Linking Leaders E-Newsletter April 2018

APRIL 2018

We’d love to hear what you’re doing with your girls!

Send us an email or post on Facebook! Feel free to contact marcomm@gssef.org with comments, pictures or ideas. All of the Linking Leaders issues are archived on the Training page for easy reference.

IN THIS ISSUE SPOTLIGHT

ADULT & LEADER HIGHLIGHTS

Jennifer McNally.......................................................................................2

NEW! VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips.......................................................................7 GSSEF’s Gold Award Celebration & Ceremony ...............................................7

PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE Girl Scout Star Wars Night and Galactic Sleepover..................................... 3 S.C.A.T. Program......................................................................................3 Girl Scout Day at Rapids Water Park..........................................................4 Girl Scout Day at LEGOLAND.....................................................................4 Journey in a Day.......................................................................................5 Two Council Scholarships Available...........................................................6 Girl Scout Cookie Reward Program at Seaworld.........................................6

MEMBERSHIP Cookie Money in Action ..............................................................................8 Hoppy Eggster.............................................................................................8 Bridging Kits............................................................................................... 8 Leader Appreciation Week...........................................................................8 Starter Kit...................................................................................................8

CALENDAR

Mark your Calendars!

CALENDAR

MAY MEMBERSHIP

ADULT & LEADER HIGHLIGHTS

SPOTLIGHT

PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

April/MAY....................................................................................................9

Submit Troop or Volunteer News here!

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APRIL

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SPOTLIGHTS

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Jennifer McNally Jennifer McNally started her Girl Scout journey in 2004 while having lunch with her daughter and talking about the Girl Scouts. She then decided to go into the Girl Scout Center to get some information to start a troop in Oakland Park. After her first Girl Scout ceremony, she asked all the girls, “What do you love about being in Girl Scouts?” One of her Daisies, Trianna replied, “I love you, Miss Jen!” It touched Jennifer’s heart and she knew she was doing something wonderful for her girls. Being a mother and role model for her daughters and Girl Scouts means a lot to her. She was the Morning Glories’ Service Unit Volunteer Manager for five years before it disbanded, and is now that Service Unit Manager for Sunny River. Jennifer is a wife, mother, business owner, and a Girl Scout Troop Leader who always aims to give 100%. She is also passionate about giving back to her community and helping the homeless. Thank you, Jennifer!

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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE GIRL SCOUT STAR WARS NIGHT AND GALACTIC SLEEPOVER IS ALMOST HERE – ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! The Girl Scout Star Wars Night and Galactic Sleepover is coming to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. We still have room for you, your troop, and even your family, too! Join us for a great big night of baseball and loads of family fun. There will be Star Wars characters throughout the stadium for photos, an on-field kids’ parade, and win prizes when you come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character for our costume contest. Troops, families, tag-alongs, droids, Ewoks, and lightsabers welcome!

To continue the fun past game time, add on the Galactic Sleepover which will be full of even MORE surprises! Family and troop camping will be offered on the field with designated areas and security. All sleepover participant will also get an exclusive Patch included in the price!

Don’t let this amazing opportunity pass you by – register today! Fimd this and all of our other upcoming activities at www.gssef.org. Click on “Activities” and then “Event Calendar.”

Prize for this event is $10 per person for the game only and $18 per person for the game PLUS on-field Galactic Sleepover.

S.C.A.T. PROGRAM (SLEUTHING CRITTERS AND TRACKS) Bring your troop and sharpen your detective skills for the all new SCAT program on Saturday, May 12th at Camp Welaka! This daylong program for Juniors and Cadettes lets girls learn about animal habitat, and behavior – including animal scat and tracks! We will be learning more about our Camp Welaka animals by studying what they leave behind. A wildlife professional will be there to talk about the best ways to track an animal and leave no trace. And we have a great game planned for your troop to put their newly acquired detective skills to use! Junior Girl Scouts will earn components of the following badges: Eco Camper and Animal Habitats Detective.

Cadette Girl Scouts will earn components of the following badges: Primitive Camper, Outdoor Art, Apprentice Trailblazing and Special Agent. Bring your bathing suit - we’ll take a dip in the pool, too! For more information please contact Gracyn Boss, Outdoor Program & Education Manager, at gboss@gssef.org.

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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

GIRL SCOUT DAY AT RAPIDS WATER PARK Girl Scouts and their families are invited to spend the day on Saturday May 19, 2018 at Rapids Water Park The park is opening one hour early at 9:00 a.m. exclusively for Girl Scouts! The cost is $29.96 per person. For more information and to register click here.

