Girl Scouts In The Community
Soldiers spruce, Girl Scouts plant, Shelter gets new look
Soldiers from Class 10-005 of Fort Huachuca’s Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Girl Scout Troop 662 worked on two projects Aug. 7 to improve the Good Neighbor Alliance, a homeless shelter off 7th Street in Sierra Vista. The military volunteers from the NCOA painted the shelter’s main room, used for dining and recreation. They also created a barbecue area by putting down blocks and gravel, and performed needed yard maintenance. The older girls in Troop 662 planted a garden. Rebecca Wallace, a freshman at Buena High School, decided to spearhead a vegetable garden for the shelter as a community service project for her Silver Award. Susan Glandon, project advisor, says they chose the Good Neighbor Alliance for the garden since the scouts cook and serve dinner there once a month as a community service project. If the garden is viable, there will be fresh produce for the shelter, and extra produce could be canned for later use. Glandon hopes shelter residents and those connected with the shelter will enjoy having fresh produce and will take on the project as a longterm sustainable endeavor.
Troops 429 and 924 featured in the Coronado National Forest newletter
GIRL SCOUTS HELP CLEAN UP AT ROSE CANYON LAKE
by Robert Walter
Girl Scouts Troops 429 and 924 led by troop leader Tammy Thorn helped with a clean-up project at Rose Canyon Lake on May 15, 2010 between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. The Forest Service representatives included Robert Walter (Recreation - SCEP) and Paul Simpson (Developed Recreation Supervisor). Twenty Girl Scout volunteers ranging from ages six to eight years of age and six adults attended the clean-up project. Paul Simpson accompanied ten volunteers to pick up litter along the lake and Robert Walter accompanied the other half of the group to rake up leaves and sweep the accessible pathway. Reactions from the general public were positive with the clean-up efforts of the girls. After their hard work in the clean-up, the Forest Service presented to the volunteers Smokey Bear bags that included an activity book, pencil, wristband, and a Smokey Bear badge. The bags were provided by Veronica Forrest, Sabino VIC Manager.
Girl Scouts at Casa de los Niños Builds Courage, Confidence and Character
Journal Entry by Lesley Rich
From Casa News, Spring/Summer 2010
I never know what to expect when I go to my Girl Scout troop meeting at Casa de los Niños. I always wonder who I will see. I run the names and faces of my girls (and boys) through my head. I am always
happy to see the kids I have gotten to know, but I am also glad to know that some have moved on... hopefully to a loving home.
Today when I arrived at Casa de los Niños I met with three girls and five boys. Even though I am from Girl Scouts, we make an exception and include the boys in our programs so that they can learn
important life skills alongside the girls.
Today we explored the children's courage, confidence and character as we discovered how to build a community out of legos. I know you might think that is a bit strange, but I know if I give the kids something to build they will open up and gain the confidence to say what is on their minds.
We took turns talking about what we need in a community to survive. The children know that our meeting is a safe place and they have the courage to speak out and share their ideas. The children explained that we need schools to educate our youth, police and fire departments to protect our community and houses for everyone to live in. After we decided what was needed, the children used their creativity and engineering skills to create the buildings.
Going to Casa de los Niños is one of the most rewarding aspects of my AmeriCorps service with Girl Scouts. I know that the 60 minutes I spend with Casa de los Niños kids is truly making a difference for them. I will often times meet girls at local elementary schools who know Girl Scouts from being a part of the weekly meetings at Casa de los Niños and they are so excited to see us and introduce us to their school friends. I know Girl Scouting has helped these girls feel confident and accepted even when things are not good at home.
As I leave the troop meeting I look at the faces and wonder who I will see next week... what stories will we share, what songs will we sing, and what memories will they take away from their time in Girl Scouts.
