Girl ScoutGirl Scout DAY CAMPSDAY CAMPS

irlirlof Southern Illinois Vol. 2, No. 5 Summer/Fall 2015

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coutscoutsCHRONICLECHRONICLE

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Inside this IssueInside this IssuePage

14Having Fun and

Enjoying Day andResident Camp

On the Cover

Mission:

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine is a compilation of news and fea-ture articles about Girl Scouting in southern Illinois. It is published by Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, a United Way supported not-for-profi t organization. Direct com-ments or suggestions to Jay Stro-bel, Senior Editor, at 618.692.0692.

Proud Partner

“Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confi dence and

character, who make the world a better place.”

Editorial StaffSenior Editor: Jay Strobel

Writer: Tricia HigginsWriter: Erin Johnson

Page

17

Julie LaFranceDay Camp DirectorEXTRAORDINAIRE!

GSSI and AT&T partner to bring

STEM to at-risk girls

Page

9

A highlight of Belleville’s Day Camp is the cardboard and duct tape boat races and family picnic. GSSI had 16 day camps this summer where girls explored the outdoors, learned to cook, sang songs, learned about wildlife and simply made new friends and had fun. Thanks to all of our dedicated Day Camp volunteers who ensured our girls have fun and excit-ing outdoor experiences! Also, girls attend Touch of Nature resident camp in Makanda, Illinois. To see photos, visit our website at www.gsofsi.org or Facebook page.

Linda Manley (Chair)Sharon Mayo (1st Vice Chair)Sarah Anderson (2nd Vice Chair)Susan Bowman (Treasurer)Angie Zahn (Secretary)

Board of Directors

LindaManley

Ellar DuffRex DuncanSandra EvansDr. Julie Furst-BoweRichard Huntington

Bishop Albert Ingram, Jr.Candis IsbernerSandra MaxwellJohn McCrackenCarla NilsonJulie ReedGail ShortDiane SiemerJulie ReedCaroline Stewart (Girl Member) Kayli Worthey (Girl Member)

Linda ManleyChair, Board of Directors

Villie M. AppooChief Executive Offi cer

Jay StrobelChief Communications Offi cer

Mary MuellerChief Finance Offi cer

Micah BolandisDirector of Mission Delivery

Emily KimmeyDirector of Fund Development

Joan BurkeDirector of Membership

Kelly JansenDirector of Product Program

Angela SuhreDirector of Program

Jonathan StanleyDirector of Property

2015Summer/Fall

Girl Scout Bronze AwardGirl Scout Bronze AwardThe Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior may earn and shows that she has made a promise to help others, improve her community and world, and become the best she can be.

Girl Scout Silver Award RecipientsGirl Scout Silver Award Recipients

Rowan DothagerStaunton

The Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, is symbolic of accom-plishments in Girl Scouting and community activities, as a girl becomes her best self and builds the world around her. The Girl Scout Silver Award project benefi ts a girl’s community and can be earned as an individual or as part of a group. Current Girl Scout SIlver Award recipients are:

Elizabeth BiermanHoyleton

Emma AccomandoTaylor AllenOlivia AllenMicahya BanksHayleigh BellEmma BlaskiewiczElizabeth BocockAshleigh BoyerOlivia BrumleveHailey BuckinghamZoe CampbellGennasee CannonLiv CernyDeyana ChisOlivia CodyKelsie ColeIsabella CrabtreeAllison CurryEva DescherJacelynn DierkingMegan DoolittleMorgan ElliffMegan FixCheyanne GalvinJacqie GogolekGurpretti GrewalSkyler Guerra

Carlie GunnAbby HasquinJaleena HemrichJillian HobackAnnie HobsonZoe HockZoe HolbackTaylor HoltenSara HullerKareena HunterSami JacksonLivia JonesKendal JonhsonMadelynn KarfsCaroline KeefeKaitlyn KoeingsteinJulia KoziatekGabbie LivingstoneCallie McGeeGabrielle McQuayGabriele McWhoterBrooke MercurioZoe MerrimanJoyce MoorleghenJenna MorganMorgan MoschinoPeyton Perry

