JG Fall 2017

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Miss Madalynn goes to Washington Page 14

The Juliette Gazette for

Fall 2017 A Publication of Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

JG The Juliette Gazette

The Juliette Gazette is a triannual publication of Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska.

JG Staff: Publisher/Designer Lucia Kroeger Renz Editor/Writer Theresa Cassaday Editor/Writer Shannon Peterson Photo Editor Michelle Cleary Contributor Kassy Jo Novak Copy Editors Melissa Breazile Jasmine McCain

We are supported in part by:

Hold on to this guide all year, so you don’t miss a thing!

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PUBLICATION OFFICE: 2121 South 44th Street Omaha, NE 68105 Date of Publication, October, 2017

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GirlScoutsNebraska.org

Printed by Kingery Printing Effingham, Illinois October 2017 PRINTED IN U.S.A.

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Wild About Rewards incentive cards and prepare to earn cool prizes.

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Catron’s

Longtime Neighbors and Friends

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ichard P. and Laurine Kimmel and the Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard were neighbors to the south of Camp Catron long before it was a camp. Having owned Kimmel Orchard since 1925, the Kimmels were very familiar with the property that their long-time friend Henry Catron donated to the Girl Scouts in 1946.

The Kimmels were a pillar of the community of Nebraska City. Richard Kimmel’s mother, Cornelia Petring Kimmel, graduated from Nebraska City High School’s inaugural class of 1880. In fact, she was the only graduate in the class, at a time when very few women graduated from high school!

As a young woman, Laurine attended the University of Nebraska in the early 1900s and studied teaching and art.

She taught briefly before marrying Richard.

The new Mrs. Kimmel followed in the footsteps of her mother-in-law and became a vibrant community leader.

Laurine was a prominent business owner who was involved in many community

Laurine Kimmel

organizations, including the local chapter of the PEO Sisterhood (Philanthropic Educational Organization).

When Henry Catron donated the neighboring property to the Girl Scouts, Laurine realized the importance this project would have on the development of young women and their place as leaders in communities, so she joined the original Laurine gained national recognition organizing committee for for her watercolor paintings that the development of depicted old outhouses.

Camp Catron.

Throughout her life, Laurine became a well-known Nebraska artist. She primarily painted what she called “American Architecture,” which were watercolor paintings of old outhouses, as well as paintings of birds and old barns.

The Richard P. and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation was established after the coupled died, and the foundation gifted Girl Scouts with a grant to help establish the beautiful Laurine Kimmel Lodge at Camp Catron.

Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard continues to collaborate with Girl Scouts and Camp Catron by giving visitors educational hayrack tours through the orchard, and through an adopt-a-tree program that is being developed to teach girls about fruit production.

Orchard ine built Kimmel Richard and Laur . ty Ci ka bras into a pillar of Ne

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and oh, so amaz ue iq un so s ut co Girl S It’s what makesyou put your skills to the test! . .L .R .I G a of A n N D he We all share theexamples of what you can do w Here are a few

ing.

GO-GETTER This brand-spanking-new Ponca troop wasted no time making the world a better place. After just one meeting, they jumped into a service project – cleaning up around their town’s library. That’s how Girl Scout go-getters get things done!

INNOVATOR These 10 tough innovators took auto matters into their own hands with help from Becky Witt, owner of the George Witt repair shop in Lincoln. They learned basic car-fixing skills that everyone should know before taking the wheel. Getting their hands dirty was no problem for these gritty Girl Scouts!

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RISK-TAKER Troop 00670 is a group of fierce risk-takers who took to the open road this summer on a trip to South Dakota! They visited the Black Hills and even made time for a service project at the town’s Hope Center using cookie proceeds to purchase and assemble women’s hygiene bags.

Find out if you’re a Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker or Leader.

Take the G.I.R.L. quiz at bit.ly/gssnquiz

LEADER This group of G.I.R.L.s saw democracy in action when they visited the State Capitol on Legislative Day. They discussed key issues affecting women and learned how to promote all the awesome opportunities for girls in our state. Look out, Nebraska, future leaders in the house…and in the Unicameral!

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Creating models of DNA strands is finger-stickin’ fun!

Into

-ing

Discovery

When your energy transfer experiment goes awry, “wind speed” can propel your paddle boat forward!

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hen you open the door to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) fun, Girl Scouts will fly right through! It’s all about exploration and finding things that make you say, “Oh, YES!” Look at what some of our citizen scientists accomplished.

Houston, We Have Greatness!

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, wait…no…it’s Girl Scouts launching rockets! At this year’s Science Alliance Camp at Camp Cosmo, these girls made innovation look easy. They built rockets, boats, newspaper towers and their own catapults. They challenged themselves to reach for the sky and they made it, like fireworks!

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Beakers, Pipettes and Goo, Oh My! In partnership with UNO’s Chemistry Department, Girl Scouts enter a lab to see what it means to be happy mad scientists.

With a few basics from chemistry students, they create experiments and measure actions and reactions. In the lab, ooey, gooey and fun are part of a day’s work.

STEAM prog learn how sc rams help girls ience stack s up.

During Fun with Polymers, Troop 45325 discovered that science is the new cool!

STEAM-azing Girls Up, down and around the corner, these girls earned a patch by designing an exciting roller coaster for marbles.

Next, they learned about leverage, building a catapult and using it to make objects fly through the air! Troop 20372 isn’t slowing down, and they might just add a few more twists and turns.

The group launched into scientific discovery by building catapults.

Color Me Colossal In a super groovy twist on chemistry magic, this group of Girl Scouts kickedoff the summer making tie-dye T-shirts.

The girls discovered what happens when colors mix and how dye spreads through fabric. Next stop, camp—the best place in the world for rainbow tie-dye fashion.

Tie-dyeing shirts isn’t just fun, it’s chemistry!

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Going Gold,

Staying Bold!

T

hey are the Girl Scout elite: girls who dig down and do what it takes to earn their Gold Award. This year, 11 young women in Nebraska were honored for reaching this milestone, and we recognized their contributions at ceremonies across the state.

The Gold Award is earned by high school girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership. They recognize a community problem, create solutions, share their vision, build teams, implement complex and multi-layered projects, and make their corner of the world a better place.

The Gold Award also requires girls to address how their efforts will be supported into the future by putting processes in place for the continued evolution of their work.

The name of the award has changed over the years, but it remains the pinnacle of a girl’s Girl Scouting legacy. Millions of women have successfully answered the call to “Go Gold,� which indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world.

Join us as we congratulate the 2017 Gold Award Girl Scouts!

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Sophie Bredensteiner of Gretna New Pennsylvania Directory

Haley DeWitt of La Vista Train the Brain

Sophie created a map and directory of the New Pennsylvania Pioneer Cemetery and State Historic Site near Gretna. Her project evolved to include updating online resources to connect descendants of those buried at the cemetery, setting up a sign and compiling the information into a book.

Recognizing the need to provide brain stimulation for aging adults, Haley raised money to purchase games for Hillcrest Mable Rose assisted living and memory support facility. She volunteered twice a month at the facility to lead the games and assembled activity bags for residents.

Stacia Burkey of Hebron GIVE BACK to Someone in Need

Amanda Dickerson of Omaha STEM Program for Girls

Stacia, a 17-time blood donor, identified a need for more donations in her community. She organized a local drive, educated younger girls on the importance of donating, and encouraged area organizations and troops to arrange blood drives.

After noticing that few girls in her community were interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Amanda wanted to educate young girls about STEM opportunities. She created an annual program for upper elementary and middle school girls to foster their interest in these fields.

Alisha Fisher of Sterling Elementary Science Camp

Jill Ruane of Papillion St. Matthew’s Community Garden

Alisha hosted a four-day camp teaching first through fourth graders about the scientific method. The students worked together to conduct experiments that included making bouncy balls and slime, learning how dye changes the color of flower petals and studying rain.

