Girl Talk May-July 2022

Early Bird renewal through July 31 Thank you to everyone who helped make the “Kristen Bell and Girl Scouts: Paint Your World Purple” virtual event a success! We had a lot of fun at our watch party, and we hope you all learned more about what it means to be a curious Purple Person.

Membership renewal is still going on, through July 31. Renew now and get your Early Bird Patch!

This is a great way to be ready for the new membership year.

Visit www.girlscouts-swtx.org/renew to get started!

Summer Camp is Here Spots are still available at Camp La Jita and Camp Metro.

Finish out the summer strong by enrolling your girl in one (or both!) of our camps. Visit www.girlscouts-swtx.org/camp to learn more.

She’ll make new friends: Having a diverse group of friends outside of school will broaden her horizons and help her see her own worth.

She’ll see all she can be: In an all-girl environment, girls are more comfortable trying new outdoor activities, and they get to take the lead every single time.

She’ll turn off her phone and tune in to nature: Unplugging for a while will keep her present and truly enjoying every moment.

She’ll grow her grit: The truth is, she might scrape a knee or elbow while she’s away—and that’s a good thing!

When she learns to get back up after minor setbacks, she’s building her resilience and learning that she’s a lot tougher than she thinks.

She’ll meet new mentors: Having a variety of awesome role models will help your girl see the many ways to be successful and happy in life.

She’ll gain independence: Time away from home to explore and try activities on her own will make her more self-reliant and able to discover new things to share and teach you when she returns home.

She’ll have tons of time for play: Studies show that play allows the neurons in a child’s brain to form new connections—and that this rewiring helps boost emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Living the Girl Scout Promise We continue to mourn the tragedy in Uvalde that has affected the lives of hundreds of Girl Scouts and included the loss of Amerie Jo Garza, age 10. To say this summer has been difficult is an understatement, not only for our state and our nation, but for our council. During such darkness, however, we have seen light—from you and from the Girl Scout community.

Girl Scouts from across the U.S. have come together to honor Amerie and the other children who lost their lives at Robb Elementary School.

From a troop in Maryland honoring her during their bridging ceremony, to girls in New Jersey releasing into the sky balloons emblazoned with Amerie’s and her classmates’ names, to a troop in California making cards for families in Uvalde, to an Ambassador Girl Scout in Florida reaching out and asking if there’s any way they

can help. Countless people have held vigils, donated blood, and sent donations and other items to us to deliver to our sisters in Uvalde. They’ve reached out to us to offer unconditional support, reminding us that we truly are a sisterhood.

Uvalde is home to nearly 250 Girl Scouts, many of whom participate through our Gamma Sigma Girls® and Gamma Sigma Pearls™ leadership development programs through the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, in addition to volunteer-led troops. Our campus based collaborations bring girls together through the bond of sisterhood and allow them to explore common interests and make new friends.

Amerie was a Girl Scout through the school for just six months, but that timeframe changed her life.

Her parents said the programming she participated in, including our “Becoming Me” series, had a profound impact on her and helped her realize her desire to be an art teacher. They noticed significant growth in their daughter in only a short amount of time. That’s a testament to the power of our movement and the importance of providing

opportunities for girls to be themselves, learn new things, and be leaders in their communities. Amerie was the type of girl who stood up for others and helped where she could. Even amid extreme danger, she tried to help others, which is why she was posthumously awarded the Bronze Cross.

Amerie’s legacy will live on as we continue to honor her and support our community in Uvalde. Your generosity and kindness have meant a great deal to the family, and we thank you on their behalf.

Let us continue to raise up girls of courage, confidence, and character—girls like Amerie.

Learn more about how you can help our sisters in Uvalde and access important resources for working with children who have experienced trauma and grief at www.girlscouts-swtx.org/girlscoutstrong.

Summer Operating Hours To best meet the need of our member families and volunteers, all departments are available to visitors the following days/ times through Friday Sept. 2: Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center, Girl Scout Shop, and Resource Center: •

Closed Sunday and Monday

•

Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

•

Friday, 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Curbside pickup for the shop on Thursdays will change to 10 a.m.–6 p.m. The shop also will be open Saturday, Aug. 5, for Tax-Free Weekend.

The West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center remains closed to the public. Select in-person programming continues to take place. See our online Events Calendar for more information.

COVID-19 Prevention Protocols GSSWT has introduced new levels of COVID-19 prevention protocols based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) tracking of COVID-19 Community Levels of risk.

To determine your county’s COVID-19 Community Level of risk, visit www.girlscouts-swtx.org/covid.

Mental Wellness Starts Here.

The challenges of today’s world don’t only affect grownups. Young people—especially girls—are facing a mental health crisis of their own. Supporting them as they grow and face life’s complexities is a top priority.

Girl Scouts plus their families, caregivers, and volunteers now have access to these mental wellness resources from Girl Scouts of the USA and trusted partners. From new activities to trainings, you’ll find what you need to get started.

