SPRING/SUMMER 2019
4 Volunteer Trainings
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All of your training opportunities in one place!
Calendar of Events
Girls Scouts Highest Awards
VOLUNTEER 411 IS A PUBLICATION OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE MISSOURI HEARTLAND. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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VOLUNTEER411
spring/summer 2019
Our council serves just over 9,000 girls and 4,000 adults across 67 counties in southern and central Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma.
VOLUNTEER411 is a publication of the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland and is published twice yearly.
The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland offers the premier leadership development experience for girls, helping them to discover their own sense of self, connect with others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action to make the world a better place.
The Girl Scout Mission
info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org 877-312-4764
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Cape Girardeau Area Service Center
2136 William Street, Suite 178 Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
Dexter Area Service Center
The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
1420 Girl Scout Way Dexter, MO 63841
Jefferson City Area Service Center 230 Metro Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109
Joplin Area Service Center
The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. 2
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1202 S. Range Line Road, Suite 8 Joplin, MO 64801
Springfield Area Administrative Service Center 210 S. Ingram Mill Road Springfield, MO 65802
Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland @gsmoheartland info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org
VOLUNTEER411 Think of this 411 as your sidekick. It’s here to help you create wow-worthy moments for our girls. Within its fun-soaked pages is a roadmap of possibilities, including exciting programs, amazing service opportunities, and ways to make the troop experience a blast!
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32 54 contents 4 Calendar of Events A complete list of your 2019 council opportunities.
22 Volunteer Trainings All of your volunteer training opportunities in one place!
7 Early Bird Rewards Check out all of the awesome rewards early birds receive.
36 Girl Scout Camporee Join us for our 2019 Signature Event at Echo Bluff State Park!
12 Girl Scout Week of Service How to celebrate Girl Scout Week like a pro.
39 Program Events All of your program event opportunities in one place!
16 Highest Awards Bronze. Silver. Gold. The highest awards Girl Scouts can earn!
47 Travel Dive into our upcoming travel opportunities! volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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f o r a d n c ale
events
March 2019
9 First Aid & CPR: Blended Learning Jefferson City Service Center p. 24 9 Highest Awards Trainings Online Webinars p. 23 9 Outdoor Level 2 Joplin, MO p. 24 9 Who Wants to Be a Pilot? Joplin, MO p. 45 10-16 Girl Scout Week of Service Council-Wide p. 12 16 Outdoor Level 2 Silver Meadows Program Center p. 24 20 Highest Awards Trainings Online Webinar s p. 23 30 USA Archery Level 1 Instructor Training Silver Meadows Program Center p. 25 30 Who Wants to Be a Pilot? Joplin, MO p. 45 30-6 P.A.W.S. Project Council-Wide p. 46
April 2019 5-6 Night at the Museum Lock-In Springfield, MO p. 43 6 Girl Scout Mariners Friendship Fields Program Center p. 42 6 Me & My Guy Fishing Day Dexter, MO p. 42 6 Outdoor Level 2 Latonka Program Center p. 24 6 Wellness in the Wild Silver Meadows Program Center p. 45 7 Business Savvy Jefferson City, MO p. 40 7 Fun with Food Columbia, MO p. 40 12-14 Girl Scout Camporee Eminence, MO p. 36 20 Tour Pythian Castle Springfield, MO p. 45 26-28 Leader’s Weekend Finbrooke Program Center p. 26 26-27 Girl Power Sleep Over Cape Girardeau, MO p. 41 27 Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai Branson, MO p. 40
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May 2019 3-4 4 4 10 11 11 17-18 18 18 25 25 25
Take an Outdoor Journey Girl Scout Mariners Inventor City Girl Scout Day with Springfield Cardinals She & Me Outdoor Extravaganza STEM-tastic Saturday Take an Outdoor Journey Small Craft Safety and Basic Water Rescue Me & My Guy Fishing Day First Aid & CPR: Blended Learning Me & My Guy Fishing Day Who Wants to Be a Pilot?
Finbrooke Program Center Latonka Program Center Silver Meadows Program Center Springfield, MO Silver Meadows Program Center West Plains, MO Friendship Fields Program Center Finbrooke Program Center Cape Girardeau, MO Joplin Service Center Kennett, MO Joplin, MO
p. 45 p. 42 p. 42 p. 42 p. 43 p. 45 p. 45 p. 22 p. 42 p. 24 p. 42 p. 45
June 2019 1 Girl Scout Day at Hydro Adventures Poplar Bluff, MO p. 41 1 USA Archery Level 1 Instructor Training Finbrooke Program Center p. 25 1-2 Wilderness First Aid Finbrooke Program Center p. 25 23 Surf’s Up Big Surf Waterpark p. 44 20-24 Rock N’ Roll Roadtrip Nashville and Memphis, TN p. 47
July 2019 13
Fun with Science at the Museum
Malden, MO
p. 41
August 2019 10 Small Craft Safety and Basic Water Rescue Finbrooke Program Center p. 22 27 Bronze Award Training Online Webinar p. 23
September 2019 14 Party on the Katy Trail Various p. 43 14 Highest Awards Training Online Webinar p. 23 17 Silver Award Training Online Webinar p. 23 24 Gold Award Training Online Webinar p. 23
Calendar of Events Legend Open to Girl Scout Daisies Open to Girl Scout Brownies
Open to Girl Scout Juniors Open to Girl Scout Cadettes
Open to Girl Scout Seniors Open to Girl Scout Ambassadors Open to Girl Scout Volunteers volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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Girl Scouts = Her. Home. Turf. Launching Pad Studies show that when girls are with other girls and only girls, they’re more likely to try new things and engage in healthy competition.
Judgment Free Zone In a world filled with “girl power” messaging, it’s easy for girls to feel pressure to be perfect and excel in all things. But in an all-girl environment, she doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone.
Personal Laboratory Being in singlegender environments means girls are more likely to show interest in and explore STEM activities like robotics, engineering, and cybersecurity.
Renew for another adventure-filled year on her home turf and receive some exciting rewards! It’s time to get a jump start and get signed up for another great year of Girl Scouts! Make sure to reach out to every amazing girl in your troop and get them all signed up and ready to go for another year of Girl Scout fun. Registering as an Early Bird between April 1 and June 1 will help get everyone organized and all set for adventures ahead – and get your troop some awesome bonuses at the same time!
What is the Early Bird Club? As an Early Bird, you’ll receive access to the Early Bird Club, an exclusive discount club for Early Bird Adults! Every month, our retail stores offer a one-time discount exclusively to members. The new special will be emailed to you every month. Specials will also be posted in our retail locations. Retail specials will run the length of the 2020 membership year.
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Girls can earn this awesome patch!
Bird
ts of Scou
is the M
GSMH rtland
i Hea
sour
Girl
2019
Bir d
Your Step-by-Step Guide to
Girls
You’re a girl member who registers for the 2019–2020 membership year.
an Early Bird, you’ll also be eligible to 1 Awesome! The first 3,200 girls receive a patch! 3 Aspurchase an exclusive Early Bird t-shirt. You will be able to attend Fall Frolic, an exclusive 2 Early Bird-only October event, for only $3!
Adults
You’re an adult member who registers for the 2019–2020 membership year.
You’ll receive access to the Early also be eligible to purchase an 1 Fantastic! 3 You’ll Bird Club-exclusively for Early Bird Adults. exclusive Early Bird t-shirt and patch. will be able to attend Fall Frolic, an exclusive 2 You Early Bird-only October event, for only $3!
Troops
You’re a troop leader who registers a troop for the 2019–2020 year!
your troop registers online by June 1, 1 Ifyour troop receives Early Bird Bills: • Register 60%* of your troop and receive $10 • Register 80%* of your troop and receive $15 • Register 100%* of your troop and receive $25
And, your girls and adults will also receive the fabulous rewards above!
troops who register will be entered in a 2 Alldrawing for three fabulous prizes! • Tickets for up to 15** to your choice of Silver Dollar City, Six Flags, or Worlds of Fun. • Movie tickets for up to 15** for the theatre of your choice. • A pizza party at a troop meeting!
*Based on number of girls registered in troop on March 31, 2019. To qualify, a troop must register the minimum troop number of 2 adults and three girls AND registrations must be complete by 11:59 p.m. CST on June 1, 2019. **You will receive a ticket for every girl and adult registered up to 15. GSMH will make arrangements for you to purchase additional tickets at group price if needed. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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t u o c S l r i G
m a r g o r p e i k o co The 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program is her chance to step up and show the world how she’s becoming a barrierbreakin’, challenge-crushin’, leadtakin’ cookie pro! And participation in the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program can help her troop earn next year’s membership on us!
Check out the details: Every troop that has a 225 package per girl average, and meets all of their ACH withdrawals, will receive FREE 20192020 Girl Scout memberships* for all participating girls and two leaders! *Memberships are non-transferable. *The troop PGA is based on all girls that participate in the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program - not all girls registered to the troop at the time of the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program. This is consistent with the way that the troop bonus is calculated. If a troop meets the required per girl average, and meets all ACH withdrawals, membership dues ($25 each) are paid for the girls in the troop who participated in the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program and for two troop leaders. “Meets all ACH withdrawals” means that all ACH withdrawals happen as scheduled, are not returned, and are for the correct amount.
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Introducing Caramel Chocolate Chip
n-Free e t u l G New okie! Co
Rich caramel, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a hint of sea salt in a chewy, gluten-free cookie.
The History of the Girl Scout Cookie Program Most people have a special place in their heart for Girl Scout Cookies. Not only because they’re spectacularly delicious, but also because the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls fulfill their dreams, follow their passions, and change the world!
First Steps 1917 First known cookie sale by Girl Scouts 1922 Cookie recipe and business plan shared 1925 Girl Scout recipe for s’mores first published
Going Nationwide 1935 Girl Scout Cookie name appears on cookie boxes 1936 Commercial bakers help meet growing demand 1937 Cookie sales go coast to coast
For 100+ years, Girl Scouts have used cookie earnings to build everyday leaders who make positive changes in our world. No doubt: our society today is better because of the girls who have taken part in the program! But how did it all begin?
Taking Action 1944 Calendars stand in for cookies due to wartime shortages 1952 Girl Scout Cookies help foster racial integration 1961 Cookie earnings fund outdoor activities
New Horizons Into the Future 1970 Cookies help power first Earth Day experiences 1992 Girl Scout Cookies go to outer space 1994 Low-fat and sugar-free cookies join the lineup
2001 Girls send “Gift of Caring” to troops overseas 2013 First National Girl Scout Cookie Day engages girls and consumers 2014 Cookie sales go online with Digital Cookie™
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Maximize Your Volunteer Experience on Your Résumé You already know that you do amazing things as a Girl Scout volunteer, but do potential employers? Making your volunteer experience pop professionally on your résumé can give you a leg up in your job search, whether you’re seeking a new role at your current workplace, are looking to change jobs, or want to reenter the workforce after a break. So, what’s the best way to showcase your vast skill set and go-getter attitude to potential employers? Use the following tips from volunteers across the country!