Jill created a community garden for St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Bellevue, planting vegetables to share with the parish and the Stephen Center in South Omaha. She also incorporated gardening into a local middle school to educate students and inspire them to plant home vegetable patches.

Amanda Gregory of Omaha Something Fishy

Natalie Schieuer of Walton Signs of Sunshine

Amanda collaborated with the Bellevue Rod and Reel Club to create and install fish habitats made of plastic tubing, cement and cinder blocks in ponds suffering from habitat loss. The ponds are used to educate children about wildlife and safe fishing practices, and will be monitored to evaluate the impact on fish populations.

Assisted by volunteers from Pius X Landscaping and Art clubs, the Godteens group and the Lighthouse after-school program, Natalie designed, constructed and painted more than 130 wooden door signs for the residents of Ambassador Health of Lincoln.

Maria Kohel of Lincoln Huntington Neighborhood Project

Linnea Vogel of Palmer Reading Improvement Through Books

Maria focused her work on Huntington Elementary School where she landscaped the schoolyard to give the students a cheerful place to play. She then created educational folders to provide a fun way to learn and started a free library so students could share their books.

Hoping to improve the reading scores of students in a low-income neighborhood, Linnea created a children’s reading room and gathered more than 900 books.

She also organized a reading program in which mentors help younger students improve their reading skills.

Inspired? You should be! Find out how you can Go Gold at GirlScoutsNebraska.org

Michaela Lentsch of Omaha Look at Me Michaela remodeled the Lost and Found Clothing Center at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ralston. She built rolling displays and tiered shelves, sewed valances, made signs, painted a mural, provided toys for the children’s area, bought storage totes, created bulletin boards and bought accessory displays.

Honoring

Young Women of Distinction

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very year, we recognize outstanding Nebraska Girl Scouts for their extraordinary leadership. Like all Gold Award Girl Scouts, these young women took matters into their own hands, generated sustainable change in their communities and made the world a better place!

This year’s “Pat Meyer Nebraska Young Women of Distinction” was awarded to Michaela Lentsch of Omaha, and Michaela Ott and Anna Vaughn of Blair.

Michaela Lentsch, Anna Vaughn and Michaela Ott

These girls inspire us and make us proud, just as Pat Meyer did!

Pat was a lifelong Girl Scout and Girl Scout volunteer who provided unwavering support to the girls in her troops and helped many young women achieve their Gold Award. Following her death in 2014, her family honored her with a Girl Scout award and $500 college scholarship named in her memory.

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2017 Girl Scout

C Program KIE

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ach year, girls whose efforts result in cookie sales of more than 1,000 packages become members of an elite group aptly known as the 1000 Club. This year, 104 girls met the challenge and reached or exceeded that milestone, and 611 sold between 500 and 999 packages! These amazing girls just made the world a sweeter place.

Your 500 and 1000 Club

Here are the nam es of the 611 girls who sold 500-999 packag es, and the 104 gi rls who sold mor than 1000 packag e es of Girl Scout Cookies in 2017.

Thank you, tha

1000 Club

th to reach cookie boo shed! ir e th t u o d . Goal cru 3 blinge Troop 1029 making the 500 Club f their goal o

Who could resi st the darling Daisies of Troop 50531?

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Hanna Van Cleave, 5903 Ella Foshee, 4503 Kamryn Wanser, 3010 Leilani Ayala, 2938 Madeline Prieto, 2300 Bailey Fuller, 2231 Kaycee Canova, 2164 Alexandra Widga, 2041 Kallie Baxter, 2036 Celena Metcalf, 2024 Madysen Geislar, 2003 Chloe Bruce, 2000 Reagan O’keef, 1913 Robynnae Fountain, 1864 Danielle Richard, 1846 Alexis Geislar, 1803 Zoe Sivils, 1803 Danika Gentry, 1638 Abbey Steager, 1622 Maddie Dimmit, 1614 Katelyn Pischel, 1601 Nora Erickson, 1568 Josilyn Dobey, 1564 Dakota Vrbas, 1544 Kierstin Rehrs, 1526 Maggie Brandt, 1506 Amber Lundquist, 1500 Kyleigh Chambers, 1366 Kamryn Canova, 1325 Genavieve Henry, 1300 Destiny Bald, 1286 Kourtney Hawk, 1269 Kelley Lebahn, 1249 Evelyn Vanek, 1233 Samantha Hasbrouck, 1228

nk you!

(Girl Scout, packages sold) Lorelia Smith, 1222 Alexis Smith, 1219 Brynlee Mosher, 1208 Alyssa Hruska, 1205 Madison Hensley, 1202 Charlotte Vanek, 1201 Mckinley Matthews, 1201 Lila Ahlschwede, 1200 Rebecca Kucera, 1193 Abby Scherbring, 1192 Hannah Barker, 1167 Rylee Burtis, 1164 Chloe Lippstreu, 1162 Karlee Urbaschek, 1155 Olivia Burns, 1152 Samantha Ritchie, 1152 Alyssa Schwinck, 1135 Alexis Hanson, 1128 Braelyn Wilson, 1128 Carly Davis, 1123 Keilah Curtis, 1120 Kaylee Colburn, 1118 Mikaela Roger, 1114 Lillian Baloun, 1107 Annabelle Sorenson, 1104 Allyssa White, 1101 Katie Ireland, 1067 Marrissa Davey, 1064 Rayonna Hansen, 1061 Emily Drake, 1061 Brittany Hensley, 1056 Bailey Hamilton, 1052 Josephina Roger, 1048 Alexa Hartfield, 1046 Emma Elliott, 1045

Haley Dunn, 1042 Makenna Alexander, 1041 Darci Liehs, 1040 Maddie Cook, 1038 Lillian Henry, 1038 Anna Holland, 1037 Caitlyn Talkington, 1034 Reese Haberer, 1034 Ayla Brosman, 1033 Annaliese Brosman, 1033 Emily Ayers, 1031 Natalia Pazarena, 1030 Makenna Jolley, 1029 Ysela Pena, 1028 Renee Stehlik, 1026 Libby Caldwell, 1020 Madeline Birch, 1018 Jenna Fuehrer, 1015 Remi Kellen, 1014 Kimberly Evans, 1013 Baylee Greene, 1012 Laliana Rivera, 1012 Kealy Titus, 1011 Harley Pittz, 1011 Zoey Ferdinand, 1009 Summer Hammerling, 1008 Katelyn Mcgee, 1006 Ally Heuertz, 1004 Laura Stehlik, 1003 Kaitlin Arney, 1002 Bella Matzen, 1000 Aryanna Wagner, 1000 Kiara Aponte Ortiz, 1000 Samantha Wetzel, 1000 Shauna Dehning, 1000

