Girl Scouts of Gateway Council 2023 Annual Report

2023 Annual Report

A Message from our CEO

As we reflect on the past year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible dedication and hard work demonstrated by all the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council volunteers and staff. Their efforts in advancing the mission of Girl Scouts, while fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where every girl can thrive and belong is crucial to the growth and impact of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council.

As you flip through this very brief recap of the year, I hope you see beyond the numbers to what truly shines, the undeniable spirit of the girls evident through each page of the report. Their courage, confidence, and character are at the heart of everything we do. From their achievements in leadership development to their contributions to community service, the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council continue to inspire us all.

Looking ahead, I am confident that together, we will continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of girls across our communities. Thank you for your unwavering passion and dedication to the Girl Scout movement.

Yours in Girl Sccouting,

Wendy Wendy Dordel, CEO

7077 Bonneval Road, Suite 420 Jacksonville, FL 32216

877.764.5237

gsgateway.org

Instagram: @girlscoutsgc

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Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Mission Statement

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

As the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council provides an inclusive environment where girls build courage, confidence, and character, and develop the skills they need to become our future leaders.

Through specialized programs and events, outdoor experiences, STEM and life skill activities, and entrepreneurship opportunities; we provide a safe place for girls to grow and share new experiences, develop core values, and contribute to society.

Our Girl Scouts

Every Girl Scout has their own curiosity, dreams, and talents— so when they come together to decide which of the thousands of Girl Scout activities to try, the sky’s the limit. Whether visiting an animal shelter, camping, hosting a dance-off, or designing a robot —they’re learning to take risks, trust their gut, and team up with others for good.

Girl Scouts

6,426 Adult Members

1,551

3,530 Lifetime Members

11,507

Total Members

3,174

Troop and Service Unit Leader Volunteers

543

Total Number of Girl Scout Troops

“My favorite thing about Girl Scouts is that Gril Scouts is for everyone. It’s one activity that girls of all abilities are both welcomed and included with loving arms.”

-Bridgette McNeal, Troop 54001

35

Florida Counties Served

Alachua County

Baker County

Bay County

Bradford County

Calhoun County

Clay County

Columbia County

Dixie County

Duval County

Escambia County

Flagler County

Franklin County

Gadsen County

Gilchrist County

Gulf County

Hamilton County

Holmes County

Jackson County

Jefferson County

Lafayette County

Leon County

Levy County

Liberty County

Madison County

Nassau County

Okaloosa County

Putnam County

Santa Rosa County

St. Johns County

Suwannee County

Taylor County

Union County

Wakulla County

Walton County

Washington County

Daisies | K-1

1517

Cadettes | 6-8

1088

Brownies | 2-3 1708

Seniors | 9-10

Juniors | 4-5 1460

368 Ambassadors | 11-12

244

Building Girls of Courage, Confidence and Character Since 1912

At GSGC, we believe that every girl deserves to be a Girl Scout, and we are dedicated to building high-quality, high-impact opportunities for girls, regardless of their family’s financial situation. Community Development Troops bring the Girl Scout Leadership Experience directly to girls in Title I schools, HUD housing communities, and community centers through the generous support of community partners.

This year our Community Development Troops tackled outdoor adventures at Camp Kateri, where they enjoyed a day camp full of archery, boating, campfires and smores, sharpened their financial literacy skills through the Girl Scout Cookie program, completed the Resilient. Ready. Strong. patch program learning about mental wellness and self-care, and built STEM confidence through STEM challenges, exploring math in nature and becoming a citizen scientist!

921

Outreach or Community Development Girl Scouts

44

Community Development Troops

Our Pillars

STEM

Since 1912, girls have explored, developed, and sharpened their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills through Girl Scouting. They lead their own adventures, team up with others, and get busy with hands-on STEM activities of their choosing.

Life Skills

When Girl Scouts explore topics like community service, civic engagement, travel, mental wellness, healthy living, and career exploration they grow in confidence and develop the skills to lead their best life!

Outdoors

Girl Scouts has a long and storied history of getting every girl outdoors. Many Girl Scouts tell us camping trips are one of the best things about their Girl Scout experience. Connecting with the great outdoors in a girl-led setting is a big benefit of Girl Scouts.

Entrepreneurship

As Girl Scouts engage in entrepreneurship programming, the become innovative and entrepreneurial minded leaders, giving them the courage to fail and keep trying, the tools to create and independent future, an the power to do good in the world.

Each summer, Gateway Council hosts a STEM Day Camp for Juniors and Cadettes, filled with interactive STEM experiences led by real world STEM experts in each field. By the end of the week, girls will have explored the full spectrum of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. A new location was added in June 2023 to offer this experience to 88 girls in Jacksonville and Fort Walton Beach. Thanks to our generous sponsors RS&H and St. Joe Foundation, camp registration is a minimal cost, making it more accessible for all girls.

