2022 October Newsletter

October

Monthly Newsletter

Girl Scout Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

The Girl Scout Program

Grounded in the Girl Scout Promise and Law, Girl Scouting is an experiential, cooperative education program that promotes girls’ personal growth and leadership development. Partnering with caring adults, girls design fun and challenging activities that empower them and raise their voices within a local, national, and global sisterhood.

Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law

will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do,

to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Fall Product Program

Get Started With The Fall Product Program

The Fall Program has begun! Join us as we GO BRIGHT AHEAD!

It’s easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Caregivers sign the Permission Form

2. Get Fall paperwork from your troop including the Order Card

3. Visit https://gsnutsandmags.com/ gsmw where Girl Scouts can create their avatar, set up their online site, and share their store link on Social Media and via text and email!

Fall Product Program Calendar

Win Sassy!

Thank you to everyone who helped to vote and name our new mascot, the Hawaiian Monk Seal, Sassy.

Don’t forget — for every $50 sold in the Fall Product Program girls will receive an entry to win Sassy, the GIANT Seal!

Take a look at our Fall Program Dates below to prepare yourself with what's to come!

Milestones

Troop

Due in M2OS

in M2OS

Edits Due in M2OS

End

Service Unit Girl Reward Choice Due in M2OS

Key Dates

October 1st - November 16th

October 1st - October 23rd

October 1st - Novemebr 16th at 9:59 PM

October 23rd at 9:59 PM

October 25th at 9:59 PM

October 27th at 9:59 PM

October 27th at 9:59 PM

November 15th - 23rd

November 17th at 9:59 PM

Recruitment and Volunteer Support

Grow Your Troop Or Build Another

Between now and October 15, 2022, take the Girl Scout Grow Your Troop OR Build Another PLEDGE to recruit a minimum of TWO or more girls to your troop OR recruit two new volunteers to start their own troop by December 31, 2022.

1. If you grow your troop by recruiting two new girls OR two volunteers to start a new troop between October 1st and December 31, 2022 the troop will receive TWO 24-can iCool Trail Cooler Backpacks, perfect to keep your troop snacks cool, while getting out and exploring the great outdoors!

2. If you recruit at least two or more girls to your troop or volunteers to start a new troop, your entire troop (including leaders), will receive a fun Recruit a Friend patch!

A portion of proceeds from this backpack goes to Shelter to Soldier, who trains service animals for veterans in need.

* In order to participate and qualify for any rewards for your troop, you must take the “PLEDGE” before October 15th. If you don’t end up with growth of two girls/volunteers, there is no penalty. However, in order to claim any rewards, you must officially register your pledge.*

Volunteer Handbook

Calling all volunteers! We know you’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of your NEW Volunteer Handbook. Guess what? THEY ARE COMING!

Keep an eye on your mailbox in the next couple of weeks you should be able to enjoy this beautiful new volunteer tool.

Volunteers—Are you a Proud Girl Scout?

Proud Girl Scout

With the Volunteer Handbook, we have included a short survey postcard. You can digitally complete the survey by clicking the link here. When you complete this survey, digitally or by mail, you will receive a Proud Girl Scout Pin as a thank you for all you do and your survey feedback.

Troop Recruitment Resource Guide

Looking for tools to recruit more girls into your troop? Take a look at our Troop Recruitment Guide! This guide will provide you with some fillable flyer templates as well as some marketing tips and tricks for you to follow. Contact your region's Member Experience Manager or customercare@gsmw.org to request printed invitations!

Program and Volunteers

Find Your Journey Here!

GSMW’s Annual Journey in Day Council-Wide Programs

This year's Journey in a Day programs explores the world of computer technology in the Think Like a Programmer Journey. And guess what!? Our Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors don't even need a computer for this one! Instead, through creative, hands-on, non-computerized exercises, participants will learn how programmers code. During the creation process, Girl Scouts will explore how programmers think about problems and solutions and all the steps in between. The result will be a handful of fun crafts that will remind them of their new programming knowledge.

Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Virtual Journey

Earn your Think Like A Programmer Journey Award from your home, at your own pace! If your older Girl Scout is ready to learn how to code for real, take advantage of this independent and fun online Journey experience. Girl will build website programming skills with a fun and achievable online learning platform, CodeCampKidz. Girl Scouts will work virtually with experienced professional coders, overcome obstacles, build problem solving skills, and develop confidence as an independent web developer. All this, from the comfort of home and on their own schedule.

