August 2017

 
Girl Scout camp: Where leaders grow

This summer, more than 3,700 local girls are discovering the power of Girl Scouting at our camps. Whether staying overnight at Winacka or Whispering Oaks or diving into day camp adventures, they're relishing opportunities to kayak, hike, ride horses, race robots, perform on stage and shoot archery (photos).

At camp, girls seek challenges, take on community problem-solving, develop positive Girl Scout values, gain a deeper sense of self, and practice creating and maintaining healthy relationships with others. Girls take the lead in a safe, all-girl space where they're free to explore, learn and have fun. Even during downtime, campers grow as leaders through creative, imaginative play and by learning to co-exist in a cooperative manner. They stretch beyond their limits and bring these valuable lessons back home or any new environment, preparing them for a lifetime of adventure. That's why, for 100 years and counting, camping has remained a cornerstone of the Girl Scout experience.

Thank you to all the caring volunteers — including parents and teen counselors-in-training! — staff, community partners and donors who make camp possible.

Yours in Girl Scouting,


Carol M. Dedrich, MBA, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
 

 

Empowerment Theatre: Acting on social justice
Under the direction of a dynamic group of teaching artists, 17 middle and high school girls explored social justice themes like identity, home and bravery during our recent Empowerment Theatre program (
album). Funded by the Favrot Fund and hosted in partnership with the La Jolla Playhouse, the unique Girl Scout leadership experience gives girls a forum to find and share their voices through performance arts. Participants honed their skills through improv, role playing and other theatrical exercises.

The three-week session culminated in a special showcase called
Diversity: a Rainbow of Beautiful Colors. The girls produced a "verbatim theater" vignette based on interviews they conducted with four young women who are members of Yalla — a local group that supports immigrant and refugee youth through education and soccer.

 

Celebrate with us at Urban Campout!
We're looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday, Sept. 15 for
Urban Campout: Celebrate 100 Years, Girl Scouts San Diego's 20th annual fun fundraiser for grown-ups. It's sure to sell out, so reserve your spot today. Then get ready to play, bid, dine and dance! New this year: Groove to the tunes of The Suffragettes, an all-female cover band that plays songs from the 1970s to the hits of today. This popular group has played at Disneyland and our own Operation Thin MintTM Sendoff events.

Longtime Girl Scout volunteer Katie Sullivan is co-chairing the Urban Campout Honorary Committee with her daughters, Girl Scout alumnae Megan Delgado, Lindsay Estrada and Sarah Houghton. Heading the event committee is Girl Scouts San Diego Vice Chair Liza Crisafi. Special thanks to these amazing ladies for all their efforts to make this a fabulous and successful extravaganza! Urban Campout proceeds will help fund the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and programs focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), life skills, outdoor experiences and entrepreneurship.Urban Campout is underwritten by generous supporters, including Silver sponsors: Southwest Airlines and Qualcomm, and Bronze sponsors Barbara and David Groce, Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, Major Executive Search, Mission Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo.

 
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Guided by SPAWAR volunteers, campers learned about polymer molecules by making a homemade version of Silly Putty. They also explored aerial design concepts by launching “rockets.” 

Discovery Day Camp: Around the world in ... a whirlwind week!
More than 75 girls in grades K-12 explored international cultures during the recent Discovery Day Camp at our Balboa Campus (
photos). From making Brazilian festival masks to competing in Olympic-style games, participants learned about the histories, food, music and customs of different countries. They also investigated the deep mysteries of the Earth's oceans through science experiments led by SPAWAR volunteers. The annual Discovery Day Camp provides girls served by our Outreach programs an opportunity to experience the wonders of Girl Scout camp.  

Give to Girl Scouts San Diego

 

Adults gaining outdoor skills
Calling all volunteers: Join us for
Outdoor Skills Weekend, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15 at camps Winacka and Whispering Oaks. Feel free to invite a friend to tag along. This is a wonderful way to spend time together with other adults while gearing up to lead girls' outdoor programs. For this customized retreat, you'll choose your activities and accommodation type (modern or rustic cabins, tents or open air). In honor of our 100th anniversary, we are reintroducing the art of campfire storytelling. Fun new offerings also include a book club and archery target practice (to supplement instructor trainings). Other sessions cover topics like the high ropes challenge course, Wilderness First Aid, lifeguard and outdoor training certification, star gazing, hiking and outdoor cooking.  

Register now

Girls donate the gift of camp
Every year since kindergarten, the Brownies Troop of 4024 (pictured) have delighted in going to Girl Scout camp together. Those happy memories motivated the girls to give $200 from their cookie earnings to Girl Scouts San Diego's “campership” fund.

"Because they love camp so much, the girls wanted to send someone who might not be able to afford to go," said troop leader Stephanie Page. The troop was among many donors supporting our camp programs, including 12 Girl Scouts who donated the camp sessions they earned by selling 525-plus boxes of cookies. These acts of kindness sent 464 girls to camp this year. New campers benefiting include girls facing homelessness, living in foster care or experiencing other hardships.

 
Send a girl to camp

Featured events
Volunteer Conference and Celebration — Saturday, Aug. 26
Urban Campout: Celebrate 100 Years — Friday, Sept. 15
Camp Exec — Friday-Sunday, Sept. 22-24
100thAnniversary Sunset Celebrations — Saturday, Sept. 30