Champion Fall Programs

THE BADGERLAND

Champion Unstoppable

Girl Scouts!

Upcoming Programs.

Innovative Ideas.

All About Troops.

Inspiring Girl Scouts.

FALL 2020 gsbadgerland.org 1

GIRL SCOUTS SHOW UP. Girl Scouts always find a way to help! During the pandemic, girls and troops across Badgerland found safe and simple community service projects to support those whose lives have been affected

by COVID-19. Just because things look a little different does not mean Girl Scouts can’t keep making a difference in the world!

“Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.”

- Juliette Gordon Low 2

A Note From CEO Marci Henderson To Our Wonderful Girl Scout Families What an extraordinary time we are all witnessing. I’m grateful as Girl Scouts, we are in this together.

These past six months required challenging decisions at Badgerland including the cancellation of in-person summer camp. After we announced that news, I walked the grounds of Camp Brandenburg and reflected on the record number of girls who had already signed up and were eagerly anticipating Girl Scout camp. And I knew how difficult this decision would be for them to hear and how hard it was for parents to communicate that news. It was among the toughest decisions I’ve made as your CEO. For being outdoors in the summer…being together… is a tenet of the traditional Girl Scout experience. But, like your school and your workplace, we made changes in order to move forward.

So onward we go! To give girls a ‘taste’ of camp we offered Sneak Peek sessions – online camp programs based on the themes that were already planned for 2020. More than 1,000 girls attended and from all over the U.S.! And, fingers crossed, we’ll have those girls back at camp next summer.

I trust you already know that on April 1, we launched Badgerland Girl Scouts at Home. This initiative offers our members continuous access to Girl Scouting. From April through August, we provided 155 online experiences, including civics-earning badge workshops, virtual scuba diving and even a world class Wisconsin rowing athlete who (in a normal year) would have seen her competing at the 2020 Olympics in Japan! The list of programs is long and powerful…and there is much more to come.

For fall and winter, we will offer virtual experiences designed to keep girls safe and meaningfully engaged. We’ll return to inperson when it becomes safe to do so. Within Champion you will find upcoming Badgerland programs for your girl to attend.

She can come on her own or with her troop. It is all at your convenience.

Table of Contents So Much Girl Scout Goodness

Camp & Bridging 2020.......4-5 Badges & Patches...............6-7 Troops during COVID..........8-9 Programs!..........................10-18 Girls Making a Difference....19 Leadership Programs..........20 MediaGIRLS............................21 Program Registration....22-23 GS Shops................................24 Cookie Program.....................27 Troop Book Club.............28-30 Girl Scout Diversity Pledge....30 Volunteer Appreciation........31 Remembering Claire......32-33 GS Grads..........................34-35 Gold Awardees...............36-40 Silver Awardees...............41-42 Troop Tales.............................43 GS BFFs........................... 44-45 Program Calendar.................46 Sign to Color & Display........47

Now more than ever girls need stability and support and an opportunity to grow in a season of uncertainty. Girl Scouts is that anchor. Lean on Girl Scouts to provide the solid foundation that will see her gain resilience and confidence this year.

Marci Henderson Badgerland Council CEO

Marci

gsbadgerland.org 3

e h T : 0 pily Eve 2 20 p a Sneak Peek ummer! H r Sneak Peek S

OUTDOORS

The Sneak Peek Summer Experience When we realized in-person camp just couldn’t happen safely this year, our camp staff quickly got to work to reimagine the outdoor experiences they had planned into a fun and engaging virtual format.

The result? A whopping 1,375 girls chose to attend one of our 58 Sneak Peek Summer opportunities! Fifty-six of those girls live outside of Badgerland – representing 19 states and 29 Girl Scout councils!

Camp was a mixture of on-her-own activities (Ehawee campers got special supplies in the mail), camp staff videos (covering camp favorites like archery, repeat-after-me songs and even canoeing), and live Zoom meetings with fellow campers.

The best part of summer 2020, though? We get to revisit all the same amazing themes next year! That’s right. We’re taking all the themes that were planned for this year and moving them to 2021.

(MessMakers, Forbidden Forest and Sea Goddesses were the most popular online camps…will they be the top in-person choices, too?)

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Check out the 2021 camps at www.gsbadgerland.org.

We asked sisters Charlotte & Eloise: what was virtual camp like compared to staying at Camp Ehawee? similar to real camp because we “It’s still do singing porch, freezing frogs, and fun dinner activities. We learn about some things like we do at real camp, how to do some crafts, how to remember to be safe in the woods, how to sing new songs.

Something that is different is that you don’t get to do some camp activities such as swimming, walking on trails, archery, and canoeing. At Camp Ehawee you can do all of that stuff!

We can’t wait to go back to Ehawee!

”

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Bridging Badgerland VIRTUAL EDITION! This year we couldn’t gather at Camp Ehawee for our council-wide bridging and rededication ceremony like we planned. So instead, HUNDREDS of Badgerland Girl Scouts said YES to a virtual bridging ceremony and designing, building and crossing their very own bridges at home!

Save the Date: Bridging Badgerland 2021 Sunday, May 16 at Camp Brandenburg

gsbadgerland.org 5

New Badges This Year STEM CAREER EXPLORATION

AUTOMOTIVE

CIVICS

ENTREPRENEUR

Design

Engineering

Manufacturing

Democracy

Toy Business Designer

Design

Engineering

Manufacturing

Democracy

Budding Entrepreneur

Design

Engineering

Manufacturing

Democracy

Business Jumpstart

STEM Career Exploration

Democracy

Business Creator

STEM Career Exploration

Democracy

Business Startup

Democracy

Entrepreneur Accelerator

Daisy

Brownie STEM Career Exploration

Junior

24 New Ways to Take The Lead In a year of unprecedented global change, there’s never been a better time for girls to practice ambitious leadership. Combined with our existing unique and proven programs, these new badges put girls on the path to a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success.

Which one will she earn first?

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Cadette

Senior

Ambassador

BADGES VS. PATCHES: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Badgerland Exclusive Patches

PATCHES

Girls get patches for participating in different events, activities or specific programs. Patches can be created by Girl Scouts of the USA (ex. the Suffrage Centennial patch), by Badgerland (i.e. BossGIRL) or simply purchased at a gift shop to commemorate a Girl Scout outing. Patches are worn on the back of a girl’s GS uniform.

BADGES

Badges are earned when a girl completes specific skill-building activities set up by Girl Scouts of the USA. Badge skills build on each other, so as girls get older they can expand their knowledge and confidence in the topic. Badges are worn on the front of a girl’s uniform.

BossGIRL - Project Patch For girls in grades 2-12 Face masks, bath bombs, baked goods, dog treats, tutoring… there are so many profitable ideas that you can turn into a business! Designing and starting your own business can be so easy when you have a plan and know what steps to take.

Best Troop Year Ever - Patch Program

?

Your Design Here!

For girls in grades K-12 Research shows that troops who try an assortment of different activities have a more enjoyable and more successful year. So kick off your Best Troop Year Ever by completing fun activities and challenges to earn the patch!

CONTEST ALERT! Curious what the patch looks like? Well, so are we! We are excited to announce a patch design contest! Girls and troops can submit their design idea on our website through January 30.

at

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland

2020 Stay-at-Home Patch Fight boredom and be helpful, creative, active, and discover new things and ideas all while staying safe at home. Complete a certain number of activities based on your grade level to earn the free patch!

Learn more about the patches at gsbadgerland.org.

New Girl Scouts of the USA Patch Suffrage Centennial Patch: Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Right to Vote!

Discover the history of women’s right to vote and civic engagement though fun activities!

The 19th Amendment, which was ratified in 1920, removed the gender restriction to voting—a significant milestone for democracy. (However, it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed that women of color were able to vote.) Today, in 2020, women continue to advocate for change, and are running for office in higher numbers than ever before! gsbadgerland.org 7

FOR TROOP LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS The year 2020 hasn’t been easy for anyone. We know troop leaders had to make tough decisions and field challenging questions, and we thank each and every one of you for your perseverance and commitment to keeping Girl Scouts a safe place for girls through this all.

We’re excited to announce a variety of new tools and resources for volunteers to make Girl Scouting from home this fall as easy and enjoyable for troop leaders (and girls, of course) as possible! The biggest change? We’re taking advantage of the virtual landscape by focusing less on where you live, and more on what girls and troops at each Girl Scout level can achieve. Here’s what that

Leader Meetings By GS Level “Cohorts” This fall, troop leader meetings are transitioning to a virtual format, where support will be provided based on the age of your Girl Scouts.

This means all Daisy leaders will meet together; all Brownie Leaders; all Junior leaders; and all Cadette, Senior & Ambassador leaders will be together.

The “new” leader meetings will be no more than an hour and held via Zoom at different times to accommodate schedules. Meetings will be recorded so that those who cannot attend don’t miss out on any important information.

What About Service Units? (Formerly known as Membership Areas) Coming soon: a dedicated Badgerland expert to help you support and build Girl Scouting in your community! Do continue meeting as a community and scheduling those awesome local events for your girls.

It’s going to be even bigger and better in 2021 as we help you get even more connected.

Adult Enrichment Opportunities Our focus is on the girls but we’re always thinking of ways to help prepare GS volunteers for their role as mentors and leaders. The new virtual leader meetings will feature enrichment activities based on the monthly themes of the Girl Scout calendar to help boost leaders’ confidence in themselves and their girls.

