Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois: Around the Council July 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!

O'Fallon Troop #642 visited Orlando, FL to participate in the class "Exploring Careers in the Zoological Sciences" at the Animal Kingdom. 

When thunderstorms struck during bedtime at camp, PA KayLee helped soothe the mood by leading a cheerful song.  Great thinking, KayLee!

Service Unit 210 Freeburg/Marissa/St. Librory held a bridging ceremony. 

S'mores Sampling!  Photo Courtesy of Shawneetown Public Library. 

Girl Scouts taught a program on how to make a fire - complete with hot dogs and s'mores - at the Shawneetown Public Library. 

Troop #688 from Clinton County camped at Camp Wassatoga, where they canoed, painted, made s'mores and worked on their Amaze Journey. 

South Macoupin County Troop #1075 took the train for a weekend getaway to Chicago.  They stayed at the Hosteling International Hostel and visited local attractions like the Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago and Shedd Aquarium.  Of course, they sampled some deep dish pizza as well.

Service Unit 207 Belleville/Swansea has been sprucing up sailboats for Camp Butterfly.  Thank you to everyone who has been working so hard on this project!

Troop #792 repainted the jungle gym at their meeting place. 

Madison County Troop #792 helped beautify their meeting place by repainting the jungle gym.

Girl Scouts read to children during the "Read with a Girl Scout" program at Brehm Library in Mount Vernon. 

Girl Scouts from Waterloo held a mother/daughter campout at Camp Chan Ya Ta where they hiked, canoed, shot archery and enjoyed fun and games. 

Mary Ann Hopper: Girl Scout Gold Award Trainer Since 2000

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world through their Girl Scout Gold Award projects. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. As the Girl Scout Gold Award celebrates 100 years of girls changing the world, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is highlighting some of our shining stars who exemplify the greatness of this award.

Girl Scout Gold Award recipients make great impacts on their communities. A girl puts in a tremendous amount of work to make her project successful, thus earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. But how does a girl get started on her journey? That’s where a group of select Girl Scout volunteers come in – volunteers like Mary Anne Hopper.

Mary Anne Hopper from Waterloo, IL first became a Girl Scout volunteer in 1993. While registering her youngest daughter for Girl Scouts, she learned there was a need for more troop leaders in her area. With the help of another parent as a co-leader, Mary Anne started her Girl Scout volunteer experience as a troop leader for her daughter Amy’s troop.

In 1996, Mary Anne’s oldest daughter, Michelle, earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. Soon after, daughter Amy was approaching the age when many Girl Scouts start thinking about the Gold Award themselves. As Amy’s troop leader and parent, Mary Anne wanted to know as much as she could about the award. Mary Anne was herself a Girl Scout for 8 years but never knew about the Girl Scout Gold Award (then known as First Class). She wanted to make sure Amy and other Girl Scouts knew about the award and had the necessary resources to achieve it. In 2000, Mary Anne became a Girl Scout Gold Award Trainer and Gold Award Committee member – positions she still holds today.

Mary Anne is a very busy individual; she is a full time paraprofessional at Waterloo High School and also works as an usher for the St. Louis Cardinals during baseball season. In addition, Mary Anne also volunteers at her church as well as the Cub Scout Day Camp and Camp Vandeventer. People like her usually get asked why they do so much or if they ever think about “cutting back” on their commitments. When Mary Anne is asked this regarding her Girl Scout volunteering, she replies, “If there had not been volunteers for my daughters’ troops, they would have missed out on a lot of new experiences. I have something to share with the girls as well as the adults with whom I interact, and it is important to me that I share it.”

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scout Gold Award, Mary Anne encourages other adults to consider becoming a Girl Scout Gold Award volunteer. She states, “You get to watch girls grow into young women who can do anything they choose to do. If you help a girl with her Gold Award project, you may be that one resource that helps her project go from good to great!”

