The Third edition of the Year 1 & Year 2 Bi-Monthly Volunteer Communications is here! Packed with resources, program opportunities, and helpful tools like the Troop Year Plan and Top Notch Reflection Tool, this edition supports you in creating a fun, girl-led experience. Don’t miss Patch of the Month spotlights, upcoming events, and engaging activities to make the most of cookie season!
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Troop Planning Made Easy: Utilize the Troop Year Plan and Top Notch Reflection Tool to create a well-rounded and engaging Girl Scout experience.
Mobile Program Support: Bring our Year 1 & Year 2 mobile program to your troop meeting for hands-on badge work and program connections.
Patch of the Month Spotlight: Celebrate Black History Month in February, Girl Scout Spirit Week in March, and American Patriotism in April with exciting activities and learning opportunities.
Resource Kits & Badge Helpers: Save time during cookie season with ready-to-use resources, including Daisy & Brownie Robotics Kits and free Badge Helpers for easy meeting prep.
Upcoming Events: Join us for World Thinking Day at Camp Mary Atkinson, a Marbles Kids Museum Sleepover, and the Poe Center’s My Senses and Me program plus a special electric toothbrush giveaway!
February 15, 2025 through April 15, 2025 Edition
NewsYouCanUse
News You Can Use is brought to you by the GS-NCCP Program team. Here you’ll find information and updates that make leading fun. Plus, resources to support you in providing a troop experience that is structured around the troop members, with activities that are girl-led and involve learning by doing and cooperative learning.
Troop Year Plans
Plan, Reflect, and Earn: Become a Top Notch Troop!
Are you using the Troop Year Plan for your troop? This resource provides a guide for a well-rounded year for any Girl Scout Level. Don’t forget to take it a step further and utilize the Top Notch Reflection Tool, too! This tool allows volunteers and Girl Scouts to take a thoughtful look at their year, reflect on all the exciting adventures and memorable moments together, and share their thoughts with GS-NCCP staff!
The information you share helps make informed decisions about future programmatic support and allows us to ensure your Girl Scouts are receiving an enriching experience based on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and to make certain that volunteers have the resources they need. Whether you loved it or hated it, we want to know! Complete the Top Notch Reflection by August 31st to become a Top Notch Troop or Top Notch Juliette and receive the 2024-2025 Top Notch Patch. Learn more and start your form today!
NewsYouCanUse
RENEWAL :
This year has been so much fun but, there’s so much more to discover with your Girl Scout crew! There are more friends to make, more neighbors to help, more outdoors to explore, more learning experiences to have, and more life skills to learn! Mark your calendars, opening on April 1st, members can renew their memberships early and not only get your troop excited for their next adventure but get a jump on planning and preparing for the next year of fun. Ensure you are part of our Girl Scout email list and join the GSNCCP Co-Leaders Facebook page to receive special discount codes and renewal information!
**Did you know that a number of Medicaid healthcare insurance providers offer a Girl Scout membership as an additional benefit to families? Visit our website to learn more about how to utilize your benefit for another year of Girl Scout adventure!
END OF YEAR PAPERWORK : RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP ON APRIL 1ST
If you haven’t already heard, it’s almost that time…to capture all the wonderful things you and your girls have been experiencing throughout the year. On April 1st troop co-leaders will receive an email outlining items to help us wrap up this year and help us prepare for future success in supporting you in leading your girls! Stay tuned for more information.
NewsYouCanUse
MY GS UPDATE:
Co-leaders are now able to see their troop members contact information at a glance in MyGs on the Troops page. They can still download a roster in VTK but now they have direct visibility in MyGs.
The Fayetteville Service Center is relocating from Eutaw Village Shopping Center to Suites 209 and 208 at the Westwood Shopping Center in March 2025. We had hoped to move into the new space earlier but there's been construction delays. The new location will have the retail shop, one large and one medium program room, and offices. Please look forward to a grand opening in the spring, TBA!
NEW SERVICE CENTER LOCATION:
ProgramCorner
In the Program Corner, you’ll find exciting opportunities each month, including our Year 1 and Year 2 Mobile Program, which brings badge-earning activities right to your troop meetings. Plus, don’t miss our featured Patch of the Month, resources to help you lead badges with ease, and event highlights designed to support your troop's growth and fun.
Patch of the Month:
Mobile: Each month we feature our council patch programs during the Patch of the Month promotion. Council patch programs are a great way to explore a variety of topics Scan the QR code below to learn more
On the Move with Honor!
Each month, we will provide more information about the exciting programs offered through Honor, our Year 1 and Year 2 mobile program support vehicle.
Did you know that you can have our Mobile Program come to your troop meeting to aid in supporting you and your Girl Scouts in taking steps to earn badges in your Troop Year plan?
