Travel with Jessica

We've been talking to grownup Girl Scouts about their travel experiences lately. Jessica posted a couple weeks ago about why she chose to travel with Girl Scouts as a teen.  This week, we've asked her whether her parents were worried about her being away from home when she went on these trips. We've asked lots of girls this question. The resounding answer: nope- parents were totally cool with sending their Girl Scouts on travel trips. Read more about Jessica's adventure below. 

Hi- Jessica Marks here again. I am a lifetime member of Girl Scouts- starting in first grade as a Brownie, earning my Gold Award as a high school senior, and having served in college as an outreach troop leader and then later on as a trainer. While I enjoyed Brownies, my Girl Scouting experience was forever changed when I switched troops as a junior and was connected with an adventurous group who loved to travel and became my life-long friends.

I'm sure my parents were concerned about me being away from home, especially when I left the country! However, I think my parents realized that Girl Scouts was a space where I could learn how to conduct myself on these experiences. With troop travel, I know they trusted our leader. I'm sure it was much harder for the wider op (Destinations), when they did not know our chaperone, but by the time I went on that, Girl Scouts had been a life-long commitment, and I think their ability to let me go was just as much growth as what I was able to experience by getting to go. (Maybe it helped prepare them for me leaving for college later!) 

My Girl Scout travel experiences were always scaffolded; step outs so that we were not thrown into something we couldn't handle. When I was a Brownie I certainly didn't realize the sleepovers and one night camping trips were preparation for what was to come in Juniors and beyond- but every step was preparation for the next one.   

Help your Girl Scout have travel experiences like Jessica! New trips posted; fly to the GSCTX Travel Page to learn more! 

Girls: 10 Things Your Parents DON'T Do While You're at Summer Camp

Hey girls- 

Whether you go to summer camp every year, or have never been for an overnight, it's a mystery to think about what your parents do/would do while you're gone.  

Here's a list of things they definitely WON'T be doing this summer while you're away:

1. Singing "Let it Go" every chance the get; 
2. Eating chicken nuggets for dinner; 
3. Getting up early to make pancakes for breakfast on Saturday; 

They definitely WILL be: 
1. Getting their car detailed since it can stay nice and clean for a week; 
2. Avoiding the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network; 
3. Finishing that list of DIY projects they've been meaning to do since last year

Of course they'll miss you, but it's a win-win. You get to go to camp with your friends and they get to have a clean, quiet house for a while. You can't beat it. 

Sign up for camp today. 

This is why camp is so great!

Have you seen this photo before?
Guest blogger Tessa is in the pink tank top. 

I love camp because it combines two things I really enjoy - being outdoors and having fun with my friends!  When I was a Brownie, I would always be super pumped for a week of camp that summer.

As I got older, I wanted to go to camp all summer because I loved being with my friends. Zilker day camp with my troop with awesome!  We always learned so much and made many new friends – we taught our troop leaders silly songs and passed on our new knowledge to our service unit when we could.  As I got older my parents decided I was ready for sleep-away camp.   

My first year at Camp Texlake I made more friends than I ever had before because I got to meet so many different girls from troops from all over!  Since that first summer at Texlake, I have gone back every year since and loved it.  I have had great experiences and learned so many things from being a camper.  

This upcoming summer I plan to go once again and it will be my fifth year!  I’m super excited to get my special 5 year pin!  I still love Zilker day camp and I kept going each year until I became too old.  But two summers ago I became a Zilker program aide and this upcoming summer will be my third year helping younger Girls Scouts!  I can hardly wait for this summer so I can enjoy my time at Zilker and Texlake with my Girl Scout sisters!  

Every year after I get home from Texlake, I’m ready to repack my suitcase and go straight back!  I have learned so much from my time at Zilker and Texlake that has helped me be a better person and Girl Scout!  Girl Scout camp life is awesome!

Tessa S.
Senior Girl Scout
Troop 1588

From firelight and fairy tales to Harriet Potter to equestrian fun, every girl can find her place at summer camp. Register your camper today.

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! 

Let's Celebrate National Women's History Month with Candid Convos!

Let’s Celebrate National Women’s History Month with Candid Convos!

Guest Post from GSUSA Blog: blog.girlscouts.org 

                                                                             

At Girl Scouts, we’re all about girl power. That’s why, every day, all over the world, we work hard to advocate for girls and women and to elevate dialogue not only about their amazing accomplishments and unique journeys, but also about the challenges they face.

