It's a Wrap: 2015 Girl Genius STEMfest

On Saturday March 21^st the fourth annual Girl Genius STEMfest was held at Texas State Technical College for a day filled with hands-on, minds-on experiences for girls’ grades 6-12^th to better their minds with STEM careers. This year was especially exciting because of the great partnerships with not one college in the area but three!  We partnered with Baylor University for the second time and for the first time McLennan Community College, all three colleges provided support to make the event possible by providing volunteers, workshop instructors, and college swag.

 “The STEMfest was an incredible event this year and I had a great time!  I participated in “Bubble Pack” which was about medicine, “Are You My Blood Type?” which was about blood types, ”Fossils and Chocolate” which I loved, and “Water you waiting for” which was all about water pollution.  I learned all about medicine and how they packed it, I learned how you get your blood type from your parents, and I learned about the different types of rocks and fossils.  I will definitely be returning so that I can learn some other cool new things, meet more new people, and go on new adventures on campus.  Walking around the school was cool because it gets us to understand what walking around college might be like.  My most favorite part though was the fossils and chocolate because I have a passion for all kinds of rocks.” -Ravyn Dietzman, Girl Scout Cadette

Our goal was to reach 175 girls this year at Girl Genius and we not only achieved our goal, we exceeded our goal by having 183 girls attend this year.  The girls participated in a full-day conference that was designed to allow fun, hand on experiences in a real lab setting in various STEM fields taught by college instructors.  Much like a professional conference that adults attend, the girls registered and chose their own workshops.  Workshops covered an array of diverse STEM fields from welding, automotive mechanics, pharmaceutical technology, biology, geology, engineering, veterinarian technology and more.  Girls were able to practice “blister packing, “which is the method pharmacist use to package medication.  Girls learned that surgical technology is more than just what the TV shows portray in the “This Ain’t Grey's Anatomy” workshop, and mastered the art of circuits by powering LED lights through conductive and insulated play dough. 

“I am very grateful to Time Warner Cable and the Girl Scouts of Central Texas for making such a wonderful event possible.  Girls having a great time and learning so much in the process is a winning combination!  We are certainly looking forward to next year!”  -Melissa Dietzman, Girl Scout Volunteer

This event would not have been possible without the generous support from Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds initiative, which is an initiative to address America’s declining proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), which puts our children at risk for not competing successfully in a global economy. Thank you Time Warner Cable! 

Girl Scouts are Outdoor Explorers

Guest Post: Girl Scouts are Outdoor Explorers

Guest Post from Vicki Wright, GSUSA Outdoor Initiative Lead, Lifetime Girl Scout, Former CEO of multiple Girl Scout Councils

Girl Scouts Launches Inaugural Badge Series Chosen by Girls

This year, on its 103^rd Anniversary, Girl Scouts is celebrating our commitment to providing fun and beneficial outdoor experiences for girls with the launch of a new series of outdoor badges, chosen by Girl Scouts themselves.

Outdoor experiences are an integral part of Girl Scouts and are woven into Girl Scout program in such a way that girls feel comfortable trying new things and testing their limits, and gain confidence and acquire new skills in a safe and supportive all-girl environment. From a relaxed nature hike through the forests to teaming up on a wildlife conservation project to high-adventure rock-climbing, Girl Scouts offers girls a variety of opportunities to learn and grow inside and out.

My first experience with Girl Scouts was in an outdoor setting where I learned to become comfortable in the outdoors and with myself.  I did not understand at the time all that I was learning while having so much fun.  I can honestly say that my love for the outdoors came from those experiences and truly molded the person I became.

In the month of November, GSUSA began the polling process for the Girls’ Choice Outdoor Badges by inviting girls to vote on a diverse option of outdoor badge themes. Outdoor Explorer emerged as the overall theme, with five age specific Badge offerings: Outdoor Adventurer, Horseback Riding, Archery, Paddling and Ultimate Recreation Challenge.

But why is this so important to us?