Girl Scout Wellness Activities Try out unique ways to boost your mental health—plus unlock a special patch.

Life isn’t always easy, but dealing with tricky emotions doesn’t have to be so hard. Try activities from the Girl Scouts: Resilient. Ready. Strong. program to unlock a patch and strengthen your mental wellness. Nobody can snap their fingers and make the world all sunshine and lollipops, but you can take steps to be ready when things get tough.

Go get ‘em, Girl Scout!

Visit www.girlscouts-swtx.org to learn more.

Congratulations 2022 Gr Aviana Adams Arianna Ahumada Caelin Alspaugh Cassie Alvarez Arianna Apolinar Angela Aranda Diya Ballal Miriam Barba Abigail Barrera Hailey Barton Elizabeth Baseley Romey Becker Paige Becker Samira Bellino Nadya Berggren Maycie Bertling Mary Buckelew Katherine Bull Emily Burch Denise Caballero

Isadia Calzada-Hernandez Alexandra Camarillo Lorena Cantellop Halie Cardenas Audrey Carranza Imilie Carreon Alexis Cartwright Caelin Cerecero Kendall Clauss Lorelei Coffman Shelby Crowley Monica Cruz Leanna De Anda Annabell Delacruz Briana Delgado Huerta Ashley Deluca Chloe Downey Lilliana Duran Eileen Dutton Madison Escochea

raduating Seniors Marie Fahlsing Alexia Flores Payton Flores Kelli Fort Harmony Fulwood Christiana Garcia Marina Garza Melanie Garza Jena Garza Abigail Gaytan Keely Geisel Kalyssa Gillespie Kiera Grandell Gabriella Green Adriana Guajardo Gabriela Guzman Ja’kayla Hammond Jazmin Harper Sydney Helmick Dakota Hendrick

Cailey Hernandez Faith Hill Emily Huizar Madison Humphreys Myla Huston Jazmin Infante Olivia Irons Christiyan Jones Sara Jordan Sai Pushpa Kondapaneni Joyce Lai Carolyn Lanford Anna Lazzaretti Amber Leal Destiny Leandro Natasha Ledum Miranda Llanes Miranda Lopez Samantha Lopez Lauren Lozano

Reyann Lozano Brianna Manjarrez Summerlynn Marrufo Stella Marti Melanie Martinez Layla Mcmanus Elisa Medina Amanda Mendez Yuliahnna Mendiola Maia Meneses Anupama Menon Shelbi Moehrig Sophia Montalvo Alexandra Moore Angie Moreno Roxanne Moreno Violet Moreno Madison Moscrip Madelyn Mozqueda Doryann Mueller

Jo Mynar-Melendrez Angela Naranjo Gabriella Noriega Michelle Orihuela Julissa Pacheco Monserrat Palomo Shriya Patel Dominga Perez Gianna Perez Melanie Perez Valerie Perez Nevaeh Perez Samika Perkins Dominique Pleasant Michael Pozos Daisy Que Kenia Quintana Kristina Ramirez Taylor Reed Elle Reede

Allison Regino Rachel Renteria Ava Richards Angelina Rios Candace Robles Ysabella Rocha Lizet Rodriguez Samantha Rojas Lauren Rosenberg Raven Rosser Rebekah Salgado Trinity Sanchez Marissa Sanchez Brianna Sanchez Bailey Seesengood Clarissa Servin Saira Shakoor Smruthi Shashidhar Avignail Sifuentes Andrea Solis

Starr Sotello Carys Stogsdill Vaibhavi Sunkara Emma Szabo Akeila Tejwani Ekaterina Tipton Peyton Torkelson Diamond Torres Andrea Trujillo Sarah Valdez Jaanay Watkis Divine Watson Emily West Kathleen Whiteman Joy Williams Sarah Willmann Cassidy Wingo Madison Wright Sydney Yanez Zeina Zouhair

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas was thrilled to honor 24 Gold Award Girl Scouts at a ceremony May 19 at the Red Berry Mansion in San Antonio.

The Gold Award is the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9–12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national and global challenges.

Since 1912, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change.

The Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable.

Congratulations, girls!

Caelin Alspaugh

Mackenzie Mowrey

Miriam Barba

Claire Mueller

Elizabeth Baseley

Gianna Perez

Crystal Engelken

Elle Reede

Hailey Erlund

Gabriella Rocha

Madeline Fuentes

Deanna Rooney

Emma Garza

Alisha Siddiqui

Alexandria Jass

Grace Simonson

Margaret Jones

Akeila Tejwani

Emily LaJoie

Sarah Willmann

Stella Marti

Sydney Yanez

Madison Moscrip

Miranda Young

2022 Gold Award G

Girl Scouts

www.girlscouts-swtx.org

Learn more about our Patch Partners at www.girlscouts-swtx.org/PatchPartners

Get connected @GirlScoutsSWTX

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