Hannah PhillipsAutumn RameyAnna RehmerJenna ReynoldsMeredith RiedelElla RileyAnna RodgersEmma RussoKaitlyn Satterfi eldSavannah ScheffelMarlo SchiberAllie SchrumpfAllie ShulerZoe SmithNatalie SpadeHannah StillmanDaniele SudaRachel SudaEmma TutterowLiz ViguerieAlexis VoelkelHannah WalkerSabrina WaltersEva WilcoxenCadence WoodsLogan YoungAllison Zaiz

Inside this Issue

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Over this past year our GSSI Board and committee volunteers have had some intense discussions about our six camp properties and what is in the best inter-est of ALL our girls and we have had to make some very tough decisions. The one value that predominated all our discussions was that GSSI is committed to providing every Girl Scout with affordable and accessible outdoor opportuni-ties, so that all girls may experience the wonders of nature, explore their natural environment, develop outdoor skills and learn leadership skills. This is our un-wavering commitment to our girls, our volunteers and to all our members. In 2011/12, we completed a Strategic Property Plan and for the past 3 years, we have increased marketing for all our six camps, increased outdoor training opportunities for our volunteers and increased outdoor programming and ex-periences for all our members. Our goal was to increase usage at each camp to at least 30%, which was deemed sustainable by the GSSI Board. We gathered data and continually evaluated our camp properties to ensure that they were being optimally used.

A message for our dear Girl Scout family, friends and supporters from Girl Scout CEO Villie M. Appoo

With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we did experience a slight increase in the number of girls going camping, but usage rates for fi ve of our six camps still remained well below 30% and the expense required to support six camps remained over $500,000. As a result, our GSSI Board of Directors made the decision to contract with Kalei-doscope, Inc. to assess our properties and recommend a master plan. Kaleidoscope is a company with considerable expertise in assessing and planning for camp properties, including Girl Scout camps and helping non-profi ts plan for the future. This summer Kaleidoscope and GSSI held several town hall meetings and conducted a survey to get in-put from our girls and volunteers regarding our properties. Kaleidoscope evaluated each of our 6 camps individually based on several criteria developed by the Property Assessment and Planning Committee (PAPC), a group of volun-teers representing all parts of our council. Kaleidoscope developed their recommendation based on these criteria and multiple other factors. This recom-mendation was approved both by the PAPC as well as GSSI’s Property Task Force (PTF) and then submitted to the GSSI Board. GSSI’s Board of Directors unanimously accepted the PAPC’ and PTF’s recommendation and made some diffi cult decisions pertaining to GSSI’s camp properties at their Board meeting on July 21st. The following are the decisions made by the GSSI Board of Directors:

Camp Torqua: Retain; Enhance Camp Wassatoga: Retain Camp Butterfl y: Retain; Develop (Phase 2) Camp Cedar Point: Retire Camp Chan Ya Ta: Retire Camp Whispering Oaks: Retire

For more property background information, or to see survey results (1,110 respondents) and Town Hall meeting conversations, please visit the Property Assessment & Planning site on our GSSI website at www.gsofsi.org. Our Board’s decision to close and retire camps was not made lightly. For real change to be possible, we need to focus our resources and make hard decisions. I understand that the loss of a camp can be emotional and we respect the rich legacy of each of our camp properties. We laud the efforts of all our volunteers who used these camps and helped our girls appreciate the outdoors and their environment. We want to help our members continue this legacy and I can assure you that our Board has made a commitment to offer outdoor program opportunities in areas of council without GSSI property in close proximity - including the southern and east/northeast part of our council. We have already established collaborations in the areas where camps will be closing and have plans to expand these part-nerships. I invite you to join us as we embark on this next phase of our journey. We want you to partner with our Board, our staff and our volunteers as we plan for the future of outdoor programming at our council. We need your passion and energy, your experience and insights - we need YOU to help us move forward. My door is always open - please let me know how I can be of any help to you during this process. Thank you for all you do for our girls. Yours in Girl Scouting,

