Spark A TRIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF KANSAS HEARTLAND COUNCIL
MARCH 2019 CAMP EDITION
7
NEW: Horses at camp! And so much more. -pg. 8
Council Bridging Ceremony
12 Gold Awards 14 Leadership Takes Flight with Textron
Letters from Liz Our #Sisterhood Activity Guide for January through August has generated a lot of excitement. As of March 7, not only did we have more than 1,500 girls registered for winter/spring events, we already have more than 500 registrations for summer programming! Before the summer fun begins, I hope all of our Girl Scouts bridging this year consider registering for the council-wide bridging ceremony on May 11 in Wichita. Event details are on page 7. I am so excited this coming summer to have mini or full resident camp programming at all three council-owned properties – Starwoods, Four Winds, and Double E! We even have a two-week camp at Four Winds for our older girl master campers. In this edition of Spark, you’ll learn more about our new horse program at Four Winds and our expanded shooting program at Starwoods. Platform tents are also coming to Double E. We have a wide selection of outdoor challenges and fun programming at locations across the council for every interest and age of Girl Scout. Check out the camp experiences we have for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors who prefer a day camp experience. And be sure to take a look at the travel adventures to exciting locations outside of Kansas! Plus, campers are now eligible to attend camps for the grade they are going into this coming fall. I encourage you to sign up early to lock in your spot for the Girl Scout adventures you’d like to have this summer. You can hold your spot for select camps with a $25 deposit. Campership applications are available for families that need assistance in paying for any of our council camp experiences. For more information, search our website for “Financial Assistance”. I hope to see all of you G.I.R.L.s (Go-Getters, Innovators, Risk Takers, Leaders) in action this summer! Yours in Girl Scouting,
Liz Workman Chief Executive Officer - Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Spark is all about YOU... Send story ideas, photos, accomplishments, and comments to:
Communications Department Phone: 888-686-MINT (6468) Fax: 316-684-4141 E-mail: communications@gskh.org Mail: 360 Lexington Road Wichita, KS 67218 Online: kansasgirlscouts.org/share
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Spark ☙ MARCH 2019
PUBLISHED
by the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 14,500 girls and adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, and regional offices in Emporia, Garden City, Hays and Salina.
Table of Contents 4
Early Renewal
6
Juliette's Pearls Leadership Society Luncheon
8
NEW Summer Camp Activities
9
NEW Camp Shirt & Patch
10 Cookie Goal Contest Winners
11 Cookie Highlights 13 Bright Futures for Gold Award Girl Scouts
14 S'mores Day Events 15 Council info
CONNECT ONLINE facebook.com/ksgirlscouts Twitter: @ksgirlscouts flickr.com/ksgirlscouts
The United Way helps here.
Instagram: @ksgirlscouts Snapchat: @ksgirlscouts LinkedIn: Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Use #KSGirlScouts to share your adventures!
Please pass me on to a friend or recycle!
2 0 1 8 ATOTAL N NREVENUE U A &LSUPPORT R E ||P$6,147,488 ORT TOTAL REVENUE & SUPPORT $5,101,883
69%
$3,518,905
Public Support 19%
$981,775
Program Fees
2%
$115,130
Retail Sales
3%
$139,066
Other Income
7%
$347,007
Product Sales
EXPENSES || $5,436,239
0%
EXPENSES $5,018,921
100%
NET ASSETS
$13,510,888 Net Assets, beginning of year $13,593,850 Net Assets, end of year
Program Services
83% $4,188,402
Administrative Support
7% $345,226
$82,962 Change in Net Assets
Fundraising Expense
10% $485,293
Program Services Administrative Support Fundraising Expense
$4,589,717 $414,910 $431,612
83% 7% 10%
IMPACT What did a year of Girl Scouts accomplish? Our Girl Scouts accomplished ...
In the financial year, our council served ...
7,919
2,723
girls
adults
665
troops
22,087
badges earned
Our council provided ...
