Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois: Around the Council May 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!



Alton area Girl Scout Brownie Troop #55 had their first-ever camp out!  The girls went hiking, practiced first aid and put up tents!

Troop #792 from Madison County collected 192 lbs of tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of St. Louis - and received a trophy prize for their efforts! 

Cadette Troop #2141 from Charleston earned their Field Day patch where, among other games, they played a match of Quiddich! 

Girl Scouts from SU 202 ClinClair worked on their Outdoor Journeys, as well as Junior Aide and Leader-in-Action awards. 

Freeburg Troop #8349 learned a lot of OWL Flight School. 

Troop #8163 from Carbondale learning water safety

Troop #8163 from Carbondale has been busy - they learned water safety, earned their Pottery badges, went camping and explored the 3 Cheers for Animals Journey at Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge.

Marion Troop #8869 honored WSIL TV anchor Evie Allen with the Inspiring Woman award at their 2nd Annual The Empowerment Project and Empower You Career Fair.

Girl Scouts from SU 107 South Macoupin County marched in the Staunton Memorial Day Parade.

Girl Scouts from SU 101 Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana marched in the Alton Memorial Day Parade.

Girl Scouts placed flags on veterans' graves at the St. Peter and Paul Cemeteries in Waterloo to honor Memorial Day. 

Girl Scouts from Troop #238 held a Court of Awards and potluck. 

West Williamson County Girl Scouts marched in the Herrin Festa Parade. 

Girl Scouts at Scott Air Force Base learned more about firefighting. 

Troops #238 and #513 from Scott Air Force Base took a fire station tour and learned about the engines on the flight line. 

Girl Scouts from Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Troop #370 bridged to Ambassadors by serving as Pages in the Illinois House of Representatives. 

SU 202 ClinClair held an awards and bridging ceremony at St. John's United Church of Christ. 

Troop #130 from Wood River placed flags on veterans grave sites as part of their Memorial Day commemorations. 

Brownie Troop #744 and Daisy Troop #1044 volunteered to serve the monthly community meal in Gillespie. 

Troy Cadette Troop #717 completed their Breathe Journey Take Action project by placing plants in the classrooms at their middle school, thanks to a donation from Sunnyside Nurseries.  Each plant removes volatile compounds from the air.  

Girl Scout Troop #717 added plants to their middle school classrooms.

ACE Adventure Resort's Shanna Crompton Discusses Success in the Outdoor Adventure Industry

Herrin native Shanna Crompton leads by example for anyone looking to build a rewarding career while thinking "outside the office." She is an Operations Manager, Equipment Manager, Trainer and Trip Guide at ACE Adventure Resort, a popular Girl Scouts travel destination in West Virginia that provides  hundereds of guests with the opportunity to whitewater raft, zipline, stand up paddleboard, kayak and more.  

 

See what Shanna has to say about thriving in this male-dominated industry during a recent Q&A Session in Misadventures Magazine:

 

Her Duties:

 

Operations Manager:

"I am responsible for over 150 employees spanning several departments.  In brief, I deal with scheduling, discipline, safey and personnel issues.  I coordinate daily staff assignments, communicate with other departments to keep logistics running effectively and respond to any emergency (evac) sitautions.:

 

Equipment and Wetsuit Manager (Buyer/Planner):

"I keep inventory and track depreciation of all our outdoor gear."

 

Trainer:

"I train all the new guides coming in each spring with the technical skills and safety standards needed to be successful guides while demonstrating ACE's expectations for customer service."

 

Trip Leader:

"This is where I get to get out on the river with our guests.  Being a Trip Leader, I am legally responsible for anywhere from four to 60 guests and guides, keeping up safety standards and order on each trip ... and making sure everyone has a good time."

 

How She Got There:

Shanna has bachelor's degrees in International Trade, Spanish and Business Administration and had a corporate career in Spain.  While she flourished professionally, she found the routine routine of it was the right fit.  When a friend asked Shanna to come along with her to ACE, she agreed and started there as a trip guide.

