Girl Scouts Heart of Central California

Girl Scouts 100th: Celebrating Green Forever

2011-10-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Registration is open now!
Join us as we celebrate a century of Girl Scouting! All Girl Scouts and their families are invited at attend Girl Scouts 100th: Celebrating Green Forever! Enjoy fun, hands-on activities, stage performances, and exhibits that showcase how Girl Scouts care about the earth and their communities.

Don't miss this historic event:
Saturday, April 28, 2012
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cal Expo, Sacramento
Tickets are $23 per person

If you know anyone interested in being an exhibitor at this event, please send their contact information to 100@girlscoutshcc.org. We would like representation from all 18 counties within our jurisdiction.

Event tip: This is a great way to spend the money your troop earned during the Magazine & Nut Program and Girl Scout Cookie program.

Need more information?
Talk to your service Unit Liaison or contact 100@girlscoutshcc.org

Register Now

A Symbol of Friendship

2011-08-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Girl Scout Sign is an important part of Girl Scout meetings and ceremonies, but do you know where it comes from? It all started with the days of chivalry, when armed knights greeted friendly knights by raising their right hand, palm open, as a sign of friendship. We raise our right hand palm open to symbolize friendship, but we raise only three fingers, which represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. This unique sign and pledge unites all Girl Scouts across the globe! So the next time you show the sign think of all the women before you, and all the girls to come who will be a part of the friendship, and learning and fun that is Girl Scouts.

High Adventure

2011-08-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

The High Adventure Girl Scouts went backpacking this summer in Tahoe National Forest! On the trip they learned map and compass skills by navigating their way through the forest. They honed their outdoor cooking skills, by cooking over an open fire.

They practiced “Leave No Trace” by camping on hard rock surfaces and making a game of walking on rocks instead of delicate vegetation and also chose not to have a campfire where one would have been a strain on natural resources.

They said the snowy hike to the campsite was a surprise in late July, but a pleasant and beautiful experience. They had a great time and came to a deeper appreciation for nature and the environment. You can join them!

If you have more question on how to join the High Adventure Club, contact the HiAd girls and their advisers at highadventuregirlscouts@yahoo.com.

Weekend of Workshops

2011-07-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

WOW: Weekend of Workshops:

Girl Scout adults have an upcoming opportunity for a weekend of fun! From Friday, November 11 to Sunday November 13, adults will getaway to Fleming Lodge for a weekend of fun workshops. Some workshops will provide new ideas for working with girls, and others will be connected to the theme of helping others.

Flemming has a great atmosphere and the workshops will prove to be fun and relaxing. WOW may just be the getaway you've been needing.

Registration information will be available in August.

For more information click here...

Make Camp Part of Your Girl Scout's Summer Plans!

2011-06-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

Itʼs already that time of year again. Does your Girl Scout need something to do this summer? We have lots of options for day and overnight camps. Theyʼre great opportunities for girls to meet new friends, learn about different topics, and possibly even earn a new badge.

Camp Menzies is our overnight camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with sessions ranging from 4-8 days. Thereʼs something for everyone entering grades 2-12, with themes ranging from outdoor activities and sports to jewelry making and art. Girl Scouts can learn survival skills, explore San Francisco or Tahoe, or help build a cabin. Click here to see all the sessions and register now. Questions about camp? We have lots of info on our Web site, from ﬁnancial aid to preparing for camp. Check it out!

There are also 2 short-term residence camps where Girl Scouts camp at an established
site:

Camp Golden Timbers in Tuolumne County (July 25-28)
Yosemite Camp of Service in Yosemite National Park (August 4-7)

Or if you want a shorter commitment closer to home, there are many day camps all the way from Marysville to Merced:

Click here to ﬁnd out more about the themes, locations and dates for all 19 day camps. Your daughter can even bring a friend - girls who arenʼt in Girl Scouts can attend, they just need to pay an additional $12 membership fee.

We also need adults to volunteer at day camps and work at Camp Menzies if you have free time this summer.

What is your Girl Scout planning to do over summer break? Leave a comment on this post and let us know!

Girl Scout tornado Relief Efforts

2011-05-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

We're sure you have been following the headlines regarding tornado-related losses of life and property most recently in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi and in many parts of the Midwest. The losses have been catastrophic, the worst tornado season in more than 90 years. While it appears that council offices and camps have survived with limited damage - we know that many Girl Scout families are experiencing devastating loss.

Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama had significant damage in 31 of their 37 counties. Their council's CEO, Trish Coghlan, reports that countless members of the extended Girl Scout family have suffered significant loss. They will not know the full impact until power and communication lines are restored throughout their jurisdiction.

How to Help Those Affected
Many Girl Scouts around the country want to know how they can help. We encourage those who would like to donate money or collect funds to do so with respected national charities that focus on disaster relief including the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. You can also visit the North-Central Alabama Web site at girlscoutsnca.org for more details.

At times like these, Girl Scouts come together in sisterhood to help those in need. We have seen our Movement rally in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters over the years, and will continue to do everything we can to help our communities in the weeks and months ahead.

In closing we want to express our gratitude to the staff and volunteers who continue to serve girls in the affected regions. You are truly living the Promise and Law.

The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Donors may text "GIVE" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Checks may be made out to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta , GA 30384-0339.

The Red Cross
The Capital Region Chapter is our local Red Cross and they are located at 1565 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento, CA 95815. They are taking monetary donations. You can bring the donations into the office, mail donations ATTN Tornado Relief, make a donation online at www.redcrosscrc.org or text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make $10 donation.

