Girl Scout Troop from Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Serves as Pages for Illinois House of Representatives

Girl Scout Troop #370 from Edwardsville/Glen Carbon has an awesome tradition! Each year, the girls choose a unique way to bridge to the next level, including zip lining and white water rafting. This year, the troop bridged by serving as Pages for the Illinois House of Representatives! They were even announced on the House floor! 

Girl Scouts Commemorate Memorial Day Across Southern Illinois

Girl Scouts all over Southern Illinois joined their communities to commemorate Memorial Day 2018. Activities included placing flags on veterans' burial sites, marching in parades, completing community service projects and more.  

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois CEO Loretta Graham shared this statement:

On this Memorial Day as we commemorate the lives of all brave service members who died while serving in our country's armed forces, let us remember how much we owe them, how much they have given us, and how much we can never fully repay. And as individuals, as a community, and as a nation, we say to each and every service member who has passed, we love you and honor you for your service. You fought with strength and courage for this country and for its safety and its ideals. The highest merit is due to the soldiers who have died so that we may have the freedom to live not just today, but everyday here in America.

Have a Grateful Memorial Day!!

Loretta Graham, CEO

Girl Scout Alumna: Norma Dyer, Girl Scout Volunteer with a Heart of Gold

(L-R): Michelle Barnes, Norma Dyer, Hannah Barnes, GSSI CEO Loretta Graham

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) honored Mt. Vernon resident Norma Dyer with its prestigious Heart of Gold Award during its 9th Annual Meeting on April 7 at the Doubletree Hilton in Mt. Vernon. The Heart of Gold Award recognizes the long-term impact a volunteer has had on girls and adults in his or her community through involvement in Girl Scouts.

“Norma sees the benefits girls reap from participation in Girl Scouts and she has taken on leadership responsibilities,” said fellow Jefferson County volunteer Ruthie Alexander. “She leads by example and encourages her Girl Scouts to give back to their community through service and volunteering.”

See Norma Receive her Heart of Gold Award

Dyer was a Girl Scout for 6 years as a girl and 40 years as an adult volunteer. Her family currently has three generations active in the movement – including daughter Michelle Barnes and granddaughter Hannah Barnes, who recently earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, which is the highest award a Girl Scout in 6-8th grade can earn.

“I believe a girl can do anything because she can apply the skills she has learned to change the world and inspire future generations,” said Dyer.

This month, Girl Scouts launched its new “Lifetime of Leadership” PSA highlighting famous alumnae including regional standouts such as U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee from East St. Louis, singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow from Kennett, Missouri and model turned STEM entrepreneur Karlie Kloss from St. Louis – along with many other famous female change-makers in fields such as politics, technology, media and sports. To celebrate the historic impact of Girl Scouts in our communities, GSSI invites local alumnae to reach out and share their stories by calling 800.345.6858, connecting with the council on social media, or e-mailing customercare@gsofsi.org.

Girl Scout Troop #106 from Staunton Creates PSA Promoting Positive Social Media Activity

Spring cleaning, anyone? Girl Scout Troop #106 from Staunton learned more about positive & productive digital activity while working on their Amaze Journey. Check out their "Delete Day" PSA to start discussions about cleaning up social feeds!

Watch Now!

Edwardsville & Glen Carbon Area Girl Scouts Host Hygiene Drive

Girl Scout Troops #333 and #39 in Service Unit 108 in the Glen Carbon/Edwardsville area organized a donation of almost 1,100 pounds of personal hygiene items for the GlenEd Food Pantry in April. Girl Scouts in the area have collected personal hygiene products as a community service project for more than 15 years. 

On April 21, Girl Scouts went door to door in area neighborhoods putting out approximately 1,300 collection bags for items like soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper. The following weekend, they collected donations, sorted items and made deliveries to the food pantry.  

This year's collection drive was organized by Troop #333, which is comprised of girls in 6th grade.  The girls even mobilized local businesses to serve as collection sites, including Afterwards Books, Traveling Tails and The Cyclery. 

This large amount of donations really motivated the Girl Scouts to connect with more local businesses and visit neighborhoods next year. Be on the lookout for the Girl Scout hygiene drive for the GlenEd Food Pantry next spring.

Girl Scouts Launches New "Lifetime of Leadership" PSA

On May 14, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) released a new national PSA, "Lifetime of Leadership," heralding the organization's legacy of fostering female change-makers and preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership, success, and adventure. Featuring notable Girl Scout alums in fields such as technology, politics, media, and sports, the PSA showcases the positive change these powerful female leaders have created through activism, speaking up, breaking glass ceilings, and more—and illustrates the importance of Girl Scouts in providing girls with the leadership experiences they need to make their voices heard and effect change.

Girl Scout Alums Katie Couric, Queen Latifah, Melinda Gates, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Karlie Kloss  and other fierce alum remind the world that Girl Scouts grows female leaders who create powerful change!

Girl Scout Victoria Shore Named 2018 Girl of Merit at Girls World Expo

GSSI Girl Scout Victoria Shore from Marion was recently named a 2018 Girl of Merit at the Girls World Expo. The award recognizes girls who have exhibited excellence through their actions, activities, leadership and positive influence in the community. 

Victoria gives back to the community through Girl Scouts, her school and the Miss Illinois Scholarship Organization. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient and ex-officio Girl Board Member at GSSI. Most recently, she hosted her second annual Empowerment Project and Empower You Career Fair for girls.
See pics

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Around the Council

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

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

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

Girl Scouts testing water at Scott Air Force Base

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Girl Scout Troop #8597 at the Anna Veterans Home

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

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

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

Service Unit 42 Marion held a weekend campout.

Girl Scout Victoria was honored at Girls World Expo.

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

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

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

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!!!