Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Around the Council: October 2018

Check out what's been happening around the 40 1/2 counties that make up
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' council!

Service Unit 42 - East Williamson County kicked off their Nut, Candy & Magazine Program by learning about "This Able Vet" service dogs. 

Effingham County Troops #2032, #2013, and #2300 traveled to Kentucky, where they toured Mammoth Cave and Crystal Onxy Cave, earned the Cave Explorer patch and two Junior Ranger badges offered by the parks.  They also visited Abraham Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home.

Girl Scouts marched in the Jefferson County Fall Fest Parade.

Girl Scouts hosted a registration booth at Pinckneyville Mardi Gras. 

Paris Troop #2555 has been busy!  Some of the activities they welcomed the new Girl Scout year with included raising the flag at school, touring the local historical society, planting trees, geocaching, meeting police officers and firefighters, exploring the inside of an ambulance bay, volunteering at a soup kitchen, holding a fishing derby, earning the Junior Ranger badges at Walnut Point State Park, programming robots and coding, appearing in the Honeybee Parade and going to Disney on Ice. WOW!

Troop #8037 from Thompsonville and Troops #8005 and #8007 from West Frankfort welcomed veterans back to Southern Illinois from an Honor Flight at Williamson County Airport.  Each Girl Scout was able to walk a veteran off the flight down Freedom Path. 

Girl Scout Seniors from Service Unit 101 - Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana completed the first part of their Car Care badge with mechanic Chris White.  Girls learned everything they need to know about taking care of their car including changing a tire and changing their oil.

New Baden Junior Troop #242 hosted a Juliette Gordon Low birthday party for their Service Unit - complete with games from her era!  There was also a storytelling session about Juliette's life, a sign language lesson because Juliette had hearing loss and tea party style refreshments because Juliette would ask girls to join Girl Scouts by inviting them to tea.  

Girl Scouts from SU 522 - Eastern Coles County had a float in the Eastern Illinois University homecoming parade in Charleston, IL. 

DuQuoin Troop #8843 had some outdoor fun at Camp Wartburg. 

Girl Scouts from SU 54 - Perry County went to the Trunk and Treat parade together.

Johnston City Troops #8863 and #8084 made a great Girl Scout banner.

Troop #113 donated a branded sign and tablecloth to Metro East Humane Society.

Girl Scouts baked together at the Girl Scout information night in Ashley, IL.

Daisy Troop #8046 from Benton participated in the Fall Take Action project by having a Juliette Gordon Low birthday bash. Girls learned about Girl Scouts' founder with a story, craft and cupcakes.  They also discussed how important it was to JGL that girls serve their communities.  To honor JGL, each girl brought a donation to make a birthday party in a bag and donated 12 bags stuffed with party supplies to The Night's Shield Children's Shelter in West Frankfort.

Troop #688 enjoyed goat yoga.

DuQuoin Troop #8123 learned how to paint a girl dancing in the rain from their friend Joyce Ellege.  The inspiration for the artwork was the quote, "Don't wait for the storm to pass, instead learn how to dance in the rain."

Girl Scout Troop #8653 enjoyed Halloween festivities with residents of the Countryside Nursing Home in Mount Vernon.  They made BOOtiful crafts and decorations, listened to music together, wrapped mummies and painted pumpkins. 

Girl Scout Troop #8653 learned about Financial Literacy with Legence Bank.  Girls had a bank tour, explored all aspects of banking, looked at different currencies, and learned about the importance of saving and setting a budget. 

Femme Fit 618, an all women's gym in Mount Vernon, welcomed Girl Scout Troop #8653 and #8631 to get active and learn more about fitness and healthy eating. 

Girl Scouts Around the Council: June 2018

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!

Carlyle Troop #688 went on a hike

Troop #8123 visited Beth Alongi Glass Studio in DuQuoin where they learned how to c reate works of art out of glass. 

Girl Scouts worked on their Junior Camper Badge at the Audubon Center at Riverlands

SU 202 - ClinClair held a His & Her Fishing Derby

Troop #130 from Wood River built a fire pit at Camp Torqua

Troop #130 from Wood River held a camp out at Camp Chan Ya Ta, where they build a firepit at the bunkhouse and made outdoor awareness charts.

Lyndal & Adalyn K from Fairfield have been out recruiting more girls to join Girl Scouts.

Girl Scout Troop #2921 from Nashville, IL visited Cleveland! They enjoyed engaging educational activities like touring a power plant and NASA Glenn Visitor Center, as well as tons of recreational fun like hanging out on the beach and playing Whirlyball - an exciting combination of lacrosse, hockey, basketball and bumper cars.

Troop #8869 from Marion beautified Jones Park.

Jefferson County Troop #8653 installed a free Little Library at Field Grade School

Jefferson County Troop #8653 constructed a free Little Library at Field Grade School to encourage summer reading - complete with minions! 

GSSI CEO Loretta Graham was excited to speak at the Charleston Rotary about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. 

Troop #8123 volunteered to clean up after free community concerts in the park in DuQuoin. 

DuQuoin Girl Scout Troop Lends a Hand at Community Concerts

When they found out there was nobody to clean up after free community concerts, Girl Scout Troop #8123 from DuQuoin stepped up to get the job done.  Way to give back, Girl Scouts!  

DuQuoin Girl Scout Spends Summer Vacation Volunteering at Humane Society

Brittney Reese from DuQuoin dedicated nearly 300 hours of her summer vacation to volunteering at the Perry County Humane Society.  This week, Girl Scout Britt started high school and her puppy pal (named Brittney!) will be leaving the shelter for a new home.


Check out this short Q&A with Britt:

Q. Why did you choose to volunteer with the animal shelter?
A. I like animals!! The animals at the shelter need extra love.


Q. What was your favorite part about helping there for so long over the summer?
A. Spending time with the animals. My boss was fun to work with also.


Q. What did you learn from your experience?
A. There are a lot of animals that do not have homes. Some of the animals arrive with horrible stories.


 Q. Why do you think volunteering & community service is important?
A. Because it gets you off your butt! If volunteers didn't volunteer at the Humane Shelter then there would be a lot of animals killed, because they would be sent to "kill shelter."