The Lowdown Alum Newsletter // Winter-Spring 2019
10-year anniversary CAMPOREE: June 7-9
Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of GSNYPENN at Wellesley Island State Park, on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Come with your fellow alums or bring your troop if you are a leader! Share adventures in the outdoors during this twonight extravaganza while you enjoy camping, hands-on activities and more! Full details at gsnypenn.org/camporee.
Dear Friends of Girl Scouting, Our council is busy preparing for the 10-year anniversary of the national realignment of councils and our chartering as Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways (GSNYPENN). We are hosting an anniversary Camporee on Wellesley Island the weekend of June 7-9 and are excited to look back at our many achievements during the past decade. We’ve had both successes and challenges during the transition from our legacy councils of Central New York, Foothills, Indian Hills, Seven Lakes and Thousand Islands to GSNYPENN. Those challenges have helped us become stronger and more unified. In Member Year 2018, our council grew 1.7 %. This is commendable, considering we serve more than 14,000 girls annually. We hope to double this growth percentage for Member Year 2019. I continue to hear from Girl Scout alums who share stories that have no doubt led us to this 10-year celebration. Our Movement’s alums have a bond and talent for preserving our rich history, paving the way for the girls we serve today. Since our last newsletter, we’ve hosted the second annual Carrying the Torch event in Seneca Falls to honor the Women’s Suffrage Movement, had an amazing cookieWOW! at the Syracuse University Carrier Dome to kick off cookie season and continue to stand proud and show the community what Girl Scouting is all about. In this issue, we celebrate an amazing alum as our featured Torch Bearer, wish a Happy Birthday to two of our camp properties and catch you up on what we’ve been up to these past six months. Thank you for your continued support of Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways.
Torchbearer Profile: Karen Hegem Lifetime Girl Scout Karen Hegeman grew up in Pittsford, NY. An active Girl Scout for 63 years, her journey in our Movement began in second grade in nearby Fairport, NY. Karen has many fond memories of her KAREN HEGEMAN, GSNYPENN BOARD CHAIR, AT COOKIEWOW! very active Senior level Girl Scout Troop. Some of her happiest Girl Scout memories occurred around a campfire while singing and playing guitar. Her Senior Troop enjoyed countless weekends primitive camping in the Adirondacks. Of the 213 graduates in her high school class, 25 girls were her fellow troop members. Girl Scouts has played a key role in Karen’s life and many of her former troop members have remained her lifelong friends. “Girl Scouting is such a safety net. There are so many opportunities for girls to do what they want to do,” she says. Karen has been actively involved in camping and the outdoors from a young age. At 12, she began working at Powder Mill Park Day Camp and in high school worked at Camp Pinewood in Dansville and continued there through college. After graduating college, Karen accepted a teaching position in Newark, NY. An active volunteer in her community and Girl Scouting, Karen assisted her local Neighborhood Chair, where she created and implemented a Paul Bunyan Day. She also co-directed the Neighborhood Day Camp, volunteered at Bayberry Environmental Center as a Project Adventure Instructor and served as a Training Specialist for the Seven Lakes Council.
GSNYPENN receives Belk-Calder Planned Gift
Our council received a $10,000 planned gift from the GSNYPENN Belk-Calder Challenge in 2018. We are thrilled to be awarded this gift and very thankful for the individuals and families from our footprint that made this possible.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
JoAnne Morak Development Director GSNYPENN GIRL SCOUT CAMPERS ENJOYING THE SUMMER AT AMAHAMI
man, GSNYPENN Board Chair
History and Archives Corner
Some of Karen’s fondest memories span the 10 summers she spent at Girl Scout National Center West in Wyoming, where she attended an adult backpacking event and worked there for summers in various hourseback programs. She also served as Riding Director, Back Country Coordinator and ran Wranglers in Training. Karen’s love of the outdoors and passion for horses was fostered through Girl Scouts and she says she will cherish these memories forever. Karen’s teaching career began in 1988. During her 18 years in the Indian River Central School District, Karen served as Principal of Theresa Primary School and at the Intermediate School until her retirement in 2006. “I credit Girl Scouts for my success as a teacher and school administrator; Girl Scouting helped me find my passion in teaching. As a Girl Scout, you are part of a family that creates capable, strong women,” Karen says. Karen served as Board President of the Thousand Islands Council from 1991 through 1993. After earning a GSUSA certification, she also ran Train the Trainer Weekends in the Thousand Islands. Karen rejoined the Thousand Islands Council Board of Directors just prior to the national realignment and merger in 2009. Karen began volunteering for the GSNYPENN Board of Directors as First Vice Chair in 2009 and has served on the Board ever since. Currently, she is in her second term as Board Chair. Judi Dixon, Second Vice Chair of the GSNYPENN Board of Directors, says, “Karen has shown me, by example, what it truly means to be a Lifetime Girl Scout. Her commitment and passion for the Girl Scout mission is extraordinary and affects those around her in a positive way!”
