2016 Girl Scout Camp Photos - Recently Updated!

Summer 2016 Girl Scout Camp Photo Albums: 

Belleville Day Camp

Bond County Day Camp

CCP Camper's Week Sponsored By SU 85

Clinton County Day Camp

Coles County Day Camp

Collinsville Day Camp

Columbia/Dupo/Millstadt/Smithton Day Camp

East St. Louis/Cahokia Day Camp

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Day Camp

Effingham Day Camp

Girl's Week at Camp Ondessonk Resident Camp

Granite City Day Camp

Highland Day Camp

Jefferson County Day Camp

O'Fallon/Shiloh Day Camp

South Macoupin County Day Camp

STEM Explosion - Mini Camp Session

STEM Explosion

Touch of Nature Resident Camp (Coming Soon)

Union/Pulaski/Alexander Counties (UPAC) Day Camp

Waterloo Day Camp 

Phillips 66 Donates to Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' STEM Program

We were honored to have representatives from Phillips 66 - Wood River Refinery visit our STEM Explosions Day Camp this week. Phillips 66 has generously donated $2,500 to help us continue to provide science, technology, engineering and math opportunities for girls in southern Illinois.

See More Photos on our Facebook Page

2016 Girl Scout Membership Registration Events

·         From finding the courage to raise her hand to speaking up for what she believes in, Girl Scouts provides a safe place for your girl to take chances and try new things that will help her succeed in school, her career, and life. Find her spark by attending an upcoming Girl Scout registration event or by visiting http://bit.ly/29D9hNe 

(Events may be listed by community or by county.  More events being added soon!)

Alton/Wood River/Roxana/Hartford/East Alton

August 30 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Wood River Masonic Lodge AF & AM #1062

Girls in Grades K-12

For more info, please contact: Jennifer Melton at kamtcm13@charter.net. 

August 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Alton High School
Girls in Grades K-12
For more info, please contact: Jennifer Melton at kamtcm13@charter.net. 

Bunker Hill

August 25 from 6-7 p.m.

Girl Scout Ice Cream Social 

Bunker Hill Library (220 E. Warren St.)

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: bhgs628@gmail.com or 618.513.0861

Carbondale Area

September 1 from 5-7 p.m.

Lenus Turley Park

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Kristen Heavrin at kheavrin@gsofsi.org or 618.899.5211

*Boy Scout registration will also be available


Carterville
August 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Carterville First United Methodist Church

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Debra Horn at 618.727.0002

Collinsville

August 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Collinsville Library (408 W. Main St.)

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Ronnie Winterich at rwinterich@gmail.com or

Sheila Clair at Sheila_clair@hotmail.com

Gillespie

August 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Gillespie Middle School (612 Broadway)

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Nicole Strigel at Nicole.Striegel@CBRE.com or

618.604.6009 or 217.839.2486


Herrin
August 23 from 6-7:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church (305 S. 16th St.)
Girls in grades K-12
For more info, contact: Debra Horn at 618.727.0002

Marion Area

August 20 from 9 a.m. to noon

Girl Scout Cabin at Ashley Park

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Kristen Heavrin at kheavrin@gsofsi.org or 618.899.5211

Mt. Olive 

August 10 & August 11 from 5-8 p.m.

Mt. Olive Elementary School (804 W. Main St.)

For more info, contact: Lisa Odorizzi-217-999-5118

O’Fallon/Shiloh

August 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

O’Fallon Park - The Pavilions across from Katy Cavins

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Debbie McAuliffe at macknd@earthlink.net

Perry County

July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Verizon Wireless – DuQuoin (during their backpack giveaway event)

Girls in grades K-12

For more info, contact: Amber Saylor at ambersaylor@yahoo.com

Girl Scouts Donate More Than 3,600 Items and 150 Volunteer Hours to Local Animal Shelters

Approximately 1,106 participants donated more than 3,600 items and 150 volunteer hours to animal shelters across Southern Illinois during GSSI’s spring Council Wide Community Service Project, “Pawsome Pets.”

See photos

The following troops earned Pawsome Pets patches.  Great work!

