2017 Girl Scout Day Camp Photos Available Now!

Each summer, amazing Girl Scout volunteers make it possible for GSSI to hold Day Camps throughout our council. Girls get to learn new skills, build confidence trying new things, meet friends and most of all - have fun in the great outdoors!  At Girl Scout Camp, girls make memories that last a lifetime!   Check out our 2017 Day Camp photo albums to get a glimpse of the good times yourself: 

2017 Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Day Camps: 

Camp Wassatoga - A Decade of Fun!

Hosted by SU 511 - Effingham County
June 4-10 at Camp Wassatoga in Effingham

Muggles, Magic & Mayhem (twilight camp)

Hosted by SU 110 - Highland
June 5-9, 2017 at Silver Lake Park in Highland

Project Funway

Hosted by SU 07 - Bond County
June 5-8, 2017 at First Christian Church in Greenville

Reconnecting With Nature (twilight camp)

Hosted by SU 107 - South Macoupin County
June 5-9, 2017 at Camp Chan Ya Ta in Worden

Let's Travel with the Movies

Hosted by SU 72 - UPAC
June 12-16, 2017 at Cobden Park

Ocean Adventures

Hosted by SU 207 - Belleville/Swansea
June 12-16, 2017 at Amerian Legion Post 58; Freedom Farms in Freeburg

Adventures of Science

Hosted by SU 31 - Jefferson County
June 15-17, 2017 at Girl Scout Little House in Mt. Vernon

Are You Courageous Enough to be a Girl Scout?

Hosted by SU 201 - O'Fallon/Shiloh
June 19-23, 2017 at Horner Park in Lebanon

Hungry Games - Cookie Edition (twilight camp)

Hosted by SU 102 - Granite City/Madison/Venice
June 19-23, 2017 at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville

Journey to Neverland

Hosted by SU 209 - Columbia/Dupo/Millstadt/Smithton
June 23-25, 2017 at Camp Butterfly in Farmington, MO

The Great Outdoors (twilight camp)

Hosted by SU 15 - Clinton County
June 26-30, 2017 at Fish Hatchery Park in Carlyle

Nature Girl

Hosted by SU 108 - Edwardsville/Glen Carbon
June 26-30, 2017 at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville

Mini STEM Camp

Hosted by GSSI
July 6-7, 2017 at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville

Girl ScOUT of this World Fun

Hosted by SU 111 - Collinsville
July 10-14, 2017 at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville

pARTy OUTDOORS

Hosted by SU 211 - Waterloo

July 10-14, 2017 at Camp Vandeventer in Waterloo

STEM Camp 5: Destined for Infinity

Hosted by GSSI
July 17-21, 2017 at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville

Coming Soon:

Nature Detectives

Hosted by SU 09 - Centralia
July 24-28, 2017 in Centralia

Kim Vrooman Joins Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois as Director of Development and Communications

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to announce that Kim Vrooman has been hired as Director of Development and Communications. Vrooman comes to GSSI with over 15 years of experience in development, communications/marketing and civic engagement. She has worked in the non-profit sector where she established and directed an Illinois non-profit with the mission to empower children and families through green and community partnerships. She currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Meridian Society: a women’s philanthropy organization; as a board member of Southwestern Illinois College’s Herstory Month Committee; and as a proud member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion. Women and youth leadership building has always been a favorite service focus of Vrooman’s.

“My parents taught that service to others is the primary purpose of human existence and what better way to serve than by immersing myself in the mission of the Girl Scouts. Plus, I am a Girl Scout! Coming from a military family allowed me to serve as a scout in both Kentucky and Florida. I feel joining GSSI continues my scouting journey and my deep desire to serve.”

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a high-capacity Girl Scout council serving approximately 12,400 girls and engaging 5,000 adult volunteers in 40 ½ counties in Southern Illinois.   GSSI Mission: Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.   The Girl Scouts organization is the world's largest leadership development organization for girls.  In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives - like strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. Today’s Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork. Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together.   Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region.  Girl Scouts is a Proud Partner of United Way. 

Doubleknot Program Registration System Launching July 17!

As part of our Customer Engagement Initiative (CEI), GSSI will launch Doubleknot, a new program registration system, on Monday, July 17!

Program registration through eBiz will be down starting Thursday, July 13 and will be available July 17 using the new Doubleknot system.  