Meet Kevin McCabe GSNYPENN Property Director Kevin McCabe is GSNYPENN’s new Property Director. Prior to joining Girl Scouts, Kevin worked in property management for nearly 15 years. Kevin, his wife and two daughters are all heavily involved in Girl Scouting. Kevin is very excited about the projects taking place at all of our camps. Some highlights he is working on include the new cabins at Amahami, the waterfront and shooting range at Hoover, the staff cabin and waterfront at Comstock and the Trading Post & Sugar Shack at Trefoil.
Girl Scout Camp and the outdoor adventure are a time-honored foundation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. At the very first meeting of Girl Guides in Savannah, Georgia, the girls were taught how to tie knots and played tennis. For several weeks, Juliette Low herself led the Savannah Girl Guides, teaching the girls fire building and simple outdoor cookery – great novelties for the girls of 1912! Jefferson County Girl Scout Council started Camp Trefoil in 1949, with the first summer camp season beginning in 1950. Located in Harrisville, NY, Camp Trefoil provided girls with a progressive outdoor experience much like the girls of 1912. In addition, as seen in the 1966-67 post card, “At the Waterfront”, girls at Camp Trefoil enjoyed boating, canoeing, and swimming. The standards set forth by the Girl Scouts in the early 20th century, for safety and necessary skills required in establishing camp settings, were in large part the basis for the establishment of the American Camping Association (ACA). Today, Camp Trefoil is GSNYPENN’s Trefoil Adventure Center, an ACA accredited camp. At its beginnings, the Girl Scout organization chose the trefoil as its symbol of membership. A stylized representation of a plant with three leaves, the trefoil’s three broad parts represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. In 1949, Girl Scouts at Camp Trefoil recited the 1949 version of the Girl Scout Promise: On my honor I will try to do my duty to God and my county; to help others at all times; to obey the Girl Scout Laws. Though the Girl Scout Promise has gone through three additional version changes since 1949, the Girl Scout Promise remains a time honored foundation in the Girl Scout leadership experience. Camp Trefoil, too, remains an outdoor adventure for all Girl Scouts on their journey to leadership. If you have an interest in Girl Scout history, let us know! We welcome new members.
Recent Events Women of Distinction March 28, 2019, DoubleTree Hotel, Binghamton, NY Our 2019 Women of Distinction Breakfast honored SUNY Broome Professor Margherita Rossi. Proceeds raised from this event support the Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship Program.
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TOP SELLERS AT COOKIEWOW!
cookieWOW! January 13, 2019, Carrier Dome, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY cookieWOW! is GSNYPENN’s annual cookie kickoff convention. Through interactive games, displays, demonstrations and practice, girls gain the skills and confidence they need to meet their personal cookie program goals. This year more than 2,000 GSNYPENN Girl Scouts were among the 4,900 SU Women’s Basketball game attendees.
You Can Help Support GSNYPENN We are actively seeking sponsors aligned with our mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character. Your sponsorship contribution supports the Girl Scout Leadership Experience across our council—where no girl is ever denied participating due to an inability to pay. Sponsors receive special recognition in a number of ways, according to level. It’s a win-win for all involved! We have many sponsorship opportunities available. Contact marketing@gsnypenn.org.
About GSNYPENN Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to administer the Girl Scout program in 24 counties of New York and two in Pennsylvania. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. We offer every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.
St. Lawrence
Jefferson
Lewis Oswego
Oneida
Wayne
New Hartford Little Falls
Cicero
NY Yates
Auburn
Seneca
Ontario
Allegany
Steuben Corning
Schuyler
Onondaga
Chemung
Building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Cooperstown
Otsego
Ithaca Cortland
Tioga
Savre
Tioga
Madison HOOVER
Chenango
Tompkins
Horseheads
PA
Syracuse
Cayuga
COMSTOCK
Contact JoAnne Morak: 1.855.213.8555 x2052 jmorak@gsnypenn.org gsnypenn.org
Rome
Rochester
Herkimer
Watertown
We are dedicated to serving our council membership. Your support stays local and gives girls across our region the opportunity to experience the magic of Girl Scouting. Questions, comments, news, donations or suggestions? We would love to hear from you!