Handmade Ornaments Needed for U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree!

2011-04-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

California has been asked to provide Washington, D.C.'s 2011 Christmas tree, which will be displayed in front of the U.S. Capitol building throughout the Christmas season. The tree, a gift to the nation from California's Stanislaus National Forest, will symbolize the theme: "California Shines." Californians are being asked to provide all 7,000 handmade ornaments that will adorn the main tree and approximately 100 smaller trees. The ornaments should showcase the theme "California Shines" by showing all that is special about California's history, culture and natural beauty. All state residents are invited to make ornaments for the trees, and GSHCC would love for local Girl Scouts to make their mark on this special project. Two types of ornaments are needed: 1. Five thousand ornaments for the large, outdoor tree 2. Two thousand ornaments for the smaller, indoor "companion" trees Please visit http://www.capitolchristmastree2011.org for ornament criteria and other information. Ornaments will be collected by the Stanislaus National Forest and need to be sent in no later than June 30, 2011. They should be shipped to: Mi-Wuk Ranger District Stanislaus National Forest Attn: Capitol Christmas Tree Ornaments P.O. Box 100 24695 Highway 108 Mi-Wuk Village, CA 95346 If you have any questions about this opportunity to let California shine in front of the rest of the nation, please leave a message for the Capitol Christmas Tree Committee at 209-586-3234, ext. 602.

Girl Scout Volunteers are Appreciated

2011-03-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

April is the month to celebrate Girl Scout volunteers and Girl Scout Leaders. April 10 - 16 is National Volunteer Appreciation Week and following that, April 22 is Girl Scout Leader's Day. Troops often give thank you cards to their troop leaders, draw them a picture or get them something from the Girl Scout Shop to show appreciation for all the hard work they do. There are several items in the shop that would make perfect gifts for leaders. Here are some ideas: 1. A Girl Scout charm bracelet with a GS volunteer charm or a Girl Scouts 100th anniversary charm. Click here to see this item... 2. A new canvas tote bag, which could be really handy for Girl Scout paperwork or for taking on troop trips. Click here to see this item... 3. A Precious Moments Girl Scout Volunteer Figurine. Click here to see this item... Thank you Troop Leaders and all Girl Scout volunteers for volunteering your time. With our volunteers like you Girl Scouts could not run successful Girl Scout program that builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

C.S.I.

2011-02-28T08:05:00.001-08:00

Have you heard of C.S.I.?

It's not what you think it might be...

C.S.I. stands for Cookie Site-sale Investigators.

The C.S.I. crew is made up of Girl Scouts who volunteer to help other or sister Girl Scouts with site sales. They will be looking for site sales throughout the council every weekend until March 20. If your Girl Scout troop has an excellent site sale, the girls will receive C.S.I. t-shirts and stickers.

C.S.I. will also try to help girls learn and practice the five skills:

1. Goal Setting

2. Decision Making

3. Money Management

4. People Skills

5. Business Ethics

One important message we have for parents and troop leaders is that the Girl Scout Cookie program is not only for girls to earn money for their troop but to also build life skills that will help them in the future. Site sales will be marked down if parents are selling cookies, talking to customers or answering questions for their girls. It's OK to help the girls, but it is not OK to do it for them.

If you want to help your girls prepare for site sales and C.S.I., here are some tools:

Click here to watch the C.S.I. video

Click here for a Pocket Guide

Click here for cookie video tips

Click here for a description of an excellent site sale

They're Back!

2011-01-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

Girl Scouts from all around the council are kicking off the 2011 Girl Scout Cookie Season.

Holding a cookie rally is a great way to get everyone in your service unit together to make posters for site sales, set troop goals, learn about the new cookie the Shout Out and the new packaging for the Thanks-A-Lots.

Cookie rallies are also great for new cookie moms or new troop leaders.

Check out these photos from a cookie rally in Woodland.

The Count Down Begins!

2010-12-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? December is just flying by. Excitement builds as each day passes with the anticipation of holiday festivities. In particular, the Girl Scout Shop's Annual Holiday Celebration! Saturday December 18th will be a day of pure delight when Mrs. Clause breaks from her busy schedule to visit the Girl Scout Shop. She will be visiting and taking picutes from 10am-4pm. Be sure to tell her any messages you want Santa to get! Bring a canned food donation for our local food banks and get your picture taken for FREE! Helpful elves will also be here to assist in all the fun. Don't forget, we will have the brand new journey books- IT'S YOUR STORY-TELL IT! There will be all kinds of fun activities that compliment these amazing books.

While you're here don't forget to take advantage of all the great one-time-only specials we will be offering...

-Spend $50.00 or more and get a FREE STUFFED BEAR dressed in a cute sweatshirt

-15% OFF any Long Sleeve fashion item

-20% OFF all Holiday Ornaments

*Don't forget to stock up on stocking stuffers too. We carry Groovy Girl Dolls, Karito Kids Dolls,

Webkins, and a variety of fun toys and games.

*If you're making the trip anyway, plan ahead for World Thinking Day 2011 and Cookie Sales.

Come share your passion for Girl Scouts and embrace the spirit of giving! See you there!

