The Golden Link - July/August 2019 by GSSJC

Golden THE

LINK

The Official Publication of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council | Volume 45 Issue 4

July/August 2019

Race into the new Girl Scout year!

Find out what is new for Fall Product Program

How to get parents involved

President of the Council and Chair of the Board Dee Hinkle Chief Executive Officer Mary Vitek Chief External Affairs Officer Connie Chavez Communications Director Mona Tolbert Visual Brand Manager Joanne Pastalaniec

Troop #150061 spent spring break at the Girl Scout camp Tomahawk Ranch in Colorado and enjoyed the blizzard by building snowmen, sledding, ziplining and hiking. See more photos in the Scrapbook section on page

Mission Statement GSSJC: Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Pluralism Statement Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is a pluralistic movement, committed to understanding our similarities and differences, building relationships and promoting a dialogue of acceptance and respect. Each individual involved must uphold the tenet that Girl Scouting is for all girls. Circulation The Golden Link is published five times a year. It has a circulation of more than 44,000. The Golden Link is also available online at www.gssjc.org. The Golden Link reaches 26 Texas counties: Angelina, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Wharton. To report address changes or if you have problems receiving The Golden Link call Customer Service at 713-292-0300. Deadlines Deadline for submitting items is the first of the month two months prior to publication. GSSJC does not accept responsibility for unsolicited materials. Send news and photographs and Scrapbook photos to communications@sjgs.org. Advertisements Advertising rates are available by calling 713-292-0314. Advertisements are accepted in good faith that all the information is correct. Acceptance of advertising does not reflect endorsement of services or goods by the Council. The Golden Link is published six times a year by Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, 3110 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098 713-292-0300 The Golden Link is also available to read online at www.gssjc.org/publications

Contents July/August 2019

4 4

From the Top Shop News

Special Feature 5 8

Use Your Summer to Plan for the New Year Fall Product Program

Learn what's new in the Fall Product Program. Page 8

Features 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 17 18

Cookie CEOs Announced Hats off to the Cookie Booth Liaisons How to Get Parents Involved Parents, Be a Part of Her Girl Scout Adventure Make Her Experience Memorable, How Parents Can Help the Troop Leader Bring the Magic of Girl Scouts Home Tips for Volunteer Toolkit Sign up for Camp/Daycamp Many Faces of Girl Scouts Congratulations Gold Award Girl Scouts

Activities

20 Camp Activities 21 Environmental 21 Fine Arts 23 General Activities 25 Health 27 Highest Awards 27 History 28 Sailing 28 Sports 29 STEM

Columns

33 Adult Trainings 36 Around Camp 37 Philanthropy 38 Service Projects

Are your moving? Be sure your address is up-todate in our system. For help, contact Customer Service at 713-292-0300 or customerservice@ sjgs.org.

Council Scrapbook Page 39

On the Cover Girl Scouts in our Media Corps Program enjoy a day at Discovery Green during our spring photo shoot. Are you interested in being a part of Media Corps? Send an email to communications@ sjgs.org.

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Dee Hinkle Chair of the Board and President of the Council

From the

TOP

I am into the second year of my term as chair of the board and president of the council. Reflecting on the first year of my term, I have two observations. First, it has been incredibly motivating and second, it was so much fun! The year closed with a joyful afternoon with friends and family honoring members who have earned our highest award, the Gold Award. As a council, we are working to improve the Gold Award experience. We are reviewing our processes to remove unnecessary hurdles, provide additional support and elevate the recognition of our Gold Award Girl Scouts. Part of this effort was a change of venue for this year’s pinning to make the honorees feel as special as they are. These girls elevated my motivation to reach more girls with our

life-changing mission. Talk about fun! Resident and day camps are underway. Our members are participating in a wide range of activities at our resident camps including stirring up Camp Agnes Arnold’s Shadow Lake with corcls and canoes, sailing on the glistening waters of Galveston Bay at Casa Mare and riding our expanded horse herd at Misty Meadows Ranch. Day camps are underway at the Program Place and in many of our Communities. As with our Gold Award program, your council is working hard to improve everyone’s summer camp experience. Behind the scenes of fun, we have improved the registration process and added a progression element to most activities. The goal is to enrich the camper’s experience while developing lifelong interpersonal skills, confidence and independence. That’s one of my favorite things, learning while having fun! I’m looking forward to my second year, motivated to improve the way we deliver our programs to our current members and to expand our membership to provide fun and learning to more girls. We can’t do that without you, our volunteers. The council can provide wonderful facilities and programs, but you are the secret sauce that bring those programs to life. You are the ones who put the fun in activities that make girls want to be a Girl Scout. You convince parents that they can invest their precious, limited time in developing courage, confidence and character in their daughters. So please join me as we look forward to recruiting season by spreading the word that Girl Scouts is the premier organization for girls who want to make the world a better place and have some fun in the process!

Have a great new Girl Scout year!

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Girl Scout Resource Centers For resource center locations and hours, please visit girlscoutshop.com/san-jacinto-council

Hours can change due to emergencies, weather or other factors. Please call before driving long distances. Bay Area 281-282-6077 Mon. Tue. Wed. Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thu. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Imperial Valley 281-447-8870 Mon. Tue. Wed. Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thu. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sat. CLOSED

Beaumont 409-832-0556 Mon. Tue. Wed. Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thu. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Lufkin 936-634-4688 (Closed until Aug. 13)

Houston 713-292-0247 Mon. Tue. Wed. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thu. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lake Jackson has permanently closed

Stafford 281-670-5982 Mon. Tue. Wed. Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thu. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Westside 281-822-4250 Mon. Fri. & Sat. CLOSED Tue. Wed. Thu. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Office and Resource Center Closures: July 4 and Sept. 2.

New Leader Must-Knows!

Are you a new Girl Scout leader? Here are some things you need to know for the next few months.

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Keep in touch with your troop through the summer so your girls stay engaged with Girl Scouting. Some troops meet just once a month over the summer or gather for one or two fun activities, like a day of water games or participating in a neighborhood Fourth of July parade. Have you renewed your troop for 2019-2020? If not, head to gssjc.org, log in to your MyGS account and renew your members under the Troop tab. Get inspired for the new year at the Membership Kick-Off! Feel the spirit of Girl Socut sisterhood as volunteers gather to learn and lead together. Sat., Aug. 10. Register now. The cost is $20 and includes lunch. See back cover for more information. The Fall Volunteer Conference is a great way for new and seasoned leaders to get ideas for troop meetings. It is also a fun way for new leaders to see what camp is like and to network with troop leaders for across the Council. This event takes place Nov. 8-10 – watch gssjc.org/activities for a registration link. Fall Product Program is an easy way to earn money for your troop. Troop Fall Product manager trainings start in August. Keep an eye on gssjc.org/fallproduct for complete program details soon.

Special Feature

Use your summer to plan for an awesome Girl Scout year! The 2019-20 Girl Scout Bucket List

Check the box on some of this year’s most exciting events and activities! Make the most of your Girl Scout year by seeing how many events and activities you can complete by the end of the Girl Scout year. More Girl Scout events and activities for you and your troop can be found at gssjc.org/activities. □ Bust a move with the Green Starlettes □ Learn something new at Brownie Magic □ Stay overnight with your troop at camp □ Begin your Bronze, Silver or Gold Award project □ Learn how to save a life in a GSSJC First Aid badge workhop □ Invite a friend to your Girl Scout troop meeting □ Complete a community service project with your troop □ Become a Girl Scout Cookie Pro during the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Program □ Celebrate World Thinking Day with your troop □ Show your thanks at Adult Recognition Event □ Visit Misty Meadows Ranch and make a new horse friend □ Spend a week at summer resident camp □ Make new friends at day/twilight camp □ Raise money for your troop with the Fall Product Program □ Tell someone why you love being a Girl Scout

Snowball Fight for Planning

Want to find out what your Girl Scouts have in mind? Try this idea to get the girls excited about planning the upcoming year. Are you familiar with brainstorming rules? Tell the girls: Every idea or suggestion is a good one, respect all participants, everyone has a chance to participate, if a girls doesn't participate the first time, go back to that girl later for any input she may have to add. Activity: Snowball Fight. • Give the girls a sheet of paper have them fold it in half and then in half again. • Now have them write one topic in each square: “Field Trips”, “Craft” “meeting idea” and “service project” • Allow the girls to write as many ideas down as they can think of on this paper in each category in 2 minutes. • Crumple the paper up, and have a snowball fight. Call time and have the girls take turns un-crumpling the snowballs and reading the ideas. You can record these on chart paper or poster board as they are being read. • Ask for any additional ideas when you run out of snowballs.

Get to know your digital assistant – the Volunteer Toolkit

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a digital resource that supports troop leaders and co-leaders, making the process of running a troop easier and more efficient. Check out some of the toolkit’s top features below. You can also visit gssjc.org/vtk to learn more. Through the VTK, troop leaders can: • Plan the troop’s calendar year • Email parents with one click • View the troop roster, renew girls’ membership and update their contact information • View Daisy through Ambassador Journeys and badges to plan for troop meetings, including prepopulated tracks for younger and older multi-level groups (k-5 and 6-12) • Customize meetings by troop year with other badge and Journey options • Access the VTK as a multilevel troop (troops with a mix of girls in Daisy, Brownie and Junior levels) • Explore individual meeting plans that show a breakdown of every meeting, including a list of the materials needed, and editable time allotments for each activity within a meeting • Record girls’ attendance at meetings and their badge and Journey achievements • Add council or custom troop events to the troop’s calendar • Enter the troop’s finances • Easily locate resources, such as Safety Activity Check- points • Access 18 activities that include a “Get Outside” option, which provides alternative outdoor options What about parents? Parents can access the VTK to see what their girl’s troop or group is doing (e.g, meeting information and which badges and Journeys she is working on). Parents can also view the troop’s finances. Try it out! Log in to VTK by visiting gssjc.org and logging in to MyGS. Then select the Volunteer Toolkit option. July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Special Feature

Troop Camping Made Easy

Girl Scouts have always understood the importance of nature in a child’s development. There are few things as impressionable as a girl’s first time to camp and spending that time with her friends. Troop camping is available to all troops with the right training to keep you safe and aware of proper troop camping procedures. If you’ve ever wondered how you can get your troop in camp yearround, here is what you need to know:

Step one: Become camp certified

Reserving your day or overnight camp stay is easy—with the right training. GSSJC requires volunteers to attend camp training to become camp certified. To become camp certified, you must attend one three-hour planning session hosted during weekday evenings. Once you’ve completed your planning session, you may attend either a full-day, on-site camp training or an overnight, Saturday and Sunday). Once completed, you will receive an outdoor training card as proof of completion. Sign up for your planning session by logging in to your MyGS account and registering under Activities.

Step two: Earn your first aid certification

To attend camp with your troop, you are required to have at least one adult in your group who is first aid-certified. GSSJC hosts monthly training for adults, but you can also become certified through another approved agency. We cannot accept expired certifications. Make sure to renew your certification every two years. Sign up for a first aid certification course at gssjc.org, or go to redcross.org to find training courses near you.

Step three: Schedule your stay

Once you’ve completed steps one and two, all that's left to do is pick a location and date. Troops select a spot by sending the F-127 form (available at gssjc.org under Forms) to campreservations@sjgs.org, along with copies of your troop first aid and camp certification cards. Please allow for five to seven business days for your request to be processed. Camp reservation payments are due two weeks after you receive confirmation and are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Troop Camp reservation dates are provided two ways:

Monthly draw placement – All requests received by the first Monday of the month for placement three months out will be randomized and placed according to availability. See page two of the F-127 for appropriate placement month. First come, first placed (Camp Corner) - After initial monthly placement is complete, requests will be placed on a first come, first placed basis. These open spots are listed on the weekly Camp Corner email. To be added to this list, send an email to registration@sjgs.org. Tip: Make sure you have the right adult-to-girl ratio for your stay. You will learn all about this and additional planning considerations during your planning session.

We look forward to seeing you at camp! Start the New Year with Get Acquainted Games

Starting back with your troop after the summer might mean girls are back being shy again since they haven't seen their Girl Scout sisters in awhile. Plus, you hopefully picked up a few new girls at the start of the new year. Use these get acquainted games to break the ice and get your troop meetings started! Name Game Everyone is sitting in a circle. The first person says her name, "I'm Sue." The second person says the first persons name and then her own, "You're Sue, I'm Jane." Third person repeats the names of the first two, then her own. The process continues around the circle until everyone has participated. The last person says everyone's name. Human Bingo Give every person as she arrives a pencil and a sheet of paper marked off into 25 squares. Have each person put her own name in the center square. Then have everyone walk around to get others to autograph her paper in the remaining squares until they have all 25 filled. Have one person start off by saying her name and then reading off another name. Everyone with those two names on her chart may cross them off. The person whose name was read stands and reads another name. The person whose name was just read stands and reads another name until someone "bingos."

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Spider Web During this activity, each person will tell her name and share something special about themselves. Give the girls a moment to think about what they wish to say. The leader, holding a ball of yarn, begins by stating her name and something special about herself, "My name is Sue and I like to sing." Then while holding onto the end of the yarn, she rolls the ball to another person in the circle. After that person gives their name and something special about themselves, they hold the yarn while rolling the ball to another. Continue until everyone has been introduced and a spider web is created. To unravel the web, the last girl tosses the ball of yarn to the connecting person while saying that person's name and special quality. Continue until the web is unwound.

Special Feature

Ideas for Your Troop Meeting Sing a Song

Girl Scout songs are used to both tell our history and express our values, friendships and joy of being a Girl Scout. Sing Can a Girl Scout Make New Friends to your own tune! Can a Girl Scout make new friends? Yes we can, yes we can! Can a Girl Scout lend a hand? Yes we can, yes we can! Can a Girl Scout be a leader, Guiding all who look and see her? Can a Girl Scout be a leader? Yes we can! Can a Girl Scout learn new things? Yes we can, yes we can! Can a Girl Scout play and sing? Yes we can, yes we can!

Host a Ceremony

We’re proud of our Girl Scouts and we know you are to. Girl Scouts has many ceremonies to both honor girls and participate in important yearly celebrations. Try your hand at a Moving On to New Adventures ceremony. Moving on to New Adventures Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout's life. It's a defining moment when a girl becomes aware of her achievements and is ready for new adventures and responsibilities. Celebrating this change should be fun, personalized, and memorable for everyone involved. And most of all, it should be designed by the girls in true partnership with adults. Bridging ceremonies usually take place at the beginning or end of the Girl Scout year and can have three parts: 1. Opening: Guests are welcomed and the tone is set. 2. Main section: The ceremony is explained and the girls celebrate moving from one level to the next. 3. Closing: Girls can participate in friendship circles and thank their guests. 4. Each of the ceremony's parts offers plenty of room for the girls' creativity and individuality. The ceremony should always focus on paying tribute to Girl Scouts as they move forward.

Great ways to end your meeting

Girl Scout Friendship Circle: Girls stand in a circle. Each girl crosses her right hand over her left. Then she holds hands with the person standing on either side of her.

Can a Girl Scout make a difference, Change the world and make it listen? Can a Girl Scout make a difference? Yes we can!

Girl Scout Friendship Squeeze: One person in the friendship circle starts the friendship squeeze. When you feel your hand squeezed, you put your right foot into the circle and then squeeze the hand on the other side of you. Everyone is silent as the friendship squeeze is passed around the circle. It stands for friendship with Girl Scouts everywhere. Once everyone has felt the squeeze everyone says: “Goodnight Girl Scouts!” and turns to the right under their right arms never letting go hands until they are facing out.

Can a Girl Scout share and swap? Yes we can, yes we can! Can a Girl Scout reach the top? Yes we can, yes we can! We are Girl Scouts look and see us! May look small, but just believe us! Together we can do amazing things!

Weather Scavenger Hunt List

Search for weather related clues outside. Materials: Scavenger hunt lists, bags, pencils and paper Take your group on a weather scavenger hunt to see how many weather-related things they can find. Use the list of clues provided or modify it for your group. Some of the clues don’t require any weather background, but others do. Divide into teams and give each team a clue sheet, a bag, a pencil, and one to two sheets of paper. Explain to the kids that they can put some of their “weather finds” in their bags. But for the clues they can’t collect, they should draw or describe what they see on their blank sheets. Set a time for all the teams to meet back at the starting point. Then have each team show and explain what they found for each clue. Afterward, have each team return any “finds” to where the items were found. Note: Before sending the group out, make sure to set your own scavenger hunt guidelines, such as: “Do not pick flowers, reach under logs with bare hands or wander away from the rest of the group. Weather Scavenger Hunt List 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Something bending toward the sun. Something hiding from sunshine. Something that may become part of a cloud. Something that tells you the wind is blowing. Something left by the rain. A sign of an animal used in folklore to “predict” he weather. A bad place for a person to seek shelter during a lightning storm. A place where icicles might form.