SAVE THE DATE - GIRL SCOUT DAY AT LEGOLAND The LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven is hosting Girl Scout Day on Saturday, May 19, 2018. They are offering special pricing for all Girl Scouts: one day admission to LEGOLAND Florida Resort $34.00 plus tax or one day admission to LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Waterpark $56.50 plus tax. Click here to get your tickets.

NU2U – AN INTRO TO TROOP CAMP TRAINING W

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Is troop camping new to you? Maybe you’ve been interested in taking your troop camping, but don’t know where to start.

Whether you want to learn or troop camp with expert guidance, NU2U is perfect! Back by popular demand, NU2U is our brand new outdoor program and your chance to go troop camping with our volunteer pros! Leaders can see the basic how-to’s while girls hike, swim and canoe.

Offered May 5-6 at Camp Welaka, this program is designed for Junior and Cadette Level troops and Leaders who are ready to take the first steps into the amazing world of camp. While attending NU2U, Juniors and Cadettes will have the opportunity to fulfill multiple badge requirements through a variety of activities, as well as participate in outdoor cooking, archery, making s’mores and fire building. For questions contact Gracyn Boss, Outdoor Program & Education Manager at gboss@gssef.org or check out our Activities Calendar here.

COUNCIL-LED TROOP CAMPING

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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

JOURNEY IN A DAY – REGISTER NOW Explore the It’s Your Planet, Love It! Journey all in one day! Through a series of fun-filled workshops, Daisies learn about the natural world 8 201 around them and how to keep the earth healthy, while Brownies will learn how to protect the waters of our planet. Juniors will learn about various GSSEF forms of energy and what it means to be energy efficient. Cadettes will learn all about the air they breathe and how to improve its quality, while Seniors will learn about food how and where it’s grown, processed, distributed and consumed and why it matters. Ambassadors will learn to identify global environmental issues and create their own vision for change. Girls will then team up to do a take action project about what they learned.

Registration deadline is April 10 or upon reaching program capacity. Spaces are filling fast so register today.

REGISTER NOW: Cadette here Senior here Ambassador here Saturday, April 21, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Camp Nocatee 6009 Flaghole Road Clewiston, FL 33440 REGISTER NOW: Daisy here Brownie here Junior here Sunday, April 22, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Camp Nocatee 6009 Flaghole Road Clewiston, FL 33440 Only $30 for girls – includes snacks, beverages and program participation patch. Earned It’s Your Planet, Love It! Badges will be available for purchase on site. No tagalongs please.

We still need volunteers to help with the event. If interested, please contact Catalina Cano at ccano@gssef.org.

For questions or more information, contact Mica Minor at mminor@gssef.org.

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PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE TWO COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE In 2006, the Barbara Ann Turner ‘Service from the Heart’ Scholarship was created in memory of dedicated volunteer Barbara Ann Turner. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an 11th or 12th grader who has given exceptional Take Action and service in her community. Deadline for applications is Monday, April 9, 2018.

In 2016, Kathryn C. Vecellio endowed a Girl Scout Scholarship Fund that will provide an annual scholarship to a Gold Award Girl Scout to help further her educational endeavors. This $1,200 scholarship is intended to offset costs associated with undergraduate studies and paid directly to the educational institution. Applicants must be 12th graders who have already accepted admission to a college or university beginning in Fall 2018, or be a current undergraduate college student in 2018.

Deadline for applications is Friday, April 20, 2018.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE REWARD PROGRAM AT SEAWORLD So many leaders have called asking about this fantastic program that is being offered as part of the Cookie Extreme Team reward for girls who sold 1000+ boxes!

You too can book it as a troop! SeaWorld offers sleepover programs for scout groups, with a 20 participant minimum between adults and children. The only one that does not have a minimum participation requirement and where they place you in a venue of their choice, is the SeaWorld Jamboree. SeaWorld chooses three dates when troops any size can book their stay at the park. That is the big difference between their regular sleepover programs and the Jamboree; that and swaps!

On the Jamboree date, there are only Girl Scout troops roaming the park, so of course troop swaps become a little part of the fun, but the animal interaction, learning fun, and special behind the scenes tours all take place during these sleepover events.

This year, more than 90 hard working Girl Scouts who reached the 1000+ box selling level will get to attend these fabulous sleepover events at Seaworld Orlando! Next year... we will see what fun adventure we can find for our Extreme Team Girl Scouts to help them discover, connect, and inspire them to Take Action! Girl Scout cookies make all the fun happen! We can’t wait to find out what next year’s theme will be because this year’s was TURTLE-y awesome.