Fun at the Girl Scout Shop

2010-11-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of all of the exciting things going on at the Girl Scout Shop? Where do I even begin? There all all kinds of great new items and a spectacular holiday window display to come check out. Oh, and do I ever have the insider tip for you! Come by the shop on Saturday December 18th for the Grand Premiere of the third Leadership Journeys, "It's your story-Tell it." Join in on all the fun activities and be one of the first to get a taste of these thrilling new Journeys. And did I mention Mrs. Clause will be here? Have your photo taken with Mrs. Clause and shop for all of your holiday gifts too. Enjoy the Card Making Station where you'll get a chance to share your favorite holiday story or memory. Cards will be collected and donated to a local Senior Center where they will surely spread some holiday cheer! Rumor has it that sometime in the afternoon, there will even be a special guest appearance by our Council's own mini-horse, Nettie! You simply can't miss this event so mark your calendars now! Come join in on all the fun and excitement. Can't wait to see you there!

-Velina from the Shop

Want to be on TV? Volunteer at the KVIE 2010 Membership Pledge Drive!

2010-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

Do you want to be on TV? Do you like showing your Girl Scout pride? November 27th- December 12th, KVIE Public Television is offering a unique opportunity for Girl Scouts to perform community service, receive important television exposure and help public television continue its mission of educating, enriching, and enlightening diverse audiences in the Central Valley Region.

We need energetic Girl Scouts to volunteer their time to help answer phones at the 2010 Membership Pledge Drive. By volunteering your time, you will help KVIE raise funds which are necessary to support the mission of Public Television and also have the opportunity for Girl Scouts to be identified on TV.

Don’t miss this…

Available Phone Bank Shifts:

November 27^th- December 12^th

Mon-Fri

7:15pm-11pm

Sat & Sun

8:30am-12pm (Sat only)

11:15am-4pm

3:15pm-8pm

7:15pm-11pm

Email marcomm@girlscoutshcc.org if you (or your troop) are interested in volunteering and want to sign up for a phone bank shift!

FUN FACT: Juliette Gordon Low turns 150 years old on October 31st

2010-10-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

Juliette Gordon Low was, and still is, an extremely important part of Girl Scouts. Without her, where would Girl Scouts be today? Her vision led to unlimited opportunities for girls nationwide, and we should acknowledge all of the wonderful things she did for us.

Did you know that Juliette Gordon Low came up with the idea of Girl Scouts after meeting the founder of Boy Scouts, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, in England in 1912? Girls were demanding a similar organization for themselves, so immediately after Juliette returned to the United States, she created Girl Scouts with the vision of helping girls become productive and responsible women. Girl Scouts began with just a small gathering of 18 girls and is now an international movement with over 3.7 million girl and adult members. Isn't that incredible!?

Due to her national recognition and success with Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1979. In 1983, President Ronald Regan signed a bill naming a new federal building in Savannah in honor of Juliette Gordon Low. it was the second federal building in US history to be named after a woman.

Girl Scouts throughout the country plan to recognize her birthday with parties, service projects, and events. Is your troop doing anything to acknowledge this special event? please let us know by posting a comment or sending us an e-mail at marcomm@girlscoutshcc.org.

Also, be sure to visit the GSHCC's new Program Center, featuring a historical museum packed with vintage uniforms and artifacts from Girl Scout past. Register online to visit the museum, where you can learn more about Juliette Gordon Low and the history of Girl Scouts.

Do you know a lot about Juliette Gordon Low? Click here to take a quiz and find out.

The Girl Scout Shop is YOUR Resource

2010-10-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Girl Scout Shop is a great resource for leaders and parents that need ideas or have questions. The shop staff has decades of Girl Scout experience and can answer questions ranging from which patch to buy to the Girl Scout Gold Award. Click here to meet the staff...

The shop also has a Girl Scout library that includes books with project ideas and tapes/Cd's with Girl Scout songs to sing at troop meetings. Everything in the library can be checked out free of charge.

The new fall fashion clothing line is in the shop now and new items are being put on the shelves everyday. Click here to view some of the fall fashion line...

Also, don't forget all profits fund services for your local Girl Scouts! Visit the shop today...

Forever Green Day!

2010-10-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Forever Green Day is this Wednesday, October 6th?

Forever Green Day is a day specifically dedicated to celebrating the sisterhood of Girl Scouts and acknowledging that once you're a Girl Scout, you're always a Girl Scout.

Girl Scouts has played an important role in the lives of many girls nationwide. We love hearing about the amazing things that Girl Scouts has done for girls, such as teaching them valuable skills, giving them incredible opportunities, creating lifelong memories, and letting them earn prestigious awards. Send us your Girl Scout stories by emailing us at marcomm@girlscoutshcc.org or if you've earned your Girl Scout Gold Award and would like to tell us about it click here.

The color green is obviously very symbolic to Girl Scouts, so the GSHCC Program Center plans to celebrate Forever Green Day by wearing green clothing and even eating green-colored food on October 6th! Be sure to let us know how you plan to celebrate Girl Scouts on Forever Green Day by leaving a comment or sending us an email at marcomm@girlscoutshcc.org.

Follow our Forever Green Day 2010 countdown on Facebook (click here to view our fan page) and be sure to make your Facebook status about Forever Green Day as a way to show your Girl Scout pride and remind others about the special day.

Fall Troop Rebate Available Online Now

2010-09-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

Did you know that all purchases made at the Girl Scout Shop September 1st through November 30th will earn your troop a rebate to use at the Girl Scout Shop if you sign up for the Fall Troop Rebate? Five percent of all purchases made (online and in-store) when you sign up for the Fall Troop Rebate will be returned to your troop as a certificate in the begining of January. This certificate can be used in the Girl Scout shop until the end of February. Sign-up your troop online anytime before November 30th to earn your rebate on all purchases made after September 1st through November 30th.