1) List the hard and soft skills you’ve learned through Girl Scouts. Start by making a list of your regular responsibilities and any hard skills you’ve gained through your volunteer work. “I include some specific examples of what I do, such as lead troop meetings, coordinate badge and award requirements, serve as an adviser and mentor to older girls so they can develop their own leadership style, and chaperone girls on camping adventures and at educational and cultural events,” says Include some specific Cheryl Lentsch from Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska. “As a service unit manager, I’m keen to discuss the organizational, educational, and motivational aspects of the position,” says Nancy Fink from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. If you think your soft skills aren’t résumé-worthy, think again! A 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of CEOs shows that 77 percent of respondents viewed underdeveloped soft skills as a threat to business. Including the soft skills you’ve honed gives your résumé an edge! “The soft skills I mention are project and time management, leadership, presentation skills, and being a team player, because I definitely need all of these skills in my role as a Girl Scout leader,” explains Cheryl.
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examples of what I do such as serve as adviser and mentor to older girls so they can develop their own leadership style. - Cheryl Lentsch
Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
2) Tailor your résumé to each position you apply for. As a Girl Scout troop leader you fulfill many roles, but not every role will be appropriate for every position. This distinction is important, according to Lindsay, an educator and troop leader. “As an educator, I highlight my willingness and ability to work with diverse groups of children as they engage in cooperative learning in a girlled environment,” she says. “When I set my sights on adult-facing roles, though, I shift the focus and fine tune my elevator pitch to articulate that I effectively manage people and money.”
Show potential employers who you are as a person and just how much you have to offer! Your Girl Scout volunteer experience might just give you the competitive advantage your résumé needs.
Using the list of hard and soft skills you just created, align them to the roles or employers that you’re interested in. A tailored résumé should make your skillset crystal clear to employers; consider creating multiple versions of your résumé if you’re applying for roles in different fields.
3) Decide whether to include a volunteer section on your résumé. A dedicated volunteer section on your résumé showcases your values and commitment to a cause, so if you’re hoping to work at a nonprofit or a company with a strong social mission, create a separate volunteer section.
Looking to fill some gaps in your résumé? Your role as a troop leader is an ongoing commitment, not a one-off volunteer project, which makes it a worthy addition to the work section of your résumé. For clarity, include your volunteer status in the role description.
No matter where you list your volunteer experience, best résumé practices still apply: use active verbs, be specific, and note any accomplishments or awards you’ve achieved as a troop leader.
4) Use storytelling to share specific examples of your skills. Telling the stories that feature your skills are just as important as listing the skills themselves. Be prepared to share a story—whether in your cover letter or during an interview—that shows how you successfully overcame a challenge. “When the opportunity presents itself, I talk about troop camping,” Lindsay shares. “There is nothing that better demonstrates one’s ability to plan, budget, improvise, and put out fires—literally and figuratively— than a few nights in the wilderness with children. At the end of my story, my audience should understand that, although I can pitch a tent, tie some knots, and fend off an aggressive raccoon, I can also plan, problem solve, persevere, and perform first aid or CPR on a colleague if the need arises.” “You should always be prepared to talk about the ideals of Girl Scouting that align with your personal ideals, like how it’s important to be a role model for young women or how you enjoy challenging people to do new things,” adds Nancy.
You should always be prepared to talk about the ideals of Girl Scouting that align with your personal ideals, like how it’s important to be a role model for young women. - Nancy Fink Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
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t u o c Girl S e c i v r e s f o k e e w
Girl Scout Week is celebrated each March, starting with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on Saturday, and it always includes Girl Scouts’ Birthday, March 12. This is a great time to reflect on what it means to be a Girl Scout and all of the amazing things Girl Scouts do to make the world a better place. In celebration of this Girl Scout tradition, check out some of the awesome activities we’ve listed below to celebrate Girl Scout Week like a pro!
Sunday, March 10
Monday, March 11
Tuesday, March 12
Girl Scout Sunday
Take Risks with Kindness
Happy Birthday Girl Scouts!
This is the perfect time to honor one’s faith and learn about faiths different from your own. Girls with many different backgrounds are involved in Girl Scouts. We have Girl Scout Sisters in 146 countries around the world!
Girl Scouts are courageous and strong, keen to try new things, and embrace the unfamiliar. Today, take smart risks to spread kindness to others.
On this day in 1912, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled a group of eighteen girls from Savannah, Georgia for the first ever Girl Scout meeting. Juliette believed that all girls should have the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. We are 107 this year!
Take Action: Research what countries have Girl Scouts or Girl Guides. Find out what is the same and different about Girl Scouts in another country. Think about earning the My Promise, My Faith pin.
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Take Action: Spread kindness everyday through random acts of kindness like holding a door open, helping with chores around the house, or volunteering. Show the world your smile!
Take Action: Reconnect with the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Learn more about Girl Scout history and about our founder, Juliette Gordon Low.
But don’t stop there! Take the lead like a Girl Scout and come up with some fun and meaningful activities of your own! And don’t forget to show us how you’re celebrating all week long, by sharing your activities on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, using the hashtag #GirlScoutWeek. Wednesday, March 13
Thursday, March 14
Friday, March 15
Be a Go-Getter
Innovate with STEM
Think Globally
Girl Scouts are bold, honest, and determined to succeed. In our mind failure is no reason not to get back up and try again, and again, and again.
The world needs more girls who think outside the box and continuously look for creative ways to take action! Consider your role in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In 2015, leaders worldwide agreed to accomplish Sustainable Development goals, or Global Goals for short. Girl Scouts can address these goals by discovering, connecting, and taking action in their communities.
Take Action: Research the history behind Girl Scouts’ Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Look up past projects for these awards and start brainstorming ways you can achieve these awards!
Saturday, March 16
Take Action: Explore the Girl Scout STEM badges and journeys, do a science experiment with items found in your home and/ or find a creative way to do everyday tasks using STEM.
Appreciate the Outdoors You are here – the Year of the Outdoor Girl! Take some time today to step outside and enjoy some fresh air.
Take Action: Investigate this year’s Global Goal and start working towards earning your Global Action Award.
Take Action: Go geocaching, try an Outdoor Challenge, sign up for an outdoor experience, go for a bike ride, or walk in your community. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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THE GIRLS CHANGE
WORLD
None of this would be possible if it weren’t for YOU! As a Girl Scout volunteer, you get to change the lives of your girls and help them reach for the stars. You are following in the footsteps of our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, who said: “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” While being a volunteer is rewarding, we know it isn’t always easy. The staff of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland is truly grateful to you for making Girl Scouting possible in your community.
Happy Girl Scout Volunteer Day, April 22 14
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f f O s t a H to the Girl Scout graduate! She will shine bright in her Girl Scout regalia as she walks across the stage with a Girl Scout green satin stole, graduation tassel, or recognition cord. If your Girl Scout earned her Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, she can also get the respective charm to wear on her recognition cord or tassel. You can also add a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award iron-on patch to the graduation green satin stole. Let everyone see your Girl Scout’s accomplishments at graduation. These items are now available in our GSMH retail stores.
Stole $25
Cord $22 Tassel $10 Charms and iron-on patches $10 volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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t s e h g i h
awards
Bronze. Silver. Gold. These represent the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn. All three awards give girls the chance to do big things while working on an issue that’s captured her interest in a big way. Whether she wants to plant a community garden at her school to inspire others to eat healthily for her Bronze Award, advocate for animal rights for her Silver Award, or build a career network that encourages girls to become scientists and engineers for her Gold Award, she’ll inspire others (and herself).
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Plus, as she earns one of Girl Scouts’ highest awards, she’ll change her corner of the world—and maybe even beyond. The possibilities are endless.
Bronze Award As a Girl Scout volunteer, you will work with and inspire a team of Girl Scout Juniors to make a difference in the Girl Scout or local community, and help each girl achieve the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can earn—the Girl Scout Bronze Award. You and the girls will have fun along the way as you help them to bring their own unique creativity to all they do and achieve. Girls earn the Girl Scout Bronze Award by completing a Journey, and then creating a Take Action project based on their observations of a local issue. As the girls pursue their project, they put the Girl Scout Promise and Law into action. They also develop an understanding of sustainability and gain an understanding of the wider world by discussing how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve. Earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award involves the time it takes to complete a Girl Scout Junior Journey and a suggested minimum of 20 hours for each girl to build their team, explore their community, choose and plan their project, put their plan in motion, and spread the word to educate and inspire others. Here are the steps that Girl Scout Juniors will complete to earn a Girl Scout Bronze Award: 2. Build your Girl Scout Junior team.
4. Choose your Girl Scout Bronze Award project.
3. Explore your community.
5. Make a plan.
1. Go on a Girl Scout Junior Journey.
6. Put your plan in motion. 7. Spread the word.
You can purchase Bronze Awards in our council stores and present them to the girls in a special ceremony!
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Silver Award As a Girl Scout volunteer, you are preparing girls for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world. You’re able to guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling experience. Plus, girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette. The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, along with tips for how you can help. Step 1: Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey What girls do: Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette Journey that will help them create, plan, and develop their Silver Award project.
Why they do it: Girls gain the skills they’ll need to create a Take Action project that is based on an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community.
Coaching tips: Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a Journey. Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout Promise and Law as they completed the Journey.
Step 2: Identify Issues You Care About What girls do: Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them.
Why they do it: This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues that interest them.
Coaching tips: Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines. Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them. When something matters, it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions. Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart.
Step 3: Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo What girls do: Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes.) If other Cadettes are on the team, they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award. Each Cadette going for the Silver Award must play an active role in choosing, planning, and developing the team’s Take Action project.
Why they do it: Cooperative learning encourages team-building, trust-building, and problem-solving.
Coaching tips: Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build their team. Use games and activities to promote team-building.
Step 4: Explore Your Community What girls do: By exploring their community, girls find out what their community needs.
Why they do it: Girls move from thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific issues they want to address.
Coaching tips: Guide girls as they draw a community map. Creating a map allows girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people need—that is, what will improve their lives. By exploring and observing their community, girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action project.
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Step 5: Pick Your Take Action Project What girls do: Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their project will address.
Why they do it: By addressing the root cause of the problem, girls will have a better chance of ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting.
Coaching tips: Guide girls as they review their community map and personal notes. Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change. Making a pro/con list is helpful.
Step 6: Develop Your Project What girls do: Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the local community.
Why they do it: Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on activities that help them gain new skills.
Coaching tips: Before girls start developing their project, encourage them to answer the questions in their guidelines. Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to them. Partner with girls to create a time line, set up a budget, and locate resources for their project.
Step 7: Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion What girls do: Write a list of what they need to accomplish, who will be doing which tasks, and when the tasks need to be completed using their ‘Make a Plan’ chart.
Why they do it: Girls become creative problem-solvers and build critical thinking skills as they address challenges, work cooperatively with their team, and stay open to new ways of work.
Coaching tips: This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award; seeing the project happen can be very exciting! Nevertheless, things sometimes don’t go exactly as planned. Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times.
Step 8: Reflect, Share Your Story, and Celebrate What girls do: Reflect on what they have achieved. Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act. Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community. Celebrate their accomplishment.
Why they do it: Through reflection, girls understand the impact of their project on the community and how it might relate to others in their community. As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements, helping them see how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact.