9. A place where weather has damaged a building. 10. A good place for a person to seek shelter during a tornado. 11. Sign of an animal that likes rain. 12. A place to go where it’s cool. 13. A place where rain has moved the soil. 14. A place that gets little sunshine. 15. Something that bends in the wind. 16. Something that won’t bend in the wind. 17. Something that reflects lots of sunlight. 18. Something that absorbs lots of sunlight. 19. Something that will soak up rain.

20. Something that makes rain splatter. 21. Something that protects people from rain. 22. Something that uses sunlight, wind, or water to work. 23. Something that smells better after a rain shower. 24. A good windbreak. 25. Something shaped by wind or water. 26. A sign of lightning damage. 27. Something the color of the sky. 28. Something the color of snow. 29. Something that would make snow melt.

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Special Feature

The best way to start your Girl Scout year is participating in the Fall Product Program! Our Product Sales programs

GSSJC hosts two product sales each year. From late September to November, girls can participate in the Fall Product Program. This is a friends and family sale where girls sell delicious nuts and candies as well as magazine subscriptions. Troops earn 25% of the sale from each nut or candy item sold and $2 from each magazine subscription. It’s a great way to earn start-up funds for your troop right away. From January to March, GSSJC holds its annual Cookie Program (which is 103 years strong!). In 2019, at least 75 cents of the proceeds from each package sold went directly back to the troop. Plus, girls are learning five valuable skills they’ll continue to use for a lifetime: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics. Both programs have digital elements online and via mobile apps, so girls can market their Fall Product or Cookie businesses by sending e-cards or emails, take orders on an app, track their sales and goals, and much more. Pretty cool, huh?

Special Feature

How girls use their Product Sales funds

Girls decide how they will use funds earned from our Product Sales programs. During the 2018-2019 membership year, troops earned more than $490,000 total from the Fall Product Program and approximately $3.1 million from the Cookie Program. Many troops use their proceeds to attend activities during the membership year, such as STEM workshops or sleepovers at area museums. They might also use their funds to go troop camping at their favorite camp. They also use their proceeds to fund take action projects for their communities. Girls may decide they want to use their proceeds to pay for part, or all, of their Girl Scout membership the following year. Others may put their funds towards a service project benefiting their favorite animal shelter. And many of our older girl troops opt to save their funds, year after year, to take a trip together during their final year of Girl Scouting. How Product Sales funds get used is up to the girls.

2019 Fall Product Program starts Sept. 20 Our Fall Product Program is about to start! Don’t miss out on your

daughter’s chance to participate in the Fall Product Program and her own personalized patch that looks just like her. Beginning Sept. 20, look for the link on our council website to get started. Please make sure to get online and help your Girl Scout create her Me2™ (an avatar that looks just like her). Send emails through the site to friends and family inviting them to shop online. Your Girl Scout’s Me2™ avatar will be part of her troop’s online photo and will also earn virtual rewards. By sending 12 emails and selling six magazines, she will earn a personalized patch with her name and Me2™ on it. She can choose to go on a Hot Air Balloon ride or go up to the Lookout Tower on her patch. She can also choose to be in her uniform or a safari outfit. Don’t miss out on all the fun! This program is easy, fun and a great way to earn startup funds for your troop!

Earn these patches during the Fall Product Program!

Create your avatar and sell 6 magazines to earn a personalized patch.

Fall Product Items for 2019 New items this year are Peppermint Pretzels and Thin Mint Chocolate Almonds. See the inside back cover to see the new tin that has Mint Treasures in them. Other items on the girls order card are:

Send 12 emails Sell 5 or more nut/candy or magazine items

Sell 30 or more nut/candy and magazine items

• • • • • • • •

Choc. Covered Almonds Deluxe Pecan Clusters Hot Cajun Crunch Cranberry Nut Mix Butter Toasted Peanuts Whole Cashews English Butter Toffee Mint Penguins

• Salsa Mix • Dk. Choc. Sea Salt Caramel • Honey Roasted Mixed Nuts • Almond Butter Cups • Pretzels, Holiday Tin

Plus, more items are available for sale in their online store. 8

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Special Feature

Top Ten Rhino Facts! Five species of rhinos exist today: * Black and White (Africa) * Sumatran, Javan and Indian (Asia)

The White rhino is the third largest African animal, after the elephant and the hippo. They are not white, but actually grey. White rhinos have three toes on each foot. Rhinos are classified as mammals. Full grown rhinos can weigh anywhere from 3500–8000 pounds. Their body length ranges from 8 –13 feet long and their top speed can reach 34 mph.

Rhinos are best known for their giant horns that grow from their snouts. Rhinoceros means “nose horn.” Javan and Indian rhinos have one horn, whereas the White, Black and Sumatran have two. Despite their size, they do not prey on other animals for food. They’re herbivores. They like to eat grass and plants.

Rhinos love to lay in the mud, not just to get dirty, but because the mud protects their skin from the strong sun. Rhinos typically will hang out by themselves. However, you might sometimes see “crashes”.Crash is when you do see a group of rhinos together, mostly made up of a female and her calves.

Rhinos have between 24 to 34 teeth, depending on their species.

Rhino Facts NORTHERN WHITE RHINO

There are two subspecies of white rhinos – the southern white rhino and the northern white rhino. While the population of both subspecies is rapidly decreasing, there are only two northern white rhinos in existence. The last male, Sudan, unfortunately passed away in March of 2018 leaving only two females remaining. With the help of science and technology, a team of conservationists is hopeful that they can preserve the species. The last two female northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu are a mother and daughter duo. It will take scientists years and millions of dollars before they can determine if their plans will succeed. Through protective measures like this, the southern white rhino was brought back from 200 to a current population of around 20,000.

You will often see Oxpeckers that sit on rhinos. Rhinos have a lot of parasites on their hide that the birds can eat. They also make a noise to alarm the rhinos when any danger is near.

Rhinos gestation lasts between 15 and 16 months. Young rhinos will remain with their mothers until they are between two or three years old.

LEARN MORE…

To learn more facts about rhinos and the initiative to save the Northern White Rhinos, you can visit the websites below: olpejetaconservancy.org

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Features

Our Hats are off to the 2019 Cookie Booth Liaisons

Did your troop hold a cookie booth during the 2019 Cookie Program? If so, then you need to thank these hardworking cookie booth liaisons. Without their dedication in securing cookie booths for all troops, GSSJC would not have been able to offer more than 613 different locations, resulting in 989,442 reported packages of cookies sold. Interested in finding out how you can help confirm more opportunities for troops holding cookie booths? Contact the Product Sales Department at 713-292-0300 or email cookies@sjgs.org to find out how you can become a member of this amazing group of volunteers. Region 1 April Martin April O'neal Crystal Kurtz Crystal Parrish Dusty Pierce Eddie Nash, Jr. Farah Couch Mary Champion Melanie Enger Melissa Abbott Michelle Nash Revenia Steubing Sandy Lazaro Sara Woosley Shelby Laird Region 2 Abbi McClellan Branch Amanda Seto Rodriguez Angela Brown Angela Freeman Erica Sopon (Smoot) Jamie Arlt Katherine Lake Kim Bubela Kim Grove Michelle Arceman

Rachel Durst-Strecker Regan Vasquez Shamira Preston Shelly Murski Susan Prokosch Tisha Ellis Region 3 Ashante Morgan Stacy Leal Region 4 Darliss Powel Debbie Lewis Lara Randall Lisa Wojtaszcyk Region 5 Carrie Campbell Cherly Garrett Christa Stranathan Jenna Fennell Nicole Forester Region 6 Annemarie Maples Ashley Hendrickson Jennifer Turner Karen Rexer Kathryn Beavers Robbie Durham

Stephanie Dengolio Region 7 Kertrina Henderson Region 9 Maribeth Negri Miranda Wiley Ursula Sharp Region 10 Amy Wagenhauser Elizabeth (Gayle) Simon Gail Prettyman Gloria Mason January Duck Katy Doubt Kelli Jo Arceneaux Leslie Ellis Margaret Blitch Region 11 Emma Robinson Joni Ligon Julie Dey Kenya Johnson Lenora Rose Melinda Porter Region 12 Brandi Nixon Dawn Zapp

Lynn Buck Region 13 Catherine Hood Jennifer Burch Kathy Johnson Thorpe Melissa (Missy) Locklear Nilda Muguerza Simone Hidalgo Trish Doherty (Patricia) Valeria Montgomery Region 14 Barbette Andrus Chararmaine Carabello Cheryl Brown Diane Ragan Mia Foster Sandy Judson Region 15 Jodi Estimbo Sophia Stewart Region 16 Erin Freund Lauri Stallones-Einhorn Mary Trochta Regina Hill Tracey Jammer Wendy Rachuk

Thank you to the 2019 Community Cookie Managers

On behalf of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, the Product Sales Operations Team would like to thank everyone who helped girls be inspired, use their imagination and innovate during the 2019 Cookie Program. We could not have had the successful Cookie Program we enjoyed without the efforts of parents/guardians, troop cookie managers and Community cookie managers (CCM). Special thanks to the following CCMs who made it possible for troops to participate in the Cookie Program: Bay Pals Christa Fuselier Derrick Fuselier Bending Bayou Dean Eicher Blossom Creek Charlotte Bennett Braes Oaks Alva Allen Brazos Valley Tamara Blackburn Buffalo Trail Ana Sanchez Edna Chible Clear Creek Erin Abbey Julie Hairgrove Rebecca Pekar Colony Creek Susie Hyde Copper Creek Meadows Michelle Baxmann Crystal Cove Delta Rhodes Marceline Lamb Cypress Bend Jena Krauss Dogwood Wonders Crystal Kurtz East Enders Deborah Gonzalez Rachel Lee Eastern Thicket Angela Doiron Emerald Oaks Amanda Heathco 10 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Cynthia Landreneau Leslie Haydel Themetta Turner Emerald Pines Beth Ebersbaker Firefly Trails Autumn Jones Golden Coast Amanda Wharton Chelsea Cole Karen Hyde Gulf Coast Stars Brandi Nixon Gulf Meadows Amy Earle Harmony Creek Courie Anderson Heart of Texas Janelle Chandler Lyn Suzanne (Suzy) Weaver Heart of the Brazos Erin Freund Heritage Trace Laura Haese Island Creek Maribeth Negri Klein Trails Christa Stranathan Nicki Forester Lone Star Trails Kristen Holland Lone Star Treasures Jennifer Gallagher Lone Stars Brandy Peltier

Magic Blossom Trails Elva Perez Gwen Parker M Isabel Martinez Magnolia Blossom Hills Tami (Tammela) Folk Monument Lenora Rose Pine Forest Farah Couch Pine Village Trina Menefee Rainbow Trails Nevovia "Darcy" Gates Rainbows End Mary Murphy Rose Petals Diane Freeman Shooting Stars Amber Savoy Kathy Johnson-Throop Skyline Junction Selma Reyna South Bridge Kaphne Harris Spring Creek Trails Elizabeth Stevens Staci Black Stargazers Stephanie Presley Sunshine Stars Jennifer Burch Phyllis Woliver Samantha Bragg Vanessa Washington

Tall Pines Hill Vanessa Skrabanek Tannybo Melody Thornton Tonya Curry Tonkawa Trailblazers Sonya Emmert TopFlowing Trails Karen Rexer Trinity Treasures Tara Jones Way Out West "WOW" Jocelyn Schroeder Sheri Chapp Western Horizon Dixie Gandee Westmoreland Michelle Turner Wharton County Ashley Gonzalez Wildflowers Avie Ditch Michele Brown Willow Rock Charmaine Carabello Donna Sisak Sandy Judson Teresa Palmer Wind Catchers Ashley Kanatzar-Fuller Woodland Trails Regina Woody-Crain Yellow Rose Jennifer McCullough

Features

How to Get Parents Involved

We’ve all been there. Although you love seeing the girls faces when they learn and try new things, sometimes you wish you could get their parents to help with either planning or leading troop meetings. Well, you’re not alone. Here are some quick tips or reminders that will help encourage your parents to stay engaged in troop activities. • Schedule more family activities where the parents are invited to participate and be active in their daughter’s troop/group. • Assign a specific job/duty to parents who stay during the meeting. Some ideas might be: o Snack duty o Crowd/noise control o Update files/paperwork o Prepare things needed for the next meeting o Run an errand/pick up something at the last minute • Also, assign some of the troop duties to these parents. Ask them to be an assistant leader, first aider, troop camper, badge work coordinator or guest speaker. Some may just be waiting to be asked. • Parents might enjoy presenting a special program for the troop using their individual expertise.

Parent Engagement: Words of Wisdom “Sometimes parents don’t want to do the planning, but they will do the activities. The leader can put out a calendar with what the girls will be working on and give to the parent. Let each parent decide which activity they would be most comfortable in doing. The leader would need to give them the activity sheet ahead of time so they can be prepared.” – Regina Zaragoza, Volunteer Experience Manager “Set expectations from the beginning. Any time a new girl joins, have a conversation with the parent and let them know that a requirement for being part of their troop is for the parent to be involved in some way, even if that’s just agreeing to help transport girls when needed or provide snacks for a few of the meetings. Setting the expectation of involvement from the beginning and holding parents accountable to that expectation is critical.” – Brittney Coulter, Volunteer Experience Manager

“Parents: be your daughter’s role model! Parents with a professional career in science can help with STEM projects. Those with careers in money management (CPA or accounting background) can be the troop treasurer. Enjoy the outdoors with your daughter by being the troop’s camp trained volunteer. Keep the Girl Scout tradition going by learning songs and games. Enjoy planning activities? Be your daughter’s troop event coordinator.” – Sandra Johnson, Volunteer Experience Manager If you continue to face challenges with parents, call your troop mentor, a member of your Community Leadership Team or your Volunteer Experience Manager for additional assistance.

Miracle Clark shares why she’s a troop leader With a smile on her face Miracle Clark stepped into a sometimes intimidating role. Armed with bravery and no experience, she set aside the pressures of work and homelife to become a Girl Scout volunteer and troop leader. She is not only an integral part of her daughter’s life, but the lives of girls she serves. Miracle, a department manager for Walmart, started her Girl Scout troop leader journey two years ago, when she registered her daughter to be a Daisy. "Girl Scouting is a family tradition and I have first-hand experience in knowing the value in joining. When I heard that there wasn’t a troop in my area, I knew I could change that," Miracle said. Miracle believes that Girl Scouting has strengthened the bond she has with her daughter, because they get to do more things that they would normally not go out and do, like camping. She herself has experience in the Girl Scout program from childhood. She grew up in this local council and reached up to Cadette level. “My mother was my troop leader, and my grandmother was her troop leader. “My daughter Zoe is the fourth-generation Girl Scout and I’m a third-generation troop leader. I guess it runs in the family," said Miracle.

As a volunteer, Miracle has also learned new skills, including patience and how to keep seven-year-olds focused on a task. Most importantly, she understands that the time she is spending with these girls will positively impact their lives. “My favorite thing about being a troop leader is how rewarding it is to see the girls progress every year and how they learn and try new things,” said Miracle. “I would tell new volunteers that it is hard in the beginning but if you stick it out it gets easier and the girls will always remember these memories you are making with them.” July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

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Parents, Be a Part of Her Girl Scout Adventure

Seeing you step up and get involved in her Girl Scout experience will give your girl a special sense of pride. Here’s how you can play an active role in her troop and enhance the power of Girl Scouting at home–all while having fun, making memories, and strengthening your bond.

• •

• Create community: Communication goes both ways. Your troop leaders will keep you up to date on troop projects and activities via social media, email, and in-person chats. Don’t be shy about being a part of those conversations, chiming in with ideas, or asking questions or airing concerns if any should arise. Likewise, getting to know the parents and caregivers of the other girls can help strengthen the troop–and you just might make some new friends in the process. Talk the talk: Choose one or two things your girl learned while earning her most recent badge or award and ask her to explain them to you. Letting her share her knowledge as an “expert” will both help cement these new ideas in her memory and give her a sense of pride. Walk the walk: One of the best ways to help your girl gain leadership skills is by modeling them for her yourself as a troop volunteer. Offer to coordinate the carpool schedule, help with snacks, chaperone a trip or to lead a particular badge activity during a meeting. Watching you take on a leadership role–and becoming a role model to the other girls in the troop will motivate her to take the lead, too. There are so many ways to play a meaningful role in her Girl Scout experience–the sky’s the limit!