Troop leaders can sign-up their troop to be a part of the Fall Troop Rebate program by simply clicking here.

Stylish hoodies, sweaters, leggings, sweatshirts, sweats, plaid shirts, rugby shirts and long-sleeved t-shirts will keep them both fashionable and warm this season, while the cute new Girl Scout bracelets and watches will help accesorize their outfits. Our interns are especially fond of our newest fall fashion apparel and had a blast modeling it for our blog and website.

Don't forget that the Annual Sale is still happening, so come into the Girl Scout Shop anytime until September 30th to receive 20% off on all regularly priced apparel for girls, teens, and adults (when you spend $25 or more). Excludes official uniform vests, sashes, tunics, and clearance items. After the annual sale, outerwear will continue to be 20% off until October 15th.

"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Troop 1107

2010-09-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

For their last hurrah before school started, Lincoln Girl Scouts Cadette Troop 1107 took an extended trip to the coastal town of Santa Cruz. In Girl Scouts, an extended trip requires advanced planning, which the girls did during the spring and summer months before taking off to the beach. Paperwork, budgeting, meal planning, grocery shopping and mapping routes are just a few of the details that needed addressing before the girls could gain permission from Council to hit the road. Once they were given permission, it was "Santa Cruz, here we come!" The girls spent three nights at the Santa Cruz Hostel, a beautiful Victorian multi-building complex just two short blocks from the Boardwalk. They slept dormitory-style, and prepared and ate most of their meals in beautifully-equipped kitchen and dining room accommodations. Among the highlights of their trip were the carnival rides on the Boardwalk (of course!) a trip to the nearby Mystery Spot, a day at the beach, and a fancy dinner out at a lovely Wharf restaurant. Not only did Troop 1107 have loads of fun, but they also learned the importance of planning ahead and being prepared for the unexpected while away from home. Now, as seasoned travelers, they are also eager to share their experiences with other troops who might be interested in planning an extended trip of their own. What a great way to spend your summer vacation! Go Girl Scouts!

How to Spend Cookie Credits

2010-08-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

A mom from troop 1352 wrote in and said, "We are very grateful to be in a Girl Scout troop and have an awesome troop leader. As a Girl Scout mom I have learned different ways for the girls to use their cookie credits. For example, in 2008 the troop earned enough credits to renew our season passes to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Before we renewed our season passes we got to go scuba diving in 38-degree water! We didn't dive in the ocean with all the sharks and animals, we were able to dive in the ocean tide pool. This is a moment we will never forget. Also, we got to go behind the scenes to feed the fish, stingrays, etc., and learned a little about each animal like where they came from and how old they are."

We Might Be Looking For You!

2010-07-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

We are looking for all recipients of the highest Girl Scout Award

As we prepare for our 100th anniversary in 2012, we want to recognize local women who achieved the highest award in Girl Scouts at a council-wide celebration. We want to highlight achievers, but we need to find these past recipients of our highest award. If you, or your advisor, or leader, know of anyone who is a past award winner, please copy and paste the form below into an e-mail and e-mail your answers to us at marcomm@girlscoutshcc.org.

Name of Past Award Winner:

E-mail:

Address:

Phone:

Years in Girl Scouts ______ - _______

Award Achieved & Year

_________ Golden Eaglet 1916 - 1919

_________ Golden Eaglet of Merit 1919 - 1939

_________ First Class Rank 1933 - 1963

_________ Curved Bar Award 1940 - 9163

_________ First Class Award 1963 - 1980

_________ Girl Scout Gold Award 1980 - 2010

Woman of Worth

2010-07-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

L'Oreal Paris is celebrating woman of worth and their iconic philosophy "Because You're Worth It" by selecting ten honorees who will receive $5,000 for their cause - with one of them receiving an additional $25,000. L'Oreal Paris will also donate $5,000 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund in recognition of each honoree.

This is a perfect opportunity to nominate a Girl Scout that you know. The deadline to nominate someone is July 9.

For more information click here www.girlscoutshcc.org/gshccadmin/site1/girlscouts/girlscouts/ambassadorLinks_scholarships.asp

The Japanese Experience

2010-06-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Japanese Experience is a Girl Scout day camp that gives girls the opportunity to learn about the Japanese culture through songs, games, tradition cuisine and crafts. The day camp ran from June 8 through June 12, and on Friday, June 11, for the first year, the day camp presented Koya San Spirit of Children Taiko Group, a Japanese drum group with 35 members 7 years old and older. Girl Scouts were able to participate in drumming after a few songs from the group.

Goooo Sirens

2010-06-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Troop 845 was invited by the Sacramento Sirens Woman's Football Team to be the Color Guard at their last regular season home game. Check out the photos below of troop 845 on the Sirens' home field.

What did you do on Memorial Day Weekend?

2010-06-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Junior Girl Scout troop 845 of Maidu Creek Service Unit put white crosses and flags on two sections of the Veterans laid to rest in the Sunset Lawn Chapel of Chimes Cemetery in Sacramento. Several of the girls have family members in this cemetery that are Veterans, so it was very special. This is the third year the girls in this troop have done this.

To submit what you and your troop did e-mail us at marcomm@girlscoutshcc.org

National Emergency Responders Thank You Day!

2010-05-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Troop 1157 surprised some of the Tracy fire fighters last night to say "Thank You" for National Emergency Responders Thank You Day. The fire fighters had never heard of National Emergency Responders Thank You Day, but thought it was so cool that the Girl Scouts were helping to promote the idea. Here are a few pictures of the troop with the fire fighters. The girls were so excited to participate in this event, and the fire fighters were very grateful.

