Inspired! Newsletter - Winter 2023 | Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

And the Award Goes to...

“Inspiring Girls to Pursue STEM” - Meet Erika von Kirchbach, Class of 2022 Gold Award Nominee

Erika von Kirchbach recently earned Girl Scouts’ highest honor, the Gold Award. She put together everything she learned throughout the Girl Scout leadership program into a project called “Inspiring Girls to Pursue STEM.”

Erika’s experience with Girl Scouts helped her see how

important STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is to girls. But with women underrepresented in the STEM field, Erika wanted to do her part to reduce the gender gap.

As part of her project, Erika created a safe place for a fun and exciting introduction to

STEM for younger girls.

She brought together 14 female role models from various STEM fields to inspire these younger girls and enforce the message that STEM is for everyone, INCLUDING girls!

The girls in this program gained confidence in their

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Troop 24520 Lego Robotics Team

Thank You! This issue of Inspired! features joy-filled stories of girls YOU helped have new learning experiences!

Message from Nancy

Dear Friend,

Every day I am in awe of our Girl Scouts, who passionately pour their hearts into all that they do—impacting the world in incredible ways.

This Valentine’s edition of Inspired! features an extra dose of love for girls in STEM and the arts.

Today there continues to be a significant gender gap for women in STEM. Therefore, we’re investing in our Girl Scouts’ futures by providing dynamic STEM experiences which will enable girls to pursue STEM opportunities. By providing opportunities in STEM and the ARTS we believe girls build skills that will help them THRIVE.

Through your support of Girl Scouts, our members learn to DREAM big and DO big.

Thank you for investing in their futures. We couldn’t do it without you.

Enjoy the stories of our amazing Girl Scouts. These stories are guaranteed to fill your heart and bring a smile to your face.

Nancy L. Wright CEO

Thank you for supporting the new Creative Arts Club!

New Creative Arts Club!

You helped girls connect and learn at the new Creative Arts Club!

The new Creative Arts Club provides just the right combination of connection and creativity!

Reagan was a new Brownie when she showed up at the Creative Arts Club. This was her very first program, so she was a little nervous. She asked her mom to stay with her, just in case.

About halfway through, Reagan said to her mom, “You can go wait in the hallway now, I’ll be there when I’m finished.”

The Creative Arts Club is a girl-led club, new to GCNWI in 2022-2023. Girl Scouts of all ages and artistic abilities attend monthly. They love connecting with one another in a creative space and participating in art activities planned and facilitated by three older Girl Scouts from the council.

Girls are invited to experiment with a wide variety of art materials. They participate in activities that encourage creative expression while building new technical skills. Most of all, they have a whole lot of FUN!

Since the club began, 50 girls have participated!

Thank you for your support and for believing in the girls in our community! You helped girls like Reagan build confidence through this new club!

AND ENCOURAGED BECAUSE OF YOU!

“A place where I can be me”

You helped a troop of girls go on a special camping trip!

In October, an amazing troop of girls living in residential foster care facilities went on a camping trip at Camp Butternut Springs. For many, this was their first time camping.

Eyes were bright and smiles were big as they unloaded their gear. A few girls worried about bears, but once they learned there WERE no bears, they began to explore.

An important part of the camping trip was doing art activities as a group. This is the time that girls’ personalities began to show. As the girls worked with their hands they became more comfortable with Girl Scout staff and each other and began sharing their stories.

A 12-year-old girl who shared that she was bullied in school, cheered for every girl on the climbing wall. Her, “You can do this!” was the loudest! When it was her turn, all the girls cheered for her. She completed the wall with tears in her eyes.

Your support made this camping trip possible. A comment from a girl who went on this trip might be the greatest thanks that we can share. Girl Scout camp is “a place where I am accepted, a place where I can be me.”

Thank you for investing in these amazing girls. They are STILL talking about this camping trip, months later!

And

the

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abilities and especially enjoyed performing science experiments with older girls who were also interested in STEM.

The project was a success and Erika’s

Gold Award is proof that girls learn skills in Girl Scouts that can change the world for the better.

Thank you so much for your support of Girl Scouts! You are helping girls understand what’s possible when they believe they can do anything!

Your support helped this troop have an amazing camping trip - thank you!

Help a Girl Participate in Her Next Girl Scout Activity!

$25 helps a girl participate in an activity or field trip!

Girl Scout activities can be life-changing for a girl! With your gift of $25 today, you can make sure a girl doesn’t miss out on her next activity because of cost.

Here’s a fun story that shows how important Girl Scout activities are – and why your support matters!

Recently, a new Girl Scout troop that formed during the pandemic won the Lego Robotics Performance Award.

Your donation of $25 or more will help a girl participate in the next activity or field trip!

For most troop members, this was their first experience with Girl Scouts. As their troop leader looked for experiences for this bright and energetic troop, she introduced them to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities.

The troop decided to enter a Lego Robotics Qualifier competition. To help pay for activity costs and entrance fees for the competition, the troop leader applied for a scholarship from the council.

The girls came together, with each Girl Scout contributing her strengths to the team. In the end, they won the Lindblom High School Lego Robotics Qualifier competition!

Girl Scout team victories like these are possible because of your support.

Your gift from the heart today will help a girl participate in the next activity or field trip.

Here’s how you

can

help!

I’d Like to Help Even More Girls! Here’s My Gift!

YES, Nancy! Please use my gift so a girl can be part of the next troop field trip or activity, regardless of cost. My gift will also support all the good work of Girl Scouts GCNWI!

Enclosed is my gift:

___ $50 to cover an activity for 2 girls!

$75 to cover an activity for 3 girls!

___ $150 to cover an activity for 6 girls!

$__________ to help as much as possible!

Your gift today will bring the biggest smile to a girl’s face!