Our Mobile Staff will come and join you to lead your troop meeting and assist you in ways that you can continue to connect to the program. Interested in scheduling a mobile visit? Complete our online interest form and select Year 1 and Year 2 troop
February Patch of the Month: Black History Month
March Patch of the Month: Girl Scout Spirit Week
April Patch of the Month: American Patriotism
From the arts to the sciences, African Americans have played a prominent role in contributing to America’s rich culture and development in the modern world Black History Month patch program helps Girl Scouts learn more about African American history, culture, and notable contributions
Are you ready to celebrate Girl Scouts’ Birthday? This year’s theme is “I am a Girl Scout, I am . ” Each day of the week will have a different adjective that describes our Girl Scouts, along with correlating activities to show you embody that word! Complete an activity for each day to earn the patch! Check our website for more information soon!
GS-NCCP’s American Patriotism Patch is designed to help Girl Scouts learn more about our national flag, our country’s freedom, women who have impacted change, and events that have shaped the American people into who we are today. Did you know that April is the Month of the Military Child? North Carolina is home to the 4th largest military population in the US, including approximately 100,000 school age children of active-duty military, Guard and Reserve That’s a big number!
ResourceSpotlight
Resources:
GIRL SCOUT
Did you know as part of the Troop Year Plans Daisies are encouraged to earn their Courageous and Strong petal in February? With cookie season in full swing, we know time is tight so we’ve got you covered!
Badge Helpers take the guesswork out of meeting prep. It’s perfect for your next troop meeting or for a Daisy to complete at home individually guiding you to complete a badge from start to finish. The best part is it's FREE! Download Here and help your Daisies learn what it means to be courageous and strong.
Don’t have a lot of time to prep and plan fun activities for meetings during busy cookie season? Don’t forget that you can reserve one of our resource kits! The Girl Scout Daisy or Girl Scout Brownie Robotics kits provide your troop with the opportunity to learn about robotics with a real robot! Set up a maze that navigates Colby or Botley to a delicious box of Thin Mints or Lemonades. With these kits, you can bring a hands-on experience to your next meeting. Either kit can be used with Daisies or Brownies for a radical robotics experience! Reserve your kit today by clicking HERE! RESOURCE
GIRL SCOUT
On Sunday, February 22, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world will celebrate “World Thinking Day ”This Girl Scout tradition started in 1926 and is a time for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to celebrate our worldwide sisterhood
Each year has a different theme to aid in guiding the conversation and activities for your troop to learn more about this tradition.
You can find information about World Thinking Day in Year Plans in the Volunteer Toolkit, at GSUSA’s website, or by attending a World Thinking Day Event - either GSNCCP Sponsored (see upcoming events) or a local area event.
Badge Helper Spotlight:
Girl Scout Traditions:
Annual World Thinking Day Event
Join us at Camp Mary Atkinson on Saturday, February 22, 2025, for our Annual World Thinking Day events. We will celebrate our Global Girl Scout Movement, work on the World Thinking Day Patch, while focusing on this year’s theme of “Our Story: Reflecting the symbolism and values of our Movement”.This event is planned by our World Thinking Day Crew- a group of teen Girl Scouts who plan and facilitate activities so participants can enjoy this Girl Scout Tradition. Registration is now open!
There’s more! Check out the 2024-2025 program guide for upcoming activities, training, and more.
UpcomingEventHighlight
Electric Toothbrush Giveaway!
If you complete the Delta Dental Smile Squad Patch Program during the month of February, you can be entered to win an electric toothbrush! In order to be eligible, you have to submit an evaluation and patch order through our online form HERE.
Please note that in-store purchases of the patch are not eligible. Submissions must be received by February 28, 2025!
Upcoming Event Highlight
Girl Scout
On Saturday, March 22nd – Sunday, March 23rd, join Marbles Kids Museum for the Be Your Best Sleepover Event! Discover just how amazing you are while working on the Clover Petal, My Best Self Badge, or the First Aid Badge. While you’re completing badge activities, you can explore the museum and make new friends before ending the evening with a Marbelous dance party! This event is for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors.
Check
UPCOMING EVENT HIGHLIGHT
Join the Poe Center on Saturday, April 12 for My Senses and Me, a program designed for Brownies to explore the five senses and their associated organs in the General Health Theater and the outdoors PlayWELL Park! Your Brownie can zip from ear to ear, slip down the artery slides, and learn about the important role of the brain in physical activity and coordination.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Get ready for an exciting day filled with hands-on learning and engaging workshops! Dive into Girl Scout traditions and explore ways to incorporate them into your future lessons. Put your problem-solving skills to the test in a S.T.E.M.themed escape room, and level up your troop leadership with ChatGPT hacks and tech tools designed to make planning easier. Strengthen your abilities in conflict resolution and multi-level troop planning, ensuring a smoother experience for both you and your Girl Scouts. And when it's time to unwind, relax with Zentangles and thought-provoking discussions that will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired! Bring a co-leader, volunteer, or buddy there’s something for everyone! Sign up today & get ready for an unforgettable experience!