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouting. To earn this award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within her community, creates change and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work, and only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Katie Albert from Waterloo Receives Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarship from Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to announce that Katie Albert from Waterloo, Illinois has received its 2016 Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarship. She was recognized April 9 during GSSI's annual All That Glitters Ceremony held at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. 

Katie Albert from Waterloo: Katie is a Girl Scout Ambassador who is also a Girl Scout Gold Award and Trifecta recipient. Katie states that the most memorable part of her Girl Scout career cannot possibly be limited to one event; it is the cumulative experience of thirteen years. Katie is currently a senior at Waterloo High School and plans to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the fall. 

“The best thing I could tell others about Girl Scouts is that it is not about the badge, the pin or the award. It is about the program and all that it represents. It is a door to opportunity. All you have to do is walk through that door and discover all it has to offer,” said Katie.

Also receiving scholarships from Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois were Bailee Warsing from Granite City and Alexandra Lloyd from O'Fallon. 

The Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships are funded from proceeds from the annual Brownie Haunted Camp, which is planned, organized and conducted by older Girl Scouts. Two scholarships are awarded each year. This year, an additional scholarship was funded by Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' staff campaign. To earn the scholarship, girls submitted an application and reference letters which were reviewed by a committee of staff and volunteers.

Mary Anne Hopper from Waterloo Receives the Thanks Badge II - Girl Scouts' Highest Adult Volunteer Award

Mary Anne Hopper from Waterloo has received the Thanks Badge II for her exceptional volunteer service to Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. The Thanks Badge II is the highest adult volunteer award and honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the total council or entire Girl Scout movement.

“Mary Anne continues her long standing commitment to the Girl Scout program and Waterloo Service Unit. Mary Anne IS the reason Girl Scout membership is thriving in this area, ” said fellow volunteer Sara Hilgedieck

Angela Stratman from Waterloo Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Teamwork for Youth, Angela wanted to give back to Camp Wartburg, a camp she has been going to for 13 years. Angela and her Girl Scout troop have completed many team challenge courses over the years, so she wanted to build a group initiative course (GIC) at the camp. The objective of a GIC is to build teamwork through a group challenge. Angela’s obstacle is called a squeeze box, and the object of the challenge is to get groups of various sizes into the adjustable box. The GIC can become more challenging with additional stipulations, such as not being allowed to touch the outer wall while getting inside the box.

Angela gained valuable leadership skills while working with a group of people on her project. “Through doing my Girl Scout Gold Award, I have learned that anything is possible with determination and compromise,” said Angela.

Angela is the daughter of Ken and Susan Stratman. She is currently a senior at Waterloo High School. Angela 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 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Haley Gregson From Waterloo Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Growing For Faith, Haley built a flower bed at Camp Wartburg Lutheran Retreat in Waterloo. As part of her project, Haley first bricked the edges, then planted bright and colorful perennial plants and finally mulched the area.  

“I hope my Girl Scout Gold Award project will make a positive impact on Camp Wartburg campers,” Haley said. “I used plants that are native to the Monroe County region. Through this project, I learned to never give up and that effort is the key to success,” she added.

Haley is the daughter of George and Beth Gregson from Waterloo. She is currently a senior at Waterloo High School. She 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 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Three Receiving Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships

Three GSSI Girl Scouts were presented with college scholarships at All That Glitters Awards Ceremony on March 28 at Rend Lake Resort in Whittington.  Each year, GSSI presents two scholarships to graduating Girl Scout Ambassadors who stand out in Girl Scouts, leadership, school and service to the community.  The Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships are funded from proceeds from the annual Brownie Haunted Camp program, which is planned, organized and conducted by older Girl Scouts. This year, GSSI staff was able to present an additional scholarship due to funds raised during the 2014 Staff Campaign.  To receive an Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships, girls must complete a detailed application with references.  From these, a panel of staff and volunteers selects the top applicants.  Recipients were:

Lainey Brown from O’Fallon

Lainey a member of Troop #915 and has been a Girl Scout for over 9 years. She earned the Girl Scout Gold Award this year by working with a local nursing home where she planned events and created sensory boards for patients with Alzheimer’s. Lainey attends O’Fallon Township High School and plans to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville upon graduation.

