exclusively for leaders and volunteers

March 20, 2024 Edition


In this issue:


  • 2024 Cookie Program
  • Vote: Bling Your Booth!
  • Early Bird Spring Renewal
  • Program Events & Activities
  • Volunteer Spotlight
  • Training Opportunities
  • Feature Your Troop
  • Retail Shop



2024 Cookie Program

Key Next Steps in the Cookie Program

As the cookie program winds down, there are several key steps that each troop needs to take. 



Check your on-hand inventory.  

1) Log in to Smart Cookies. 

2) Click on Reports. 

3) From the column on the left, choose Inventory & Delivery. 

4) From the column on the right, choose Troop On Hand Inventory. 

5) Click Go to Report, then View Report. 

6) This report shows the cookies your troop owns that have not yet been assigned to girls. This means no one is currently getting credit for those cookies. 

7) The next step is to transfer those cookies to girls.

 


Review the reward information

1) Log in to Smart Cookies. 

2) Click on Rewards. 

3) Click on Manage Recognition Orders. 

4) You will see two different types of recognitions: "Troop" and "Main". 

5) If the section on the right says complete, then you do not need to do anything. If it's incomplete, then you need to click on the edit icon (the pencil) and review the needed information. 

6) If there are reward choices that a girl needs to make, then you should contact her family for her preferences. 

7) If your troop qualifies for a troop reward based on the per-girl average, then you can enter the number of oven mitts your troop would like. Two is the maximum. 

8) When both the "Main" and "Troop" recognitions are identified as complete, you are finished. 

9) You can still edit this information through April 5th.



Cookie Booth Patches

Girls participating in two or more cookie booths are eligible for the Cookie Booth patch. If the troop used the Smart Booth Divider, then the patches are automatically added to the girls' rewards. If the troop did not use the Smart Booth Divider, then the booth patches need to be added under the "Extra" tab in the rewards section.


Special Cookie Cupboard Closeout

The week of March 25th is the final week of cookie cupboard operations.


All cookie cupboards close Friday, March 29th. In celebration of the last week of cupboard operations, GSCV will offer a special cupboard promotion.


Beginning Monday, March 25th through Friday, March 29th, any troop picking up 3 cases or more of cookies will receive one case at no charge to the troop. The troop will be charged for 3 cases but may take 4. This extra case can be used for troop celebrations, thank-you gifts or as a special donation to the organization of their choice.


The extra cases of cookies will not be eligible to credit towards girl rewards, as they will not show in your troop inventory.

Thank You to our Dedicated Cookie Cupboard Managers

It’s time to thank your local cookie cupboard manager!


We have so many dedicated volunteers hosting cookie cupboards in their homes, storage units, and even in trailers. This week is the time to thank them publicly for all they do to support the cookie program. Post a photo of your local cookie cupboard manager and tag us on Facebook, or send in a photo for us to share on our page. Email photos with a short note of appreciation to Janna Joyner at [email protected].


Two lucky volunteers who post or submit will win a special Girl Scout goodie in the mail.


Let’s show them the love they deserve after a busy cookie season!


Bling Your Booth Deadline Extended!

Exciting News: We've extended the Bling Your Booth deadline to Friday, March 29 and will now announce the winning booth on Wednesday, April 3rd!


There are so many awesome submissions from creative troops in our council. Vote on the latest entries!

Vote for Troop 5059's St. Patrick's Day themed booth!

Taste the Rainbow with Troop 700's rainbow-themed booth!

Vote for Girl Scout Troop 684's Axolotl-Themed Cookie Booth

Vote for Girl Scout Troop 920’s Larger than Life Cookie Booth!


TO ENTER THE #BLINGYOURBOOTH CONTEST:


  • Decide on a fun theme for your cookie booths.
  • Snap photos of your troop and their creative booth in action.
  • Submit photos to our Director of Marketing, Janna Joyner, at [email protected].
  • Photos will be shared on our Facebook page and in S'more News.
  • Have friends and family vote on your troop's photo by "Liking" it on Facebook.
  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will go to the photos with the most likes.



Winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 3rd.



Sweet Success: Share the Impact of

Your Girl Scout Cookie Proceeds

Have a unique idea for how to use your Cookie proceeds? Share your plans with us! We are thrilled to announce an exciting new initiative that celebrates the incredible impact your hard work during the Girl Scout Cookie Program can have on your communities and personal growth. We invite all troops and individual girls to share their stories of how they are using their Girl Scout Cookie proceeds to make a positive impact.


Whether it's giving back to the community, supporting Gold Award projects, or engaging in other meaningful initiatives, we want to celebrate your efforts. Starting on March 10th, coinciding with the beginning of Girl Scout Week, simply fill out this submission form detailing your troop or individual contributions and provide any supporting materials. The form will be open until April 10th.


Three outstanding troops or individuals will be honored at our "Inspired by a Girl" ceremony.


We believe every Girl Scout has the power to create positive change, and we can't wait to hear about the incredible ways you're making a difference. Thank you for being a part of this inspiring journey!

 

Early Bird Spring Membership Renewal

Get Ready for Another Year of Fun! It's time for Early Bird Spring Membership Renewal!



Monday, April 8, 2024 is the first day of Early Bird. The first 550 girls who renew their Girl Scout memberships on the first day will receive this exclusive patch. 