Coaching tips: Make the sharing experience fun, and honor the achievement by encouraging the girls to be creative in how they capture others’ imaginations (girls can make a video, write an essay or article, or organize a fun event where they can present what they have learned and what their project is about to the community).
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Gold Award The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. Your role as a volunteer is to encourage girls to think critically, be open to multiple perspectives, investigate thoroughly, work cooperatively, and identify resources within and beyond their local communities. The Girl Scout Gold Award is designed to be completed by an individual girl. To earn the award, each girl must complete two Senior or Ambassador Journeys or complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey and have earned a Girl Scout Silver Award. After completing these requirements, a minimum of 80 hours is suggested to complete the steps below to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award. Step 1 Choose an Issue: Use your values and skills to identify an issue you care about. Standards of Excellence Live the Girl Scout Promise and Law and demonstrate civic responsibility.
Coaching tips: Provide a listening ear and give constructive feedback.
Step 2 Investigate: Research everything you can about the issue. Standards of Excellence • Demonstrate courage as she investigates her issue, knowing • that what she learns may challenge her own and others’ beliefs.
Identify national and/or global links to her community issue.
Coaching tips: Recommend ways to expand the project beyond the local community. For example, involve people from organizations that offer help on a national and global level (such as Doctors without Borders).
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Step 3 Get Help: Invite others to support and take action with you. Standards of Excellence • Seek out and recognize the value of the skills and strengths of others.
•
Build a team and recruit a project advisor who will bring special skills to your Gold Award project.
Coaching tips: Working with a team will help make a bigger impact and cover more ground. Although this is an individual project, a network is a great thing. Share pointers on how to create an effective network.
Step 4 Create a Plan: Create a project plan that achieves sustainable and measurable impact. Standards of Excellence • Lead the planning of your Gold Award project.
•
Work collaboratively to develop a plan for your project that creates lasting change.
Coaching tips: Provide guidance on project sustainability—education and raising awareness, holding workshops and hands-on learning sessions, collaborating with community groups to ensure the project lasts, etc.
Step 5 Present Your Plan and Get Feedback: Submit your project plan for approval. Standards of Excellence • Submit a Project Proposal to GSMH that is concise, • comprehensive, and clear. • She will describe her plan, including the Girl Scout Leadership • Outcomes she wants to achieve and the impact she plans to make on herself and the community.
Girls will articulate their issue clearly and explain why it matters to them. Accept constructive suggestions that will help refine the project.
Coaching tips: Suggest using the tools and tips in GSUSA’s toolkit in preparing the Project Proposal. The toolkit can be found on girlscouts.org.
Step 6 Take Action: Take the lead to carry out your plan. Standards of Excellence • Take action to address the root cause of an issue, so that her solution has measurable and sustainable impact. • Challenge herself to try different ways to solve problems. • Speak out and act on behalf of herself and others.
•
Actively seek partnerships to achieve greater community participation and impact for her Take Action project.
Coaching tips: Conducting interviews on the chosen issue is an important part of this step. Play the interviewee to help synchronize the timing and the flow of the interviews.
Step 7 Educate and Inspire: Share what you have experienced with others. Standards of Excellence • Reflect on what she has learned when she presents her Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report to GSMH. • Summarize the effectiveness of her project and the impact it has had on herself and the community.
•
Share the project beyond her local community and inspire others to take action in their own communities.
Coaching tips: Be available for any questions that might arise during sharing or reflection. Suggest using the tools and tips in GSUSA’s toolkit in preparing the Final Report. Found on girlscouts.org. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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r e e t n volu
trainings
$75 • ADULT
Small Craft Safety and Basic Water Rescue MIN/MAX: 5/10 Small Craft Safety training will certify you to instruct girls on basic canoeing skills for flat water such as the lakes and ponds. Moving water skills for rivers will not be covered. The basic water rescue portion of the course will certify participants as watchers for aquatic programs. This certification is good for 2 years. Finbrooke Program Center May 18 | 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 6, 2019 Finbrooke Program Center August 10 | 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: July 29, 2019
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FREE • ADULT
Day Camp Director Training On Request
This training is for Day Camp Directors to learn the responsibilities of your position by reviewing policies, procedures, and best practices associated with running a Day Camp. This training is available on demand at any time throughout the year, but recommended to have in the fall. No minimum required. Please request at least 3 weeks in advance of a preferred date by emailing info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org. FREE • ADULT
Grade Level Training Home Study
The Girl Scout Grade Level Trainings are designed to introduce you to the world of Girl Scouting for the specific age of your troop. Discover how the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and the Girl Scout Journeys work and how to guide your girls in their Girl Scout Leadership Experience. To request this training please contact us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org.
FREE • ADULT
Silver Award Training MIN/MAX: 5/24 Discover the process for earning a Silver Award, the highest award for Girl Scout Cadettes. This training will be conducted by webinar; to participate you will need a computer or tablet, internet access, and a phone line. Webinar is limited to 24 access lines: if your troop will be watching together, only register one person. Before the training you will be sent a link and instructions to join the webinar. Handouts will be emailed to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Online Webinar March 9 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 4, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar March 20 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 14 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 17 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 10, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
FREE • ADULT
Gold Award Training MIN/MAX: 5/24 It’s time to go for the Gold! Discover the process for earning a Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. We’ll cover what paperwork is needed and how to make your Gold Award project sustainable. This training will be conducted by webinar; to participate you will need a computer or tablet, internet access, and a phone line. Webinar is limited to 24 access lines: if your troop will be watching together, only register one person. Before the training you will be sent a link and instructions to join the webinar. Handouts will be emailed to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Online Webinar March 9 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 4, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar March 20 | 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 14 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 24 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 17, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Check out pages 16-21 for more information on the Girl Scout Highest Awards!
Check out page 26 for information on 2019 Leaders Weekend!
FREE • ADULT
Bronze Award Training MIN/MAX: 5/24 Discover the process for earning a Bronze Award, the highest award for Girl Scout Juniors! This training for girls and adults will be conducted by webinar; to participate you will need a computer or tablet, internet access, and a phone line. Webinar is limited to 24 access lines: if your troop will be watching together, only register one person. Before the training you will be sent a link and instructions to join the webinar. Handouts will be emailed to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Online Webinar March 9 | 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 4, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24 Online Webinar March 20 | 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24 Online Webinar August 27 | 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Aug. 20, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24 Online Webinar September 14 | 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24 volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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FREE • ADULT
Check out page 32 for information on ways to get your troop outside!
$40 • ADULT
First Aid & CPR: Blended Learning Min/Max: 4/10
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Indoor Overnights & Day Trips Training Home Study This training is required for all day trips and indoor overnight stays. Topics covered include safety preparedness, GSMH policies and procedures, kaper charts, sleeping arrangements, and more. To receive this course, please contact us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org. A brief evaluation test is included and must be submitted for you to receive course credit. This training is a pre-requisite for Outdoor Level 1 Home Study.
FREE • ADULT
Outdoor Level 1 Home Study
This training prepares you to teach girls the skills involved in planning and carrying out a day of outdoor activities, and to incorporate the Girl Scout principles of safety, inclusiveness, progression of skills, girl leadership, and girl planning. It covers no-cook and simple charcoal cooked meals, outdoor-based activities, and ethics. This self-study takes approximately four hours but it can take longer if you explore additional resources. Please contact us at info@ girlscoutsmoheartland.org to receive this course. This course is a pre-requisite for Outdoor Level 2. If you are an experienced camper, you can test out of this training by contacting us to request a test-out evaluation form.
First Aid & CPR Training is strongly recommended for at least one adult volunteer in every troop. The safety activity checkpoints for certain Girl Scout activities require that an adult be certified in First Aid and CPR and act as primary first aid provider. New and experienced leaders, assistant leaders, and other registered adults are encouraged to attend this course! This version of the course requires approximately 2 1/2 hours of online study in advance of the in-person skills check on the training date listed. Participants will be sent a link for the online portion of this course, and must bring their certificate of completion to the in-person skills check. Successful completion results in a 2-year certification in Adult and Child First Aid and CPR. Digital certificate available upon successful completion.
This training prepares you to teach girls the skills for planning and experiencing a simple overnight camping trip—in a backyard or at a GSMH program center. You will learn how to incorporate the Girl Scout principles of safety, inclusiveness, progression of skills, girl leadership, and girl planning. Topics include knot-tying, cooking over a fire, dressing for the weather, packing, and programming. This course is a prerequisite for Outdoor Level 3.
Jefferson City Service Center March 9 | 9:00-11:00 a.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 1, 2019
Joplin, MO March 9 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Feb. 22, 2019
Joplin Service Center May 25 | 9:00-11:00 a.m. Registration Deadline: May 16, 2019
Silver Meadows Program Center March 16 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 1, 2019
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$15 • ADULT
Outdoor Level 2 MIN/MAX: 5/20
Latonka Program Center April 6 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 22, 2019
$85 • ADULT
$100 • ADULT
Wilderness First Aid
USA Archery Level 1 Instructor Training
MIN/MAX: 6/10
The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course will help you prepare for the unexpected. This fast paced, hands-on training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals working in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Classroom lectures and demonstrations are combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge you to integrate your learning. At the end of the course, you’ll have had the opportunity to learn the knowledge, skills, and ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations. Participants must have a valid first aid and CPR certification. Participants must attend both days to receive certification. Participants will be responsible for their own food. Girls may also attend, but must be 16 or older to take the course. This is a two year certification.
In this eight-hour certification course, you’ll learn how to accurately shoot a bow, teach beginner level archery, manage basic archery programs, repair equipment, and build confidence through archery. This course includes an instructor manual. This certification is viable for three years. Please bring a sack lunch, snacks, and a water bottle.
Finbrooke Program Center June 1-2 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 17, 2019
Silver Meadows Program Center March 30 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 18, 2019
MIN/MAX: 5/10
Finbrooke Program Center June 1 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 17, 2019
Trainings On Request If a minimum of 6 volunteers in a service unit or geographic area need a training, you can request one! In some cases, we can bring the training to you or we can set up a training with a date that works for your volunteers. The following trainings are available on request: First Aid & CPR: Blended Learning, Highest Awards, Outdoor Level 2, and Outdoor Level 3. Cost will be the same fee per participant as if attending a training in person. To discuss setting up an on-request training, please contact us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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s ’ r e d a le weekend Join us for a magical time at Leader’s Weekend 2019! Held at Finbrooke Program Center on April 26-28, this event is a fun tradition and a great way to connect with friends old and new, who share your love of Girl Scouting. Choose from a variety of workshops and activities to create your own adventure. Workshops include art classes, games, team building, leadership, outdoor training, fairy tale themed fun, and two mystery workshops! You can even choose to participate in some high-flying adventures like the climbing tower, archery, or the night-time zipline! You can choose how long you stay—come for the whole weekend or just the day on Saturday. Lodging is available, but space is limited. No matter what you choose to do, you will leave re-energized and ready to continue your journey with Girl Scouts!
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When and where? Finbrooke Program Center April 26-28 | 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. MIN/MAX: 80/125
Cost? $15 fee includes lodging, lunch, Saturday snacks, and administrative costs. Cost may increase depending on your workshop and meal selections.