One Girl can Make a Difference

2010-04-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

One Junior Girl Scout named Isabel has been working hard everyday to make the world a better place. She has been working on several recycling projects that have spread to her household, school and community.

Isabel is collecting old shoes to donate to Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program. This program prevents old shoes from ending up in the landfill, and the shoes are instead turned into a raw material that can be used to make local running tracks, zippers or soles for new shoes.

She started her recycling adventure by recycling juice pouches for two cents each and donating the money to her sister's Daisy troop. With juice pouches alone she raised $124 for her sister's troop.

Kids at Isabel's school, and now her sister's school, have begun to donate their shoes, and recyclable items, to her cause. She also makes regular stops at sandwich shops to collect chip bags to recycle.

All proceeds are donated to Girl Scouts and Placer Hills Education Foundation.

If you want to help you can drop off used athletic shoes at Sierra Hills School, 16505 Placer Hills Road in Meadow Vista or Weimar Hills School, 200 W. Weimar Crossroads through April 30.

2010-04-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Harriet Antonides, resident of Eskaton Village in Roseville, turned 100 years old on April 5, 2010, and as a new member of Eskaton's centenarian club, she will participate in their "Thrill of a Lifetime" program by becoming a Girl Scout, which has been her lifelong dream.

To give Harriet the full Girl Scout experience, we put on a vintage Girl Scout uniform fashion show, demonstrated a Girl Scout color guard ceremony and held an investiture ceremony where she was presented her sash and membership pin.

To read more click here...

Girl Scout Cookies for the Soldiers

2010-03-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Thousands of Girl Scout Cookies were donated during this year's cookie season and are now on their way to soldiers overseas. Girl Scout troops like 2030 have worked hard to encourage people from the community to purchase cookies as a donation to the troops overseas because two of the girls in the GS troop have brothers in the war. Many of the cookie boxes donated had hand written messages on them, and the council had a place on the web site to write a message to be placed on the cookie boxes. During the cookie season GS troops from the council area sold boxes of cookies to people who donated them to the soldiers. These boxes were recently picked up by the National Guard who ensured they were shipped out.

Thank you to everyone who donated cookies to the soldiers during this cookie season and all the troops and troop leaders that worked so hard.

Cookies - They're Back!

2010-02-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

I was driving through Citrus Heights this week and stopped at a red light behind an RT bus. On the back of the bus was the Girl Scout Cookie advertisement “They’re Back!” It made me smile. I love Girl Scout Cookies! I love everything about them! It’s no surprise that I’m the cookie manager for our troop. I’m also the mother of twin Brownies who typically want to sell a total of about 500 boxes to earn their desired incentive. At our house, early January through mid-March is all about Girl Scout Cookies!

At the beginning of January, we had a cookie kickoff party. We started our meeting by watching the Bakery Tour video from the ABC Smart Cookie website. This is a great video that showcases how Girl Scout cookies are made while sharing interesting facts and statistics about those cookies. After the video, I talked to the girls about safe selling. They gave me lots of good answers about staying safe while selling cookies. The ABC Smart Cookie website has a Cookie Activity Safety Guidelines flyer under the Volunteers-Training section of their website that is very helpful in teaching the girls that safety is the first priority.

In the spirit of all things cookie – we had a frosting party from Cookie Connection at the end of our meeting. Each girl got a plain sugar cookie and was able to frost and decorate it with her choice of colors and toppings. While the girls were busy creating their masterpieces, I went over the important details and paperwork with their parents.

At our troop meeting last Sunday our girls brainstormed to come up with ideas of how they’d like to spend the cookie money they earn this year. Some of their ideas included: a dinosaur museum, resident camp, Disneyland, ice skating, San Francisco, a fish hatchery, Six Flags and Apple Hill. After ruling out the ideas that were similar to things we had already done or were already in the works for the future, we settled on a trip to the snow!

I encourage our girls to set a personal goal based on the incentive they want to earn. Those incentives do a great job motivating our girls! The most desired incentives for our troop are the sitting plush frog, a movie ticket and the peace sign necklace! Additionally, I give each girl her sales number from last year to help set her goal for 2010. I encourage each girl to set a goal for herself that is a little higher than what she did last year.

The last thing our girls have to do this month (as far as cookies go) is complete the Catch GOALS! activity on the ABC Smart Cookie website. My daughters entered their personal sales goals and used online marketing tools to send e-mails to family & friends. Just a note, if your girl enters her goal by the end of January then updates it before cookie sales are over, she can earn a special patch!

We’re looking forward Mega Drop cookie pick up event on February 13th! In the meantime, we’re still taking orders and working towards our personal and troop goals!

~MM

Girl Scout Cookie Song

2010-02-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

The ideas for this song came about when my daughter, D'Auna, and I were discussing her sales pitch for the 2010 Girl Scout Cookie campaign. She is a bit shy but she loves to sing, so I thought she would be less apprehensive about singing her sales pitch. D'Auna and I brainstormed ideas for a while, and then a light bulb came on. As we stared at the pictures of the various Girl Scout Cookies we figured out a way to creatively fit the names of the cookies into a song and thus the Girl Scout Cookie Song/Poem was born!

