natural fit with the Girl Scouts.

Sadly, by middle school, many girls (and boys) drop out of sports such as basketball, softball, or soccer because their skill level is not up to par with other players. Helping them find a physical activity that they enjoy will provide health and wellness benefits throughout their life – which is why Girl Scout programs like Real Girls Tri are so important!  The best part about a triathlon is that, no matter what skill level you are at, you can still challenge yourself.  Many girls do not get the chance to compete in Junior Triathlons; this experience is something unique that GSSI has been able to offer.  It is such a confidence builder for girls to say “I ran in a triathlon.  I finished the race and did the best that I could.  I am a winner.”  It doesn’t matter if the girls came in first or fiftieth, what matters is that they finished. I am so proud of ALL of our girls who competed in the triathlon this year.  I want to congratulate them again for all of their hard work!

GSSI Girl Scouts at Real Girls Tri were all smiles!

Teaching girls about healthy living is one of the key priorities of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.   GSSI offers many programs about fitness, nutrition, positive communication and other necessities of physical and emotional wellbeing.   Do you have a skill or passion that could help promote healthy living to girls in southern Illinois?  Contact Micah Bolandis, Director of Volunteer Management at 800.345.6858 or e-mail mbolandis@gsofsi.org.

See photos from 2012 Real Girls Tri