Troop #2, Troop #28, Troop #47, Troop #48, Troop #94, Troop #98, Troop #128, Troop #130, Troop #140, Troop #175, Troop #188, Troop #208, Troop #233, Troop #235, Troop #258, Troop #269, Troop #306, Troop #317, Troop #340, Troop #341, Troop #356, Troop #366, Troop #431, Troop #482, Troop #513, Troop #529, Troop #545, Troop #611, Troop #628, Troop #664, Troop #703, Troop #707, Troop #725, Troop #726, Troop #768, Troop #789, Troop #792, Troop #834, Troop #907, Troop #938, Troop #945, Troop #955, Troop #1181, Troop #1257, Troop #1649, Troop #2046, Troop #2161, Troop #2413, Troop #2505, Troop #2550, Troop #2583, Troop #2647, Troop #2921, Troop #8001, Troop #8015, Troop #8020, Troop #8024, Troop #8030, Troop #8032, Troop #8036, Troop #8039, Troop #8040, Troop #8043, Troop #8044, Troop #8045, Troop #8046, Troop #8047,
Troop #8062, Troop #8081, Troop #8084, Troop #8087, Troop #8116, Troop #8123, Troop #8133, Troop #8140, Troop #8158, Troop #8165, Troop #8200, Troop #8209, Troop #8226, Troop #8231, Troop #8235, Troop #8245, Troop #8249, Troop #8250, Troop #8294, Troop #8295, Troop #8302, Troop #8317, Troop #8320, Troop #8345, Troop #8349, Troop #8350, Troop #8420, Troop #8431, Troop #8446, Troop #8470, Troop #8480, Troop #8487, Troop #8505, Troop #8518, Troop #8542, Troop #8546, Troop #8548, Troop #8559, Troop #8572, Troop #8623, Troop #8643, Troop #8659, Troop #8661, Troop #8685, Troop #8713, Troop #8749, Troop #8782, Troop #8783, Troop #8784, Troop #8837, Troop #8858, Troop #8869, Troop #8905, Troop #8917, Troop #8924, Troop #8935, Troop #8941, Troop #8966, Troop #8990

2016 Dancing With Our Stars Special Guests

We're getting so excited for DWOS to be here! Here is a list of special guests scheduled to attend!


Judges:

Mike Beard -Executive Director Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Finny Mathew - Chief Executive Officer at Crossroads Community Hospital Mary Beth Mezo – Retired Mt. Vernon Township High School Teacher (Still active with the High School Drama Club)

Kay Zibby-Damron - Kay Zibby-Damron, Vice President of Operations, United Methodist Children's Home Hosts/ MC:

Brandon Bullard – RARE Chop House & NRE

Rachel Hunsell - Marketing Executive at Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau Dancers: 

Lora, Riley and Mike Hockett
The Drama Mammas (From Salem Community Theater)
Tricia Higgins & Kelly Jansen
Anna Lamczyk Centre Stage Dancers from Centre Stage Studios
Lesa Woods (also doing solo performance) & McKayla Coleman
Dean and Carolyn Montague
Mt. Vernon Township High School Drama Club
Mt. Vernon Girl Scout Group

A HUGE thank you to our sponsors as well! See all sponsors along with additional sponsorship information on our website, www.gsofsi.org.

Mary Ann Hopper: Girl Scout Gold Award Trainer Since 2000

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world through their Girl Scout Gold Award projects. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. As the Girl Scout Gold Award celebrates 100 years of girls changing the world, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is highlighting some of our shining stars who exemplify the greatness of this award.

Girl Scout Gold Award recipients make great impacts on their communities. A girl puts in a tremendous amount of work to make her project successful, thus earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. But how does a girl get started on her journey? That’s where a group of select Girl Scout volunteers come in – volunteers like Mary Anne Hopper.

Mary Anne Hopper from Waterloo, IL first became a Girl Scout volunteer in 1993. While registering her youngest daughter for Girl Scouts, she learned there was a need for more troop leaders in her area. With the help of another parent as a co-leader, Mary Anne started her Girl Scout volunteer experience as a troop leader for her daughter Amy’s troop.