2015Summer/Fall

Planning for the FutureCamp and Outdoor Experiences for girls

For the past several years, GSSI has collected data in order to contin-ually evaluate camp properties and ensure camp resources are being optimally used to provide a premier camping and outdoor experience for girls and volunteers. GSSI’s Property Task Force recommended to the Board of Directors that GSSI contract with Kaleidoscope, Inc. a company with expertise in assessing and planning for camp proper-ties since 1984 - including eight Girl Scout councils. Following three town hall meetings, a property survey, for all mem-bers and site visits to each camp, Kaleidoscope presented a fi nal re-port with recommendations to GSSI’s Property Task Force and Board of Directors. The BOD met on July 21 to discuss the report and de-cide the best course of action for GSSI’s future. Girl Scouts shared the BODs decisions at Town Hall Meetings held August 10-11. They included:

• Camp Torqua - Retain and enhance • Camp Wassatoga - Retain • Camp Butterfl y - Retain, Phase 2 develop and enhance • Camp Whispering Oaks - Retire • Camp Chan Ya Ta - Retire • Camp Cedar Point - Retire

Camping and having an outdoor experience is an important part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. GSS’s Board of Directors is committed to providing every Girl Scout an affordable and acces-

sible outdoor opportunity so that all girls may experience the wonders of nature, explore their natural environment, develop outdoor skills and learn leadership skills. The Board of Directors and staff want more girls to go camping, more girls to love camp and more girls to have a fun and rewarding outdoor experience. Currently, all six of our camps are open and we encourage our members to use these great resources for day camping, over-night camping and events.

GSSI strives to provide outdoor experiences that appeal to a wide variety of our membership of all ages and abilities. We are committed to providing every Girl Scout an affordable and accessible outdoor opportunity so that all girls may experience the wonders of nature, explore their natural environment, learn outdoor skills and develop leadership skills. Following are some of the outdoor experiences we want girls to experience: • Physical (hiking, water sports, camping, team games) • Leadership Skill Building • Educational (environmental preservation, recycling, natural disaster preparedness) • Recreational (exciting, challenging, unique opportunities) • Socialization (life skills, care & service) For more information, go to GSSI’s website at www.gsofsi.org and click on the Property Assessment and Planning button.

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEW NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEW NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEW NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEW News Briefs

Gift of CaringDeployed Servicemembers enjoy

Girl Scout CookiesThanks to our generous cus-tomers and our partner-ship with Soldiers’ Angels and Mission of Moms, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois sent more than 1,100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to our deployed servicemen and servicewomen. Thanks to everyone who helped make Gift of Caring so successful. Please visit our GSSI Face-book page to see many more photos.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) has received a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to support Girl Scout STEM Ro-botics Leadership in Jersey, Macoupin, Madison and St. Clair counties. Robotics are a key component of GSSI’s commitment to giving girls opportunities and guidance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). By participating in three differ-ent robotics leagues at three different age levels, GSSI aims to engage more girls across southern Illinois in STEM, so that they can explore valuable career options, build critical thinking and technical skills and sustain a lifelong interest in topics that many girls drift away from by middle school. “Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is very grateful to be able to provide even more girls an opportunity to participate in STEM programs and compete on a robotics team through support from the Monsanto Fund,” said Mary Buchanan, GSSI Robotics Manager. “Engaging girls in STEM in fun, creative ways helps keep their interest in these valuable career fi elds, as well as develop their confi dence, teamwork and problem solving abilities.” This grant is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund focused on strengthening the Greater St. Louis commu-nity, where Monsanto Fund and Monsanto Company are head-quartered. The Monsanto grant will help fund GSSI’s robotics season which starts this fall with FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®). In this global robotics program for 9 to 14 year olds, participants build and program a robot using LEGO components. Teams also conduct a research project and explore FLL Core Values such as active participation, teamwork and gracious professionalism. After months of practice and preparation, teams begin com-

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Awarded $25,000 Monsanto Fund GrantGrant will be used to fund Girl Scout STEM Robotics Leadership in Metro East

