Laura Estes of Carterville Named January 2015 Pearl of the Month

 

 

Laura Estes of Carterville has been named GSSI’s January Pearl of the Month. The 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.

In addition to her regular duties as a troop leader, Laura is an advocate for hunger and homelessness and has managed the adoption of The Promise Food Pantry in Marion for her Service Unit. She has motivated each troop to donate canned goods, coats, gloves, hats and money. She has organized this initiative into monthly projects for the entire Girl Scout year. Her troop is very active and Laura is an inspiration to all who work with her.

 

Junior FIRST LEGO League Girl Scout Robotics Teams Forming

 

Junior FIRST LEGO League (JrFLL) teams are forming for teams of up to six girls in Kindergarten to 3rd grade. All you need are a team of girls, two coaches and the desire to experience an amazing STEM program. Registration fees, kits and training are provided. Teams will show off their hard work at the Southwestern Illinois JrFLL Expo at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville on March 21.  For more information, please contact STEM Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

Deadlines Are Approaching For GSSI Travel Opportunities

 

 

 

 

Junior-Ambassador Leaders – it’s time to start making 2015 travel plans with your troop! We have some exciting council run trip opportunities for you to consider. Leave the hassle to us and register your troop for the fun. Please note the January registration deadlines. This allows ample time for troop fundraising. For more information, please contact Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

Horsing Around in Kentucky (Cadettes-Ambassadors)
Date: June 12-15, 2015 (DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 2)
Cost: $300 for girls, $330 for adults

Join GSSI in exploring the Horse Capital of the World in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. We will visit Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Horse Park, take a Horse Farm tour and have a trail ride complete with BBQ picnic. While in Louisville, we will also visit the Louisville Slugger factory. Included in the trip is bus transportation, lodging for two nights, admission fees and seven meals.

Chills and Thrills in Indiana: Junior Trip 2015
Date: October 9-11, 2015 (DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 25)
Cost: $220 for girls, $235 for adults

Experience Halloween chills and thrills when we visit Holiday World, the Indy Children’s Museum and the Indy Zoo. All of these locations will be decked out in their Halloween splendor. Trip includes bus transportation, lodging in a RV at Camp Rudolph, admission to Holiday World, the Children’s Museum and Zoo, two breakfasts, lunches and dinners and Saturday evening s’mores.

ACE is the PLACE for ADVENTURE! (Cadettes-Ambassadors)
Date: July 19-22, 2016 (deadline May 14, 2015)
Cost: $500 for girls, $535 for adults

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 three nights, nine meals, whitewater rafting, lake activities and choice of second activity.

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.

 

Digital Cookie Program Update: January 21, 2015

 

 

 

GSSI Girl Scouts have sold more than 3,500 boxes of cookies through the new Digital Cookie platform! Way to go, girls!

If you are on the Digital Cookie platform & need assistance, please use the "Contact Us" link to access the Digital Cookie helpdesk. 

 

Want to sign up for Digital Cookie? It's not too late! If you have not shared your e-mail address with us yet for an invite, please contact NutsAndCookies@gsofsi.org.

If you have shared your e-mail address and are waiting for an e-mail invitation - thank you for your patience. Another round of uploads are being processed this week and you should get your invitation soon.

Girl Scouts Invited to Free SLU Women's Basketball Game on Jan. 24

Girl Scouts and their families are invited to attend a Saint Louis University Women's Basketball game! There will be discounted concessions and a chance to meet the team after the game. The game is being televised nationally! For free admission, enter through Gate A and wear a Girl Scout uniform component or shirt.

Kaitlyn Frick from Edwardsville Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Kaitlyn worked with the Edwardsville Children’s Museum to produce four advertisement videos to encourage more youth to visit the museum and use its resources. In addition, she held a book drive and made a book shelf for the museum. She worked with the museum’s Executive Director to develop the four advertisement videos, which included summer camp, everyday play, birthday parties and virtual tour.