Registration? Registration deadline is March 29, 2019. Event details and the registration packet are located on our website. For questions about Leader’s Weekend, contact our Customer Care Team at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org, or call us at 877-312-4764.
Kick off the new Girl Scout year with Learn to Lead! Learn to Lead is a one-day event devoted to learning, networking, and celebrating volunteering with Girl Scouts. Choose from a variety of fun and interesting classes designed just for you—our outstanding volunteers! Join us and get excited about traditions from the past and opportunities for the future. New! In 2019, Learn to Lead will be held in July at Dexter, Joplin, and Jefferson City. Registration will be available on our website in late spring. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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Balancing Your Role as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Parent It’s a family affair: your daughter wants to be a Girl Scout, and you want to be her troop leader! Filling this role can be an amazing bonding experience for you both as well as an engaging way to get to know her friends and peers. However, you know that your girl isn’t a troop of one, and she’ll have to share your attention with her fellow troop members—which might be tough if she’s younger. So how can you strike a balance between your roles as Girl Scout troop leader and parent? Talk to Her Before the Troop Year Begins
Potential Talking Points:
Explaining your role as a troop leader is especially important for younger girls, according to several of our volunteer experts. If you know you’ll be leading your daughter’s troop in the fall, make time before the school year begins to talk about expectations.
• Sharing your attention with all the girls
Although you might not need to touch base as frequently with your older girl, your younger girl may find more frequent check-ins reassuring. Once she’s in middle school, she’ll be able to let you know when she needs extra time, because that’ll be the norm you’ve established. She’ll be able to advocate for herself in that way.
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• How happy you are to be able to be a leader for other girls and what it means to you • Her role as the leader’s daughter • The expectation that she treats you with respect just like all the other girls, even though she knows you best
Lay Down the (Girl Scout) Law The Girl Scout Law—to be honest, fair, and responsible for what we say and do—is not only paramount to who we are as Girl Scouts but also levels the playing field; everyone from troop leaders to troop members follows the Girl Scout Law. When you reinforce that everyone in the troop, including you, follows the Girl Scout Law, your girl is more likely to view you as a fair, equitable leader. Try developing ways to take turns as a group. As your girls grow, this way of thinking and working through conflict will become part of the fabric of your troop, and some Girl Scouts might even use it instinctively to resolve their own issues. Witnessing those moments can be so powerful!
Team Up with Your Co-Leader When you work with your co-leader, you already have one of the best strategies for managing your role as a parent and at Girl Scouts! It’s an option to team up and decide to help keep each other’s daughter on track. This can help prevent both from being too hard or too lenient on your own child.
Hold the Girls Accountable It’s part of what being girl-led is all about! Your daughter might bristle when you call her out for breaking the rules, but she may be more likely to straighten out when her peers hold her accountable. Trying having the girls make their own troop rules, and post them at the meetings. They can even come up with consequences. When one girl misbehaves, just referring to the rule number that they are not adhering to can be enough to get the girls back on track. Assigning troop tasks fairly is another method troop leaders use to hold girls accountable to one another. Kaper charts are always handy in Girl Scouting! The girl in charge of each area of the meeting should change each meeting, so it doesn’t feel impartial to any one girl. Everyone gets a chance to do each job, and it’s not just your daughter bringing snacks or in charge of badges each meeting.
Remember Your Role Outside of Troop Meetings Just as you’d want your daughter to be fair to her fellow Girl Scout sisters, remember that you should play fair outside of troop meetings. It can be hard not to over involve your own Girl Scout in the planning process. She’s right there with you at home—and so easily available— but it’s not fair to expect her to help more than her sister Girl Scouts. That might mean planning ahead more and involving the troop and the other parents. Being a troop leader and parent is definitely a delicate balancing act, but it’s one that’s important for your daughter to see; she’ll appreciate the efforts that go into both roles even more! volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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Year of the Outdoor Girl Since the beginning of Girl Scouting, outdoor experiences have been fundamental to the Girl Scout movement. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, took girls outside to hike, play basketball, and get active more than a century ago because she knew that experiencing the glory of nature instills something special in girls. Armed with this information, we have devoted resources, energy, and focus in the coming year to ensuring that all girls have access to outdoor experiences. Check out our Year of the Outdoor Girl Magazine for everything a girl, parent, or troop leader will need to plan and participate in a year of unique outdoor experiences. And, be on the lookout for Explore—our new publication dedicated to amazing outdoor adventures, coming in March. So dive in — you are here. It’s the Year of the Outdoor Girl and there is something for everyone. We’re here to make sure you and your girls have wow-worthy outdoor adventures this year. Give us a call or send us an email—we can be your outdoor adventure planning partner and your greatest resource.
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3/4 x 1/2”
Metal Charms 1/2 X 5/8”
5/8 x 3/8”
5/8 x 3/8”
5/8 x 3/8”
5/8 x 3/8”
3/4 x 5/8”
1/2 X 5/8”
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Exclusively for the Year of the Outdoor Girl, we are offering this amazing patch! This fun patch will be available in all retail stores and at a variety 3/4 x 1/2” 5/8” circle of our outdoor program events. This new patch design allows girls and adult members to collect various outdoor-inspired charms that display beautifully on the patch itself.
5/8” circle
5/8 x 3
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2” 3/4 x 3/8” 3/43 xX1/2”
3/4 x 1/2”
3/4 x 3/8”
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5/8 x 1/2 X 5/8” 3/4 x1/2 1/2”
The Get Outdoors Challenge is live 3/4 x 1/2 at GSMH! 7/8 x 5/16” 1/4 x 5/8” 5/8” circle
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We are challenging our members—girls and adults—to get outside in the Year of the Outdoor Girl! From October 1, 2018 through August 30, 2019, complete as many activities as possible from the challenge checklist! Then fill out the Get Outdoors Challenge 1/2 X 5/8” form to receive your free patch. As soon as you’ve completed the required amount of activities for your grade level, submit your form to receive the Get Outdoors Challenge patch.
Metal
2AA
3/4 x 1/2” 5/8 x2X 1/2” 5/8 x 3/8” 2T
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3/4 x 1/2”
3/8 X 3/4”
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Get Outdoors Challenge 1/2 X 5/8”
3/4 x 5/8”
5/8 x 1/2”
You can purchase charms in any of our retail stores, but some charms 1/4 x 5/8” 5/8” circle will be exclusive to specific outdoor events and outdoor challenges. In these cases the charms can only be collected by participating and meeting the requirements of those events or challenges. So, get your patch ASAP, start having amazing outdoor experiences, and 3/4begin x 1/2” 1/4 x 5/8” collecting those charms!
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Activity Requirements The required amount of activities for each grade level are listed below. On the Get Outdoors Challenge form, there is a list of activity suggestions, and there’s also space to fill in your own! • Daisy – 5 • Brownie – 10 • Junior – 15 • Cadette, Senior, Ambassador, Adult – 20 Challenge Rules & Guidelines Girls and adults must complete the required number of activities for their grade level found on the Get Outdoors Challenge form and submit their patch request form online by August 30, 2019 to earn the patch. Girls and adults may complete activities as a group, but each girl and adult should only count activities that they participated in.
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1/2 X 5/8”
1/2 X 5/8”
Challenge Dates & Deadlines The challenge is open to current girl and adult members of GSMH. Family members may participate in activities but are not eligible for patches. Girls and adults may only submit one patch request. Activities must 17be completed between October 1, 2018 and August 30, 2019. All entries must be submitted by August 30, 2019.
Submit Your Photos Participating in the Get Outdoors Challenge? Share the fun and show off your outdoor skills by submitting photos on our website for our Get Outdoors photo album! volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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5/8 X 5/8”
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get your
e d i s t u o p o t ro Feeling energized by thoughts of spring? Or perhaps you’re looking for more excitement following the holiday rush? Then it’s time to get outside! Exploring the great outdoors—even if the “great outdoors” is a section of your local park—instills a sense of adventure in your troop. When your girls’ first outdoor experience is a positive one, they’re more likely to seek out new challenges, which is key to developing their leadership skills. Though your girls’ activities will vary by age group, here are some tips for kicking off your next outdoor adventures as sweater weather melts away.
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Find out what excites your girls. As you keep your activities girl-led, ask your girls to share stories of their favorite outdoor spaces and what makes them special. You’ll not only get them psyched for upcoming adventures—you’ll get a sense of their abilities and comfort level and how you might gently nudge your girls to push past that comfort level.
Discuss activities and set expectations. Preparation fuels confidence, so ease into your outdoor activities by explaining to the girls—especially those who are less than enthusiastic about the outdoors—how they can get ready for, and what they can expect during, a given activity. For spring-specific activities, you may want to research—or encourage girls to research, depending on their age—local trails and parks that open earlier in the year and/or how to best layer clothing in cooler temperatures.
Connect badge and Journey activities to the outdoors. Not all activities require indoor space. If your girls enjoy their outdoor badge work, ask them how other badges might be adapted for the outdoors and see what creative ideas they come up with! If your Daisies can’t get enough of jumping into piles of crunchy autumn leaves, for instance, you might pique their interest with leaf rubbing art as part of the Daisy Outdoor Art Maker badge. If your older girls need an adrenaline spike after their busy Monday–Friday routine, a weekend of rafting and camping can give them the adventure they seek as they earn their Senior Adventure Camper badge.
Look for council-sponsored outdoor opportunities. Is your Girl Scout counting down the days until next summer camp season? Well, 2019 summer camp sessions are coming soon! This year, we’re producing a new outdoor publication—Explore. Hitting doorsteps in March, it will be full of outdoor adventures, including summer camp sessions at Finbrooke, Latonka, and Silver Meadows Program Centers!
And remember... Be sure to keep troop parents and caregivers in the loop, especially if they’re also new to outdoor activities. And whether you love sleeping under the stars or get squeamish around anything with six legs or more, remember you don’t need to be an expert to lead your girls in outdoor activities. Both you and your girls have so much to gain by exploring the great wide open together, building confidence alongside one another.
Summer camp registration will open March 18, 2019, with early bird registration closing May 15, 2019. Sessions fill quickly so keep an eye on your mailbox and our website for more information.
Bass Pro Outdoor Badge Workshops Springfield, MO Continuing their Girl Scout partnership, Bass Pro will be offering two outdoor badge workshops for each grade level this spring. Workshops will be available at Bass Pro in the month of March, to help you work toward your outdoor badge requirements. Checkout our website for further details.
Still have questions about where to start in getting your girls outside? Contact us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org—we’re here to help! volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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local
outdoor partners We live in a world of screens—smartphone! laptop! TV! tablet!—and sometimes you just want to get away from it all. We get it. That’s why you can focus your Girl Scout experience on getting outdoors. You’ll develop the kind of outdoor skills it’s hard to get anywhere else. Skills like building a campfire, pitching a tent, and canoeing across a lake. Hey, how about adding some horseback riding, rock climbing, and archery to the mix? Round things out with a ropes course and maybe some ziplining, and you’ll find out how much fun it can be to unplug and explore the world around you.
We have several council-approved facilities that can provide experiences for your troop!