peting at regional tournaments, with the highest scoring teams proceeding to a global tournament. The grant money will also be used to support several Junior FIRST Lego League (JrFLL®) teams and Botball® teams, which belong to a league that challenges middle and high school stu-dents to build two autonomous robots then program them using C, C++ or Java. The robots perform a series of preprogrammed tasks in direct competition with another team at the same table. Botball teams will compete at regional tournaments in the spring, with top scoring teams advancing to global competi-tion. In 2013, GSSI had the only all Girl Scout Botball teams in the world. In addition, the grant allows GSSI to purchase additional equipment to facilitate the robotics program, including robot kits and tablets. Financial assistance for girls who cannot afford the $15 registration fee to join Girl Scouts will also be provided. GSSI’s STEM program continues to be a progressive and for-ward-thinking initiative that has grown exponentially in recent years. In 2009, GSSI had just one robotics team. In 2015, they fi elded 30 teams. GSSI has dedicated staff and volunteers who develop the STEM program through research, collaborator cul-tivation, training and hands-on experience. GSSI strives to offer diverse and high-quality STEM program-ming, such as simple circuit wiring, programming robots, explor-ing forensics and more. To ensure that all girls have the chance to take advantage of these future-building opportunities, GSSI has integrated STEM activities into its outreach programs – which bring Girl Scouting to girls in underserved populations, such as low income neighborhoods, housing projects, rural communities and even detention centers.

2015Summer/Fall

GSSIPearl

of the

Month

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Honors Volunteers Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois rec-ognized several volunteers as Pearls of the Month for their exceptional service to GSSI, Girl Scouting and our girls and volunteers. The Pearl of the Month is awarded to volunteers who have deliv-ered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that our 14,000 girl members benefi t from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience. All nomi-nees must have completed all required volunteer training and have provided outstanding service to her or his Service

Unit or the Council. For more informa-tion about Pearl of the Month, contact Amanda Kaemmerer at 618.692.0692 or e-mail her at akaemmerer@gsofsi.org.

June Pearl of the MonthShelly Lemons

LebanonJuly Pearl of the Month

Sheila Jolly ScrivnerBluford

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEW S NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS S NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS S NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NE

Find out what it’s like to “Go Gold” at Sarah’s Gold Award Blog

News Briefs News Briefs

http://www.girlscoutshop.com/BADGES-PINS-AND-AWARDS/NEW-GIRLS-CHOICE-OUTDOOR-BADGES

Get a fi rsthand look at what it’s like to earn the highest award in Girl Scouting by following on ongoing blog by O’Fallon Township High School Junior Sarah Pavlisin. Sarah has been blogging each step of her Girl Scout Gold Award Proj-ect, which is creating a functional library and stress-free therapy zone for students with special needs at a local middle school. So far, Sarah has shared her experiences with picking a project topic, building sup-port and getting started on her project. Her candid look at the hard work, planning and dedication it takes to go gold is a great resource for girls who want to earn the highest award in Girl Scouting and an inspiration to everyone! Check it out here: http://gsofsi.blogspot.com/

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Camping is a great way for girls to explore the environment, build leadership skills, and develop a deep appreciation for nature. Whether they go for a day, week, or longer, Girl Scout camps give girls an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun under the guidance of caring, trained adults. Every girl deserves a chance to camp and have a fun and memorable outdoor experience. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois owns/operates six camp properties for our girls and volunteers to use and enjoy.

228 228 Troop and Service Units went camping.

2,400 2,400 girls participated in an outdoor program.

18,096 18,096 girls participated in one of GSSI’s 300 programs.

10,420 10,420 girls and volunteers used one of GSSI’s camps.

1,061 1,061 girls attended one of GSSI’s 18 day camps last year.

530 530 patches earned by girls participating in a variety

of leadership and outdoor programs.

Outdoor ExperiencesOutdoor Experiences

Girl Scouting has a long, storied and successful history of getting girls outdoors and popularizing the delight-ful campfi re treat called the s’more. The Girl Scout Re-search Institute reports that girls who have outdoor ex-periences have a better appreciation for nature and the environment, gain courage in trying new things, create memories with friends and build leadership skills that will last a lifetime. Outdoor experiences create more than s’mores! Your support will help keep outdoor program fees af-fordable and assist in providing nearly $150,000 in fi -nancial assistance so all girls have a chance to experi-ence the outdoors through Girl Scouting. Your support will help build girls of courage, confi dence and character - girls who will be our future generation of leaders! With your help, we can continue to provide magical and mem-orable outdoor experiences for our nearly 14,000 girls.