According to Kaitlyn, her Girl Scout Gold Award project helped her learn that she can work with others in the community and overcome many challenges that arise. “I am excited that my Girl Scout Gold Award project was able to have such a positive impact on the Edwardsville community,” Frick said.

Kaitlyn is the daughter of Scott and Connie Frick. She is a Junior at Edwardsville High School and has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.

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.

Send Girl Scout Cookies to American Service Members!

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time - Find a Troop Near You!

You can send Girl Scout Cookies to thank American military members through GSSI's Operation: Sweet Treats campaign.  In partnership with Mission of Moms, cookies purchased through campaign will be sent to military members serving overseas as well as local military organizations in our area.

 

Mission of Moms is an organization based in Collinsville and is dedicated to helping improve the daily lives of our deployed United States military men and women.

 

To find a Girl Scout in your area, please call 800.345.6858 or click here.  Donations to Operation: Sweet Treats can be made through the new Digital Cookie online platform.

 

 

Krista VanDriel from O'Fallon Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Krista VanDriel from O’Fallon has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, titled Helping the Handicap, Krista built a wheel chair accessible picnic table at the Care Center of Belleville Memorial Hospital. Her newly designed 12-foot wheel chair accessible picnic table now accommodates four wheel chairs. In addition, she worked with girls from the O’Fallon area day camp to build and paint 10 bird houses that now decorate the care center’s two courtyards. In addition, she landscaped and planted a beautiful garden circle with bird bath for residents and their families to enjoy.

“Through my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I learned that communication is key when planning a large project like this; especially with many people involved to complete it. Also, when things don’t go your way, the change might be just as good or better,” VanDriel said.

Krista is the daughter of Jean and Michael VanDriel. She attends O’Fallon High School and has been Girl Scout for 13 years. She plans to attend college and major in Accounting and Business Administration.

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.

Tera Sparks from O'Fallon Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Tera Sparks from O’Fallon has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.

 For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Tera created a repository of all the headstones and markers in the O’Fallon City Cemetery and placed them online so city residents and friends could easily find the grave locations. As part of her Gold Award project, she made a map, took a photo of each headstone, compared it to city records and documented all known data about the deceased as well as any inscriptions on the headstone. All of this information was then uploaded to the O’Fallon City website for anyone to use. In the future, O’Fallon GEO Information Services will keep the database updated.

According to Tera, the beauty of her project is that anyone, anywhere in the world could easily find who is buried in the O’Fallon City Cemetery. “For example, if a person knew that 50 years ago her aunt lived in O’Fallon, he or she could sit at a café in England and find his or her aunt’s gravesite, a photo of her headstone and any other inscriptions,” Sparks added.

 “The most successful part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project was creating the spreadsheet with all of the information I had collected,” Tera said. “For me, this was what my project was all about, preserving information for my generation and for future generations.”

 Tera is the daughter of Eric and Michelle Sparks from O’Fallon. She is a senior at Illinois Math and Science Academy. After graduation, she plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology and major in Nuclear Engineering. She has been a Girl Scout for 11 years.

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.

Carley Sutton Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, titled The “Hot Spot”, Carley planned and worked with volunteers to build a pavilion for the community BBQ pit.  “I wanted to give back to the community and especially for our firefighters for all of their training and fighting fires in our community,” Sutton said.

“My Girl Scout Gold Award project was close to my heart because my family has 3^rd generations of firefighters in both my parents’ families,” Sutton said.  “Not only did I have a positive impact in my community, but I also developed valuable leadership skills.  And, working with the Greenville Fire Protection District and the Greenville community, we now have access to another park area.  Finally, all of us working together is what I loved the most -- ’Unity of Community’, Sutton added.”

Carley is the daughter of Jim and Sherry Sutton.  She attends Greenville High School and has been Girl Scout for 9 years.  She plans to attend Kaskaskia College and major in Early Childhood Development.

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. Today, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. is the largest voluntary organization for girls in the world.  Its sole focus is to meet the needs of all girls (ages 5-17) from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.   Today’s Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork.  Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together.