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Challenge Courses Camp Barnabas Purdy, MO 256-763-1632
Shannondale Community Center Salem, MO 573-858-3284
Camp Galilee El Dorado Springs, MO 417-876-7490
SEMO University Recreation Center Cape Girardeau, MO 573-651-2105
Greenbush Girard, KS 620-724-6281
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center La Cygne, KS 913-757-4500
Windermere Conference Center Roach, MO 573-346-5200
Horseback Riding B and B Farms Russellville, MO 573-690-7014
Horses of Hope Baxter Springs, KS 620-429-0390
Fox Run Stables Cape Girardeau, MO 573-243-1788
Remly Equestrian Center Cape Girardeau, MO 573-450-0282
Hartman Farms Marshfield, MO 417-859-2200
Sac River Stables Springfield, MO 417-742-4200
Valley Water Mill Equestrian Center Springfield, MO 417-833-3291
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Girl Scout
Camporee
When? Saturday, April 13 8:30 a.m. Event Check-In Starts 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Outdoor Adventures 5 p.m. Dinner
Cost? $15 — Includes all Saturday activities, lunch & dinner on Saturday, drawstring day bag, and event lanyard. *Children 4 and under are free.
Where? Echo Bluff State Park in Eminence, MO and Current River State Park in Salem, MO
Registration Deadline? March 15, 2019
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland with all your Girl Scout family at the 2019 Signature Event, The Girl Scout Camporee! This outdoor extravaganza is packed with outdoor adventure. Grab your troop, or your family and friends to celebrate the Year of the Outdoor Girl at two of Missouri’s premier State Parks—Echo Bluff and Current River! Saturday will be packed with adventure! Local vendors and outdoor enthusiasts will be on hand to help you discover all the ways you can create your own memory-making outdoor adventures! And, of course, we’ll have a full range of Girl Scout Camporee memorabilia and Girl Scout swag!
Wanting to camp? Check out our website for additional camping and lodging information. Questions? Contact us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org.
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The Camporee on Saturday will be filled with a variety of activities at both Echo Bluff and Current River State Parks. Below is a list of some of the activities at each. These activities are mini programs—and you might not have time to complete every activity offered. We encourage you to start planning on what matters most to you and your girls!
Echo Bluff State Park
Current River State Park
• Hug a Tree Program • Fishing • Geocaching • Orienteering - Juniors and up • Healthy Snacks • Fire Building • Leave No Trace • Snake Safety • Scatology • SWAP station • Local Vendors • Traveling Council Store
• Canoeing – Daisies and Brownies • Kayaking – Juniors and up • Dutch Oven Cooking Demonstration • Sling Shots – Daisies and Brownies • Archery - Juniors and up • Camping Gear Demonstration • Knife and Saw Safety • Bird Hike • Animal Tracks • Self-Guided Tour of Current River and Crafts • Lye Soap Demonstration
Earn free entry into the Girl Scout Camporee through the Girl Scout Cookie Program! Earn free registration to the 2019 Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Camporee through the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program. All troops with a per girl average of 225 boxes, who are in *good financial standing, will be entered into a drawing for free admission to the 2019 Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Camporee at Echo Bluff State Park on April 13, 2019. Three troops will be drawn to receive registration for all girls who participated in the Cookie program and two registered/background checked adults. This incentive does not include lodging at the event. Your free registration will cover all activities on Saturday, April 13 including two meals. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be notified beginning Wednesday of the last week of the Cookie Program.* *Additional rules and regulations apply.
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e r u t n e v d a outdoor
on request
Archery - Beginner & Intermediate $5 • GIRL
$5 • ADULT
Archery programs teach participants the fundamentals of archery range etiquette, equipment, safety, and proper shooting technique. Then, girls will develop and practice their new skills, becoming more confident archers. This program can be offered an hour at a time. Available at Finbrooke, Latonka, and Silver Meadows. MIN/MAX: 8/10
Canoeing programs introduce girls to the basics of canoeing: boating safety, terminology, and how to paddle as a pair. After becoming familiar with paddling, girls will fine-tune their paddling techniques and learn new, valuable paddle strokes. Price is $5 per participant. Available at Finbrooke, Friendship Fields, Latonka, and Silver Meadows. MIN/MAX: 6/12
$10 • ADULT
Challenge course programs stretch comfort zones, test teamwork and limits, and push girls to use skills in critical and creative thinking, communication, and cooperation. Prices range from $10 per participant. Available at Finbrooke and Latonka (except The Tower). MIN/MAX: 10/20
$5 • GIRL
$5 • ADULT
High Ropes Challenge Course Challenge course programs stretch comfort zones, test teamwork and limits, and push girls to use skills in critical and creative thinking, communication, and cooperation. Prices range from $15 per participant. Available at Finbrooke and Latonka (except The Tower). MIN/MAX: 10/20
Low Ropes Challenge Course $10 • GIRL
Canoeing - Beginner & Intermediate
$15 • GIRL
$15 • ADULT
Swimming Lifeguards available at Finbrooke and Latonka. Price is $6 per swimmer, per two hours, with a two hour minimum. MIN/MAX: 10/20
$6 • GIRL
$6 • ADULT
Team Building Games Problem-solving and team-building games will help girls push individual boundaries, while others will provide skills in thinking creatively, communication, and cooperating to reach a goal. Price is $5 per person. Available at all program centers. MIN/MAX: 10/20
$5 • GIRL
$5 • ADULT
Bottom line: we want to help you and your girls have wow-worthy adventures this year! Give us a call—we can be your outdoor adventure planning partner and your greatest resource. 38
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m a r g o r p
s t n e v e Events Legend
Entrepreneurship Girls accomplish goals and solve problems, while building confidence they need to shine as leaders.
Outdoors When girls spend quality time outdoors, they thrive physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
STEM
Life Skills
Imagine her taking on some of the biggest challenges our planet faces— and helping to solve them.
Girls gain the skills and the inspiration to accept challenges, overcome obstacles, and take the lead. volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai
80% of
Girl Scouts say they have a strong sense of self—that they’re confident in who they are and what they can do in the world.
Everything a Girl Scout does—whether it’s climbing mountains, speaking her mind, or dreaming up new technology—has been developed especially for, and is tested by, girls. Girl Scouts is a world where girls can do, and be, whatever they dream. 40
$15 • GIRL
$15 • ADULT
Enjoy an amazing cultural experience! Not only will you see a fabulous show, but Girl Scouts can also arrive an hour before show time to enjoy a pre-show activity with the acrobats. Ask questions and learn about the show & performers. Custom patch, snack, and certificate included. Please wear a Girl Scout shirt or uniform-there will be a photo op and special shout out to the Girl Scouts in attendance after the first half of the show. Shanghai Theater • Branson, MO April 27 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Apr. 12, 2019 MIN/MAX: 50/200
Bronze Award Training FREE • GIRL
FREE • ADULT
Discover the process for earning a Bronze Award, the highest award for Girl Scout Juniors! This training for girls and adults will be conducted by webinar; to participate you will need a computer or tablet, internet access, and a phone line. Webinar is limited to 24 access lines: if your troop will be watching together, only register one person. Before the training you will be sent a link and instructions to join the webinar. Handouts will be emailed to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Online Webinar March 9 | 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 4, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar March 20 | 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 14 | 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar August 27 | 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Aug. 20, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Check out page 17 for more information on the Girl Scout Bronze Award!
Business Savvy $15 • GIRL
FREE • ADULT
Girls will learn about Business Etiquette, how to compose a resume, tips and tricks about public speaking, and more! Lunch will be provided. Girls will earn a fun patch and work towards requirements for badges. Hawthorn Bank, Community Room Jefferson City, MO April 7 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Mar. 21, 2019 MIN/MAX: 30/100
Fun With Food $11 • GIRL
FREE • ADULT
Girls will learn the importance of nutrition through a series of fun and interactive workshops taught by students from the University of Missouri’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics, and leave ready to share their newfound knowledge with their family and friends! Girls will receive a patch. University of Missouri Columbia, MO April 7 | 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Mar. 21, 2019 MIN/MAX: 30/80
90% of parents Fun with Science at the Bootheel Youth Museum $6 • GIRL
$6 • ADULT
Experience science and exploration at the Bootheel Youth Museum. The resident Mad Scientist will be on hand to share her favorite science demonstrations and troops will participate in a scientific scavenger hunt. Attendees can enjoy the rest of the day exploring the exciting, hands-on exhibits. Cost includes a custom fun patch for each Girl Scout. Bootheel Youth Museum Malden, MO July 13 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/200
say their daughter has gained more new experiences through Girl Scouts than in other after school activities. Girl Scout Day at Hydro Adventures $15 • GIRL
Girl Power Sleep Over $15 • GIRL
$5 • ADULT
Come to the SEMO University Rec Center for an amazing night of fun! Activities will include swimming, rock wall climbing, team building, volleyball, dancing, yoga, and much more fun! Girls will receive a fun patch and may purchase a special t-shirt. Participants need to bring a sleeping bag/blanket, pillow, pajamas, and water bottle. SEMO University • Cape Girardeau, MO April 26-27 | 8:30 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.
Registration Deadline: Apr. 5, 2019 MIN/MAX: 40/300
$15 • ADULT
Kick off the summer at our first annual Girl Scout Day at Hydro Adventures! Girls, troops, and families are welcome to attend! For any age, for any amount of time, Hydro Adventures has a variety of slides & pools! Be ready to have fun! Hydro Adventures • Poplar Bluff, MO June 1 | 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 20, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/500 volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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Girl Scout Day with the Springfield Cardinals $10 • GIRL
$10 • ADULT
Head out for a night of fun with Girl Scouts at the Springfield Cardinals! All Girl Scouts can participate in the pregame parade, stay for Friday night fireworks, and will receive a ball cap with this special group rate. This is a fun event for the troop or the entire family! Hammons Field • Springfield, MO May 10 | 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Apr. 26, 2019 MIN/MAX: 200/300
Inventor City $12 • GIRL
$3 • ADULT
Do you wonder what it takes to invent a new kind of phone or a new way to power a light bulb? Girls will come up with an innovative product during this session and work towards the Brownie Inventor badge and Junior Product Designer badge. Bring a sack lunch and we’ll provide a snack and dessert! Silver Meadows Program Center May 4 | 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Apr. 19, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/80
+70% of
girls say that they got the chance to build their skills or try new outdoor activities because of Girl Scouts.
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Girl Scout Mariners $10 • GIRL
FREE • ADULT
Enjoy swimming and canoeing? Join us to learn a long standing tradition—the Girl Scout Mariner Program! Participants will learn how to build a ship and how to be a master of the water through watercraft, swimming, and mariner skills. Bring a sack lunch, water bottle, snacks, and a camp chair, if desired. Friendship Fields Program Center April 6 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 23, 2019 MIN/MAX: 10/50
Latonka Program Center May 4 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Apr. 20, 2019 MIN/MAX: 10/50
Gold Award Training FREE • GIRL
FREE • ADULT
It’s time to go for the Gold! Discover the process for earning a Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. We’ll cover what paperwork is needed and how to make your Gold Award project sustainable. This training will be conducted by webinar; to participate you will need a computer or tablet, internet access, and a phone line. Webinar is limited to 24 access lines: if your troop will be watching together, only register one person. Before the training you will be sent a link and instructions to join the webinar. Handouts will be emailed to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Online Webinar March 9 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 4, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar March 20 | 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 14 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 24 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 17, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Check out pages 20-21 for more information on the Girl Scout Gold Award!