This year, the theme of the National Women’s History Project, part of National Women’s History Month, is “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.” To mark the occasion, we encourage you to find opportunities to weave women’s stories—both as individuals and as part of a larger group—into the fabric of our nation’s history. This is the perfect time to have critical conversations in your own circles—with your family, friends, and neighbors—and to create a space for expression and ideas to really flourish.

Don’t stress! It doesn’t have to be anything formal. Invite a couple of friends over, set out some snacks, and get to talkin.’ Remember: big change often begins with something as simple as a conversation, in an environment that fosters authentic, open dialogue about important issues. So it’s okay to start small.

And it doesn’t all have to be so serious, either. Take this opportunity to also celebrate one another and to rejoice in the richness of women’s history and the strength that lives within all of those present at your gathering. Maybe each person can speak about a woman in history who has inspired her, changed her, or otherwise made a difference in her life.

There are so many simple, meaningful ways to celebrate National Women’s History Month—so let’s do it! Go out and start that conversation today. This month and every day, let’s continue to reflect on the amazing strides women have made in the world and the work yet to be done to ensure true equality for future generations of girls.

Happy National Women’s History Month!

Volunteer Spotlight: Kathy Beifuss, keeping the Service Unit together

"Kathy Beifuss serves in numerous positions on the service team and she stepped forward to serve when there was a re-organization of their service unit (SU) made by the council.

A while back, the SU was hit with a blow in leadership. Kathy quickly stepped up to assist new leadership, which allowed the unit to stay together. She not only maintained it, but made it stronger over the next two years. The Girl Scouts in that SU would have suffered had it fallen apart. It would have taken a huge effort to rebuild it.  Then, when a second round of leadership changes occurred, this volunteer kept the SU together once again!  

She has wonderfully served the Bryan-College Station SU in more capacities than her assistant director position calls for: Silver Award consultant, travel application approvals, facilitator in camping and program levels, communications, troop problem solver, SU date reminders, she ensures cookie sales information is submitted, and is also the Camp Howdy site crew and camping manager. 

Kathy Beifuss is a strong, silent (unless it involves tent folding) force, who helps keep a large metropolitan SU together, providing girls the fullest, most rewarding Girl Scout experience they can have."

Kathy is a treasure to Girl Scouts of Central Texas and we couldn't be more proud of her. Thank you for all your hard work, Kathy!

Today's volunteer feature was submitted by Debra Turner, a troop leader and SU Troop Organizer for the Bryan-College Station SU. Thanks, Debra!

What is Banning Bossy?

For the past couple weeks you have probably been seeing #banbossy all over the internet and haven’t be sure what it is all about. We are here to help clear that up for you! Lean In and Girl Scouts have partnered up to create a movement of girl leadership. The campaign is encouraging girls to speak up and stand out at their schools and for the community to stop using descriptive words like “bossy” to describe these young girls.

                Words are extremely impactful, especially in the life of a young girl so when they get called words like “bossy” or “pushy” they are less likely to participate in future activities and take leadership roles. The Ban Bossy campaign wants to change this stigma and elevate girls to be the best leader they can be.

                Their website www.banbossy.com  is filled with helpful information and leadership tips. Girls, parents, teachers, managers, and troop leaders can download the tips and help ban bossy. So join the movement along with prominent female figures like Sheryl Sandberg and Beyonce and #banbossy today!

Joining Girl Scouts of Central Texas "has been a better experience than I could have imagined."

"Three years ago my daughter Amy came home from school asking if she could join Girl Scouts of Central Texas. Having never been a Girl Scout myself, I wasn't sure what to expect from the troop or what would be expected of her.

Three years later, I can tell you that I'm thrilled she joined Girl Scouts--it's been a better experience than I could have imagined.

Her leaders, Ms. Stefanie and Ms. Katherine, encourage and TEACH many of the traits that I want for Amy: to make smart, thought-out decisions, be physically active, leadership,environmental responsibility, and kindness/ respectfulness toward others.

Not only is she learning to be a strong, smart young lady, but she's having fun experiences along the way. Horseback riding, hiking, camping,dancing, sleepovers, and sports have all been incorporated into her troop's meetings.

Girl Scouts of Central Texas and Girl Scout Troop 1976 ROCK!"

-Toni D., Austin, TX

Sign your daughter up today  for Girl Scouts and help her experience all the fun and excitement that comes with being part of a troop!

Volunteer now and change the lives of dozens of Central Texas girls right in your community-- you CAN make a difference!

We can't wait to see the great things you'll do!