Here’s just a sample of what we have planned for fall: A Conversation with Women Entrepreneurs; Girl-Led Troop Budgeting; Let It Go! (Tips for a Successful Girl-Led Troop); How to Run STEAM Activities & Badgework; Community Service vs. Take Action; and How to Solve Troop Communication Issues. Join your cohort’s Facebook Group to stay up to

Learn to Lead - Zoom Series

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We have virtual programming just for Volunteers! We’ll cover all sorts of tips for Girl Scouting virtually (including how to keep meetings girl-focused and girl-led). Plus, we’ll demo our online resources like Checkfront, gsLearn and Volunteer Toolkit (VTK).

gsLearn Volunteers will now get the training and resources they need through GSUSA’s new official online training forum, gsLearn. Leaders can visit the site whenever is convenient to complete their training, as well as review GS-specific content like how to run virtual troop meetings. Badgerland staff can also assign trainings that are required for certain activities, such as the Girl Scouts in the Outdoors course. Log in to your MyGS account and click the gsLearn link to see what trainings are available now!

Join Your Cohort’s Facebook Group We’ve create private Facebook groups for volunteers to join based on Girl Scout level. This new approach will give Badgerland troop leaders a space to share ideas, connect and inspire. Badgerland will also post important updates and events in these groups.

1. Go to www.facebook.com/ gsbadgerland or search for ‘Girl Scouts of Wisconsin - Badgerland Council’ on Facebook 2. Click ‘Groups’ 3. Find your group and click ‘Join’ - Daisy Leaders and Volunteers - Brownie Leaders and Volunteers - Junior Leaders and Volunteers - CSA Leaders and Volunteers 4. Fill out the questionnaire 5. That’s it! We’ll verify your request and get you added.

Back to Troop:

MEETINGS DURING COVID

Girls feel connected when they meet regularly with their troop. If possible, we recommend troops meet consistently at least twice a month, whether virtually or in-person and socially distanced. Some girls and parents may not feel comfortable returning to in-person meeting quite yet, and that’s OK. Each Girl Scout family should determine what is right for their girl.

Virtual Meetings Online meetings are a terrific alternative, offering girls and troops lots of connections and benefits.

Badge-earning programming and essential girl-to-girl connectivity can easily happen with Zoom meetings.

“Zoom” into your next troop meeting.

In-Person Meetings We want everyone to have a fun and safe year.

Please follow our COVID-19 guidelines before, during and after all troop activities.

Gathering Sizes* Girls ages 12 & under: 15 people max (incl. adults) Girls ages 13 & older: up to 25 people (incl. adults) *Recommended based on resources from Girl Scouts of the USA, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the State of Wisconsin.

Recommendations may change based on the ever-shifting impact of the virus. See our website for the most current guidelines.

Before Troop Meetings Mandatory Anyone with a fever of 100 degrees or more or any other COVID-19 symptoms cannot attend.

Suggested Weather permitting, seek an outdoor meeting space.

No carpooling.

Girls should limit items brought from home.

During Troop Meetings

When you can’t meet in person, gathering virtually through Zoom keeps your Girl Scout sisterhood strong!

Visit our website to reserve a Badgerland Zoom account for free. Reservation are made in one-hour blocks, up to two times per month, per troop.

INTRODUCING: CHECKFRONT Launching October 1: Badgerland’s brand new system for leaders and volunteers to browse and reserve our vast inventory of check-out resources, including new Badge-ina-Box kits, meeting supplies, camp out and cook out kits, GoldieBlox, and even our camps/properties (as soon as it’s safe to re-open).

Learn more about Checkfront at the October 22 ‘Learn to Lead’ Zoom program.

Mandatory Wash hands when arriving and before leaving.

No-touch rule. No friendship squeezes, highfives, handshakes or other physical contact.

No shared water coolers or drinking stations.

Serve only prepacked food. Gloves should be worn when serving.

If someone displays symptoms during the meeting, immediately isolate them.

Record attendance at every meeting, including date and beginning and ending time. The Volunteer Toolkit can help with this.

Suggested All participants should wear a mask when not actively participating in physical activity unless outside and able to properly social distance.

After Troop Meetings Mandatory Sanitize all surfaces, tools and equipment before and after use.

Suggested Communicate regularly with troop families about current conditions and plans for the next meeting.

Continue to assess families’ willingness to meet in person. gsbadgerland.org 9

Badgerland Vir tual Programs New Programs Scheduled EVERY WEEK! The world changed seemingly overnight with the pandemic. And that’s prompted changes at Girl Scouts too. Since April 1 we have offered more than 150 virtual program opportunities for girls and adults. And there’s WAY MORE to come! We’ve had plenty of Zoom practice and are eager to share these exciting virtual series with our members!

We’re all virtual through the end of 2020 and will make decisions on when it’s safe to start meeting in-person again.

Until that time, let’s make sure girls have lots of choices and enriching Girl Scout opportunities. Wow…here they are!

New events are added weekly. Visit www.gsbadgerland.org or our Facebook page to see what’s coming up.

BVPS = Badgerland Virtual Programs... Look at All of Them!

Girl Scout Themed Programs

Subject Matter Mentor Spotlight

Bold, high-impact skill-building and badge earning opportunities. These are one-of-a-kind experiences delivered by Badgerland Girl experts. These are aligned out our monthly program themes (details on the next page) designed our the pillars of the Girl Scout Learning Experience including Outdoors, STEM, Entrpreneurship and Life Skills.

We’ll kick off each month’s theme with a subject matter expert. They will be sharing their experiences and how what you learn in Girl Scouts can take you to bigger adventures personally and professionally.

Badge Workshops Girl Scouts: keep discovering, growing and pursuing your passions by earning badges through our virtual Badge workshops. The virtual programs blend online presentations, participant discussions and activities that you will complete both live and on your own time.

Special Guests Every Friday TGIF! Join us on Fridays for special guest speakers ranging from entrepreneurs to athletes, geneticists to outdoor explorers. These enrichment opportunities give girls the chance to connect and engage with people who exemplify being a G.I.R.L.

Raising Awesome Girls (for Adults) Girl Scouts has so many resources, tips and ideas for parents, guardians and caretakers navigating a girlled world. This Badgerland virtual series shares that content and engages in conversations with our Girl Scouts’ grownups.

Learn to Lead (for Volunteers) Volunteers and leaders – we are here to set you up for success. Join us for these bi-monthly virtual programs, which focus on training and how we all can deliver the Girl Scout experience through innovative content, tech tools and program resources available at council. Be inspired by other leaders’ ideas!

Daisy & Brownie Read-Alongs Held every week, our Daisy & Brownie Read-Alongs jump start our youngest Girl Scouts’ explorations with a picture book reading and suggested next-step activities to continue learning and developing skills.

Book themes follow our Badgerland GLSE months.

Highest Awards Chit Chats Every Girl Scout goes above and beyond to make a difference in their community and the greater world. This bi-monthly series is an opportunity for Girl Scouts, leaders and families to learn more about Girl Scouting and our Highest Awards program by connecting with Badgerland’s Gold Award Committee.

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Join a Virtual Troop This Fall Has your troop decided not to meet this fall because of COVID? We have a spot for you!

Badgerland is launching virtual troops based on grade level, which will be structured to include badge-earning opportunities. These virtual troops are led by volunteers who are wanting a troop connection. If your girl is seeking a new home (even if just for a few months), do reach out to us and let us get her connected with an online troop.

Enrich her Girl Scout Journey.

Sign her up for a Fall Program!

Badgerland Girl Scouts dedicates programs monthly to align with our Girl Scout Learning Experience, GSLE. The GSLE is a Girl Scouting superpower because it focuses badge-earning, awards and enrichment activities to align with the Program Pillars including: Outdoors, STEAM, Entrpreneurship and Life Skills.

We encourage all Girl Scouts to attend Badgerland’s monthly themed-based activities. In addition, girls and troops can use these themes to enrich their programs through badge-earning and community service projects. Every month is a new chance to discover, connect and take action!

2020 Monthly Themes September: Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy

February: Global Girl Scouting

October: Outdoors & Environmental Stewardship

March: Civic Engagement & Advocacy

November: STEM/STEAM

April: Community Service & Highest Awards

December: Community Service

May: STEM/STEAM

January: Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy

June: Outdoors gsbadgerland.org 11

EVENTS

Fall Programs >> all virtual!

October 1 officially kicks off the Girl Scout year...and WOW do we have an exciting lineup. Our program team has been hard at work putting together these events with a ZOOM twist to keep the girls engaged while being safer at home.

Grade Levels for the 2020-2021 school year

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Daisy: K-1

Brownie: 2-3

Junior: 4-5

Cadette: 6-8

Senior: 9-10

Ambassador: 11-12

Volunteer: Adults

The Badgerland Fall Fundraiser

Gifts &Goodies

SALE DATES: OCTOBER 7-25, 2020

It has never been easier to earn money for the troop and learn about the Pygmy three-toed sloth than by participating in the Badgerland Fall Fundraiser! Through the BFF, not only do girls get to earn great rewards (including patches), but they also build on the valuable business and life skills gained through the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

How It Works: SELLING ONLINE • Girls sell chocolates, nuts and magazines online to friends and family online to earn money for the troop.

Using the online platform, girls get to create a personalized avatar and send order invites to family and friends.

Customers pay online and choose if they want their order shipped to their address or delivered by the girl.

How It Works: SELLING IN PERSON • If she chooses, girls take orders for chocolates and nuts with an order card. Money is collected at the time of the sale and orders are hand-delivered by the girl after the sale (Nov. 16-20).

HEY GIRLS: WIN A SLOTH! For every 5 email invitations a girl sends through the BFF site, we’ll enter her name into a drawing to win this 4-foot-tall, super-cuddly sloth!

Earn all 3 interlocking patches during the BFF! >>

Badgerland Fall Fundraiser Online Kickoff Sunday, September 27 | 1-6 p.m.