D'Auna preformed the song for various family members and friends as her sales pitch. She sold 256 boxes during pre-sales this year! She is still selling cookies with this song and is becoming more comfortable preforming and speaking in front of a crowd. My little Daisy Scout is proud to have sold so many boxes of Girl Scout Cookies during her first cookie season. I am proud of the fact that she is developing confidence and public speaking skills that will have a lasting influence on her life, all thanks to Girl Scouts...and a cute little song!

Guest Blogger Sylvia

Events! - Getting Greener - Are You?

2009-12-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I didn't get a post in last Friday as I was at a phenomenal womens' conference most of the weekend! (Feel free to ask me about it anytime.) Sunday our troop enjoyed a performance of The Nutcracker by the Placer Theatre Ballet. One of our very own girls performed the part of an angel. Today I woke up to the surprise of snow at our home outside of Sacramento. My girls were thrilled and proceeded to pelt me with snowballs before leaving for school. Now it's time to get caught up with the business at hand!

Did you know that the average American uses enough paper and wood products each year to equal a 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree? (www.epa.gov) Considering the US population is upwards of 300 million people, we’re cutting down a lot of trees every year! Why does it matter? Trees make our planet habitable. They absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen that we can breathe. They also provide habitat for innumerable insects, birds and other animal species. In addition, trees provide shade, which lowers our energy use by keeping buildings cooler. So how can we decrease the demand for trees? It’s simple – use less paper and switch from virgin paper products to recycled paper products.

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California is “Going Green” and doing its part to save paper by decreasing the size of the Events! calendar and putting more of the details online. You can now find all the information you need about the activities being offered for your girl or troop at the GSHCC website. Once you access the website you can easily search for an event by the month it’s scheduled, alphabetically by event name, or by age level. Simply use the search categories featured on the left side of the page. All the information you need to know is listed in the event details including eligible age, date, time, location, fee, capacity and billing date. At the end of each event description is a pink “Register Now” button. All you have to do is click this link to sign up for your chosen event.

Do you have older girls in your troop? What is an “older girl” you ask? It varies by class but typically starts with girls that have completed at least 6th or 7th grade. The full year’s Older Girl Training calendar is at your fingertips online! Classes such as Program Aide, L.I.T., First Aide, Silver & Gold Awards, Backpacking and Leave No Trace are available! As with the events, all the pertinent details are included in the online description. Take advantage of these great opportunities for your girls to learn new leadership skills that will empower them to succeed!

Think you’ve got it all figured out? Don’t forget that things change! Make sure you check out the Special Events tab once in a while (bottom left)! Often events come up with short notice and they don’t make the regular calendar listing. They’ll be listed here with all of the important information. What’s coming up soon?

Dec 15 & 17: Camp Menzies Parent Information Night (various locations)
Jan 12, 14, 19 & 21: Camp Menzies Parent Information Night (various locations)

Start a conversation with your troop about their impact on the environment and how they can make changes. Need some ideas to start your girls talking? Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s website. To point out just a few related links that you’ll find there: Pick 5 for the Environment; Protect the Environment; and For Youth - this takes you to an age targeted page which opens an array of topics and activities your girls could enjoy!

“Today’s Vision – Tomorrow’s World” (1972)

~MM

Splurges, Steals and Holiday Deals!

2009-11-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your special Girl Scout? How about a holiday appreciation gift for your tireless co-leader or parent volunteer? It’s time to visit our Girl Scout Shop. You don’t even have to get off the couch to get there! Get cozy in your PJs, grab a mug of hot cocoa and logon to the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California website.

Are you looking to splurge on something extra special? How about a Juliette Low Limoges Box? These boxes have been treasured collectibles since 1771. Made by Artoria Limoges and measuring 2”x3”, this extra special box retails for $220.00. Do you need a classy gift to adorn your recipient? The beautiful Legacy Silk Scarf designed by former Girl Scout and New York designer Marisol Deluna may be just the right gift. Add a silver trefoil scarf slide and you have the perfect pair. The scarf retails for $75.00 and the slide retails for $14.00. Is your gift recipient a career girl? She’ll love the new Girl Scout briefcase. Made of stylish black microfiber with a striking fuchsia interior, it features a padded laptop compartment, a removable key fob and cell phone case, a side wall zip pocket, pocket organizers and more. There are additional zipper compartments on the front and back exterior. Measuring 26”x20”x16” and retailing for $60.00, this is the ultimate work tote! Still shopping? Check out the Distinctive Gifts flyer for more ideas.

How about a shopping “steal” instead? After you click the “Shop Now!” button, choose “Shop Specials” from the list of categories. You’ll find great markdowns under “Close-outs” and featured deals under “Monthly Specials”. Is there a scrap booker on your list? There are 10 sticker flip-it kits and scrapbooking sets on clearance - some for half price ($4.99-$9.99)! You’ll also find five swap pins on sale that any girl would love to receive in her holiday goodie bag. Made of enamel and 1” in size, each pin is only $1.50! A classic World Trefoil Charm for only $2.50 also makes an economical gift for any Girl Scout on your list! If you’re looking for something a little cozier, check out the fleece vest featured in the Monthly Specials. Available in red or blue, this vest will chase away the winter chills for only $19.99!

Looking for something with holiday flair? Check out the Capture the Holiday Season flyer. There are several new ornaments this year: Girl Scout Pewter Ornament, Girl Scout Traditional Logo Ornament, Girl Scout Heart Ornament, Girl Scout Daisy Tin Ornament, Brownie Elf Tin Ornament, Girl Scout Junior Tin Ornament and Snow Globe Embroidered Ornament ($3-$18.00). Select your favorite and start a new holiday tradition with your favorite Girl Scout. Need stocking stuffers? There are lots of other new items! Choose from pencils, pins, patches, pens, or the new charm bracelet ($.50-$8.00). If you want to add a cute and cuddly friend to your holiday celebration make sure you check out Snowball, Patches and Petals. They’re sure to bring a smile to any Girl Scout young or old ($20-$22.00)!