Ready to sign up as a volunteer: gssjc.org/volunteer Need to update your girl’s registration or register her for the first time: gssjc.org/join

Make Her Experience Memorable How Parents Can Help the Troop Leader

Want to play a meaningful role in her Girl Scout experience, but not sure where to start? Consider this ultimate cheat sheet for all-star Girl Scout parents–no matter how busy you may be! And remember when you help with her troop, you’re not only doing her troop leader a favor but also modeling leadership for your girl. She’ll be prouder than ever to call you hers. If you have 15 minutes a week, offer to… Organize and manage the calendar for troop snacks or carpools. There’s no need to provide goodies or buckle up the girls every week yourself! Simply helping other parents sign up and commit to future meeting dates will make meetings go smoothly for everyone. If you have 30 minutes a week, offer to… Manage troop communications for the troop leader. This can mean anything from sending texts to parents to confirm meeting dates or to update them with changes to the schedule, maintaining the troop’s social presence, or organizing an old-fashioned phone tree in case of an emergency. If you have 45 minutes a week, offer to… Take photos or videos at meetings and Girl Scout events. Leaders are often too busy to document every exciting moment, so your help will likely be well-received. Just be sure all girls have signed photo releases and they’re on file with your council before snapping and sharing images. If you have 1–2 hours a week, offer to… Lead part of a troop meeting or guide girls through earning a specific badge. You can introduce them to a topic that you have special expertise in or explore a new activity and learn alongside the troop! If you have 2–3 hours a week, offer to… Take on the role of cookie volunteer for your girl’s troop. You’ll be playing a key part in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which raises funds for troop activities and teaches girls financial skills, how to be confident when speaking publicly, and how to make decisions and collaborate as a group.

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Bring the Magic of Girl Scouts Home

As part of the Girl Scout Law, girls promise to do their best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong and responsible for what they say and do. By helping her follow these principles not only at troop meetings, but also at home, you’ll reinforce the positive lessons she’s learning and ensure they last a lifetime.

Be Honest

Make sure your girl understands that telling lies, even little ones, can erode trustworthiness, complicate relationships and actually cause real harm. That said, because lying is a fairly natural and normal thing for children to do, it’s practically inevitable that she will lie at some point. If your daughter has lied, ask he what or who could have been hurt by her lie. If she’s not old enough to draw those conclusions herself, walk her through the realities of how her actions might have affected others.

Be Fair

Complaining that something isn’t right without also having a suggestion for how it could be made better isn’t very helpful. So when your girl identifies something that’s unfair, ask her what a more fair solution would look like and how it would work. There may be several different ways to solve the problem, so help her think through as many as the two of you can come up with, consider the pros and cons of each and decide which one she thinks is best for all involved.

Be Friendly and Helpful

One reason the stereotype about “catty” mean girls exists is because girls are more likely to be ultra-competitive in coed environments where there’s only one or two spaces for them to take the lead. But in all-girl environments like Girl Scouts? Girls have access to every leadership opportunity in every area, so they learn to champion one another and collaborate rather than feel threatened. Keep this feeling of sisterhood going at home by getting to know her female friends, ensuring she gets time with them outside of school and troop meetings and standing by her as she cheers them on.

Be Considerate and Caring

Your children learn how to navigate this world by watching you–so model inclusion and respect. Mention the attributes that make people in your life different from you, and talk about why you think those things are interesting, wonderful, beautiful or valuable. Tell your daughter how and why it’s important to hear different opinions from friends, even those she might not agree with, because they help her learn and grow as a person.

Be Courageous and Strong

Peer pressure is everywhere, and it’s often easiest to go along with the crowd. Standing up for what she believes in, even when it’s unpopular, takes strength and courage—but will go a long way in creating the kind of world she wants to live in. Talk to her about a time when you were nervous to speak up for what you believed was right but did it anyway. Ask her if she’s ever been in that kind of a situation herself and how it went, then remind her that through bravery, she can make a big difference.

Be Responsible for What She Says and Does

Of course you want your girl to feel pride when she masters a new skill or does the right thing, but it’s also important for her to acknowledge and learn from her mistakes. When you notice less-than-awesome behavior in your girl, take the time to talk to her about it and understand what’s going on rather than simply punishing her for her actions. Talking about her poor decisions can help her understand how they may have affected others, give her ideas for how she might be able to improve the situation and think about how she might do better next time.

Tips for the Volunteer Toolkit

Girl Scout Parents: Check out what your girl’s troop or group is planning this year. It’s easy with Volunteer Toolkit. July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

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Not too late! Some sessions still available Agnes Arnold | Casa Mare | Misty Meadows Why Camp Matters We live in a world of screens, smartphones, laptops, TVs and tablets. And sometimes you just want to get away from it all. We get it. Our staff are friendly and caring and will help guide your girl through our progression programs as well as encourage her to take healthy risks and experience new things that help build essential life skills, including: • • • •

Interpersonal and social skills Conflict resolution and collaborative teamwork Critical thinking and problem solving Confidence and independence Camperships (camp scholarships) available, check online.

Week 5 July 14-19 Week 6 July 21-26 Week 7 July 28-Aug. 2

Week 7 resident camp is only available at Misty Meadows Ranch. Camp Arnold and Casa Mare will have a week long day camp available Mon. - Fri. See gssjc.org/summercamp for details.

Day Camp at Program Place for Girls Do you love to cook? Take some classic recipes and add a camp twist! Try different methods of cooking and plan an awesome cookout for the end of the week. You'll also have plenty of time for other fun activities with you new culinary camp friends.

Art on the go! Learn new painting techniques, with painting with a twist, then try your hand at clay and jewelry making. Visit an art museum and discover beautiful creations.

Make camp your stage! Learn different acting methods, play improvisation games and create costumes and props for an all camp performance at the end of the week.

Day Camp End of Summer Bash at Camp Agnes Arnold or Casa Mare Week: July 29-August 2 Price: $210 Not ready to go to resident camp? Enjoy all the fun of day camp and resident camp in one week! Your days will be filled with arts and crafts, games, swimming and archery (Brownies and up). There will be an optional sleepover on Thursday to experience cooking over a fire, nighttime activities and singing around the campfire. Camp is from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch and snacks are provided everyday. For overnight campers, Thursday night dinner and Friday breakfast and lunch are provided. There will be bus service from Tomball area to Camp Agnes Arnold. There will be bus service from Program Place to Casa Mare for an additional $80. 25 girl minimum.

Camp is from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $200 per week. Register online at gssjc.org/summercamp. For questions about day camp, contact daycamp@sjgs.org.

Check out the volunteer run day/twilight camps being held all over the council this summer at gssjc.org/daycamp. 14 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

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The Many Faces of Girl Scouts: Cheryl Chinen As a coach of one of the GSSJC robotics teams, the Bling Bots, Cheryl Chinen is building the next generation of innovators. “Innovator to me, I think of innovation, I think of creativity – juice flowing, fun,” she said. “I also think of engineering, design, architecture, and those things are the framework of our team. It takes a village to really build, and that’s one of the things that we’re teaching the girls: how to work together, how to really design and figure out problems and problem solve.” In short, Cheryl is teaching girls how to be innovators, and that’s a skill that will stay with the Girl Scouts she has led far beyond the robotics season competitions they work towards and attend together. Each season, Cheryl watches are (how?) her girls learn to think outside the box and problem solve for the challenge at hand in their FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics competitions. She also watches them grow. “We’ve watched one kid who really has struggled with speech and confidence and the ability to have a voice, get a voice and have a beautiful voice,” she said. “I’ve watched all of these young girls grow, become more thoughtful to each other, become more considerate to people and more introspective than you would ever expect for someone who’s 8, 9, 10 [years old]. That’s amazing.” Cheryl began her volunteer journey with robotics when her older daughter introduced her to the world of FIRST. Over the years, Cheryl watched her daughter learn new skills, take on leadership roles and, ultimately, gain confidence as a result of participating in robotics. That was enough to sell her on the value of the program. “It makes a great partnership to have FIRST robotics with Girl Scouts because it’s just such a great thing to have two wonderful things that lift up young girls,” Cheryl said. “So, for me it’s worth the sacrifice of time and the planning to do it because I see that they’re our future and we have to invest in them. That’s what’s important to me.” More than just learning skills, though, Cheryl hopes the girls who join the Bling Bots take away memories and a sense

of sisterhood that will help shape who they become long after their days with robotics competitions are over. Girl Scouts helps do just that, with value systems that overlap those of FIRST, making a natural partnership. “This is such a pivotal age for girls. From 9-11*, it’s so important developmentally,” said Cheryl. “They’re going through a lot already, and looking back I want them to know that girls aren’t mean. That you don’t have to be mean, you can be a sister. You can be a teammate. You can enjoy and appreciate differences in everybody.” (*The FLL level is 9-11, but Girl Scouts and FIRST serves grades K-12.) Of course, making an impact on girls through the robotics program takes a special type of volunteer. More volunteers are always needed for GSSJC’s robotics program, and the interest is there. Cheryl says anytime her team wears their T-shirts out to Girl Scout events, they’re treated like rock stars – everyone wants to know more and how to get involved with robotics which can only happen with more volunteers. “I think the community is hungry for opportunities for young women to grow in STEM,” Cheryl said. “The value is there. People know it’s there. I think our school systems are lagging a little bit behind, which is great because Girl Scouts is really getting ahead.”

To meet more of the Many Faces of Girl Scouts, visit www.manyfacesofgirlscouts.com. July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

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Congratulations Gold Award Girl Scouts The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully pursued the highest award, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. Maria B. created an after-school club at Clear Creek High School dedicated to making reusable feminine hygiene products for women in developing countries. She partnered with the Friendswood chapter of Days for Girls, a nonprofit that provides sustainable menstrual health solutions to girls, to train students on how to make kits. Maria led 60 students in making 100 kits containing the reusable feminine hygiene products. Her project impacted 100 women and girls in Malawi. Katherine C. created a Hurricane Harvey water fountain for St. Ignatius Church. Katherine encouraged parishioners to decorate tiles inspired by their Harvey experiences to adorn the fountain and led 220 volunteers throughout the entirety of the project. Because the church and many of its parishioners sustained damage from Hurricane Harvey, Katherine wanted the fountain to recognize the generosity of the church members who helped one another in their time of need and remind them of water’s healing properties. Ellen C. built a sensory walkway and living tepee for the Wendtwoods Children’s Garden in The Woodlands. She led a team of 15 volunteers to complete the 20-footlong sensory walkway and a 10-foot-tall living tepee made with bamboo poles and vining plants to attract pollinators. Visitors can feel the different textures of the sensory walkway, like pea grave, wood posts, stone and moss. Both are used by community members, Creekview Elementary School and Creekview’s garden club to learn about the environment. Ashley G. created a presentation, short film and website to inform students about how to stay safe during an active shooter situation. Ashley partnered with a police officer and the assistant principal of her school while leading over 20 volunteers for her project. The presentation was viewed by more than 3,000 students of The Woodlands High School, who also participated in an active shooter drill. Ashley also hosted presentations at the National Charity League and the George & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library.

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Ella H. created two garden boxes at The Goddard School in Katy. She led more than eight volunteers in creating the garden boxes, which took more than six months to complete. The project was personal to her, as she has a family member struggling with obesity. Ella wanted to help teach children about why eating healthy is important for their bodies. Her project impacted both the children and adults at The Goddard School as well as members of her neighborhood. Jamie L. created a four-day curriculum about environmental conservation for three different schools. Her project impacted at least 45 people, including the students and nine volunteers she led in her project. Jamie taught her curriculum at University of Houston Charter School, Post Elementary and Bang Elementary. Through her project, Jamie taught students about the issues the earth is facing and helped them imagine ways to help solve them. She hopes her project will inspire younger generations to take action on environmental issues. Brianna . planted 10 trees at the Willow Waterhole Greenway to help prevent flooding. She led a team of 16 volunteers and partnered with Trees for Houston, a nonprofit organization that donated the native Texas trees for her project. The trees will help prevent the erosion of the man-made water retention area and will also provide a natural habitat for numerous native animals that reside in the 290-acre Greenway. Brianna was inspired after witnessing flooding during Hurricane Harvey. Tara N. created and donated 29 aquaponic kits made from repurposed two-liter bottles. Aquaponics is the combination of raising fish and soil-less growing plants for both fish and plants to grow together in an integrated system. Tara partnered with teachers to incorporate aquaponic units into the curriculum for students to learn about how the aquaponic farming system can be better than traditional farming methods. She also created a website explaining how aquaponic systems benefit the environment.

Features Gretchen P. created a prayer resource to teach the importance of the practice. Her project promoted concepts of prayer in the youth and adult community at the Fellowship at Cinco Ranch. She led 15 volunteers in the project to help others understand how, when and where to pray. Gretchen included a craft of a prayer keepsake booklet to allow recipients to write prayers, tell stories and draw pictures about their faith. She also held prayer sessions to share the importance of prayer. Uyen T. raised awareness about premature labor prevention and helped families facing complications due to premature labor. She created a club in Cypress Ranch High School that focuses on premature labor prevention and education and makes beanies and comfort toys for families with premature babies at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital. Uyen led 182 volunteers in making over 300 beanies that were delivered to families throughout Houston. She hopes her project educates others about preventable issues and maternal health.

Silver and Bronze Award Projects from Around the Council Zane S. of Troop #142119 earned her Silver Award by creating an educational flyer and video on strays and hosting a pet food drive for the Houston Humane Society.

Narmeen V. developed tutoring sessions for middle school students diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The project’s main focus was to help students with ADHD learn reading and math with greater success. Narmeen hosted seven tutoring sessions that utilized methods that diverged from conventional teaching styles. She drew inspiration for her project from her personal experiences of being diagnosed with a learning disability. She hopes her project will help the students, their parents and others to better understand the disorder. Payton W. started a Junior Olympic Archery Development club for kids in her community. She raised more than $18,000 for the club and the archery range. With the help of 15 volunteers, Payton completed the construction of the archery range by adding a concrete slab, picnic tables, a pavilion and archery targets. The completion of the archery range was a continuation of her Silver Award. The club now has 80 members, who Payton hopes will someday become Olympian archers. Emily W. created an after-school girls’ book club at the Longhorn Hope Center, which serves disadvantaged CypressFairbanks Independent School District students. She also organized a book drive for the girls to take home books and to help supplement the library. The girls enjoyed book-themed snacks, crafts, discussions, math problems and games. Emily was inspired by her own personal experiences participating in a summer book club, which helped her improve her reading skills and developed her passion for reading.

Lorelai P. of Troop #102167 earned her Silver Award for her work at the Nacogdoches Women’s Shelter. Troop #111016 earned the Bronze Award by building the Harmony Garden and redoing the landscaping at Hancock Elementary School with the help of Home Depot #6512. July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Activities

Girl and Troop Activities Register for activities under the Activities tab in MyGS. Go to www.gssjc.org and select MyGS, log in to“Member Profile," then select Activities. If you have a question about your activity, contact 713-292-0370 or 1-800-392-4340. If you have a problem with your login, contact Customer Service at 713-292-0300 or registration@sjgs.org. Bring: For all events, bring Permission Slip F-204 and Medical Form F-185 for each girl and the Adult Emergency Form F-22 for each adult. Attention Daisy Leaders! Look for the Daisy in this section for activities that Daisies can attend.