25
community based clubs
$68,301
in membership dues assistance
35
camps on GSKH properties
$9,105
in assistance for uniform and book components
19,050 cookies shares donated
3
Gold Award Recipients
$26,500 awarded in scholarships to graduating seniors
MARCH 2019
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RENEW EARLY Get a jumpstart on the 2019 membership year (October 2019 - September 2020) and renew early to be eligible for some fabulous prizes! Girl Scout membership is $25 per girl/adult member. Distribution of prizes will begin in June.
HOW TO RENEW 1. Visit kansasgirlscouts.org 2. Click on "My GS" 3. Select "Member Profile" in the drop-down menu.
MAY 1 JUNE 14
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP ---
HER NEXT STEP POWERED BY GIRL SCOUTS! What path will she choose next year? With new programs in outdoor adventure and STEM and the promise of dozens of new skills to learn and awards to earn, at Girl Scouts the trail is hers to blaze! Whatever her next step looks like, we can help her make it happen. RENEW TODAY AT: kansasgirlscouts.org 4
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- New Daisies • First 150 girls registered get the Daisy Launch patch
- Girl Members • First 2,000 girls get a fanny pack • First 3,500 get the My Next Step patch
- Troop Leaders 2 Troop Leader shirts when: ⏵ 80% of Troop renewed ⏵ Troop Finance Summary turned in by June 14
Girl Scout Troop Leader Her Next Step
Powered by Girl Scouts
- Service Units Tents for Service Units when: ⏵ 70% of girls renewed ⏵ 50% of leaders renewed ⏵ Service Unit Finance Summary turned in by June 14 (2 tents per 150 girls renewed)
NEW LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP DEAL
GOT COOKIE CREDITS? Use them to renew for another year of Girl Scout adventures!
kansasgirlscouts.org
In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month this April, Girl Scouts is offering a limited time deal. Volunteers with 10+ years of service as an adult volunteer to Girl Scouts can purchase a Lifetime Membership for $200, half off the current price! Hurry, this offer only lasts from April 1 – 30, 2019! MARCH 2019
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Please join us for the 4th Annual
Juliette’s Pearls Leadership Society Luncheon BENEFITING
Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Saturday, April 13 Doors Open 11:30 a.m. Luncheon & Program 12 p.m.
MARRIOTT WICHITA 9100 Corporate Hills Drive Wichita, Kansas 67207
Keynote Speaker
Sheila Bair Former Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
TICKETS $100 Tickets are available for purchase until April 1, at $100 each. For tickets or more information, please contact Kelly Leonard at (316) 684-6531 or kleonard@gskh.org. 6
Spark ☙ MARCH 2019
Kansas Girl Scouts Bridging Day May 11 • 2-4 p.m.
K E EP E R OF THE PL A I NS • W ICHITA, K S Bridge to the next Girl Scout level in a big way, over the Arkansas River at the Keeper of the Plains! Celebrate the achievements of your troop and fellow Girl Scout sisters throughout Kansas Heartland at this free council-wide ceremony. Plenty of fun for the whole troop and family awaits! Create a bridging SWAP to add to your collection and bring old SWAPs to exchange in the "Make New Friends" zone. Tour the Future Maker Mobile Learning Lab, and enjoy plenty of other activities on site. Satisfy those cravings at local food trucks. The council will provide water and a small treat. Take advantage of family discounts from our program partners at The Exploration Place and Mid-American Indian Center. Registration is limited to 250 girl members, who will receive a commemorative patch and goodie bag. Register soon! If you're unable to secure a spot, the patch will also be available for purchase in the shop in limited quantities.
SPOTS ARE LIMITED! Register at kansasgirlscouts.org
Traveling? Troops and families journeying more than 100 miles to attend the ceremony have the opportunity to stay the night for FREE at Starwoods Outdoor Center. You can partake in s'mores Saturday evening and a light breakfast Sunday morning. MARCH 2019
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The
adventure starts here Girl Scouts are always finding ways to get outdoors and embark on major adventures! This year, girls in Kansas Heartland are in for an extra special summer with horses at Four Winds and additional shooting sports at Starwoods. Summer is bound to be jam-packed with outdoor adventures and new memorymaking experiences for the Gogetters, Innovators, Risk-takers, and Leaders of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland.
