Your Input Affects the Future of GSCTX Properties

A Long Range Property Committee has been activated, including local volunteers and GSUSA personnel, to determine the future of all GSCTX properties, including program centers, scout houses, and camps. As part of the process, the committee wants to know what the local Girl Scouts truly want in their programs and properties.

Therefore, the committee developed a survey via Survey Monkey. This survey includes questions on current and future usage of all facilities, as well as program goals for our Girl Scouting Program. A random sampling of girls and adults was used, including girls of all program age levels. Those randomly chosen were sent the survey via email addresses. For those without email addresses, a postcard was sent with the contact information.

If you received this survey, please complete it as your opinion counts! In order to guarantee randomness, only those receiving the request may complete the survey. Younger girls will need parental assistance and approval in completing their portion, but their opinions will be considered. The survey has a deadline date of February 8, 2013. If not enough surveys are returned, a second list will be developed at that time, to insure adequate input from membership.

Thanks for your participation, The Long Range Property Committee

Launching in February 2013...

Girl Scouts of Central Texas will be partnering with CampMinder to bring you online camp registration! CampMinder is a web-based software which means parents can access their camper’s information from anywhere, anytime. The Camp Guide will go live mid-February - check www.gsctx.org for this year’s programs. Parents are able to access your child’s information, submit online applications, and submit all camp forms online for Kachina, Texlake and Zilker Day Camp. For overnight campers - Once your daughter is at camp, you are able to see daily photos (and purchase them for your scrapbook), send one way email to your camper, get daily news, see what she buys in the trading post and manage her account balance. All of this, with one login. Say goodbye to:

• Having to track down last year’s health form – all the information will be on your child’s account, just update it from year to year 
• Waiting in the long trading post line on opening day – the trading post account money moves from camp session to camp session with your daughter 
• Keeping track of different forms and remembering them on opening day – it’s all handled online before you arrive 
• Waiting to hear if your daughter got her first choice of camp sessions, if it’s online, it’s open! 

We will still offer paper registration for those that do not have internet access although we encourage everyone to utilize this amazing and easy to use program! To ease our first year of online registration, the camp department will be ready to answer your questions and guide you as register your daughter!

For registration questions, contact: Shayna Bright, Camp Registration Coordinator at shaynab@gsctx.org or Caroline Key, Camps Coordinator at carolinek@gsctx.org. The Camp Office phone number is 512-264-1044.

-Caroline Key

It's Almost Time for Cookie Season!

The holiday season may be over but Girl Scout cookie season is right around the corner! We are only a few days away from the start of cookie sales here in Central Texas. Which cookie are you most excited for? Did you know that there is a new cookie this season? You can read all about our new cookie here.

Is your mouth watering yet? While you think of the delicious taste of our beloved Thin Mint, you should also consider what cookie sales does for the seller. The Girl Scout behind the cookie booth is learning money management, people skills, business ethics, goal setting and decision making. Did you know that? Don't take our word for it. Read about how cookie selling helped a local Girl Scout come out of her shell here.

Cookies arrive January 16 in Central Texas! For more on cookies such as nutrition facts, recipes and the new cookie, visit www.abcsmartcookies.com.