In 1996, Mary Anne’s oldest daughter, Michelle, earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. Soon after, daughter Amy was approaching the age when many Girl Scouts start thinking about the Gold Award themselves. As Amy’s troop leader and parent, Mary Anne wanted to know as much as she could about the award. Mary Anne was herself a Girl Scout for 8 years but never knew about the Girl Scout Gold Award (then known as First Class). She wanted to make sure Amy and other Girl Scouts knew about the award and had the necessary resources to achieve it. In 2000, Mary Anne became a Girl Scout Gold Award Trainer and Gold Award Committee member – positions she still holds today.

Mary Anne is a very busy individual; she is a full time paraprofessional at Waterloo High School and also works as an usher for the St. Louis Cardinals during baseball season. In addition, Mary Anne also volunteers at her church as well as the Cub Scout Day Camp and Camp Vandeventer. People like her usually get asked why they do so much or if they ever think about “cutting back” on their commitments. When Mary Anne is asked this regarding her Girl Scout volunteering, she replies, “If there had not been volunteers for my daughters’ troops, they would have missed out on a lot of new experiences. I have something to share with the girls as well as the adults with whom I interact, and it is important to me that I share it.”

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scout Gold Award, Mary Anne encourages other adults to consider becoming a Girl Scout Gold Award volunteer. She states, “You get to watch girls grow into young women who can do anything they choose to do. If you help a girl with her Gold Award project, you may be that one resource that helps her project go from good to great!”

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. To earn this award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within her community, creates change and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work, and only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Alexis Workes from Highland Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called The Peace Garden, Alexis wanted to work with the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis. Her faith and love for children played a major role in Alexis deciding to work with the center for her Gold Award project. After visiting the center, she saw the need for improvements to the back garden area. By improving the landscaping, adding more seating, building a gazebo and performing some general maintenance, Alexis helped the center gain a better outdoor space for prayer and meditation.

Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Alexis gained valuable leadership skills that she’ll be able to use throughout her life. “I learned how to work with so many different schedules in order to coordinate work days,” states Alexis. “I learned how to be truly grateful for everyone who volunteered to help me with my project,” Alexis adds.

Alexis is the daughter of Lisa Huelsmann. She is currently a senior at Highland High School. Upon graduation, Alexis plans to attend Murray State University and major in English-Secondary Education. 

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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

CCP Retirement Ceremony Seeking Camp T-Shirts

The CCP Retirement Ceremony Committee is seeking old Camp Cedar Point t-shirts in order to make a quilt to display. If you have a shirt you'd be willing to contribute, please deliver it to a GSSI Service Center (4102 S. Water Tower Place, Mt. Vernon or #4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen Carbon) drop off at a GSSI program/event or give to a Membership Development Manager. 

The CCP Retirement Ceremony will take place on September 24 following Fall Fest.  To volunteer to help, please contact Director of Program Angie Suhre at 800.345.6858, ext. 1112 or e-mail asuhre@gsofsi.org. 

Courtney Peters Joins Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois as Program Specialist

Courtney Peters has joined GSSI as a Program Specialist, filling the vacancy left by Erika Hankins, who has taken a position with Girl Scouts of Ohio Heartland. Courtney is a recent graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education and a minor in Psychology. She completed her senior internship with GSSI in the spring of 2016.

“I am so grateful that my internship led me to my job as a Program Specialist,” Peters said. “I have met so many amazing people through this organization and I look forward to planning exciting and eventful programs for Girl Scouts across southern Illinois.

Peters found a quote from Robert Baden-Powell, friend of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low and founder of Boy Scouts, to be inspiring for her new role with GSSI: “The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.”

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Receives $25,000 Grant from The Monsanto Fund

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) has received a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to support Girl Scout STEM Robotics Leadership in Jersey, Macoupin, Madison and St. Clair counties. Robotics are a key component of GSSI’s commitment to giving girls opportunities and guidance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). By participating in three different robotics leagues at three different age levels, GSSI aims to engage more girls across southern Illinois in STEM, so that they can explore valuable career options, build critical thinking and technical skills and sustain a lifelong interest in topics that many girls drift away from by middle school.

“Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is very grateful to be able to provide even more girls an opportunity to participate in STEM programs and compete on a robotics team through support from the Monsanto Fund,” said Mary Buchanan, GSSI Robotics Manager. “Engaging girls in STEM in fun, creative ways helps keep their interest in these valuable career fields, as well as develop their confidence, teamwork and problem solving abilities.”

This grant is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund focused on strengthening the Greater St. Louis community where Monsanto Company is headquartered.

“The Monsanto Fund is proud to support Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois as it continues to provide new learning opportunities for students in our local communities,” said Michelle Insco, Monsanto Fund program officer. “While women make up more than half of the U.S. workforce, they continue to be underrepresented in many STEM-related jobs. Programs like Girl Scout STEM Robotics Leadership make science, math and engineering more engaging and helps boost interest in these fields.”

The grant will help fund GSSI’s robotics season which starts this fall with FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®). In this global robotics program for 9 to 14 year olds, participants build and program a robot using LEGO components. Teams also conduct a research project and explore FLL Core Values such as active participation, teamwork and gracious professionalism. After months of practice and preparation, teams begin competing at regional tournaments, with the highest scoring teams proceeding to a global tournament.

The grant money will also be used to support several Junior FIRST Lego League (JrFLL®) teams and First Tech Challenge Team, which belong to a league that challenges middle and high school students to build an autonomous robot then program them using Java in Android Studio. The FTC Team competes in the fall/winter. In 2016, our FTC team qualified for both the Missouri and Illinois State Championships and won numerous awards. This was made possible partially to Monsanto Fund support and funding.

The grant will also allow GSSI to purchase additional equipment to facilitate the robotics program, including robot kits and tablets. Financial assistance for girls who cannot afford the $15 registration fee to join Girl Scouts will also be provided.

GSSI’s STEM program continues to be a progressive and forward-thinking initiative that has grown exponentially in recent years. In 2009, GSSI had just one robotics team. In 2015, GSSI fielded 30 teams. GSSI has dedicated staff and volunteers who develop the STEM program through research, collaborator cultivation, training and hands-on experience. GSSI strives to offer diverse and high-quality STEM programming, such as simple circuit wiring, programming robots, exploring forensics and more. To ensure that all girls have the chance to take advantage of these future-building opportunities, GSSI has integrated STEM activities into its outreach programs – which bring Girl Scouting to girls in underserved populations, such as low income neighborhoods, housing projects, rural communities and even detention centers.

FIRST® and FLL® are registered trademarks of the United States Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Jr.FLL® and LEGO® are registered trademarks of the LEGO Group. BotBall® is a registered trademark of Kiss Institute for Practical Robotics. 

About The Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.

Bethany Carrillon from Carlyle Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Basement Redo, Bethany wanted to make the basement of the Sorento Presbyterian Church a more efficient and functional space for the parishoners and community members to use and enjoy. She wanted to turn this underused space in a big, beautiful church into an area that is more suitable for dinners and meetings. By performing some needed repairs and maintenance, plus painting and decorating, Bethany was able to convert the dreary basement into a more useable and appealing space.

Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Bethany gained valuable leadership skills that she’ll be able to use throughout her life. “I have learned that not everything will go as planned. But, with good critical thinking, you can figure out a way to make it all work out better than you expected it to turn out,” states Bethany.

Bethany is the daughter of Dean and Julie Carrillon. She is currently a junior with A Beka Academy. Upon graduation, Bethany plans to attend Greenville College where she will major in Youth Ministry.

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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

GaGa Pits Donated to Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois By Steven and Teresa Bushong

Girl Scouts enjoying the new GaGa Pit during Effingham Day Camp

Steven and Teresa Bushong have made a generous donation to install GaGa Pits at Camp Wassatoga, Camp Torqua and Camp Butterfly.

GaGa is a game similar to dodgeball that is played with one ball in a octagonal court with a fence or short wall around it. Players hit the ball at each other with their hands, and are eliminated if the ball strikes them on or below the knee. They are also out if they cause the ball to leave the playing area, if they hit the ball twice in a row or if a ball they struck is caught in the air.  The winner is the last competitor left in the pit.

“We decided to donate money for the GaGa Pits because we have seen firsthand how much fun kids have playing in them,” said Teresa.  “The girls will enjoy playing the game so much that leaders will have a hard time convincing them to do something else.”

