The Results Are In: Meet the Winning Girls’ Choice Badge Designs!

(From GSUSA)
Two weeks ago, girls had the chance to vote on one of two designs for the new badge they’ll be able to earn this coming fall—Troop Camping. (It’s her world—we’re just here to guide her!) Thanks to everyone who cast a vote and made their voices heard!

Check out the winning designs—did your favorite take the lead?

What’s next? Well, we’re hard at work on the badge requirements now, making sure they’re chock full of opportunities for her to take the lead like a Girl Scout and unleash her inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. And we can’t forget all the adventure, fun, and excitement great Girl Scout memories are made of! This will be a big part of the journey, too.

Badge requirements will be ready for download by June 15 and in council stores by August. In the meantime, girls: get ready, because camp life is the best life! It’s going to be amazing.

Let’s celebrate Girl Scout Week like a G.I.R.L.

Yay—Girl Scout Week is almost here! Let’s get ready for that special time of year when Girl Scouts of all ages celebrate and show the world what it means to be a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™.



Let’s make this year’s activities extra special. Here are a few ideas to get you started—one for each day of Girl Scout Week.

Sunday, March 12—Celebrate Girl Scout's Birthday on Girl Scout Sunday by reconnecting with the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Learn more about Girl Scout history and our founder, Juliette Gordon Low; you could even hold a Girl Scout birthday party. (We’re 105 this year!) Do something to make the world a better place.

Monday, March 13—Be a go-getter and take action! You might launch a community service project or work toward a Girl Scout award.

Tuesday, March 14—Be an innovator and explore science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM)! You could create a fun project through Made with Code, meeting challenges head on and exploring new solutions.

Wednesday, March 15—Be a smart risk-taker and step out of your comfort zone! Get outside to explore and take action to protect our environment. Try a new outdoor activity with family or friends. Sign up for Girl Scout summer camp—or plan a different adventure. It could take place close to home, or around the world!

Thursday, March 16—Be a leader and show people you care! Commit “random acts of kindness” all day long. Be a good friend. Volunteer or donate to charity. Show the world your smile!

Friday, March 17—Get involved civically! Connect with your local (or school) officials and leaders. Learn about Girl Scouts' legislative agenda. Work toward earning your Global Action award.

Saturday, March 18—Observe Girl Scout Sabbath: the perfect time to honor one’s faith. Attend a religious service. Think about earning your My Promise, My Faith pin. Learn more about faiths different from your own.

But don’t stop there! Learn more about Girl Scout traditions and ceremonies. Or…take the lead like a Girl Scout and come up with some fun and meaningful activities of your own!

And don’t forget to show us how you’re celebrating all week long, by sharing your activities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the hashtag #GirlScoutWeek.

Not currently involved with Girl Scouts? Join, volunteer, or donate!

Above all, take the opportunity during Girl Scout Week, and throughout the year, to share your awesome—and show the world how your courage, confidence, and character make the world a better place.

Calling all #cookieboss(es) - it's National Cookie Weekend February 24-26!

 
Are you a Rock Star Girl Scout from our council who has an amazing cookie story?
 
GSUSA will pick a few top stories to highlight in national press surrounding National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend!

This is a chance to celebrate all of the amazing things girls around the country do with their cookie earnings every year and to highlight how the Girl Scout Cookie Program = Amazing Experiences for Girls. 

Stories should be submitted at girlscouts.org/shareyourstory by completing the online entry form.

Have a parent or troop leader submit it today for a chance to be featured throughout the year on girlscoutcookies.org, the Girl Scout Blog, GSUSA's Facebook and Twitter pages, and in media during our celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies, and more—so cool! 

What do you do on World Thinking Day?

On February 22 of each year, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 146 countries celebrate World Thinking Day (WTD)—that’s one BIG celebration!

Celebrated since 1926, World Thinking Day is a day of international friendship, speaking out on issues that affect girls and young women, and fundraising for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.

World Thinking Day is not only a great opportunity to rally the global sisterhood around a particular theme—it’s also a chance to support girls as they travel internationally, connect with sister Girl Guides, and take action globally.
 
The World Thinking Day 2017 theme is “Grow.” This World Thinking Day, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides will explore, stretch, and take on new challenges—and celebrate what it means to be part of the global sisterhood that is Girl Scouts + Girl Guides.

Plant a tree Celebrate World Thinking Day and mark the beginning of a new friendship by planting a tree. Share a photo of your group celebrating with the world online using #LetsGrow

Donate to the World Thinking Day Fund: A tradition since 1932, the World Thinking Day Fund collects pennies and coins from members around the world, to support their fellow Guides and Scouts. All donations help fund WAGGGS activities and are used where the need is greatest in our global Movement.

 
Shout out about World Thinking Day 2017! Download the World Thinking Day Communications Pack for hints and tips on promoting this special day online, on social media and within your organisation. The pack gives you everything you need to help us promote World Thinking Day and to grow our movement!

 

Add your own activity

For the first time in the World Thinking Day challenge badge history, one of the activities you need to complete in order to earn the badge will be one YOU create. We would love to hear what you chose to do. Complete the online form and share!

• Celebrate World Thinking Day and be one in ten Million!
• Be inspired by the history and impact of our global Movement
• Connect with the worldwide sisterhood of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting
• Take action and speak out on issues we most care about
• Make a difference by fundraising for projects around the world

Celebrate Your Faith Like A Girl Scout

(from GSUSA blog)

Girl Scouts encourages girls to grow their faith and is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which includes many of the principles and values common to most faiths. Although a secular organization, Girl Scouts has, since the movement began, encouraged girls to explore their spirituality by earning the My Promise, My Faith pin.

