October 2017

Camp Exec: building leaders
During our recent Camp Exec session, 18 women executives from a wide variety of professions teamed up with high school Girl Scouts to inspire them to reach their potential. Each mentor was paired with a girl throughout the weekend. Activities included networking, personal brand building, resume development and learning job interview skills. Campers also enjoyed outdoor adventures like archery, catch-and-release fishing, hiking and tackling the high-ropes course.

Adult campers included professionals in fields ranging from medicine and engineering to journalism and entrepreneurship. Special thanks to our mentors, Wells Fargo (lead sponsor) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (bronze sponsor) for making the program possible. 

Spotlight on Camp Exec duo Anna and Mychal
Camp Exec mentor-mentee pairings included Girl Scout Mychal Johnson and attorney Anna Howard. Both are strong believers in the power of Girl Scouting. "I always make time for Girl Scouts," Mychal said. "It gives me opportunities like Camp Exec and serving as a national delegate for our council."

Anna, a Girl Scout alumna, noted that she was drawn to participate in Camp Exec by the very nature of Girl Scouting. “This weekend is an affirmation about the really beautiful characteristics that Girl Scouts encourages: tolerance, friendship, respect. There aren’t a lot of organizations like this one that encourage people to be selfless and thoughtful, and that is so important.” 

Anna and Mychal hit it off from the get-go, discovering an abundance of commonalities, from favorite TV shows to love of traveling, to studying French and Spanish in high school. Another mutual area of interest: the law. Anna is a sole practitioner specializing in estate planning and family law. Mychal told Anna that, while she was interested in becoming a lawyer, other fields also appealed to her. Anna helped the teen gain perspective about how the legal profession can be integrated with careers like medicine and criminal justice.
 

Local Girl Scouts enjoyed white water rafting and horseback riding in Colorado.

Destinations program opens paths to faraway places
The opportunity to travel to distant locales through the Girl Scout Destinations program is one of the most unique and exciting benefits of Girl Scouting. Girls ages 11 and up can choose from a variety of domestic and international excursions hosted every year by Girl Scouts San Diego and other councils. Participants embark on journeys with new friends from all over the country, guided by trained chaperones.
 
This summer, 29 local Girl Scouts explored the Swiss Alps, ventured to America’s heartland to experience the solar eclipse, and attended the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Space Academy in Huntsville. Cadette Eva Zeis traveled to Colorado, where her group went zip lining and white water rafting, and hit the trail for a three-day horseback journey to Bear Basin (photos). To learn about Destinations opportunities for girls and adult volunteers, contact Troop Support Specialist Mary Talle, (619) 610-0778. The application deadline for 2018 trips is Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Send season's greetings with chocolates, nuts and magazines
Good news for holiday shoppers and snack enthusiasts: Our Fall Product Sale is underway! Now through Wednesday, Nov. 29, place orders for new products like Dill Pickle Peanuts, English Butter Toffee and Peanut Butter Bears … and returning favorites, which include Mint Trefoils, Salt and Pepper Cashew Halves and Dark Chocolate Caramel Caps with Sea Salt. Contact your favorite Girl Scout for details about these and additional gift options, including magazine subscriptions.
 
All proceeds stay local, helping troops launch the new membership year by earning start-up funds for activities such as badgework, encampments and community service projects. Girl Scouts who benefit from the Fall Sale include Troop 94, led by Peggy Powell-Olson. Last year, the Daisies and Brownies used their funds to brighten the lives of local senior citizens and send clothing to orphans in developing countries.