Teresa Bushong is also Director of SU 211 Day Camp at Camp VanDeventer in Waterloo, while Steven is a Unit Leader. “Camping is in our blood,” Teresa said.

Getting Ready for Girls Week at Camp Ondessonk

Hey all you happy campers!  

Girls Week at Camp Ondessonk is coming up in just 10 days! To help with your packing and planning, check out this awesome video made by some sister Girl Scouts and Camp Ondessonk campers:

Around the Council: June 2016

36 Girl Scouts from Johnson and Pope Counties traveled to Savannah, Georgia where they visited the birthplace of founder Juliette Gordon Low, toured the city by trolley, and took dolphin and lighthouse tours on nearby Tybee Island. 

Waterloo Ambassador Troop #387 took a trip to New York City, where their toured local sights such as Central Park and spent some time getting to know sister Girl Scout Troop #5327 from Staten Island. 

Anna-Jonesboro Troop #8597 went horseback riding and then visited Cape Splash to cool down. 

GSSI STEM Program Manager Emily Stanley was interviewed by NASA Edge TV Show regarding GSSI’s participation in programming related to the 2017 solar eclipse. 

Girl Scouts were introduced on the field at a recent Southern Illinois Miners minor league baseball game! 

Staunton Troop #1075 took a trip to Washington D.C. Along with the other local attractions, they visited the portrait of Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette Gordon Low at the National Portrait Gallery. 

Ambassador Troop #248 from Belleville went on an adventure in Kansas City. 30 Girl Scouts participated in a recent “Going for Gold Weekend”, a workshop that helps girls prepare to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award by completing a Journey book and doing training sessions. Another “Going for Gold” Weekend is being held this fall - watch our online program calendar! 

Daisy Troop #8597 from Mt. Vernon had fun at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Troop #431 from Freeburg worked out their ninja skills at the Girl Scout Ninja Warrior program. 

Maddie from Carlyle went canoeing for the first time during the World of Water program at Camp Butterfly. Madison County Troop #130 held a weekend troop camp with girls ranging from 2nd to 8th grades. Campers made camp buckets, camp towels and bandanas, as well as screen printed shirts. They also learned knife safety, practiced their archery skills and went hiking. 

Girl Scouts from Clinton County Troop #8447 went ziplining and kayaking at American Obstacle. 

U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis visited GSSI’s Corporate Service Center on June 30 to make a donation of American and Illinois flags and to discuss upcoming GSSI initiatives, especially STEM programs. 

Girl Scouts Danielle Patton & Emily Hocking, both from Mt. Vernon, earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their efforts giving back to the community this year. 

Troop #370 from Edwardsville was featured on the website & Facebook Page of Spike Carlsen, a renowned author, carpenter and woodworker. The girls learned about measuring, cutting and staining while making their own nomad laptop desks using instructions from one of Carlsen’s guides.

GSSI Council Shop Update: July 2016

New Items 

Check out our new merchandise! We’ve got GOLD AWARD CENTENNIAL ITEMS! GSSI has lots of new merchandise for girls and adult volunteers. Stop by a retail shop soon or browse our virtual catalog. 

GSSI Council Shop Hours 

GSSI Council Shops are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Check Back for Saturday hours for the fall. 

Shop Closed 

Council shops will be closed August 10-11, 2016 for inventory 

Trading Posts 

The shop will have lots of fun items at the Day Camp Trading Posts. If you are attending any of the Council Day camps, watch for the flyer to find out which day the trading post will be there. Only checks and cash can be accepted. 

Mobile Shops 

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 Beth Ross, Business Services Manager. 618.692.0692, ext. 1129 or e-mail: bross@gsofsi.org. GSSI Council Shop 

Contact Information

Corporate Service Center: Stacey Port: 618-692-0692, ext. 1101 or e-mail: sport@gsofsi.org Regional Service Center: Linda Quinn: 618.242.5079, ext. 2115 or e-mail: lquinn@gsofsi.org 

Online Shop 

You can always shop for your favorite Girl Scout merchandise 24/7 online. Watch for special online sales and merchandise as well!