Friday, October 29, 2010

Gold Awardee’s Experience Leads to Creation of Library

Lillian knew she wanted to combine her love for reading and her Gold Award project. She decided to start a lending library at the Village Church in Lincoln Village that could be used by the children of the church and the after-school program. Lillian reached out to her church, Girl Scout troop and members of the community to collect books. She collected over 500 books in a two-month period as well as an additional 300 books from her church library. With some help, Lillian cataloged the books and organized a check out system. She then scheduled, planned and led a grand opening event. While coaching the children on how to use the library, Lillian shared her own reading challenges she faces with her dyslexia. One of the children attending the grand opening stated “I hope you do this again next year!”

Lillian is the daughter of Earl and Jean of Huntsville and is a senior at Covenant Christian Academy.

The Gold Award is highest level of Girl Scout achievement. This award recognizes the Senior & Ambassador Girl Scout’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.

Healthy Media Images Twitter Chat

Fed Up with Media Images Your Girls See Everyday? Join our Twitter chat!

GSNCA and BeautyGirlMag.com will host a virtual conversation on Twitter on Thursday, November 18 at 7 PM on the importance of media images in today’s society and how they affect our youth. To participate, log on to Twitter (if you don’t have an account, sign up prior to November 18) and search #beautygirlchat (make sure to include the #). We’ll kick off our chat with questions and we’ll discuss how this issue is affecting our youth and how we can take action. Also make sure you follow @GirlScoutsNCA to get the latest information from GSNCA!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Silver Awardees Send Medical Supplies to Africa

Pictured: Diandra, Dr. Nancy Smelser and Ashley
Diandra, Rachel and Ashley of Girl Scout Troop 135 in Florence wanted to help sick children for their Silver Award project. They partnered with the Tanzania Christian Clinic which provides medical care to the Maasai tribe in Tanzania, Africa. To educate their community of the clinic’s needs, the girls spoke to local groups, made posters and posted information on Facebook. The girls held a supply drive at their school, Mars Hill Bible School, in Rogersville. In addition, they held bake sales and a carwash and raised support from their local church members. They were able to provide all the supplies to Dr. Danny Smelser who will personally deliver the supplies to the clinic.

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.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Personal Experience with ADHD Earns Gold Award

For her Gold Award project, Kayla conducted a full day camp for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and test-taking anxiety. “I have ADHD as well as test taking anxieties and I have overcome these issues. I could explain the problems in class however when test taking time came I would go blank. It wasn’t from the lack of studying. My mom never gave up and found people who taught me ways to succeed. I have done just that and I will be attending college to become a teacher. I pray that there is one child whom I can help succeed.” Kayla recruited professionals from the community to come speak to students regarding ways to help them with their studies. She created a booklet about her own challenges with ADHD and test taking anxiety to share with camp participants, local libraries and local Girl Scout troops. Kayla, a graduate of Vinemont High School, is the daughter of Greg and Margaret. She is a freshman at Wallace State Community College.

The Gold Award is highest level of Girl Scout achievement. This award recognizes the Senior & Ambassador Girl Scout’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.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Leadership Project Helps Others Overcome Insecurity

For her Gold Award Project, Jaime planned and led a full day camp helping girls in 6th through 12th grades deal with insecurities and self esteem. Jamie chose this project because she found herself challenged with shyness and insecurity. An educational discussion along with karaoke and crafts provided a day where girls could realize that they can overcome shyness and insecurity. The karaoke songs had a theme of being strong and independent. Jaime states, “The excitement of the girls and their letting go and forgetting their own insecurities for the night was the ending of a great day.” Jaime, a graduate of West Point High School, is the daughter of Keith and Patricia of Vinemont and is a freshman at Wallace State Community College.

Interactive Financial Literacy Seminar Teaches Taxes, Budgeting

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama & GSNCA hosted an interactive financial literacy seminar to prepare girls and leaders to make good financial decisions. Girl Scouts in 7th through 12th grades in Jefferson County schools learned how to complete a W-4, the importance of good credit and how to build it, how to balance and reconcile a checkbook, how to read their paystubs, how to budget and how to file their taxes, and how to plan to withhold taxes as well. Thanks to Sharon Smith of Blue Cross Blue Shield for facilitating the seminar.

Housing Authority Program a Success!

This past year, five Tuscaloosa Girl Scout troops participated in a life-changing program hosted by Girl Scouts and the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority. Approximately 100 girls ages 5-15 were enrolled in this program and met bi-weekly for several months at a local Housing Center. Each year, the program’s message changes to focus around a different current event affecting the country. This year it expanded upon First Lady Michelle Obama’s healthy eating, choices and exercising campaign. Several guest lecturers, two field trips and community service projects helped reemphasize and teach this message.

For their community service projects, the girls chose to make slings for breast cancer patients and donate money from their Cookie Sale Program profits for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. These projects allowed the girls to see that any one person can make a difference in someone’s life and also educated them about current global issues.