Project Outdoors: Give the Gift of the Great OutdoorsYou Can Help Fulfi ll Our

Camp Wish List•$2,500 can buy an automated external defi brilla-tor (AED)•$1,000 can purchase two paddle boards and oars•$500 can sponsor a girl to go on a four day outdoor adventure trip•$375 can sponsor a girl to go on a three day back packing trip•$100 can purchase 10 life jackets for water safety•$75 can send one girl to a week-long camp•$50 can purchase a camp mattress•$25 can provide volunteer training materials, First Aid kits, or program arts and crafts supplies

2015Summer/Fall

Imagine Your Imagine Your FutureFutureScienceTechnology Engineering Math

Girl Scouts and AT&T partner to bring STEM programming to at-risk high school girls

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois received another $22,500 grant from Girl Scouts of the USA and AT&T to advance Science, Technology, En-gineering & Math (STEM) for at-risk high school girls. The grant was part

of AT&T’s Imagine Your STEM Future initiative. During these STEM programs, girls participated in hands-on science experiments including making simple circuits and building mini robots. Today’s girls need program-ming that introduces them to a variety of STEM ca-reer options. GSSI has an extensive STEM program that allows girls to participate in a variety of STEM initiatives like programming robots, building bridges,

candy chemistry and STEM Explosion Day Camp. In fact, more than 1,800 girls participated in a STEM program in the past year. Girl Scouts leads the nation in empowering girls to pursue their interests in STEM. Girls exposed to STEM activities and careers while being encouraged by professional mentors are more likely to graduate high school, and more likely to explore future STEM related careers.

228

1,061

530

Outdoor Experiences

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Katie Albert could be described as a “small town girl,” but only technically. Sure, she is just seventeen and her hometown of Water-loo, Illinois has under 10,000 residents. Her perspective, however, stretches far beyond the horizons of the southern Illinois heart-land. In fact, Katie has her sights set on vis-iting all seven continents – a goal that she is on her way to accomplishing through Girl Scouts travel opportunities, known as Des-tinations. A summary of her Destinations trips so far: “Swiss Challenge” – Adelboden, Zurich and Bern, Switzerland. Katie hiked the Alps, ziplined, rappelled and toured local attrac-tions. “San Juan Islands Kayaking” – Washington. Katie joined a small group of girls who kayaked by day and slept under the stars by night. Girls took turns being leaders who checked tidal charts and plotted the course, as well as sweepers who made sure that no one in their group became separat-ed. “Amazing Oz & The South Pacifi c”- New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. Katie had diverse rural and urban adventures that in-cluded eating a geothermal meal in a Maori village, visiting the Sydney Opera House,

Switzerland

Chile

China

New Zealand

Washington

DestinationsWaterloo Girl Scout travels to 5 continents; goal is to visit all 7!

taking a day trip to the Blue Mountains, snor-keling in a coral reef and participating in kava ceremony. “Patagonia – Adventure at the Bottom of the World” – Chile. Katie kay-aked through the Straits of Magellan, hiked landscapes ranging from sandy beaches to volcanic rock, rode horses with gauchos and visited a penguin colony. “The Great Panda Adventure” – Sichuan Provence, China. Katie volunteered at the Dujiang-yan Panda Base, helping clean enclosures, prepare panda food, weed tea gardens and even feed pandas. She also explored area landmarks and culture, including touring Manjushri Monastery, Tiananamen Square and the Forbidden City and attending a tra-ditional Chinese opera.

Q. What inspired your love of travel? Family vacations were my fi rst inspira-tion. Those trips made me want to branch out more, but I thought my options would be pretty limited. Then, an older Girl Scout came to one of our troop meetings to talk about her Destinations and her visit inspired me. The next year, I went on my fi rst Desti-nation. That was all it took - I was hooked on

travel. Each trip I took made me want to take another; to continue the adventure of see-ing the world.

Q. How did the ambition to visit all seven continents come to you? After visiting my third continent (North America, Europe and Australia), I thought, hey, why not make it a complete set? The number of travelers who meet this goal are fairly small. I’d like to be one of those people! What has given you confi dence to pursue your dream?