“The greatest things I’ve gained through Girl Scouts are confidence, leadership and family,” said Lainey. “I learned that taking charge of yourself and what you care about can turn out to be amazing.”

Megan Kraus from Waterloo 

Megan is from Troop #32 and has been a Girl Scout for 13 years. She earned the Girl Scout Gold Award this year by incorporating art into various service projects at her school and church. As part of her Girl Scout community service, she also volunteers at day camp and plans to come back to camp as a unit leader upon graduation. Megan attends Waterloo High School and plans to pursue a degree in Spanish at Truman State University.

“At the end of the day, I am glad I’ve been involved with Girl Scouts for the past 13 years rather than soccer or skating,” said Megan. “When training, athletes only focus on their sport; in Girl Scouts, I have been able to learn a variety of things and build up so many dreams that I otherwise never would have known I had.”

Deanna Hohgrefe from Chester

Deanna is from Troop #8239 and has been a Girl Scout for 12 years. She has also earned her Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Bronze Award. Deanna also went on a Girl Scout destination travel experience to Germany and serves as a council delegate for her Service Unit. She currently attends Chester High School and plans to attend Concordia University in Wisconsin.

“I would tell someone thinking about putting their daughter into Girl Scouts that the skills I have learned from being a Girl Scout have made me the person I am today,” said Deanna. “I am so grateful that I have been able to do all of the many things I have gotten to do – from ice skating and skiing to traveling around the world.”

Katie Albert From Waterloo Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Katie held two Unplug and Go Outside events to get more children in her community to put down their electronic devices and go outside and participate in outdoor activities. One of her Unplug events centered on a sports theme where she had children participating in t-ball, wiffle ball, croquet, lawn darts, washers and ladderjacks. The second Unplug event was centered on nature and crafts that included making sidewalk chalk, planting herbs, hiking a nature trail and doing leaf rubbings.

 “My Girl Scout Gold Award project taught me how to communicate effectively with a diverse group of people. My team included people ranging from my peers to retired educators and established business leaders. I discovered that I can speak well, and confidently promote my ideas,” Albert said.

 Katie is the daughter of Karla Albert. She is a junior at Waterloo High School and has been Girl Scout for 12 years. Katie has earned the Trifecta Award which honors her achievement of earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Award.

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.

Megan Kraus from Waterloo Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Megan spread a sense of positivity and creative expression through an array of community service projects, including painting a mural in her former grade school and engaging children in art programs.  

“I’ve always had a fascination for and enjoyed the arts,” she said.  “A common need for expression and a lack of financial and visual support for the arts made me feel like something necessary was becoming extinct.”

When a mural of Noah’s Ark at St. Peter and Paul School had to be removed due to renovations, Megan remembered how it had inspired her as a child and decided to replace it.  Under the direction of SIUE art student Jacki Lampitt, she sketched and painted a new design that took over three days to complete. 

To get area children involved, she then hosted a coloring contest at Vacation Bible School, a calendar-making class at the library and craft sessions at an area Girl Scout campout.  While teaching them artistic skills, Megan also emphasized that art can be a positive outlet for emotional expression, rather than turning to negative attitudes or behavior.

“I discovered ways to encourage positive creations and futures,” she said. “Even when paint is not involved, positive actions illuminate a beautiful path.

Along with sharing her deep love and respect for art, Megan also developed her own sense of confidence and leadership abilities.   “Going outside of your comfort zone is completely worth it and can lead to phenomenal experiences,” she said.  “After completing this project, which included formal communication with powerful adults and connecting with younger children, I feel like I can do anything.”

Megan is the daughter of Jeff and Patti Kraus.  She is senior at Waterloo High School and has been a Girl Scout for twelve years.  Next year, she plans to attend college to major in Spanish.