Membership registrations will still be able to be processed through eBiz at this time. 

Doubleknot Preview

If you have already registered for a program in eBiz that will moved to Doubleknot, you don’t have to register again. However, you can always contact Customer Care at 800.345.6858 or e-mail customercare@gsofsi.org to confirm your registration or receive a receipt.

You do not have to create a username and password to log in to Doubleknot. However, it will be beneficial if you do. After the first time reserving a program, you can save the names of the girls in your troop under your profile.

COMING SOON!

Camp property reservations will also be moving to Doubleknot within the next few weeks - more information coming soon!

Support Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois While You Shop on Amazon!

Did you know you can support Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois while shopping at amazon.com?

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support GSSI every time you shop - at no cost to you.

When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. 

On your first visit to www.smile.amazon.com select Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois as your charitable organization. For each eligible purchase, GSSI will receive .5% of your purchase price!

Gabriella Holmes from Millstadt Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Gabriella Holmes from Millstadt has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Softball Pitching Fun and Exercise, Gabriella said she wanted to take her love for the game of softball and share it with youth to get them to exercise more and eat healthier. According to Gabriella one of the root causes her project was child obesity and her Gold Award project gave kids a fun way to exercise and taught them healthy eating habits. During her Softball Pitching Camp for youth, she taught exercise and fitness and gave the children healthy eating tips and provided them with a snack each day.

Gabriella said she learned how to work with and teach younger children. “Through this project, I have learned that I enjoy helping younger people and that I can be a leader,” she said.

Gabriella is the daughter of Rick and Tracy Holmes. She is a junior at Belleville West High School and has been a Girl Scout for 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Hannah Grotecke from Granite City Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Hannah Groetecke from Granite City has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Old Six Mile Museum, Gabriella said she wanted to help make improvements to the Old Six Mile Museum and save part of the history of Granite City. The museum roof was damaged and needed to be replaced. Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Hannah was able to mobilize volunteers to help and to donate supplies needed. After the roof was repaired, Hannah helped to promote the great things the museum offered including the free library, tours, home-made honey, unique history books and its new produce stand.

"I not only learned about my hometown," said Hannah, "but also learned that there are many helpful citizens that can be brought together to get things done." 

Hannah is the daughter of Heather Groetecke and Donny Groetecke. She completed her Girl Scout Gold Award Project during her senior year of high schoo and currently is a student at Southwestern Illinois College. She was a Girl Scout for 13 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

2016-17 Girl Scout Bronze Award Recipients

The Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout in grades 4-5 can earn, was created by a troop of Girl Scout Juniors from an individual council and introduced in 2001. It requires a Girl Scout Junior to learn the leadership and planning skills necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community. Working towards this award demonstrates her commitment to helping others, improving her community and the world, and becoming the best she can be. Girls typically spend a minimum of 20 hours working on their projects, after the completion of a Girl Scout Journey and project approval.

Congratulations to the following girls from Southern Illinois who earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award during the 2016-17 school year.

A
Kaylie Adams
Lauren Amlung
Aliayah Anderson
Hope Angle
Morgan Angle
Isabella Armoussou
Mackenna Ashby
Josephine Athy
Chelsea August

B
Elizabeth Back
Ava Baldwin
Keara Barlow
Chelsea Beck
Emma Berg
Jaci Bethel
Franki Boente

Katelynn Bone
Callysta Borders
Tess Brummer
Brianna Brunner
Elise Burk 

Loralei Burress

C
Ella Burton 

Lylah Calhoun
Leah Cartright

D
Alyssa Crossin

Mackenzey Dalla
Kylie Davis
Monica Davis
Paige Dickhaut
Ellie Doolittle
Jada Dougherty 

Savannah Downey

E
Hannah Eade
Reagan Easter
Leah Edwards
Caitlin Eggemeyer
Courtney Ellis
Emma Ellis
Karleigh Ellis
Melissa Ellis

F
Brooke Ferguson

G
Samantha Gibbs
Lia Goedken
Leah Goins
Nevaeh Greer

H
Mia Hardimon
Norah Hardin
Mia Harness
Delaney Harrison
Kaitlyn Hart

Monique Hart
Madeline Healey 

Olivia Heine
Olivia Hemmerle
Adaline Hendricks 

Kyia Henrichsmeyer
Leanna Henson
Makenzie Hillard
Halle Hites
Jayci Hopkins
Madison Hopkins
Kailee Hubbard