Q. How has your travel perspective on trav-el changed? In an essay about my early Destinations, I said, “I used to think that the world was so much bigger than my backyard. Now I real-ize that the world IS my backyard.” Every trip I take reinforces that feeling. I used to be nervous and worried I wouldn’t make friends; I wouldn’t like where I was going; I wouldn’t like the food; I wouldn’t be able to communicate. Now I know it will be ok. I’ve learned to be confi dent. Don’t be afraid to

Story cont. Page 11

2015Summer/Fall

roads and buildings, much like any other city. I think you learn more about a country from what has been left untouched. Pretty much any tourist can fl y to a city and tour the museums or zoo. Not every tourist gets the chance to kayak, rappel or hike and become one with that country.

Q. What have been your favorite outdoor adventures? Rapelling into the Choleren Gorge in Swit-zerland was exhilarating and outrageously beautiful. It made me feel small and insig-nifi cant when looking up to the top of the gorge and the mountains surrounding it. At the bottom, when I looked up, I felt fi lled with energy. A close second would be kayaking the Strait of Magellan. It was high tide in the Southern Ice fi eld and was a little rough paddling at times, but so, so worth it! The water was frigid, but the air was warm. The sky was blue and the sun was shining. I was kayaking at the bottom of the world. I felt empowered and free and it seemed there was no limit to what I could do.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of travel to you? Travelling helps me realize who I am. You leave behind the day-to-day stress and is-

ask questions. Ask for directions. Ask what something is or what it means. It is ok to be curious. Try to speak the local language. Go with an open mind and be ready to try new things. Q. What have you learned from your vari-ous trips? Embrace the culture, learn about it and appreciate it. Take a moment to just think about where you are. Use all of your senses: what do you see, hear and smell? At fi rst, I thought the “big stuff” would be the high-lights of traveling. Things like seeing the Alps or the world-famous Sydney Opera House. What I’ve found is the opposite. It’s the “lit-tle stuff” that makes traveling memorable. The little stuff is what makes it real and what makes it YOUR trip. Playing an alphorn on the streets of Bern, watching an octopus disappear under a piece of coral while snor-keling, sitting in a kayak speaking Spanish with a native Chilean, feeding and petting a panda… My fi rst thought is “I can’t believe I got to do that!”

Q. You’re an avid outdoor adventurer – what draws you to outdoor experiences? Outdoor adventures are my favorite part of traveling. When you are hiking or kayak-ing, you see the countryside. Cities have

sues of your normal life. You have time to think and you become more aware of what is or is not important. You become more willing to let go of things in your life that bring you down. Also, talking to people from different back-grounds helps you look at things from a dif-ferent perspective. At home, most of your friends and family have much of the same experiences and similar opinions. Getting new perspectives helps you think more clearly and be open to other viewpoints. It helps you decide if your thoughts and feel-ings are really yours or if you have just been copying what those around you think and feel.

Q. What are some tips you would give other travelers who are just starting out? Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and be challenged, but make sure it is realistic for your ability. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Assume you will never visit this place again and make the most of your op-portunity. Realize you don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it. Also, Be fl exible. Travel can be diffi cult. Re-lax - it will work out! Don’t be afraid to make new friends. Have a positive attitude. Em-brace diffi culties. You will be a stronger per-son for it.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has received a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to support Girl Scout STEM Robotics Leader-ship in Jersey, Macoupin, Madison and St. Clair counties. Robotics are a key component of GSSI’s commitment to giving girls opportu-nities and guidance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). By participating in three different robotics leagues at three different age levels, GSSI aims to engage more girls across southern Illinois in STEM, so that they can explore valuable career options, build critical thinking and technical skills and sustain a lifelong inter-est in topics many girls drift away from by middle school. “Girl Scouts is very grateful to be able to provide even more girls an opportunity to participate in STEM programs and compete on a robotics team through support from the Monsanto Fund,” said Mary Buchanan, GSSI Robotics Manager. “Engaging girls in STEM in fun, creative ways helps keep their interest in these valuable career fi elds, as well as develop their confi dence, teamwork and problem solving abilities.” This grant is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund focused on strengthening the Greater St. Louis area, where Mon-santo Fund and Monsanto Company are headquartered. The Monsanto grant will help fund GSSI’s robotics season which starts this fall with FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®). In this global ro-botics program for 9 to 14 year olds, participants build and program a robot using LEGO components. Teams also conduct a research project and explore FLL Core Values such as active participation, teamwork and gracious professionalism. After months of practice and preparation, teams begin competing at regional tournaments, with the highest scoring teams proceeding to a global tournament.The grant money will also be used to support several Junior FIRST Lego League (JrFLL®) teams and Botball® teams, which belong to a league that challenges middle and high school students to build two