Throughout this journey, girls open up conversations with women in their religious community, research inspiring quotes that resonate with the part of the Girl Scout Law on which they have chosen to focus, and create a work of art to express what they’ve learned with their friends, family, and possibly even the larger community. Girls of all grade levels are eligible once each year to earn the My Promise, My Faith pin. Learn more about how to get started.

GSCCC Offices Closed Monday, February 20 for Presidents' Day

GSCCC offices will be closed on Monday, February 20 in observance of Presidents' Day. We will be back in the office on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.

If you need assistance with an emergency matter during this time, please call the council’s answering service at : 800-340-7179. For general information contact info@girlscoutsccc.org and receive a reply the next business day.
 
Please continue to visit www.girlscoutsccc.org for information and/or to register for events.

We hope you enjoy Presidents' Day weekend!

Girl Scout Volunteers, We Love You!

(from GSUSA)

That’s right—we’re talking to you, our extraordinary volunteers, who tirelessly give of their hearts and time to help us unleash the leader in every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. This Valentine’s Day, we want you to know that we see you, we appreciate you, and yes—we love you! We know we don’t say it nearly enough, but we didn’t want today to go by without letting you know how we truly feel.

Valentine’s Day is about friendship, and that’s what you provide. It’s about community, and that’s what you build. It’s about sharing your heart, and that’s exactly what you do—without limits and without hesitation. You’re the real MVP!

So when you’re tired and running around coordinating meetings and events galore, and losing a little steam, we want you to remember this: every day as a Girl Scout volunteer, you power life-changing adventure, opportunity-rich learning, and powerful growth for girls who will become the leaders and happy, healthy, problem-solvin’, barrier-breakin’ change-makers our world needs.

And while they’re having the time of their lives making forever friends and trying new things, they’re learning that anything is possible. Their confidence is rising, and they’re breaking through fear. They’re raising their hands, sharing ideas, and believing in their own inherent power right from the start, all because you show them every day that’s it’s there. By walking beside them, letting them lead, and supporting them unconditionally, you’re not only talking the talk—you’re walking the walk. And what a walk it is!

Don’t ever let anyone suggest that being a Girl Scout volunteer is no big thing. It takes grit, creativity, leadership, vision, and so much heart. We’d be nothing without you, and we want to thank you, from the bottom of our green green hearts, for showing girls that the world is theirs to take on. Between the power of your guidance and our proven Girl Scout Leadership Experience, there’s no challenge our girls can’t overcome, no goal they can’t reach.

So today, we celebrate you and the priceless love you give girls every day through your unwavering dedication to their success. The future is bright, and you’re lighting the way!
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends.

And just for good measure, we’ll say it once more: WE LOVE YOU!

Girls’ Choice Badges: Vote for Your Badge Design!

(from GSUSA)

As we shared last month, the next Girls’ Choice badge will be Troop Camping—after all, camp life is the best life! Now it’s time to vote on the badge design, because remember, it’s her world.

Starting today, until February 17, girls can vote on their favorite design  for the Troop Camping badges. After choosing their grade level, they’ll see two designs for the badge they’ll be able to earn this coming fall. That means Junior girls currently in fifth grade will vote on designs for the Cadette badge. And, although girls in 12 grade will not technically be able to earn a badge this fall, we want to hear their voices, too! They can still join the fun and vote on the Ambassador badge.

Remember, Girls’ Choice is all about giving girls a chance to shape their experiences and build their world. So adults can vote for fun, but only girl votes will count toward the winner.

We want to hear from her and her and her! Please go out and encourage every Girl Scout you know to make her voice heard by voting today .

Camp Life is the Best Life!

Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast offers amazing outdoor experiences for girls along with outdoor opportunities at the Camp Arnaz Program Center and summer day camps:

CAMP ARTEMIS is a week-long resident camp (Sunday, July 23 to Saturday, July 29), 2017based on leadership development in an outdoor setting with activities that include backpacking, sleeping in tents, archery, swimming, leadership skill building and making new friends. Artemis takes place in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains and serves girls entering fifth through twelfth grade.

CAMP ATHENA - Camp Athena is a brand new week-long resident camp, (Saturday, June 17 to Friday, June 23, 2017.) Girls develop their leadership capabilities while improving their traditional outdoor skills in a Girl-Led environment. Camp Athena is located in the Paso Robles area and welcomes rising fifth through twelfth grade girls. More information will be available soon!

Camp NATOMA - Saturday, July 1 to Monday, July 3, 2017 and Wednesday, July 5- Saturday, July 8, 2. More info. to follow soon!

KALEIDOSCOPE is a Girl Scout weekend camporee for Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Senior and Ambassador which takes place in the Santa Ynez Valley every two years.

REGISTER NOW! KALEIDOSCOPE April 28 - April 30, 2017. Registration closes Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. (Late registrations are not accepted.)

BROWNILYMPICS is a day of sports and fun for Brownie Girl Scouts. An Olympics-style event that happens annually in the Spring, the purpose is to enhance each young girl’s self-confidence through a day of fun and activities. The uniqueness of Brownilympics is that volunteer Dads run the events.

Registration for Camp Artemis, New Camp Athena and Camp Natoma opens on March 1, 2017.  Look for more information on our website.