Day-only outdoor activites at camp: Want to spend some time at camp? Day-only activities are available as scheduled below. Some of our sessions have been reformatted with longer session times. Online registration is available in MyGS Member Community. From the Activities tab, use the search bar to enter your weekend date (i.e. 9/14/19) and available camps will appear. Weekend activity registration for these activities does not include overnight accommodations. If you have a Camp Certified volunteer, submit an F-127 to request an overnight stay. Registration for activities closes two weeks before event. Requests for late registrations or changes will be denied. Sept. 7

Sept. 14 Sept. 21

S, A

Misty Meadows Ranch

R, L, H

Camp Robinwood

S, C, H

A, S, H

A, S

Camp Agnes Arnold

Camp Silver Springs

Oct. 19 Oct. 26

R, L, S, A, H

A, R, L, R, L, S, H S, H

Nov. 2

S, H R*, L*, H, A

R, L, H

Nov. 9

Nov. 16 Nov. 23

R, L, H

A, C, H A

A, S A

Camp Wind-aMere

S, A

A A

Lake Jackson Resource Center

Camp Whispering Pines

Oct.12

Casa Mare

Camp Pryor

Sept. 28 Oct. 5

S, A

A, S

S, A

Archery: (A)Archery is available for Brownies (girls in second grade) or older. Sessions are now one and one half hours! Up to 12 girls per session can learn archery basics and spend some time practicing their aim. These archery sessions are instructor-led (meaning an instructor will be provided for your group.) Session Times: Saturday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. If you have your own USAA Instructor, submit a Program Registration form and appropriate certifications to registration@sjgs. org, and a separate time will be reserved for your troop to do archery if available. Taste of Canoeing: (C) Canoeing is a great team-building activity and an enjoyable and relaxing way to experience the outdoors. This is an introductory course for Brownies through Ambassadors, with no previous training required. Council-provided canoe instructors will teach girls waterfront safety and basic canoe strokes. Limit of 12 girls per session. Session Times: Saturday at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. If you have your own adult FOC or American Canoe Association instructor, submit a Program Registration form and appropriate certifications to registration@sjgs.org, and a separate time will be reserved for your troop to canoe if available. Love, Hug and Groom: (L) Love, Hug and Groom is a non-riding activity to introduce girls of all ages to horse care. Girls will receive a barn tour, introduction to horse care, and a hands-on grooming opportunity with camp horses. Sessions are for one hour and are available on Saturday and Sunday. Limit of 25 girls per session. Session Times: Saturday at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.. 18 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

A, S, C

A A

Horseback Riding: (R) Horseback riding is available on Saturdays and Sundays for Juniors through Ambassadors. Rides are for one hour, and take place in either the arena or on a trail, depending on the skill of the riders. Girls must arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled ride time. Appropriate attire includes long pants and boots with a smooth sole and 1/2 inch heels. Boots are available for ride time. Helmets are provided. Limit of 12 girls per session. Session Times: Saturday at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Hikes with Henry and Friends: (H) If you want a fun way to introduce your girls to camp during the day, consider taking a guided hike. Foresters Henry Steitz and John Ross and a group of dedicated volunteers conduct hikes that are both fun and informative. You haven’t really seen camp until you have toured it with these guys! These sessions are approximately two hours each and are for all ages. Cost includes a patch, and adults must register for the session. Session Times: (August through October) 10 a.m. at Arnold and Misty, (November through February) 10 a.m. at Arnold and 2 p.m. at Misty, (March through May) 10 a.m. at Arnold and Misty. Check online for times at Robinwood Swimming: (S) Need to cool off? Take a dip in the camp pool! Swimming time slots are available for one hour on Saturday only, for girls of all ages. Note, these sessions are pool fun time and free swim. During these swimming sessions a lifeguard will be provided for your group. It is not necessary to provide your own lifeguard for these sessions. Council Lifeguard Session Times: Saturday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m If you have your own lifeguard, submit a Program Registration form and appropriate certifications to registration@sjgs.org, and a separate time will be reserved for your troop to swim if available. ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Activities

Environmental Wacky for Wildlife

Juniors are invited to this amazing session at TWRC Wildlife Center. Girls will learn about opossums, screech owls, grey squirrels and garter snakes and their habitats as well as some of the threats they face. This session is complete with presentations, discussions, crafts and hands-on activities to inspire our girls to stand up for animals and protect the places they call home. Girls will complete all requirements for the Junior Animal Habitats badge while visiting with the amazing creatures that call this center home. Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact:

ⓙ and their chaperones TWRC Wildlife Center, Houston July 27, Aug. 31 $22/girl, free for adults badges included for girls Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

Really Radical Reptiles

Snakes, turtles and lizard…what do they all have in common? Why, they’re all reptiles, of course. Learn more about these animals in this really radical workshop. Never touched a snake, turtle or lizard before? Here’s your chance. Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ Where: Program Place for Girls When: Aug. 3, 10 a.m.-noon Price: $10 Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

Letterboxing at Camps

Letterboxing is a super cool cross between a treasure hunt, art, navigation and exploring interesting, scenic places as you follow clues to a hidden box containing a stamp and a logbook. It’s like hiking with a prize at the end! There are letterboxes hiding at Girl Scout camps waiting for you the next time you go camping. Many of our camps have letterboxes, and new ones are being added regularly. We always need new troops or groups to place new letterboxes at camps too. We have to set up new boxes as weather and curious critters make the boxes disappear. For a complete list of clues or information on how to set up new letterboxes, contact Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338

Fine Arts Snap Happy

Take a look through the lens and explore what it means to take a winning photo. Your photos show others how you see the world so hone in on your artist skills with any type of camera. Juniors will earn and receive their Digital Photographer badge. Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact:

ⓙⓐ and their chaperones Houston Center for Photography Juniors: Aug. 11: 1 – 3:30 p.m. or 3:30 – 6 p.m; $45/girl; free for adults Heather Vandivort, hvandivort@sjgs.org, 713-292-0269

Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts

Rienzi is situated on four acres of wooded gardens in the historic River Oaks neighborhood with a substantial collection of European decorative arts, paintings, furnishings, porcelain, and miniatures. Join us on Tuesday’s at this beautiful Museum while learning a new art skill. Where: Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Price: $15/girl, badge included Contact: Julia Shank, JShank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

All Behaviors Count

Build a vision of a better world! Take an in depth tour of the museum to truly understand the history behind the Holocaust and become empowered to be a positive force for change! Girls will explore historical leadership, prejudices and experiences with the Holocaust Museum Houston. Seniors will complete steps for the Social Innovator badge and The Visionary Award in the Girltopia Journey. Ambassadors will complete the Public Policy badge and sessions one and two of the Dream Maker Award in the Bliss Journey. Badges and snack are provided. Who: ⓢⓐ Where: Holocaust Museum, Houston When: Aug. 17 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cost: $25 Contact: Julia Shank, JShank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

G.I.R.L with a Plan

Would you like to make your first big purchase? Would you like to plan a trip with your friends but have no idea where to start? Learn how to budget and save to make your wants a reality. Girls will earn the Budgeting badge. Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact:

ⓒ

Program Place for Girls, Houston Sept. 21, 9 – 11 a.m. Oct. 5, 9 – 11 a.m. Nov. 16, 9 – 11 a.m... $15/girl, free for adults Lola Akapo, lakapo@sjgs.org, 713-292-0353

ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Brownie Potter Badge Workshop

Rienzi welcomes Brownies to be inspired and create a masterpiece of their own. Take a tour of Rienzi’s porcelain and earthenware artworks and Discovery Box showing how porcelain figures are made. Then create your own piece of pottery! Who: When: Where: Cost: Contact:

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July 16 10 a.m. – noon Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston $15/girl, badge included Julia Shank, JShank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 19

Activities

Fine Arts Workshops

Outdoor Art Badges–(Daisies- Ambassadors) Explore the outdoors and use what you see and hear to make different kinds of art projects. Brownie Potter Badge – Crafts made with clay have been around for thousands of years. Work your way through this badge to become a clay artist yourself. Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢ Brownie Painting Badge–Artists take what they see Bring: Smock or apron for art classes Cost: See below, free for adults and make it beautiful. Learn to paint and color your world in super strokes and see what your imagination Contact: Heather Vandivort, hvandivort@sjgs.org, 713-292-0269 can do. Badge Workshop Date Time Place Cost/girl Cadette Book Artist Badge–Explore the art of bookbinding and book artistry while you learn to make Brownie Outdoor Art July 19 10 a.m. – noon UHCL $23 different kinds of books! Brownie Painter July 19 1 – 3 p.m. UHCL $23 Junior Drawing Badge–Experiment with different Cadette Screenwriter July 20 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $25 materials and learn techniques to make your own Cadette Book Artist July 26 9 a.m. – noon UHCL $31 drawings even better! Cadette Comic Artist July 26 1 – 4 p.m. UHCL $31 Junior Scribe Badge–Your writing is powerful. Create Senior Collage Artist July 27 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $25 characters, plots and settings for your very own story. Cadette Book Artist Aug. 3 9 a.m. – noon UHCL $31 Learn about different story techniques and exercise your Cadette comic Artist Aug. 3 1 – 4 p.m. UHCL $31 imagination by putting your thoughts down on paper. Brownie Painter Aug. 3 10 a.m. – noon UHCL $23 Cadette Comic Artist Badge–Delve into the world of Brownie Potter Aug. 3 1 – 3 p.m. UHCL $23 comics! Learn the history of comic books and why this Cadette Public Speaking Aug. 3 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $25 type of storytelling is so effective. Then tell your own Brownie Potter Aug. 10 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $25 story by creating a comic of your own! FA: Beach Wear Aug. 10 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $22 Cadette Public Speaker Badge–Work on your stage Junior Digital Photography Aug. 10 9 a.m. – noon UHCL $31 presence and develop your onstage skills. Find your Junior Drawing Aug. 10 1 – 4 p.m. UHCL $31 inner performer and be unafraid to speak up! Daisy Outdoor Art Aug. 10 10 a.m. – noon UHCL $23 Cadette Screenwriter Badge–Are you ready for the Brownie Potter Aug. 10 1 – 3 p.m. UHCL $23 big screen? Let’s explore what makes great scripts and Senior Textile Art Aug. 17 9 a.m. – noon UHCL $31 how you can create your very own. You have what it Junior Jeweler Aug. 17 1 – 4 p.m. UHCL $31 takes to be a great screenwriter, so let’s get started! Brownie Outdoor Art Aug. 17 10 a.m. – noon UHCL $23 Cadette Woodworker Badge–Swing a hammer, use a Brownie Potter Aug. 17 1 – 3 p.m. UHCL $23 level and making something for yourself! Girls will learn Junior Scribe Aug. 17 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $25 how to use some basic tools to create a take home piece! Brownie Potter Aug. 24 10 a.m. – noon Izzy's Jewels $25 Senior Collage Artist Badge–Create a collage using Ambassador Photographer Aug. 24 9 a.m. – noon UHCL $31 textile art and make a project of your very own! Junior Digital Photography Aug. 24 1 – 4 p.m. UHCL $31 Senior Textile Artist Badge–Get ready to turn colors, Daisy Outdoor Art Aug. 24 10 a.m. – noon UHCL $23 textures and fabrics into a work of art. Learn about the Brownie Painter Aug. 24 1 – 3 p.m. UHCL $23 basics of textile art and bring home a project of your own! Junior Jeweler Aug. 31 9 a.m. – noon UHCL $31 Fashion Academy (FA) – (Juniors- Seniors) Have Cadette Book Artist Aug. 31 1 – 4 p.m. UHCL $31 you dreamed of being a famous fashion or costume Brownie Painter Aug. 31 10 a.m. – noon UHCL $23 designer? Or maybe you would just like to learn how to Brownie Potter Aug. 31 1 – 3 p.m. UHCL $23 sew to up-cycle used clothing. Cadette Woodworker Aug. 31 10 a.m. – noon Program Place $25

Do you have a zest for art? Do you enjoy playing with clay, making your own jewelry, painting, drawing or fancy some photography? Explore the world of visual arts in these workshops. Create original artwork and earn badges!

Cadette Outdoor Art Apprentice Workshop

Find out how to observe and collect things outdoors that will drive your art and creativity. When you’ve earned this badge, you'll have been inspired outdoors and created nature themed art. Cadettes - Outdoor Art Apprentice: 1. Explore art outdoors 2. Make something! 3. Get to know - and create - sounds of nature 4. Be a nature photographer 5. Design with nature. Who: When: Where: Cost: Contact:

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July 14, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. Lonestar College Library, Cypress $1/girl, free for adults Lola Akapo, 713-292-0353, lakapo@sjgs.org

ⓑ-Brownie ⓒ-Cadettes 20ⓓ-Daisy July/August 2019 ⓙ l-Juniors The Golden Link ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Senior Outdoor Art Workshop Learn to see nature with an artist’s eye and create something helpful to the environment. When you’ve earned this badge, you'll have learned how to create art outdoors with a focus on the environment. Seniors - Outdoor Art Expert: 1. Explore art outdoors 2. Make something! 3. Create or share music inspired by nature 4. Capture nature digitally 5. Design outdoors Who: When: Where: Cost: Contact:

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July 14, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. Lonestar College Library, Cypress $15/girl, free for adults Lola Akapo, lakapo@sjgs.org

Activities

Ambassador Outdoor Art Workshop Attention Ambassadors! Bring art and the outdoors together and get inspired by the beauty in nature. When you’ve earned this badge, you'll have explored nature and created several different kinds of outdoor-themed art. Ambassadors - Outdoor Art Master: 1. Explore outdoor art 2. Make something! 3. Find music in nature 4. Be a nature photographer 5. Design with nature Who: When: Where: Cost: Contact:

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July 14, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. Lonestar College Library, Cypress $15/girl, free for adults Lola Akapo, 713-292-0353, lakapo@sjgs.org

General Activities Cadette Weekend Girl Planning Board

Would you like to help plan GSSJC’s biannual Cadette Weekend event? Girls will have an opportunity to plan this popular event for their peers. They will be able to create a theme and decide what activities this event will include. The Sky is the Limit! Girls will need to attend planning/work meetings as well as be present the for the event. Who: Where: When: Cost: Apply: Contact:

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Meetings at Girl Scout Center; Event at Camp Agnes Arnold Meetings August-March; Event April 24-26, 2020 $15 (covers food and lodging for event) Fill out the online GPB application gssjc.org/ forms); due Aug. 30 cadetteweekend@gssjc.org or 713-292-0269

A Very Harry Halloween

It’s Third Year at Hogwarts School and the prisoner of Azkaban has escaped! Join us at Camp Whispering Pines where girls will be sorted into houses and compete for the House Cup by playing Quidditch, attending Hogwarts classes and more. Hide behind Hagrid’s giant pumpkins if you see someone sneaking around the castle! Cadettes will earn their Science of Happiness badge and Cadettes and Seniors will work on requirements for their First Aid badges. Due to high demand, we are excited to be offering this campout on two weekends this fall. Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact: Note:

ⓒⓢⓐ, and adults Camp Whispering Pines, Garrison Oct. 4 – Oct. 6 and Nov. 1 – Nov. 3 $45/girl; $25/adult Alexandra Reilman, 936-634-5813, ext. 1722, areilman@sjgs.org Registration will be available online on July 15

Exploring Careers in Law

Interested in law? At this event you will learn about how laws affect you today, what areas of law exist, and explore career ideas and opportunities the field has to offer. You will also get to meet a panel of attorneys and law enforcement who will be there to share their experiences and answer questions. Come Join us at the University of Houston Law School for an exciting evening about law! Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact:

ⓒⓢⓐ and adults (girls in grades 7 – 12)

University of Houston July 18, 6 – 8:30 p.m. $10/girl, free for adults Megan Dodd, mdodd@sjgs.org, 713-292-0209

Girl Scout Leadership Institute (GSLI)

Be inspired and equipped to pursue educational and career goals through interacting with successful leaders in a variety of industries! Girls will be exposed to career opportunities through visiting local businesses and organizations, job shadowing, and networking with industry leaders. Girls will receive the latest information and instruction from experts in the field, communicate with female role models, and gain professional skills related to their interests. Who: ⓢⓐ Where: AT&T, Bellaire When: July 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. See online for additional dates and locations Cost: $10/girl Contact: Megan Dodd, mdodd@sjgs.org, 713-292-0209

Wall Street 101

Did you know that you have the power to fund your future? Someday you will want to make a big purchase, take out a loan or own a credit card. At this event, you will learn from female finance executives who have the experience to guide you, trade stocks in the finance center simulator and make decisions that matter! Girls will work on elements of their financial literacy badges: Financing My Future, Buying Power and Good Credit Who: When: Where: Cost: Contact:

ⓢⓐ

Saturday, October 19, 9:30 –11:30 a.m. Rice University $15/girl, free for adults Lola Akapo, 713-292-0353, lakapo@sjgs.org

Older Girls R Empowered

Find out how Girl Scouts can empower you to live your best life. Every September, GSSJC holds an event exclusively for older Girl Scouts to learn everything we have to offer beyond the troop. This event transforms the Program Place for Girls into an open house-style event where Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors can learn about special interest groups, unique programming and more. (Not to mention – have some FUN!) In addition to learning what you can do as an older Girl Scout, you can take on a rock climbing wall or other take a break with other exciting additional activities that will be on-site. Who: ⓒⓢⓐ When: September 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston Contact: Kelli Cavenah, 713-292-0271, kcavenah@sjgs.org July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Activities

A Very Harry Holiday

It’s Third Year at Hogwarts School and the prisoner of Azkaban has escaped! Join us at Camp Whispering Pines for this Holiday-themed campout where girls will be sorted into houses and compete for the House Cup by playing Quidditch, attending Hogwarts classes, and more. If you’ve never seen Hogwarts at the holidays, you’re missing out! Cadettes will earn their Science of Happiness badge and Cadettes and Seniors will work on requirements for their First Aid badges. Due to high demand, we are excited to be offering this campout on two weekends this fall. Please also see A Very Harry Halloween. Who: ⓒⓢⓐ, plus adults Where: Camp Whispering Pines, Garrison When: Nov. 1, 7 p.m. – Nov. 3, 11 a.m. Cost: $45/girl; $25/adult Contact: Alexandra Reilman, 936-634-5813 x1722, areilman@sjgs.org Note: Registration will be available online on July 15. Please read the entire event description before registering.