Journey in a Day

Convention and Retail

2023 National Convention Updates & New Resources

The Girl Scout National Convention is slated to take over Orlando, Florida from July 18 - 22, 2023. Follow this link to GSUSA’s 2023 National Convention Page for their most up-to-date information and special announcements. Early Bird Registration is open through October 31st .

GSMW has also put together resources for your troop’s planning purposes. Check out our National Convention travel page. On our page, you will find resources like our 2023 National Convention Toolkit

The toolkit will help your troop plan and implement your trip to the 2023 National Convention. Within the document, you will find a timeline, a planning worksheet, and more!

GSMW staff have created a jump-start video series for your troop’s National Convention plans. Check our National Convention Travel page regularly for new videos. In addition to the videos, council staff will host Q & A sessions via Zoom. We look forward to seeing you on these calls and in Florida!

GSMW Store Punch Cards

Council shops, either in person, via

you'll get a punch on your GSMW punch card.

spending $200, you'll

Program and Daisy's Circle

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Now in its 18th year, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation, ensuring that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.

Throughout October, there will be a focus on the following areas:

• October 1 and 2: Official NCSAM Kick-off

• Week of October 5 (Week 1): If You Connect It, Protect It

• Week of October 12 (Week 2): Securing Devices at Home and Work

• Week of October 19 (Week 3): Securing Internet-Connected Devices in Healthcare

• Week of October 26 (Week 4): The Future of Connected Devices

More Here!

Happy Birthday Juliette Gordon Low!

This month we celebrate our founder Juliette Gordon Low's birthday! We are extremely grateful for her vision, determination, and stick-to-it-ness! Because of JGL, Girl Scouts has been an incredible part of the lives of millions of girls since 1912.

Kidz Play

Kidz Play is a non-profit organization founded by a Gold Award Girl Scout from Illinois. She founded Kidz Play in 2014 and as part of her Gold Award project this year, she has been working to expand Kidz Play outreach across the country. Kidz Play provides monetary scholarships to help families pay for their kids' clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. If you are interested in learning more or applying for assistance, please visit their website at www.helpkidzplay.org.

Daisy’s Circle

Named after Girl Scout founder Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, Daisy’s Circle is GSMW’s monthly giving program. Monthly donations help lower costs through automation and reduced mailings, meaning that more of your donations go directly to Girl Scouts. Your ongoing contribution affords girls an opportunity to experience Girl Scouts, who may not otherwise be able to participate due to financial barriers. Funds raised through Daisy’s Circle provide financial assistance for girls and volunteers, supports Outreach Programs, and more. Individuals or troops who sign up to become a member will receive an exclusive Daisy’s Circle pin! Any donation amount is appreciated. Questions? Email us at give@gsmw.org.

Highest Awards and Travel

Highest Awards Training

You can find valuable information and training videos for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards on our website. For more information about how to earn the Highest Award, email customercare@gsmw.org.

Bronze Award

Silver Award of the Year

Is your troop considering earning their Girl Scout Silver Award? Did you know that GSMW will recognize one Silver Award project each membership year as the GSMW Silver Award of the Year? Find out how your project can qualify to be eligible for this recognition.

Gold Award Information

Silver Award

Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts, your chance to change the world is waiting. Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award will not only make a positive impact on your community and beyond, but also look great on college and scholarship applications, job resumes, and more. Please note that if you are a high school senior, the deadline to submit your proposal for approval is May 1, 2023. GSMW has resources and training materials to help get you started and equip you for success, head to our website for more information or email customercare@gsmw.org.

Gold Award

Girl Scout Trips and Travel Opportunities

Travel Destinations

Each year, Girl Scouts from all over the world travel to dozens of locations on Girl Scouts-sponsored trips called Destinations. Destinations are the ultimate Girl Scout travel experience. Each Destination is made up of a group of individual Girl Scouts who are passionate about travel and connecting to the worldwide Girl Scout Sisterhood.

GSUSA invites all Girl Scouts ages 11 to 18 to apply for Destinations. Check out their travel web site for available trips and download the application. Girls who want to apply early should aim to complete their application by November 1st so their references have enough ti me to finish their part by the early decision deadline of November 15th.

After November 15th, most Destinations will still have spaces remaining! Applications will remain open on a rolling basis (first come, first served) until the trip is listed as “FULL” on the website and application link. Applicants who apply after November 15th should expect a decision from the Destination host within three weeks of applying.

Girl Travel Opportunity:

A brave Montana troop has set their compass toward Europe for an amazing, EF Tours-led troop travel experience—the troop invites YOU to enjoy an itinerary that includes castles, cathedrals, a gondola ride in Venice, and a visit to the World Centre, Our Chalet in Switzerland. Other highlights include a trip to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and visit the Louvre! Check out the full itinerary HERE.

