Girl Scouts with goo on their hands

Their future starts now!

When girls learn by doing, they unleash the power of their imaginations … opening doors to limitless possibilities.

This was the case when 100 Girl Scout Juniors transformed our Balboa Campus into a winter wonderland during our recent workshop, Deck the Halls: Holiday STEM. Guided by Girl Scout staff and women scientists, the 4th- and 5th-graders learned about superabsorbent polymers and non-Newtonian fluids by making “snow” and “candy cane goo”… became holiday light experts by building electrical circuits … and experimented with atmospheric pressure to expand and shrink marshmallows for their hot cocoa.

Exploring STEM fields through fun, hands-on activities can help girls envision themselves working in science, technology, engineering and math careers. That’s just one example of the life-changing effect of Girl Scouting.

Thank you to all the volunteers, community partners and other supporters who helped us during 2015 to inspire girls to dream big.

Happy New Year!

Jo Dee C. Jacob
Chief Executive Officer


 

Cool Women 2016

Introducing Girl Scouts' Cool Women of 2016

During the Cool Women luncheon on Tuesday, March 1, we'll salute San Diegans whose personal and professional lives make them consummate role models for girls. Congratulations to: Betty Beyster (philanthropist, community volunteer), Mary Ann Beyster (film producer; president, Foundation for Enterprise Development), Darcy C. Bingham (catalyst, philanthropreneur), Martha Dennis, Ph.D. (technology entrepreneur), Anne S. Fege, Ph.D. (forester, educator and nature advocate), Debra L. Reed (chairman and CEO, Sempra Energy), Lelya Sampson (U.S. Poet Laureate’s muse, educator, community volunteer), Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D. (Ebola researcher, The Scripps Research Institute), Susan Shirk, Ph.D. (chair, 21st Century China program, UCSD), Ashley Nell Tipton (fashion designer, Project Runway winner), Debbie Turner (philanthropist, community volunteer), VADM Nora Tyson, USN (commander, U.S. Third Fleet). And our Cool Girl of 2016 is Elizabeth Hosie (national delegate, Girl Advisory Board member). You can find details about our distinguished honorees and purchase tickets at our website.

Purchase tickets now!

 

buy a brick campaign

Cabin update: Be a part of history!
Construction is moving full speed ahead on our new Balboa Campus cabin, thanks to the generosity of donors. Everyone can still play a role in this once-in-a-lifetime project. New naming opportunities include our Buy a Brick/Build a Future campaign and the Pillars of Girl Scouting. We’ll celebrate the cabin’s completion with ribbon-cutting festivities at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 12 — Girl Scouts’ 104th anniversary. The event also serves as an opportunity to wish CEO Jo Dee Jacob well on her retirement. To learn about legacy sponsorships, visit our website or contact Debbie Rider, (619) 610-0755.

Buy a brick

 

Jo Dee legacy gift

Make a gift in honor of Jo Dee

CEO Jo Dee Jacob has made an indelible mark on our organization in countless ways, including enhancing our properties and masterminding the Cool Women program and Operation Thin Mint®. Before she retires this spring after nearly 15 years at Girl Scouts San Diego, you may wish to consider making a gift in her honor. We will recognize those who do in a special way. To take part, please reach out to Debbie Rider, (619) 610-0735.

Finish Chelseas Run

Help Finish Chelsea's Run!

The members of Girl Scout Troop 8766 invite everyone to take part in Finish Chelsea’s Run in Partnership with Girl Scouts San Diego. Set for Saturday, March 5, the annual run/walk honors the memory of Chelsea, a former Girl Scout, while raising money for college scholarships and Girl Scout programs. Form a team or register as an individual now. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Every Girl Scout service unit that forms a 50-plus member team gets a tent that day and will be entered in a drawing to win 50 percent off an encampment site reservation fee. To participate, enter your team name on the registration site and have members select that team when they sign up online.

Read Voice of San Diego article

 

Girl Scout cookies in wagon

Jan. 24: America's favorite cookies beckon

We’re counting down to the 2016 Girl Scout Cookie season! New developments include the return of Savannah Smiles, a zesty lemon and powdered sugar variety. Digital Cookie is also back. Version 1.0 debuted last year, introducing online ordering via girl-personalized websites. Digital Cookie 2.0 now gives buyers the option to request delivery from the girl (pending parental approval). Cookie proceeds fund troop activities and service projects, as well as underwriting council activities, camps, volunteer training and financial assistance.

Mission Federal Credit Union donates to Girl Scouts

During a recent Girl Scout board meeting, Paula Morgan (far left) and Angie Lasagna (left) of Mission Federal Credit Union, pictured with Jo Dee and Girl Scout Ambassador Marina Lemly, present a check representing their $25,000 commitment to our financial literacy programs.

Mission Federal Credit Union donates $25K for financial literacy

Through Girl Scout leadership experiences like the cookie program and Money Madness badge activities, girls build key math and accounting skills that will serve them well in life and the business world. Through a generous $25,000 gift and other support — including spots scheduled on Cox TV during the cookie season — our friends at Mission Federal Credit Union are helping us expand financial literacy learning opportunities for girls. Now, that makes a lot of cents!

 

Wreaths Across America

Honoring our nation's heroes

Wreaths Across America participants recently decorated the graves of about 750,000 U.S. veterans at 1,200 locations around America. Local Girl Scouts and other volunteers placed wreaths at 4,600 burial sites in the Miramar and Rosecrans national cemeteries. Troop 3884 (pictured) spent time at L. Austin Shelton’s resting place, reading aloud his obituary and talking about his military service.

Read U-T article

 

stuff the bus food drive

Katie (left) and Sara were among Girl Scouts participating in Stuff the Bus.

Helping hungry families and seniors

Nearly 800 local Girl Scouts did their part to drive away hunger during last month’s Stuff the Bus food drive — our councilwide service project. Together, they helped collect more than 25,000 pounds of food (10 percent more than last year) at 40 neighborhood Albertsons and VONS stores. Girl Scout Junior Marian used her allowance to donate groceries and volunteered at the event. Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit buses transported Saturday’s donations to the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank, which feeds approximately 476,000 San Diegans each year, including more than 138,000 children.

Watch TV News coverage

 

Featured events:
Councilwide Cookie RallySunday, Jan. 10
Cool Women luncheonTuesday, March 1
Finish Chelsea’s Run
Saturday, March 5
Cabin ribbon cutting/Jo Dee Jacob farewell — Saturday, March 12
Operation Thin Mint Sendoff®and Sleepover — Friday, May 6