ComicCon 2020 – Save the date!

Be your own superhero at Region 1’s ultimate Girl Scout ComicCon experience at Camp Whispering Pines! We’ll have anime, manga, sci-fi, superheros and more. There’ll be workshops, demonstrations, a cosplay competition – you name it! Come dressed as your favorite character – adults included. Cadettes will earn their Comic Artist badge while Seniors will earn the Collage Artist badge. Who: ⓒⓢⓐ, plus adults Where: Camp Whispering Pines, Garrison When: April 3, 2020, 7 p.m. – April 5, noon Contact: Alexandra Reilman, 936-634-5813 x1722, areilman@sjgs.org Note: Registration will be available online on January 11.

Girl Empowerment Weekend

Girls will cook a meal with a nutritionist, have a spa night and learn about skin care, participate in a self-defense session and try out some yoga techniques. Cadettes will earn their Amaze Journey and Eating for Beauty badge while Seniors will earn Girltopia Journey and Women’s Health badge. Badges and Journeys will be provided. Who: ⓒⓢⓐ, plus adults Where: Lufkin Resource Center When: Aug. 16, 7 p.m. – Aug. 18, noon Cost: $ 40/girl; $20/adult Contact: Alexandra Reilman, 936-634-5813 x1722, areilman@sjgs.org Note: Please bring a mat to sleep on in addition to your sleeping bag.

Slithering Friends Workshop

Texas snakes are plentiful, beautiful and exciting to watch. If you don't, there's still plenty to learn and respect. Identifying the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes on sight is essential to safety, peace of mind. Overcoming phobias is not easy when someone is raised to fear and hate snakes, but with a little knowledge and some verifiable facts, people can learn to give snakes the respect that they deserve. And you’ll learn that in this innovative workshop! Who: ⓒⓢⓐ When: October 11, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Where: Katy ISD Law Enforcement Center Contact: Kelli Cavenah, 713-292-0271, kcavenah@sjgs.org

Car Care Badge Workshop

You're old enough to drive, what's next? This workshop will teach you how to handle basic car maintenance, learn about vehicle safety, and more! Participants will earn and receive the Car Care badge.

ⓢ Who: When: October 17, 6-8 p.m. Where: Service First Automotive, Katy Contact: Kelli Cavenah, 713-292-0271, kcavenah@sjgs.org Act Your Wage

Be the first to yell "I'm debt free!" as you earn your Budgeting badge in this life-size rendition of the board game Act Your Wage. You will spend, save, and give while working through the income and expenses of everyday list. But instead of moving a piece around a board game, you'll enter a life-size adventure to carry out the game and learn how to budget. The Budgeting badge will provided to attendees. Who: ⓒ When: October 26 Where: TBD, Katy Contact: Kelli Cavenah, 713-292-0271, kcavenah@sjgs.org

"Undies for Everyone" Service Workshop

Pack underwear with Region 9 Girl Scouts as we help disadvantaged students by helping them find the self-esteem, dignity, hygiene, and success by providing them with clean underwear. Where: When:

Geocaching

Join the fun with this high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. GSSJC has units available for rental. The cost is $10 per week with a $25 deposit per unit. Use the units locally, in some state parks or even in some of our camps. Who: Contact:

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Undies for Everyone Warehouse, Houston 1 – 3 p.m.; Oct 6 or Nov 10 – with more dates in 2020!

ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ

Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Activities

Health My Best Self Workshop

Laughter is the best medicine! We invite Brownies to experience a new way to exercise. Laughter yoga is an activity that lets girls have fun while learning ways to live stress-free. Brownies will earn and receive their My Best Self badge. Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact:

ⓑ and their chaperones Program Place for Girls, Houston July 27, Aug. 17; 10 – 11:30 a.m. $16/girl; free for adults Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338

Pet Vet

Whether they’re cute and cuddly or slimy and scaly, pets are so much fun! If you hope to have a pet someday, this badge workshop will help you make sure it stays happy and healthy. Learn all about an animals’ body language, sleeping habits, feeding schedules and more. Brownies will earn and receive the Pets badge with the Little Veterinarian School. Who: ⓑ and their chaperones When: Aug. 10 Time: 1 – 3 p.m. Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston Cost: $18/girl Min/Max: 10/20 Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338

First Aid Badge Workshop

Participants will tour the medical facility, make a small first aid kit, and speak with doctors and nurses on staff. They will also get to see a real working ambulance (subject to availability when not on a call). Meet your neighborhood medical team and earn a badge while you’re at it! Girls will earn their respective First Aid badges. Badges will be given out at the location based on the level listed in the girl's Girl Scout record.

ⓑⓙ Who: Cost: $18 Contact: Kelli Cavenah, kcavenah@sjgs.org, 713-292-0271 When/Where: July 20 Crosby Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. July 21 Baytown Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. July 27 Pasadena Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. August 3 Kingwood Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. August 9 Lifesavers ER, Tomball 4:45 – 6 p.m. August 11 Porter Neighbors Emergency Center 1 – 2:30 p.m. August 17 Pearland Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. Sept. 13 Lifesavers ER, Tomball 4:45 – 6 p.m. Sept. 21 Kingwood Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. Sept. 28 Baytown Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m Sept. 29 Pasadena Neighbors Emergency Center 1 – 2:30 p.m. Oct. 11 Lifesavers ER, Tomball 4:45 – 6 p.m. Oct. 12 Crosby Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19 Porter Neighbors Emergency Center 9 – 10:30 a.m . Oct. 20 Pearland Neighbors Emergency Center 1 – 2:30 p.m.

ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Dr. Girl Scout

Pretend you are a doctor for a day with the Little Medical School. During this activity, girls will learn the ins-and-outs of what it takes to care for their bodies. Daisies will earn the Gloria petal while Brownies earn the My Best Self badge. Daisy petals are not included as they are sold in a set. Daisies will receive a fun patch instead. Brownies will receive their My Best Self badge. Who: ⓓⓑ and their chaperones Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston When: Aug. 10; 10 a.m. – noon Cost: $18/girl Min/Max: 10/20 Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338

Red Cross Babysitting Training

This training covers everything from the business of babysitting (advertising, interviewing, charging, budgeting) to proper activities while on the job (developmental stages for kids of all ages, activities to do with the kids, etc). It also covers how to handle behavioral problems and what to do in an emergency. Although some basic information on what to do will be included, this is not a first aid/CPR/AED course. Who: ⓒⓢⓐ girls 11 and older Where: Girl Scout Center, Houston When: August 17, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cost: $45 Contact: Kelli Cavenah, kcavenah@sjgs.org, 713-292-0271

Houston Food Bank Workshops

Clover Daisy Petal Workshop Learn how to use your resources wisely in this Clover petal workshop. Talk about Clovers Story, make a collage of ideas, and practice being resourceful, just like Clover. Who knows more about being resourceful than the Houston Food Bank! Hear about the organization's mission and what they do to serve families in Houston every day. Clover petal will be earned but not provided as Daisy petals are sold as a set. Petal not included in the price of the event. Who: Where: When: Cost: Contact:

ⓓ and their chaperones Houston Food Bank July 20, 10 – 11:30 a.m $18/girl, free for adults Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0269

Juliettes Low's Birthday Party

Let's gather in celebration of Juliette Gordon Low's birthday! Brownies and Juniors will make jewelry from her era, sing songs and play ges. No birthday party is complete without cake! Brownies will complete steps for Making Games and Girl Scout Way. Juniors will complete steps for Playing in the Past, Jeweler and Girl Scout Way.

ⓑⓙ Who: Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston When: Nov. 2, 9 a.m. – noon Cost: $16/girl Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 23

Activities

Health and Safety Weekend 2019

Join us at this annual event where adults and girls can participate in workshops and trainings pertaining to health and safety. It might be first aid, swim testing, canoe training, tips from law enforcement or something else – either way, you’ll leave the weekend (or just Saturday) after having fun, hands-on learning. See below for session descriptions. When registering, optional add-ons of overnights or meals ($5 each) will be available. Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ, adult When: Aug. 2–4 Where: Camp Agnes Arnold, Conroe Contact: Kelli Cavenah, kcavenah@sjgs.org, 713-292-0271 Registration, registration@sjgs.org, 713-292-0370 Archery Instructor School: For adults and girls aged 16+. If you want to facilitate archery for your troop, Community or Region, this is the training for you. Learn everything you need to know about shooting archery and facilitating girls on how to shoot safely. $85

Session

Who

What

Archery Instruc- Adults tor School

Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Babysitting Certification

Cadettes

Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Canoe Certification Training

Adults

Fri. 7 p.m. – Sun. 11 a.m.

Eco Learner

Daisy

Sat. 1 – 4 p.m.

First Aid Badge Workshops

Brownies, Juniors

Sat. 1 – 3 p.m.

First Aid/CPR/ AED Trainings

Adults

Blended: Sat. 9 –11 a.m. or 1 – 3 p.m. Full: Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Girl-Planned and Girl-Led Program

Adults

Sat. 10 –11a.m. or 1 – 2 p.m.

Healthy Living Badge Workshops

Brownies, Juniors, Seniors

MBS: Sat. 1 – 4 p.m. PwP: Sat. 1 – 4 p.m. WH: Sat. 9 a.m.–noon

Locavore for Beauty

Cadettes, Seniors

Sat. 9 a.m. – noon

Program Aide Instructor Training

Adults

Sat. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Program Aide Training

Cadettes

Sat. 1 – 5 p.m.

Locavore for Beauty: Cadettes and Seniors come together to complete requirements from the Eating for Beauty and Locavore badges. Girls will discover healthy eating habits as well as where to source food that is grown nearby. $15

SAC Tips for Troops

Adults

Sat. 9 – 10 a.m. or 3 – 4 p.m.

Safety for Girls

All levels + Adults

Younger: Sat. 9 a.m.–noon Older: Sat. 1 – 4 p.m.

Program Aide Instructor Training: Adults who wish to facilitate Program Aide trainings are welcome to attend this session. We will cover the basics in the morning, break for lunch, then get hands on practice training girls in the afternoon Program Aide session. Program Aides and Program Aide instructors are in high demand for council trainings and day camps. $15

VIT (Volunteer-in-Training)

Seniors, Ambassadors

Sat. 9 a.m. – noon

Babysitting Certification: For girls 11 and older. Learn the basics of babysitting; how to take care of a baby, feed a baby, change a diaper and more. Girls will learn how to market their new skills, important child development milestones and how to stay safe on the job. $45 Canoe Certification Training: This training is needed to take girls canoeing on council camp properties and is for adults only. Must be able to demonstrate swimming skills Friday night. Includes overnight accommodations, 3 Saturday meals, and breakfast Sunday. $85 First Aid Badge Workshops: These workshops will cover material in the applicable Girl Scout level's badge. A first responder will also be on hand to show the girls an ambulance and fulfill the requirement of learning about emergency care. $15 First Aid/CPR/AED Trainings: Red Cross Standard First Aid is great for everyone to know. This certification allows an adult to serve as a level 1 first aider and covers minor bumps and scrapes up to strokes and heart attacks. Students will be prepared to save a life. Participants can choose the Full Training option where everything will be done in-person; or choose the Blended Learning option where participants complete components on their own before the weekend. This session is completely done in person. $65 or $55 Healthy Living Badge Workshops: Whether it's My Best Self for Brownies, Practice with Purpose for Juniors, or Women's Health for Seniors, these badges all offer a look at how girls can stay healthy. Separate sessions will be offered by level. $15

Program Aide Training: This Teen Mentoring Program is geared towards Cadettes who have completed a LiA (Leader in Action) award. Girls will learn how to work with younger girls and serve as a leader. Program Aides are in high demand at council and community events and they play a major role at day camps too. $20 Safety for Girls: This unique workshop will allow girls and adults to learn what it means to stay safe in their day-to-day life (from a law enforcement office) and what it means to stay safe outdoors (from a Texas Game Warden). Participants will listen to one, eat lunch, then listen to the other. There will be a session for younger girls + adults and a session for older girls + adults. $15

24 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Swim Level All levels Testing Sessions

Sat. 9 a.m. – noon or

Working Together Works

Sat. 11 a.m. – noon or 2 – 3 p.m.

Adults

1 – 4 p.m.

Swim Level Testing: Come get your swim level testing and safe boating cards. This session is designed to test girls of any Girl Scout level for swim level testing through the Red Cross levels 1-6. We will also administer the GSSJC Safe Boating Test. Girls who wish to canoe in Girl Scouts require a level 3 swim card and those who wish to sail would need a level 4 swim card. This session is designed for beginners through advanced girls but not intended for non-swimmers. $20

ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Activities

History

Highest Awards Earn a Highest Award!

Bronze. Silver. Gold. These represent the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn. All three awards give you the chance to do big things while supporting an issue you care about. You might plant a community garden at your school or inspire others to eat healthy foods for your Bronze, advocate for animal rights for your Silver, or build a career network that encourages girls to become scientists and engineers for your Gold. Whatever you choose, you’ll inspire others (and yourself). As you earn one of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, you’ll change your corner of the world–and beyond. The possibilities are endless. Who: ⓙⓒⓢⓐ Learn More: Review the GSSJC project guides for more information at gssjc.org/highestawards Contact: bronzeaward@sjgs.org, silveraward@sjgs.org or goldaward@sjgs.org

Silver Award Training

Join us for this training designed to equip troop leaders, advisors and parents who are looking to support Cadettes through the process of earning the Silver Award. Topics include project guidelines, submission deadlines and coaching tips. Who: Adults Where: Girl Scout Center, Houston When: Sept. 28; 10 – 11:30 a.m. Cost: $5/person Contact: Megan Dodd, silveraward@sjgs.org, 713-292-0209

Gold Award Orientation

All girls who plan to earn their Gold Award must attend Gold Award Orientation to get started on the process. Adult Gold Award Orientation is offered on the same dates, at the same times and same locations as the girl orientations. Register the same way you would register for the girl session. No drop-ins! Please be prompt. Girls are encouraged to complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey before attending orientation. Who: ⓢⓐor girls in grades 9 – 12 and adults Where/When: Girl Scout Center, Houston July 27, 10 a.m. – noon Cost: $5/person Deadline: One week prior Contact: Megan Dodd, goldaward@sjgs.org, 713-292-0209 Important reminder: As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Gold Award process has moved to an online platform, Go Gold Online. Girls will still work with their Gold Award mentors and receive their approval on their Project Proposals, before they submit to council via Go Gold. The deadlines for submitting Gold Award Project Proposals and Final Reports are the first and fifteenth of each month. This ensures that your project will be reviewed at that month's meeting. For more information, vistit www.gssjc. org/goldward.

ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Juliette’s Treasure Chests

Does your Girl Scout troop want to put on a vintage fashion show? Or do they want to dress up as Girl Scouts from across the world for World Thinking Day? or maybe you want to dress up as Juliette Low for a school project. Juliette's Treasure Chest is just for you. We have four different uniform kits that can be check out-vintage girls, vintage adults, international adults and an authentic Juliette Low adult uniform. You can also check out hte Daisy activities kit which contains uniforms and activities. Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ Cost: $12 + $25 deposit for Treasure Chests Reserve: Use reservation form, which includes information on the reservation process, at gssjc.org/museum Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338

Playing the Past Junior Workshop

Get ready to relive turn-of-the-century history! What was life like as a schoolgirl then, for Laura Ingalis Wilder or young Juliette Gordon Low? There will be chores, an outhouse, lively dancing and music from the player piano. Role play your character as we finish the program in our 1898 schoolhouse complete with schoolmarm. Get a taste for what school was really like and maybe come dressed the part! Who: Where: When:

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West Bay Common School Children's Museum, League City Aug. 17, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Juliette’s Tea Party

Want a fun way to spend the afternoon? Council History Committee volunteers host an old-fashioned tea party, and they invite you to attend! Learn etiquette from the Victorian Era (1800s), enjoy tea and sweets, make something special to take home and play games typical of Juliette Low’s era. Girls may wear a Girl Scout uniform or fancy party dress! Who: ⓓⓑⓙ Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston When: Aug. 15; 4:45 – 6 p.m. Cost: $17/girl (includes patch and tea cup) Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338 Note: This is not a parent and me opportunity, but parents are welcome to wait in another room during the event.