"Training was tough," Shanna said "There were plenty of days, after big flips and long, scary swims that I wanted to pack up [...] but I am stubborn and I wouldn't let myself quit."

As she continually proved herself, she was offered more and more responsibilities, eventually taking on managerial roles, despite resisting the idea for two years.

"Then it hit me. If I took on a man­age­r­ial role, it meant this raft guide world was becom­ing my “grown-up job”. I real­ized I didn’t have to be a stereo­typ­i­cal city busi­ness­woman to be a pro­fes­sional in my work."


Her lessons as a female in a male-dominated field:

" First, as a female, you don't necessarily have to work harder or sweat more to prove yourself.  Anyone with a strong work ethic can move up.

That being said, I've learned to lead by example.  Actions truly do speak louder than words.  If my peers see me working with proper technique and composing myself in a professional manner while still bringing good tips from my guests, they're more likely to emulate that.  That in turn, makes my job easier as a manager.

I've learned tha tin the rafting industry, stereotypes about women abound, but you don't have to live up to them.  Steering clear of those generalities is a major part about why I believe I moved up so quickly."

Her advice to girls and women entering the outdoor adventure industry:

"Be strong and independent.  There aren't guy chores and women chores.  You can learn and conquer feats just as easily as any man.

Don't be a stereotype.  Don't talk a big game, but when it comes down to it play the 'little 'ol me' card to get out of physically demanding work.  It's infuriating.  Respect yourself and others will respect you too.

Read Shanna's entire interview at Misadventures Magazine ... the Outdoors Magazine By and For Adventerous Women.  Thank you to Misadventures Magazine and contributor Katie Dudley for giving us permission to share. 


There's still time to register for GSSI's upcoming trip to ACE Adventure Resort!

ACE is the place to go for adventure! Join GSSI on an exciting trip to West Virginia. Experience a full day whitewater rafting on the New River Gorge with a grilled riverside lunch then hang back and spend time on the lake with water trampolines and the "Blob". You will also get to choose your own additional activity. Do you want to zipline, rock climb, paddleboard or maybe go horseback riding? The choice is yours. Price includes charter bus transportation, lodging for 3 nights, 9 meals, whitewater rafting, lake activities and choice of second activity. 

 

Date: July 19, 2016 at 6 a.m. to July 22, 2016 at 3 p.m. 

Registration Closes at 11:59 PM ET on Oct. 15, 2015!

Location:  ACE Adventure Resort - Oak Hill, West Virginia 

Payment Schedule: 
Deposit of $50 is due with online or mailed registration.

Balance due as follows:
$450 (girl) or $485 (adult) due in single payment by October 29, 2015

OR make 3 additional payments as follows:
$150 (girl or adult) due October 29, 2015
$150 (girl or adult) due February 25, 2016
$150 (girl) or $185 (adult) due May 26, 2016

For more information, please contact Program Manager Mary Buchanan at 800.345.6858, ext. 1115 or e-mail mbuchanan@gsofsi.org.

Amy Taylor from Herrin Named October Pearl of the Month

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Amy Taylor from Herrin has been named the October Pearl of the Month. The Pearl of the Month Award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has delivered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that the approximately 14,000 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Nominees must meet several criteria, including completion of all required training for his or her volunteer position as well as providing outstanding service to his or her Service Unit or the Council.

Amy is Product Program Manager, event planner and committee member representing West Williamson County Service Unit 90.  She helped plan and conduct a Spa Camp, which included staying at camp for a week.  She helps with almost all camp events and participates in camp clean-up days.  Most recently, Amy served on the Camp Cedar Point 60th Anniversary committee, which helped plan and implement an alumnae reunion at the longtime summer resident camp to raise funds for GSSI.  Amy is a strength to her Service Unit and is known for always being ready to say “yes!”

The mission of Girl Scouting states:  Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.   Girl Scouts is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls - all girls - where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.  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 Scouting has inspired more than 50 million girls and women since its founding in 1912. 

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.