Also, join us on Facebook Live throughout that day to get updates on our progress and be entertained by our phenomenal GSCV staff.


Early Bird runs from April 8th to May 17th. We've got exciting incentives offered for those who renew! Stay tuned to next week’s S’more News for a complete list of incentives for girls, troops, and service units.

Program Events & Activities

2024 events are open for registration. Sign up now!


Program Events & Activities for all Program Age Levels



Daisy (D) grades K-1

Brownie (B) grades 2-3

Junior (J) grades 4-5

Cadette (C) grades 6-8

Senior (S) grades 9-10

Ambassador (A) grades 11-12

2024 GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship

Girl Scout Gold Award recipients change the world every day, and now you can share a chance to change theirs. Encourage them to apply NOW!


Applications are OPEN and close on April 17, 2024.


One Gold Award Girl Scout per council will receive a $5,000 scholarship!


Learn more and apply today. girlscouts.org/goldawardscholarship

Karate 4 Girls

Calling all fearless girls! Unleash your inner strength and stand tall at Karate 4 Girls’ empowering self-defense class, specially designed for girls who want to rock their confidence and learn essential skills to stay safe.


Classes will include exercise, basic drills, and self-defense. 


Patch Received: Self Defense Patch

Cost: Girl/Adult, $40/$0

Location: Camp Pamunkey Ridge

 

Saturday, April 13th

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM D B J .

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM C S A .


Register Daisy/Brownie/Junior
Register Cadette/Senior/Ambassador

Girl Scout Volunteer Spotlight:

Treska Wilson-Smith sells cookies for 65 years

In celebration of Girl Scouts' 112th birthday, The Progress-Index featured one of our dedicated volunteers, Treska Wilson-Smith. Treska started as a Girl Scout Brownie and has now sold cookies for 65 years!


"Wilson-Smith is a true testament to how Girl Scouts become trail blazers. She embraces the Girl Scout Mission in her daily life. The former Petersburg City Councilor was added to the list of Remarkable Women of Richmond in 2022. She continues to be a driving force to keep girls and adults in Girl Scouts in the Petersburg area."


What a beautiful write-up on one of our trusted volunteers. Treska is truly one of a kind, and we appreciate her commitment to girls and the Movement. Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout!

Read the Full Article

Training Opportunities

April 28, 2024

Pamunkey Ridge

Archery Level I

Coming soon!

Pamunkey Ridge

Beginning Camping

June 6-7, 2024

Pamunkey Ridge

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Paddlesports training (canoe, kayak, paddle board)

September 27-28, 2024

Pamunkey Ridge

TREK Weekend

Open 24/7
on-demand

Are you ready to hit the mark?


Level 1 Archery Training

Sunday, April 28th

9:00a.m.- 4:00p.m. Camp Pamunkey Ridge | $40

Registration closes April 11th


Archery is a Girl Scout staple and a confidence boosting experience for girls. The Level 1 Archery Training is for instructors and those interested in becoming an instructor. In this training you will become certified to bring this experience to girls in your troop, service unit, and special events! Adult instructors are required for Girl Scout archery activities.


Certification for GSCV’s archery program is provided through USA Archery. USA Archery offers Level I Instructor courses in a blended learning format. Volunteers will need to complete the knowledge portion of the course online prior to completing the in-person session at Camp Pamunkey Ridge.


USA Archery Level I Instructor certification is a required course for volunteers who wish to teach beginning archery skills to Brownies through Ambassadors. In Level 1, participants learn about range safety, range setup, the steps of shooting, equipment, and equipment repair. Girls 16 years of age and older are welcome to participate. This USA Archery certification is valid for three years and renewable online through USA Archery.


Registration for USA Archery Level I starts at the link below. You will receive the information to complete the required online course, then attend the in-person course on Sunday, April 28th.


Register for Archery Level I here!

Paddlesports training (canoe, kayak, paddle board)

Thursday & Friday, June 6-7, 2024, at Pamunkey Ridge Camp

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (both days)


By taking the Canoe|Kayak|Paddle board Certification, you will become certified to bring this experience to girls in your troop, service unit, and special events! Certified adult instructors are required for Girl Scout canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding activities.

Space is limited, so be sure to register right away! You will receive an email from the trainer with details regarding what you will need to bring the day of the training. 


Register today! 

Limited space, registration closes Thursday, May 23rd.



TREK Weekend 2024...

Save the Date!

September 27-28, 2024



For Volunteers - By Volunteers!


Our theme this year is TREK Through Georgia, held at Pamunkey Ridge

Girl Scout Camp. So, save the date and join us for exciting Girl Scout leader focused workshops, a chance to explore Pamunkey Ridge Camp, and a Georgia inspired menu. This adult only weekend is just for you! Watch S'more News for more details and the link to register.

Retail Shop

Build your My Girl Scout Kit

and get a Free Gift!


Get all the essentials you need for a great troop year and a Free gift! Purchase a total of $60 on program materials, uniforms, official apparel, insignia and choose your free drawstring bag (while supplies last).


Click to Shop Now or Visit our Retail Shop

Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia

804-746-0590 • 800-4SCOUT4 toll-free

[email protected] www.comgirlscouts.org


office hours: Monday - Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.


shop hours: Monday - Friday | 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Sunday | closed


S'more News is an e-publication for troop leaders and other volunteers

of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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