Wonderful Wednesdays

The Council History Committee is excited to provide some summer fun for Juniors! Wonderful Wednesday sessions will be a great way for girls to discover and explore fun topics while making new friends. Participants will earn and receive the badge. Who: Juniors Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston When: 1 – 4 p.m. Cost: $12/girl Min./Max.: 5/20 Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org, 713-292-0338 Note: This is a drop-off event. Title Junior Jeweler Doll House

Date July 31 Aug. 17 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 25

Activities

Tour the Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History

The museum is fun and educational for girls and adults. It features timeline panels and interactive displays from the start of the Council in the 1920s until today. NEW: Register online at gssjc.org/activites. To book a tour during the week, please email museumtour@sjgs.org troop number, troop leader name/phone/email, preferred tour date/time, girl program level and number of girls/adults. Where: 3000 Southwest Fwy., Houston If you love Girl Scouts and want to help teach others about our narrative, you can become a Goodykoontz Museum tour guide, or docent! Cadette and up can pair with a mom or leader. Email museumtour@sjgs.org for more information.

Sailing Tall Ship Elissa Programs Overnights

A night outside sleeping under the stars. Girl Scouts can experience a sailor’s life from the days of old in a special overnight adventure aboard the Tall Ship Elissa. After a tour of the Elissa and a video presentation, the overnight Girl Scout crew learns some hands-on sailor skills. Girls will help set one huge staysail, work on master rope craft and knot making. During the night, the girls will follow one of the oldest traditions of the sea, keeping watch over the Elissa and Galveston Harbor. The Ellissa is scheduled to leave Glaveson Harbor later this fall, so sign up today!

ⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ(must be at least 8 years old) Who: Where: Tallship Elissa, Galveston When: Sept. 28, Oct. 12 Check in: 6:30 p.m. Check out: 9 a.m. next day Bring: Sleeping bag (air mattresses, if desired), pillow, change of clothes Cost: $45/person Min./Max.: 30/40; 1 adult/5 girls Deadline: Register and submit payment at least five weeks prior to event date. (Event fills fast.) You must cancel at least 30 days before planned date. Note: Eat dinner before arrival. Breakfast will be served aboard Elissa, and snacks will be provided.

Sports Green Starlettes Drill Team

If you love to dance, this team is for you! The Green Starlettes do not require previous dance experience and do not have tryouts. All girls, grades 4-12, who are interested can be a part of the team. The Green Starlettes creates a non-competitive atmosphere for the girls to practice dance techniques, team spirit and valuable leadership skills. We have 11 divisions to choose from, so find one near you! Teams meet once a week to practice for parades and events. Who: Cost: Contact:

ⓙⓒⓢⓐ

$38/girl; registration closes Sept. 30 Heather Vandivort, hvandivort@sjgs.org, 713-292-0269 OR Theresa Alexander at green_starlettes@yahoo.com

26 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Dash Soccer Clinic

This clinic is an amazing opportunity to build on your soccer skills, practice running drills and scrimmage with your friends. Bring your water bottle and energy to this fun clinic. This clinic also includes a ticket to the game on Aug. 24. After the clinic, you will be able to take a group photo with a Dash soccer player! Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ Where: Houston Sport Park When: Aug. 3, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

Experience a Dash Soccer Game

Show your Girl Scout spirit and get the full Dash soccer experience when they take on Sky Blue FC. Come out to Girl Scout night at the Dash BBVA Compass Stadium! After the game, get an autograph from two of the Dash’s professional soccer players! Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ Where: BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston When: Aug. 24, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Contact: Julia Shank, jshank@sjgs.org 713-292-0338

Rifle Program General information for all three activities listed below Who: ⓒⓢⓐ must be 12-years-old

Where: Camp Robinwood, Willis When: July 13, Aug. 10 Cost: $8/session Deadline: Two weeks prior to event

Step 1: Introduction to Rifle Program

Trained instructors will guide you as you first learn basic firearm safety and the proper way to handle a rifle. You will receive your own pair of safety glasses and learn to shoot at the bench rest position. A completed Rifle Program Permission Slip (F-601) is required for participation. This form is only needed once. It will be held on file for future rifle sessions. Time:

Min./Max: 4/12

noon – 1:30 p.m.

Step 2: Rifle Marksmanship

After you have attended your Introduction to Rifle Program session, you may register for any Rifle Marksmanship session. At these sessions you will learn more shooting positions and how to improve your shooting skills in each. Remember to bring your safety glasses. Time:

Min./Max: 4/12

1:30 – 3 p.m.

Step 3: G.R.I.T.: Girls, Rifles, Instruction and Training Rifle Special Interest Group

If after attending any Rifle Marksmanship session you decide you would like more from your rifle program experience, then the Rifle Program Special Interest Group could be for you! At these sessions you will learn more about how to use the rifle, how to improve your accuracy through shooting position form and how to work within a team. Inter group and individual competitions could be part of your session. The group at each session will help decide on the day’s activities. Remember to bring your safety glasses. Time:

9 – 11:30 a.m.

Min./Max: 5/18

ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Activities

STEM Contact: Kelli Cavenah, kcavenah@sjgs.org, 713-292-0271

Mechanical Engineering Day

Challenge your inner engineer! Work with professionals at Lonestar College to work through the Design Process and create different builds. Girls will brainstorm, design, build and test creations like a roller coaster, race car or paddle boat, depending on their level. There will be separate sessions for each badge, but girls can attend all three. A badge will be earned and provided in each session. Who: Where: When: Daisies: Brownies: Juniors: Cost:

ⓓⓑⓙ

Lonestar College – University Park Campus July 27 10 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. $30

Space Science Explorer

Get ready to blast off on an adventure! This new badge is out of this world. Daisies will explore the sun, observe the moon and meet the stars. Participants can expect hands-on activities and they will receive the badge at the end of the workshop. The best part is - parents are invited back at the end for a space show! Who: ⓓ When: July 21, 9 – 11 a.m. Where: Idea Lab - Pearland Cost: $23

Cybersecurity Day for Daisies

Welcome to the world of cybersecurity! Learn how information and people are connected, what privacy means online, and how to use your skills to uncover problems and find solutions. Through Cybersecurity Day for Daisies, you’ll know how to stay safe online and have fun using your investigative skills. Who: ⓓ Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston Cost: $8/workshop Cybersecurity Basics July 27, 10 – 11:45 a.m. Cybersecurity Safeguards July 27, 12:30 – 2:15 p.m. Cybersecurity Investigator July 27, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Model Car Badge Workshop

Designing and testing is the name of the game in this workshop where Daisies earn the Model Car Design Challenge badge through this workshop. Girls explore engineering, friction, and more when they build and test a model car. Badge is provided to attendees.

Fling Flyer Badge Workshop

Brownies will learn about the forces that affect flight as they design, build, and test a fling flyer. Through this workshop, girls learn how to design, investigate and revise after each assessment. Brownies will earn their Fling Flyer Design Challenge badge through this workshop. Badge is provided to attendees. Badge is provided to attendees. Who: ⓑ When: Sept. 22, 9 – 11 a.m. Where: Idea Lab - Bellaire Cost: $23

Home Scientist Badge Workshop

You’re a scientist every time you do an experiment! In this workshop, you’ll find out where science has been hiding in your home through density, static electricity and more. Be a kitchen chemist and play with science at Idea Lab! A badge is provided in the cost of this workshop. Who: ⓑ When: Aug. 25, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Idea Lab-Pearland Cost: $23

Computer Expert Badge Workshop

Computers help you do so much! Brownies who sign up for this workshop will be able to learn about the basics of using a computer - including how to make art, share information, and find incredible facts! Badge is provided to attendees. Who: ⓑ When/Where: July 27, 9-11 a.m. Aug. 18, 1-3 p.m. Cost: varies by location

Idea Lab – Spring Branch Microsoft – Baybrook Mall

Cybersecurity Day for Brownies

Welcome to the world of cybersecurity! We use computers every and they are also a part of our lives in many other ways that aren’t as easy to see - computers power streetlights, air conditioners, planes, and much more. Cybersecurity is the way we protect all those computers—and ourselves. Through Cybersecurity Day for Brownies, you’ll know the basics of cybersecurity, what privacy means, and how to protect yourself when you’re on a computer. Who: ⓑ Where: Program Place for Girls, Houston Cost: $8/workshop Cybersecurity Basics July 20, 10 – 11:45 a.m. Cybersecurity Safeguards July 20, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Cybersecurity Investigator July 20, 2:45 – 4:45 p.m.

Who: ⓓ When: Aug. 17, 9 – 11 a.m. Where: Idea Lab – Spring Branch Cost: $23 ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 27

Activities

Cybersecurity Basics for Brownies

We use computers every and they are also a part of our lives in many other ways that aren’t as easy to see - computers power streetlights, air conditioners, planes, and much more. Cybersecurity is the way we protect all those computers—and ourselves. Through Cybersecurity Day for Brownies, you’ll know the basics of cybersecurity, what privacy means, and how to protect yourself when you’re on a computer. Who: ⓑ When: Oct. 12, 9 – 11 a.m. Where: Idea Lab – Spring Branch Cost: $23

Think Like an Engineer Journey for Brownies

Learn how engineers use the Design Thinking Process to solve problems in this hands-on workshop. Some of the activities include building a water collection tool and a device that will launch a small ball toward a target. Girls complete all Journey requirements except the Take Action project and receive the Think Like an Engineer Award. Who: ⓑ When: Aug.10, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Idea Lab – Bellaire Cost: $23

Race Car Badge Workshop

Picture Yourself behind the wheel while you test a car of your own construction. You will be challenged to design a car that can speed past the others. Brownies will earn their Race Car Design Challenge badge through this workshop (badge provided). Who: When: Where: Cost:

ⓑ

Aug. 18, 9 – 11 a.m. Idea Lab – Energy Corridor $23

Space Out

Get ready to have some fun at camp while doing hands-on activities to explore the universe. Let's have an out-of-this-world time with scavenger hunts, games, cookies and the planetarium. GSSJC’s Astronomy Special Interest Group is hosting a trip through space that girls are sure not to forget. Participants will earn their Space Science Adventurer badge. Who: ⓑ When: Sept. 14, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Misty Meadows Ranch, Conroe Cost: $20 28 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Think Like an Engineer Journey for Juniors

Join other Juniors and learn how to utilize your construction skills as you work to solve engineering challenges like a building that can withstand an earthquake, a structure made entirely of paper, or an emergency shelter. Girls complete all Journey requirements except the Take Action Project and receive the Think Like an Engineer Award. Who: ⓙ When: July 28, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Idea Lab-Pearland Cost: $23

Digital Photographer Badge Workshop

It seems like almost every gadget can take a digital photograph – from phones to laptops, to (of course) digital cameras. But do you know how to get the most out of your digital device and what it takes to capture an amazing photo? Learn all that and more in this Digital Photographer workshop! Badge is provided to attendees. Who: ⓙ When/Where: July 14, 1 – 3 p.m. Microsoft – Baybrook Mall Aug. 11, 9 a.m. – noon Idea Lab – Energy Corridor Cost: varies by location

Entertainment Technology Badge Workshop

Connect to your favorite entertainment through exploring the technology behind it! Technology isn’t always computers and screens – it is also how things are made and tested. Discover a hands-on approach to technology through constructing an animation, experimenting with centrifugal course and making 3D glasses. All badge steps are completed, badge is provided to attendees. Who: ⓙ When: July 27, Aug 24 or Oct 5; noon – 2:15 p.m. Where: Children’s Museum of Houston Cost: $15

Think Like a Programmer Journey for Juniors

Discover how creativity can help you solve a difficult problem. During this workshop, you will find out how to persist and think about things in a new way; you'll even discover what coding and algorithms are. Find out how every-day problems are resolved by programmers - and try it out yourself. Girls complete all Journey requirements except the Take Action project and receive the Think Like a Programmer Award. Who: ⓙ When: September 21, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Idea Lab – Energy Corridor Cost: $23 ⓓ-Daisy ⓑ-Brownie ⓙ-Juniors ⓒ-Cadettes ⓢ-Seniors ⓐ-Ambassadors

Activities

Detective Badge Workshop

Utilize your detective skills on this sleuthing adventure! Girls will discover the power of observation, code communications, fingerprinting, and more! Stories, movies and television are full of amazing detectives solving mysteries. Their jobs are important, exciting and take serious skills - skills you can try at this workshop. Who: ⓙ When: July 20 or Sept. 14, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Idea Lab – Energy Corridor or Spring Branch Cost: $23

Crane Design Badge Workshop

Construct some fun with this new Junior badge! Explore simple machines and then use your knowledge to build a crane prototype that you will test with household items like batteries, pennies, marbles and more. Expand your design and make it even better with adjustments after brainstorming with fellow Juniors. Badge is provided to attendees. Who: ⓙ When: Aug. 24 or Oct. 5, 9 a.m. – noon Where: Idea Lab – Bellaire Cost: $23

Product Designer

Explore and create innovations in the Children's Museum Maker Annex. You will get the chance to investigate what makes products great, how to improve products already on the market, and more. The best part is that you will be able to be an innovator yourself and troubleshoot your solution. All badge steps are completed, badge is provided to attendees. Who: When: Where:

ⓙ

August 8, noon-2:15 p.m. Children’s Museum Houston

Astronomy Special Interest Group

This group is for girls who want to have fun, learn, and teach! Girls plan their activities for the year and organize events that other Girl Scouts attend. The group also takes trips to discover the world around them – and beyond! This great group helps girls develop leadership skills and learn about themselves while becoming more acquainted with science and the field of astronomy. Who: ⓙⓒⓢⓐ Where: Program Place for Girls, Hosuton When: One Sunday afternoon each month Cost: $20

Think Like an Engineer for Juniors Camp Weekend – Save the Date!

Learn to think like an engineer during this weekend at camp! Join other Juniors and learn how to utilize your construction skills as you work as a team to solve engineering challenges like building shelter and structures are to withstand the elements. Who: Where: When: Cost: Note:

ⓙ

Camp Agnes Arnold, Conroe Nov, 15 – 16 $45/girl; $15/adult Registration will be available September 1

Digital Movie Maker Badge Workshop

Movies tell stories, and this workshop will help you tell your own tale! This is your chance to show others how you see the world while you utilize fun and innovative software and your own videos. This workshop is intended as a unique and fun way to complete editing processes where girls edit footage to create a movie. Who: ⓒ When: July 13, July 28, or Aug. 24; 1 – 3 p.m. Where: Microsoft - Baybrook Mall Cost: $15

Forensics Weekend – Save the Date! Girls will discover forensic techniques such as DNA analysis, suspect identification, fingerprint analysis, and more! Teams of Cadettes will scope out clues to solve the mystery during a weekend at camp. Who: ⓒ Where: Casa Mare, Seabrook When: Dec. 6 – 8 Cost: $45/girl; $15/dorm chaperone Note: Registration will be available Oct. 1

Catching Flight Drone Workshop

This exciting event will take girls on an adventure while they explore aeronautics and astronautics. They will get the chance to learn from experts in the field, discover the science behind flight, and build their own drone! The cost of this activity includes a drone the girls will get to take home with them. Who: ⓒⓢⓐ Where: Creativity Shell Makerspace, Kingwood When: July 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cost: $40

July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 29

Activities

Designing Robots for Cadettes

Robots can do so much! They can aid in anything from helping you with your chores to exploring the ocean or Mars. Every day, they are used for amazing things and in these workshops, you will find out how. Robots are built and programmed in different ways to meet a goal. Explore this topic in a workshop held in the Children’s Museum Maker Annex. When: Aug. 10 or Oct. 19; noon – 2:15 p.m. Where: Children’s Museum Houston Cost: $15

Girl Scout STEM Day at Marathon

Marathon Petroleum STEM Day is a fun, hands-on event that shows how STEM is an important part of the real world. Girl Scouts will hear and learn from women who perform a variety of technical jobs that have an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in a local refinery. Girls will participate in a wide range of activities including: pulling operator samples, performing lab experiments, running Instrument and electrical checks in addition to other engineering activities. Who: When: Where: Cost: Contact:

ⓒⓢ

Saturday September 28, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Marathon Petroleum, Texas City $10/girl, free for adults Lola Akapo, 713-292-0353, lakapo@sjgs.org

Room Makeover Workshop

In this workshop, you’ll discover design concepts and fix-it tactics needed to turn a simple space into a creative statement! You’ll develop some serious DIY flair by combining color, texture, glue and paint while getting hands on and engineering great pieces for your room. You will get the chance to paint a small wooden piece you’ll bring with you, sew or glue a fabric accent, build something, and make an old item new again! Badge is provided to girl attendees. Who: ⓢ Where: Children’s Museum Houston When: July 20 or Sept. 14, noon – 2:15 p.m. Cost: $15

NASA at Nighttime: International Observe the Moon Event

Visit the Johnson Space Center after hours for this unique event where girls will get the chance to interact with staff from NASA while participating in International Observe the Moon Night. Participants will have guided telescope time (weather-permitting) and will complete their Space Science badge. Cadettes will also earn their Night Owl badge and Seniors can earn their Sky badge. All badges are provided.

