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Be Connected
September 2014 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
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Dear Volunteers,
As we wrap up another successful Girl Scout year, it is hard not to reflect on the thousands of victories (big and small), the countless smiles and laughs, and the endless memories that have taken home in our hearts.
What was your favorite moment of this past Girl Scout year? Was it seeing the quietest girl finally come out of her shell? Or hearing from daredevil campers about their outdoor adventures? Or maybe it was seeing the caring and enthusiasm of your Girl Scouts providing help to someone in need.
While there are many moments to pick from, our favorite was this year's Gold Award event. Awardees gleam with smiles of pride and confidence as they received their Gold Award. We felt incredible hope when we heard about each girl's accomplishments and plans for the future knowing that it was volunteers that guided them to this moment.
As we all look forward to what the new Girl Scout year brings, let's all take time to reflect on this past one. Take pride in knowing that many of your favorite moments will be memories cherished for a lifetime by girls whose lives you changed. You were there for them providing the encouragement and opportunities they need to thrive.
As you transition from the this year to the next, take a moment and you will hear Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania saying thank you.
Sincerely,
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| | Carolyn Warman | Jane Ransom | | Board Chair | President & CEO |
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I Can't Wait to Volunteer
Just like our Girl Scouts, every volunteer is unique and offers a special talent and know-how to their troop of girls. While we all love seeing girls go boldly, head first into new experiences, we all have our favorite Girl Scouting moments and reasons to volunteer. Here's what your fellow volunteers had to say:
What is your favorite part about Girl Scouting - "I really do love camping with the girls. It offers so many experiences and gives them a chance to shine as they grow skills, help their friends out and build comradery and leadership to overcome whatever challenges pop up." - Alisha Kravabloski-Wilkes-Barre
In what ways have you made a difference? - "I think I have given the girls someone they can come to. If I wasn't there or if Girl Scouts wasn't there who would they go to? Would the go to anyone at all?" - Stacey Joy-New Holland
How has being a Girl Scout volunteer impacted your life? - "One thing about being a volunteer is I get to make lifelong friends with other Girl Scout volunteers." - Brenda Sutter-Harrisburg
How has Girl Scouts benefited you? - "Having relationships with the girls and their families have been a tremendous gift. Knowing them for so many years and being a part of their growing up has been an absolute privilege." - Carla Claycomb-Camp Hill
No matter what drives you as a Girl Scout volunteer the impact and the memories you've created will last a lifetime! We're excited to see the difference that you make for the 2014-2015 year. Haven't re-registered yet? Click here to get started for this year.
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Girl Scouts can 'Fall' into adventure this October with our exciting outdoor programs. Girls can transform into paleontologists as they find fossils, become ornithologists when they study birds, perfect their aim in our archery program, tackle our climbing wall, or go on a treasure hunt for geocaches.
As you and your Girl Scout troop begins planning your upcoming Girl Scout year, check out our fall and winter outdoor programs and pencil adventure into your agenda! Click here to see a complete list of our programs.
Kids aren't the only ones going back to school! Volunteers looking to brush up on their training can sign up to attend First Aid and CPR, Archery (Level 1), Low Ropes Training, and Outdoor Basics. Click here to discover what opportunities we have for you.
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Broaden Your Volunteer Horizons
There are plenty of ways that volunteers can get involved with the Girl Scouts. In addition to being a troop leader, you can delve into an array of volunteer avenues that brings out the philanthropist to the outdoor enthusiast in you. Check out these programs and opportunities that you can get involved with!
Gold Award Review Panel
The Gold Award is the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting that a girl earns through developing and implementing community service projects that leaves a lasting impact in their communities. Join the Gold Award Review Panel to help guide girls through their proposal process by volunteering each month to review and approve girls' project proposals. Click here to learn more what it takes to be on the review panel. All applications are due Sept. 15th.
Troop Adventure Camp (TAC) Volunteer
Looking for an exciting weekend getaway? Show our Girl Scouts that there is adventure down every trail by becoming a volunteer! Spend a fun weekend outdoors helping girls discover nature at a camp close to you! As a volunteer you will help run programs, assist with lunch and set up, cheer on Girl Scouts and have fun!
Are you wild about backpacking? Join us on our backpacking trips as a volunteer to share your love for the outdoors with our Girl Scouts! Even just one weekend a year makes a huge difference to our Girl Scouts.
Anyone interested in volunteering can email Kelly at kbenasutti@gshpa.org or call 717-233-1656.
