Girl Scouts is the best leadership organization for girls—and we're gearing up to host one of the best places for girls to grow as leaders: Girl Scout camp!
Studies show that outdoor experiences like camp teach invaluable life and leadership skills. I can personally attest to that, based on my memories of Girl Scout camp in Michigan.
Research proves girls develop confidence and a strong sense of self as they seek challenges and collaboratively solve problems, practice creating and maintaining healthy relationships, and learn to appreciate and care for nature.
However, there are some misconceptions about outdoor options for girls in Girl Scouts. So let me set the record straight. The fact is, Girl Scouts provides high adventures like wilderness backpacking and whitewater rafting excursions.
And Girl Scouts empowers girls to courageously take the lead in a safe, single-gender space where they're free to explore, learn and have fun without the pressures and social anxiety they might find in a co-ed environment.
This is especially apparent at camp, where sister campers can step beyond their comfort zones to try new things—like riding a horse, sailing, making movies...or just being away from home for the very first time.
Girl Scouts of the USA's new partnership with The North Face is an example of how we are providing many more opportunities for girls.
And Girl Scout camp is open to all girls in grades K-12, regardless of whether they are current members. You may know a girl who could benefit from camp...so spread the word! Though sessions are filling up fast, there is still room—sign up now. We also invite you to make the gift
of camp for girls who could not otherwise afford this great opportunity.
I want to thank all of you who make Girl Scout camp and outdoor adventures possible for thousands of girls.
Happy camping! Carol M. Dedrich, MBA, CFRE Chief Executive Officer
Moving Mountains with The North Face...and America Ferrera
Girl Scouts of the USA is taking outdoor programming to new heights to empower the next generation of female explorers! Through a multiyear collaboration with The North Face, GSUSA is developing 12 new Outdoor Adventure badges with curriculum to include mountaineering, climbing, backpacking, hiking, and trail running.
?In addition, America Ferrera (article),
famous Girl Scout alum and women's advocate, will help increase visibility of role models for girls and encourage them to explore, both outdoors and beyond, in their everyday lives.
The North Face-GSUSA partnership underscores Girl Scouts' ongoing dedication to providing girls of all backgrounds and family income levels with outdoor experiences that enhance their leadership skills and confidence, and encourage them to seek challenges. The initiative complements existing Girl Scout badges and local volunteer-facilitated outdoor programs like camp,
hiking/backpacking and archery programs, the High Ropes course at Camp Whispering Oaks and our Balboa Campus' Adventure Zone.
Cox Communications Hosts Spring into STEM
Nearly 200 Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts, together with family members, expanded their perceptions of science and technology during our Spring into STEM session. Community partners, volunteers and older Girl Scout led hands-on experiments and activities related to a diverse array of fields.
Girls designed and built robots, explored chemical reactions, interacted with animals, and learned how to use technology—like apps and augmented reality (á la Pokémon GO)—to take action in the community. Participants also explored a variety of career paths by meeting with inspiring women professionals. Thank you to STEM programming sponsor Cox Communications for connecting Girl Scouts to brighter futures! To learn about other STEM opportunities for girls and adult volunteers, contact Troop Support Manager Rea de la Cruz, 619-610-0739.
Bridging Across Generations
Through our new Building Bridges initiative, funded by the Linden Root Dickenson Foundation, Girl Scouts of all ages are encouraged to spend time getting to know senior citizens in the community. Troops and individual members can participate in the Building Bridges program on their own or by attending periodic events, like our recent multi-location workshop at senior living centers.
In addition, a group from La Costa Glen—a Carlsbad retirement community—recently visited with Girl Scout day campers during a spring break session at our Balboa Campus. Longtime Girl Scout supporter Mimi Murray organized the outing. By taking part in Building Bridges, Girl Scouts of all ages explore and identify ways to interact with elderly individuals and learn from them. The program promotes learning, sharing, serving and skill building. It also strengthens community connections and leadership skills, teaches the value of listening, and builds understanding that everyone's story matters. Applause to all our members who are "Building Bridges" with older individuals!
Brenda Greenawalt, Elaine Taillac, and Nicole Vargas attended our recent Girl Scout Alum gathering at Alesmith (part of our Cookies on Tap event).
