Soaring like eagles: Gold Award Class of 2016 Congratulations to the 32 young women who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award during its 100th anniversary year! We marked the occasion with a ceremony and celebration at Copley Symphony Hall. Girl Scouts who "go for the Gold" demonstrate extraordinary leadership through remarkable "Take Action" projects with a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. Just five percent of all Girl Scouts earn our highest honor. Called the Golden Eagle of Merit when Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low introduced it in 1916, the award later became known as the Golden Eaglet, First Class and Curved Bar. In 1980, it was renamed the Gold Award. We are proud to welcome our newest Gold Award recipients to this century-long tradition of excellence. Yours in Girl Scouting, Gerry Keshka
Gift of Girl Scout camp: A rewarding experience Thanks to the kindness of these cookie entrepreneurs and other generous individuals, we can provide camperships to low-income families, including those dealing with complicated hardships. As a result, girls who are homeless spend a week sleeping in cabins instead of cars. Foster care kids bond with sister Girl Scouts, and victims of bullying get a much-needed reprieve. Help send a girl to camp!Saddled up for camp RJS Law billboards salute Girl Scout Cookie Program, OTM Having a ball at Petco Park Signature volunteer event: Early bird discounts end July 17 KUSI anchor Elizabeth Alvarez (pictured, right), a former Brownie, is set to emcee the evening celebration, with renowned lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann delivering the keynote address. Known as "the Emily Post of the digital age," the Girl Scout alumna has appeared on the "Today" show and in high-profile publications. Find VCC details online and register now for the celebration, conference, and #realtalkgs2016 forum for girls in grades 9-12. Early bird discounts for all three events are available through Sunday, July 17. Sophia Morrison was among this year's Silver Award honorees. At right, she teaches a beta test subject — her 80-year-old grandmother Marjorie — how to share photos on Instagram. Silver Award projects make the world a better place Our Silver Award recipients completed sustainable projects that involved identifying and addressing a need in partnership with the community. Sophia Morrision, for example, recruited High Tech High Middle School students to teach elderly North County residents how to stay connected with family members via smartphones and other devices. For the "Senior Tech Talk" workshops, Sophia and her team developed and implemented a curriculum covering everything from emails, picture sharing and texting to overcoming apprehension about using iPads. Her school adopted the project as an elective, and then continued it as a school-wide community service project. Sophia received a proclamation from the mayor and city council of San Marcos recognizing her achievements. Featured events: Volunteer Conference and Celebration (VCC) — Saturday, August 27Urban Glampout — Friday, Sept. 9 Camp Exec — Friday-Sunday, Sept. 23-25 |