autonomous robots then program them using C, C++ or Java. The robots perform a series of preprogrammed tasks in direct competi-tion with another team at the same table. Botball teams will com-pete at regional tournaments in the spring, with top scoring teams advancing to global competition. In 2013, GSSI had the only all Girl Scout Botball teams in the world. The grant also allows GSSI to purchase more equipment to facili-tate the robotics program, including robot kits and tablets. Financial assistance for girls who cannot afford the $15 registration fee. GSSI’s STEM program continues to be a progressive and forward-thinking initiative that has grown exponentially in recent years. In 2009, GSSI had just one robotics team. In 2015, it fi elded 30 teams. GSSI has dedicated staff and volunteers who develop the STEM pro-gram through research, collaborator cultivation, training and hands-on experience. GSSI strives to offer high-quality STEM programming, such as simple circuit wiring, programming robots, exploring forensics, etc. To ensure that all girls have the chance to take advantage of these future-building opportunities, GSSI has integrated STEM activities into its outreach programs – which brings Girl Scouting to girls in un-derserved populations, such as low income neighborhoods, housing projects, rural communities and even detention centers.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Awarded $25,000 Monsanto Fund GrantGrant funds Girl Scout STEM Robotics Leadership in Metro East

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

The following Service Units have met their 2014-2015 Girl and Adult Membership Goals, or their 2014-2015 Girl Membership Goal or their 2014-2015 Adult Membership Goal.

l Scout Chronicle Magazine

e followiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnggggggggggg Service Units have met their 2014-2015 Girl and Adult Membership Goa

Meeting both Girl and Adult Membership Goal for 2014-2015 Girl Scout Year:

SU 15 Clinton Co. – SU Manager – Rose DetmerSU 51 N. Franklin – SU Manager – Alicia Dixon

SU 54 Perry Co. – SU Managers – Mary Lou Portell and April StanleySU 57 N. Randolph – SU Managers –Sarah Smith and Tina Witherby

SU 60 S. Randolph – SU Manager – Bev VanoverSU 63 Richland Co. – SU Manager – Mary Lou Spieth

SU 72 UPAC - SU Manager - Marci MalnarSU 78 Wabash/Edwards – SU Manager – Tracy CheesmanSU 105 Jersey/Calhoun Co – SU Manager Trisha Clevenger

SU 106 Bethalto – SU Manager Carolyn OesterleSU 202 ClinClair – SU Managers –Marsha Shirley and Nikki Labbee

SU 521 W. Coles – SU Manager – Heather McFarlandSU 544 Crawford/Jasper – SU Manager – Debbie Parker

Meeting Girl Goal for 2014-2015 Girl Scout Year:

All SU’s above as well as: SU 30 Jefferson Co. - SU Manager - Sheila Jolly Scrivner

Meeting Adult Goal for 2014-2015 Girl Scout Year:

All SU’s above as well as: SU 07 Bond – SU Manager - Diana Doll and Amanda Doll

SU 09 Centralia – SU Manager – Marsha NicholsSU 21 E. Marion – SU Manager – Cynthia Addison

SU 72 UPAC – SU Manager – Marcia MalnarSU 87 W. Frankfort – SU Manager – Mary Armes

SU 101 Alton/E. Alton/Godfrey/Roxana/ Wood River – SU Managers-Darcy Rowland and Jennifer Melton SU 107 S. Macoupin – SU Manager – Sara Drury-Dothinger

SU 109 Troy/St. Jacob – SU Managers –Dana Massie and Sarah TiptonSU 209 Millstadt/Columbia/Dupo/Smithton – SU Manager – Carline Jung

SU 210 New Athens/Marissa/St. Libory/Freeburg – SU Manager – Nanette Campbell

2015Summer/Fall

2015 Nut, Candy and 2015 Nut, Candy and Magazine ProgramMagazine Program

Important Important DatesDatesProgram Selling Dates September 26-October 17, 2015Order/Payment Due to Troop October 18, 2015Nut/Candy Delivery November 16-20, 2015Reward Delivery December 2015/January 2016

Mark your calendars! The Nut, Candy and Magazine program is a great way to earn funds for your troop while girls develop fi ve essential skills - goal setting, decision making, money goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.management, people skills and business ethics. And, the yummy treats will be delivered in time for the holidays! It’s a spotcaular win for everyone!