Cost: $5 per person Register by September 22 The BFF Online Kickoff is a fun day filled with virtual sessions for girls and adults that cover topics like how the sale works, benefits of participating and what types of products and recognitions there are. There will also be an opportunity to meet the mascot, trivia time, and hands-on activities for girls to do at home. Then we’ll end the day with a fun kick-off party! Participate in as many sessions and activities as you wish...it’s up to you! A full schedule of events will be posted online mid-September. (Girls will also have the chance to WIN a sloth-themed goody bag full of surprises! Woo!) Can’t make it September 27? Join us for a BFF Kickoff REPLAY on Wednesday, September 30 from 6-8 p.m.

Sloth Shuffle - Patch Program October 3-31, 2020 Cost: $10 per participant Register by October 13 Get Ready… Get Set… GO! Walk, run or shuffle your way through October as we get outside to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and help adopt a sloth for a year. Track your daily steps and see if you can finish a 5K (3.1 miles) or go all the way for a 10K (6.2 miles) by the end of October. Participants will get a Sloth Shuffle patch, pedometer, sports towel and tracking sheet mailed to them. (Register by September 24 to receive the supplies in time for the kickoff dance party on October 3.) One dollar for every participant will be donated to the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison to help care for their sloths.

SAVE THE DATE: Sloth Shuffle Kick Off Party! October 3 at 10 a.m.

Warm up your body and get ready for the Sloth Shuffle with a fun zoom dancing party. The Sloth Shuffle officially kicks off after that! gsbadgerland.org 13

OCTOBER

October

Outdoors & Environmental Stewardship Fall Festival Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4 Activities planned Saturday evening and Sunday morning Cost: $10 per girl Register by September 22 Join us for this virtual overnight event where girls will learn more about fall and celebrate autumn! There will be a mixture of recorded and live presentations, covering things like shelter building, crop harvesting, why leaves change color, animal habitats (and how they change during the seasons), preparing outdoor spaces for winter, first-aid, and outdoor cooking. There will also be information on fall fun activities you can do at home, including face painting, leaf rubbings, a scarecrow making contest, apple pudgie pies and pumpkin painting! Attend the live events to see your Girl Scout friends, then create your own fall festival at home to celebrate the changing of the season. Girls will earn parts of the following badges: Brownie: Outdoor Adventurer

Junior: Animal Habitats

Cadette: Trees

Let’s Go: Outdoors For Troop Leaders Saturday, October 10 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $10 per person Register by September 29 Want to start getting your troop out into the woods, but not sure where to start? Start with this outdoorsthemed Let’s Go event just for Girl Scout volunteers! Expect a day full of outdoor skill-building (and teaching) tips, including building campfires, tying knots, using knives, pitching tents, cooking outdoors and more. You’ll get access to a mixture of recorded and live virtual sessions where you can learn these skills and also interact with experts. BONUS: this event will provide a gateway to completing the brand new Badgerland Outdoor Adult training modules (Sleep Out and Camp Out). Complete these trainings and you’ll be ready to take extended camping trips with your girls - whether on one of Badgerland’s outdoor properties or another spot!

TRY IT! Bonding in the Outdoors...Virtually!

Get the girls together for a virtual campout, just like Troop 8335! Every girl built her own fort at home (or set up a tent in their backyard), built a fire or put on a virtual campfire video, and logged into Zoom. Then together (virtually) they sang songs, made friendship bracelets and relaxed together as a troop. Definitely a camping trip to remember!

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OCTOBER

Butterfly Observation Project Girl Scouts from New Lisbon had an exciting start to their summer when their troop leader, Rhonda Larson, assembled and delivered butterfly kits to their doorstep! Each girl received 4-5 caterpillars and was encouraged to build their very own butterfly habitat for the caterpillar to call home as it formed a chrysalis and eventually emerged as a butterfly. They checked in each week via Zoom to share how their caterpillars had changed!

“We learned a lot about the use of technology to continue with our troop activities. At first we had some challenges with getting people signed on to zoom at home But after a couple of weeks everyone did really well. We now know that it’s possible to still participate in complete badges in journeys remotely with a little imagination and help from parents to make sure things run smoothly.”

~ Rhonda Larson

Girl Scouts Love State Parks Troop 7083 from Bangor explored Perrot State Park in Trempealeau over Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend (September 12-13). They checked out Gold Award Girl Scout Karissa Adams’ Gold Award Project (an outdoor playground created from natural materials - see page 37!), met the park ranger, enjoyed some GORP, went on a hike and had a picnic!

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OCTOBER

Founder’s Day Campout Brownies & Juniors October 23-24 6 p.m. Friday to 12 p.m. Saturday Cost: $10 per girl Register by October 13

Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors October 24-25 2 p.m. Saturday to 12 p.m. Sunday Cost: $10 per girl Register by October 13

Gear up for Girl Scout Founder Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday (Oct. 31) with a campout! Practice outdoor skills while learning about Girl Scout traditions and history. The event will be a mixture of recorded and live sessions that cover basic outdoor skills like building fires, tying knots, setting up tents, and cooking over the campfire with sticks and pudgie pie irons. Older girls will cover dutch oven cooking, jackknife safety, and how to light fires without matches. We’ll end the campout with a Girl Scout history lesson and fun trivia! Girls will earn parts of the

Brownie: Outdoor Adventurer

Junior: Eco Camper

Cadette: Primitive Camper

Senior: Sky

Ambassador: Survival Camper

New Check-Out Resource: Geocaching Box! Millions of secret hidden containers are stashed around the world. The key to finding them is called geocaching. Use global position coordinates and GPS units to find these caches hidden right in your own community. This kit contains 2 touchscreen GPS units and instructions on how to start Geocaching. As an extra bonus, Junior Girl Scouts can earn the Geocaching Badge. Instructions on how to complete this badge is included in the kit. This badge can be completed in 1 troop meeting and one field trip.

Suffrage 100 Daisies & Brownies Saturday, October 31 | 1 to 4 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by October 20

Juniors & Cadettes Saturday, October 31 | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by October 20

Girls will hear how the 19th Amendment paved the way for American women to vote and advocate politically for issues that matter to them. Girls will gain a deeper understanding about the voting process historically and currently, and while they may not be old enough to vote in elections yet, they’ll practice how to talk to others about voting. Girls will earn the new GSUSA Suffrage Centennial patch PLUS the brand new Democracy Badges!

+ Suffrage Centennial Patch 16

Daisy: Democracy

Brownie: Democracy

Junior: Democracy

Cadette: Democracy

STEAM (Science. Technology. Engineering. Art. Math.)

FULL STEAM AHEAD Daisies & Brownies Saturday, November 7 | 1:30-3 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by October 27

Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors Saturday, November 14 | 1:30-3 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by November 3

NOVEMBER

November

Explore what STEAM means with hands-on activities and hear from real STEAM experts on how they fostered their interest in science, technology, engineering, art and math. Girls will get a supply kit in the mail ahead of time so they’re ready for the experiments and activities planned for the day! A final schedule will be available in October. Girls will earn parts of the following badges:

Brownie: STEM Career Exploration

Junior: STEM Career Exploration

Cadette: STEM Career Exploration

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December DECEMBER

Community Service GIRL SCOUTS GIVE BACK SERIES Daisies & Brownies Monday, December 7 | 5-7 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by December 1

Juniors & Cadettes Tuesday, December 8 | 5-7 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by December 1

Seniors & Ambassadors Thursday, December 10 | 5-7 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by December 1

How do you feel when you create art? Good, right? Girls will explore both how art impacts them and how they can have an impact on their community through art. An expert will lead a group painting project, while talking about what it means to be a good neighbor and make the world a better place.

Animals and gardens - both make our communities better places to live! Learn from experts how gardens and animal helpers (like seeing eye dogs and horses who help people through therapy) can impact our lives. We’ll also hear from a Girl Scout who focused her higher award project on one of these themes!

Photography, sewing, embroidery use these skills to have an impact!

Girls will connect with skilled craftspeople on how they use their work in these fields to better our communities. Then hear from a Badgerland Girl Scout on how these skills were central to earning her higher award.

Junior: Gardner

Senior: Textile Artist

Daisy: Good Neighbor

Brownie: Painting

Cadette: Animal Helpers

Ambassador: Outdoor Art Master

LET’S GO: BEE AMAZING ENTREPRENEURS For Troop Leaders Saturday, December 12 | 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $10 per person Register by December 1 Tune in for Badgerland’s first ever Let’s Go: Bee Amazing Entrepreneurs event. If you’re new to Badgerland, our Let’s Go events are a day dedicated to celebrating our volunteers with trainings, fun networking opportunities and engaging speakers. At this event, we’ll not only give you all the training you need to help your troop achieve cookie sale success, but we’ll also provide trainings to help you find your own success as an entrepreneur. We’ll talk about inventory management, financial planning, and building your network. Plus, we’ll hear from some amazing female business owners on how they got their start. There will be games, networking opportunities, and most of all, lots of fun!

New Troop Cookie Coordinators will complete cookie program training during this event, and returning cookie coordinators will get a refresher on all things Cookies plus an overview of the new enhanced rewards system. Technology training will occur in January.

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Badgerland Girl Scouts Making An Impact “While it can be hard to find things to do during this stay at home period, Girl Scouts always find a way to help! An easy way to pass the time, is finding a safe and simple community service project, or any project you want for that matter. I have been working on and completed my community service pin by helping my school by helping to assemble literacy kits for second grade.

Just because we are stuck inside does not mean us Girl Scouts can not keep making a difference in the world!” ~Cassie Riese Senior Troop 3459 | Monroe, WI

Hands for the Homeless: A Bronze Award Project

Make The World A Better Place: A Podcast by Badgerland Girl Scout Troop 2030 As part of their Take Action project for the Amaze Journey, Troop 2030 from Oregon, WI created a 5-episode podcast called ‘Make the World a Better Place’ to help spread the word about the harm bullying can cause, and what kids can do about it. << Scan this QR code with your smart device’s camera to listen to the podcast episodes.