GSSI Programs With Upcoming Deadlines: January 2015

 

Cupids and Hearts-Creative Valentines (Daisies & Brownies)
Date: January 31, 2015 (deadline 1/14) Sessions: 11 a.m. to noon or 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $8/girl
Place: Three Sisters Crafts, O’Fallon, IL

Love is in the air! Show your family and friends you care by designing some unique valentines just for them. Girls will make eight valentine cards and a gift bag to carry them home.


Little Quilts Brownie Rainbows (Brownies)
Date: January 31, 2015 (deadline 1/15) Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $11/girl; $1/adult
Place: National Quilt Museum Paducah, KY

Earn part of your WOW Journey. Create rainbow inspired mini quilts while learning how to use a sewing machine.


Ballerina (Daisies-Brownies)
Date: February 7, 2015 (deadline 1/23) Time: 10 - 11 a.m.
Cost: $10/girl
Place: Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics & Dance, Mattoon, IL

Get ready for the pros to teach you healthy living skills and experience the beauty of ballet! Girls will earn their dance patch, too!


A Day at the Orpheum (Brownies)
Date: February 7, 2015 (deadline 1/23) Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: $11/girl
Place: The Orpheum Children’s Museum, Champaign, IL

Take a trip to the Orpheum Children’s Museum in Champaign for a day of learning and fun! The girls will be able to earn their Household Elf Badge as well as play at the museum


3 Cheers for Animals! (Daisies)
Date: February 7, 2015 (deadline 1/26) Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $6/girl
Place: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Marion, IL

Begin your Daisy Journey at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge by learning about bald eagles!Journey to an eagle nesting site for a chance to see a real bald eagle!


Book Artist (Cadettes)
Date: February 7, 2015 (deadline 1/24) Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $5/girl
Place: SIU Museum, Carbondale, IL

Find out what it takes to be a book artist!


Cheer Zone (Juniors-Cadettes)
Date: February 7, 2015 (deadline 1/26) Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost: $10/girl
Place: Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics & Dance, Mattoon, IL

Get ready for the pros to teach you healthy living skills and shake those pom poms at this fun cheerleading session!


Heavenly Jazz/Funk (Daisies-Juniors)
Date: February 7, 2015 (deadline 1/19)
Times: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. (Daisies) or 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Brownies and Juniors)
Cost: $8/girl
Place: Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio, Collinsville, IL

Hurray for Dance! Girls will learn basic stretching techniques and then a simple jazz/funk routine at their visit to the Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio.

Brownie Ready, Set, Go Camping! (Brownies)
Date: February 13-14, 2015 (deadline 1/19) Time: 7 p.m. Friday – 3 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $12/girl; $10/adult
Place: Camp Torqua, Edwardsville, IL

Is your troop interested in camping, but you aren’t sure what’s so great about the GREAT outdoors?! If so, this campout is for you and your troop!

STEAM Ahead Series (Juniors)
Date: February 11, 18, & 25, 2015 (deadline 1/20) Time: 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $20/girl
Place: Camp Torqua, Edwardsville, IL

A STEM twist on the Junior Get Moving Journey! Books and awards included.


Longshore’s Martial Arts & Self-Defense (Daisies-Cadettes)
Date: February 28, 2015 (deadline 1/21) Times: 1 - 2 p.m.
Cost: $6/girl
Place: Longshore’s Tae Kwon Do & Martial Arts Academy, DuQuoin, IL

Learn self-defense moves and Tae Kwon Do at this hands-on session. Instructors will also talk to girls about how to keep safe in many situations.


Fabric Flowers (Juniors)
Date: February 21, 2015 (deadline 1/21) Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost: $7/girl
Place: National Quilt Museum, Paducah, KY

Learn to hand stitch while making two types of fabric flowers perfect for accessories or gift decoration. Materials, short tour and snack included.


Amazing Mural: Painting with Pastel (Brownies)
Date: February 21, 2015 (deadline 1/26) Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $5/girl
Place: SIU Museum, Carbondale, IL

Participants will first view murals from the museum’s collection by artist Karl Kelpe and then pair up to paint panels for their own murals using oil pastel. Girls will earn part of the Painting Badge.