STEM

Life Skills Our Programs

Girl Scout Cadettes through Ambassadors have the opportunity to share their skills, passion and experiences with younger Girl Scouts. By participating in Program Aide Training girls expand their Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Through this training, our girls learn to work with children and adapt activities to various environments. This program allows Gateway Council girls to continue to develop life skills and directly implement them throughout our Council region.

288

Total Programs Offered

STEM Programs

92

112 Life Skills Programs

Outdoor Programs

21

73 Entrepreneurship Programs

3,603

Total Number of Girls Attending Programs

11

Camp Opportunities

402

Number of Girls Who Attended Camp

Our Properties

Camp Kateri

Camp Kateri, located in Hawthorne, Florida, is a 550-acre property with two lakes and opportunities for archery, canoeing, sailing, kayaking, hiking and exploration.

“My favorite thing about Girl Scouts is the camp outs with my troop and a couple other troops as well. I love singing Girl Scout songs, roasting marshmallows, and playing games.”

-Keira Finelli, Troop 826

“My favorite thing about Girl Scouts is going to beautiful places and having new experiences with my friends. I enjoy all of our camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, biking, and high adventure trips; on each one I gain experience, insight, and camaraderie while enjoying the outdoors.

-Charlie Gowan, Troop 13041

Camp Kugelman

Camp Kugelman, located in Lillian, Alabama, offers a sandy beach-front property and private pool. Favorite activities include archery, canoeing, kayaking and swimming.

Outdoors

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council participated in Girl Scouts Loves the State Parks across North Florida September 2023. Girls explored Ft. George Island State Park, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Blackwater River State Park, Gold Head Branch State Park and Maclay Gardens. There were a variety of activities including a prescribed fire program, learning about invasive versus native plants and discovering what animals and plants live in our tidal estuaries. Nearly 150 girls explored State Parks through this program and many created their own troop experiences at other parks.

Entrepreneurship

Throughout council, we have developed strong partnerships with a variety of financial institutions which provide programs around entrepreneurship. From budgeting to unleashing financial power, girls across North Florida are gaining entrepreneurial skills to set them up for a successful cookie season and beyond. We are thankful for our relationships with Bank of America, VyStar and Navy Federal. Beyond facilitating programs, they volunteer their time at our events like Mega Drop and provide funds to ensure we can continue to offer a variety of experiences for girls.

Participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls develop five key skills that will last a lifetime:

Goal Setting:

Girls establish goals individually, and as a troop, and create a plan to reach them; developing cooperation and team building skills along the way.

Decision Making:

Girls help decide how their troop spends their cookie money, furthering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Money Management:

Girls take cookie orders, handle customers’ money, and gain valuable and practical life skills around financial literacy.

People Skills:

As your girl talks to, listens to and works with all kinds of people, she will develop healthly relationships and important conflict resolution skills.

Business Ethics:

Girl Scouts are honest and responsible at every step. Her business ethics reinforce the positive values she is developing as a Girl Scout.

3,902

Girls Sold Cookies

Number of Boxes Sold

5,354

1,533,835 Boxes Sold by our Top Seller

OurHighest Awards

Girl Scouts shine brightest when they’re making the world a better place. In earning highest awards—the Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards— they dream of a better tomorrow and take action in big ways today.

Juniors earn the Bronze Award by teaming up with other girls to make a difference in their communities.

Cadettes earn the Silver Award by researching an issue, making a plan to address it, and then taking action to improve their communities.

Seniors and Ambassadors earn the Gold Award—the highest award in Girl Scouting—by developing and carrying out lasting solutions to issues in their neighborhoods and beyond.

Gold Award Girl Scouts truly are the world changers, rock stars, role models, and real-life heroes we all look up to.

MAILEACHAN | Independant Living Skills

Maileachan prepared teens for the real world the creation of Life Skills Club at her local school. Now, high school students have the opportunity to develop “soft life skills” such as cooking, budgeting, and time management.

SOPHIA | Being

Sophia created her own non profit aimed at helping young women affirm their inner worth.

CAITLIN | Uplifting The Memorial Garden

Caitlyn led a beautification project at her school’s Memorial Garden. Along with her garden, she created a sense of community amongst local students in her “Kindness Carnival,” that inspired people to spread kindness through simple actions.

MEGAN | Sensory Pathway For Elementary School

Bronze Awards

Earned

98 Silver Awards

Earned

37

53 Gold Awards

Earned

Megan created a sensory pathway at Durbin Creek Elementary that provided students a place to move in a structured way.

GRACE | Sensory Walls

Grace partnered with Growing Together Behavioral Center and provided children a sensory wall where they could remain engaged in a stimulating activity when on break.

HALEY | Gaia’s Passion

Haley organized workshops such as community clean-ups, service, and beautification projects where members of her local community were educated on their environmental impact and empowered to make sustainable changes.

DELANEY | Orienteering Course in Alachua County

Delaney brought the sport of orienteering to her community by designing a course and providing basic educational material for community members to get started.

JULES | Creating Sensory Activities/Tools for an autistic therapeutic horseback riding organization

Jules partnered with Horse Sense and Sensitivity and provided updated sensory stations so children on the autism spectru, could further develop their sensory and motor skills in a fun interactive way.