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ADULT & LEADER HIGHLIGHTS

NEW! VTK: TIPS, TRICKS & SIPS We would love to see you at our brand new series called, “VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips.” These are new casual get-togethers for Leaders at all grade-levels held in our bright, beautiful Palm Beach Retail Store for networking and getting into the VTK alongside a volunteer super-user! The online Volunteer Toolkit (a.k.a. VTK) is a great tool, but if you have 1,000 other things to do, getting “into it” just hasn’t been a priority. Set aside 90 minutes for meeting other volunteers, see the “MyGS” community and check out the Year Plans that all align perfectly to the National Badges and Journeys.

Saturday afternoon sessions will include a variety of iced tea, sodas with, chips, dips and veggies. Evening sessions will include both red and white wine with cheese and fruit – and non-alcoholic beverage options too. All sessions are reserved for adult volunteers only; children are not permitted. Tag-alongs are not permitted. All participants will receive a return-and-shop coupon for 15% off your entire future purchase.

Wednesday, April 4, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 28, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 5, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (Special Cinco de Mayo Theme! Ole!) Saturday, May 19, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

All of the sessions will be held at the GSSEF Palm Beach Retail Store located at 1232 W. Indiantown Road Suite 105 Jupiter, FL 33458. Questions? Contact customercare@gssef.org. Register now!

GSSEF’S GOLD AWARD CELEBRATION & CEREMONY Every Spring, GSSEF hosts a special event to honor our Gold Award Girl Scouts.

This year we will host this extraordinary event at our new Administrative Headquarters in Lake Worth on Saturday, May 12 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. A mere 1% of eligible Girl Scouts achieve this Award. Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are exceptional and iinspiringyoung women who are already changing the world! Would your girls like to experience this ceremony and become inspired too? We are seeking Troops and/or individual girl members who are willing to join us, work hard and help us make this event as special as the girls earning this prestigious National Award. Jobs include: Greeters, Present the Flag Ceremony, and Award presentation assistance. Full uniforms are required. A full catered breakfast will be served. Email your girl/Troop interest

by April 12, to goldaward@gssef.org.

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MEMBERSHIP COOKIE MONEY IN ACTION Each year, girls do amazing things with the money they earn from the Cookie Sale Program. For example, they’ve purchased police badges for canine officers, booked cruises, planned trips to Savannah, purchased supplies for children’s hospitals, and donated to animal welfare agencies.

We want people to know that the simple purchase of a box of cookies makes a difference to their community.

We want them to know that through Girl Scouts, girls learn how to make the world a better place – one girl, one dollar, and one cookie at a time.

We want to hear about YOUR cookie money in action. We will use the stories we collect in our marketing and public relations efforts throughout and after the Cookie Sale Program. Please send your stories to Melinda Glasco, Director of Marketing and Communications at mglasco@gssef.org.

HOPPY EGGSTER There’s no fooling around this year! The bunny has left plenty of eggs to share. Hop by either the Palm Beach Retail Store or the Broward Retail Store between April 2-7 and search for an egg. Each egg will contain either a 10%-30% discount or free merchandise!! One per adult customer. See store for details.

BRIDGING KITS Are you planning a bridging ceremony? We can help. Our Retail Store has a convenient, all-in-one Bridging Kit that has everything you need. Each kit includes the items that are presented to girls bridging to the next age level. Just add the girls’ names to the sheet provided and you’re ready for your bridging ceremony!

LEADER APPRECIATION WEEK We are celebrating YOU! Please stop by either Retail Store location in Palm Beach or Broward on April 16 21 so we can show our APPRECIATION for everything you do all year ‘round. We will be giving each leader who stops by a little gift, So come on by. *while supplies last; one per adult member. See store for details.

STARTER KIT The new Starter Kit bags have arrived. These super cute bags are G.I.R.L.-themed – perfect for all you Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers and Leaders! A Starter Kit is just what you need as you look ahead to re-registration and the start of an all new Girl Scout year. Why not do it in style!

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FEBRUARY JANUARY

FEBRUARY

CALENDAR 2018

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Early Bird Re-Registration Begins

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Thin Mint Sprint – West Palm Beach

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VTK: Tips, Tricks 4 & Sips

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Thin Mint Sprint – Stuart

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15 - 22 National Volunteer Week

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21 - 22 Journey in a Day

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Leader Appreciation Day

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VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips

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Gold Award Final Reports/ Scrapbooks Due

Early Bird Re-Registration ends

Thin Mint 7 Sprint – Hollywood Star Wars Night & Galactic Sleepover

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CEO Extreme Team Luncheon 5 VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips 5 - 6 NU2U Troop Camping

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Gold Award Ceremony

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VTK: Tips, Tricks & Sips

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GSSEF HQ CLOSED for Memorial Day

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