Individual Girl Scouts in grades 7 through 12 are welcome to join this traveling troop. Troops and accompanying female troop volunteers are also welcome to join. The trip will occur sometime near July 15th through 27th, give or take a day or two before or after. The trip will cost $5,705 per person, and that includes airfare from Bozeman, Montana. The EF Tours price and package requires all participants to travel out of Bozeman.

The $5,705 tour cost includes:

•

GSMW Destinations Spotlight

&

Airfare from Bozeman to Germany and all travel between activities and countries, then back to Bozeman

• All lodging: Four to a room in most locations

• All entrance fees to museums and activities on the schedule

• Breakfast and dinner except travel days

•

Dedicated Tour Guide with our group

• The tour cost does not include:

• Passport fees

• Excursions (i.e. For this tour, a bike ride through Munich is an option for $30/person)

• Lunches

• Souvenirs

If you would like more information, please email customercare@gsmw.org so our staff can put you in touch with the troop’s trip leader.

During the summer of 2022, six Montana and Wyoming Girl Scouts followed their travel dreams. Each month, GSMW will spotlight a Destinations traveler. This month, we will share Kyra’s experience.

Kyra traveled to Georgia to experience the Happy Trails Destinations trip. This trip allowed Kyra to fly in an airplane for the first time, and she learned to barrel race while also learning about other people from all over the US.

After her trip, she sent GSMW the following message:

“I love all things related to horses so getting the opportunity to go to a camp all about horses and ride several times a day was a dream come true. It’s amazing that there are these adventures available to us girls through the Girl Scout program. I definitely would encourage others to look into going on a destination of their own.”

Kyra

Girl Scout Happy Trails

Celebrations

Jonnina E. School Nurse Closet Gold Award Girl Scout

Highest Award Spotlight

Jonnina E. of Cheyenne, WY partnered with her school district to establish a closet of clothes that school nurses can use for student needs. She surveyed the school nurses to find out the clothing types most needed, established a space in a central location within the school district for storage and engaged the community by raising awareness for the need for donations. Jonnina inventoried the 2000 clothing items she received and established a request and delivery process for the school nurses. So that the closet would always be stocked, she ensured that her high school would hold an annual clothing drive and keep the community engaged for the need.

Calling All Girl Scout Alumna

We want to hear from YOU, our Girl Scout alumna. You know more than anyone about the benefits of being a Girl Scout and we want to share your experience.

If you’re interested in sharing your Girl Scout story, please reach out to us at alum@gsmw.org or give us a call at 406-252-0488.

Alumna Sp otlight

"

One of the highlights of my Girl Scout adventures was attending a Destination in the Boundary Waters/ Quetico Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota/Canada. I canoed and camped for two weeks with girls from around the U.S. This adventure taught me something about my own strength—what I have within me to survive, whether it is the physical strength of portaging a canoe and gear for miles through the woods and swamp or the mental and emotional strength of how to keep going when your body wants to give up."

Madeleine Duncan Girl Scout Alumna

Congratulations Jonnina!

Global Girl Scout Programming

Girl Scout Climate Challenge

The Girl Scout Climate Challenge engages Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts of all ages in activities that get them outdoors to learn about climate science, connect them with their communities to understand how they're impacted by climate change, and have them spread awareness of the issue. Find out more on the SciStarter.org Climate Challenge.

International Day of the Girl

Each year, the International Day of the Girl (IDG) is a moment for us to come together to raise up girls' voices and show how our Movement empowers girls to shape the world they want to see. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has created the 2022 International Day of the Girl activity pack for use by our girls and volunteers. Download the activity pack and prepare your Girl Scouts for the International Day of the Girl on October 11th, 2022!

Earn the Global Action Award

Help heal our world and make a better future for everyone. The United Nations—where nations come together to solve problems that affect humanity—might not seem to have much of an impact on your life, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. From climate action to gender equality, they’re working on the same issues that are close to your heart—and you can help!

There are 17 important global problems the UN has chosen to work on (they call them the sustainable development goals, or SDGs). These goals pertain to issues like poverty, hunger, gender equity, and climate change. By learning more about the SDGs, connecting with others who care, and then taking action in your community and beyond, you can play an important role in healing our world and creating a better tomorrow for all of us. Plus, when you complete the Award steps, you'll earn the Girl Scouts Global Action Award. Get started with a guide just for you:

Daisies, Brownies, & Juniors DOWNLOAD PDF Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors DOWNLOAD PDF

Climate Challenge Patch