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.

Elizabeth Arend from Highland Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Arend 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 CAMP – Collect, Acquisition, Make and Provide, Elizabeth improved Camp Torqua cabins that girls use for outdoor experiences. She painted and re-stained cabins, made 70 curtains and curtain rods for cabin windows and had old electrical light sockets replaced with flat electrical covers. In addition, she planned and supervised the framing, stoning and pouring of a concrete slab under the Pumpkin Patch pavilion.

 “During my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I learned how to be patient with others, how to better manage time, people and resources to successfully complete my project,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Ronald and Kathy Arend from Highland. She is currently a junior at Highland High School. She has been a Girl Scout of 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.

It's Time to THINK SPRING! GSSI Camp Clean Up Days Coming Soon!

Spring is right around the corner!  What better way to celebrate than to plan a trip to Girl Scout camp to help clean up?  There is not cost to come out and enjoy some time outdoors with other troops from around Southern Illinois, but please register by the deadline so we have supplies ready.

April 12 (deadline April 6) - 12-6 p.m.
Camp Cedar Point - Makanda, IL
Camp Chan Ya Ta - Worden, IL
Camp Whispering Oaks - Salem, IL

April 27 (deadline April 20) - 12-6 p.m.
Camp Butterfly - Farmington, MO
Camp Torqua - Edwardsville, IL
Camp Wassatoga - Effingham, IL

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

Spooky Good Fun Awaits at Camp Torqua This October!

Haunted Camp Torqua (Daises & Brownies)

Date: Oct. 18 (deadline 9/25/14)
Session Start Times: 9, 10, 11a.m., 1, 2, 3, OR 4 p.m.

Cost: $8 per girl, $2 per adult
Place: Camp Torqua – Edwardsville, IL

Ghosts, bats and spiders have taken over Camp Torqua! This scary event is sure to be a spine tingling good time for all Daisies & Brownies and their leaders.  Activities include songs, games, a haunted hike, a craft, a visit through a haunted troop house and of course a snack.

 

Zombie Run (Juniors-Ambassadors)

Date:  Oct. 19 (deadline 9/25/14)
Session Start Times: 11am., 12, 1, 2, or 3 p.m.  

Cost:  $15 per girl/adult
Place: Camp Torqua – Edwardsville, IL
Zombies, zombies everywhere!  Obstacles and challenges await you along this fun filled

Course through Camp Torqua.  Stops along the way will have you climbing over obstacles, solving challenges and always dodging those dreaded zombies.  Your patch through the woods will include a visit through a haunted house, creepy graveyards and haunted trails.  It’s one spooky run to the finish where a quarantine party awaits all who dare to take this challenge.  There will be plenty of dancing and celebrating with a local DJ and food for all at the Haunted Diner.  Other activities will include a zombie makeover station, spooky performances and a mad science laboratory.

 

 

 

Older Troops Needed to Run Haunted Camp!

Haunted Camp is an event where Older Girl Scouts host Halloween stations for Daisy & Brownie Girl Scouts.  While every year is a bit different, stations usually include a haunted house and trail, a craft, a song/storytelling session, a game session and a snack break.  Older Girl Scout troops are responsible for planning and hosting their station.

The program is scheduled for Saturday, October 18 at Camp Torqua with set up on Friday night October 17.    Troops are responsible for providing girls and adults to work a station for the whole day and may stay Friday and/or Saturday night at camp.  Troops that wish to work the Haunted House can begin their decorating on the Sunday before the event on October 11 after 12 (noon).

 We will be offering a Zombie Run on Sunday, October 19 for Juniors – Ambassadors.  Older girl troops that helped on Saturday or with set up and clean up for the Zombie Run on Sunday are welcome to participate in the Zombie Run for a reduced rate of just $7.

 

The first planning meeting will be held September 16 at the Pumpkin Patch Lodge at Camp Torqua from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  At least one adult and not more than 3 girls from each troops need to attend this meeting.