TREFOIL
Harrisville
Bradford
Norwich
Broome AMAHAMI
Johnson City
Delaware
GIRL SCOUT CAMPERS CONDUCT STEM EXPERIMENTS AT TREFOIL
Camp Highlights Amahami Adventure Center~ For Beginners and Expert Campers Alike! Amahami is located in Deposit, NY, in the foothills of the Catskill Mountain region. Amahami offers all campers the opportunity to expand their knowledge, confidence and comfort in nature through an immersive outdoor experience. The property features beautiful hiking trails (including one to Amahami’s very own fire tower), a private lake, archery range and newly renovated Arts & Crafts cabin. Campers may spend the week sleeping in a troop house, cabin or platform tent. “We have a shooting range being built that will offer riflery, archery and tomahawks.” - Katie “Shugar” Falank, Outdoor Program Manager & Amahami Camp Director
Hoover Adventure Center ~ Day Camp for Days! Hoover is in the heart of Central New York, located along the shores of Song Lake, in Tully, NY. Hoover is home to the region’s only Day Camp experience, offering the perfect opportunity for any camper looking to get their feet wet and explore what camp has to offer. Hoover features two rustic cabin units and one platform tent unit, for any camper who may choose to challenge themselves with an add-on overnight experience. “In addition to classic camp activities, all campers will have a chance to improve Hoover’s ecosystem by participating in a conservation project.” - Becca “Chainsaw” Sheetz, Outdoor Program Manager & Hoover Camp Director
Comstock Adventure Center ~ An Authentic Finger Lakes Experience! Comstock in Ithaca, NY, is located along the shores of Cayuga Lake. Campers enjoy the unique natural surroundings created by the Finger Lakes while living in beautiful tree-top cabin village units. Comstock features nearly two miles of lakefront, offering a wide variety of water sports and a beautiful location to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. “Comstock has a new L-shaped dock that allows for a larger swimming area. It is complemented by a boating dock which allowed us to expand our waterfront offerings and overall program effectiveness.” - Mandi “Chucks” Miller, Outdoor Program Manager & Comstock Camp Director GIRL SCOUT CAMPERS PLAYING GA-GA BALL AT COMSTOCK
Trefoil Adventure Center ~ The Ultimate Outdoor Adventure! Trefoil is in Harrisville, NY, and located on the outskirts of the gorgeous Adirondack Park. Campers get the ultimate high adventure and wilderness experience while spending a week in an intimate, outdoorsy setting. Trefoil features GSNYPENN’s only high and low ropes course and floating rock wall (“The Iceberg”). With its proximity to the Adirondack Park, Trefoil is a great location for any camper looking to explore the outdoors. Most campers spend their week sleeping in a-frame units or our famous yurt. “We have a renovated shower house and added a Sugar Shack, which will be used to educate girls about the maple syrup production process, and we are rebuilding a cabin in the pines.” - Betheny “Smalls” Jennings, Outdoor Program Manager & Trefoil Camp Director
Prior Highest Awards Join Gold Award Family Girl Scout alums who earned their First Class, Curved Bar, Golden Eaglet, or Golden Eagle of Merit, are a part of the Gold Award Girl Scout family. To hear from GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo and receive your Gold Award pin, visit girlscouts.org/proclamation.
8170 Thompson Road Cicero NY, 13039-9393
Remembering Former CEO Marie Hepworth We are saddened to hear of the passing of our Girl Scout sister, Marie Hepworth. Marie was a lifelong Girl Scout, CEO of the Indian Hills Council and a 2012 Woman of Distinction. We are eternally grateful for Marie’s dedication to our legacy council, Indian Hills, where she served for 20+ years as Executive Director. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marie’s name to the Girl Scouts Gold Award Scholarship Fund in Region 3, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, 8170 Thompson Rd., Cicero, NY 13039.
Juliette Gordon Low Society Have you made a planned gift to Girl Scouts? Through your planned giving, you are part of the Juliette Gordon Low National Society. Please let us know, so that we can honor you with this beautiful Juliette Gordon Low Society pin. If you haven’t made a planned gift yet, it’s so easy. Did you know you can leave any amount or percent of your life insurance, retirement account or estate to Girl Scouts? A small bequest can make a huge difference in the future of our girls and young women. To discuss options, call JoAnne Morak.