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.

Waterloo Girl Scout Katie Albert Revels in World Adventure

 

Just 16, Girl Scout Katie Albert from Waterloo is already an accomplished world traveler.  For two years in a row, she has been selected to go on two trips sponsored by Girl Scouts of the USA.  Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the better place.  The organization believes that travel opportunities help fulfill this mission by allowing girls to see new places, meet diverse people and learn about different cultures and ideas. Travel opportunities for girls ages 11-17 called destinations give girls the chance to see the world, meet new friends and develop vital leadership skills for the future.

“I love to travel,” said Katie.  “I’m open to new experiences, new adventures and new cuisine.  I’m willing to work hard and make it fun.”

For her first destinations experience, Katie traveled to Switzerland to visit Our Chalet, a World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Centre located in the Alps.  The 10-day program included outdoor adventure and international friendship.   Girls enjoyed hiking, mountain climbing, rappelling, zip-lining, boating and exploring the local landscape and villages.

One of the most surreal moments to Katie was playing an alphorn under the Zytglotte, a famed astronomical tower built in 1530.  “There I was, standing under the Zytglotte on the historical streets of Bern, surrounded by tourists and playing an authentic alphorn,” she said.  “It was a feeling unlike any other I’ve experienced and a memory I will treasure.”

 

Katie playing the alphorn in Bern.

 

What Katie loved the most about visiting Switzerland was climbing Elsighorn, a mountain peak in the Alps.  Girls got to see Swiss pastures, glacier fed lakes and fragrant meadows on the way to the top.  Exploring the summit, girls found Edelweiss in bloom – a rare flower that grows only in the highest peaks of the Alps.  “It was a big challenge and a big accomplishment,” said Katie.  “I had really just climbed a mountain!”

 

Katie at the summit of Elsighorn.

 

For her next destinations trip, Katie joined fourteen Girl Scouts from around the country to kayak and camp along the San Juan Islands of Washington.   The trip was packed with natural splendor including cool blue water, bright sunshine and lots of local wildlife that included starfish, seals and even rare sea otters.  The transition from a day of paddling and hiking to a night under the stars was especially memorable.  “The sunsets never let us down with their beauty,” she noted. 

The beauty of the San Juan Islands on full display.

 

Putting their leadership skills to the test, girls took turns being “leaders” who checked tidal charts, plotted the course and led the group, and “sweepers,” who were at the back of the pack making sure that no kayakers ran into trouble or became separated.  The course could be strenuous and the days were demanding, but fulfilling.  “I didn’t know I had that much determination, dedication, enthusiasm and perseverance,” said Katie.

 

This group paddled and hiked together all day and camped on Lopez Island at night

 

This year, Katie will be pushing her boundaries even more on two additional destinations trips.   In late December, she will travel to Southern Patagonia in the wilds of Chile and to tackle outdoor adventures such as kayaking through the Straits of Magellan, horseback riding through wetlands and forests, meeting Patagonia gauchos, hiking through Pali Aike National Park and a glacier cruise. This summer, Katie will explore the culture, history and highlights of Sydney, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. 

 Along with lifelong memories and cherished friendships, Katie is also building leadership and life skills.  “Traveling on my own without a parent or troop leader build my confidence to take care of myself,” Katie said.   She also notes that trips of this magnitude require careful planning, organization and financial literacy.  “I learned how to save and conserve money throughout the year to pay for the trip,” she explained.  

Best of all, Katie knows that her future is boundless.  “I used to think that the world was so much bigger than my backyard.  Now I realize that the world IS my backyard,” she said. “Girl Scouting has helped me have the courage to do things I’d never dreamed I’d be doing.”  

For more information about Girl Scouts destinations travel opportunities, please contact Program Manager Julie Schloss at 800.345.6858, ext. 1119 or e-mail jschloss@gsofsi.org.