30 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Robotics Competition

GSSJC’s robotics teams compete through the international FIRST organization where girls build and code models and robots that compete against other teams in the area. Competition begins in September and will end between December and March, depending on the level and success of the team. Please review the online signup page for detailed information about what girls do during the competition season. Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒⓢⓐ Cost: price varies by level Contact: Kelli Cavenah, kcavenah@sjgs.org, 713-292-0271 Note: Separate sign-ups will be available for the informational sessions and the teams Important Dates: May 19 – August 4: Team signup period. Signing up toward the end of the sign-up period leaves placement subject to available team spots which may not be in your geographic area. May 19 – July 31: Teams, once full, may begin meeting on a TBD-by-team schedule over the summer. Location, day of week, and time of meetings are set by coaches and will vary by team. Aug. 1 – 16: Team registration will be wrapping up (registration ends August 4) and teams will be finalized through the first 2 weeks in August. Team formation – end of season: Teams meet weekly; location, day of week, and time of meetings are set by coaches and will vary by team. Teams may meet less often over the summer if the team is formed early. Girls and parents should expect that teams will meet at least once a week (typically on a weekend) for 2-4 hours depending on the level.

Robotics Special Interest Group

Work with other girls your age to learn and expand your knowledge of how robots are built and how they work. This is a year-round, non-competitive opportunity where girls get the chance to build robots, discover how to code them, and have leadership opportunities, such as facilitating robotics badge classes to their peers. Girls will work with differing equipment based on their grade; younger girls explore WeDo Lego kits and older girls investigate Mindstorms Lego kits. Who: ⓓⓑⓙⓒ Where: Program Place for Girls, monthly meetings Cost: $20 Note: Membership in the special interest group is independent from the competition teams. Girls can do both but are highly encouraged to look at their commitments and availability before signing up for this group and a competition team.

Contact: Kelli Cavenah, kcavenah@sjgs.org, 713-292-0271

Columns

Mentoring Days

Adult Trainings

Supporting troop leaders is an essential role of Community service teams. Mentoring Days are ideal for mentor team leads, troop mentors, the Café Team and anyone who will be involved in providing ongoing training and support to both new and seasoned leaders. This mini-training day includes the two classes listed below and time for a buzz group discussion to share best practices and ideas. Note: This will be the last offering for 2019, so please register now. Courses included: • The Many Faces of Mentoring - Explores the different mentoring programs and helps you assess which one will be the most effective in your Community. • C.A.F.E. Care and Feeding - Designed for Café Team members to explore ways to use Cafes to educate, motivate and retain your volunteers. When: Sunday, Sept. 15 Where: Girl Scout Center, Houston Cost: $10

Camp Certification Training Any questions regarding Camp Certification registrations may be directed to Betty Morgan, Training Registrar, at bmorgan@sjgs.org or 713-292-0238. Date or Sept. 9 Sept. 10 Sept. 21

Day Mon. Tues. Sat.

Course Name Camp Cert In Town (AC 9/21) Camp Cert In Town (AC 9/21) Camp Cert At Camp (IT 9/9)

Location ATC GSC ATC

Tues. Camp Cert In Town Ex Exp(AC 9/28&29) or Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Thurs. Camp Cert In Town (AC 9/28&29) Sept. 28 & 29 Sat./Sun Camp Cert At Camp Ex Exp (IT 9/17)

GSC CYP ATC

Sept. 26 Thurs. Oct. 1 Tues. Oct. 12 Sat.

Camp Cert In Town (AC 10/12) Camp Cert In Town (AC 10/12) Camp Cert At Camp (IT 9/26&10/1)

GSC WAM WAM

Oct. 21 Nov. 2

Mon. Sat.

Camp Cert In Town (AC 11/2) Camp Cert At Camp (IT 10/21)

GSC ATC

or Nov. 4 Nov. 5 Nov. 16

Mon. Tues. Sat.

Camp Cert In Town (AC 11/16) Camp Cert In Town (AC 11/16) Camp Cert At Camp (IT 11/4, 11/5)

BRC GSC WAM

Nov. 19 Dec. 7

Tues. Sat.

Camp Cert In Town (AC 12/7) Camp Cert At Camp (IT 11/19)

GSC ATC

or Jan. 6 Jan. 7 Jan. 18

Mon. Tues. Sat.

Camp Cert In Town (AC 1/18) Camp Cert In Town (AC 1/18) Camp Cert At Camp (IT 1/6&7)

GSC ATC

Camp Certification with Extra Experience (Overnight) Date Day Course Name Sept. 17 Tues. Camp Cert In Town Ex Exp(AC 9/28&29) Sept. 28 & 29 Sat./SunCamp Cert At Camp Ex Exp (IT 9/17) Jan. 13 Mon. Jan. 25&26 Sat./Sun

Outdoor Refresher (Must hold GSSJC Camp Certification already) Date Day Course Name Sept. 21 Sat. Camp Cert At Camp Oct. 12 Sat. Camp Cert At Camp Nov. 2 Sat. Camp Cert At Camp Nov. 16 Sat. Camp Cert At Camp Jan. 18 Sat. Camp Cert At Camp

7-10 p.m. 7 – 10 p.m. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

GSC CYP ATC

Jan. 13 Mon. Camp Cert In Town Ex Exp (AC 1/25&26) Jan. 25&26 Sat./Sun Camp Cert ExE At Camp (IT 1/13)

Camp Cert In Town (AC 1/25&26) Camp Cert ExE At Camp (IT 1/15)

Time Cost 6:30-9:30 p.m. $25 7-10 p.m. $25 8 a.m.-9 p.m. none $25 $25 none

7-10 p.m. $25 6:30-9:30 p.m. $25 8 a.m.-9 p.m. none 7-10 p.m. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

$25 none

7-10 p.m. 7-10 p.m. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

$25 $25 None

7-8:30 p.m. 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

$35 none

7-10 p.m. $25 7-10 p.m. $25 8 a.m.-9 p.m. none

7-10 p.m. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

$25 none

Location GSC ATC

Time 7-10 p.m. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Cost $25 none

GSC ATC

7-10 p.m. $25 8 a.m.-3 p.m. none

Time Cost 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20

Location ATC WAM ATC WAM ATC

July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Columns

Summer Train-In July 20

Check in begins at 8 a.m.; first class begins at 8:30 a.m. Cost: $15 for each day Place: Girl Scout Center, Houston Daisy Brownie Program Leadership TrainingDesigned for leaders who are NEW to the troop leadership role working with girls in grades K-3. Learn how to work with girls in a girlled, learning by doing environment that will incorporate Girl Scout program from Daisies and Brownies. See the progression in characteristics of each age group and learn about earned awards, troop government, field trip and service project readiness, ceremonies and more with the use of available program resources. Includes information about the National Program Portfolio presented in “Getting Started with the Girl Guides and Journeys.” Beyond Journeys & Badges for Older GirlsHigher awards, leadership awards and special interest groups are some of what makes Girl Scouting in middle and high school unique and life changing. Explore what is available to Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors that will keep them coming back. Round out the course with valuable discussion among leaders and volunteers working with girls of this level. Building Awesome Daisy Brownie MeetingsThis class will help you develop meetings that calm the chaos by harnessing the tools of games, crafts, songs and tapping into your prime resource - parents! Look forward to a happier you and more fun for the girls. Celebrating Girl and Troop Achievements When is the proper time to present badges/ awards to girls? How do we encourage girls to move to the next level? Do we recognize Girl Scouts partnering with our local communities? Join us for the answers to these questions and explore ways to celebrate these achievements. Extended Troop Travel and Finance– Is your troop ready for a trip of three nights or more? Learn how to guide older girls in planning their grand adventure. Progression, paperwork, troop contracts, financing and more will be the focus of this workshop. *For leaders of older Girl Scout Juniors through Ambassadors. Getting Started with the Girl Guides and Journeys-Are you overwhelmed with where to start when using the program resources with girls? Join us in this workshop to understand how the National Program Portfolio materials are the tools that help you support the Girl Scout Mission and Program. Learn about the earned awards - badges, journeys awards and other recognitions. These materials help make Girl Scouting unique and provide progression in developing skills and leadership in girls. This information is duplicated in the Daisy Brownie Program Leadership Training. Girl Scout Traditions in the 21st Century Do you know the Girl Scout Handshake, Motto, Promise and Law and how to teach it to the girls? Learn about traditions in Girl Scouting (to include investiture/rededication; Girl Scout holidays and more), not only what they are but what gave birth to them. It promises to be lots of fun. 32 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Note:

Lunch is not provided. Lunch break will be 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Please, no children at this event. Childcare is not offered and classroom space for children is not available during the sessions.

Make the World a Better Place-Learn to inspire girls to plan meaningful service projects, guide them to discover the root cause of an issue, and how to elevate simple service to a take action project? Understand of the difference between a service project and a Take Action Project and gain ideas for service for all Girl Scout levels. Money Management for Troops – Get info. to help you and the girls manage the troop account. You will also get information on when and how you can apply for money-earning activities; solicit troop donations or receive a volunteer involvement grant from an employer; and how to stay in good standing with the Council as a leader/advisor. For troop leaders/treasurers! Partnering with Juniors- Adults new to the troop leadership role or who are moving from the Brownie level are encouraged to attend this course. Learn specifics on various forms of troop government, characteristics of the girls, the girl/ adult partnership, tips on girl planning and more. Information on the National Program Portfolio is presented in the course “Getting Started with the Girl Guides and Journeys" and is NOT included. Partnering with Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors- In this interactive classroom course, leaders will learn their role as an advisor to girls who are in grades 6-12. Gain insight on how girls this age think, guide them in girl planning and when to step back so girls can develop leadership skills. Discover ways to become teen savvy, how to talk to girls about the 3 T’s (Touchy Teen Topics) and the importance of maintaining confidentiality with troop members.

Note: Information on the National Program Portfolio is presented in the course “Getting Started with the Girl Guides and Journeys. Information on earning the Silver Award is now in a separate course and is NOT included. STEM Journey Overview (All Levels) –Have you wanted to Think Like An Engineer, Citizen Scientist, or Programmer? Come explore the new STEM Journey and Badge requirements for all levels and learn how to introduce the Take Action Project to complete a full Journey. Get ready for your own hands on fun in this session. Silver Award Orientation– This training is designed to equip troop leaders, advisors and parents who are looking to support Cadettes through the Silver Award process. Topics include project guidelines, submission deadlines, and coaching tips. Sing Along With Me– Join us for an interactive workshop of singing! Learn a variety of songs: silly, traditional, action and more. Leave with lots of fun to take back to your girls. Recording device allowed – audio only. What to do Instead of Banning Cell Phones– Learn strategies for getting Juniors - Ambs. to own the expectations, behaviors and discipline in their troop. Adults tend to get frustrated when girls miss planning meetings and come only to the fun, when girls appear to be texting during meetings instead of contributing, and other older girl behavior. Discuss ideas to guide girls to create the behavior contract they want for full ownership of their troop as well as how to begin letting go as a troop leader.

July 20 Course Timeline 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

(1A) Partnering with Juniors

9 - 10:30 a.m. (3A) Sing Along with Me

(2A) Partnering w/Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors (4A) Building Awesome Daisy/ Brownie Meetings

10:45 a.m. – (1B) STEM (2B) What to do (3B) Celebrating 12:15 p.m Journey Overview Instead of Banning Girl and Troop Cell Phones Achievement 1:30 – 3 p.m. (1C) Make the World a Better Place 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.

3:15 – 4:45 p.m.

(2C) Beyond Journeys and Badges for Older Girls

(3C) Getting Started with Girl Guides and Journeys

(2D) Extended Troop Travel and Finance

(3D) Money Management for Troops

(4C&D) Daisy Brownie Program Leadership Training (1D) Silver Award Orientation

(4B) Girl Scout Traditions in the 21st Century

Columns

Get Ready for the Fall Volunteer Conference 2019 Nov. 8 - 10 Camp Agnes Arnold, Conroe Mark your calendar now. The Fall Volunteer Conference is the premier training event for the fall and you don’t want to miss it. The conference provides an assortment of workshops in the areas of troop management and support, enrichments, outdoor and STEM. You can expect an awesome learning experience coupled with exciting adventures all in one weekend. Troop leaders from the 2018 conference named networking as the number one highlight of the weekend and raved about the sessions on Journeys, STEM, meeting management and songs. Here’s what some other participants had to say about their experience: • “It is put together well. Loved collaborating and learning.” Registration information will be in the • “I learned so much.” September/October issue of The Golden Link, • “I loved the cooks. The food was great.” and early bird registration will begin late July/early August. • “Trainers were super.”

Training Calendar July Date 13 20 27 27

August

10 24 24

Day Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

Course Name Facilitator Essentials Summer Train In #2 Event Basics Weekend Event Planning

Location GSC GSC Alvin Girl Scout House Alvin Girl Scout House

Time 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 9 a.m. – noon 1 – 3 p.m.

Cost $12 $15 $6 $6

Saturday Saturday Saturday

Membership Kickoff Event Basics Weekend Event Planning

TCWW GSC GSC

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 9 a.m. – noon 1 – 3 p.m.