500 Club Sadie Fick, 985 Hailey Gubbels, 963 Kendall Freeman, 960 Marissa Mittelstaedt, 956 Kaitlin Kinsey, 938 Jenessa Williams, 934 Rebecca Metzger, 929 Teagan Crossman, 929 Laura Navratil, 918 Savannah Pospisil, 917 Emily Crawford, 915 Ava Braun, 902 Mackenzie Burnett, 901 Emily Rath, 900 Lindsay Loneman, 900 Kaylee Cook, 900 Charleigh Schmid, 894 Ryleigh Mccrumb, 893 Camille Kotouc, 893 Krystal Jones, 886 Adline Shelton, 867 Melanie Deming, 864 Alexandra Moyer, 858 Jaydyn Jorgensen, 857 Daylce Sell, 841 Mercedes Deidel, 839 Lily Cammarano, 838 Bianca Geislar, 837 Jayla Deronjic-Reid, 835 Ainsley Mcgahan, 824 Keagan Mikkelson, 819 Hannah Stromer, 816 Josephine Obner, 814 Payton Collier, 812 Reba Watts, 810 Alexandria Gosch, 810 Lilli Allen, 807 Kayla Griepenstroh, 804 Sofia Bunch, 802 Anna Danahy, 802 Alexis Hillman, 801 Madelyn Reed, 800 Lizabeth Buike, 800 Justice Taylor, 800 Katheryn Rice, 800 Haylie Chapman, 800 Audrey Wilcoxson, 786 Chyna Delker, 777 Samantha Cummings, 777 Rylee Fuehrer, 776 Jenna Bondegard, 775 Izabella Fanders, 774 Rylee Craig, 771 Kaitlinn Henderson, 766 Abigail Pieper, 764 Vivian Putnam, 761 Bryanna Post, 761 Kya Mentgen, 756 Jerijeydon Tallant, 753 Kaylin Peck, 747 Nichole Korth, 745 Alyica Vrbas, 743 Payton Johnson, 743 Katie Fricke, 739 Chloe Winfield, 738 Shaylee Sockel, 736 Graysen Coleman, 735 Ava Anderson, 734 Ella Dunlap, 733 Avery Robb, 733 Lorraine O’neill, 731 Payton Mosala, 730 Addison Anderson, 730 Delainey Kaster, 730 Keeley Ress, 730 Sophia Losole, 726 Lexie Jones, 724 Nieyahna Wells, 723 Elizabeth Beauchamp, 722 Merissa Panek, 722 Gabriella Evans, 721

(Girl Scout, packages sold) Edin Halweg, 721 Emry Aldrich, 721 Janessa Kettleborough, 719 Jade Miller, 715 Natalie Burenheide, 712 Hailey Swinscoe, 711 Kate Kostal, 711 Dakota Christiansen, 710 Madison Klement, 708 Violet Christen, 708 Ellieanna Buskirk, 707 Taeylor Samuelson, 705 Morgan Riley, 705 Rachel Koch, 705 Lauren Feltner, 703 Kassidy Urich, 703 Brooklyn Aguilar, 703 Jasmyne Long, 703 Hayley Miles, 703 Olivia Ehly, 703 Raelynn Demaranville, 702 Makenzie Martin, 702 Sydney Hale, 702 Ana Bishop, 701 Caitlyn Adams, 701 Kyleigh Nielsen, 700 Camillya Wilson, 700 Josephine Tuttle, 700 Josephine Brust, 700 Skyler Laflin, 700 Amber Knerr, 700 Victoria Mannel, 700 Lillianna Hollister, 700 Anikah Lobbes, 700 Triniti Rowe, 700 Mayce Andelt, 698 Kayleigh Lown, 697 Skylar Meyer, 695 Ashley Staver, 690 Serenity Miller, 687 Malayna Mcfarling, 684 Kestrel Tatum, 683 Madison Georgiana, 682 Alaina Naranjo, 681 Rylee Kipper, 679 Annibel Zaloudek, 679 Stephanie Eller, 677 Kirstin Keffer, 675 Dakota Mccormack, 672 Brooklynn Chaple, 672 Natalie Ryan, 672 Hailey Hall, 672 Melanie Ostrander, 671 Harleigh Woodbeck, 670 Rilyn Gish, 670 Jace Thaller, 668 Kylee Bosard, 667 Corissa Madsen, 666 Megan Meints, 663 Katherine Gray, 661 Kristilee Finch, 661 Bridgette Hottell, 660 Jadyn Pokorny, 659 Arkaya Warfield, 657 Keira Riley, 655 Jaina Darrow, 654 Natalie Luhn, 651 Magan Waite, 650 Lena Rosas, 648 Addison Stewart, 648 Ava Wharton, 647 Kami Welchans, 645 Jade Cook, 643 Mallory Blecher, 642 Sarah Frear, 640 Sydni Johnson, 639 Sandra Howells, 637 Nikole Jaixen, 635 Lana Schroeder, 635 Haley Patestas, 633 Callie Shields, 629

Kyndall Fix, 629 Morgan Jones, 629 Chloe Shields, 628 Chloe Mischke, 627 Carissa Kurth, 627 Kennedy Chase, 626 Dallas Albers, 625 Riley Welch, 624 Morgan Bartek, 624 Alexys Smejkal, 624 Stephanie Cederburg, 622 Reese Lingle, 622 Cassandra Vickery, 621 Rowan Bennett, 621 Jalynn Redding, 620 Amberly Koch, 620 Rose Tuttle, 618 Leanne Gonzalez, 617 Amber-Lynn Barnes, 617 Rylei Price, 616 Lacey Powell, 616 Skyler Oberg, 615 Cashlie Corman, 614 Erika Wilkins, 614 Ashlyn Erickson, 614 Rebekah Denton, 613 Elizabeth Reiser, 613 Katie Casto, 613 Ava Pusek, 612 Addyson Monico, 611 Sarah Spahr, 610 Kristen Schellenberg, 610 Anya Schuman, 610 Zalena Hernandez, 610 Abigail Samson, 610 Alexandra Jensen, 610 Elizabeth Mcacy, 610 Zoey Sieck, 609 Karyssa Johnson, 608 Evelyne Brown, 608 Makayla Maxson, 608 Ciara Garman, 607 Reyna Bird, 607 Bailey Bessert, 606 Araya Johnson, 606 Elizabeth Bernt, 606 Elizabeth Spellman, 606 Taelynn Wunderlich, 606 Violet Labedz-Greco, 606 Kelani Glover-Shimerdla, 606 Skylar Kaspar, 605 Grace Tynan, 605 Carly Lukes, 604 Kallan Reed, 604 Serena Martinez, 604 Isabella Stroud, 603 Michaela Moore, 603 Jaedin Wilson, 603 Samantha Helling, 603 Raina Menking, 603 Kalee Rosenthal, 603 Atley Fairbanks, 603 Mya Martin, 603 Kaita Baird, 603 Abby Umana, 602 Isabelle Bare, 602 Sadie Jex, 602 Sophia Phillips, 601 Dorothy Simmons, 601 Rebecca Cox, 601 Jadyn Converse, 601 Sylvia Temple, 601 Kiara Matthews, 601 Nevaeh Jones, 600 Abigail Parker, 600 Grace Murphy, 600 Shaylee Milleson, 600 Ava Brown, 600 Hannah Stein, 600 Emily Bosworth, 600 Lilith Reichenberg, 600

Leighton Wilson, 600 Daisa Smidt, 600 Sabrina Zelfel, 600 Madelyn Schaffer, 600 Kelsey Koch, 600 Gracie Treptow, 600 Makayla Schlueter, 600 Addison Sonnie, 600 Nevaeh Byers, 600 Lexus Hewitt, 600 Alexis Miller, 600 Megan Marasco, 600 Addah Booth, 599 Halee Masek, 598 Teryn Everts, 594 Hanna Hayden, 593 Jessica Morrow, 592 Lilly Wacker-Munderloh, 592 Reese Wickham, 592 Estelle Mclaughlin, 591 Morgan Mares, 590 Bethany Mcdonald, 590 Lilly Ballard, 589 Mayla Sutherland, 588 Nevaeh Bush, 587 Adyriyanna Venezie, 586 Ava Erb, 585 Kendly Mestl, 584 Kylyn Bales, 584 Kirah Ackley, 580 Anna Berger, 579 Isabella Lester, 579 Joslyn Hammond, 575 Jaylee Hammond, 575 Elizabeth Thuernagle, 575 Alie Frazier, 574 Sydney Carpenter, 572 Vira Nelle, 571 Jamie Feit, 571 Isabella Mccormick, 571 Jordan Mcpeak, 570 Hope Shortridge, 569 Doe Carder, 569 Madilynn Mcentee, 569 Alexandria Mawhiney, 568 Xyairah Onuoha, 568 Kimberly Sieja, 567 Charlotte Gifford, 566 Sarah Wilhelm, 566 Arie Jackson, 566 Amber Rodriguez, 565 Hannah Jamison, 565 Maia Wilcox, 565 Whitnee Sigmund, 565 Adriana Alfaro, 564 Leiliana Amory-Martinez, 564 Ashlynn Humphrey, 564 Saylor Brockman, 562 Samantha Bradley, 562 Kylinn Baker, 562 Lettie Waterman, 561 Emma Jud, 561 Emmaclair Wicks, 560 Laura Campbell, 560 Patti Louthan, 558 Larissa Rockenbach, 558 Madelyn Mcgowan, 558 Emily Miller, 557 Emma Champoux, 557 Kiera Burns, 556 Emmaline Lewis, 556 Emma Goodrich, 556 Maddi Bargen, 555 Evelyn Hirko, 555 Madison Sillik, 555 Julianne Gill, 555 Elizabeth Marsh, 555 Lydia Kent, 555 Kathryn Mathiasen, 555 Emily Wallace, 555 Mia Majorins, 555 Girl Scout names continue on the next page