According to our research (Girl Scout Research Institute’s study, More Than S’mores), girls benefit immensely from time outdoors. Girls who spend time outdoors eclipse their peers in environmental stewardship, more readily seek challenges, and are better problem solvers, all of which are traits needed for 21st century leadership.

Outdoor experiences through Girl Scouting, such as camp, are beneficial to girl leadership development across ethnicities. Latina (38 percent) and African American (40 percent) girls are more likely than their peers (28 percent) to say they overcame a fear of the outdoors through Girl Scouting; seventy-nine percent of Latina girls say they first tried an outdoor activity in Girl Scouts, and an overwhelming 59 percent of Latina girls say Girl Scouts has offered them outdoor activities they would not have otherwise had access to.

Simply put, this is important to us because it is important to girls. Once exposed to the outdoors, girls love it.  And, now more than ever, research shows us that getting outdoors is so important to the physical, social and psychological development of our girls and the health of our planet.

We want to get more girls outdoors, more often and in varied ways. Please join us in this effort.

Guest Post: Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts Announces New Leaders of Troop Capitol Hill

                                      

Girl Scouts is excited to announce the new leaders of Troop Capitol Hill, Girl Scouts’ honorary bi-partisan delegation of all women members of the U.S House and Senate, for the 114th Congress. For this new Congress, the number of co-chairs of Troop Capitol Hill has been expanded to eight and includes four Democratic and four Republican members of both the House and Senate. The announcement comes as Girl Scouts across the country are in the midst of celebrating Girl Scout Day—an annual commemoration of March 12, 1912, the day that founder Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the first 18 Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia.

The Congresswomen of Troop Capitol Hill, which was established to educate Congress about issues affecting girls and young women, embody the Girl Scout spirit and mission, working to determine the course of our nation and make the world a better place. Co-chairs for the new session of Congress include: Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Patty Murray (D-WA); and their House colleagues, Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Donna Edwards (D-MD), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). 

“Troop Capitol Hill is made up of women leaders from across the nation who are committed to exploring and promoting policies that improve the lives of girls everywhere,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “For over a century, Girl Scouts has been committed to connecting today’s girls with today’s female leaders who can serve as mentors, guides, and trailblazers for future generations. In the coming term, I look forward to working with our new co-chairs, and all members of Congress, to develop policies that will help girls develop the skills they need to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

In collaboration with Troop Capitol Hill, Girl Scouts works to promote policies, champion ideas, and shape the legislative dialogue around girls and young women in America and beyond. Among the major national initiatives for GSUSA in the new legislative session will be working to promote healthy living opportunities for girls, especially through increased access to outdoor activities, as well as promoting economic education programs around STEM and financial literacy and working to foster global citizenship and a global voice for girls. Additionally, Girl Scouts will work with Congress to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts’ highest honor, the Girl Scout Gold Award (equivalent to the Eagle Scout), which will take place in 2016.

“As a former Girl Scout, I am honored to serve as a co-chair of the Girl Scouts’ honorary bipartisan Troop Capitol Hill. At Girl Scouts girls and young women learn the values of community involvement, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and active leadership. When women are empowered, so is our nation. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress as well as the Girl Scouts of the USA to tackle issues important to young women and girls.” – Representative Donna Edwards

“Every single girl has something amazing to offer the world, and no one understands that better than the Girl Scouts. When young women have the opportunity to reach their full potential, the impact they can have on their communities is tremendous. I’m honored to serve as a leader of Troop Capitol Hill—and as a former Girl Scout and a mother of two young daughters, I will continue to work to create new possibilities for girls—be it through supporting STEM in the classroom, or advancing policies to empower students to succeed.” – Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Girl Scouts has a long history of working with female leaders of both parties to advance the dialogue around girls and the issues they face. Recently, Girl Scouts released a video series entitled Portraits in Leadership featuring local girls from communities throughout the United States interviewing their female members of Congress about what it takes to be a leader. Troop Capitol Hill Co-Chairs Shelly Moore Capito and Barbara Mikulski were among the women who took part in the series.