J
Alayna Jarvis

Adrienne Jines
Madison Jockisch
Maggie Johnson
Sanaa Johnson

Lily Jurgena

K
Alaina Kao
Allison Kessel
Emma Kilpatrick
Chloe Kious
Morgan Korves
Faith Kossina
Kendra Krause

L
Marissa Lager
Kylie Lee
Haley Linafelter
Sarah Linafelter
Sophie Lingle

M
Kerringtyn Malley
Maggie McGuire
Julia Melosci
Sarah Mensing 

Ashtyn Mewes
Kyra Miller
Cheyenne Missey
Livia Montgomery
Lily-Marie Moss

N
Katie Mueth
Raistlin Noll

O
Melia Oestreich
Abigayle Owen
Emma Owens

P
Emma Patrick
Gabriela Patterson
Margaret Paty
Kiersten Pedigo

R
Ava Rahman
Claire Rantanen
Helen Rickard

Vivienne Runnalls
Ireland Rushing
Isabella Russell
Savannah Russell

S
Rhylee Sauerbrunn
Riley Scheibel
Marlo Schiber
Rachel Schiber
Allie Schrumpf
Emily Schrumpf
Olivia Schulz
Jansen Scrivner
Jaelynn Sebring
Eleanor Sedabres
Mallary Shipley
Catherine Shortal
Abigail Showmaker
Kensall Sigafoos
Annsley Silvia
Melinda Smith
Mikayla Straight
Alexandria Summers
Hannah Summers 

Cheyene Sumner

T
Grace Taylor 

Audrey Thompson
Corrinna Tutterow

V
Julia Venus
Peyton Vest
Deseray VonBurg

W
Morgan Waller

Alayna Walton
Katie Weaver

Hannah Webb
Autumn Whelan

Y
Sophia Yankey

Z
Laine Ziegler

Introducing GSSI Customer Care

You may have noticed there's a new team at GSSI responding to your e-mails and phone calls: Customer Care. 

What is Customer Care?  

It's a new department of GSSI staff that is equipped with the tools and information necessary to help answer most questions and resolve most issues on your first contact with the council office.   

Need help navigating the registration system or have a question about an upcoming program?  Customer Care is there for you.  Looking to place an order with the shop or reserve a camp?  Customer Care can help.  Customer Care can even walk you through opening and closing a troop checking account, renting a van or taking out non-member insurance. 

Parents - Customer Care has your needs covered too!  They can help renew your daughter's registration, transfer to a new troop, or answer questions about her product program or an upcoming program she's attending. 

In the rare case that Customer Care is not able to assist you, then you will be quickly forwarded to the staff person who is an expert in that area. 

You can reach Customer Care at 800.345.6858 or customercare@gsofsi.org.      

More Improvements Coming Soon!

Revitalized customer service is just one way GSSI is striving to make your experience with Girl Scouts even better.  See more about the CEI (Customer Engagement Initative) and the positive changes it will introduce:

Three key technology tools support the initiative – Volunteer Systems fueled by Salesforce, the Volunteer Toolkit, and a new Web Platform.

Volunteer Systems

A best-in-class membership and customer care database that is fueled by Salesforce, which also includes the Salesforce Marketing Cloud, a digital marketing tool to help communicate with volunteers and parents. Volunteer Systems will roll out in August 2017.

Web Platform

Launched in April 2017, GSSI's new Web Platform offers upgraded functions and improved data security.  You can still find our website at www.gsofsi.org, but with some updates and new features. You will notice that our new website looks very similar to other Girl Scout websites across the nation, for a uniform brand experience.  It is also the gateway for the NEW Volunteer Toolkit, which is coming soon. 

Girl Scouts' Volunteer Toolkit (or VTK): helps volunteers access the information and resources they need through their personal computers or mobile devices, and stay better connected to troop leaders and parents. It makes forming and maintaining a troop easier than ever before, which means more time spent on girls and less on administrative tasks. Volunteers can plan out a whole year of impactful activities to ensure their girls receive the best Girl Scout experience possible. 