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500 Club continued Montana Chronister, 555 Hailee Kozakiewicz, 555 Abbigail Johnson, 555 Kristen Cochnar, 555 Olivia Barboza, 554 Caitlin Duncan, 554 Michaela Nanfito, 554 Addison Jennings, 554 Averienna Rhodes, 553 Ellie Weyhrich, 553 Hayley Long, 553 Isabella Booth, 552 Lola Ayers, 552 Athena Jackson, 552 Kara Woodworth, 552 Emma Marker, 551 Aurora Schroeder, 551 Claire Hughes, 551 Emma King, 551 Mackenzie Mumm, 551 Emily Douglas, 551 Hailey Mcdonald, 551 Aienna Harris-Goodman, 551 Alexis Walker, 551 Taryn Bellamy, 550 Beyna Taylor, 550 Jordyn Pokorny Foster, 550 Scarlett Roelfs, 550 Sophia Weyhrich, 550 Emma Mitchell, 550 Paisley Miksch, 550 Kaylee Hanson, 550 Laura Zeigler, 550 Eliese Schwinck, 550 Sami Baltzell, 550 Reese Mobley, 550 Audrey Splichal, 548 Camdyn Chamberlain, 548 Dacie Henderson, 548 Audrey Hansen, 547 Sophia Gamble, 547 Aubrey Leclair, 545 Kloie Campbell, 544 Gabriella Baker, 543 Emily Beck, 543 Raelynn Sugden, 542 Lilly Bax, 542 Audrey Fox, 541 Rileigh Epp, 541 Isabel Poe, 540 Julyssa Ruiz, 539 Clarissa Dominguez-Alvardo, 539 Zoe Davis, 538 Madelyn Wickwire, 537 Horizon Berrands, 537 Morgan Hensch, 537 Bailey Peters, 536 Morrigan Lovitt, 535 Kali Kuck, 535 Hailey Vigil, 534 Dayanera Rullo, 533 Ella Cowan, 533 Alyssa Lee, 533 Addison Snover, 532 Jordan Turner, 532 Megan Mcdonald, 531 Josslyn Morgan, 531 Kierstin Gay, 530 Savannah Walton, 530 Isabel Arch, 530 Mackenzie Wilkinson, 529 Mckenzie Godfrey, 528 Libby Evans, 528 Madison Smith, 528 Jaide Loehr, 528 Bailey Vodehnal, 527 Kadence Fisher, 527 Sarah Hargreaves, 527 Shazlyn Perkins, 526 Carreagan Endorf, 526 Brooke Scott, 526 Mckayla Shere, 526 Taytum Pokorski, 525 Dakota Fenster, 525 Natalee Nelson, 524 Esther Silva, 523

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Grace Cruise, 523 Lexxus Schroeder, 523 Kiara Jackson, 522 Shelby Hostler, 522 Reagan Moody, 522 Caleigh Mcclarnon, 522 Alexandria England, 521 Jaimie Zwiener, 520 Katrina Gutgsell, 520 Gracie Knapmiller, 520 Siera Stone, 520 Ruby Goes, 519 Aletha Bates, 519 Halle Goes, 519 Elizabeth Dennis, 518 Lydia Ziemba, 518 Emma Winder, 518 Elli Bock, 517 Evelyn Filips, 517 Grace Ricci, 516 Bree Hormandl, 516 Harley Schultz, 516 Audra Blessen, 516 Hannah Schall, 515 Olivia Grieser, 515 Riele Lewis, 515 Breanna Johnson, 515 Alexandria Erickson, 515 Amaya Mclaren, 515 Emma Eckmann, 515 Payton Johnson, 515 Cara Royal, 515 Ella Jacobs, 515 Kylie Beeken, 514 Kieley Stockton, 514 Cambry Everett, 514 Brinley Rathjen, 514 Bethany Lackey, 514 Meredith Asta, 514 Kaylie Waite, 513 Katrina Siefken, 513 Rachel Harre, 513 Jazmine Saltzgaber, 513 Aidyn Bonifas, 513 Lillianna Trevino, 513 Lexi Harral, 513 Breken Brown, 513 Karissa Hannaford, 512 Johnna Bazan, 512 Corrie Stockton, 512 Zada Hernandez, 512 Houstyn Smith, 512 Lillian Freouf, 512 Jordyn Ratzlaff, 512 Brooklyn Baxter, 511 Syllas Parker, 511 Mackenzie Miller, 511 Kyli Dorshorst, 511 Paige Stanczyk, 511 Caitlin Sindelar, 511 Minnie Banks, 510 Brin Hansen, 510 Cindy Cerveny, 510 Tiiffany Senff, 510 Erica Nickisch, 510 Bailey Eckhardt, 510 Makenea Adams, 510 Mallory Beethe, 510 Trinity Miller, 509 Cadence Thieman, 509 Addison Merfeld, 509 Lianna Santos, 509 Ella Kanne, 508 Hannah Schilz, 508 Joely Weers, 508 Andee Schoenholz, 508 Charlotte Fortun, 507 Lyra Krutak, 507 Gwendolyn Fonda, 507 Mya Simoneau, 507 Corbyn Hevi, 506 Delaney Caillier, 506 Layla Sugden, 506 Audrey Brown, 506 Joselyn Saltzman, 506 Raeven Delaney, 506

Paisley George, 506 Eden Strawn, 506 Jazzmyn Wieseler, 506 Alexa Baxter, 506 Dawnica Clanton, 506 Emily Browning, 505 Samantha Nanfito, 505 Jessica Ramos, 505 Harmony Bosiljevac, 504 Lyla Mcdonald, 504 Cutler Obermiller, 504 Cassandra Kokesh, 504 Layla Waide, 503 Skylar Hagelstein, 503 Corbett Lanum, 503 Tenley Cotarelo, 503 Jacilyne Peterson, 503 Jordyn Buss, 503 Aislyn Applegarth, 503 Grace Hodges, 503 Kassie Brabec, 503 Aurora Workman, 503 Paige Berglund, 503 Isabella Roe, 503 Zoe Bunnell, 503 Kylie Carman, 502 Jada Smith, 502 Addison Brenden, 502 Aubree Dahlgren, 502 Kaydence Dettman, 502 Celestial Anderson, 502 Addison Wolfe, 502 Zoey Martin, 501 Joselyn Korte, 501 Emili Canning, 501 Zora Schreiner, 501 Vivianne Beck, 501 Elizabeth Menke, 501 Lauren Routt, 501 Meadow Anderson, 501 Lily Hall, 501 Emma Braswell, 501 Victoria Hofmann, 501 Kailyn Schafer, 501 Emmalee Stickler, 501 Milie Monico, 501 Maggie Kindler, 501 Chloe Jorgensen, 501 Mckenzie Mcdowell, 501 Isabel Jennings, 500 Madelaine Lucas, 500 Aidyn Koenig, 500 Phoebe Skinner, 500 Holly Wilson, 500 Kylie Gaston, 500 Grace Hunzeker, 500 Rebekah Lobbes, 500 Faith Pair, 500 Savanah Palensky, 500 Ellarae Rasser, 500