Daisy and Brownie Bakers-in-Training (Daisies-Brownies)
Date: February 17, 2015 (deadline 1/26) Time: 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Cost: $22/girl
Place: Panera Bread, Carbondale, IL

Daisies and Brownies, here’s your chance to take over the kitchen and bake up some good times at Panera.


Sea Creature Creations Series (Brownies)
Date: February 20 & March 6, 2015 (deadline 1/26) Time: 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Cost: $9/girl
Place: SIU Craft Shop, Carbondale, IL

Earn your Pottery Badge while sculpting and painting your very own piece of pottery!


Winter Fun! (Brownies)
Date: February 16, 2015 (deadline 1/26)  Time:  6 – 8 p.m.
Cost: $6/girl; $5/adult
Place: Camp Cedar Point, Makanda, IL

Have you ever been out to camp in the winter? Check out all of the ‘cool’ things you can do at camp when it is cold outside!


1820 American Girl (Juniors)
Date: February 21, 2015 (deadline 1/28) Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cost: $16/girl
Place: 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House, Edwardsville, IL

Come and experience life for a girl in the 1820s and tour this historical Colonial house.


Junior Birdhouse Building Workshop (Juniors)
Date: February 15, 2015 (deadline 1/28) 1 – 2:30 p.m. or 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $10/girl; $3/adult
Place: The Children’s Museum, Edwardsville, IL

Come learn about our feathered friends while you earn your Animal Habitats Badge.


Self-Defense & Tae Kwon Do (Daisies- Juniors)
Date: February 21, 2015 (deadline 1/28)
Times: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Brownies), 3 – 4 p.m. (Daisies), 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (Juniors)
Cost: $11/girl
Place: McArther’s Tae Kwon Do & Fitness, Collinsville, IL

Learn self-defense moves and strategies along with Tae Kwon Do at this hands-on workshop. Leaders can purchase the Self-Defense patch through the Program Department at the cost of $2 per patch.


Create Your Own Pottery Series (Brownies)
Date: February 14, 21, & 28, 2015 (deadline 1/29) 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Cost: $14/girl
Place: Jacoby Arts Center, Alton, IL

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at making simple pottery? If so, now is your chance!


A Day on the Slopes at Hidden Valley (Juniors - Ambassadors)
Date: February 21, 2015 (deadline 1/29) Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: $75/girl/participating adult; $18/nonparticipating adult
Place: Hidden Valley Ski Resort, Wildwood, MO

Ready for some frozen fun? Join GSSI on a day trip skiing at Hidden Valley Resort. NOTE: Payment for bus transportation is included in fee and required for all participants.


Jazzy Jewelry (Daisies-Brownies)
Date: February 21, 2015 (deadline 2/4) Sessions: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $7/girl
Place: Three Sisters Crafts, O’Fallon, IL

Beads, beads and more beads! Girls will make a necklace and bracelet as they learn about jewelry design.



When I Grow Up… (Daisies-Brownies)
Date: February 28, 2015 (deadline 2/4) Sessions: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: $8/girl; $2/adult
Place: Goshen School, Edwardsville, IL 

Find more programs through GSSI's improved web calendar!

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge Team Wins Motivate Award

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' FIRST TECH Challenge Team, Oops!,won the Motivate Award at their first competition on Jan. 10 at Meramac Community College in St. Louis  The team got their name "because the world's greatest inventions started with an oops!" The Motivate Award is awarded ...to the team that exemplifies the essence of the FTC competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Oops! competes again on Jan. 31 at SIU Carbondale’s Transportation Education Center.

 

To learn more about GSSI's robotics program, please contact STEM Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchana@gsofsi.org.

Girl Scouts in Southern Illinois Join New Digital Cookie Platform

 

 

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!  Find a Troop Near You!