 

Funds from Haunted Camp Torqua support GSSI's Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout scholarships presented each spring!

 

 

Did You Know? GSSI Camps Have Canoeing and Archery Available!

Canoes are available at Camp Butterfly, Camp Cedar Point, Camp Chan Ya Ta, Camp Wassatoga and Camp Whispering Oaks with prior approval and proper certification.

Archery is available at every camp with prior approval and proper certification. For more information about GSSI camps, please visit us at www.gsofsi.org or call our Property Department at 618.692.0692.

Winter Camping at GSSI

Winter wonderland at Camp Chan Ya Ta

There's no reason for your camping fun to come to an end during the winter! GSSI Camp Properties offer camping opportunities all year at the following winterized units. Click on the camp name to see more information about that property.

Camp Cedar Point -- Makanda, IL: Sahara Lodge and Bruce Lodge both offer heat, fireplace, bathrooms, mattresses and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave).  Each has a capacity of 20 campers. 

Camp Chan Ya Ta -- Worden, IL: The Lodge offers heat, fireplace, bathroom/shower, fire pit, water, tables and chairs, mattresses and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave).  It is an accessible unit and has a capacity of 30 campers.  The Bunkhouse has two sections that sleep 12 people each.  There is shelter, lights, access to the showerhouse, fire pit, water and refrigerator.  Indoor cooking is not permitted.  This unit is accessible.

Camp Torqua -- Edwardsville, IL: Pumpkin Patch Unit A has a capacity of 36 campers in three heated cabins with bunkbeds and 1/2 the heated program center with heat.  Pumpkin Patch Unit B has a capacity of 24 campers in two heated cabins with bunkbeds and 1/2 the heated program center with heat.  Both Pumpkin Patch units have access to the showerhouse (two toilets and two showers), an accessible Pullman kitchen, microwave, tables and chairs, shelter with lights and fire pit. Both Tuckaway and Lisetta Units have a capacity of 30 campers and has a heated troop house, kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave), fireplace, tables and chairs, mattresses, shelter with lights and fire pit.  Tuckaway also has an indoor accessible bathroom.

Camp Wassatoga -- Effingham, IL: Ridimakahe Lodge has a capacity of 25 campers and offers heat, full kitchen, fireplace and bathroom with showers and mattresses. 

Camp Whispering Oaks -- Salem, IL:  Lazaretti Lodge has upper and lower levels that each have a capacity of 15.  Both have heat, fireplace, accessible bathrooms with showers, mattresses, fire pit, tv/dvd, tables & chairs and kitchen (refrigerator/stove/microwave). 

Camp Butterfly -- Farmington, MO: No winterized units are available at Camp Butterfly.  This camp is open April 1 to Oct. 31.

There open dates available for your group now!  Call Carol Ann Hering at 800.345.6858, ext. 1131. 

Haunted Camp and Zombie Run Bring Spooky Good Fun to Camp Torqua

1,340 Girl Scouts and adults participated in the Haunted Camp or Zombie Run programs on Oct. 19 and 20 at Camp Torqua outside of Edwardsville, IL. Activities were provided by Girl Scout Cadette-Ambassador troops and their advisors, and included a craft, songs/story telling, spooky spa, games, snack, haunted house and trails stations at the Haunted Camp. New this year was a Zombie Run for Juniors – Ambassadors on Sunday, Oct. 20 which included a race of survival through Camp Torqua along with a Quarantine Party where girls and adults enjoyed music with a DJ, a Haunted Diner, zombie makeovers, photo ops. and scary ghost stories. Wayne and Christine Nelson were invaluable in making our debut Zombie Run a success by developing the course for the Zombie Run which included challenges and obstacles on the trails along with those dreaded Zombies!

Both of these days were huge hits with the girls and adults thanks to the over 200 volunteers that participated! Without their help these events wouldn’t have been possible. All of our volunteers did an excellent job and are to be commended.