ALEXIS | VolunTEEN

Alexis noticed the lack of awareness and communication surrounding volunteer opportunities in her local community and created a platform to connect teens with nonprofit organizations.

ALEXANDRIA | Closing the Gap

Alexandria created calm rooms in a local elementary school for economically disadvantaged students that gave them the opportunity to learn the importance of emotional regulation and beneficial life skills.

Congratulations to Gold Award Scholarship Recipient, Sophia Vernon

Sophia Vernon was awarded the $10,000 Gold Award Scholarship! After a series of external evaluations, Sophia’s project was consistently chosen as Gateway’s top project.

Sophia’s project “Being” provided workshops in the community that allowed girls to develop special bonds, have a safe space for challenging conversations, and learn how to find value and comfort in their self-worth.

JENNA | Spiral Herb Garden

Jenna designed and constructed a spiral herb garden for the Gulf Breeze Community Garden. The garden provides a fresh source of herbs available to anyone in the community.

KELSEY | Vote With Your Butt

Kelsey partnered with Ocean Hours Florida and found a creative way to reduce cigarette waste on parks and beaches in Florida.

KIMSEY | Birdhouse Renovations

Kimsey noticed the lack of safe homes for bluebirds in her local community and built and installed several birdhouses along park trails where birds could safely nest.

SIERRA | Multiple Learning Abilities Activity Center

Sierra renovated an area for the special needs students at R.C. Bannerman Learning Center to connect with the outdoors and one another.

CLAIRE | NACLO Knowledge

Claire noticed the lack of awareness about the North American Computational Linguistics Open competition and organized a club to promote interest.

JULIA | Notes of Appreciation

Julia worked with the Red Cross to highlight Military Appreciation month at her local high school and provide military service members thanks and praise.

GRACIE | Gracie’s Heart 2 Heart Baby Clothes

Gracie provided families of premature babies proper fitting attire for their newborns at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

JENNA | Vacation Bible School Planning

Jenna developed a multi-level volunteer training and curriculum to get younger students engaged in their faith and motivated to receive the sacraments.

ALYSSA | Mind Over Matter

Alyssa created a program entitled “Mind Over Matter” which was designed to reduce the stigma around mental health and encourage discussions.

Fun Fact about the Girl Scout Gold Award:

LAUREN | Sensory Trail

Lauren created an interactive activity break for students to develop motor skills, including balance and awareness and return to class refocused.

ALLISON | Benches For Youth

Allison partnered with her local church and built benches throughout South Crestview to encourage the community to get active in a safe environment.

ABIGAIL | Letterboxing Around the Community

Abigail saw the lack of letterboxes in her Gainesville community and planted several and promoted this family fun activity to encourage exploration and family bonding.

KELLY-ANNE | Tools For Life

Kelle-Anne partnered with Beaches Habitat for Humanity to provide new homeowners with tools as well as informative videos on how to maintain their property.

The Gold Award represents the culmination of over 80 hours of work on a project that is important to each girl. Approximately one million Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 have earned the Gold Award or its equivalent since 1916.

The Lasting Impact of the Girl Scout Gold Award:

Girls who pursue their Gold Award aspire to transform an idea and vision for change into an actionable plan with measurable, sustainable and farreaching results. Gold Award recipients report a more positive sense of self, are more engaged civically and in community service, have more confidence in their leadership abilities, and experience greater life satisfaction and success relative to their non-Gold Award peers.

3414

Hours Spent on Gold Award Projects

Gold Award Ceremony

Each Spring, Gold Award Girl Scouts are recognized for their remarkable achievement at the Gold Award Ceremony and Luncheon. They are celebrated and receive their Gold Award Pin, Patch, and Regalia Cords along with certificates from GSUSA, NASA, the Marine Corps, and the White House.

This year Jenna Cavanaugh’s Project received recognition from His Holiness, Pope Francis, that included a certificate of recognition extending prayerful good wishes as a Catholic Gold Award Girl Scout.

KAYLAN | Calming Room for Special Needs Students

Kaylan noticed the lack of mental health funding at Palencia Elementary and Nease High School and provided students and teachers with tools, books, and decorations to create a calming oasis.

KEIRA | Marvelous Monarchs

Keira worked at her local Presbyterian church and constructed a butterfly garden to address loss of habitat. Additionally, she led a summer program that educated preschoolers about the importance of pollinators.

COLLEEN | Peer Tutoring Club

Colleen noticed how much the pandemic affected her peer’s academic experience and developed a group based tutoring club at her high school to expose students to new learning and studying strategies.

TALLULAH | Home Away from Home: For At-Risk

Children and the Marginalized at Grace Mission Tallulah transformed a multi purpose Family Education Center at Grace Mission into “Home away from home” by providing students a safe space to grow and learn.

MARISA | Tactile Campus Maps for the Blind

Marisa created three dimensional maps for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind to help students navigate their school education facilities effectively and independantly.

Jenna Cavanaugh with our CEO, Wendy Dordel Pinning of the Gold Award