Special Events Volunteer
Girl Scouts is always out and about in the community gathering support to strengthen our mission. Our upcoming event Thin Mint Sprint (Centre County) needs volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks such as set up, take down, water patrol, and of course cheerleaders! If you would like to join our team of volunteers for this event or learn about how you can get involved in other fundraising events, contact Lynne at ldillard@gshpa.org or call 717.233.1656.
Know someone who might be interested in these events? Anyone from moms and dads, aunts and uncles, and college students to grandparents can be a Girl Scout volunteer! They just need to be a registered adult Girl Scout member, have a current criminal background check on file, and be enthusiastic about helping girls!
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It's Time to Change It Up!
We all know that the Girl Scout Law tells us to use our resources wisely and with GSHPA's brand-new, two year program, Change It Up!, we can learn to do just that! Change It Up! will help girls develop the financial know-how and innovative problem-solving skills that they will need to be succeed in the 21st Century.
Girl Scouts will hone in on their skills while learning new ones and become savvy planners and outside-the-box thinkers to overcome fun challenges. Change It Up! is a program that promises fun, games, interactive online programs, connecting with inspiring industry experts and of course fun group activities and council-wide events for Girl Scouts!
If you're attending the Change It Up! Workshop on Saturday's Volunteer Kick-Off Convention, we look forward to telling you more about Change It Up! If you aren't able to join us tomorrow, you'll definitely want to mark October 1st in your calendars.
On October 1st, you can begin requesting the Change It Up! Guide for Girl Scout Volunteers. This handy guide will be a one-stop resource with background information, tips and tools, and program highlights for all Girl Scout levels.
Registration for the first two Change It Up! events, Change It Up! The Game (Nov. 22, 2014) and Cookie Crunch Time (Jan. 31, 2015) will go live on our website on Oct. 1. You will want to register ASAP because with words like "game" and "cookies" in the titles we know open spots will go fast!
Have a question before Oct. 1st? Email changeitup@gshpa.org.
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Tips and Tricks for an Action Packed Agenda
A Girl Scout year is one action packed adventure filled with events, programs, trips, cookies, camp, troop meetings and more! Luckily, Girl Scouts of the USA has some helpful tips like how to tie earning skill-based badges into the leadership Journeys and smart cheat sheets that make it easy!
- From The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting to the three Leadership Journeys It's Your Story-Tell It, It's Your Planet-Love It! and It's Your World-Change It, GSUSA's program website will show you all the amazing things you can do in a year! Click here to start brainstorming.
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Troop Overnight Event at Camp Furnace Hills this Fall
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Last Week to Make Your Reservation
 At camp the term 'fine dining' means that the friendships and memories campers make around the dinner table are priceless. Make your 'reservation' and share your memories at Camp Archbald, the country's second oldest Girl Scout camp, on Saturday, Sept. 13th from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. as we host the Grand Opening the new dining hall. When the ribbon is cut, it will officially be recognized as Laura Muia Hall in honor and celebration of a woman who was a GSHPA advocate, board member, volunteer and camp enthusiast. After the ribbon cutting enjoy some cake, see the previous dining hall's decorative shutters gallery, and take a tour of Camp Archbald-a camp where thousands of Girl Scouts have and will continue to experience a life changing and unforgettable outdoor experience. Click here it RSVP. While this is a FREE event, please RSVP by Sept. 11th. |
Go from Couch Cookie to Thin Mint Sprint(er)
There is still time to kick-it into gear and get ready for the GSHPA's inaugural Thin Mint Sprint 5K on Sunday, Oct. 5th at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg in Centre County.
The entire community can join in on this fun and healthy event so invite everyone you know! Participants don't have to be a Girl Scout member to run-they just have to love fun! Don't forget to tell grandparents, neighbors, co-workers, and Facebook friends! We've got a race and a distance suitable for all ages and abilities!
So race on over to our registration page.
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Save the Date!
September 13 - Laura Muia Hall Grand Opening at Camp Archbald
September 19-21 - Adult Volunteer Weekend at Camp Furnace Hills
October 1 - 2014-2015 Girl Scout year begins
October 5 - Thin Mint Sprint in State College
October 10 - November 15 - Fall Product Sale
October 28 - Regional Governance Meeting @
the Montoursville Office
October 29 - Regional Governance Meeting @ the Harrisburg Office
October 30 - Regional Governance Meeting @ the Scranton Office
October 31 - Juliette Gordon Low's Birthday
November 4 - Regional Governance Meeting @ HACC York Campus
November 5 - Regional Governance Meeting @ the State College Office
November 8-9 - aMAZE Weekend for Cadettes at Camp Archbald
(Registration to open October 1)
November 10 - Regional Governance Meeting via Webinar
November 22 - Change It Up! the Game event at the Genetti Hotel in Wilkes-Barre
(Registration to open October 1)
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