Girl Scout Alum Networking Opportunities: LinkedIn Initiative and June 23 Event
Calling all Girl Scout alumnae: We invite you to connect with like-minded professional women through GSUSA's new LinkedIn initiative, as well as our local Girl Scout Alums group.
Girl Scouts of the USA and LinkedIn recently launched the Girl Scout Network on LinkedIn. More than 50 million Girl Scout alums nationwide can now follow the Girl Scout Network to support female advancement in the workplace and help prepare girls for a lifetime of leadership and career success.
The LinkedIn initiative and Girl Scout Alums bring together former Girl Scouts who understand, first-hand, the importance of Girl Scouting. Both alumnae resources are designed to facilitate opportunities for like-minded professional women to join forces in supporting one another, and to help prepare girls for a lifetime of leadership.
Upcoming local alum events include an old-fashioned summer cookout on Cabin Level 3 of our Balboa Campus on Saturday, June 23, 3 p.m. We hope you'll join us! For more information, visit sdgirlscouts.org/alum or contact Volunteer and Alum Project Specialist
Monica de la Cruz, 619-610-0728.
Cool Women Changing Girls' Lives
During our 2018 Cool Women luncheon and celebration, we honored five extraordinary, inspiring women—and presented our inaugural Class of 2018 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts.
The Cool Women honorees (pictured above with their Emerging Leader Girl Scout presenters standing directly behind them) are: Jeannie Hilger (VP, Communications Business, Northrup Grumman Corp.) with Paige Zimmerman; Dea Hurston (arts advocate, philanthropist, playwright) with Rebecca Ebling; Caroline Winn (COO, San Diego Gas & Electric) with Elleanor Wong; Laura Shawver, Ph.D. (President/CEO/director, Synthorx Inc., Clearity Foundation founder) with Maria Burritt; and Paola Avila (VP, International Business Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce) with Ana de Almeida Amaral. Congratulations to all the Cool Women and our 30 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts!
We witnessed the power of Girl Scouting as we heard from each of the Cool Women, all of whom were alumnae. "In my day, Girl Scouts learned to open doors. Now, they learn to knock them down!" stated Dea Hurston.
Earlier in the day, the girls participated in a mentoring session with 20 female executives, including some of the Cool Women. Many of the attendees reported it was a life-changing experience. Event emcee Wendy Urushima-Conn (a Cool Woman of 2017) declared she'd hire any of the girls "in a heartbeat," noting she had learned a great deal from them. The girls raved about their mentees as well.
"I received great advice about how to succeed in college!" reflected Girl Scout Lillian Wood. "One main theme I heard across all the mentors was to be open to opportunities and to not be afraid to switch paths, as long as I work hard in what I am passionate about." View other Girl Scout quotes, along with the event program, photos, honoree bios, mentor and sponsor lists, and news stories on our website.
Arlene Harris (Cool Woman Class of 2013) and Sue Major (a longtime friend of Girl Scouts San Diego and member of Girl Scouts of the USA's board of directors) co-chaired the event. Our Champion STEM supporter SDG&E also contributed to the success of the Cool Women program. Proceeds will help empower girls to use their voices, develop a strong sense of self, step outside their comfort zones, and build resilience. Special thanks to Patti Roscoe who challenged the guests to support Girl Scouts with a matching gift—and the challenge was met!
100th Annual Meeting: Looking Back ... Marching Forward!
Girl Scouts San Diego came together to celebrate a year of accomplishment, transformation and engagement at our Annual Meeting, last week on April 25. It was a standing-room-only event and you could feel the energy and excitement for our mission as our Board of Directors, delegates (national and local), volunteers and staff applauded the outcomes from a successful 2017 and collaborated on the strategic priorities for this upcoming year.