The Volunteer Toolkit will offer sample K-5 badge-based year plans, K-5 journey-based year plans and help making meeting plans. It focuses on the pillars of our program where we know girls benefit most, especially in a girl-only environment: the outdoors; STEM; life skills and entrepreneurship.  While VTK attends to the needs of K-5 troop leaders, parents and girls to start, Girl Scouts plans to expand the reach to girls and adults participating in delivery models beyond the troop, and to middle and high school girls.

The Volunteer Toolkit will be available through our website, www.gsofsi.org, after the Volunteer Systems and new Web Platform are in place. 

About CEI

Through implementation of CEI, including significant process improvements, staffing alignment and training, and technology tools, Girl Scouts is improving volunteers’, parents’ and girls’ experiences, making it easier and less time consuming for volunteers to effectively complete tasks. For the first time, Girl Scouts is investing in shared tools and technology that will empower us to dramatically improve the Volunteer and Girl Experience. From joining and getting oriented, to managing a troop and renewing membership – being a volunteer will be easier, more manageable and more enjoyable. This results in an enhanced Girl Experience.

The ultimate goal of CEI is to provide girls with exciting, meaningful and impactful experiences and to ensure every girl who wants to participate in Girl Scouting, can do so, with a caring adult to support her.

Jordyn Thompson from O'Fallon Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Jordyn Thompson from O’Fallon has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Jordyn held a LaVerna Evans Elementary School Fall Fun Fair and Fall Book Fair in O’Fallon. She worked with her local school officials to revive the Fall Fair and design new games and activities for parents and students who attended the event. Her Girl Scout Gold Award project included planning and creating new games, organizing the event and getting volunteers to assist during the Fall Fair. Her overall goal was to bring the parents and students out to the school and engage them in activities so they could learn about La Verna Evans Elementary School and its various programs.

“In completing my project, I learned how to be a leader, and I learned organization skills and that when directing people to have good communications skills to be effective. Also I learned, to allow others to offer advice, to be flexible and have a Plan B,” Jordyn added.

Jordyn is the daughter of Curtis Thompson and JoAnn Williams-Thompson. She will graduate from O’Fallon Township High School in 2018 and has been a Girl Scout for 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Caroline Stewart from Belleville Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Caroline Stewart from Belleville has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Washington Park Good Samaritan Center Playground, Caroline constructed an urban playground at the Good Samaritan Center in Washington Park. In the past, she assisted with Vacation Bible School and her and other volunteers noticed that the existing playground was unsafe. Through her efforts, a new playground was built from recycled materials that included a swing, a slide, a seesaw and a climbing structure. In addition, a basketball court was installed from grant money that had been received.

“I learned time management, better interpersonal communications skills, and how to ask for help when I needed it,” Caroline said of what she learned by completing her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Caroline is the daughter of Doug and Christine Stewart. She graduated from Governor French Academy in 2017 and has been a Girl Scout for 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Give Your G.I.R.L. More Opportunities to Shine: Renew Her Girl Scout Membership Today!

In Girl Scouts, the next chance to stand up, speak up, and take the lead is never far away. We believe in the power of G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader)™ is in every girl and strive to give her opportunities to shine.

Another year of adventures is waiting!
Renew her membership today!

BONUS:  Every girl whose membership is renewed by June 15 will receive a free t-shirt.  ORDER HERE

(Please note - adults can also order #LikeAGirlScout t-shirts for $8 each.  Please contact our Customer Care Department at 800.345.6858 or customercare@gsofsi.org to purchase.)

Staunton Girl Scouts Earn Presidential Volunteer Service Awards

Every girl in Troop #106 from Staunton earned a Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her community service this year! 

The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is the premier volunteer awards program, encouraging citizens to live a life of service through presidential gratitude and national recognition.

2017 Girl Scout Cookie Program Top Sellers

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) recently wrapped up a successful Girl Scout Cookie Program, with more than 7,800 girls selling more than 1,038,000 boxes of delicious Girl Scout Cookies. 

“This year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program was a huge success! I’d like to thank all of our girls, their parents and the fantastic volunteers who contributed to the success of the cookie program,” said Kelly Jansen, Director of Product Program for GSSI. “The dedication and commitment of all those involved allow us to provide girls throughout southern Illinois with a great Girl Scout Leadership Experience.”

The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls gain five valuable skills – goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics – that will benefit them throughout life. In addition, proceeds from the cookie program help Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois recruit and train adult volunteers, provide financial assistance so Girl Scouting is available to all girls, improve and maintain camp properties, and develop and deliver extensive program activities for girls.