Horses Girl Scouts can wrangle up a whole new set of adventures this year with horses at Camp Four Winds! With a new barn and corral at Camp Four Winds, located in the scenic Flint Hills, girls can meet their new equine friends before embarking on a ride. Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can saddle up and gallop their way to exciting experiences at select mini-resident camps and other summer programs. 8
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Shooting Sports Kansas Girl Scouts have always been able to participate in shooting sports including slingshots, archery, and BB guns, but these activities will now include rifle shooting opportunities for older girls during various camps at Camp Starwoods. Girls ages 12 and older can take aim at the new shooting range at Starwoods during select camps under the guidance of expertly trained specialists. These new options enable Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors to partake in a new and exciting way to get outdoors. Adventure awaits!
Resident Camps Mini resident camps for Brownies to Ambassadors and resident camps for Juniors or older are a great option for girls looking for extended outdoor adventures. During mini resident camps, campers arrive Sunday to spend four days and three nights swimming, playing, learning and earning badges. At resident camps, girls can experience camp life and sisterhood for a full week, Sunday through Friday, choosing from a variety of activities along the way.
NEW THIS YEAR! If you are bridging up to the next Girl Scout level in May, exciting new opportunities are available to you this summer! Girls bridgding can now attend summer camps for the grade level they have joined in May. For example, if you are in 3rd grade going into 4th, you can now attend summer camps for Juniors!
Explore camp opportunities and adventures like these at kansasgirlscouts.org
"Camp is a place to make new friends like I did last year, plus your cabin becomes your camp family." - Lillie, Girl Scout Cadette MARCH 2019
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Troop 10079
Goal-setting is one of the important skills learned through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. This year, troops across the council shared their barrier breaking goals for a chance to win a Dutch Oven for their next outdoor adventure. Congratulations to our twelve troops whose names were drawn!
Troop 30099
Troop 20998
Troop 70024
Troop 41106
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Troop 40279
Troop 41852
Troop 10607
Troop 11204
Troop 60504
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Troop 41381
Troop 40569
1
Cookie Highlights 2
3
Cookie Talk
4
5
1 - Cookie entrepreneurs designed their own narwhal horn party hats to kickoff their cookie businesses.
6
2
- Troops 40451 showed their goal setting skills at the Women's Fair and preparing for their trip abroad!
3
- Cookie b osses showed off their inner G.I.R.L. at Cookie Kickoff at the Wichita Sports Forum.
7
4
- Girl Scouts like Troop 40236 displayed their cookies in style at b ooths across Kansas Heartland.
5 - Troop 60012 set up shop to carry on the entrepreneruial legacy of Girl Scouts past. 6 - Girls at the Salina Cookie Kickoff said "Ready, Set, Cookie!" to a new Cookie Season! 7 - The creative cookie entrepreneurs of Troop 41404 filmed their very own music video to market the Cookie Program.
Stay tuned! See more 2019 Cookie Program news in the next Spark, including Top Seller names. MARCH 2019
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Girl Scout Gold Award
How to GoGold
The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. It recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through remarkable Take Action projects that have a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. Congratulations to the Girl Scouts across the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council who have accomplished this incredible honor.
1. Identify an issue —
2018-2019
The following seven steps are required to earn the Gold Award: Use your values and skills to identify a community issue you care about.
2. Investigate — Research everything you can about the issue. 3. Get help —
Alicia Thurston, graduated
in 2018 from Wichita Northwest High School where she earned her Gold Award by utilizing art and recycling with her beautification project. She created a large mural and additional classroom kits with colorful up-cycled plastic lids for children to make murals of their own. Her mission was to spread the idea that beauty could come from anywhere and everywhere.
Invite your squad to support and take action with you.