Me & My Guy Fishing Day $5 • GIRL
$2 • ADULT
Spend the day with your favorite guy enjoying the great outdoors. Drop a line in the lake and see who can catch the biggest fish! Don’t have fishing gear? No problem, we will have some available to borrow. The Missouri Dept. of Conservation will be joining us! This is a catch and release event. Please bring a chair, sack lunch, water bottle, and whatever other equipment you need. Dress for the weather including closed-toe shoes. Snack and fun patch provided. Otter Slough Conservation Area Dexter, MO April 6 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 25, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/200 Cape Elks Lodge Cape Girardeau, MO May 18 | 10:00am. - 2:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/40
Jerry P Combs Lake Kennett, MO May 25 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/200
Night at the Museum Lock-In $40 • GIRL
$16 • ADULT
Bring your sense of adventure and a sleeping bag for an after-hours exploration of the Discovery Center! Girls will have access to all of the museum’s handson activities and special areas designed to help them earn portions of petals or badges. End the night watching a movie and sleeping in the museum! Girls registering without a troop must bring a chaperone. To accommodate as many girls as possible, we ask troops to limit the number of adults to required Girl Scout safety ratios. No tagalongs are permitted. Price for girls includes a patch. Discovery Center • Springfield, MO April 5-6 | 8:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Registration Deadline: Mar. 26, 2019 MIN/MAX: 200/450
She & Me Outdoor Extravaganza $10 • GIRL
$10 • ADULT
Girls will experience all the fun with their favorite adult “she” (mom, grandmother, aunt, sister, mentor, etc.). Discover camp through outdoor challenges! After the competitions, enjoy a campfire with s’mores. This is an individual event designed to strengthen the bond between a Girl Scout & her “she.” All will receive a fun patch. Silver Meadows Program Center May 11 | 1:00p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Apr. 27, 2019 MIN/MAX: 30/100
Party on the Katy Trail $5 • GIRL
$5 • ADULT
Have you had a blast this year? We are celebrating the Year of the Outdoor Girl with a Party on the Katy Trail! Walk, bike, run, scoot, or skip your way to our celebration! Can you finish the scavenger hunt before you cross the finish line? We’ll have snacks, activities, and photo opportunities at locations throughout the Katy Trail. September 14 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Look out for more information in Explore—our new outdoor publication coming in March!
Don’t see your favorite program listed? Check out page 38 for popular programs on request! volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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Surf’s Up $17 • GIRL
Silver Award Training $17• ADULT
Kick off the summer at the annual Surf’s Up at Big Surf Waterpark! Girls, troops, and families are welcome to attend! For any age, for any amount of time, Big Surf has a variety of rides and attractions! Be ready to have fun! Big Surf Waterpark • Linn Creek, MO June 23 | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: June 7, 2019 MIN/MAX: 10/1000
FREE • GIRL
FREE • ADULT
Discover the process for earning a Silver Award, the highest award for Girl Scout Cadettes. This training will be conducted by webinar; to participate you will need a computer or tablet, internet access, and a phone line. Webinar is limited to 24 access lines: if your troop will be watching together, only register one person. Before the training you will be sent a link and instructions to join the webinar. Handouts will be emailed to you and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Online Webinar March 9 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 4, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar March 20 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 14 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 3, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Online Webinar September 17 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Sept. 10, 2019 MIN/MAX: 5/24
Check out pages 18-19 for more information on the Girl Scout Silver Award!
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77% of girls say that because of Girl Scouts they are considering a career in technology. Take an Outdoor Journey $25 • GIRL
$15 • ADULT
Enjoy an overnight at camp while earning the Outdoor Journey for your grade level! Girls will earn some badges associated with the Outdoor Journey and kick off their Take Action project to complete at home. Saturday breakfast and lunch are provided. Some badges associated with the Outdoor Journey, aside from the Take Action Badge, will be provided. Finbrooke Program Center May 3-4 | 6:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Apr. 15, 2019 MIN/MAX: 30/100
Friendship Fields Program Center May 17-18 | 6:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Apr. 29, 2019 MIN/MAX: 30/100
Tour Pythian Castle $10 • GIRL
$10 • ADULT
Ever passed by the Pythian Castle and wondered what’s inside? If so, this is the tour for you! Join our private tour, learn the history of the castle, ask questions, and stay to take some photos with the castle. Girls will receive a custom patch. Pythian Castle • Springfield, MO April 20 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Apr. 5, 2019 MIN/MAX: 25/50
STEM-tastic Saturday
Wellness in the Wild $12 • GIRL
$6 • ADULT
$12 • GIRL
Join us in learning how to make healthy food and take part in yoga in the great outdoors! Bring your yoga mat or borrow one of ours! Lunch and patch are provided. Silver Meadows Program Center April 6 | 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Mar. 22, 2019 MIN/MAX: 20/80
Who Wants to Be a Pilot? $6 • GIRL
$2 • ADULT
So you’re interested in Aerospace? You will have the opportunity to see an airplane close up, experience a flight simulator, visit a room that makes it look like you’re in space, and more! Please bring a sack lunch. Cost includes a patch for the girls. Number of adults will be limited to allow space for girls. Joplin Regional Airport • Joplin, MO March 9 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Feb. 28, 2019 MIN/MAX: 10/20 Joplin Regional Airport • Joplin, MO May 25 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: May 8, 2019 MIN/MAX: 10/20
Joplin Regional Airport • Joplin, MO March 30 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Mar. 13, 2019 MIN/MAX: 10/20
$5 • ADULT
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math make the world go round! STEMtastic Saturday will provide a selection of the Girl Scout STEM badges for girls to choose from. Girls will have the opportunity to earn up to two STEM badges at this day-long event. Specific STEM badges that will be offered is TBD. All attendees will need to bring a sack lunch. Missouri State University Campus West Plains, MO May 11 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration Deadline: Apr. 24, 2019 MIN/MAX: 80/150
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Pets Are Worth Supporting Participate in the 2019 Council-Wide Service Project! March 30-April 6, 2019 Participate in the P.A.W.S. Project in 5 simple steps!
Pick Up Your Door Hangers Pick up your door hangers from a GSMH Service Center, a local service unit meeting, or print your own P.A.W.S. Door Hangers, found on our website.
Distribute Your Door Hangers Distribute door hangers to friends, neighbors, and community members the weekend of March 30 - April 6, 2019. Girls should not place The P.A.W.S. Project hangers in, or tie them to, mailboxes— this is prohibited by the US Postal Service.
Make the world a better place and be a part of the P.A.W.S. Project: Pets Are Worth Supporting! Girls and troops can support the animal shelter of their choice by collecting dog or cat food, paper towels, or newspapers. This project runs from March 30 - April 6, 2019 and can be completed in five simple steps. 46
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Collect Donated Items Collect donated items on April 6, 2019. Only collect from residences where bags are left outside. Girls should not knock on doors.
Choose a Local Animal Shelter Distribute collected items to the local animal shelter of your choice.
Earn a Free Patch! Complete a P.A.W.S. Project Report, found on our website. Return it to us to receive a FREE patch for each Girl Scout who participated!
Girl Scout Destinations are the ultimate adventure for individual girls ages 11 and older! Destinations are your passport to new adventures and a new you. As you zip-line through rainforests or navigate amazing new landscapes, you’ll find inner strength you didn’t know you had. Check out current destinations at www.girlscouts.org/destinations.
travel
Girl Scouts love to travel—from the field trips they take as Brownies to the global adventures they go on as teens. If your girls love exploring different places and cultures, then check out all the exciting travel we have planned for you! How far will your Girl Scout experience take you? That’s up to you!
Rock N Roll Roadtrip
Join GSMH as we rock and roll all the way to Nashville and Memphis! Girls will visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, Graceland, and even take a ghost tour of Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage. Price includes travel to and from Jefferson City, MO, lodging, breakfast and dinner each day, entrance fees, and a trip t-shirt. We will also stop in Cape Girardeau, MO along the way to pick up girls and troops. June 20-24, 2019 $525 per person • Deposit of $100 Full payment due May 20, 2019 • Min 10/Max 50 Registration Deadline: April 15 volunteer 411 • spring/summer 2019
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She N Me in STL Take her on her first adventure with you by her side! Travel together to St. Louis where you will visit The Arch, City Museum, and The Magic House. Girls will have free time Saturday afternoon. Price includes travel to and from Jefferson City, MO, lodging, dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, entrance fees, and a patch for girls. October 19-20, 2019 $175 per girl • $190 per adult • Deposit of $75 Full payment due Sept. 15, 2019 • Min 20/Max 50
Choose Your Own Adventure Ready for a surprise adventure? This trip will give you the opportunity to choose where you want to go and head off the next day! Girls will be given a list of cities to research beforehand, and Friday night they will vote where to go and plan the trip. Saturday morning you’ll be off on your adventure! Price includes travel to and from Springfield, MO, lodging, breakfast and dinners, and entrance fees. Adults chaperones provided by GSMH. January 17-20, 2020 $350 per girl • Deposit of $75 Full payment due Dec. 15, 2019 • Min 6/Max 12
A Savannah Journey: Intro to Planning Travel Are you ready to kick your travel skills up a notch? Join GSMH as we plan a trip to Savannah, GA and the birthplace of Girl Scouting in the US! We will learn how to budget for your trip, create an itinerary, and research activities. Girls will meet once a month, either in person or via webinar, beginning August 2019. Price includes travel to and from Springfield, MO, breakfast and dinner, entrance fees, and a trip t-shirt. June 22-28, 2020 $900 per person • Deposit of $100 paid by Aug. 3, 2019 Full payment due May 1, 2020 • Min 20/Max 50
G.I.R.L. 2020 Thousands of girls and their supporters will come together from around the world at G.I.R.L. 2020 in Orlando, Florida. Hosted by Girl Scouts of the USA, the mega event will provide attendees with unforgettable experiences as they gain inspiration, tools to empower themselves, and the know-how to lead change in their communities—connecting with some of the most influential women in the world along the way. So awesome! Watch out for more information in the Fall Volunteer 411 and on Facebook! October 21-25, 2020
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Tours for Girl Scouts
ITALY & GREECE 10 or 13 days | Italy | Greece
Learn more at eftours.com/girlscouts or call 800-457-9023
Joining us in July 2021? Informational meeting: March 9 at 5:30 p.m., Springfield Library Station, Springfield MO
GSMH is going Mediterranean! In July 2021, discover the Discover magic of the Mediterranean and immerseyourself yourself inin ancient magic ofthe the Mediterranean and immerse ancient culture, amazing art, and rich history. Uncover the partially culture, amazing art, and rich history. Uncover the partially buried city of Pompeii, experience Rome’s magni ficent fountains, buried city of Pompeii, experience Rome’s magnificent Athens’ famed Acropolis, and explore the wonders of Capri and fountains, Athens’ famed Acropolis, andtroop explore Delphi. Extend your tour by setting sail with your to the the Greekwonders a journey you will never your forget.tour by setting sail with your ofIslands Capri—and Delphi. Extend troop to the Greek Islands — a journey you will never forget. EVERYTHING YOU GET:
Full-time Director Full-time TourTour Director Sightseeing: 6 sightseeing tours led licensed by expert, Sightseeing: 6 sightseeing tours led by expert, local licensed guides;guides; 1 walking1tour local walking tour Entrances: Sistine Chapel; Peter’s Basilica; Colosseum; Entrances: Sistine Chapel; St. Peter’St. s Basilica; Colosseum; Roman Forum; Meteora Monastery; Delphi site; Delphi Museum; Roman Forum; Meteora Monastery; Delphi site; Delphi Acropolis; Acropolis Museum Museum; Acropolis; Acropolis Museum All of details ar e are covered : Round-trip flights on major All ofthe the details covered: Round-trip flights on carriers; Comfortable motorcoach; Night ferry; 3-day major carriers; Comfortable motorcoach; Night ferry; Greek island cruise with extension (Cruise staff gratuities 7included); overnight staysstays in hotels private bathrooms; 1 7 overnight in hotelswith with private night cabin accommodation; European bathrooms; 1 night cabin accommodation (4 with breakfast and extension); European breakfast and dinner daily (3 meals dinner daily daily during cruise extension)
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DAY 1: FLY OVERNIGHT TO ITALY
DAY 2: ROME – Meet your Tour Director at the airport in Rome, a city that integrates its past into the present better than any other. DAY 1: FLY OVERNIGHT TO ITALY During your stay, explore the world’s most famous arena, the Colosseum, where you can almost hear the stamping feet of the crowds gathered for gladiatorial combat. Nearby, the Roman Forum marks the former heart of the Roman Empire. Julius DAY 2: ROME Caesar gave many of his great political speeches there. On your Meet your Tour Director at the airport in Rome, breathtaking visit to the Vatican City, marvel at Michelangelo’s a city that integrates its past into the present ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and look out for the colorful uniforms of the Swiss Guard, protectors of the Vatican City. Before you say better than any other. During your stay, explore “arrivederci,” toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return the world’s most famous arena, the Colosseum, trip to the Eternal City.
