Friday, November 21, 2008

Junior Lock-in Proves to be Fun for All!

Fifty-four girls from Junior Troops 111, 445, 74 and 115 enjoyed an evening together filled with fun and learning. The girls, along with their leaders, watched the popular High School Musical 3 movie.

After leaving the theater, the girls headed to Asbury Methodist Church where they held a lock-in. They had a blast learning important lessons on trust and communication, thanks to an activity in the Agent of Change book. The girls were blindfolded while being verbally guided by another to complete several tasks and traverse an obstacle course.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Travel the World at KPC

Come out and enjoy early Holiday and New Year festivities from around the world at Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) on Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m.-Noon or 1:30-4:30 p.m. You can celebrate with the rest of the world by immersing yourself in 12 different cultures. Our very own Girl Scouts will take you on a journey to Italy, Nigeria, Mexico, India, Sweden, China, Greece, Russia, France, Ireland and Germany.

Share Italian stories, customs and traditions, make nativity ornaments; experience the Indian Festival of Lights and the Chinese New Year; sing German songs and attend a surprise demonstration; listen to African music, play Nigerian games, make Nigerian Christmas leaves while learning about Boxing Day; enjoy Christmas music played by two French horns, make French flowers; sample cookies, French Food, skits and many other treats from these countries.

Don’t forget to bring your friends, we will provide the passport!

Space is limited, so register today!

Mail, fax or email registration forms to GSNCA, ATTN: Marie Gill, 1515 Sparkman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816. mgill@girlscoutsnca.org. Fax 256-882-1750.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Writer's Workshop

Troop 182 in Alabaster held a Writer’s Workshop on Sunday, November 2, at Creek View Elementary. The two writers who taught the workshop are Irene Latham, poet and children's author, and Lori Ditoro, freelance writer.
Pictured: Irene and Savannah





Pictured: Shelby, Lyndsie and Emily

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Gold Awardees

The Girl Scout Gold Award is highest level of Girl Scout achievement. This award recognizes the Girl Scout Senior's or Ambassador's commitment to herself, her community, and her future. The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion.


Claire (Vestavia)
Vestavia Hills High School/Auburn University
With the help of volunteers that she coordinated, Claire transformed the outside area at the Eastside Mental Health Facility. The most important thing that Claire learned was flexibility. "Just as I started my project, the worst drought in 100 years hit Birmingham and we were put under water restrictions," said Claire. "I had to readjust my timeline." 


Shannon (Vestavia) 
Vestavia Hills High School
Shannon made several fleece blankets for the Greater Birmingham Ministries. Shannon feels that she learned a great deal about herself. "I learned to motivate myself to get things done!" Shannon also now understands the importance of giving back to her own community, and hopes to continue community service in college. 


Heather (Huntsville)
Grissom High School/University of Alabama at Huntsville
 

Heather researched, organized and put together an art booklet, and did presentations for boys and girls, ages 5-12, about Maria Howard Weeden, a painter during the Civil War era in Huntsville. Heather learned valuable presentation skills, and not to sell herself short…she can be good at something she originally thought she wouldn't.

Vernice (Harvest)
Sparkman High School/Stillman College
Vernice organized a seminar to teach people about autism. By using expert speakers, handouts, professional resources, and activity books for children, she made her community aware of specific interventions and teaching strategies. Through her the planning and execution of this project, Vernice learned the importance of starting early and the importance of securing your own resources.

Girls Earn Silver Award

Kelsey (Decatur) – Kelsey worked with the Mental Health Association to educate people about autism and other mental illnesses.
 

Sarah (Madison) -Sarah created a handbook on camping safety.
 

Kayla, Lauren, Jamie and Elizabeth (Cullman) and Callie (Kinmord) - The girls planned and organized a Friendship Festival for all girls in Cullman County.
 

Brittany, Megan and Jessica (Hartselle) -The girls volunteered for the Arrowhead District Cub Scout Day Camp for the Tot-Lot.
 

Sarah and Morgan (Huntsville); Sarah, Caroline, Katie, Julia and Hannah (Harvest); and Whitney (Madison) - The girls remodeled the teen room at the Hope Place.
 

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. This award symbolizes a Girl Scout Cadette’s accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities as she matures and works to better her life and the lives of others.

Girls Earn Bronze Award

The Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest awards a Junior Girl Scout can earn. This Award recognizes that a Junior Girl Scout has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Troop 231 (Mountain Brook) -Jessica, Megan, Lauren, Riva , Rebecca, Lauren, Anita and Michelle . The girls held a Bicycle Safety day for the community of Mountain Brook at the Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church.
 
Troop 333 (Hartselle/Decatur) -Hannah, Nikki, McKenzie, Deanna , Rena, Madeline, Elizabeth, Mallarie and Deanna. The girls worked with Meals on Wheels to ensure an extra meal for 70 people would be available in case of an emergency, and delivered meals.

Troop 291 (Owens Crossroads) -Shelby, Raine, Amanda, Sarah, Katherine, Tara, Jenna, Blair, Krystal Bethany and MaRhea. The girls held a toiletry drive for the CARE Center.

Troop 539 (Hazel Green) - Ivey Grace, Emily, Lauren, Kailey, Kirsten, Jessica, Samantha, Caitlyn, Savannah, Emily, Hanna, Heather and Ashlyn. The girls held created activity books for the pediatrics unit at Huntsville Hospital.

Troop 685 (Madison) - Charissa, Kathleen, Elisabeth, Megan, Rebecca and Savannah. The girls held a field day for Brownies and Daisies where they taught games and first-aid activities.
Sarah and Grace (Huntsville) - The two girls from Troop 465 chose to clean up behind the Scout Hut where the troop meets on Redstone Arsenal. They power washed the cement and painted a garden mural.

Troop 1189 (Guntersville) - Jessica and Marissa. The girls planted a flower garden at the Barfield Nursing Home for the residents to enjoy.

Troop 1360 (Ardmore) - Christine, Jacque and Elizabeth. The girls held a food drive for the local food bank, Christians Helping Others.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Young Professionals Helped Girls Set Goals

The Leadership Circle, a group of young professionals who support the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, hosted a Career Development Workshop for girls in Birmingham’s inner-city troops on Saturday, November 1st at the YMCA Youth Center.

The workshop consisted of 6 stations (3 for Brownies and 3 for Juniors) , and each station had a speaker and an activity that the girls completed to earn a badge. Speakers talked about their field, and what goals they had to set for themselves to get into their field, and talk about what the girls can be doing NOW to reach their career goals.

Stations included Computer Science, where girls learned how to take a part a computer and learn the inner-workings of it. Also, the Financial station taught girls how to comparison shop for the best deal to make the most of their budget. The Food station taught girls how to make a healthy and fun snack!

About the Leadership Circle
Founded in 2008, the Leadership Circle consists of 30 young professionals, ages 25-35, who support the Urban Initiatives of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama through service and fundraising.