Many Girl Scout Junior Troops complete community service projects to earn their Bronze Award. But this year, Troop 8308 from Madison took it even further. They completed FIVE different service projects to better understand and serve the homeless population.

“We figured the best way to help people who are chronically homeless is to do lots of smaller projects that would add up to a big change,” said Gina Witt, Co-leader of Troop 8308.

Not only that, but they also created a video handbook to make it easy for other troops to adapt the 5 projects for their own communities to keep the good deeds going!

Creating Smiles When COVID hit, Junior Troop 8259 from Madison wanted to help their community while staying safe at home. The top two votegetters were painting inspirational messages on rocks and placing them around their neighborhoods and writing cards for residents of a local assisted living facility. They got to work and hopped on Zoom meeting for a crafting “get-together”. There’s no doubt their efforts brought a smile to those who were lucky enough to receive a handmade card or come across one of their special rocks!

More Ideas For Making A Difference In Your Community: << Scan this QR code with your smart device’s camera to learn more about their project and view the video.

ADULTS: Organize an Event GIRLS: Earn a GS Service Award - Presidential Volunteer Service Award - GS Day of Service - Donation Drive - Community Service Bars (CSA) - Community Service Bingo - Service to Girl Scouting Bars (CSA) - Volunteer in Training - Torch Awards (CSA) gsbadgerland.org 19

GIRL LEADERSHIP TRAINING

GIRL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM AIDE TRAINING Sunday, November 22 | 1-4 p.m.

Cost: $10 per girl Register by November 10 Enjoy being a Leader and mentoring younger Girl Scouts? Program Aide Training will allow girls the opportunity to do just that while giving them a glimpse of the impact they can make as a future volunteer! Portions of this course will be completed online using an e-learning system, and then girls will come together via Zoom to answer questions and discuss next steps in completing the PA Award.

Cadette: Program Aide Award

NEW CHECK-OUT RESOURCES FOR OLDER GIRLS Community Service & Service Bar Beginner Box: Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors can use this box to work through their passions and interests to choose a troop community service or Take Action project.

PA Ready Kit: This kit has everything Program-Aids-in-Training need to practice their skills! From STEAM activities to games, we’ve got Cadettes covered with all the handy resources needed to earn their Volunteer in Training Award.

Highest Awards FAQ Videos (check them out on our website anytime) We get it! There’s a lot to manage when it comes to earning the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. We’ve got you covered with this series of Badgerland Girl Scouts and staff answering the most frequently asked questions. Watch these videos, then come to one of our Highest Awards Idea Workshops!

To find the videos: go to www.gsbadgerland.org and type ‘Highest Awards Videos’ into the search bar.

Highest Awards Idea Workshops Offered year-round for girls in grades 6-12 Cost: $5 per girl Attend a Highest Awards Workshop to learn about the Highest Awards. There will be opportunities geared specifically toward troop leaders, individualized Bronze-Silver-Gold workshops, brainstorming workshops for the girls, and knowledge shared by Badgerland’s Gold Award Committee.

Saturday, October 3 | 9-11 a.m. (Register by 9/22) Wednesday, November 11 | 6-8 p.m. (Register by 11/3) Saturday, December 5 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Register by 11/24)

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Become a Badgerland MediaGIRL For girls interested in public speaking, media and journalism.

MediaGIRLS Will...

How to Apply:

•

Be the go-to crew for live and recorded radio and TV interviews

•

Complete a short MediaGIRLS application.

Find it at gsbadgerland.org.

•

Co-host and guest speak at Badgerland Council Zoom programs

•

•

Speak at public engagements and Badgerland Council events

Have your girl record a 1-2 minute video telling us why she loves to be a Girl Scout.

Send it to communications@gsbadgerland. org or send it to us on Facebook Messenger.

•

Write blog entries and articles for Badgerland publications

•

Applications and videos will be accepted through October 7, 2020.

•

Write and submit letters to the editor

•

•

Gain valuable communication skills through real-life interview and speaking experiences

Selected MediaGIRLS must commit to a virtual training day on Saturday, October 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Keeping the Girls Engaged in High School A Girl-Led Troop Success Story!

“Troop 2788 in Madison is coming back for their 9th year together as freshmen in high school! I consistently hear that the girls just enjoy having a dedicated time and space to come together, and they are looking forward to this as they go into high school. The girls went to three different middle schools, so Girl Scout meetings gave them an opportunity to socialize with each other. As a leader, one of my goals has been to let the girls decide what they want to do and which badges to earn. The girls have asked to do field trips to learn about woman-owned businesses, participate in Encampment with other troops from the area, rent Hawk’s Nest at Camp Brandenburg for a weekend, and host an annual field day at the end of the school year for younger troops. Furthermore, several girls in the troop have helped mentor a younger troop. They’re a wonderful group of kind, thoughtful and creative girls! It's been a joy watching them change and grow over the years!”

Ellie Schmitt, Troop Co-Leader of Senior Troop 2788 gsbadgerland.org 21

How to Register for a Program It’s All Online!

Sign up for all Badgerland programs at gsbadgerland.org.

1 Visit gsbadgerland.org 2 Click the Activities tab 3 Easily find the programs listed in this book 3 ways:

- by viewing the calendar - scrolling the Activities List - (easiest!) enter the program name in the search bar Click the Activities Tab to see all the programs Search and find a program quickly using the search bar OR Scroll the list to see what’s happening each month

Select the green title of the program to reveal the complete description including extra notes.

Here’s the program. Now you have a choice to register or place it in your My Activities cart for later. Don’t wait too long; programs fill up fast!

IMPORTANT: Once registered, you can view it in My Activities. Click the information icon to see important details about the event.

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Registration Information REGISTRATION All program registrations are completed online and can be paid for using a credit or debit card. If you have difficulty registering online, simply call our Customer Care Team for assistance: 800.236.2710.

REGISTER ONLINE • Visit gsbadgerland.org and click the Activities tab • Find programs by date or use the search bar • Click on the program to start registration • Payment is due upon registration FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Financial Assistance for program registration may be available for Badgerland-sponsored programs. Find and complete the Program Financial Assistance application form at gsbadgerland.org > Forms.

PROGRAM CONFIRMATION A confirmation will be emailed to you within 1 hour of registration. After you’re registered, you will also see the confirmation listed in your My GS account. Click the “My Activities” tab to see everything you’re signed up for. For more information, click the information icon that looks like this . You’ll get another email with a Zoom link a day or two before her program begins.

PAYING FOR PROGRAMS WITH BADGERLAND BUCKS Badgerland Bucks are earned through the Badgerland Fall Fundraiser and the Cookie Program, and may be used to pay for Badgerland-sponsored programs.

How It Works: Register and pay for the program online with a credit or debit card, then complete and submit the Badgerland Bucks Reimbursement Form at gsbadgerland. org. (Click forms). Badgerland Bucks can also be spent on resident camp, community-based Girl Scout camps and events, troop rental of council properties, Girl Scout Shop purchases and membership dues.

Still have Badgerland Bucks from the Cookie Program or last fall’s sale?

PROGRAM CANCELLATION POLICY Badgerland Council is reluctant to cancel programs.

However, occasionally the need arises due to weather, safety concerns or low registration. When bad weather results in the cancellation of an in-person event, every attempt will be made to contact the registrants. Please maintain accurate contact information with Girl Scouts so staff can reach you in the event of a last-minute cancellation. If canceled, the program will be rescheduled or refunded.

REFUNDS Refunds are only given if cancellations are received prior to the printed “register by” deadline. Full refunds are issued after the printed registration deadline for council programs only if the program is full or canceled, or in the event of a serious illness or death in the family. For serious illness, a written doctor’s note is required within one week after the program.

NEED HELP? CAN’T FIND IT ONLINE? Contact Our Customer Care Team! info@gsbadgerland.org 800.236.2710

“Girl Scouts at Home” Art by Lily Baetz Junior Troop 8158, Madison

USE THEM SOON! Badgerland Bucks expire March 31, 2021 23

Girl Scout Style!

The Badgerland shops have all sorts of Girl Scout apparel, books, accessories, badges, gifts and more for girls AND adults!

Three Easy Ways to Shop Girl Scouts

1.

Curbside Pickup We now offer curbside pickup at our four shop locations. Simply contact Customer Care a day or two in advance of your preferred pickup time. We’ll take your order and card payment over the phone and arrange a time for curbside pickup.

Madison & La Crosse Tuesdays & Fridays | 12-4 p.m.

Janesville & Platteville By appointment

2.

3.

Contact Customer Care to Place Your Order: 800.236.2710 info@gsbadgerland.org.

Prefer to shop in person? Thirty-minute, private, on-site shopping will be available to customers in the Madison and La Crosse offices, by appointment only. All safety protocols will be observed.

NEW: Convert Your Badgerland Bucks to girlscoutshop.com e-giftcards.

Have Badgerland Bucks, but fall in love with something online? We can transfer your hard-earned Bucks into an online Girl Scout shop gift card in increments of $10, $25, $50 and $100. Simply head to our website to fill out the request form - then we’ll take care of the rest! Just keep an eye on your email, as that’s how we’ll send your electronic giftcard.

Have It Delivered Prefer to shop online? Just visit GirlScoutShop.com and have it delivered to your door. P.S. Enjoy free shipping

Don’t Forget: Badgerland Bucks expire March 31, 2021.

available on all orders through December 31, 2020.

My Girl Scout KitS Each Kit Includes:

Girl Scout Kits are for New & Bridging Girl Scouts.

They include everything she needs to begin the Girl Scout year...plus a cute bag to carry it all in!