Rebecca Rosno, 500 Alyvia Shultz-Ramer, 500 Adalen Ehler, 500 Riley Gabelhouse, 500 Lily Danczak, 500 Katrina Bakke, 500 Marissa Tvrdy, 500 Tierney Carman, 500 Signe Morrow, 500 Emily Brunow, 500 Athena Wendland, 500 Alita Tigeris, 500 Hailey Fuqua, 500 Madelyn Johnson, 500 Rylie Zessin, 500 Jasmine Eagan, 500 Addison Kousgaard, 500 Nakylen Boydstun, 500 Emily Lenart, 500 Cecelia Holst, 500 Izabella Wood, 500 Broklyn Auten, 500 Taylor Hanna-Miles, 500 Addison Balzer, 500 Brynnleigh Weaver, 500 Kynlee Thomas, 500 Kate Stevens, 500 Caleigh Hensel, 500 Erynn Anderson, 500 Logan Brtek, 500 Nevaeh Bryant, 500 Sophie Hamblin, 500 Morgan Johnston, 500 Daleelah Molten-Hilt, 500 Aliyha Anderson, 500 Michaela South, 500 Kailey Patzel, 500 Evelyn Blaesi, 500 Elizabeth Broders, 500 Maci Dorshorst, 500 Delilah Broders, 500 Chloe Nazarenus, 500 Sophia Inserra, 500 Ashley Libby, 500 Kennedy Bennett, 500 Camryn Orr, 500 Kendra Cox, 500 Sydney Fuqua, 500 Paige Green, 500 Miley Rivera, 500 Brooklyn Palensky, 500 Kahlan Campbell, 500 Blaire Glasshoff, 500 Anna Zander, 500 Ashton Hyatt, 500

Big Brow n equaled ie smiles plus h an sweet su ccess fo dmade thank y r Troop 0 ou cards 1985.

C kie

Confidence?

No Prob-llama for

Top Seller!

H

anna Van Cleave of Omaha crushed the 2017 Cookie Program. The state’s top Girl Scout Cookie seller at 5,903 packages, Hanna also set a record for most cookies ever sold by one girl in one season in Nebraska!

Hanna took top sales honors in 2016 as well, selling 4,502 packages. Not one to rest on her laurels, she set two goals going into this year’s Cookie Program: beat the Nebraska sales record and sell 5,500 packages. Done and done!

What’s her goal-smashing secret? Confidence! Hanna is very comfortable talking to adults, a skill she works hard to cultivate in all aspects of her life. Her bold, go-getter attitude is a definite asset when it comes to the Cookie Program.

Customers want to connect with the girls selling cookies, Hanna says, which is why she focuses on door-to-door and booth sales.

“I have fun while doing it,” Hanna told the Omaha newspaper earlier this year. “We make signs, we come up with slogans like ‘Buy a box of cookies and you get a high five.’ ” And although the top-seller recognition and incentives earned – from Cookie Dough to a laptop – are rewarding, Hanna says the best part of Girl Scouts is all the wonderful new friends she makes!

We’ve found MORE awesome ways for Girl Scouts to have fun!

Community Collaborators provide activities for troops and families looking for interesting things to do.

You choose the place, time and date that work for you!

GirlScoutsNebraska.org

Check o our neweustt

Community Collaborators

⇨ Film Streams ⇨ MedExpress Cen ters ⇨ Family Fare Supermarkets

Super Sensational Seniors

Planting a Promise

For several years, Troop 00699 has helped with the Kearney “Walk to End Alzheimer’s.”

The girls pass out and “plant” different colored pinwheel flowers along the route, representing a promise to honor, care, remember and fight for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. This year, they mentored a Junior troop to ensure this beautiful tribute continues.

Teenagers often get a bad rap, but Senior Troop 43846 is smashing stereotypes.

These girls give back regularly, whether they are making dinner for the families at the Ronald McDonald House or helping with the Family Easter Party at Marquis Place of Elkhorn. Of course, no self-respecting teen could turn down a photo opp with the Easter Bunny.

12 Acts of Kindness

‘Tis the season of giving, and that’s just what Troop 45312 did last November and December. They embarked on a great journey, completing 12 acts of kindness that included delivering baked goods to police officers and firefighters, making sack lunches for homeless people and crafting sock snowmen with the residents of a local nursing home.

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Derby Donations

Girl Scouts competing in Service Unit 204’s Springtime Derby did more than race.

Participating girls also brought children’s clothing to the event. Then Crete Troop 20215 delivered the donations to United Church of Christ’s clothes closet. Making the world a better place—that’s how Girl Scouts cross the finish line.

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Do Your Share

Troops 20724 and 20762 cleaned up trash at Holmes Lake for their Earth Day project. Battling cold and windy weather, these brave go-getters did their best to collect all the trash, even out of the water. The girls’ hearts were warmed when a passerby thanked them for cleaning up the Lincoln park!

Teaching Ronald to Recycle

Aiming to make a sustainable difference while earning their Bronze Award, Omaha Troop 41706 invested 400 hours to create a recycling program at the Omaha Ronald McDonald House, where families live when a loved one is hospitalized. Before the project, more than half the items thrown away at the house could have been recycled.

Pennies for Patients

Batty for Cookies

Wahoo Troop 50521 participated in the Nebraska chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies for Patients” program. They raised $120.41 in one month to help in the fight against blood cancers.

For raising more than $100, the girls earned a “Bronze Champions” pennant. What an amazing way to make a difference.

Baking a Better World

The Gretna Neighbor’s Food Panty became big beneficiaries of Troop 43633’s initiative. These movers and shakers hosted a bake sale and canned food drive to support the pantry, earning enough to sponsor it for a month. The girls discovered how awesome it feels to help others when they delivered the food and toured the pantry.

Caring in Kearney

For their Bronze Award, Troop 00670 took action to make the lives of residents at Kearney care homes a little easier – and more comfy! Each girl sewed at least one walker caddy and made tie lap blankets for people who use wheelchairs. These generous Juniors learned that giving back feels “sew” good!

How do you double the good you’re doing? If you’re Papillion Troop 43450, you turn cookie pallets into a bat house!

Constructing a new home for creatures facing great habitat loss (and that eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour!) by reusing materials that would likely end up in the landfill—that’s taking the lead like a Girl Scout.

Around the World in a Day

Hebron Girl Scouts completely embraced World Thinking Day, March 17, “traveling” to 21 countries to learn about different cultures. Troop 20908 also celebrated Girl Scouts’ 105th birthday with cupcakes, games, silly songs and a special guest, a guinea pig named “Bugsy.” We can’t wait to see what great adventure these girls take on next year.

Tackling Trash

The Daisies of Morton Elementary loved teaming up with Keep Omaha Beautiful to clean up West Papio Trail and Woodhaven Park. They took great pride in “getting so much trash” and delighted in discovering lots of cute critters, including ducks, squirrels and even a raccoon!

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washington DC

Madalynn and her mom, Natalie, created lifelong memories on a council-sponsored trip to Washington DC.

