South Macoupin County Troop #1075 Visits Chicago

South Macoupin County Troop #1075 took the train for a weekend getaway to Chicago.  They stayed at the Hosteling International Hostel and visited local attractions like the Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago and Shedd Aquarium.  Of course, they sampled some deep dish pizza as well.

See Pics:

Troop #1075

Visiting the Museum of Science and Industry

Hello Chicago!

Posing with "The Bean"

Did your troop take a trip this summer?  Let us know at customercare@gsofsi.org! We'd love to share your story! 

Girl Scout Troop #107 from South Macoupin County Visits Savannah, Georgia

Girl Scouts from South Macoupin County Troop #106 visited Savannah, Georgia - birthplace of Girl Scouts' founder Juliette Gordon Low and the location the organization was founded on March 12, 1912.

While in Savannah, girls visited local attractions including the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, Girl Scout First Headquarters,Juliette Gordon Low burial site in Laurel Grove Cemetery and nearby Tybee Island. 

While traveling, the troop also stopped at the Superman Statue in Metropolis and Ruby Falls in Tennessee. 

Girl Scout Troop #2921 Takes Trip to Cleveland

Girl Scout Troop #2921 from Nashville, IL recently visited Cleveland, OH.  It was a fun-packed trip!  Some of the highlights included engaging educational activities like touring a power plant, working on their Trees badge, taking a boat tour and enjoying local sites such as the President Garfield Home, Glenn Visitors Center and a working Amish Farm.  Other activities were recreational fun - visiting the house from the movie a Christmas story, going to an amusement park and putt putt golf course, and playing Whirlyball - an exciting combination of lacrosse, hockey, basketball and bumper cars.  Now that's a summer trip to remember! 

Check out these pics from their adventure:

Earning the Trees badge

Whirlyball action!

Waldameer Waterworld Amusement Park

Power Plant Tour

Sunset on the beach

Staunton Girl Scout Troop Visits Chicago

Staunton Junior Girl Scout Troop 145 visited Chicago to explore the city from April 27 to 29, 2018.

The Girl Scouts and their leaders traveled via Amtrak from the Carlinville station to Union Station in Chicago -- a first train ride for many of the girls. 

During the course of the weekend, the Girl Scouts walked nearly 22 miles while visiting:

• Willis Tower to gaze at the city 103 stories below 
• the Shedd Aquarium to learn about the animals and see a dolphin show
• the Field Museum to learn about mummies, dinosaurs, the microscopic world of soil, and natural history
• the Adler Planetarium to take a look at one of the Mars Rovers
• the Museum of Science and Industry to learn about coal mining and the science of storms and take a ride in a flight simulator.
• Millennium Park and the Bean (cloud gate sculpture)
• Pizano's to try Chicago deep dish pizza

Girl Scout Troop 145 earned the money for their trip through numerous cookie booths throughout the last year. Next year they are excited to plan to visit Savannah, GA -- the birthplace of Girl Scouts -- and see the ocean!!!

GSSI Travel Opportunities: Plan an Autumn Adventure at Trout Lodge

Girl Scout Juniors – Ambassadors get ready for an autumn adventure at Trout Lodge. Join GSSI on October 7 – 9, 2016 at Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO where we will participate in indoor and adventure activities. The cost of the trip is $225 per person and includes 2 nights lodging in a Forest View Cabin, buffet meals, an age appropriate zip line journey, a horseback or pony ride, hayride and a long list of other recreational activities. School bus transportation to and from Trout Lodge is included with pick up points to be determined. Visit http://www.ymcaoftheozarks.org for an overview of the facility. The deadline to register for this weekend of autumn fun is Thursday, May 19, 2016. 

Contact GSSI Program Manager Mary Buchanan at mbuchanan@gsofsi.org or 618.692.0692, ext 1115 for more information.  

See program entry on GSSI Online Calendar

Photos Courtesy of Trout Lodge:

GSSI Forming Travel Committee

GSSI Program Manager Mary Buchanan is seeking Cadettes-Ambassadors, leaders and parents to form a Girl Scouts Travel Committee.  Participation will consist of quarterly web-based meetings (GoToMeeting) to discuss possible future GSSI trips and the Travel Pathway.  

The first meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.  Interested girls or adults should e-mail Mary at mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

Join GSSI For a Trip to ACE Adventure Resort!

ACE is the place to go for adventure! Cadettes - Ambassadors are invited to join GSSI on an exciting trip to West Virginia. Experience a full day whitewater rafting on the New River Gorge with a grilled riverside lunch then hang back and spend time on the lake with water trampolines and the "Blob". You will also get to choose your own additional activity. Do you want to zipline, rock climb, paddleboard or maybe go horseback riding? The choice is yours. Price includes charter bus transportation, lodging for 3 nights, 9 meals, whitewater rafting, lake activities and choice of second activity. 

Date: July 19, 2016 at 6 a.m. to July 22, 2016 at 3 p.m.
Level: Cadettes-Ambassadors  

Registration Closes at 11:59 PM ET on Oct. 15, 2015!

Location:  ACE Adventure Resort - Oak Hill, West Virginia 

Payment Schedule: 
Deposit of $50 is due with online or mailed registration.

Balance due as follows:
$450 (girl) or $485 (adult) due in single payment by October 29, 2015

OR make 3 additional payments as follows:
$150 (girl or adult) due October 29, 2015
$150 (girl or adult) due February 25, 2016
$150 (girl) or $185 (adult) due May 26, 2016

For more information, please contact Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

2016 ACE Adventure Resort Trip Deadline Extended

ACE is the place to go for adventure! Join GSSI on an exciting trip to West Virginia. Experience a full day whitewater rafting on the New River Gorge with a grilled riverside lunch then hang back and spend time on the lake with water trampolines and the "Blob". You will also get to choose your own additional activity. Do you want to zipline, rock climb, paddleboard or maybe go horseback riding? The choice is yours. Price includes charter bus transportation, lodging for 3 nights, 9 meals, whitewater rafting, lake activities and choice of second activity. 

