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!  

Troop #2921 Earns the Girl Scout Bronze Award for Tree-Planting Project

When rennovations at the Washington County Courthouse required trees to be removed, Troop #2921 from Nashville put their helping hands to action. They researched the importance of trees, using what they learned to write a letter to city officials offering to help. The troop even donated funds they raised during the recent Girl Scout Cookie Program. Their dedication to the project helped them earn the Girl Scout Bronze Award - the highest award Girl Scout Juniors can earn. Great work, girls!

New Girl Scout Program at Missouri Botanical Gardens!

 

 

 

Learn to make your own gifts on a shopping trip to the city! Combine window shopping in the city with a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to learn and make recycled gifts for someone special on your list.

Holiday Eco-Gifts (Brownies/Juniors/Cadettes)
Date: Dec. 6 (deadline 11/19) Time: 9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m.
Cost: $13/girls; $8/adults
Place: Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis, MO

Give the gift of green! Girls will learn the environmental benefits of making gifts from recycled materials. Learn how to make plant dyes and revamp old jewelry. Examples of gifts may include earth friendly cleaning products, ornaments, beauty products and more! Fee includes entry into the Gardens. Optional – Visit the Gardenland Express after/before your session at a reduced fee of $3 per person (normally $5) – pay at the Gardens for this optional activity on the day of the session.

 

Kara Schwinke from Teutopolis Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

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

For her project, Branching Out, Kara organized a tree planting project in Teutopolis Community Park, which included recruiting community donors to purchase trees.  She also held a tree presentation program from children in grades K-4, during which she discussed the positive impact of trees on the environment.   

“I wanted a project that would beautify our City Park,” said Kara.  “Trees provide beauty, shade, wildlife habitat ad oxygen production.”   

Kara was pleased by the community support for her project.  “Many people helped in many ways,” she said.  I believe that planting trees will be contagious and others will want to do projects in the park.”   She was also grateful for the personal growth that earning the Girl Scout Gold Award provided.  “I learned I am capable of doing great things for my community,” she said, noting that she gained valuable experience planning a project, organizing a team and speaking in front of others.

Kara has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.  She is currently a senior as Teutopolis High School and plans to attend college to major in Physical Therapy next year.  She is the daughter of Carl and Tina Schwinke.

 

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.

Taylor Koonce from Dupo Has Received the Girl Scout Gold Award

Taylor Koonce from Dupo has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.  Taylor completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project during her senior year at Dupo High School in 2013. For her project,  Learning Green, Taylor educated people living in her community about environment issues and ways to be eco-friendly. In addition,  with the help of her Air Force Junior ROTC unit, she repaired an outdoor classroom that community members use.

Although Taylor said things didn’t always go as planned, everything worked out well in the end. “If you search, there are always people willing to help. And, I learned that while being a leader, sometimes you delegate things and sometimes you need to get down in the dirt with your team.” Taylor also credits the successful completion of her Girl Scout Gold Award project because of  help from Michael Conley, John Solomon, AFJROTC Unit IL-941, Sandy Nelson, Kendra Koonce and Michael Koonce.

Taylor has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and received the Girl Scout Trifecta Award for earning her Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Award. Taylor plans to attend Michigan State University where she will  major in Biosystems Engineering. She is the daughter Kendra and Michael Koonce.

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.