This event raised over $1,000 to support the Outstanding Graduating Senior Scholarship Fund for GSSI. This success wouldn’t have been possible without the support and donations of the following businesses: Schnucks Markets, Inc., St. Louis donated 2,000 Halloween cookies; McDonald’s in Edwardsville donated drink mix and 1,000 cups; RP Lumber of Edwardsville donated the black plastic and duct tape for the Haunted House; Connie Schott donated straw for decorations and Angie Zahn provided straw for the obstacle course for the Zombie Run.

 

See Haunted Camp Photos

See Zombie Run Photos

 

 

 

GSSI Kicks Off Girl Scout Robotics Season

Girl Scouts from throughout southern Illinois gathered at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville on Sept. 14 to participate in Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ STEM Kickoff event. During the morning, girls learned about natural disasters that affect the metro-east area and in the afternoon they worked on programming robots and planning strategy for this year’s FIRST Lego League robotics competitions, which have the theme “Nature’s Fury.”  See photos...

In 2009, GSSI began its STEM and robotic journey with one robotic team.  This year, GSSI is sponsoring 25 Girl Scout robotics teams in three different leagues.  Robotics teams are a key component to GSSI’s initiative to get more girls in southern Illinois interested and involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).  Other STEM programming ranges from doing basic chemistry experiments with younger girls to teaching financial literacy during the Girl Scout Cookie Program to introducing older girls to career mentors in engineering and medicine.

“Engaging girls in STEM in exciting, relevant ways is vital,” said GSSI STEM program manager Mary Buchanan. “Research shows that many students, especially girls, drift away from STEM around middle school.  Today’s kickoff is just one of the ways GSSI is providing diverse opportunities to build and reinforce girls’ interest in these important fields.  As shown by our growth in the number of robotics teams, many girls are searching for ways to stay involved in STEM and we strive to provide them with unique and constructive experiences.” 

“I like working with the Girl Scouts robots and technology and making solutions to problems,” said Caroline Stewart from Belleville.  “I get a leadership experience not only by programming the robots, but working with the younger girls and sharing with them my love of technology and robots,”  Caroline, who is 14, has been with GSSI’s robotic program for 4 years.

GSSI’s metro-east FIRST Lego League teams are funded by United Way of Greater St. Louis and through a $20,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund.  “Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is very grateful to be able to provide even more girls with a STEM opportunity and a chance to compete on a robotics team through the financial support from the Monsanto Fund and the United Way,” said Villie M. Appoo, GSSI Chief Executive Officer.  “Working together, we are ensuring girls in southern Illinois are learning about STEM and robotics, gaining confidence in building and programming robotics and starting to think about a possible STEM career,” Appoo added.  “Thanks to our United Way and the Monsanto Fund partners, Girl Scouts is keeping girls engaged in STEM in fun and creative ways which will help keep them interested in these important career fields, as well as develop their confidence, teamwork and problem solving abilities.”

Girl Scouts has a long history of encouraging girls to participate in STEM.  The first STEM badges – the electrician badge and the flyer badge – were introduced in 1913!

Robotics teams are a key component to GSSI’s initiative to get more girls in southern Illinois interested and involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).  GSSI currently participates in three different robotics leagues: FIRST Lego League, which is run during the fall, and Jr. FIRST Lego League and Botball, which run during the spring semester of school. Other STEM programming ranges from doing basic chemistry experiments with younger girls to teaching financial literacy during the Girl Scout Cookie Program to introducing older girls to career mentors in engineering and medicine.  To get involved in GSSI's STEM program, please contact Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.    

     

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.

About United Way of Greater St. Louis

United Way funds more than 170 health and human service agencies located throughout a 16-county area in Missouri and Illinois. One in three people in our community receive services that strengthen families, help the elderly, keep children healthy and safe, and build stronger neighborhoods. For more information, contact 314-421-0700 or visit www.stl.unitedway.org.