Congratulations to the following Girl Scouts who were top sellers for their Service Units. Please note that girls are associated with Service Units based on where her troop is located, rather than her hometown. 


Top 3 Overall Sellers:

Claire Meininger from Shipman - 2,115 boxes

Eden McQuay from Medora - 2,100 boxes

Elisa Thomlinson from Collinsville - 1,503 boxes

Service Unit Top Sellers

Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana: Alyssa Herbst  - Troop #47, Alton

Belleville/Swansea: Kalayna Beskorovany - Troop #93,  Belleville

Bethalto: Hope Rosales - Troop #577, Bethalto

Bond County: Dalani White - Troop #8800, Greenville 

Centralia: Madaline Ruez - Troop #8338, Centralia

Clark/Cumberland Counties: Anastasia Turner - Troop #2170, Marshall

Clay County: Elizabeth Lagle - Troop #8829, Rinard

ClinClair: Lynn Shirley - Troop #734, Summerfield

Clinton County: Kaleigh Voegeli - Troop #8834, Carlyle

Collinsville: Elise Thomlinson - Troop #302,  Collinsville

Crawford/Jasper Counties: Kaylynn Paddick - Troop #2484, Willow Hill

East Marion County:Vanessa Dodson - Troop #8572, Salem

East St Louis/Cahokia/Centreville: Carre Webster - Troop #874, Granite City

East Williamson County: Jaycee Hill - Troop #8073, Marion

Eastern Coles County: Ariana Sluder - Troop #2643, Ashmore

Edgar County: Kadrianne Henry - Troop #2080, Paris

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon: Jayden Henschen - Troop #954, Hamel

Effingham County: Jeavenlee Lira - Troop #2300, Effingham

Fairview Heights/Caseyville: Mackenzie Watson - Troop #43, Fairview Hgts

Fayette County: Delaynee Ward - Troop #8383, Vandalia

Granite City/Madison/Venice: Hannah Groetecke - Troop #521, Granite City

Highland: Emmah Reppond - Troop #496, Highland

Jackson County: Abigail Fields - Troop #8158, Carbondale

Jefferson County: Sydney Fenton - Troop #8653, Mt. Vernon

Jersey/Calhoun Counties: Claire Meininger - Troop #235, Shipman

Johnson/Pope Counties: Sadie Hinkle - Troop # 8649, Cypress

Lawrence County: Zoe Booth - Troop #8704, Bridgeport

Massac County: Addyson Johnson  - Troop #8695, Metropolis

Millstadt/Columbia/Dupo/Smithton: Alexandria Kampmeinert - Troop 3303, Columbia

New Athens/Marissa/St Libory/Freeburg: Chelsea Sinn - Troop #356, Freeburg

North Franklin County: Paige Jennings - Troop #8924, Benton

North Randolph County: Alaina Smith - Troop #8081, Ruma

O'Fallon/Shiloh: Erin Hanny - Troop #595, O'Fallon

Perry County: Ellyette Ralston - Troop #8124, Du Quoin

Richland County: Alexandra Lomas - Troop #8345, Olney

Shawnee: Elizabeth Marshall - Troop #8287, Shawneetown

South Macoupin County: Kayleigh Trimm - Troop #628, Bunker Hill

South Randolph County: Addison Gottschammer - Troop #8791, Ellis Grove

Troy/St. Jacob: Leah Connelly - Troop #258, Troy

Union/Pulaski/Alexander Counties: Karleigh Ellis - Troop #8528, Alto Pass

Wabash/Edwards Counties: Presley White - Troop #8505, Mt Carmel

Washington County: Susan Kressin - Troop #8736, Okawville

Waterloo: Addison Koppeis - Troop #745, Valmeyer

Wayne/Hamilton/White Counties: Kayli Kohn, Troop #8779, Fairfield

West Frankfort: Katie Arview - Troop #8017, West Frankfort

West Williamson County: Laney Baltzell - Troop #8062, Carterville

Western Coles County: Madison Parks - Troop #2462, Mattoon

Kelsey Weatherford from Columbia Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Kelsey Weatherford from Columbia has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Blooming Butterflies, Kelsey planted five butterfly gardens in Columbia. These butterfly gardens are a place where migrating butterflies can rest and eat and nest on their trip to Mexico. Kelsey said her Girl Scout Gold Award project was important because Monarch butterflies play a key role in our environment as pollinators. “Without pollinators like the Monarch butterfly, we wouldn’t have the vast variety of crops that we have today,” Kelsey shared.