Date: July 19, 2016 at 6 a.m. to July 22, 2016 at 3 p.m. 

Registration Closes at 11:59 PM ET on Oct. 15, 2015!

Location:  ACE Adventure Resort - Oak Hill, West Virginia 

Payment Schedule: 
Deposit of $50 is due with online or mailed registration.

Balance due as follows:
$450 (girl) or $485 (adult) due in single payment by October 29, 2015

OR make 3 additional payments as follows:
$150 (girl or adult) due October 29, 2015
$150 (girl or adult) due February 25, 2016
$150 (girl) or $185 (adult) due May 26, 2016

For more information, please contact Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

ACE is the PLACE for Adventure! Cadette-Ambassador Trip Deadline Coming Soon!

Don't miss this exciting Girl Scout Travel Opportunity for Cadettes-Ambassadors!

Date: July 19, 2016 at 6 a.m. to July 22, 2016 at 3 p.m. 

Registration Closes at 11:59 PM ET on May 14, 2015!

Location:  ACE Adventure Resort - Oak Hill, West Virginia

ACE is the place to go for adventure! Join GSSI on an exciting trip to West Virginia. Experience a full day whitewater rafting on the New River Gorge with a grilled riverside lunch then hang back and spend time on the lake with water trampolines and the "Blob". You will also get to choose your own additional activity. Do you want to zipline, rock climb, paddleboard or maybe go horseback riding? The choice is yours. Price includes charter bus transportation, lodging for 3 nights, 9 meals, whitewater rafting, lake activites and choice of second activity. Your confirmation letter will show the actual departure time and the approximate return time which may be different than what is shown above. 

Payment Schedule: 
Deposit of $50 is due with online or mailed registration.

Balance due as follows:
$450 (girl) or $485 (adult) due in single payment by October 29, 2015

OR make 3 additional payments as follows:
$150 (girl or adult) due October 29, 2015
$150 (girl or adult) due February 25, 2016
$150 (girl) or $185 (adult) due May 26, 2016

For more information, please contact Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

GSSI Girl Scouts Experience Music City!

On June 6-8, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois took a trip to Nashville, Tennessee!  Girls checked out the Country Music Hall of Fame, visited the Grand Ole Opry, toured the historic Ryman Auditorium and much more!  Find more photos on our Facebook Page! 

Girl Scouts Are Going Places! Enjoy GSSI Travel Opportunities in 2014

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is taking off!  We have many exciting trips planned for the future for Girl Scout Juniors-Ambassadors so check our website often for upcoming trips, travel information, travel fundraising opportunities and more!  Please plan ahead for travel costs.    Check out the great travel opportunities we're offering in 2014:

4G Jamboree (The Great Girl Scout Gathering on the Gulfcoast) (July 7-12, 2014)

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors: Join 1,000 other girls and adults for a week at beautiful Florida Gulfcoast University in Fort Myers, FL.  This environmentally conscious university, with over 400 acres of restored and preserved natural areas and 5 miles of hiking trails, is the perfect location for a mixture of traditional Girl Scout activities with new experiences, new friends and new ideas.  Those attending will choose from a selection of activities ranging from archery, boating, crafts, self defense, STEM, photography, yoga and more.  Cost of trip is $450 per person (includes accommodations for 5 nights, 14 meals, activities, t-shirt and patch).  You can register with a non-refundable deposit of $75 per person.  Final payment will be due 4/30/14.  This event is sponsored by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.  For registration information, contact 4gjamboree@gmail.com.

City Girl: Junior Chicago Trip 2014 (November 7-9, 2014)

Girl Scout Juniors: Take this exciting trip to the Windy City and see what it’s like to be a City Girl!  Cost of trip is $150-$200 per person.  Deadline to register is 2/14/14.  $50 Deposit due at time of registration.  Payment schedule: $50 due 4/3/14; $50 due 7/3/14; final payment (estimated $50) due 10/2/14.

Disney: Let the Magic Begin (June 10-14, 2015)

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors: We are going to Disney World!  Join us for a unique glimpse of behind-the-scene action at Walt Disney World in Florida!  Explore the theme parks with your friends and discover the magic at Special Interest Sessions designed especially for Girl Scouts.  Start planning and saving now for this unique travel experience.  The estimated cost of this trip is $600-$700 with participants making their own travel arrangements at an additional cost.   Lodging, Park Passes, Special Interest Sessions and Meal Plan are included in the GSSI trip cost.  Additional travel resources are available upon request.  Participants are responsible for meal costs while traveling.    Adults participants must be registered members and complete extended trip training. Deadline to register is 3/31/14.  $50 deposit due at time of registration.  Payment schedule: $50 Deposit due 3/31/14 with registration; $150 due 7/3/14; $150 due 9/4/14; $150 due 11/6/14; $150 due 2/5/15; final payment (estimated $50) due 4/2/15.

California Dreamin2 International Camporee 2015 (July 26-August 2, 2015)

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors: Camp out with thousands of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world at California Dreamin2!  During your seven day adventure you’ll have a chance to take fun trips off-site and participate in exciting workshops and so much more!  Whether you’re looking for your next big Girl Scout adventure, or looking for your first, this is an excellent opportunity.  Mark your calendars and register early!  Cost of trip is $350 per person.  Deadline to register is 4/1/14.  This event is sponsored by Girl Scouts of Northern California.  For registration information, go to http://cadreamincamporee.com.

For more information about GSSI Travel Opportunities, please contact Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.