The 114th Congress will have unprecedented opportunities to promote girls and their limitless potential for leadership, and Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to be welcoming new and returning members of Troop Capitol Hill for an exciting and productive legislative session. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Roxanne Flores "By empowering [girls], I empowered myself"

Roxanne Flores - Killeen Sister Cities Service Unit

I was a girl scout from first grade to sixth grade. I actually earned my Bronze award and loved the process. My family moved from Germany to Louisiana which put an end of my Girl Scouting years. There was not an active Service Unit in my small town in Louisiana, so my Girl Scouting came to an end at that point. I picked it back up when my daughter was in the first grade. I was not a leader then, just a parent volunteer and I loved it. My daughter's troop disbanded during that year and my daughter was placed on the waiting list. I was told the list was over a year long and the only way my daughter would get in a troop immediately would be for me to become a Troop Leader. I honestly was scared at the time because I didn't think I could fit it in my schedule. Thankfully, I was wrong and this was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

 As a troop leader my goal was for the girls to try new things and make new friends. The first rule we set for our troop was that our girls be from different schools. We wanted them to make new friends and step out of their comfort zone. In hindsight, I am happy I made this rule; I think of the friendships that I now have because of Girl Scouts. Melissa and Tobi are some of my closest friends and we would have never known each other if not for Girl Scouting.

Girl Scouts has affected my life completely—personally and professionally. On a professional level, I work as Volunteer Services Youth Coordinator. I was able to use my experience as a Troop leader when I applied for this job. I had the administrative experience but being a Girl Scout leader prepared me for events as well as working with volunteers. During my time with the service team, I was an event coordinator and that taught me event planning. Now I plan many events over a year. When I first started my job I relied heavily on the experience and trainings I had with the Service Unit.

On a personal level, my life has changed drastically since I became a Troop Leader. The first part was leaving an abusive marriage. It is funny to me that I was so wrapped up in the situation, that I did not see how bad it was till I started stepping away and educating myself through activities built the girls’ self-esteem. By empowering them, I empowered myself. I asked myself one time , " How can I be a great role model and show them a strong woman when I am in this bad situation?" I left the marriage and have never looked back. I completed my education and received my degree.   To this day, the girls don't know how much they helped me! I am in awe when we go somewhere and the girls immediately pick up or clean an area because they learned a Girl Scout always leaves a place better than it was before. I see the confidence these girls have when they speak in public and how they try different things because change is good. I see the girls following the Girl Scout law on a daily basis. Girl Scouting is not an activity they do once a week but instead a standard of how the live their lives.

I am the mother of three children; Devon is 18 years old, Olivia is 13 years old, and Shiloh is 1. My son has had cancer twice in his lifetime and I admire his zest for life. I never hear him complain and whenever I feel like complaining, I think of everything he has faced or is facing on a daily basis. I am engaged to be married this month and look forward to the day. I received my Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Texas Women's University. I am actively involved with the Special Olympics as a volunteer and am also a proud parent of an athlete. I am a board member of Killeen Sister Cities Osan Korea, Killeen Chamber of Commerce Public Education Committee, and Friends of the Killeen Library, Keep Killeen Beautiful, and Relay for Life. I have been a Girl Scout Troop Leader for 7 years, and this is my fifth year on the Service Team. I have held several positions with the service team: Event Coordinator, Area Delegate, Secretary, FOGS Chairperson, and Media Communications Chair. I work full time with the City of Killeen and I will hit the twenty year mark in October. I enjoy my job tremendously and love coming to work and love the spirit of Team Killeen.

Happy birthday, Juliette Gordon Low!

Juliette 'Daisy' Gordon Low was a pioneer, advocate and a hero for girls in her time. Her efforts have transcended through time and we find ourselves now reaping the fruits of her work and carrying her legacy. But Daisy was also once a girl, going through the same experiences all girls face. Her life beyond Girl Scouting was full of friends, family and experiences that helped her become the woman we so greatly admire.

Juliette Gordon Low: Girl Scout, sister, friend, woman.