For the first time ever, Girl Scouts can sell cookies online!  Along with the five essential skills that Girl Scout Product Programs develop (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics), girls will learn valuable lessons about online marketing and ecommerce through the new Digital Cookie platform.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is still girl-led!  Through Digital Cookie, along with traditional (door to door) order taking and booth sales, girls initiate the sale with customers. On the Digital Cookie platform, girls personalize their own cookie website and share a link with customers through e-mail.

Once a Girl Scout initiates a Digital Cookie sale, you'll be able to:

• Pay by credit card.
• Have your cookies shipped or delivered by a Girl Scout.*
• Share your cookie love with U.S. military members through GSSI's Operation: Sweet Treats campaign

GSSI Girl Scouts can sell cookies through the Digital Cookie platform through March 15. To find a Girl Scout in your area, call 800.345.6858 or click here. 

If you are a Girl Scout who would like to sign up for Digital Cookie, please have a parent or guardian send their e-mail address to our Product Program team at NutsAndCookies@gsofsi.org.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Hosts Kid Friendly Network's Monthly Networking Meeting

Desiree Tyus, founder and CEO of Kid Friendly Network

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois hosted Kid Friendly Network's January networking meeting at its Corporate Service Center.

 

(KFN) was founded in April 2014, as a means for kid-friendly businesses and organizations to promote their ideas, events, services and resources.  KFN is a network of over 60+ Southwest Illinois businesses that work specifically with families of children and teens. 

 

At the meeting, KFN members shared information about their organizations and upcoming events, plus brainstormed ways to work together.  GSSI appreciated members' good humor as they worked around the mass quantity of Girl Scout Cookies being housed in the conference room for January Cookie Booths.  The event was a lot of fun!

 

The mission of Kid Friendly Network is  to provide easy access to kid-friendly events and services for local families through a collaborative network of community businesses and organizations.  More information is available on their website, http://www.kidfriendlynetwork.com/

Caitlynn Rosenberg Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Caitlynn Rosenberg from O’Fallon has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Caitlynn combined her love of cooking with her love of helping children. In particular, she wanted to show them healthier things to eat that would prevent childhood obesity. She held a Healthy Food Cooking Class at local children’s camps and shared healthy snack tips and ways to avoid becoming obese.

 “My Girl Scout Gold Award project help me learn that I can do anything I set my mind to,” said Rosenberg. “I also learned that my leadership skills developed a lot during my project and that these skills will continue to grow because I will always have this project to reflect upon.”

Caitlynn is the daughter of Ericka and Frank Rosenberg. She is a senior O’Fallon Township High School and has been a Girl Scout for 10 years. She plans to attend college and major in Culinary Arts.

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.

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge Team Starting Competition

 

 

 

GSSI’s flagship FIRST TECH Challenge team is ready to launch. OOPS! Robotics coached by Kristi Smith of O’Fallon consists of middle and high school girls from O’Fallon, Granite City and Belleville. They will compete in several qualifier tournaments this winter. Stop by and cheer them on at their competitions at Meramac Community College in St. Louis on Jan. 10, SIU Carbondale’s Transportation Education Center on Jan. 31 and Decatur Hope Academy on Feb. 7.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Follow Oops! Robotics on their blog: http://oopsrobotics.wordpress.com/

Camp Materials & Equipment Needed - Can You Help?

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has six beautiful camps for our girls and volunteers to use for outdoor experiences. But it takes a lot of materials and equipment to keep our camps in great shape. Do you know anyone who would be willing to donate the following materials or equipment to GSSI to help us maintain our camp properties?

2014 Camp Materials & Equipment Needed

Rent a 50’-60’ pull behind man lift or 4wd lift (needed Dec., Jan. or Feb.) [All Camps)

 

Rent a hydraulic stump grinder or a company to grind stumps at Camps Torqua, Chan Ya Ta and Whispering Oaks (needed Dec., Jan. or Feb.) [Camps Torqua, Chan Ya Ta, Cedar Point]

 

2 – 20’ long 18" round double wall plastic culverts (by Feb. 2015) [Camp Cedar Point]

 

100 gallons Oxford Brown Olympic Maximum 8 year stain or equivalent [All Camps]