where you can almost hear the stamping feet of the crowds gathered for gladiatorial combat. Nearby, DAY 3:Forum ROME marks the former heart of the the Roman Take an expertly guided tour of Vatican City Roman–Empire. Julius Caesar gave many of his great – Visit the Sistine Chapel political– speeches there. On your visit to the Vatican Visit St. Peter’s Basilica City, marvel breathtaking ceiling Visit at theMichelangelo’s Catacombs in the Sistine Chapel and look out for the colorful uniforms of the Swiss Guard, protectors of the DAY 4: ROME Vatican–City. Before you say tour “arrivederci,” toss a coin Take an expertly guided of Rome into the– Trevi Fountain to ensure a return trip to the Visit the Colosseum Visit the Roman Forum Eternal –City. – Continue on to Florence
DAY 3: DAY ROME 5: FLORENCE – Take an expertly guided tour of Vatican – Welcome to Florence, the birthplace of theCity Italian language, opera and the Renaissance. It’s also where you’ll find works of – Visit the Sistine Chapel like Michelangelo’s – Visit St.artPeter’s Basilica statue of David and Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Explore the city with your local guide before make a visit – Visit the Catacombs to the domed cap of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, better known as the Duomo, which dominates the skyline. – Take an expertly guided walking tour of Florence See the Duomo 4: –ROME
DAY – Take an expertly guided tour of Rome – Visit the DAY Colosseum 6: ANCONA | NIGHT FERRY – Transfer to Ancona – Visit the Roman Forum – Travel by ferry from Ancona to Igoumenitsa – Continue on tonight Florence new things while traveling. They return with character and want to make their world a better place. Kim H., Group Leader
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DAY 7: IGOUMENITSA | METEORA REGION
Arrive in Igoumenitsa DAY 5: –FLORENCE – Transfer to the Meteora – Welcome to Florence, theRegion birthplace of the Italian – Take an expertly guided tour of the Meteora monastery language, opera and the Renaissance. It’s also – Visit the Meteora monastery where you’ll find works of art like Michelangelo’s statue of David and Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Explore the city with your local guide before making a visit to the domed cap of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, better known as the Duomo, which dominates the skyline. – Take an expertly guided walking tour of Florence – See the Duomo
– Take an expertly guided tour of Delphi: Temple of Apollo – Visit the Delphi Museum – Continue on to Athens and discover the ancient city named for Athena, goddess of war and wisdom. During your stay you’ll visit the Acropolis to view the Parthenon, perhaps the world’s greatest architectural feat. See the Temple of Athena Nike, which once housed a gold statue of the goddess, her wings clipped DAY 6:her ANCONA | NIGHT to prevent from deserting theFERRY city. Snap a picture of the Presidential Guard in traditional costume, then pass the stadium – Transfer to Ancona that–hosted modern Olympics in 1896. Travel the by first night ferry from Ancona to You’ll also have the chance to see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, built in 515 B.C. Igoumenitsa to honor the most powerful of all Greek gods. Attend a Greek Evening
Florence (1)
Ancona
Rome (3)
Ferry (1)
Igoumenitsa
Meteora Region (1) Athens (2) Mykonos Samos Santorini Patmos
Delphi
Cruise (3)
DAY 7: IGOUMENITSA | METEORA REGION
DAY 9: ATHENS – Arrive in Igoumenitsa – Take an expertly guided tour of Athens: Olympic Stadium – Transfer to the Meteora Region – Visit the Acropolis: Parthenon; Temple of Athena Nike Take an expertly guided tour of the Meteora monastery – Visit–the Acropolis Museum the Meteora monastery – Take– aVisit walking tour of Athens: Plaka District
Crete
DAY 10: DEPART FOR HOME
DAY 8: DELPHI | ATHENS – Transfer to Delphi GREEK CRUISE EXTENSION – Take an expertly guided tour of Delphi: Temple of Apollo – Visit the Delphi DAY 10: MYKONOS ISLAND Museum – Continue to Athens and discover the ancient city – Enjoy free time toonexplore the island’s Old Town. named for Athena, goddess of war and wisdom. During your stay you’ll visit the Acropolis to view the Parthenon, DAY 11: SAMOS | PATMOS ISLANDS perhaps the world’s greatest architectural feat. See – Included excursion to Samos island featuresonce beaches the Temple of Athena Nike, which housed a gold and archaeological sites statue of the goddess, her wings clipped to prevent her – Enjoy free time to explore Patmos. from deserting the city. Snap a picture of the Presidential Guard in traditional costume, then pass the stadium that hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896. DAY 12: CRETE | SANTORINI ISLANDS – Included excursion to the of Knossos You’ll also have thePalace chance to see the Temple of – Included excursion to Oia Village in Santorini Olympian Zeus, built in 515 B.C. to honor the most powerful of all Greek gods. – Attend a Greek Evening DAY 13: DEPART FOR HOME
DAY 9: ATHENS – Take an expertly guided tour of Athens: Olympic Stadium Itinerary subject to change. For complete financial and registration details, please – Visit the Acropolis: Parthenon; Temple of Athena Nike refer to the Booking Conditions. – Visit the Acropolis Museum – Take a walking tour of Athens: Plaka District
DAY 10: DEPART FOR HOME Itinerary subject to change. For complete financial and registration details, please join us at the informational meeting, heldI WILL just for GirlDO, Scouts at EXPLORE Missouri Heartland. TOP THREE THINGS SEE, TRY, OR March 9 at 5:30 p.m., Springfield Library Station, Springfield, MO. 1.
2.
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New
s e g d a b In fall of 2018, GSUSA introduced 37 new badges! Girl Scouts at every level have new opportunities to explore. Here is a highlight of some of the new badges!
Space Science The Space Science badges were introduced for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors. They help girls explore our solar system and discover how scientists learn about space. Each badge instruction booklet is sold separately or is available on the Volunteer Toolkit. The Daisy badge is Explorer. Daisies learn about the sun and shadows. Next, they investigate the moon and its many phases. Finally, they meet the stars as they discover what tools scientists use to explore stars and they explore the constellations.
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Brownies earn the Adventurer badge. Brownies meet their neighbors—neighboring planets that is—as they gain understanding for how truly big our solar system is. They learn about tools used to view the stars and explore constellations. Brownies investigate the moon and end their adventure with a space party!
The Junior badge is Investigator. Juniors model the solar system and experience the Earth’s orbit for themselves. They discover the stars and learn about tools scientists use to explore space. They end their investigation of space with a star party or a space show.
Robotics Robotic badges were introduced for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, and the series includes three new badges for each! Each grade level has a Programming Robots badge, a Designing Robots badge, and a Showcasing Robots badge. All three badges are on the Volunteer Toolkit and are available to purchase in a booklet that contains all three badges in a program level. In the Programming Robots badge girls learn about robots and get to build robot parts. Cadettes build a simple sensor, Seniors build a robot arm, and Ambassadors build a motorized robot. The girls learn how the systems in a robot work together, how to code and even write a program for a robot.
In the Designing Robots badge they do exactly that—they design a robot. Similar to a Take Action project, girls identify a problem they want to solve, explore possible solutions, and then make a plan for a robot that will address this issue. Girls will build a prototype of their robot and show it to others for feedback.
The Showcasing Robots badge lets girls share their robots with the world. Girls create a presentation to introduce their robot and explain what it can do. They will find and attend a robotic event, where girls will show off their creation. Finally, girls will explore what robotic opportunities await them in high school, college, or beyond.
When girls earn Programming Robots they’ll understand how robots work and how to control them.
When girls earn Designing Robots, they’ll know how to design a robot and build a prototype.
When girls earn Showcasing Robots, they’ll know how to share their robot designs with the world.
Girl Scout awards and badges are a great way for a girl to explore her interests and learn new skills— and show the world what she’s accomplished.
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patch
programs
Explore your interests and expand your horizons by working on patches created just for you! Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland offers additional patches that are not listed in your program-level handbooks. Patch programs are a great way to explore a wide variety of topics. Details describing the requirements for each patch are available on our website. Buckle Up, Phone Down Staying safe is a priority for GSMH staff, volunteers, and members! We have partnered with the Missouri Department of Transportation to create a patch program to remind girls and their families how to stay safe while riding in and driving a car. Work on the requirements and then stop by your nearest Girl Scout Service Center to purchase the Buckle Up, Phone Down patch to show that you are committed to safe driving.
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Buck Phon le Up e Do wn
GSMH
STEAM Patch Program We all agree that Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) are vital to our future—the future of our country, and the future of our girls. Women with STEM jobs earn 33% more than women in any other kind of job! However, to encourage innovation in STEM fields, girls also need a healthy dose of creativity and ingenuity. With the Arts added to the mix, STEAM is everywhere and shapes our everyday experiences. This patch program helps girls discover, connect, and take action within the five diverse fields of STEAM.
Outdoor Skills Patch Program This patch program is a progressive, six-level program to help Girl Scout Daisies through Ambassadors learn and become proficient in outdoor skills. Through this patch program, girls explore leadership, build skills, and develop a deep appreciation for nature. The program is intended to supplement the existing Girl Scout program. It is not meant to replace working on Journeys, badges, or outdoor programming at camp. Once you have completed the requirements for a level, you can purchase the main patch and level patch at any of our council stores.