Madalynn

A First of Many

tures advenCome! to

DAY 1

by : Madalynn H anna Girl Scout Junio r

Washington DC is HUGE!! There is so much to do and see. John, the tour guide who met us at the airport, had lots of energy, which rubbed off onto hursday, June 8, 2017, will go down as a day of us as we were tired from getting up so early. Our first stop firsts for both my mom and me. Let’s back up a was the Newseum. We got to see actual evidence from crime little and start from the beginning. scenes, pieces of the Berlin Wall, and learned what it means We left Kearney on Wednesday evening and drove to if there are two flags flying on top of the Capitol Building. One Omaha. We stayed the night in an amazing hotel. We of the staff told us that there is always one flag flying, but that had to wake up SUPER EARLY to be at the airport at if there are two, that means that court is in session. After the 3:45 a.m. Naturally, my mom didn’t want us to be late, Newseum, we ventured by foot to the National Museum of so we arrived SUPER early. There weren’t many people Natural History. This is up at 3:00 a.m., but once everyone started to arrive, where the movie “Night time moved a little faster. We made it through security at the Museum” takes with no problems. We learned you have to be super place!! After dinner, we organized and know where all your electronics and drove to The Marine snacks are because they move you through very Corps War Memorial. quickly. Little did we realize, this would be our first of This is where the Iwo what seemed like a million different security checks Jima statue is. Then, we while on our journey of firsts. After boarding the plane, went to the Air Force we picked our seats. We sat by the windows so we could Memorial, which you see out at the world around us. See the thing is, neither can see from miles of us has ever flown, EVER! We were pretty nervous, but around and we walked had done enough research and talked to enough people around the Pentagon Newseum and it helped to calm our nerves. Before we knew it, we 9/11 Memorial. This were landing in Chicago for a pit stop. Time really does was a very touching fly!! Within another hour, we found ourselves at final and emotional memorial. Finally, it was getting late and we destination: Washington DC!! were tired!! We arrived at our hotel and slept like babies.

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DAY 2 Day two started at Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington. We enjoyed learning all about the first president of the United States of America.

We then traveled back to the National Mall. We got to take a personal tour of the Capitol and the Library of Congress. There were soooo many books in the Library of Congress. After dinner, we walked around the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, and ended the night at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The chandeliers at the Kennedy Center were absolutely beautiful!!

US Capitol

DAY 3

Day three; our first stop, the White House. We were really surprised at how small it actually looked from the outside. It was stunning though! Next, we walked to see the Juliette Gordon Low Medallion. Our next stop was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. After viewing “Remember the Children; Daniel’s Story,” we chose to go to the National Air and Space Museum and see the Wright Brothers original plane. We also visited the Natural Museum of American History. The original American Flag was super big and breathtaking. We ended the evening by visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the National World War II Memorial.

Mount Vernon

l FDR Memoria

DAY 4

Day four and our final day! We started at Arlington National Cemetery.

It started to get super hot and we felt like we were melting until we all gathered for the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We were dripping with sweat and tears and the tiredness from walking soon seemed to diminish our thoughts as we reflected on this important time. After our walking tour, we had a yummy lunch at King Street Blues and then had a little extra time to shop!

We went to a huge mall!! Remember, we are from Kearney and our tiny mall has only one story; we took advantage of the multiple levels and rode the escalators a few times just because we could. After our quick shopping excursion, we were dropped back off at the airport for our flight back to Omaha. What an exciting four days!

We loaded the plane, physically and mentally exhausted but thankful for a weekend of firsts together and an experience that will last a lifetime. We made over a dozen new friends and memories that we will cherish forever. If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Washington DC with Girl Scouts, DO IT!! We promise, you won’t regret it!!

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Medall on Low d r o G Juliette

ion

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These compassionate Cadettes created and delivered 63 BRAVE BAGS to the Omaha Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

Cha

rlie

Buddies and Bags Bring

O

by : Charlie Anderson Girl Scout Cadette

Silver

know each other better. I have seen students unite who wouldn’t have otherwise. I think it helped because most kids at our school sit at the same table every day and that can make it hard to meet new people.

ur troop (42425) had a difficult time choosing an idea for our Silver Award Project. We knew we wanted something to do with bringing kids in our schools closer together. We also knew we wanted to help children outside of the school community.

After much thought and research, we decided on starting tables at our schools that provided a place for students who didn’t know where to sit to enjoy their lunch and make new friends. We decided to call this the LUNCH BUDDY table. Each of us attends a different middle school. I am a 7th grader at Liberty Middle School in Papillion. I started the LUNCH BUDDY table at Liberty on March 21. It was a huge success and the table has been full every day. At the table, there are some “icebreakers” so the students can get to

The other portion of our Silver Award Project was Chemo Care Bags for children at Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

We each conducted a drive to collect the items at our schools. To do this, we made posters and daily announcements and set up a collection bin. Liberty Middle School students brought in some donations.

Teachers also helped to donate. We came together to assemble our BRAVE BAGS. In each bag, there were self-care packs with items such as hand sanitizers, lotions, latex-free Band-Aids, etc. There were also hard candies, a few small toys, books and activities, a notebook to take doctor’s notes; and for younger children, stuffed animals.

Overall, I think this project helped many people feel comfortable at school and in hospitals. It felt so good to bring projects like this to the public.

Troop 42425 created a blog – bravebags.blogspot.com – to share their expertise with troops doing similar projects.

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d iscovering treasures at Hidden Oaks

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maha Troop 45325 discovered that the Small Town, Big Adventure slogan boasted by Valentine, couldn’t be more true.

With our treasured Hidden Oaks Cabin as home base, there was no stopping these movers and shakers from embracing the outdoors during a fantastic weekend escape.

Nothing strengthens the bonds of friendship like a troop camping trip.

They hiked the Cowboy Trail, explored animal habitats in a wildlife refuge, stargazed in a city park, splashed in the chilly waters of Smith Falls and tackled tubing on the Niobrara River.

There was even time for tie-dying and visiting the oldest (and allegedly haunted) high school building in the state.

We can’t wait to see what big adventure these go-getters tackle next!

Planning a troop trip or weekend retreat? Hidden Oaks Cabin, a charming lodge nestled in the Valentine City Park, can be reserved from mid-March through October. Get the details in the Camps section of our website.

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ra’s

d Alexan

2,041

GOAL!

2,000 by : Alexandra W idga Girl Scout Junior

M

COOKIE GOALS

y name is Alexandra Widga, my friends and family call me Alex. I am from Grand Island, and I am just returning to Girl Scouts after 2 years. I belong to Troop 168! My goal was to sell 2,000 boxes because I wanted to sell more than my previous goal of 1,000 boxes in first grade.

I was able to achieve my goal by door-to-door sales with my mom and dad, setting up a cookie booth in front of my house, and I went to every cookie booth my troop did, and sold to my dad’s co-workers and friends. I even sold to my teacher and principal.

I made sure I wore my Girl Scout uniform, had my hair fixed, wore a smile, and greeted people when they came up. I was knowledgeable about every cookie, so if they had any questions I could answer them. I made sure that I had enough cookies out on my table, and that they were neatly organized. I made change on my own without help from my mom or dad. I made bright, eyecatching signs that said, “Girl Scout cookies sold here!”

I want to use my Cookie Dough at Juliette’s Boutique and to attend summer camps. For my points, I want to use it on a Fitbit Alta and a family membership to the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Cookies Are Even

S’more

Amazing When They

G

Help Others

irl Scout Brownie Troop 41348 was all smiles after a tour of Project Harmony. The girls raised $168 during their cookie booth sales by encouraging customers to donate change and asking people who didn’t buy cookies to donate to Project Harmony, which works to end child abuse and neglect.

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S’more a

Bling!

ll the work that Cadette Troop 45483 put into their s’more-theme cookie booth paid off big time when they were randomly chosen as the Nebraska winner of the Girl Scouts of the USA 2017 Cookie Troop 100 Challenge.

The honor came with $100 for the troop to use on their Take Action or service projects and a special shout out on the national Girl Scout Blog. Way to go G.I.R.L.s!

Troop 45483 earned s’more recognition in the national Cookie Troop 100 Challenge.

What Can We Say

Except You’re Welcome!