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y Tunic, Sash or Vest y American Flag Patch y Troop Numerals y Council ID Set y Insignia Tab y World Trefoil Pin y Membership Pin y Drawstring Bag y Book of Her Choice: Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, My GS Year Memory Book, or a Journey Book

COOKIE PROGRAM 2020:

HOW BADGERLAND GIRL SCOUTS MADE LEMONADES OUT OF LEMONS

What a cookie season 2020 was! We had beautiful weather and enthusiastic customers and then...a pandemic. No one could plan for social distancing and grocery stores (and therefore cookie booths) closing. But as Girl Scouts do, parents, volunteers, staff and girls adjusted to the circumstances. We extended the sale, took inventory of which troops needed more cookies and which had extras they wouldn’t be able to sell, then shuffled more than 100,000 CASES (that’s 1.2 million boxes) of cookies among troops in Badgerland! In the end, it was worth it - it was of our strongest Cookie Programs yet!

At the national level, Girl Scouts of the USA launched the Cookie Care Campaign to help out Girl Scouts across the country whose cookie sales were affected by the pandemic. Customers and businesses were encouraged to purchase cookies online and have them delivered to their door; OR have them donated to essential workers. In Badgerland, 960 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies were donated to American Red Cross to be given to blood donors.

The Cookie Program could not happen without the volunteers and families who invest time and energy. Volunteers ordered cookies, scheduled booth sales, tracked the dollars and more to make sure the cookie business operated smoothly. Volunteers also made sure their Girl Scouts were achieving their goals while having fun and staying safe. Thank you Girl Scout volunteers for demonstrating to girls exactly what leadership looks like!

2020 Cookie Program by the numbers

5,515

Badgerland Girl Scouts sold

1,503,734 boxes of cookies

On average, each Badgerland Girl Scout sold

270

boxes of cookies

437

Top Cookie Sellers selling 600+ boxes

28 4

girls sold 2020+ boxes

Top

cookies sold:

More than

$34,180

in Badgerland Bucks awarded

367

Troops earned the Troop Reward

3,716 Milk & Girl Scout Cookies

For years, Girl Scout troops in the greater Madison area have worked with the Dane County Dairy Promotions committee to provide milk and Girl Scout Cookies to families in need. Through the partnership, the committee matches each box of Girl Scout Cookies donated to a food pantry in Dane County with a half-gallon of milk, up to $8,000 worth. In 2020, 60 troops donated 6,893 boxes of cookies to local food pantries, resulting in 6,600 half-gallons of milk being disbursed to our neighbors in need!

girls participated in Cookie Share

631 $9,115

girls donated

to nonprofits through the Philanthropist Reward

gsbadgerland.org 25

Meet the 2020 Top Cookie Seller Annabelle Hundt Troop 3433, Janesville Boxes Sold: 4,047

Since she was seven, Annabelle Hundt of Janesville has been perfecting her Cookie business – and this past Girl Scout Cookie season, she made it all the way to the top! At 4,047 boxes, not only is Annabelle the #1 Top Cookie Seller in Badgerland Council, but in the entire state of Wisconsin! Here’s what she has to say: “When I was little my favorite part of selling Girl Scout Cookies was spending time with my fellow Girl Scouts at booth sales, where we’d make up songs and dances. One of my biggest priorities back then was to sell enough cookies to earn the small and big stuffed animal rewards prizes. Now that I’m going into ninth grade, I’ve realized that the Girl Scout Cookie Program has taught me important life skills such as managing a business, marketing and branding. It has also helped me with time management, because I’ve learned to juggle sports and school while selling Girl Scout Cookies. The Girl Scout Cooke Program has also helped me come out of my shell and be more outgoing.

If I had to give a piece of advice to a new Girl Scout Cookie Seller, I’d say to work hard, ask everyone if they want to buy GS Cookies, have a big smile, and have fun.” ~Annabelle

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Cookie Program 2021 It’s hard to tell exactly what the upcoming Cookie Program will look like. But luckily, Girl Scouts are prepared! We have plenty of Zoom offerings to get the girls ready for Cookie Season PLUS a Cookie Carnival planned for in-person (fingers crossed!).

Let’s Bee Amazing in 2021!

FEBRUARY 13 - MARCH 21

Cookie Kickoff Party Packs!

In lieu of the large-scale CookiePaloozas we usually hold every year, we’re bringing the party to you! Each Cookie Kickoff Party Pack is filled with everything your girl needs to get prepared for cookie season, including an activity guide + supplies specific to her GS level, a lanyard, her Cookie Activity Pin and even the 2021 Cookie Program fun patch! All that, plus other fun stuff.

Cookie Carnival (in person - we hope!)

Party Packs can be ordered for the troop or for an individual girl. Each kit costs $10 per girl and are available for pick-up December through February at our Badgerland service centers (Madison, La Crosse, Janesville or Platteville). Shipping available; fees apply.

We’re kicking off Cookie Season with cookie-themed carnival games, inflatables, prizes and more! Expect mock shopping sprees (hello, budgeting skills!) and music to get our cookie groove going. There will even be a spot just for girls who are newer or have never sold cookies before. Let’s go!

Cookiepreneur Virtual Series:

SAVE THE DATE. Registration will open in later this fall.

Saturday, February 6 | 12-7 p.m.

West Towne Mall, Madison Cost: $10 per person Grades K-12 & Adults Members & Non-Members Welcome!

(Cookie Rookie to Cookie Boss) We’ve booked dozens of Cookie Season Zoom meetings, keynote speakers and business experts to help girls get in the entrepreneurial spirit!

Cookie Rookie: A Zoom video and activity series that will cover the basics of the Cookie Program, plus the 5 skills girls learn through participating.

Cookie Boss: A Zoom series that introduces girls to woman entrepreneurs and business women. They’ll share their tips for building and running a business.

Cookie Countdown Party Friday, February 12 | 7:00-7:45 p.m. via Zoom Cost: Free Grades K-12 & Adults, Families Grab your family and get ready to Bee Amazed at this year’s Cookie Season! Hop on Zoom and meet the mascot, hear tips from top cookie sellers, learn about the program’s 5 key skills, and get energized for the best cookie season ever. We’ll end this virtual party with a milk dunk countdown!

INTRODUCING: Toast-Yays!

The new french toast-inspired Girl Scout Cookie in 2021.

Don’t Forget: Gluten-Free Cookie Orders Due Oct. 14

Cookie Program Training December 12 during Let’s Go: Bee Amazing Entrepreneurs (see page 16). New Troop Cookie Coordinators will complete their training and returning Cookie Coordinators will get a refresh and learn what’s new this season.

Technology training will be held in January. gsbadgerland.org 27

How I Started a Diversity Book Club With My Troop written by Badgerland Girl Scout Troop Leader Rita Sheffield 28

I

have been an elementary teacher in the MiddletonCross Plains Area School District since the year 2000. I taught first grade for 4 years, third grade for 11 years, and then after 15 years in the classroom I moved into the elementary library.

When the Black Lives Matter movement began, many of my mom friends started messaging me to ask what books they should read with their children to introduce them to diversity, struggles in black history, etc. As I responded with picture book and chapter book suggestions, I was also starting to compile a booklist for my own children (aged 12 and 10). When a mom in my Girl Scout Troop asked me for recommendations, I told her about the books I’d written so far on my daughter’s list (she’s my 10 year old.)

Then we began talking about having our girls read the books with us at the same time, and then having our TROOP read them at the same time in order to discuss them together!

Thus, the Troop 8153 Diversity Book Club was born.

I emailed this idea out to my troop’s parents, and their responses were 100% supportive! We did not have enough money in our troop account to gift every girl with every book, so I made sure to emphasize that participation was optional and that they’d be responsible for getting the books on their own, either from

the library’s curbside pickup or by purchasing online (these books are all $4-$8 from Amazon with the exception of the one hardback book, which cost $11). Again, every parent was supportive of this plan, and many told me that they’d be reading the books along with their daughter.

One parent informed me that she’d be donating all of these wonderful books to a local women’s shelter at the end of our book club. Great idea!

I decided to have the girls read one book every two weeks, and that we’d have our book clubs via Zoom. I presented the books’ cover pictures with summaries to the girls, and they voted on which they’d like to start with. I had carefully selected chapter books at their upper elementary age level which feature characters from different cultures, races, struggles/ prejudices, and physical or mental disabilities.

The girls voted to begin with the book “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus” by Dusti Bowling.

The main character is a spunky girl named Aven who was born without arms, and it’s a very entertaining, engaging story. I knew the girls would enjoy reading it as they (subconsciously) learned about the importance of friendship and feeling like you belong, judging others before you know them, as well as recognizing and accepting the differences in others.

Because I can’t turn off my

teacher-brain, I gave the girls sticky notes for them to keep track of which parts they experienced strong emotions, to record predictions and questions they have, and to record and learn new vocabulary.

While I was preparing some questions for our discussion and collecting information to share about the author, I saw that she had a link on her website to contact her. I decided to write Dusti Bowling a note telling her about this book club and inviting her to the discussion. I did not expect a response, but two days later she wrote me back!

I was blown away! And SO excited to share this news with my girls! (It crossed my mind to keep it a secret, but I really wanted the girls to be extra-ready for this discussion now that the author would, most likely, be there.) I also invited the girls to think of a question to ask Dusti, and to send it to me ahead of time so that we wouldn’t have duplicate questions.

Oh, and the parents? Also VERY excited for this author visit! One parent who I hardly hear from sent me a brief reply stating “That is freaking amazing!” Yes. Well said.