“Through my Gold Award project, I learned the importance of being environmentally conscious, so that all creatures can continue to enjoy its wonders for many years to come,” Kelsey added.

Kelsey is the daughter of Gregory and Andrea Weatherford. She graduated from Columbia High School in 2017 and has been a Girl Scout for 13 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

GSSI STEM Camp Still Has Spots Available

Come out to Girl Scout STEM Camp for an experience that's out of this world!  To celebrate the coming total solar eclipse, this year's camp theme is SPACE!   There are two camp options - one for younger girls entering K-3 in the fall, and another for older girls entering 4th-12th grades.  Both camps offer tons of science, technology, engineering and math fun and a cool t-shirt!  Sign up by June 7 and get ready to have a BLAST (yes, we'll be launching rockets)! 

Mini STEM Camp
July 6-7, 2017
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Camp Torqua - Edwardsville, IL
Ages:  K-3rd Grade (Fall 2017) 

Join us for our fourth Mini STEM camp, just for Daisies and Brownies! Let's explode rockets, build a Mars Rover, glow in the dark and a whole lot more! Cost includes lunch both days, two snacks and a t-shirt. 

Girl Scout Fee: $40
Non-Girl Scout Fee: an additional $15 per girl

Adult volunteers are needed to make this camp a success. Full time volunteers who work both days will receive a camp shirt and be reimbursed $20 for one camper at the close of camp. If interested in volunteering, a volunteer application and health history form should be mailed in with your payment and daughter's registration form. 

Deadline to Register: 06/07/17

STEM Camp: Destined for Infinity

July 17-21, 2017
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Camp Torqua - Edwardsville, IL
Ages: 4th-12th grade (Fall 2017)

How do you organize a space themed camp?? You PLANet! It only gets better at this year's space themed STEM camp. Let's shoot rockets, defy physics and get our inventor brains warmed up with more littleBits. If that doesn't sound like fun, how about an Escape the Room: Space Station module? We will also do a field trip to Boeing's Prolouge room to get a feel for aerospace and history. 

Girl Scout Fee: $74
Non-Girl Scout Fee: an additional $15

Adult volunteer are needed to make this camp a success. Full time volunteers who work five days will receive a camp shirt and be reimbursed $35 for one camper at the close of camp. If interested in volunteering, a volunteer application and health history form should be mailed in with your payment and girl's registration form.

Deadline to Register: 06/07/17

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois 28th Annual Girl Scout Golf Classic Raises $27,500

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) held its 28th Annual Girl Scout Golf Classic at Sunset Hills Country Club on May 15. This year’s Golf Classic raised $27,500.  See photos...

“Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois greatly appreciates everyone who helped make this year’s Girl Scout Golf Classic a success,” said Tricia Higgins, GSSI Communications and Development Manager. “On behalf of our over 12,400 girl members and nearly 5,000 adult volunteers I would like to thank our corporate sponsors, donors, supporters and players for another successful golf classic,” Higgins added. 

During the past 28 years, the Girl Scout golf classic has raised more than $850,000 to support girl program development, girl financial assistance and to maintain and improve Girl Scout camps. 

2017 Girl Scout Golf Classic sponsors include: 

Silver Sponsor:  

The Korte Company

Bronze Sponsors:
Siemer Milling Company
JF Electric

Dinner Sponsor:
Angie Zahn, Broker, Strano & Associates

Lunch Sponsors:
The PaintSmiths of St. Louis
Mathis Marifian & Richter LTD Attorneys at Law

Beverage Sponsor:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Bucket Raffle Sponsor:
David & Kay Werner

Golf Cart Sponsors:
Cassens Transport
Anderson Hospital
Plocher Construction
Palmer & Cay
Terra Properties

Tee Sponsors:
The Korte Company
Siemer Milling Company
J.F Electric
Louer Facility Planning
SunCoke Energy
Dr. David Hyten
Jim's Formal Wear
Hurford Architects
ADR Auto Repair & Towing
Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors
Hill Law Offices
Spencer Homes
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Josefina Pimentel from Carbondale Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Josefina Pimentel from Carbondale has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Creative Writing: Express Your Dreams, Josefina held several creative writing clinics for 55 children at Unity Point School, the Carbondale Library and the Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale. Josefina said she wanted to pass on her love of writing to other youth living in the Carbondale area. 

