Watch What You Watch

Girl Scouts of the USA, along with the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition, believe every child deserves to live in an environment that fosters confidence and character. We recognize that as children's media use continues to increase, all youth would benefit from experiencing healthy and positive messages about girls and women.

"Watch What You Watch" hopes to build awareness about the need to pay attention not to just what kids watch, but how they watch it. Now more than ever, tools such as media literacy, public education and career exploration can be invaluable to young people. "Watch What You Watch" offers a clearinghouse of resources and tools that girls, parents, communities, and the media industry can use to help young people encounter and use media content that inspires, empowers, and engages.

Watch What You Watch is directed by The Creative Coalition Co-President Tim Daly and features Felicity Huffman, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Andrea Bowen, Seth Green, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kaycee Stroh, Kathryn Joosten, Carrie Ann Inaba, Teri Polo, Shay Mitchell, Ayla Kell, Josie Loren, Vanessa Lengies, Rachel Blanchard, Brooke Nevin, Lisa Gay Hamilton, and Chuck D. -GSUSA

Girl Scouts Rock the Grand Canyon!

This past June 10-year-old Madison R. took an eight day trip along with her troop to the Grand Canyon! Traveling in a charter bus, the girls kept themselves busy with different activities such as making postcards for those back home. They even got to take some time to learn more about the Indians’ culture by studying their history along with sampling some unique food. Madison tried blue corn muffins, popcorn and tanka bites, which are dried buffalo meat and berries. She loved the tanka bites so much that she continued to eat them long after the other girls had fallen asleep on the bus.

Madison’s troop made several stops along the way in order to take advantage of all the historic and scenic sites in their path. Her favorite site was Carlsbad Caverns, where she was able to view the ‘King’s Palace’ room. Madison particularly enjoyed this room due to its realistic, yet creative setting. The room was set up like a palace, but everything in it was made from a part of the caverns.

The girls eventually arrived at their destination -- the Grand Canyon! From first glance, Madison explains she felt very small in comparison to this historic national park. She was in awe of the landscape and amazed to learn about the formation of it. Madison and her troop visited different areas of the canyon in several ways. They were able to travel using jeeps and even mules! One of their activities included a treasure hunt where their goal was to identify as many different rock formations as possible so they could scratch it off their list. They were not only able to have fun experiences such as this one, but her troop was also able to earn badges in the process!

Madison believes this trip helped her in many ways. It was her first big trip away from her parents and while she missed them, it helped her see that it wasn’t so bad to go on a trip without them. Her troop also played a large role in planning for the trip and because of its success; Madison is excited to start planning their next trip to Kansas City! Madison is a prime example of the ways many Girl Scouts take these unique opportunities available to them and come away from them with the courage, confidence and character to do more great things in the future! Great job, Madison and Troop 781! We can’t wait to see what you do next.

For comments or questions on planning a troop trip of your own, please contact Girl Scouts of Central Texas.

Girl Scout Registers for 67th Year of Girl Scouting

Girl Scout Aluma Edith Scott visited the GSCTX council on Wednesday, Oct. 6 to meet with staff, donate her Girl Scout memorabilia and register for her 67th year of Girl Scouting! Edith shared that her Girl Scout experience began in 1935 at the encouragement of her mother who was a Girl Scout herself. Her mother continued with Girl Scouting as a troop leader and brought her love of music into the troop. The troop ended up forming a band and they performed for a wide variety of events and people. In their travels, they visited a good portion of Texas from San Antonio to Houston. Edith recalls that her mother made sure "every girl had a uniform to perform in." If they could not afford one, her mother graciously provided the uniform to the girl.

In additon to the band, Edith says her fondest memories as a Girl Scout was camping with her troop and other troops at an event called "Round-Up." This event took place at Fairgate National Park and as Edith explained, it gave girls the ultimate camping experience with their Girl Scout peers.

Edith continues with Girl Scouting to this day and proudly announced her great-granddaughter was going to be the newest Girl Scout of the family making her a fifth generation Girl Scout.