The day of our book club, my daughter and I made cactus treats in honor of the book, and “Ding-DongDitch” dropped them off at each girl’s house. (Pretzel rods coated with green melting chocolate and white jimmies

gsbadgerland.org 29

for the spikes, standing upright in a cupcake with brown sugar “dirt” in terracotta pots I bought from Dollar Tree 2-for-$1.) The cactus treats were in bright tissue paper sealed in a brown paper lunchbag with a note directing them not to open until just before our meeting. Anyone who’s been to a book club knows that you’ve got to have treats during it, right??

All afternoon, I kept thinking that I’d get a note from Dusti Bowling saying that she couldn’t make it to our discussion. When no email had come from her by the time our book club began, I was cautiously optimistic. Five minutes into our discussion, after we’d just given the book our rating (all together showing 1-10 on our fingers, then briefly telling why we each gave it that rating), I got a Zoom notification that Dusti was in the waiting room, ready to be admitted. Holy moly! She CAME! My Girl Scout troop had a wonderful time chatting with the author of the book we read for our first troop book club! Dusti graciously and patiently answered our questions about how she came up with her story, how long it took to write the book & get it published, what made her choose to write about a character who has no arms and another character with Tourette’s Syndrome, the research she did, her upcoming books, and more! She was such a wonderful

person to talk with, and the girls were engaged & captivated. Dusti talked with us for 30 minutes, and her appearance definitely made our first book club a success!

One thing I wanted to focus on with these books was their THEME. The THEME goes deeper: what does the author want the reader to think about and take from their book?

(Understanding and accepting differences, prejudice, equality & equity, the importance of friendship & belonging, and so on.) I made sure to end our discussion by focusing on the theme of the book, as we’ll do for all our books.

So that’s the story of our Junior troop’s Diversity Book Club! That was a name one of the parents thought up, which I thought was perfect. I’m

looking forward to our next meeting, and I’m already hearing that the girls- and some of their parents- are enjoying this next book!

“Sugar” will give them some background on what it was like to be a 10 year old slave girl on a sugar cane plantation in Louisiana - a slave who is now free - but not really.

Jewell Parker Rhodes is another gifted storyteller, but I doubt she’ll be joining us for the discussion! Never say never, though...

Sign The Pledge. https://bit.ly/2Crt40a

At Girl Scouts, we build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. In this moment of suffering in our nation, we commit to taking action to support Black girls, their families, and their communities. We’re asking that all Girl Scouts - along with our alums and supporters - commit to taking action to dismantle the systemic racism and make the world a more equitable place.

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VOLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE Volunteers of Excellence

Stacey Henthorne Sparta Troop 4377 & Service Unit Team “The quality time I have spent with my daughters and my Girl Scouts has been absolutely wonderful. We have a very adventurous troop, and trips big and small leave us laughing uncontrollably each time. I have also become best friends with two of the other moms in the troop. The one thing I have pushed is random acts of kindness.”

Rita Treece Sun Prairie Troops 8255 & 8347 & Service Unit Team “I have loved Girl Scouting as a girl, mom and now grandmother. I've seen many changes in my different roles over the years; but I feel like I continue to learn new skills along with the girls in my troops. The best part has been the enduring friendships I've made with adults and girls over the years; I'm still in touch with women that were in my troop in the 60s!”

Doreen Wille Holmen Troop 4211 “In volunteering with Girls Scouts I see a brighter future for this world.

The young ladies that I am blessed to lead show me that, while we may face difficult times, there is hope, there is strength, and there is love.

The determination and promise with which they pursue their dreams reminds me to do the same.”

Appreciation Pin Recipients Charlene Hamilton Amanda Hinthorn

Viola Troops 4086, 4176, 4217 & 4278 & Service Unit Team

Cottage Grove Troop 1049 “Volunteering with Girl Scouts has helped me build valuable relationships with families and community leaders in our area. I have often said that I get as much from the girls as they get from me as a leader.

Now that the girls are in their teen years, I know and can see we are shaping tomorrows leaders. It is an honor to have been and to continue to be part of the self discovery process of these young women.”

“Girl Scouts has changed my life by making me have more confidence in what I do. It has made me come out of my shell and made me a better person by living the Promise and Law. I hope I have made the girls’ lives better for them and helped them to be better with other people. I have made some lifelong friends from being in Girl Scouts.”

G.I.R.L. Awardees Susan Czerniak Katy Kaufman Monona Troop 8172

Karen Beckett-Ball Madison Troop 1019

Kim Morris

Lake Mills Troops 2388 & 2585 Fitchburg Troop 9200 & & Service Unit Team Badgerland Council Delegate

gsbadgerland.org 31

Claire

KIRCHER

T

o honor her memory and extend her legacy of mentoring strong women, Claire Kircher’s family asked Badgerland Council to create the Claire Rose Kircher Legacy Fund. These funds will go directly toward projects and scholarships for current Badgerland Girl Scouts.

Forever a Girl Scout Remembering Claire Kircher

by Hallie Kircher

Scan this QR code with your smartphone camera or type https://bit.ly/32Djyle into your web broswer to read the whole story or to donate to the Claire Rose Kircher Legacy Fund.

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Throughout her life of various Girl Scouting experiences my mom, Claire Kircher, consistently showed gratitude for the organization that had opened so many doors. A sister, an explorer, a risk-taker, a nurse, a mother, and a loving friend, Claire Kircher led her life with confidence, fierce independence, strength, and compassion. Her light, which shone through every stage of her life, was fueled and sustained by Girl Scouts.

Growing up in West Bend, WI in the 1960s and early 1970s as the eldest of six children in a conservative Catholic household, Girl Scouts remained a refuge, a place of infinite possibilities to explore, a place full of loving female friendships and bonds.

She realized she thrived in leadership positions, enjoying the decisionmaking process and logistical planning of different endeavors. Above any individual experience, my mom most deeply treasured the powerful female friendships and the strong female energy she gained and embodied through Girl Scouts.

Throughout her adult life, no matter what life event or obstacles she faced, she never ceased to honor, support, confide, and seek refuge in her multitudes of female friends. She took great pride and responsibility in her work as a nurse, and played a leadership role in standing up for the injustices her female coworkers often faced in their male-dominated profession.

Enchanted by the power of music and song she first experienced in Girl Scouts, she sought community in the Madison feminist choir, Womansong.

Becoming the co-leader of my troop when I was five years old, she manifested her gratitude for Girl Scouts by imparting her love of the program to me and my fellow troop members. She and her co-leader, Mary Clare Murphy, structured our meetings, ensuring that our troop explored and served our community, sang songs, and learned to love and trust each other. However, they ultimately provided an environment in which we, as girls, could organize our own activities and directives.

Now, I am a teacher at a school in south

Minneapolis, and the co-leader of a remarkable troop of Brownie Girl Scouts. Cultivating a troop at my school is my way of showing gratitude, not only for the Girl Scout organization, but also for my mom, who gave so much of herself to provide me with an excellent Girl Scouting experience.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our troop met every Wednesday. After the meetings on my drive home, I always called my mom to debrief and ask for her advice. As her body weakened from the effects of chemotherapy and the spreading cancer, connecting with my next generation of Girl Scouts gave her hope and joy.

Claire utilized her Girl Scout skills to march her way through four years of ovarian cancer.

She was scrappy and tough. She pragmatically looked at the challenges from all angles, adapted to her changing physical abilities, and most of all, called upon her community of Girl Scout sisters and other female friends to carry

her through.

On my mom’s last day on this earth, as hospice nurses attended to her at our home, dozens of people - Girl Scout connections, Womansong connections, neighbors, and other friends and family - gathered below her window, social distancing on the street outside. Together, they joined in song, singing a selection of my mom’s favorite Girl Scout and Womansong songs I had printed out and left in a pile below.

The magical vibrations of their united voices sent a wave through our home, flooding into my mom’s open window, surrounding her with love.

Hours later, her spirit left her body, soaring to join with the lingering energy of friendship and sisterhood.

Her light shines on through me, and through the dozens of people she’s impacted through Girl Scouts and other communities. What she leaves behind is the value, and perpetual trust in the power of Girl Scouts Together.

CLAIRE & HALLIE Fall 2019

CLAIRE & HALLIE August 2004

gsbadgerland.org 33

GIRLS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

GRADSGOLDSILVER RECOGNITIONS In our COVID world, traditional events honoring our highest-achieving Girl Scouts were re-imagined this year.

We celebrated graduating seniors with GS yard signs and goody bags that included their Bridging to Adult pins and a virtual bridging ceremony.

Gold Award Girl Scouts were honored in April with individual and group feature stories and videos on social media and their home communities. They were officially pinned with their Gold Award at the Annual Meeting in August.

Silver Award Girl Scouts enjoyed a virtual celebration in May that included an inspirational girl speaker, a pinning ceremony and opportunities to share individually about their amazing projects.

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Our hearts are full of amazement and pride as we honor each of these impressive Girl Scouts who live the

Earned Girl Scout Silver Award

Promise and Law through their actions.

Earned Girl Scout Gold Award

*

Gold Award Project Underway

Girl Scout Scholarship Recipient YLC Badgerland Youth Leadership Council

LEAVING THEIR MARK

2020 Girl Scout Graduates Gabriella Abler Madison

Sara Fritz Mount Horeb

Ekaterina Johnson Cross Plains

Katherine Schuette Sun Prairie

Makayla Batz Waterloo

Gwendolyn Golueke Poynette

Cecelia Jones Cross Plains

Katie Scoville Sun Prairie

Elisabeth Berg Mount Horeb

Ana Graham Cook Madison

Helen Joswiak Madison

Julia Scully Fitchburg

Nicole Biba Cuba City

Gabrielle Grosse Fitchburg

Elizabeth King Stoughton

Mackenzie Smith Cottage Grove

Hannah Brockman Sun Prairie

Chloe Haipek Mayville

Lane LaBoda Cross Plains

Gwendolynn Swanson Belleville

Megan Carlson Sun Prairie

Amanda Hellenbrand Cross Plains

Abigail Lee Sun Prairie

Isabel Trudell McFarland

Lexi Connors Mount Horeb

Ayla-Rae Hebl Sun Prairie

Alexandra Lind Sun Prairie

Elisa Weier Mineral Point

Morgan Cooper Galesville

Lexi Hillebrand Cross Plains

Alexandrea Olson Beaver Dam

Samantha Wilcox Sun Prairie

Gloria Eddy Stoughton

Kathryn Hesselbein Middleton

Helen Peterson Galesville

Emily Flood Sun Prairie

Rebecca Hose Beaver Dam

Taralyn Pysher Cottage Grove

Elli Mae Freida Albany

Alex Janis Waunakee

Lynn Robbins Sun Prairie

Congrats!