Her Story: Laura Ingalls Wilder This patch program was developed to encourage girls to think about the past. By exploring her story, girls can learn about themselves and reflect on what stories they are making today, tomorrow, and in the future. This patch program is a great tie-in with the It’s Your Story – Tell It! Journey series.
Sing Patch Program This program will help you learn more Girl Scout songs and encourages your troop to include more singing in its group activities! The first year that you participate, you will be recognized with a patch and a musical note. For each year that you participate after that, you will receive another musical note to add to your patch!
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Wrapping Up Your Girl Scout Year
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Celebrate!
Don’t forget to take some time to share memories and celebrate successes with your girls as the school year winds down! Many troops choose to wrap up their year with a Court of Awards or a bridging ceremony, or plan a fun celebration event such as a party to recognize girls’ achievements, a fun field trip, or even a special community service project.
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Court of Awards & Bridging
Court of Awards is a special ceremony recognizing girls’ accomplishments that can be held at any time of the year, and as often as the troop chooses. Girls may be presented with badges, membership stars, and other recognitions earned during the year. Volunteers may also be recognized during the ceremony. Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout’s life, as it marks a girl’s move from one level of Girl Scouting to another.
What if my troop is disbanding? If your girls are graduating, or your troop has to disband, here is a checklist of what to do.
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1. Let us know! As soon as you know (or think) that your troop is disbanding, contact our Customer Care Team and your Service Unit Volunteer Support Coordinator, so that they can assist you with the process. 2. Work to find new troops for the continuing girls and adults. This is the most important thing you will do when disbanding your troop.
Encourage and assist any interested girls and adults to find new leadership or a new troop. Girls may also register as Juliettes (individual members). 3. Dispose of the troop’s equipment. If the troop owns equipment or supplies, the girls should have a say in what happens to it. Passing it along to another troop or your service unit are great options!
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End-of-Year Tasks
End-of-Year Family Meeting
This is a great opportunity to connect with parents, fill them in on all of the awesome things their girls did this year, and have a discussion about troop logistics for next year. You can combine this with your Court of Awards or Bridging event, or have it separately. Make sure that you discuss the following:
Re-register all troop members. Early Bird by June 1, 2019 or on-time by October 1, 2019 Submit Cookie Program Uncollected Funds Reports by April 5, 2019.
Troop Finances: Make sure all families know about this year’s troop profits and expenses and what is already planned for next year.
Resolve all cookie recognition issues by May 27, 2019.
Summer Plans: Most troops do not have regular troop meetings throughout the summer, but planning even one get-together could be a lot of fun! A troop pool party, barbecue, slumber party, day trip, or even a camping trip are all awesome ways to stay connected with your troop over the summer.
Distribute final badges, patches, and earned recognitions to girls.
Re-Register for Next Year. Collecting next year’s membership registration forms now is much easier than trying to gather them in the fall – and it’s one less thing to worry about later! Plus, if you re-register by June 1, you can take advantage of Early Bird rewards for girls and troops! (See pages 6-7 for more details.) Girl Scouts is designed to promote self-sufficiency, so we encourage the use of troop funds, Girl Scout Cookie Credit, and Troop Bucks to pay for all or part of each girls’ membership fee for next year. Changes: Will your troop need to change meeting times or location? Is the troop getting too big and you need to split into two troops? Is your co-leader moving and you need another parent to step up? This is a good time to go over any changes for next year. Looking Ahead: Discuss when your troop will resume meetings in the fall. Is there anything the girls want to plan on doing in August and September that you might need to plan for over the summer? Consider setting up a meeting or lunch date with your co-leaders to wrap things up and plan ahead together!
4. Determine what the remaining troop money will be used for. Work in partnership with your girls to decide if you will do one final troop activity, donate funds to a charity or another troop, or have the remaining funds stay with GSMH to be used for financial assistance for future Girl Scouts. Make sure to follow our Troop Financial Guidelines document online.
Thank your meeting facility, parents, fellow volunteers, and anyone else who has supported your troop this year! Assess troop supplies. Trade or donate anything that you no longer need! Return anything you have borrowed from GSMH, your service unit, or another troop. Plan for summer troop activities. Remind your girls to register for summer camp! Complete a Troop Financial Report by October 1, 2019. Submit a Volunteer SelfAppraisal form by October 1, 2019.
Troop money cannot be dispersed to individual girls, but if girls re-register with new troops it can be divided and given to those troops.
6. Turn in a final Troop Financial Report and Troop Bank Account Closing form within 30 days of closing your account.
5. Close the troop bank account. Once all payments and checks have cleared the bank, make sure the account is closed.
Last, but not least, thank you for your dedication to the girls in your troop/ group. Your time and talent has made a difference in their lives!
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Doubleknot
Registration System This super easy-to-use system, accessible directly from our website, allows you to register for council events, volunteer trainings, and summer camp with ease. Go to girlscoutsmoheartland.org to check it out! How do I access Doubleknot? If you already have an account, you can log on to Doubleknot by clicking the “Event Registration” link in the upper right corner of our homepage on www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org. Never used Doubleknot? No worries. Click on the “Activities” tab on our homepage, select the activity you want, then follow the prompts to register. How do I log on to Doubleknot? We sent your User ID and Password via email. Don’t see it? Contact us to reset it.
Who can register via Doubleknot? Troop leaders, co-Leaders, adults, and guardians will be able to register themselves and any girls in their household or troop for programs and events. What payment forms will be accepted? We’re glad you asked! An exciting feature of Doubleknot—you’re able to pay with Troop Bucks and Cookie Credit (along with traditional credit/ debit card).
What if I need help or have questions? That’s easy! Your customer care team is only a phone call or email away. Just ask at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org.
Refund Policy
Confirmation
If a cancellation is made before the registration deadline, you may receive a refund. If a cancellation is made after the registration deadline due to illness or family emergency, a refund will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Refund amounts will be determined within 14 days after the event. Refunds will be given if an event is canceled by the council. Due to processing costs, all refunds of $5.00 or less will be issued as a GSMH Retail Store credit.
Confirmations will be sent approximately one week prior to the event. Confirmations will be sent via email unless otherwise requested. If you do not receive a confirmation at least three days prior to the event date, please contact us. Do not attend an event without receiving confirmation from GSMH.
Changes and Cancellations Events may be canceled if the required minimum number of participants is not met. If the program is canceled or moved to a different time or date, only those registered will be notified. If you must make changes to your registration information after you have submitted it, please email info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org prior to the final registration deadline. Substituting troop members is allowed for programs. If you must make a substitution, please email info@ girlscoutsmoheartland.org.
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What if I forget my password? Doubleknot has a handy “Forgot Password” feature that allows you to reset it!
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Tagalongs Siblings and children not registered for program events and trainings are considered “tagalongs.” Tagalongs are not permitted to participate in events unless directly specified. If the parent/guardian does not provide appropriate supervision, or the child causes a distraction or safety issue, the parent and child will be asked to leave the event site. Tagalongs are not permitted at council-sponsored overnight events, travel, or camp. The non-member insurance provided through Mutual of Omaha does not cover tagalongs for events intended for Girl Scout members. Therefore, GSMH is not liable for these individuals.
Perfectly Effortless Programs Perfectly Effortless Programs are just that! Designed to help leaders with a variety of interests their girls may have. Interested in a kit listed on this page? Contact us to get your hands on a copy! Back Pocket Games Do your girls ever need to let off a little steam at a meeting, or do activities sometimes not take the amount of time you had planned and you need something to fill the time? It’s time for “Back Pocket Games,” a set of activities with little or no props. Keep a copy of these games in your back pocket and you’ll be ready at a moment’s notice for a little fun. Camptastic Camp Rally Get girls prepared and excited about GSMH's summer camps! Use this PEP as a guideline for your next troop meeting or service unit rally to help girls become familiar with the different camps and some activities they might do at camp.
Cookie Chefs Do your girls love to cook? Kick off the Girl Scout Cookie Program with Cookie Chefs! Whether with your troop or whole service unit, this packet will get you started. Girls become culinary artists as they work as a team to follow a variety of recipes using Girl Scout Cookies—and then get to eat their masterpieces! Easy Engineering Engineers are leaders, innovative problem solvers, team players, and they make a difference in the world. This PEP teaches your girls about engineering through fun challenges like constructing a bridge from straws and building a catapult. Founder’s Day Founder's Day is on October 31 every year. Celebrate our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, with songs, activities, skits, games, and more! Get Out! With Girl Scouts This guide is set-up to help you plan a two-hour, outdoor event with your service unit. You can customize your event with the suggested activities to follow or add in your own ideas!
Program and Training Box Kits
Geocaching This packet provides information about the exciting hobby of geocaching. For Juniors and above, it expands further on the Junior badge. For other girls who are interested in this fun activity, it has the information you need to get started. Global Action Award Did you know you have sisters all around the world? Girl Scout and Girl Guide sisters! Learn what the world is like for them, and what issues affect girls and women around the globe. Poverty, health, sanitation issues, and education all impact a woman’s opportunities in life. Mathtastic This program is designed to make girls more comfortable and excited about math. Did you know that we use math every day? When we count money, measure height and weight, or tell time, we are using math. SWAPS SWAPS is the tradition of Girl Scouts exchanging keepsakes to promote friendship. This packet provides information about the exciting world of SWAPS and “SWAP” etiquette.
You can also contact us to get your hands on a program or training box kit!
Compasses In this kit, your Girl Scouts will learn how to read a compass and get practice in orienteering. You will find the materials to help lead Girl Scouts to learn this skill.
Financial Literacy
Flag Ceremony & Etiquette
Investiture & Rededication
Teach your troop how to perform a flag ceremony. This kit contains sample ceremonies and six red sashes for a flag color guard. Flags and stands may be checked out separately from the GSMH retail shops.
Contains an outline for the volunteer facilitator, a ceremony book, and items for the Ribbons and Candles ceremony.
Letterboxing Letterboxing combines navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a fascinating treasure hunt-style outdoor quest. This kit is a good way for Girl Scout Brownies to earn the Letterboxing Badge.
Knife Safety This kit contains detailed instructions on how to establish a safety circle, handle and pass a knife properly, as well as paper and pocket knives.
Troop Camping Badges This kit contains detailed instructions on how to establish a safety circle, handle and pass a knife properly, as well as paper and pocket knives.
Girl Scout History Help girls discover the history of Girl Scouts through hands-on activities.
It’s never too early to start teaching your girls financial literacy skills. This program will get girls thinking about where their money comes from and how to spend it wisely.
Knot-Tying Included in this kit are directions with pictures and knot-tying cords to practice two basic knots before going on a camping trip.
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Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland 210 S. Ingram Mill Road Springfield, MO 65802-6100
877-312-4764 info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org
HER NEXT STEP POWERED BY GIRL SCOUTS AND YOU! What path will you and your girls choose next year? With new programs in outdoor adventure and STEM and the promise of dozens of new skills to learn, at Girl Scouts it’s time to blaze another trail together. RENEW NOW AT WWW.GIRLSCOUTSMOHEARTLAND.ORG.
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