Along with understanding current world issues, the Girl Scouts learned practical living skills throughout the program. They acted out different scenarios such as phone calls, introductions and dinners to learn the proper etiquette for each occasion. They also discussed the proper attire for various occasions, professional and casual.

Several professionals from around the community spoke to the girls about jobs and career planning. They learned about many different professions such as speech therapy, psychology and entrepreneurship. Girls were able to get an idea of what they wanted to do when they were older and learned some valuable tips for success.

Two field trips were also incorporated into the program as a special treat for the girls. The troops attended a University of Alabama gymnastics meet and went to see a movie that promoted healthy body images and a positive meaning.

The message of positive self esteem, and mental and physical success remained consistent throughout all activities. Instead of receiving badges for their achievements, the girls were given pens, writing tablets and books to encourage their continued success. Throughout this experience, these girls learned to promote values such as courage, compassion, sisterhood and citizenship and to encourage others to do the same. With help from the Girl Scouts, these girls have been given the tools and knowledge to be productive citizens and reach their full potential.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Gold Award Project Educates Others About Autism

Lauren wanted to educate children about autism. For her Gold Award project she created an educational cartoon video about autism. “I hope people can gain a better understanding of autism. I hope people of all ages will watch, especially our younger generation, because they are the ones that count and truly are the ones who can hurt other children with their words and actions.” Lauren shared her video with day camps, local libraries and local Girl Scout troops. She found that the children were interested and asked many questions. This project was very personal to Lauren as her cousin was diagnosed with autism. She spoke with him about his experiences and felt that she could help her cousin by educating others. Lauren, a graduate of Vinemont High School, is the daughter of Greg and Margaret. She is a freshman at Wallace State Community College.

Troop 1169 Earn Badges at Healthy Girls in the Pink

Troop 1169 of Scottsboro participated in GSNCA’s Healthy Girls in the Pink event in Huntsville this past weekend. Girls learned about exercise, healthy snacks and more. The Brownies earned the My Body Try-Its badge, and the Juniors earned the Walk for Fitness badge. Linda Neighbors, a breast cancer survivor, shared her extraordinary story with the girls. After the event girls took part in the Girl Scouts Healthy Girls Walk, a new event that GSNCA hopes to continue.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Winfield Gold Awardee Cares for Critters

Girl Scout Senior Alexandra of Winfield recently earned her Gold Award with her project "Care for the Critters." The purpose of Alexandra's project was to reach out to the community, especially younger children, to teach them how to properly care for their animals. Her project was aimed at animal abuse and neglect, education and prevention. Alexandra's project was successful because she used fun, interactive techniques to engage children in learning about this topic. 15-year-old Alexandra attends Winfield City High School. Alexandra is a sophomore at Winfield City High School and is the daughter of Ed & Rachel.

The Gold Award is highest level of Girl Scout achievement. This award recognizes the Senior & Ambassador Girl Scout’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.

Gold Awardee Gives Facelift to Scottsboro Church

Hannah’s church needed some basic carpentry repairs, cleaning out a storage area and painting. For her Gold Award project Hannah chose to give her church, Hollis Memorial, a “shot in the arm in both cosmetics and spirit.” She recruited some help to clean out a room that had been used for storage, paint, power wash and truly give the church a facelift. A mural was painted in one of the rooms that will be used for Sunday school. Her firsthand experience in seeing a need, finding a team and accomplishing the project helped her to create a powerful presentation to inspire others about how they can make a difference in their own communities. “I will be speaking to groups to let them know that you can make a difference in the lives of your neighbors,” said Hannah.

Hannah, a graduate of Scottsboro High School, is the daughter of Gina and Gary of Scottsboro and is a freshman at Alabama A & M University.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Watch What You Watch

Check out this new PSA from GSUSA to educate our communities about the importance of healthy media images!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Ballpark Recycling Earns Girls their Silver Award

Pictured: Mary, Patricia, Cathleen and Meagan
Patricia, Mary, Cathleen and Megan of Troop 246 wanted to tackle recycling by placing recycle bins in Wald Park Baseball Field for their Silver Award project. The girls approached the Alabama Environmental Council to learn about the benefits of recycling and the impact it can have on a community. They then met with the Vestavia Parks and Recreation to get feedback and guidance and ask permission to start the project. They pained three recycle bins along with one regular trash bin and put them in the main concession stand area at Wald Park. They arranged for recycling pick up with Advanced Disposal during baseball season. They hung posters and bags for the teams to use and educated the coaches and parents about the importance of recycling and the impact it has on the community. To ensure this project was continued, the girls solicited a younger troop to educate and carry on the project in the future. Patricia is a freshman at Vestavia Hills High School, Mary is an eighth-grader at Pizitz Middle School, Megan is a freshman and John Carroll Catholic High School and Cathleen is a freshman at the Hoover Freshman Center.

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.