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The Girl Scout Gold Award Our Highest Award to Achieve

Badgerland’s Gold Class of 2020 KARISSA Adams PEYTON Barber NADINE Connell

CLAIRE Cunningham REBECCA Hose CHRISTA Hutchison ALEX Janis ELIZABETH King ALEX Olson JESSICA Short ELISA Weier The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. Fulfilling the requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award starts with completing leadership prerequisites designed to develop the leadership skills needed to accomplish a Girl Scout Gold Award project.

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This award represents a girl’s commitment to herself and to her community as she focuses on leadership, career exploration, personal challenges and completes an enduring project that will benefit her community. It takes many hours of preparation, planning and work to accomplish the goals a girl has set for herself through her Gold Award Project. It is notable that only about five percent of eligible girls earn this award!

Girl Scout Gold Award Karissa Adams | La Crosse Natural Playground at Perrot State Park Building a safe, fun space for community children.

“Making a natural playground forced me to take a step back and think like a kid, to be able to add elements that I think they would enjoy. I think that my leadership skills will continue to grow, with confidence and overcoming obstacles, while leading a group of people.”

Peyton Barber | Madison Adulting 101 Providing high school students essential skills.

“I believe the most successful aspect of my project will be students learning skills that they would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise. I am realizing that due to being in Girl Scouts from Kindergarten through my senior year – we really did learn a lot of Adulting 101 skills. And now everyone will have that opportunity.”

Nadine Connell

| Madison

Gaga Pit Promoting physical activity for all ages and athletic abilities.

“What I learned about myself during this project is that I have a level of maturity and professionalism that allowed me to successfully communicate with other businesses. I also learned that I have a great amount of determination and that I can be a great leader.”

Claire Cunningham | Madison The Bandana Project Bringing awareness and resources to mental health issues.

“My hope for The Bandana Project is to help with acceptance and knowledge of mental health issues. My target audience gained insight on a harsh reality that exists in the world and I hope they gained some compassion for others.”

Rebecca Hose | Beaver Dam 9th Hour Homework Space Creating a stress-relieving, after-school study place.

“I have always been someone with big aspirations. This project taught me that I am capable of figuring out what I want, what I need to do and actually following through. I learned that I am capable of making a tangible difference in my community.” gsbadgerland.org 37

Girl Scout Gold Award Christa Hutchison

| La Crosse

Environmental Education Addressing environmental issues and how humans affect them.

“I learned that being a leader means thinking of all the little details and following through and I learned that I can be assertive when necessary, which is a leadership skill.”

Alex Janis

| Waunakee

Music for the Soul Delivering access to music for Alzheimer’s patients.

“The most important thing that I learned was the importance of music to people.

It is not just entertainment, it is a deeply emotional thing that people can really connect to in a way that they cannot with other forms of media.”

Jessica Short

| Albany

Educational iPad App Developing a resource of educational apps for grades Pre-K-2.

“When testing the apps with the kids, their reactions said everything. They were excited to play on the iPads and to learn. They were excited that another kid was going to teach them. By having kids test apps they were getting directly involved with the project and teachers stressed that they were making an impact.”

Elisa Weier

| Mineral Point

Keep the Light Shining Preventing suicide by confronting the stigma of depression “My school and small community had been shaken by the suicide deaths of three young people within an eight month period and working through my own grief, I found the courage to be strong and to do something to help. The Girl Scout Promise and Law was a critical part of my Gold Award project and continues to be the heart of how I act every day.”

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Girl Scout Gold Award & Scholarship Honorees GOLD AWARD GIRL SCOUTS & recipients of

2020 Badgerland Girl Scout Envision Scholarships, awarded annually to high school seniors.

Alexandrea Olson Beaver Dam

Generation Connection Bringing together senior citizens and elementary students.

“When I was growing up, many of my peers were a scared of older people because they didn’t know them; they never got to spend time with older people like I did. I wanted to change that. I wanted the younger kids of my town to have a better understanding of the world around them, and what better way to learn from the senior citizens?”

My Girl Scout experience has influenced my life so much and I know it is already influencing my future. Because of camp and the role models I looked up to there, I plan to become a teacher. The values that Girl Scouts taught me will influence the way I will live my life forever! ~ Alex

Elizabeth King Stoughton

Fitness Room Glow Up Remodeling unused space in her beloved hockey arena for future generations of female players “I learned that I have the power to make change. I’ve always been comfortable interacting with adults, but corresponding and meeting with donors and community members helped me become more comfortable with those interactions. I learned that I want to be able to help others for the rest of my life and that adults will even listen to you if you are confident.”

Everything I have done as a Girl Scout—from volunteering, to public speaking, to Youth Leadership Council contributed to my confidence and resulted in the qualities that will lead me to a successful future. ~ Lizzie gsbadgerland.org 39

Badgerland’s Silver Award Class of 2020 78 Girl Scouts 29 Take-Action Service Projects 3,900 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE!

Skill Building.

Leadership.

Personal Growth.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. The Silver Award represents a girl’s accomplishments in Girl Scouting and in her community as she grows and works to improve her life and the lives of others. Working in a group or individually, girls select projects that help them build skills, explore careers and gain leadership. Girls earning their Silver Awards this year have proven that they are community leaders who are organized, determined and dedicated to improving their communities.

These Girl Scouts are true gogetters!

Juliette Girl Scout, La Crosse Laura Lapp Raising Awareness of Alzheimer’s

Troop 1074, Prairie du Chien Lacey Skime Canines for Kids Club

Troop 2434, Milton Erin Blankenheim-Villarreal Sitter Sacks 40

Troop 1040, Verona Kate Vatthauer, Peyton Howardsmith & Riley Howardsmith Helping Others Help Animals

Troop 2080, Beaver Dam Elizabeth Banes, Zenobia Clipps, Kendra Ferstl, Abbey Kasuboski & Jordyn Olson Juliette Center Updating

Troop 2518, Middleton Lizzy Lahaie Menstrual Access and Equality

Girl Scout Silver Award

Troop 2585, Lake Mills/Johnson Creek Madison Sanchez, Makenzie Syvrud, Kathryn Czerniak, Arianna Wheat & Madison Schmidt Anti-Vaping

Troop 2874, Sun Prairie Madeline Savard, Cynthia Gauger & Emma Vaubel Girl Scout Bridging Kits & Bridge

Troop 2980, Madison Anja Forberger & Alison Selje Growing Out: A Book About Bullying

Troop 2648, Waunakee Charlotte Hamilton, Rachael Gorman & Bethany Rider Baby Blankets for UW Children’s Hospital & Themed Baby Hats

Troop 2919, Blue Mounds/Mount Horeb Mia Schoonover, Erin Kelley, Breanna Connors & Mckenzie White Bringing Two Generations Together

Troop 2980, Madison Hadley Duncan Wheelchair Accessible Bridge

Troop 2651, McFarland Nora Wroblewski and Nadia Schwedrsky Little Free Library Bench

Troop 2937 Mazomanie, Merrimac, Prairie du Sac Hannah Breunig, Alana Buffardi, Madeline Gassman, Laura Fritz & Alyssa Wenzel Food Insecurity for People and Pets

Troop 3093, Elkorn/Harvard, Ill Emily Catozzi, Aubrey Zepezauer, Ava Zepezauer, Samantha Stalker, Emily Hicks, Lillian Fansworth & Anastasia Orendain Elkhorn Middle School Trail Bench gsbadgerland.org 41

Girl Scout Silver Award

Troop 3101, Beloit Isabella Lockwood, Kalyee Nicholson & Harley Monyak The Gift of Warmth

Troop 3662, Stoughton Ruth Foldy, Iris Bukrey & Marijane Picazo Yahara River Trail Upgrades

Troop 4451, La Crosse/Onalaska/Stoddard Katherine Kaiser, Emma Gilberts, Holly Blakeley & Amina Rabindra Art Cart

Troop 3459, Monroe Maggie Patterson Tie Blankets for Cancer Patients

Troops 3110 & 7394, Janesville Kayleena Koclanes and Sophia Heiman Humane Society Cleanup

Troop 3662, Langhorne Grace Irving Langhorne Food Drive

Troop 4246, Galesville/Trempealeau Natalie Olsen, Nova Leigh Stenslien Wilson, Nadia Wolfe, Lily Womack & Emily Wright Going Batty for Bats

Troop 7340, Horicon/Hustisford/Iron Ridge Zheta Rohloff, Alexandra David, Allison Heckl & Adriana Nicolaus We Care 5K Run Walk for Families

Troop 9030, Brodhead/Juda Gracyn Bolton, Vanessa Olmedo & Liana Daniels Wildlife Crossing Signs

And congrats to these additional Silver Award Girl Scouts not pictured: Troop 2593, Madison/Sun Prairie: Emily Thom, Ilianara Roblee-Hammer & Nicole Borges Troop 4540, Sparta/Bangor: Mackensy Benish, Mackenzie Bullen, Madison Hicke & Elizabeth Hunter Troop 3656 New Berlin/Hales Corners: Kayleigh Borchert & Nina Serigos 42

How To Deal When COVID Affects Big Troop Plans

BY AMANDA HINTHORN | CO-LEADER, CADETTE TROOP 1049 “Cadette Troop 1049 began the 2019-2020 school year with a goal to work toward the Silver Award project as 8th graders. With only one year to complete a Journey (the first step in the process) and the Silver Award project itself, the girls quickly got to work and decided to remake an episode of a popular TV show...without stereotypes. They were all set to hit record - then COVID hit.