Say cheese! Brownie Troop 41358 found a creative way to thank their customers for supporting them during the Girl Scout Cookie Program this year.

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Giving the Gift of

CO KIES The world gets a little sweeter when Girl Scouts spread the joy of cookies.

Every year, troops across the state participate in Gift of Sharing. They deliver Girl Scout Cookies and smiles to brighten the lives of others. That’s how you take the lead like a Girl Scout!

Kearney Troops 00854 and 00888 delivered 242 packages of cookies to the Grand Island Veterans’ Home and played some rousing games of Bingo with the veterans.

Omaha’s Heartland Hope Mission always looks forward to its annual visit from Troop 45056! This year, the young entrepreneurs donated cookies and the $115 they received as cookie booth tips to the pantry.

The inpatient surgery unit at Boys Town National Research Hospital benefited from the hard work of Troop 45325. After delivering 401 packages of Gift of Sharing cookies, the girls enjoyed a special, behind-the-scenes tour of the operating room and recovery area.

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When Troop 45396 wanted to send cookies to service people overseas, a Bellevue leader, who is retired military, arranged for free shipping on a cargo plane out of Offutt Air Force Base. The girls sold 244 Gift of Sharing packages, purchased other fun supplies – from toothpaste to candy – and created 45 amazing treat boxes that took two hours to assemble. Troop 43389 chipped in four more post office boxes full of cookies. What an amazing way to encourage our troops!

Military troops serving in the Middle East were all smiles after receiving packages from the Girl Scout troops in Wilber.

The girls shipped cookies to the soldiers overseas, along with encouraging letters thanking them for their service!

Isabel Vela received her Building America patch after completing UP’s “Girls of Steel” program.

Girls S EEL of

W

Earn Railroad Patch

hile many students spent the first days of summer at the pool, 19 Omaha Girl Scouts went to work at Union Pacific. The one-day event was hosted

by UP and incorporated our “Build Your Future: Full STEAM Ahead” theme.

“We see trains all the time, but until today, the girls didn’t understand the complexity of the operations,” said Girl Scouts Program Specialist Anna Nelson.

“It was also a chance for them to explore career opportunities from information technology to engineering and see firsthand what it’s like to work for the railroad.”

The girls began the day at UP headquarters, coding emojis, animating their names and building miniature bridges. After lunch, they toured the dispatch center, The Durham Museum and a Council Bluffs train yard.

“I was surprised safety is so important, even more than at school where we talk about tornado drills and stranger danger,” said Girl Scout Junior Peyton Johnson.

The girls asked tons of questions – everything from how many one-gallon buckets of ice cream fit into a refrigerated train car to why there is more than one locomotive on a train. They also were curious about the future of the railroad industry.

The train yard visit was a highlight!

“I thought trains just carried wood and oil, but I learned they carry people and food, too,” said Girl Scout Junior Abby Barry. “It’s also kind of cool that people in different jobs help each other.”

Clear the tracks! These “Girls of Steel” are going places…maybe even by train.

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My Firstas Day a Girl Scout by : Lucy D’Agosto (with help from mom) Girl Scout Daisy

A thrilling meet and greet with Beauty and the Beast!

I

have wanted to be a Girl Scout my whole entire life, (I am five and a half, after all). I have watched my two older sisters do lots of fun things with Girl Scouts and have always heard, “You’ll get to do that when you are a Girl Scout.” Finally, it was my turn to become a Daisy.

My mom, sister Josie, and our friend Elise and I went to Girl Scout Day at Beauty and the Beast the Disney Musical. I was so excited to get the special backstage tour. We went on the actual stage, and saw where all the props and costumes were made. When I asked to use the bathroom, we even went past the dressing rooms and ran into BELLE! We went to our seats early, and I was so glad we did because two of the characters came out on stage and had us stand, act and sing. When the show began, I was so happy, I finally got to see the BEAST! He was so cute and fluffy! At intermission, I ran into other St. Pat’s friends, and made a new friend in the row ahead of us when she overheard me asking for a snack. She was such

Lucy

A special Girl Scout tour included autographs from Mrs. Potts and a chance to go on stage.

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a nice Girl Scout and gave me some of her fruit snacks.

My mom said, “Thank you for being a sister to every Girl Scout.” I told her thank you, too.

The second part of the show was just as great. I didn’t want it to end! But when it did we got to meet all the characters, Belle, the Beast and even Mrs. Potts! To my surprise my mom knew the Beast! He even gave her a hug. I felt like a princess, WE KNOW THE BEAST!! They all signed my autograph paper and took photos with us.

My first day of Girl Scouts was the best day of my life.

I can’t wait to go to my next play!

Makeover

Makes Way to

Maha’s

Marie

W

hen you drive through the gates and past the Trading Post at Camp Maha, look right and you will see the historic Marie Cabin. Marie Cabin and “sister structure” Lois Lodge were generously donated to the council by Kiewit Construction Company in the 1940s.

The cabin was named in 1975 as a tribute to Marie Dinkel, a longtime Girl Scout volunteer, and has been greeting campers, leaders and staff for more than 70 years.

We are thrilled to announce that our now modest Marie Cabin has begun a transformation, and, when completed, will re-open as the TLC Welcome Center! Cabin renovations will include a cheery check-in area, modern office space and, to continue Marie Dinkel’s legacy, the Marie Museum—a rotating repository showcasing our anthology of Girl Scout artifacts.

Marie Dinkel’s daughter Elise (left) and granddaughter Sandy recently returned to Camp Maha after many years.

Marie’s daughter Elise and granddaughter Sandy returned to Maha this past spring to visit the cabin and reminisce about the influence Girl Scouts has had on their lives. Marie, was a leader for both her daughters’ troops in the 1940s, and her devotion and love of Girl Scouting was passed on through three generations. Elise led her daughter Sandy’s troop, and Sandy continued the tradition as she led her daughters’ troops in the 1990s. This is a family that believes in the power of Girl Scouts!

We will keep you posted on the progress at the TLC Welcome Center and look forward to sharing our wonderful museum collection. For more information, please contact Wendy Hamilton, whamilton@girlscoutsnebraska.org or 402.779.8230.

The TLC Welcome Center will be named in honor of Tyler Lin Cherrington. Tyler not only adored Camp Maha, but she truly embodied the Girl Scout spirit.

Architectural rendering of the interior floor plan.

The transformation of Marie Cabin, 70 years in the making, will create the TLC Welcome Center at Camp Maha.

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o

& t about

Bouncing Baby Girl The first baby girl born on March 12, National Girl Scout Day, got a wonderful surprise from Lincoln Troop 20712. The girls prepared a baby basket, along with a lovely note encouraging the lucky little girl to join Girl Scouts when she goes to kindergarten, and presented it to the maternity unit at Bryan Health East Campus.

Great Girl Scout Adventure Hastings Brownie Naomi Brooks sent us super cute photos and the story of her family’s trip to Disneyland. “We got to see the Christmas parade, electric light parade and the fireworks that went along with Disney songs and a video. When they played ‘Let It Go’ there was fake snow (because it doesn’t really snow in California where Disneyland is)!”

Flower Power Columbus Juniors grew their gardening skills and earned their Flower Badge at Blossom Floral this spring. The girls were buzzing with excitement as they learned about bees, created beautiful bouquets and found out how to care for flowers.

Bridging to Brownies Life in the Fast Lane Each year, Service Unit 201 revs its engines and hosts a Pinewood Derby.

It’s a whole lot of work and even more fun. This year, Harley Schultz was on a roll, winning Best of Show. But all the go-getters who competed were winners in our eyes.

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Shoring Up Friendships Kearney Troop 00610 dove into a sunny afternoon of kayaking at Kearney’s Cottonmill Lake. Embracing the slogan on their T-shirts, With Brave Wings She Flies, the girls tapped into their competitive spirit for some wild water relay races.