4. Create a plan — Come up with a project plan that achieves sustainable and measurable impact.
5. Present your plan — Sum up your project for your council and get feedback.
6. Take Action — Take the lead to carry out your plan.
7. Educate and inspire —
Ashton Baxa, a 2018 graduate of
Osborne High School, established an initiative to improve the reading abilities of youth in her community. Her project created a mentorship program with volunteers spending time listening to youth read and helping them along the way. Through Facebook pages and a partnership with the Osborne Public Library, "Buddies and Books" became a sustainable effort.
Cate Vaughters, a sophomore
at Wichita South High School took action to help elementary school children foster new friendships. She learned woodworking and constructed buddy benches for local schools and Rainbows United. The benches were even weatherproofed to ensure they last for years to come. 12
Spark ☙ MARCH 2019
Share what you've experienced with others. Go to kansasgirlscouts.org/ goldaward to learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Did you know? Statistically, Girl Scout Gold Award recipients rate their general success in life significantly higher and report higher success in reaching their goals within diverse domains (i.e. education, professional career and volunteer work.)
Bright Futures for Gold Award Girl Scouts It’s been a few years since Sierra Bonn earned her Gold Award, but her work didn’t stop when she became a Girl Scout alum. As a biomedical engineering major at Wichita State University, her passion to create change is more apparent than ever and can be seen in her “Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!” project. The initiative targets STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education and engagement for young women interested in pursuing STEAM careers. “I’m an engineer and I’m a musician. I’ve played the violin for 12 years. I believe the Arts and Sciences should not be seen at odds, pitted against each other. They are infinitely and intrinsically related. STEAM education equips us with the skills necessary to not only thrive in today’s economy, but to express ourselves and engage with others in constructive ways,” said Sierra.
73
%
of Gold Award recipients strongly feel that they are competent and capable in the activities that are important to them.
"Girl Scouts gave me the confidence in myself to believe that I could make the world a better place through STEAM education."
Actively growing and developing such an effort requires strong goal-setting skills, ones Sierra attributes learning because of Girl Scouts. Her Gold Award project, GPS: Goals Promote Success, recognized the value of setting attainable goals and following through to make them a reality. She created a workshop providing fifth grade students with online resources to visualize their goals and create a roadmap to achieving them. “Goal setting is something I do every single day of my life. I know that the time and effort I put toward structuring and earning my Gold Award Project prepared me for the challenge of creating my ‘Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!’ educational initiative.” Whether it was selling cookies, completing badges, or earning her Gold Award, “Girl Scouts gave me the confidence in myself to believe that I could
92
%
of Gold Award recipients are proud to have been members of Girl Scouts.
— Sierra, Girl Scout alum
make the world a better place through STEAM education. It’s only natural that an empowering organization would encourage me, even as an adult member, to continue my goals and to make an impact.” With important lessons learned, Sierra encourages girls thinking about the Gold Award, “I promise that you can do anything you set your mind to, and this project is so incredibly worth your time and talents. So many doors have opened to me because I’ve said I was a Girl Scout.”
99
%
of Gold Award recipients say that belonging to Girl Scouts has had a positive impact on their lives.
MARCH 2019
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Leadership Takes Flight with Textron Aviation - October 5
Prepare for takeoff! Girl Scouts and Textron Aviation have joined forces for a day of badge work, fun, and friendship! Meet girls from across Kansas Heartland and earn up to 3 badges from Think Like an Engineer, Girl Scout Way, and Innovator for your level. Select program levels will construct a community service project by building outdoor items for camps. Be inspired by the Textron Aviation professionals who will lead the hands-on, mini workshops. Leaders, pilot your way to Century II for adult workshops as well! Don’t live near Wichita? No worries! We will be arranging transportation from regional offices. Everyone will be a captain of leadership at this one-of-a-kind event.
National S’mores Day Join us Saturday, August 10 for National S’mores Day in celebration of our long standing tradition with the campfire S’more we have all grown to love. Let’s gather to pay our respects to those crisp graham crackers, melty chocolate, and gooey marshmallows that are so much a part of our Girl Scout lives. Locations throughout the council will be hosting a come and go S’mores Day celebration at no cost to you and the community. Grab your family and friends for some Girl Scout bonding while enjoying outdoor games, hotdogs, chips and of course your favorite camp treat … S’mores!