By now your basket should be full and your mug should be empty! If you need a little help, contact the shop at girlscoutshop@girlscoutshcc.org or (800) 578-0276/(916) 669-3232. Have the items shipped to your house or visit the shop in person to pick them up. Then sit back and enjoy the holiday cheer as your favorite Girl Scout enjoys her special gift.

~MM

*Shop products and prices are current as of this posting and are subject to change without notice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

I hope this day finds you and your loved ones happy & healthy! May you enjoy a wonderful day!

~MM

uniquely ME!

2009-11-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

“What’s New” is finally new again! So is the grant that our council received from the Dove Self-Esteem Fund’s “Thank You for Making a Difference” campaign. The grant will finance the uniquely ME! program designed to encourage Girl Scouts in 4th-12th grade to become self-confident leaders.

Why do we need such a program you ask? Dove commissioned a national report on self-esteem entitled “Real Girls, Real Pressure” and the results are distressing. They discovered that 62% of girls nationwide feel insecure. This includes feeling that their appearance isn’t stylish or trendy enough, that they aren’t pretty enough, and that they’re overweight. 75% of these girls admit to participating in harmful activities such as cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking and disordered eating. The report also revealed that as they transition into the teenage years, fewer girls turn to their parents as a self-esteem resource. (You can read all of the key highlights by visiting Dove’s website and clicking the Campaign for Real Beauty link.)

In response to this need, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California has created over 130 activity boxes with all the supplies you need to complete the uniquely ME! activities with your troop or service unit. The boxes are segmented for Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors. All materials costs as well as any additional fees for a location and staff members are completely and generously covered by the grant from Dove! This is a great opportunity for you to help your girls discover their positive attributes and to encourage them to develop leadership skills that will give them greater self confidence for the future.

Did you know that several of the most successful women in our country were Girl Scouts? Can you name a few? Think Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Sandra Day O’Connor and Katie Couric. Is one of your girls the next national leader? Is she destined to be a future role model for other teen girls? Empower her today with the skills that will make her successful tomorrow! To learn more or order your uniquely ME! activity box contact Liz Williams, Assistant Vice President of Program and Adult Development at 916-669-4475 or by e-mail at liz.williams@girlscoutshcc.org.

"Girl Scouts Today - Leaders Tomorrow" (1937)

~MM

Parent News

2009-07-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

July 9th

It was quite warm today up here at Camp Menzies but everyone had a lot of fun despite the heat. In the morning, the campers participated in a variety of activities with their units. For lunch some of the units had cookouts where they made food ranging from burritos to teriyaki chicken with vegetables. Tomorrow, we will be packing in the morning and then having a special ceremony followed by picture taking before everyone leaves. We are sorry to see everyone one goes, but excited for the new kids that are coming tomorrow, it has been a blast up here this session! We have few units leaving and new ones coming. On the Loose left today for their backpacking trip and they will go water rafting tomorrow. CIT’s are still on their two days trip to Lake Alpine where they are working on their program. Horse Lovers today went swimming and horse riding and continued to learn about horses with a ground lesson and two hour horseback riding time. Smores and more also had fun swimming and doing arts and crafts. . Have a good evening everyone and look for more pictures tomorrow.
Love, Ramona Raccoon

Happenings @ Session 2, 3 & 4

2009-07-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

Session 2,3 & 4 –Happenings

Greetings Camp Menzies Parents!
Today was an eventful day at Camp Menzies, all the girls attending session 2 spent the morning packing and left in buses and vans in the afternoon. The session 4 campers arrived at lunchtime and spent the afternoon visiting the swimming hole, activity areas, patch ‘n’ go (our infirmary) and the dining hall to learn all about camp. The CIT’s helped the girls to pack before spending the afternoon working on leadership skills. This evening we heard from Yosemite Institute and beyond and Picture this, both groups are doing well and are looking forward to heading off to Mono Lake on Saturday. Mountains to the sea will be whale watching tomorrow. All trips will be getting back into camp on Monday afternoon or early evening. Here are some reports from the Ramona’s Reporters who left on the bus today:

6/25/09-Horsin’ Around
Dear Parents,
This week we learned to…. Horseback ride and to ride horses. We also learned how to saddle a horse. We get to go on a trail ride today. We got to do archery. We had an all camp campout and are making friends too. We got to see a lot of stars; it was cool to see the big dipper. We also made clay at Arts ‘n’ Crafts with Cobra. We had a great time with friends! We are going to nature for a pond study this afternoon.

6/26/09-Horsin’ Around
Dear Parents,
We’ve had a bunch of fun at Camp Menzies! My favorite part was riding horses. I rode a horse named Montana. I’m also excited about sleeping under the stars. We have this freezing swimming hole and everyone tried going in but most people got out right away. We also went to the canoe lake. It was very hot and took hard work. We have many awesome counselors and C.I.T.’s (Counselors in Training). They have cool and funny names. We also have really tasty meals for the girls and counselors. They make fun stuff to do at meals so we enjoy them. Many kids have cried but they like it here, we are having a lot of fun. Our cabins are very nice. They have eight beds in each cabin. We have free time which is called “me time”. At “me time” we make lanyards, read, talk, make cards and have fun. We have ridden the horses twice at camp. Some horses’ names are Bart, Nacho, Applejack, Topaz, Montana, Sugar and Cowboy, truly.