Nominate a Beautiful Girl
The Problem: According to the American Psychological Association eating disorders, depression or depressed mood, and low self-esteem are linked to media sexualization of girls and women. Relentless media tells girls their looks are far more important than their minds, spirits, or talents. These messages are everywhere! PicTreat.com, where "face detection & correction technology … can smooth out skin, remove skin flaws…." is just a modern day version of the age-old messages that led 90 percent of the teen girls questioned in a 2009 Girl Scout Research Institute study to say they couldn’t measure up to "beauty" standards. "Stuff like that makes me furious," says Nneoma Igwe, 13, of New Moon’s Girls Editorial Board. "We girls know that what we do, think and care about is more important than how other people think we should look." Girls have had enough. And you can help! Support girls by sharing this announcement through enews, websites, blogs, tweets, announcements, newsletters, facebook pages, etc. The Solution: Girls are fighting back with NewMoon.com's "Beautiful Girls" campaign. From today through June 30, anyone worldwide can honor a girl or woman for her inner beauty: her accomplishments, passion, creativity, compassion, and all the other things that make up a wonderful person by completing the short Beautiful Girl Nomination Form. Starting May 1, all the nominees will be featured in the Beautiful Girls section of NewMoon.com: the safe, ad-free, creative community made by and for girls.What Girls are Fighting: Girls Fight Harmful Beauty Messages: NewMoon.com’s "Beautiful Girls" Raise the Value of Inner Beauty
New Moon Girl Media Founder Nancy Gruver says, "For 17 years, New Moon has believed in the power and beauty of girls being themselves. This year, we’re in the leadership group convened by the American Psychological Association and Girls Scouts of the USA to support H.R. 4925 the Healthy Media for Youth Act. Girls need it desperately." Anyone can nominate girls and women (even themselves!) to be a New Moon Beautiful Girl at http://www.newmoon.com/form/11/beautiful-girl-nomination
Then look for that girl’s first name on NewMoon.com in May, June and July. "After all," Nneoma says, "Real Beauty isn’t about how we look. It's about who we are and what we do."
Some of the critical work we do in the community
This is just a snapshot of some of the critical work we do in the community. Anyone requesting additional details can contact Kendra L. Thompson-Dyck, High School Coordinator at 520.319.3152 she would be happy to share the amazing, personal stories of girls from these programs.
Casa de los Niños, Angel Center
http://www.casadelosninos.org/
We provide Girl Scout programming 1x per week to girls living in the crisis shelter. Girls receive referral information in their discharge packet about how to continue with Girl Scouting. We have seen girls who have been part of our programs in outreach schools cycle through Casa de los Niños. For those girls, the Girl Scout traditions and activities provide a sense of normalcy and continuity.
Primavera Foundation
http://www.primavera.org/
We collaborate with the Primavera Foundation on the "Her Family" project. Single mothers receive financial literacy, homeownership classes and one-on-one financial counseling. Girls participate in a Girl Scout financial literacy series consisting of 3, 2-hour programs.
The 4th week of the program is a ceremony for mothers and daughters to celebration their participation, receive Girl Scout recognitions. Girls are invited to continue in another pathway (camp, troop, events).
KARE (Kinship and Adoption Resource Center)
http://www.arizonaschildren.org/programs/karecenter.html
We have a consistent Girl Scout program at the KARE Family Center for girls being raised by grandparents or other kin. We offer a Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Cadette/Senior/Ambassador program each week for the families at KARE. Girls attend field trips, camp, receive traditional recognitions, participate in ceremonies, follow the Journey curricula, do service projects and receive an authentic Girl Scout experience.
We have been committed to the kids and families at the KARE Center since 2007.
Emerge: Su Futuro
http://www.emergecenter.org/
Through the Partnership for Women and Girls, we collaborate with Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse. We provide Girl Scout events and referrals to the participants in the Su Futuro Support and Outreach groups. We also work regularly with Emerge staff for individual referrals to our programs when families are out of crisis and able to reinvest in their children and communities.
IRC (International Rescue Committee)
http://www.theirc.org/us-program/us-tucson-az
We have started to work more closely with the IRC to engage refugee children in Girl Scouting.In October 2010, we held a community celebration for Bhutanese families in a local apartment complex to introduce them to Girl Scouting. An Americorps member at the IRC started a troop for older girls as a result of this celebration.
Adelante Jovencitas: Girl's Moving Forward
In May 2009, we launched Girl Scouting in Detention Centers based off a model from Girl Scouts USA and our sister council Arizona Cactus Pines in Phoenix. We offer innovative leadership development and exploration programs for girls who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. Due to the success of the program, we have expanded to offer 4 programs. Each week, we engage girls in the secure Pima County Juvenile Detention Center and La Canada Residential Treatment Program. We also offer 2 community programs weekly in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Probation. Girls can participate in a weekly meeting at our Bookman's Low Lounge or at the NW Ellie Towne Community Center. We have served over 200 girls since May 2009.
