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

OCTOBER 2023

YOU helped connect, empower, and inspire girls at camp!

Creating memories in the Swiss Alps

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fter six months of planning, preparing, and connecting over

Zoom, 12 Girl Scouts were ready to connect in person and travel to Switzerland. Girl Scouts immersed themselves in the Swiss culture for two weeks, where they went hiking, and sightseeing, toured Our Chalet (the first World Centre for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts!), ate lots of fondue, and so much more!

Girl Scouts came from five different cities for this Switzerland adventure. All the girls met in Chicago to kick off their Swiss Alps trip.

Unfortunately, the flight to Geneva was delayed a couple of days due to severe weather. But luckily, Girl Scouts were in New York and had an opportunity to explore the city!

After the short trip delay in New York, the Girl Scouts were on their way and arrived in Switzerland ready to explore this new part of the world with their new friends. The first few days in Switzerland were full of exploration. The journey began in Lausanne where Girl Scouts climbed to the top of Lausanne Cathedral for amazing views of the city. The adventures continued with ferry rides to France to experience the natural Spring waters of Evian, train rides to Montreux, and ended with a rock star experience at the Queen Museum, where the band Queen recorded one of their albums.

But the culminating week of the trip for each Girl Scout was their stay at Our Chalet. In 1929, the World Committee of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS) decided that a World Centre should be built for all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of the world to share. Our Chalet is a place where everybody can find a challenge, adventure, and ‘peace for the soul’ while developing international friendships.

Each girl on this Swiss Alps trip experienced just that.

On the first night, Girl Scouts attended a Pinning Ceremony and received their exclusive pin. The remaining days of the trip included hiking in the mountains, having fun at the adventure park, enjoying Swiss culture through exploring shops in town, and of course indulging in lots of Swiss Chocolate.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for each Girl Scout who attended and one that will

forever impact their lives. Girl Scout Camydn shared, “The overall experience was unforgettable and one that I will cherish forever.

This trip pushed me outside of my comfort zone. It was my first time traveling to a different country without my parents. I was nervous and anxious to leave my family for so long, but once I made it to Chicago, I felt included and welcomed by all of the Girl Scouts and leaders. This experience has also taught me to persevere during times of adversity.”

Girl Scout Calleigh shared, “Being exposed to the cultural differences on this trip has inspired me to save my money and seek other unique experiences in the future. Now, I have an appreciation for European culture and a drive to experience other cultures around the world as well”.

Your support of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, allows us to continue to provide scholarship opportunities for girls to move outside of their comfort zone and explore the world.

Summer Adventures in Colorado

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he Rocky Mountains of Colorado became the backdrop of adventure for 14 Girl Scouts and volunteers this summer. This was not an ordinary trip. This trip was filled with adventures, challenges, and triumphant stories of perseverance.

Girl Scouts boldly took on adventures that built their courage, confidence, and character.

This five-day trip was packed with adventure from start to finish. The week kicked off with hiking around the Colorado River where they conquered a steep uphill climb along the Rocky Mountains. They were met with beautiful views and experienced the natural habitats of moose, deer, and elks. The week continued to build on the adventure with 4-mile horseback rides and high ropes course challenges.

A trip to Colorado would not be complete without white water rafting.

This was the most anticipated portion of the trip for each Girl Scout.

MAD Adventures leads the Girl Scout groups through their whitewater rafting adventures. Girl Scout Francesca shared, “It felt like a water ride, almost like nature’s very own Six Flags. The boat was rocking and swaying but in a good way. We even jumped off a cliff into the water! It was really cold but refreshing. The best part, though, was having awesome friends with me the whole boat ride”.

Francesca’s reflection is a great reminder of a Girl Scout travel experience. These trips offer girls new experiences and push them beyond what’s comfortable and move into what’s possible. But most importantly Girl Scouts get to take on these new experiences together.

Roseland Community Summer Program This summer Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) sponsored a four-hour-a-day no-cost, summer camp program to girls and their siblings from Chicago’s south side.

This camp was piloted this year thanks to a summer enrichment grant from the City of Chicago.

This six-week program was delivered at Mount Calvary Church, primarily serving girls from Morgan Park/Roseland. The focus of the camp is Healthy Living. This includes not just eating well and moving your body, but also knowing how to handle your money and building financial resilience. Students also enjoyed weekly adventures around the community and throughout the city.

Providing a community-based summer camp for 6 weeks was a new opportunity for GCNWI and the staff didn’t know what to expect, but everyone knew that the ultimate goal was to provide campers with a fun safe space and new experiences, and they did just that.

Students engaged in activities that helped them explore the world of food and exposed them to food options that they could prepare at home by themselves. Next, they were able to go outside of their community through fun and exciting field trips. One of the most memorable trips was the adventure to a local trampoline park that had a zipline.

There was a camp participant who needed a little extra time getting across. Her campmates stood around her and chanted her name and at one point their cheers took over the sound in the building. This overwhelming encouragement led to her gaining the courage she needed to complete the zipline course.

Summer camp programs such as these become vital to communities in the summer months. Space is often limited in summer programs

offered in the community and this can potentially pose significant economic impacts on families. This year the summer program maintained a waiting list simply because the need was great, but the space was limited. In 2024 it is our goal to increase the capacity of the program to allow for 50 participants instead of 30 and potentially expand the services provided.

Your support allows us to continue to provide safe and impactful programs directly to communities that need it most. Thanks to you, girls can participate in programming that can help them build relationships with trusted adults and gain lifetime friends. Your support is the encouragement girls in the communities we serve need to become women who change the world. Thank you for your support.

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This edition of Inspired! is filled with adventures of girls learning, doing, and being a part of life-changing experiences.

These opportunities are available to all girls because of your generous support.

—Juliette Gordon Low

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Girl Scouting is not just knowing… but doing… not just doing but being.

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