$20 $6 $6

First Aid/CPR/AED Blended Mentoring Day Program Level Training Day Thanks a Million Community/Region Treasurer Community Financial Specialist

GSC GSC TBD GSC GSC GSC

9 a.m. – noon 1 – 5 p.m. 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

$55 $10 $10 $6 $6 $6

9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. 9 a.m. – noon 1 – 3 p.m. 9 a.m. – noon

$10 $10 $55 $6 $6 $55

September 7 15 21 28 28 28

Saturday Sunday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

October

5 Saturday Program Level Training Day GSC 12 Saturday Program Level Training Day Huntsville 16 Wednesday First Aid/CPR/AED-Blended GSC 19 Saturday Event Basics GSC 19 Saturday Weekend Event Planning GSC 19 Saturday First Aid/CPR/AED-Blended Huntsville Location Legend/Directions to Get to an Adult Training Alvin Girl Scout House, 1009 West Lang Street, Alvin. Rte 6S or 288S to Rte 6 go to 2nd Street in Alvin. Continue on 2nd to W Sealy St and turn right. Next left onto 2nd Street again. In .2 miles turn left onto West Lang St. and go .1 mile–on the right.92 ft AA: Camp Agnes Arnold – Conroe: I-45 North, exit League Line Road. Go east to Hwy 75 and turn left. Camp is on the right. ATC: Adult Training Center– Conroe: Exit I-45 at League Line Road. Go east to Hwy 75 and turn left. Camp is on the right (Camp Agnes Arnold). Follow the signs in camp to Camp Misty Meadows. Adult Training center is on the right before arriving at Misty Meadows Ranch. BRC: Beaumont Resource Center (Foundation of Southeast Texas) – Beaumont: 700 North Street, Suite F: I-10 East, take exit 855A for US-90 toward downtown, turn left at North Street, building is on the left. CASA: Casa Mare – Seabrook: I-45 South to Nasa Road 1 exit. Turn east onto Nasa Road 1, continue 8 miles, crossing Highway 146 in

Seabrook, onto Second Street. Continue east to the end of Second Street at Todville Road. Turn left on Todville Road and go approximately 3 miles to camp (on your right). CYP: Good Shepard UMC, 20155 Cypresswood, Dr. Cypress; US-290 W. to Hempstead Rd./US-290 Frontage in Cypress. Exit from US-290-W. Trun right onto Fairfield Creek. Turn left onto Cypresswood. Dr. GSC: Girl Scout Center – Houston: 3110 Southwest Freeway: Hwy 59 (south of downtown) Located on freeway feeder road (north side) between Kirby Drive and Buffalo Speedway. Exit Kirby Drive both ways. First United Methodist Church of Huntsville-Huntsville: 1016 Sam Houston Ave. 59 North, Follow I-45 N to N Fwy Resource Rd in Huntsville. Take exit 116 from I-45 N. Turn right onto 11th St. Building is located on the corner of Sam Houston Ave and 10th street. Training in Community Life Center, Room 202/203. TCWW: The Church Without Walls: 5725 Queenston Blvd., Houston WAM: Camp Wind-A-Mere – Alvin: I-45 South, exit FM 517. Turn right on McFarland Road. July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 33

Columns

New Environmental Classroom at Camp Agnes Arnold’s Nature Center

We recently added a new classroom to the Nature Center located at Camp Agnes Arnold. But guess what? It’s not a classroom with four walls like you’re used to at school. The environmental classroom we created for you is outdoors and includes a rain garden and bioswale. Rain gardens and bioswales are landscaping features designed to collect rain runoff from roofs, walkways, patios, driveways or other hard surfaces. Every time it rains, water runs off these surfaces causing erosion and collecting pollutants such as particles of dirt, fertilizer, chemicals, oil, garbage and bacteria along the way. Often this water enters storm drains untreated and flows directly to nearby streams and ponds. This runoff can also cause flooding and reduces our groundwater. The water you drink most likely comes from groundwater found below the earth’s surface. When water soaks into the soil it undergoes a process known as infiltration. As water moves between the soil and rocks, some of the water is soaked up by roots to help plants grow. The rest of the water keeps moving down into the soil to a level that is filled with water called groundwater. Large areas of groundwater below the surface are called aquifers. It’s important to know that groundwater moves outward also and supplies water to our rivers, lakes and streams. Did you know that groundwater supplies drinking water for 51 percent of the total U.S. population and 99 percent of the rural population? Groundwater helps grow our food. Sixty-four percent of groundwater is used for irrigation to grow crops. Groundwater is an important component in many industrial processes that produce metals, wood and paper products, chemicals, gasoline and oils. The Nature Center’s rain garden collects rainwater that flows off the roof, walkway and falls from the sky. Rain gardens effectively remove up to 90 percent of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80 percent of sediments from the rainwater runoff. Compared to your lawn, rain gardens allow for 30 percent more water to soak into the ground. Soil preparation is important in establishing a rain garden. A good soil mixture consists of 50-60 percent sand, 20-30 percent compost and 20-30 percent topsoil. A rain garden is not a water garden, a pond or a wetland. In fact, a rain garden is dry most of the time and typically holds water only during and following a rainfall event. Because rain gardens usually drain within 12-48 hours they prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. We planted native plants along a bioswale that collects the rain and water runoff. You’ve probably seen a bioswale in your neighborhood or maybe even in your own backyard. A bioswale is a small ditch or trough with gently sloped sides and filled with plants, providing a path for water to run through slowly. Our bioswale is lined with river rocks to allow water to move directly into the ground. We installed two drains in the bioswale to help move large amounts of water during heavy rainfalls and a four-inch perforated pipe that runs toward Shadow Lake. Water flowing through this pipe helps keep the lawn between the Nature Center and lake healthy and green. Good plants for a bioswale include hardy, native shrubs, plants and grasses that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions. Bioswale plants must tolerate standing water, but also need to thrive when the water dries up. A bioswale has several growing “zones” with different needs. The center, and deepest, part of the bioswale loves plants that love moisture. The middle of the sloping sides prefers wet to dry plants, while the upper part of the bioswale likes drier types of vegetation. Another important fact about plants in general is their root system filters water and aids in absorbing pollutants. Native plants that grow naturally or have existed for many years in this area are great choices for bioswales because they love the local climate and soil. Once they are planted and established, they don’t need extra water or fertilizer. Many native plants are deep rooted, so they can survive droughts when little to no water is available. The best reason to have native plants is they provide habitat and food for native wildlife. We chose to plant Texas lantana, blue plumbago, Texas sage, Mexican heather and Mondo grass in the rain garden. Texas lantana and Texas sage are drought and deer resistant. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love these flowers. Hummingbirds also love Mexican heather. All this wildlife including birds are important pollinators. We invite you to visit this new environmental classroom while you’re at camp. Now that you’ve learned more about rain gardens and bioswales, look around your neighborhood and you’ll be amazed how many you see.

Around Camp

Nature Trivia

What do Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts, Jack of Hearts, Millionaire, Crimson, Trio and Nova have in common? Want more guesses? How about Charleston Gray, Black Diamond, Jubilee, Allsweet and Crimson Sweet? Okay, last hint: Desert King, Tendergold, Yellow Baby and Yellow Doll? The first seven are seedless watermelons that were created in the 1990s for those of you who don’t think spitting melon seed is fun. Seedless watermelons have tiny underdeveloped seeds, despite the name, which are easily consumed. The melons usually weigh from 10 - 20 pounds and mature in about 85 days. The next set of five watermelons are the Picnic type and tend to be larger, from 16 - 45 pounds or more, perfect for a picnic gathering. These are the traditional oblong or round melons with a green rind and sweet, red flesh – which mature at around 85 days or so. And, the last set of five watermelons are yellow/orange fleshed watermelon plant varieties, which are typically round and can be both seedless and seeded. This variety matures in about 75 days. Here’s a question for next time: Since we’ve been learning about rain gardens, bioswales and groundwater, how many aquifers have been the primary source of water for the Houston-Galveston region since the early 1900s?

34 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Columns

Thank You, GSSJC Donors!

March 1-April 30, 2019 $5,000-$9,999 $250-$999 - Brownie Cadette Jill Almaguer Clark Hill AT&T Strasburger Terrie Bean-Minero Shell Oil Vincent Berend Company Stacey L. Berg CarMax $1,000-$4,999 - Junior Kym Coleman BP Energy Company Education Foundation, Chevron Phillips Inc. Chemical Company Colony Creek Deloitte & Touche LLP Community Corrie B. Jenkins Karen K. Davidson Key Impact Sales & Rudy T. Dismuke Systems, Inc. Lillie Eick Michelle Lewis Katie Beth Gottlieb M2 Media Group Claudia W. Hayslip Memorial Hermann Doris E. Hill Mutual of America Houston Diamonds & National Christian Dollars Inc Foundation Houston Houston Museum of National Oilwell Varco Natural Science Northern Trust Bank Just Her Sports Dolores and John M. Kuraray America, Inc. Richards, III Katherine P. Lavery Jayne and Paul Roberts Marathon Oil Donna S. Sisak Corporation The Woodlands Ida Pearl McDonald Development Company Judy Moses LP Nacogdoches County United Way

Philanthropy

$25,000+ - Ambassador Girl Scouts of the USA Susanne M. Glasscock The Vivian L. Smith Foundation United Way of Greater Houston $10,000-$24,999 Senior Leah Bennett ConocoPhillips Company Harriet and Joe Foster Foundation The Friedkin Group George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation Save the Children Wells Fargo

Lauren Ostrowski Michelle and Joseph Raab Linda B. Rosenberg Darleen M. Schauer Texas Instruments Foundation United Way of Brazoria County United Way of Midland County Cathy Wining-Thomas and Jim Thomas Janet E. Wolf Marguerite Woung- Chapman Memorials In Memory of Penny Harp Terrie Bean-Minero Barbara S. Story In Memory of Vernita Johnson's Mother "Lady in School" In Memory of Judy Kunkel Terry E. Kite

In Memory of Anjanette Seipel Troop #112015 Honorariums In Honor of Katie Berend Vincent Berend In Honor of Leslie Siegel Lejmer Steve Jackson In Honor of Dee Hinkle Charlene Pate In Honor of Troop #142147, Sunshine Stars Community Lisa Hasch In Honor of Isabel Smith Willhouse Ida Pearl McDonald For any questions about the donor list, contact Suzanne Boak at 713-2920273 or sboak@gssjc.org. Honorariums listed are $25 and above.

July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 35

Columns

Service Around Council Troop #136001 happily worked to fight hunger by volunteering at the Houston Food Bank.

Girl Scouts from across the council worked to make the world a better place by participating in the 2019 River, Lakes, Bays â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Bayous Trash Bash.

Troop #127014 went reverse-trick-or-treating, passing out treats and singing, for residents of Heritage Park Nursing Home in Katy. Troop #131098 fully embraced the Trash Challenge by picking up trash near their cookie booths and a local duck pond in Kirbyville, TX.

Troop #111105 bagged lots of trash at the 2019 River, Lakes, Bays â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Bayous Trash Bash.

Troop #157115 participated in the 2019 Keep Texas Beautiful clean up and donated their Cookie Share cookies to the volunteers and rangers at the park.

Troop #134127 volunteered at HOME (Help Our Military Endure) by boxing up care packages to send to members of the military overseas. 36 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Scrapbook

Send your photos to ations@ communic clude In sjgs.org. in the # p oo tr your e. lin t ec subj

Sending in your photos does not guarantee placement in Golden Link.

GSSJC Scrapbook See your pictures on Facebook! Find your photos in a monthly scrapbook album on our page: facebook.com/gssjc

Troop #108107 discovered, connected and took action planting vegetables for community market.

Troop #02196 had a blast at their cookie booth in front of the Breakfast Klub.

Troop #6392 visited the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education Center in Baytown to earn badges and learn about the environment. Troop #9663 celebrated World Thinking Day in style by hosting a booth about Ghana.

Sarah S. of Troop #17274 braved the cold temperatures of Anchorage, AK to try out the sport dog mushing.

Troop #114182 camped at the Galveston Boat House and took a beach exploration tour with the park rangers in Galveston State Park.

July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 37

Scrapbook Troop #26260 celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a colorful Dr. Seuss themed cookie booth.

Troop #124008 toured Houston Fire Station 5, where they saw the accommodations, uniforms, trucks and tools and showed their appreciation with a goodie basket.

Troop #12744 traveled to UT Austin for Girl Day where they enjoyed a day packed with engineering and STEM.

Troop #150061 took a trip to Colorado for spring break and enjoyed the great outdoors while hiking through the Garden of the Gods.

Sophia S. of Troop #24330 delivered donated Girl Scout Cookies to the very grateful first responders at Fire Station 35 in Houston.

Troop #11804 made Garden Markers for Interfaith of The Woodlands’ “Veggie Village” in Creekside Park as part of their Harvest Award and Sow What Journey.

38 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Troop #129085 spent the night at NASA for the Girl Scout Camp-In and earned the Space Science Explorer badge.

Scrapbook

Troop #28250 virtually traveled to the moon and back while at the Brazos Bend Observatory.

Troop #106023 represented Norway at the Spring Creek Trails World Thinking Day event and learned a lot about other WAGGGS countries.

Troop #111016 celebrated Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day with a campout, where they got to explore the outdoors and make crafts. Troop #111034 enjoyed their first trip to camp Wind-AMere, where they were able to sleep in a tee pee.

Troop #111034 rallied up for Girl Scout Cookie season at the Wildflowers Community Cookie Kickoff Troop #114036 created a Mars rover with eggs, balloons and other objects as part of the Think Like a Programmer Journey.

Troop #111105 visited Camp Agnes Arnold for a day trip to prepare for their first overnight Girl Scout camping experience. July/August 2019 l The Golden Link 39

Scrapbook

Scrapbook Girl Scouts from across the council visited the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where they learned about agriculture and animals.

Troop #125076 practiced the 5 Skills of the Girl Scout Cookie Program while manning their cookie booth.

Troop #131098 had a cookie booth visit from Texas State Representative James White, who encouraged the girls to keep working hard and purchased Shortbreads.

Troop #129115 created nature clay pieces to earn the Outdoor Art Maker badge.

Troop #134127 held a rededication ceremony to renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Troop #134127 visited The Jersey Barnyard in La Grange, TX where they learned all about agriculture and farm life.

Troop #136001 watched "Mamma Mia" at the Hobby Center and gave Girl Scout Cookies to cast member Sally Wilfert who played Donna. 40 July/August 2019 l The Golden Link

Fall Product Sale Program Starts September 20 Do you have lots of awesome activities that you want to do with your troop this year? The Fall Product Program is an easy and fun way to earn startup funds for all these activities and more! See inside this issue and a mailing in Sept. for more information on the program. Meet Fatu the baby rhino and Najin the mother. They are northern white rhinos. Did you know that there are only two of these left in the world? You can earn Fatu by selling 55 nut/candy or magazines items (any combination). The mother is earned by being the top achiever in their Community.

YYU UM MM MYY !!

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels are one of the new products this year. These are great as gifts for teachers, family and friends!

Check out this new tin!

This replica of a vintage uniform will be filled with Mint Treasures and is only $12

Raising Awesome Girls The Glory of a Skinned Knee “Be careful!” Stop and think about that phrase—and how often you say it to your daughter. The intention behind those two words is, of course, full of love for her and a desire to keep her out of harm’s way, but the effect could be that your girl errs too much on the side of caution, becomes overly inhibited, and misses out on some of the greatest adventures and opportunities life has to offer. One of those great opportunities? A skinned knee. It might sound crazy, but think back to the times when you were younger and skinned a knee (or an elbow, or maybe even landed yourself in a short-term cast). There’s a reason why you might remember those moments so vividly—in these times of trial, when we’re pushed to endure a little more than usual, we develop strength. Not convinced? Check out these four reasons to think of a skinned knee as a badge of honor. 1. It’s a sign that in the face of a challenge, she said, “Maybe I can!” This kind of optimistic thinking is exactly the quality that will lead her to be a go-getter in life and to have the possibility-thinking skills employers are looking for. Building her courage and confidence will give her more fun and fulfilling experiences now and will benefit her big time down the road. 2. A healing scrape teaches resilience Our bodies are pretty incredible at bouncing back after minor injuries. Sure, there’s a process—it might hurt, there might be a scab for a while—but in the end, her scraped knee heals. This is a great parallel to the process we need to go through to recover from other disappointments and setbacks in life. Seeing herself heal physically might help her see her own strength and know that she’s capable of overcoming challenges. 3. Her friends will see her differently Falling down, scraping her knee, and getting back up again is a story of bravery—one that often comes with street (or, in her case, playground!) cred. Why? Because when the going gets tough, we want to know our friends can stick with us and weather the storm. Her scraped knee sends a subtle signal to your girl and her friends that she’s got what it takes to handle whatever the world throws at her.

4. She’s choosing the “better” risks Kids and teens gravitate like magnets toward intense, exhilarating experiences. It’s just how they’re chemically wired. Experts say that when we encourage girls to take healthy risks— say, hitting the local skate park or going whitewater rafting with friends—we’re fulfilling that need in them and making it less likely that they’ll turn toward the more unhealthy risks that could have serious, lifelong consequences. So the next time you’re tempted to tell your girl to be careful, remember that those words could orient her toward avoiding risks in general—even those that could benefit her. Instead, consider telling her to be smart (there is, after all, a difference between trying out some new surfing moves and skydiving without a parachute!) and, most of all, to have fun. And if she does get a scraped knee or other fairly minor injury along the way? Know that she’ll be stronger and better off for it.

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We want every girl to succeed. That’s why GSSJC is happy to bring you Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.’s Raising Awesome Girls, an online publication to help you and your Girl Scout answer questions, face challenges and find solutions to daily life. For more articles like this, visit www.girlscouts.org and find Raising Awesome Girls under the “For Adults” tab.

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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TX PERMIT NO. 6743

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council 3110 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77098-4508

Membership Kickoff – S’more Girl Scout fun Join us for a jam packed day of s’more Girl Scout fun and networking. Get ready for 2020! New this year, an all inclusive day of resources to launch you and your troop experience into the new Girl Scout year! Plan to attend and hear the latest news from council, join the pep rally, check out vendors and partners offering Girl Scout experiences and participate in new workshops and enrichments. Bring your troop leadership team and get excited for a brand new year. Show your Girl Scout spirit by bringing your entire team and wearing your troop or Community shirts!

Arrive as a novice in planning a Girl Scout year. Leave inspired for a brand new year of awesome Girl Scout fun!

Included in the day: Indoor campfire Girl Scout pop-up shop Panel discussions Sing-alongs GSSJC partner and vendor booths Door prizes GSSJC department Q&A tables Council updates Role specific training for Community service team members Girl Scout spirit rally

Who: Where: When: Price:

Troop volunteers, Community and Region service teams, Community and Region leadership teams TBA, Check online August 10 $20 – lunch included