Last day of session 2,3 & 4 – Busy as bees

Hello Friends, Neighbors, Parents, Guardians, and everyone else! It was another hot day up here at Menzies, but it was a busy one too! Mad about Murals started their mural today and it is looking good! They also got to go horseback riding. They rounded out the evening with a dinner cookout, pasta and red sauce cooked over the campfire. Summer Stock was in action today. Half of the group attended “Smokey Joe’s Café” and the other half worked on acting techniques in camp. The show was entertaining and one of the favorite songs was “Lean on Me.” They rounded out their night with a night canoe in Lake Nettie Hunter. Eco Explorers had a fun filled day filled with learning, water, and crafts. These explorers headed out to nature to explore edible plants in camp. In the afternoon they got to find out about all the water Menzies has to offer. They went to swimming and got to shower! In the evening they slept out in the meadow. Take aim was right on target for a great day at Camp. Half of the group headed out to spend time with the horses and the other got to create at Arts n’ Crafts. Of course the evening was spent trying to achieve William Tell accuracy in Archery and in the evening they explored camp with a night hike. Horse Lovers was loving camp. In the morning they went to many of the camp activity areas, including archery, swimming, and horseback riding. In the afternoon the girls had a ground lesson with the horses and horse staff. The evening the spent start gazing in the meadow. We are looking forward to seeing Mountains to the Sea, Picture This, and Yosemite Institute tomorrow! Then we’ll get to see all of their pictures and hear all of their stories.

Love, Ramona Raccoon

Camp Echo

2009-07-20T09:34:00.001-07:00

June 26th
Greetings Camp Menzies Parents!
We have had a busy couple of days at camp. Yosemite Institute and Beyond, Mountains to the Sea and Picture This have all headed out of camp on their trips. Yesterday we had an all camp counselor hunt and all of the groups in camp had an overnight in the meadow. Many of the groups enjoyed canoeing and swimming today in the warm afternoon. Trail Signs went on a long hike in Calaveras Big Trees State Park and the CIT’s helped out cleaning in the kitchen after dinner and also wrote a mission statement for them. Here are some reports from yesterday’s Ramona’s Reporters:
6-24-09-Sleepy Hollow-Under Construction
This morning we woke up and got ready for breakfast. After breakfast we rode horses and played games in the meadow. Then we played karaoke in archery with the Mountains to the Sea group. Last we came back to Sleepy Hollow and did unit Kapers and had lunch in our unit. After that we started building, we put on rafters and siding on the cabin. Next we took showers and had me time before playing games in the meadow and dinner.
6-24-09-Silver Fir-Camp Superhero
Hi there, Camp Superhero here!
Today was a super day; we started out with horseback riding and archery. We were very excited about both activities! At archery we fought villains by shooting at targets shaped like villains logos. After lunch we did a service project for camp by cleaning the trail from our unit to the campfire circle (Pine Haven). Another thing we were looking forward to was canoeing! We had a canoe race and played canoe tag. During the last part of the evening we moved our sleeping bags to the meadow. We slept in the dewy grass of the meadow. Orion told many marvelous stories; our favorites were the stories of Orion and Scorpios and Persephone. And that was our super day!

2009-04-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

It's Spring Registration Time

Register now for the 2009-10 membership year and earn more!

Earn more for Girl Scout Troops by receiving council credit coupons at Fall Product and Cookie Time; Have forms completed before school begins; Discover what the new membership year has to offer; Get ready to participate in Fall Product Program; Connect early with girls so they are able to do more in the fall.

Do you know how to be a T.O.P. Troop click here for more details.

Spring Registration Packets will be available at your next Girl Scout Leader's meeting!

2009-03-27T15:02:00.001-07:00

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California has launched a new program to help our Girl Scout sisters in need. Sisters Helping Sisters will enable Girl Scouts or Girl Scout troops to provide supplies or other Girl Scout materials to troops or girls with financial need. If you are a girl or troop who could benefit from this program or would like to participate, email: info@girlscoutshcc.org. Please place “Sisters Helping Sisters” in the subject line and more information will be sent to you.
We have also placed a Giving Tree in the Rancho Cordova and Modesto Girl Scout Shops with requests for supplies.

G E T S T A R T E D T O D A Y !
Purchase an item on the Giving Tree and help a troop in need.

CSI Approved!

2009-03-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Troop 1412!

Emily, Maddie, and Samantha answered every question with Courage, Confidence and Character!

Look for a CSI at your next Girl Scout Cookie site sale!

Girl Scouts teams up with Microsoft.

2009-02-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

Girl Scouts of the USA has launched a new partnership with Microsoft called LMK ("let me know").

LMK is an online safety campaign created in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft. The campaign includes an interactive Web site for girls, as well as an e-newsletter and Web site for adults.

Go to http://lmk.girlscouts.org/ for more information, create an account, and earn the first ever Girl Scouts of the USA digital patch!

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Annual Meeting

2009-01-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

Annual Meeting of the Delegate Assembly

February 7, 2009

Laguna Town Hall
3020 Renwick Avenue
Elk Grove, California
95758

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Dessert

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Registration

1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Meeting

Please send all questions to info@girlscoutshcc.org

Welcome!

2008-01-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Web site.

Look around, get aquainted and let us know what you think!

Can't find something that you are looking for? Send an email to MarComm@girlscoutshcc.org!