Daisy days were delightful, but Brownie adventures will be even better. It was a petal explosion at the Hastings Troop 00012 graduation ceremony. These amazing Daisies put down strong roots and are ready to grow to the next level, with great big Brownie smiles on their faces!

Daisies on Parade From poodle skirts to hippie gear, the Girl Scouts of Troop 00887 were “Groovin’ Through the Decades” as they marched in the University of Nebraska at Kearney homecoming parade. These energetic Daisies were bursting with pride as they showed the world what it means to lead like a Girl Scout.

Beautiful Day for Bridging

True Colors

After all the petals were earned and the Daisy skills mastered, Troop 41757 was ready to bridge up to Brownies in tremendous style. They celebrated with live daisies and bunches of balloons, as they journeyed across a real bridge to begin their Brownie adventures.

The Laurel Cadettes know how to make running fun. More than 170 Girl Scouts and family members turned out for a fabulous 5K Color Run hosted by Troop 50340. While completing the course took hard work and endurance, getting splashed by colored chalk at stations along the course made participants rainbow beautiful when they hit the finish line.

Celebrating Girl Scout Sunday Dressed in their Sunday best – and freshly pressed uniforms – Lincoln Troops 20331, 20631 and 20787 shared Girl Scout Sunday with their North American Martyrs family. Being part of the Mass was richly rewarding! The girls not only volunteered, but also gained confidence while doing so.

Go Big Red Girl Scout Green gave way to scarlet and cream during the spring Husker Pride Tour. Girl Scouts, troop leaders and moms went behind-the-scenes at Memorial Stadium, toured the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus with Kappa Delta sorority members and chowed down in a UNL dining hall. Giving girls a glimpse of college life was a real touchdown!

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Put Me In, Coach

Perfecting Poise From Gold Award Girl Scout to Miss Nebraska, Allison Tietjen is an inspiration. She shared her story with Troop 84026 earlier this year, when she was Miss Heartland, encouraging them to overcome obstacles, face challenges, pursue their passions and use those passions to help others.

Strike a Pose Earning their Staying Fit badge was an exercise in Zen for the Girl Scouts of Hartman Elementary. Yoga instructor Kwin Kunkle put Troop 84524 through poses and coached them on being present. Breathe in, breathe out. Namaste!

Imagine the sweet sound of girls’ voices singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during Girl Scout Night with the Omaha Storm Chasers! Brownie Troop 41358 – and a whole lot of other troops – spent the night camping in Werner Park’s outfield, watching a movie on the big screen and being dazzled by a marvelous fireworks display.

by: Avery Cooper, Madison Ensign, Brynlee Hansen, Emerson High, Shae Ozols, Joelle Peatrowsky, Katie Rice, Gracie Roads & Kara Turner Girl Scout Brownies

PAW sitiovmeelyPets!

L

Awes

ast fall as we began our Brownie Quest Journey, our troop talked about things that were important to us and ways we could help our community. We all decided that we wanted to help innocent animals. We decided to make pet beds and toys for the cats and dogs at the Nebraska Humane Society, but we needed money to buy supplies. We worked hard to organize a pet walk fundraiser and raised $80.

paper tubes, socks, catnip Troop 42416 lo and jingle bells left over from ved comfortin g the animals. our holiday party to make cat toys.

When we delivered our donations to the humane society, we were given a tour and learned about many kinds of animals. The highlight of the day was being able to read to the dogs. Besides doing something We used the money to buy blanket material, stuffing, socks for the animals, the best part of our visit was hearing and catnip. Over the winter, we made dog beds by tying over the loudspeaker that several of the dogs we read two blankets together and stuffing it. We also recycled old to earlier in the day had been adopted. As one troop jeans, cut them into strips and members said, “I love animals so much and I hope braided them for dog toys. We they all have a great owner one day!” We all feel the used empty toilet same way!

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Posing for a quick pic in front of the picturesque Columbia River and Portland skyline.

by : Sadie Fick, Bekah Feddersen and Shauna Brown Girl Scout Ambassadors

KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD L ast summer, five of us from Troop 00699 (Alaynna, Ash, Bekah, Sadie, and Shauna) and three of our adult leaders went to Portland, Oregon. Going to Portland was the final step in earning our senior travel badge. For the first steps we each chose a destination and researched it, then we voted on our final destination. After choosing, we looked at how expensive it would be to fly rather than drive, and compared pricing for lodging, food, attractions, and public transportation. Once we figured out our budget, we decided that having more time in Portland was worth the extra expense of flying. In order to afford the trip, we fundraised by sacking groceries, running a concession stand at a local ball park, and selling cookies.

While in Portland we visited OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), Portland Zoo, the Japanese Garden, Rose Test Garden, and Forest Park. The walk through Forest Park to the Witches Castle included several photo moments and seeing some great slugs. We also saw a Shakespeare play outdoors at a local vineyard. The Portland Underground Walking Tour was a favorite activity. The tour guide (whom we learned was originally from our hometown of Kearney) told us many lively stories of the shadier side of Portland’s history. The top highlight for everyone was Powell’s Books, a bookstore five stories tall and as large as a city block. It was book heaven! We also enjoyed the local food (like

Voodoo Donuts) and specialty shops (a vintage record shop, for one). We found getting around Portland easy except for finding the bus stop when we left Forest Park.

We turned left instead of right and had an unexpected journey through a beautiful neighborhood (all uphill, of course). Thank goodness for Google Maps.

By traveling together, we also bonded. At the end of every day, we’d spend an hour playing cards and talking. The trip wasn’t only fun, we learned a lot about planning for a trip, fundraising and budgeting. While on the trip, we also gained experience with airports, public transport, and improvising (e.g. finding random restaurants when it’s time to eat).

Portland is packed with cool things to discover, especially at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

The girls found traveling together to be an excellent bonding experience.

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Cowgirl Cashes Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough made horse camp dreams come true for Jackie.

A

fter a lot of hard work, Jackie Stahnke decided she would “cowgirl up” by paying her way to Beginner Horse Camp with her Cookie Dough!

She saddled up at Dusty Trails in North Platte, which is just a stone’s throw from Lakeview Cabin. From running her own cookie business, to learning about horsemanship, this Girl Scout told us she had an “awesome experience!”

Learning to take the reins before saddling up for a riding lesson.

Shop at e u q i t u o B ’s e t t Julie We have

G.I.R.L. gear for your

G.I.R.L. 28

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Shop online 24/7 at GirlScoutShop.com

These Are the

R botics Badges T

Find all the NEW badges and Journeys in the Volunteer Toolk it!

You Are Looking For!

his summer, Girl Scouts of the USA introduced ground-breaking Journeys and badges focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and the outdoors to help girls empower themselves as they accomplish amazing things.

One of the new opportunities allows Girl Scouts to create robots! With the revolutionary Robotics Badges, girls first learn about robots, then discover how they are built and programmed. Finally, they work as a team to design their own robots, and older girls share their accomplishments with experts!

There is a set of three progressive badges for each Girl Scout level (Daisies through Juniors), and the requirements are available in the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK). Badge sets can also be purchased at Juliette’s Boutiques and in the online store.

All the new national programming builds girls’ skills and encourages their interest in STEM and the outdoors from an early age—areas girls are not typically encouraged to explore outside Girl Scouting. Just another reason why Girl Scouts is the BEST leadership organization for girls!

NEW

What Robots Do Badge

How Robots Move Badge

Design a Robot Badge

NEW

Programming Robots Badge

Designing Robots Badge

Showcasing Robots Badge

NEW

Programming Robots Badge

Designing Robots Badge

Showcasing Robots Badge

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2121 S 44TH STREET OMAHA NE 68105

THERE IS POWER IN EVERY

G.I.R.L.

Find yours in Girl Scouts.

Join now at GirlScoutsNebraska.org.