 

150 tons of CA6 (1" minus) rock [Butterfly 30 tons; Cedar Point 30 tons; Chan Ya Ta 15 tons;

Torqua 45 tons; Wassatoga 15 tons; Whispering Oaks 15 tons]

 

Pumpkin Patch roofing – 160 bundles shingles (54 squares, 5,315 sqft), underlayment, new gutters and miscellaneous supplies (nails, staples, etc) and/or company to donate labor (Fall 2015)

 

Camp Cedar Point Ranger house roof repair – 20 bundles shingles, underlayment, possible plywood, (10) 16’ 2x6 and (10) 16’ 2x8 boards, misc. supplies (nails, staples, adhesive, caulk, drip edge) and/or company to donate labor (early Spring 2015)

 

2015 Camp Program Equipment Needed

 

30 Life Jackets each of Adult, Youth and Child – preferably type III or vest style

 

Archery Covers $20 each – need 35

 

Archery backdrop $350 – need one

Arrows (gross 72) $360 – need two

 

36" Earth Ball $75 – need 6

 

60" Earth Ball $175 – need 6

 

Mattress covers $35 each – need at least 50 for now

 

New or used playground equipment (soccer balls, kick balls, wiffle bat/ball, bases, baseball ball/bat,

jump ropes, hula hoops, etc.)

 

 

For more information, please contact Director of Property Jonathan Stanley at 800.345.6858, ext. 1107 or e-mail jstanley@gsofsi.org.

Cookie Pick Up Schedule at GSSI Service Centers for January Cookie Booths

 

 

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!  The first Council-wide Cookie Booth weekend is Jan. 10-11.  Participating troops can pick up pre-ordered cookies at GSSI's Service Centers during the times below:

 

Tuesday, January 6: 8:30-5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 7: 8:30-5:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 8: 8:30-7 p.m.

Friday, January 9: 12-4 p.m.

 

For more information, please contact our Product Program team:

Kelly Jansen, Director: 800.345.6858, ext. 2104 or e-mail kjansen@gsofsi.org.

Katie Grayling, Assistant: 800.345.6858, ext. 2107 or e-mail kgrayling@gsofsi.org.

Nichole Williams of Mt. Vernon Named GSSI's December Pearl of the Month

 

 

Nichole Williams of Mt. Vernon has been named GSSI’s December Pearl of the Month. The 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.

 

Nichole is a supportive and energetic leader to more than 70 girls ranging from Daisy to Cadette grade levels. While that alone is quite a feat, she also serves as the Service Unit Registrar for Jefferson County. Nichole also coordinates many spectacular events including as parade floats, Halloween Bash, Father/Daughter dance, and a self-defense class. She always makes sure she is an enthusiastic cheerleader for the girls. In her "spare" time, Nichole also volunteers at GSSI’s Regional Service Center.

GSSI Council Shop Update: January 2015

Stay Warm With Girl Scouts’ Winter Apparel & Accessories!

Check out our new merchandise for winter and cookie time! GSSI has a multitude of new merchandise for girls and adult volunteers. Stop by a retail shop soon or browse our virtual catalog.

Go to Virtual Catalog


GSSI Council Shops Extended Hours To Return:

GSSI Council Shops will be open from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on the following Saturdays:

January 10, 2015
February 7, 2015
March 7, 2015
April 11, 2015
May 2, 2015


Mobile Council Shop

March 28, 2015 at Rend Lake Resort for Annual Meeting & All That Glitters Award Ceremony

Several areas are running Mobile Shops at their events. You can too!!! If interested in a running a Mobile Shop at your local service unit or regional event, please contact the Beth Ross, Business Services Manager at 618.692.0692, ext. 1129 or bross@gsofsi.org


GSSI Council Shop Contact Information:
Corporate Service Center: Stacey Port: 618-692-0692, ext. 1101 or sport@gsofsi.org
Regional Service Center: Brittany Galloway: 618.242.5079, ext. 2103 or bgalloway@gsofsi.org

Go to GSSI’s Online Shop