KEEPING THE PROMISE Resource Development Newsletter September 2023 FEATURED STORY Pisgah Forever Celebrating 70 years of camp magic!
Welcome to our new Resource Development digital newsletter- a place where we plan to highlight our accomplishments, showcase our mission in action and connect with our members, donors, alums and communities.
The past several months have held many moments of celebration for us as a council. We finished a very successful cookie season and have been celebrating many of our highest sellers at various events and dinners over the last month. We recongized our G.E.O. girls and top sellers at Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe in June with a great day of awards, waterslides and riding the waves.
In April, we hosted a wonderful weekend in Fletcher, NC as part of Annual Meeting, where we had the honor of celebrating so many of our dedicated volunteers and the accomplishments of the council over the past 12 months. In May, we recognized our Highest Award Girl Scouts- 124 Bronze Award Girl Scouts, 105 Silver Award Girl Scouts and 47 Gold Award Girl Scouts councilwide- and the amazing work they’ve done through their projects, truly making our communities a better place.
We’ve launched key partnerships with organizations like #HATNOTHATE and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which you can read more about in these pages- giving our girls access to resources to help them be their best selves. And we brought Girl Scout collectors and enthusiasts together from all over at our NC Girl Scout Collectors Show in May.
It is such a privilege to be a part of all these amazing experiences! Thank you for helping make these moments happen for our girls, volunteers and their families. We are making great strides together!
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont CEO
Highest Award Ceremony Annual Meeting G.E.O. Event
NOTE FROM OUR CEO
Healthy View, Healthy YOU!
Girl Scouts Partners with Local Agencies to Bring Mental Health Resources to Girls
GSCP2P and Crossnore Communities for Children are partnering together to launch a new program called Healthy View, Healthy YOU! This six-week series focuses on ways for girls to reach their highest potential, lift themselves and others up and face the world today resilient, ready and strong.
Young people, especially girls, are currently facing a mental health crisis, and GSCP2P has made a commitment to start the important conversations with girls in their communities, giving them tools and support to better understand and care for their personal well-being.
“GSCP2P is working toward the larger goals of destigmatizing mental illness, normalizing conversations around mental health and mental illness and delivering inclusive workshops for Girl Scouts of all backgrounds,” said CEO of GSCP2P, Jennifer Wilcox. “The purpose of this program is to help girls understand their feelings, how to get help when they need it and how to be a support system for other girls.”
The Healthy View, Healthy YOU! program is generously funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s (Blue Cross NC’s) Healthy Blue Medicaid plan. Blue Cross NC advocates a community approach to health education and outreach activities and has a proven record of collaborating with community and faith-based organizations, advocacy groups and other community resources. Their health education and outreach approach emphasizes healthy behaviors, preventative care and wellness.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT KAREN BARTLETT
In February 2023, Karen and Chester Bartlett of Bryson City announced a $20,000 leadership gift to the Pisgah Forever! capital campaign.
Karen comes from a family legacy and history with Girl Scouts as a Girl Scout Brownie, Junior and Cadette, serving as a swimming instructor and waterfront director at summer camps, a Service Unit Manager and troop volunteer, former council staff member and now as the current secretary of the GSCP2P Board of Directors.
Karen and her husband wanted to give to the Pisgah Forever! campaign so the magic of camp can continue for other girls for years to come.
“I have so many fond memories of Girl Scouting, troop camping and being at summer camp,” said Karen. “Girl Scouting in general is so important for girl’s today because they have opportunities in this program that are not available elsewhere. Being able to learn in an all-girl environment makes a difference- and it has been proven that girls excel there too.”
“Girl Scouting in general is so important for girl’s today because they have opportunities in this program that are not available elsewhere. Being able to learn in an allgirl environment makes a difference- and it has been proven that girls excel there too.”
Summer Camp
More than $32,000 was awarded in camperships during the 2023 summer camp season thanks to generous donors like you. These camp scholarships give girls who might not have the opportunity otherwise to get outside and discover what it means to paddle a canoe, venture to the top of the climbing wall, ride a horse for the first time, aim for a bull’s eye on the archery range and sit around a campfire with friends they have just made. Thank you for your support of our goal to get every girl outside- we couldn’t do it without you!
SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE SPOTLIGHT SADIE JANE BYRD
Girl Scout Cadette | Age 11 | Conover, NC
How many years have you gone to summer camp?
I was a Daisy the first year I participated in Girl Scout camp, but it wasn’t an overnight camp. It was called Badge Blitz. It was a lot of fun. Since then, I have been to week-long, overnight camp three years: once at Ginger Cascades, once at Pisgah and once at Keyauwee. So I’ve been to all of the Peaks to Piedmont camps. This year, I did the Equine Innovator session at Keyauwee.
What was your favorite part about summer camp this summer?
My favorite part about camp this summer was stand up paddle boarding and riding the horses. I had never paddle boarded before, so that was cool. I have ridden horses for years, but I really enjoyed getting to ride with other Girl Scouts.
Why do you think it is important for girls to experience the outdoors?
It is important for girls to experience the outdoors because it is healthy to go outside. It helps you feel better both mentally and physically. Plus, there are a lot of interesting things to explore, like trees, dirt, insects and birds!
What makes summer camp special for you?