My co-leader and I decided not to meet in March, and brainstormed ways to get the girls interacting virtually. We chose Zoom - and to be honest it took a bit to get everyone connected and comfortable using our new tool.

But we managed!

“MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL TACKLE OUR SILVER AWARD HEAD ON. WE WILL JUST HAVE TO LET GO OF WHAT WE THOUGHT THIS PROJECT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. WE ARE GIRL SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS CAN PIVOT AND BE RESOURCEFUL, EVEN IN THE TIME OF COVID.”

It soon became apparent to the girls that they were not going to be able to gather in a large group and film the script they worked so hard on. Witnessing the girls grieve over the potential loss of a whole years’ worth of work was hard.

They started asking hard questions, like “can we just postpone this?”. And, we could. However, the more we talked through things the more we realized we were running out of time.

Three meetings later, after working through some great ideas by the girls, the girls decided to just start a more “COVID-friendly” project. They’ve been working hard all summer, and will finish up this fall - and should be on track to be recognized at next spring’s Awards Ceremony.

My hope is that we will tackle our Silver Award head on. We will just have to let go of what we thought this project might look like. We are Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts can pivot and be resourceful, even in the time of COVID.”

MEET THIS YEAR’S YLC The Youth Leadership Council is the girl voice of Badgerland. Each summer, Badgerland teenagers are invited to apply to sit on the YLC and represent their sister Girl Scouts. They get together every month with Badgerland’s CEO and leadership staff to talk about topics impacting girls today. << The 2020-2021 YLC met for the first time via Zoom in August. gsbadgerland.org 43

Troopmates. BFFs. Camp Counselors.

Saying farewell after 13 years Since their first troop meeting together as kindergartners, Alex Olson and Rebecca Hose have provided more than 700 hours of service to their community, attended more than 200 Girl Scout events, sold more than 14,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, and spent 10 years together at camp. Now, as class of 2020 high school graduates, the girls are officially Girl Scout alum and lifetime members of the organization.

Making their World a Better Place Girl Scouts are known for their community involvement, and Alex and Rebecca are no exception. As younger Girl Scouts, Troop 2458 (led by Jennifer Olson and Kristine Westphal of Beaver Dam) toured the police department, fire department, water treatment plant and food pantry to learn about the important services offered in their community. As they got older, Alex and Rebecca were eager to make their mark in their town.

When they were in middle school, the troop’s membership declined, but that sparked an idea for Alex and Rebecca.

Together they coordinated an expo to show their peers the various entertainment options available in Beaver Dam – a project that earned them the Silver Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.

This past year, both Alex and Rebecca earned their Gold Award, the highest award available to high school-aged Girl Scouts, for creating significant and lasting changes in their community.

Rebecca focused her Gold Award project, “9th Hour Homework Space”, on creating an after-school homework zone that serves as a quiet place for students to work and relax. Along with designing and creating a space that promotes positive mental health, she also spoke to middle schoolers on healthy ways to handle new stressors they might face in high school.

“I have always been someone with big aspirations,” Rebecca said. “My project taught me that I am capable of figuring out what I want, what I need to do and actually following through. I learned that I am capable of making a tangible difference in my community.”

For her project, “Generation Connections”, Alex organized an event where small groups of elementary school students and senior citizens could connect and learn about each other’s experiences. She also created a handbook and invited educators to replicate her program in the future.

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“When I was growing up, many of my peers were scared of older people because they didn’t know them; they

never got to spend time with older people like I did,” she said. “I wanted to change that. I wanted the younger kids of my town to have a better understanding of the world around them, and what better way to learn from the senior citizens?”

Outside of their highest awards, Alex and Rebecca could often be found donating time (and Girl Scout Cookies) to blood drives, and visiting local nursing homes - always with homemade treats or cards in tow.

Being Sisters to Every Girl Scout Not only have they made a difference in Beaver Dam, but in the Girl Scout community too.

For the last eight years, Alex and Rebecca have hosted a sing-a-long for younger Girl Scout troops in Beaver Dam, giving girls and adults alike a reason to come together and celebrate the movement. And even after they were too old to participate, the “Junior Jamboree”, for Girl Scouts in grades four and five, was always a favorite event of theirs to help with.

Camp Counselors In Training But of all the experiences they’ve had as Girl Scouts, both girls agree that one thing in particular brought them closer than ever.

“We never really became friends at school; we were in different crowds,” Rebecca said. “At camp, we spent every day for weeks at a time living and working together. The environment gave us a mutual place to open up to new friendships.”

“Without camp, I would have never met one of my closest friends,” Alex agreed.

The two have been attending Camp Ehawee, Badgerland Council’s main resident camp in Mindoro, Wis, since they were in third grade. In middle school, they aged into the leadership camper program, and earned their camp names: Cipher (Rebecca) and Dory (Alex). They’ve spent every summer since mentoring younger girls as Counselors in Training. (As certified lifeguards, they could often be spotted helping out at the pool and canoe slough).

Every March the troop decorated windows in downtown Beaver Dam to celebrate Girl Scout Week. The pair also helped with projects to fix up the “Girl Scout House” – a lakeside community center near Waterworks Park.

Although Camp Ehawee was closed this summer due to the Coronavirus pandemic, both have plans to spend time at their “second home” in upcoming summers.

As a freshman in high school, Rebecca joined Badgerland’s Youth Leadership Council, and Alex joined her the following year. As members of the YLC, they served as the “voice of girls”, advising the council’s CEO and leadership team on issues and trends affecting girls today.

Now, with their Girl Scout toolbelts filled, Alex and Rebecca are taking their first step into adulthood. Alex will be studying elementary and special education at UW La Crosse in the fall, and Rebecca will continue her studies at Madison College. Both say they’ll use their lifetime memberships to stay engaged with Girl Scouts as young adults.

“On the YLC, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend events and work with professional Girl Scouts,” Rebecca said.

“It’s helped me come out of my shell and talk to adults. I would never have had the confidence to express myself and work with others without these experiences.”

All of these experiences took place among countless movie nights, swim parties, me and my guy dances, flamingo flocking, escape rooms, geocaching and annual trips to the corn maze.

Girl Scout Alums

“Girl Scouts is so much more than cookies and badges,” Alex said. “We learn together, we create lasting memories, we make arts and crafts, but talk about space travel during dinner. Girl Scouts is an organization that supports every woman in her own adventure.”

gsbadgerland.org 45

AT A GLANCE

UPCOMING GIRL SCOUT EVENTS 2020

2021

September 27: Badgerland Fall Fundraiser Online Kickoff

February 6: Cookie Carnival!

October 3: Sloth Shuffle Begins w/ Kickoff Dance Party

February 12: Cookie Countdown Party

October 3: Highest Awards Idea Workshop

February 13: Cookie Sales Begin!

October 3-4: Fall Festival

January 16-17: Winter Fest

October 7: Badgerland Fall Fundraiser Begins

February 27: Today’s Peacemakers

October 7: MediaGIRLS Applications/Videos Due

March 7-13: Girl Scout Week

October 10: Let’s Go: Outdoors

March 10: Advocacy Day

October 23-25: Founder’s Day Campout

March 21: Cookie Sales End

October 25: Badgerland Fall Fundraiser Ends

March 27: Women Leading the Wisconsin Way

October 31: Suffrage 100

April 10: Girl Scout Awards Ceremony

October 31: Sloth Shuffle Ends

April 17: Top Cookie Seller Celebration

November 7: Full STEAM Ahead (Daisies & Brownies)

May 16: Bridging Badgerland

November 11: Highest Awards Idea Workshop

June 25: On My Honor (Volunteer Awards)

November 14: Full STEAM Ahead (Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors)

August 19: Annual Meeting

MORE 2021 WINTER AND SPRING PROGRAMS WILL BE ANNOUNCED!

November 22: Program Aide Training December 5: Highest Awards Idea Workshop December 7, 8 & 10: Girl Scouts Give Back Series December 12: Let’s Go: Bee Amazing Entrepreneurs

Stay connected about all experiences and opportunities for your Girl Scout:

December 12: Cookie Program Training

Read our Sunday newsletter: This Week at Badgerland.

See the events @gsbadgerland on Facebook.

Invite a friend to join.

HELP US INVITE MORE GIRLS TO BE A GIRL SCOUT.

More than ever, girls need their own crew; a sisterhood to support them.

New troops are meeting online this fall and, when it’s safe, in-person.

We have flyers to put up around your town and social posts for you to share. Access them at: www.gsbadgerland.org/share OR email us: info@gsbadgerland.org 46

NOTE: If your troop isn’t meeting this fall because of COVID let us know and we’ll get her set up with one of our new virtual troops.

G I R L S C OU T S A R E U NS T OP PA B L E .

Detach this page, decorate it, and display it to remind yourself and others we’re Girl Scout strong!

Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Madison WI Permit No. 2127

2710 Ski Lane Madison, WI 53713

CONTACT US 800.236.2710 gsbadgerland.org info@gsbadgerland.org FOLLOW US

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S T U O C S L R I G S P O T S NOTHING S M A R G O R P L A U T R I V AWESOME .

L R I G R U O Y R O F D E PLANN Check www.gsbadgerland.org/activities weekly to see what’s been added.