Horseback Riding Lessons Now Offered at Camp Texlake!

Beginning in October, GSCTX Camp Texlake will offer horseback riding lessons on the camp grounds to children 5 and up as well as adults. Lessons range from beginner to intermediate and will be conducted by a certified instructor with several years experience. Interested parties can schedule private, semi-private (3-5) or small group riding lessons.

For those who love horses and seek more than just riding lessons, you can now also adopt a horse. For a small fee, horse lovers can select a horse to adopt and in turn receive visitation days where they can groom, bathe, learn basic ground work and more about how to care for horses in general. If you choose to participate in the program, you can receive riding lessons for a reduced price. Up to two adopters can adopt a horse together. Children 5 and up must be accompanied by an adult at all times when with the horses.

For more information on scheduling riding lessons or adopting a horse of your own, contact Equestrian Program Specalist, Tyler Peterson by phone (512-264-1044) or email.

Texas Girl Scouts Share Experience and Skills with Senior Citizens

San Angelo Girl Scouts were recently featured on the national Girl Scout Blog for their work with senior citizens. Check out their story below.

In Texas, the San Angelo Standard-Times reports on the mutually beneficial relationship senior citizens can share with youth through storytelling and skill sharing. Area Girl Scouts recognized this decades ago, and created programming around girls visiting senior living facilities.

"They make a connection in their community across generations, which makes a difference in the person's life," said Stacy McGuire, member services-regional lead of San Angelo Girl Scouts' El Camino Service Center.

Different programs have been in place throughout the past few decades. McGuire said that currently, Girl Scouts can earn a "Community Caring" patch, which centers on a positive nursing home experience for the girls. Girls are encouraged to visit nursing homes, retirement homes, and senior centers, and participate in activities such as singing, games or crafts.

"I like to see their faces," said Charlotta Robinson, 15, a Cadette Girl Scout in Troop 5115. "They tell us they're having fun when people come to visit."

Robinson said that she's visited retirement homes four or five times over the past three years, both with Girl Scouts and her church youth group. She said the visits have taught her how important it is for seniors to have family nearby.
"Some of the people there don't have family, and they miss seeing them," she said.

Do Girl Scouts in your area interact with the Senior community?

 

Firehouse Challenge

Starting next week, Oak Hill Service Unit will show thanks to a few hundred hardworking firefighters by providing dinners to their local firehouses. Their goal is to eventually feed every firefighter in the Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown area and it sounds to us like they are the right Girl Scouts for the job!

The challenge was born back in 2002 when a few Oak Hill Girl Scouts and leaders decided to honor the memory and service of the 9/11 first responders by cooking some meals for two firehouses near them. Next Monday, they plan to do it all again but this time, on a much larger scale.

“Connecting in service and tradition – these are the things that Girl Scouts have sought since the earliest days,” said Oak Hill Troop Leader Kimbol Soques. “Firehouse Challenge is a terrific way to honor the people who put themselves in harm’s way on our behalf and to weave our girls into our nation’s history.”

Oak Hill encourages and invites other service units to join in on the challenge. They are welcome to help with the efforts already in place or start a firehouse challenge of their own. If you are getting involved in any way, please share your story with us. We would love to feature these stories for the month of September!

To all of our fellow Girl Scouts,

We continue to reach out to volunteers and Girl Scout families affected by the recent fires in our council area. Because the needs are immediate, we are asking that donations listed on be dropped off at the Kodosky Program Center in Austin. These needs include but aren’t limited to bottled water, Gatorade, protein bars, diapers, baby wipes, and pet food. Please consult the KVUE website for a complete list. We ask that our volunteers continue to consult our website, Facebook and Twitter for regular updates. We intend to ask Service Unit Directors for information on Girl Scout families affected by the fires and will respond appropriately based on their individual needs.


Please continue to keep displaced families in your thoughts and prayers.

Etta Moore
CEO, GSCTX

Annual canoe race event to promote water education

Girl Scouts of Central Texas will partner with local organizations to teach the basics of water conservation at the 21st annual Race on the River, a Concho River canoe race, on September 17.

Several hands-on activities provided by Upper Colorado River Authority, City of San Angelo and Girl Scouts of Central Texas will guide attendees toward a greater awareness of water and ways that they can help conserve. Event sponsors, H-E-B, San Angelo Standard-Times, KIXY and Atmos, will host a special program that explains how attendees can be proactive in their home, school or business. All events will be held at or near the Girl Scout El Camino Program Center, 304 W. Avenue A.

“We are trying to be proactive this year given our current water situation here in the Concho Valley. In partnership with these local companies, we can make a significant impact while doing something fun,” says James Pidgeon, Girl Scouts of Central Texas Development Executive. “This is what being a Girl Scout is about. Everybody wins when you do something very simple and easy to save water.”

The event is free to the general public. Girls and boys in grades 6 – 12th can participate in a canoe race. A balsa wood boat race is available for those in K-12th grades; the school with the most spirited balsa wood boat will be rewarded with a Girl Scout cookie party. Race on the River participants are also encouraged to take an Online Pledge stating their commitment to conserve water.

Fun leadership experiences, like the Race on the River, are the essence of Girl Scouting. Through girl-driven programs, individual learning opportunities and community connections, Girl Scouts develop leadership skills that will help them throughout life.

For more information about the race or to support Girl Scouts of Central Texas, contact James Pidgeon at JamesP@gsctx.org or (325) 655-8961.

-Kandace Fierro