“Through my Girl Scout Gold Award Project, I had the opportunity to work with children from many different circumstances: wealthy and low income, international and local, boys and girls, etc. Working with them and getting to see their faces light up when they were proud of their writing was an amazing experience. I also learned better time management skills and how to be a leader and role model for children,” Josefina said.

Josefina is the daughter of Susan Walch-Pimentel and Ed Pimentel. She will graduate from Carbondale Community High School in 2017 and has been a Girl Scout for 11 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Have You Seen GSSI's New Web Platform?

GSSI launched a new website on April 24!  

While the URL remains the same - www.gsofsi.org - GSSI's updated website, which is built on the Adobe platform, will make it easier to find the information you need, as well as offer improved data security.  Searching for events, programs and forms will be simpler than ever before! 

You will notice that our new website looks very similar to other Girl Scout websites across the nation.  GSSI's web update is part of the Customer Engagement Initiative (CEI), a Movement-wide business transformation which puts girl, parent and volunteer customers at the center of GSSI’s efforts. 

Through implementation of CEI, including significant process improvements, staffing alignment and training, and technology tools, Girl Scouts is improving volunteers’, parents’ and girls’ experiences, making it easier and less time consuming for volunteers to effectively complete tasks. For the first time, Girl Scouts is investing in shared tools and technology that will empower us to dramatically improve the Volunteer and Girl Experience. From joining and getting oriented, to managing a troop and renewing membership – being a volunteer will be easier, more manageable and more enjoyable. This results in an enhanced Girl Experience.

The ultimate goal of CEI is to provide girls with exciting, meaningful and impactful experiences and to ensure every girl who wants to participate in Girl Scouting, can do so, with a caring adult to support her.

Three key technology tools support the initiative – Volunteer Systems fueled by Salesforce, the Volunteer Toolkit, and a new Web Platform.

Volunteer Systems: A best-in-class membership and customer care database that is fueled by Salesforce, which also includes the Salesforce Marketing Cloud, a digital marketing tool to help communicate with volunteers and parents. Volunteer Systems will roll out in August 2017.
  

In addition, the new and improved Web Platform will deliver a uniform brand experience to customers, as well as improved data security.  It is also the gateway for the NEW Volunteer Toolkit

Girl Scouts' Volunteer Toolkit (or VTK): helps volunteers access the information and resources they need through their personal computers or mobile devices, and stay better connected to troop leaders and parents. It makes forming and maintaining a troop easier than ever before, which means more time spent on girls and less on administrative tasks. Volunteers can plan out a whole year of impactful activities to ensure their girls receive the best Girl Scout experience possible. 

The Volunteer Toolkit will offer sample K-5 badge-based year plans, K-5 journey-based year plans and help making meeting plans. It focuses on the pillars of our program where we know girls benefit most, especially in a girl-only environment: the outdoors; STEM; life skills and entrepreneurship.

The Volunteer Toolkit will be available through our website, www.gsofsi.org, after the Volunteer Systems and new Web Platform are in place. 

While CEI attends to the needs of K-5 troop leaders, parents and girls to start, Girl Scouts plans to expand the reach to girls and adults participating in delivery models beyond the troop, and to middle and high school girls.

Elizabeth Burr from Collinsville Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Burr from Collinsville has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Camps in Motion, Elizabeth visited GSSI’s camps and filmed the camp properties and facilities as well as girls enjoying various programs and activities held at camp. Through her Girl Scout Gold Award, Elizabeth produced four promotion camp videos that GSSI can use to share information about the camp properties for girls and parents or to show potential funders who support outdoors and camping for girls. “I’ve always had a passion for film making, and I thought I would combine that with my passion for camps to complete my Girl Scout Gold Award,” Elizabeth said.

“I feel as though I learned to be a good leader and role model, as I saw many young Girl Scouts looking up to me as I filmed at camp throughout this project,” Elizabeth added.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Marvin and Allyson Burr. She will graduate from Collinsville High School in 2017 and has been a Girl Scout for 13 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 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.