Girl Scouts 100th: Celebrating Green Forever

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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.