Summer camp is special for me because I get to meet new people from different places and because I get to try new things.
#HATNOTHATE
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont’s newest program partnership is with #HATENOTHATE, a non-profit campaign that launched in 2018 that encourages kindness through creativity. The signature of the organization is the blue hats, which are made and distributed to youth across the country as a way to empower those who wear them to show kindness, as well as represent awareness, peace and solidarity in who they are.
As part of this partnership, a new #HATNOTHATE patch program will be available to girls and troops starting in October 2023, and GSCP2P is hosting a patch design contest for girls, with one girl’s design being chosen as the winning entry for the new patch.
#HATNOTHATE founder, Shira Blumenthal, was the keynote speaker at our Highest Awards Ceremonies in May, sharing her experiences and tips with the girls about bullying prevention and the impact it has had on her life.
HIGHEST AWARDS MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
During the 2023 membership year, we recognized hundreds of girls for earning their Girl Scout Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards. These projects teach girls important skills like critical thinking, project management, problem solving, active leadership, teamwork and volunteering, while helping them to discover they have the power to make a difference in their communities and world. Congratulations to all our Highest Awards girls!
· 124 Bronze Award Girl Scouts, with over 2,480 hours of leadership and service delivered to our communities.
· 105 Silver Award Girl Scouts, with over 5,250 hours of leadership and service delivered to our communities.
· 47 Gold Award Girl Scouts, with over 4,240 hours of leadership and service delivered to our communities.
GOLD AWARD SPOTLIGHT JOSIE MANTER
Kernersville, NC
Josie’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, which was titled “How to Stress Less and Learn More”, created a website (www. stresslessandlearnmore.com) and YouTube channel to help kids with the transition from elementary to middle school. The website includes tips on transitioning to a new school environment and different stress coping mechanisms, as well as how to manage anxiety. The YouTube channel has videos on how to make stress-relieving toys and fidgets and locker tutorial videos, such as how to open a locker and how to organize one.
Josie was recently chosen as the National Gold Award Scholarship winner for Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. Every year, Girl Scouts of the USA awards one scholarship per council to a Gold Award Girl Scout. Recipients are selected based on their project exemplifying the core components of the Girl Scout Gold Award and demonstrating extraordinary leadership that drives lasting change within the community and beyond. Josie received $10,000 in scholarship monies.
SILVER AWARD SPOTLIGHT GIRL SCOUT TROOP 2449
Maiden, NC
Girl Scout Troop 2449 in Catawba County worked with Rising Hope Farms to complete their Girl Scout Silver Award. The farm is a non-profit organization that provides riding lessons to children with special needs. The girls made therapeutic items to be used during these lessons. Some of these items included colorful signs with words of encouragement or bean bags to use for games. The girls also added a new item- the horseshoe tree. Instructors can hold up the tree and riders ride by and place horseshoes or rings on the tree limbs.
BRONZE AWARD SPOTLIGHT GIRL SCOUT TROOP 2331
Rural Hall, NC
Girls in Girl Scout Troop 2331 completed their Girl Scout Bronze Award by building a community library for Old Richmond Elementary School. They were also assisted by second year Brownies in this project, making it a great way to get the younger girls prepared for their own Highest Award projects.
Adult Award Recipients
At our 2023 Annual Meeting in April, we recognized the following individuals with Board-Approved Awards:
AnnDrea Drake, Hendersonville- Appreciation Award
Tyfanny Fugitt, Eden- Appreciation Award
Lori Nichols, Tryon- Appreciation Award
Jennifer Ormand, Shelby- Appreciation Award
Tina Sisk, Sherrills Ford- Appreciation Award
Evelyn Freeze, Asheboro- Honor Award
Jill Guthrie, Snow Camp- Honor Award
Christine Hanichak, High Point- Honor Award
Amy Macumber, Kernersville- Honor Award
The Appreciation Award recognizes a registered Girl Scout adult who has delivered outstanding service to at least one geographic area or program delivery audience.
The Honor Award recognizes a registered Girl Scout adult who has delivered outstanding service and contributes to the achievement of the council’s goals in two or more geographic areas.
Invest In Girls
Help us support the next generation of dreamers, innovators, problem solvers and gogetters, who are making the world a better place for us all.
When you support our Resilient. Ready. Strong. campaign, you are empowering our council to reach our objectives of providing support for mental well-being, getting all girls outside and reaching new members with greater inclusivity.
Learn more and give today at www.girlscoutsp2p.org/en/give/invest-in-girls.html.
DONATE IN THE WAY THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU
Join Our Evergreen Circle
Make a recurring monthly gift to impact the lives of girls all year long by joining the Evergreen Circle.
Join the Juliette Circle
Juliette Circle members passionately support leadership development for young women by making an annual contribution of $1,000 or more.
Become a Member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society
Help shape tomorrow’s leaders and safeguard the Girl Scout tradition in western and central North Carolina with a legacy gift.
Make a Tribute Gift
Give a gift in honor or memory of someone special to you.
Adopt Our Herd
Support our equestrian program by symbolically adopting our herd! This opportunity is great for individuals, troops and horse lovers of all ages.
To donate through these opportunities or for even more ways to give, such as through your workplace or while you shop, visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org/en/give/ways-to-give.html.