We welcomed new members to Girl Scouts San Diego's board of directors. First-term electees include Carolin Botzenhdardt, San Diego Wells Fargo Private Banking; Dr. Divya Kakaiya, CEO and clinical director, Healthy Within; Roxana Kennedy, Chula Vista Police Chief; Michael Lawrence, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and Monica Piepenkotter, Merrill Lynch. Immediate past chair Rick Brooks (Blankinship & Foster, LLC) was elected to a three-year term on the board development committee, and Cathy Young (Globalfoundries) was re-elected for a second term on the board of directors. We also recognized and thanked outgoing board members Rick, Julia Brown, Chris Carstens, Marcia Gill, and Shelley Zimmerman, and outgoing board development members Cheryl Hernandez and Linda Spuck, for their exceptional service.
Held each spring, the annual meeting brings together board members, delegates and members-at-large to take inventory of our organization as a whole. Attendees heard about highlights of the past year (Annual Report) and new approaches for expanding Girl Scouting in underserved communities (San Diego Union-Tribune
article). Volunteers and teen Girl Scouts joined CEO Carol Dedrich to present a state of the council address. Key outcomes shared at the meeting include:
The downward membership trend has ceased and GSSD was recognized by GSUSA as a growing council with nearly 2,000 troops and 23,000 girl members.
58 Gold Award Girl Scouts were celebrated.
12,500 campers were served throughout the year at our outstanding camp properties.
Volunteers' lives were made easier by advancements to the Volunteer Toolkit and the Girl Health History and Annual Permission form.
Our three year Strategic Alignment Plan developed and implemented
The 2018 Cookie Program was increased and enhanced by the participation of 14,000 girls which is over 200 more than last year! 1,700 troops participated earning $1,478 on average to fund activities and service projects. The PGA (per girl average) increased to 200 boxes, 863 entrepreneurs earned a week at Girl Scout camp and we saw the most ever, 38, top sellers reach their goals over 2018 boxes! We are so proud to be sending the 3 millionth box for OTM
Juliette Gordon Low Society continues to grow as several new member joined. Urban Campout achieved the most success to date by raising $610,000 and this year's Cool Women luncheon raised $100,000 more than last year.
Council delegation traveled to Columbus, Ohio for Girl Scouts of the USA's 54th National Council Session and "G.I.R.L. 2017" the largest girl event ever.
Achieved a clean audit and maintained a healthy fiscal year
24 new badges were added designed to engage girls in science, technology, engineering and math.
The Girl Scout brand now ranks second in the world on the World Value Index.
Carol asked attendees to set their sights on the future, including raising awareness of Girl Scouts' unique, critical role as the world's best leadership organization for girls.
Sunny Kim works with girls from Troop 4859 to create dog pull toys, which they will donate to the San Diego Humane Society for the troop's annual service project.
Volunteer Spotlight: Daisy Troop 4859 Leaders
"Today we read a story about a shark who got caught in a plastic piece of trash. What is one thing humans can do to prevent that from happening again?" is among delightful excerpts from a Shutterfly troop update in which a creative team of Daisy Troop 4859 volunteers provide troop meeting highlights, follow-up discussion points, kudos for members, photos and details on upcoming happenings.
Another snippet reads: "Congratulations to Katelyn for earning the Planet Saver patch today. Katelyn shared a lot of stories and ideas about recycling with us. She keeps her entire family on their toes when it comes to recycling trash at their house!"
The thoughtful messages are just one way Troop 4859 volunteers Sunny Kim, Love Zubiller and Monique Wills (co-leaders) and Christina Nakashima-Petrucci (treasurer and troop cookie manager) help make Girl Scouts the best organization in the world for girls. "These women do an amazing job of helping families feel appreciated, as well as keeping them engaged and informed about Girl Scout opportunities and benefits," said Girl Scouts San Diego Regional Recruitment Specialist Christa Sherman.
Through Girl Scout camp and other outdoor programs, girls thrive in an all-girl space where they're free to learn new things and grow as leaders. Benefits abound:
According to a survey conducted by GSUSA's Girl Scout Research Institute:
50 percent of girls said that Girl Scouts provided them with opportunities to experience the outdoors in ways they could not have otherwise.
About 75 percent said that Girl Scouts gave them the chance to build their skills or try new outdoor experiences.
Through girl-led outdoor activities, girls:
Seek challenges
Become resourceful problem-solvers
Work cooperatively
Develop a strong sense of self
Learn to appreciate nature (and are twice as likely to take action as environmental stewards)