Emporia Garden City Hays Salina Wichita 14
Aug 10 Aug 10 Aug 10 Aug 10 Aug 10
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12-2 12-2 12-2 12-2 12-2
Camp Double E Stevens Park Hays Girl Scout Office Flywheels Yesteryear Museum Wichita Girl Scout Office
Free to public Free to public Free to public Free to public Free to public
Council Information Southwest Region
North Region
114 Grant Ave. Garden City, KS 67846
St. John's Lutheran Church 302 S. 7th Street Salina, KS 67401
360 Lexington Road Wichita, KS 67218
Garden City Little House
East Region
Augusta Little House
Garden City Regional Office ( (888) 686-6468
South Central Region
Salina Regional Office ( (888) 686-6468
108 Hackberry St. Garden City, KS 67846
Wichita Headquarters ( (888) 686-6468
Amend Center - Emporia Regional Office ( (888) 686-6468
Northwest Region
928 E. Kelly Ave. Augusta, KS 67010
Newton Little House
1236 E. 12th Ave. Emporia, KS 66801
Hays Regional Office ( (888) 686-6468
715 Washington Road Newton, KS 67114
Camp Double E
2707 Vine St., Suite 8 Hays, KS 67601
Camp Four Winds
794 Road 200 Emporia, KS 66801
9236 SE Quivera Road Leon, KS 67074
Camp Starwoods 7800 S. 103rd St. West Clearwater, KS 67026
To reserve a property, call Customer Care 1-888-686-MINT (6468).
Rawlins
Decatur
Phillips
Norton
Smith
Jewell
Republic
Cloud Sherman
Thomas
Sheridan
Graham
Rooks
Osborne
NORTHWEST Logan
Gove
Scott
Lane
Rush
Ness
Dickinson Saline Ellsworth
Morris
Barton McPherson
Marion
Lyon
Double-E
Stanton
Grant
Haskell
Gray
SOUTHWEST Morton
Stevens
State Park
CAMPING
Seward
Meade
Butler Ford
Coffey
Harvey
Reno
Garden City
Emporia
Stafford
Hodgeman
Finney
Chase
Pawnee Kearny
Osage
Salina Rice
Hamilton
State Park
Ottawa
Russell
Hays Wichita
Camp Property
Lincoln
Ellis
Trego
Wallace
Greeley
Mitchell
NORTH
Regional Office
KEY
Cheyenne
Edwards Pratt Kingman
Kiowa
Clark Comanche
Starwoods Barber
Sedgwick
Wichita
Sumner Harper
Greenwood
Woodson
Allen
Wilson
Neosho
EAST
Elk
Cowley
SOUTH CENTRAL
Girl Scout members get FREE access to basic/primitive campsites at 26 Kansas State Parks, thanks to the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council’s partnership with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Four Winds
Chautauqua
Montgomery
Labette
To request a campsite reservation, you must complete an application form. This form can be obtained on our council website. For more information, go to: kansasgirlscouts.org > Our Council > Our Camps > State Park Camping MARCH 2019
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360 Lexington Road Wichita, KS 67218 www.kansasgirlscouts.org
SHOP TALK Get prepared for camp season!
HOURS CUSTOMER CARE 1 (888) 686-MINT M-Th 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri REGIONAL HOURS (Emporia, Garden City, Hays)
Camp Tee $15 if preordered before April 26!
$20 after April 26
Camp Patch
FREE with any camp registration!
12 - 5 p.m. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. 12 - 5 p.m. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. HEADQUARTERS HOURS (Wichita) M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri
COOKIE CREDITS ARRIVE
POWER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES, SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES,
Mon - Shop open til 6p.m.
FROM 2019 COOKIES
AND SO MUCH MORE!
March 16 April 6 May 25 June 13
APRIL 15
Shop 24/7 online at kansasgirlscouts.org > Shop
SHOP SATURDAYS
}
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.