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

2015

Day

2015Summer/Fall

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois volunteers planned and held 16 Day Camps for ap-proximately 1,000 girls this summer. Camp themes ranged from “Muggles, Magic & Mayhem” to “Camp Safari Survivor,” “Once Upon a Time, Chapter 3,” and ”Hungry Games.” While at camp, girls made new friends, sang songs, learned to cook out-doors, played games and simply had fun. Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped to make this summer’s day camps so successful!!!

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

2015 Resident Touch of NatureMakanda, Illinois

2015Summer/Fall

By Elizabeth Bruchhauser

In early June, magic came to Highland’s Silver Lake Park during a Girl Scout Day Camp titled, “Muggles, Magic and Mayhem.” The Harry Potter-themed day camp is directed by volunteer Julie LaFrance and recently wrapped up its fi fth year of operation. Like most day camps, girls have the opportunity to make new friends, see old friends, and have fun, adventurous expe-riences they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Muggles, Magic, and Mayhem day camp is ex-ceptional in that it allows girls the opportunity to explore chemistry (“potions”), physics, botany (“herbology”), astronomy, fi tness (“quidditch matches”) and animals (“magical creatures”) with a unique twist based on the popular literary and fi lm series. While many activities today are competitive and exclusive, La France explained that, “Girl Scouts has a fundamental commitment to include every-one.” Because of that commitment, Muggles, Magic, and Mayhem is designed to fi t the abilities of any girl who would like to come and try something new. In doing so, LaFrance sticks to the Girl Scout Mission to build girls of courage, confi dence and character who make the world a better place. Girls are able to be courageous when given the opportunity to meet people and try new things. Confi dence is gained as girls build accomplish-ments in diverse activities, ranging from archery to problem solving. Character is developed as girls learn to get along with others. Girl Scouting runs in Julie LaFrance’s “muggle” blood. Her fi rst time as a director was not her fi rst experience with day camp. More than 30 years ago, she attended day camp at Silver Lake as a girl. Julie’s mother, who had been a troop leader when Julie was a Girl Scout, can now be found volun-teering at camp by playing Harry Potter character Professor McGonagall, and helping with snacks and teaching girls about healthy eating. LaFrance couldn’t compare the camp that she fi rst attended to the camp she directs now. The camp she attended as a girl focused on traditional Girl Scout activities such as canoeing and hiking. Now, LaFrance strives to create a day camp that emphasizes exercise and science. She wants Highland Day Camp to offer “fun with education snuck in there.” Despite the differences between camp experi-ences of her youth and the ones she now directs,

LaFrance ensures day camp continues to hold on to the core principals of Girl Scout Day Camp. “It is still girl oriented with activities varied enough to pique the interest of a variety of girls. There are still moms, outdoors, bugs, songs, and SWAPS (Special Whatchamacal-lits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere),” she said. As she writes thank-you notes, LaFrance emphasizes how grateful she is for the day camp’s many adult volunteers, and the necessity of showing this appreciation. “Send thank you notes,” she said. “Volunteers must be willing to put girls fi rst. It’s a big sacrifi ce for volunteers, but their positive energy and attitudes only make camp better. Girls become a product of the environment and mimic the adults.”

Meet

Professor Dumbledore

also known as

Julie LaFrance

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Camp 2015

Congratulations!!

2015Summer/Fall

130Years of ServiceLois and Stan Clark from Trenton are VOLUNTEERS extraordinaire!!!

Dynamic DUO recognized at Illinois State Fair

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ Stan and Lois Clark, from Trenton, have reached a milestone that few other volunteers can ever imagine achieving. This husband and wife team have been volunteering with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts for a combined 130 years. On August 17, Stan and Lois were recognized by Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger at the Illinois State Fair for their many years of service to girls and their community. The state fair had proclaimed Tuesday as Senior Citizens Day and Girl Scout Day. “Girl Scouting in southern Illinois would not be what it is today without the dedication, passion and leadership of all of our volunteers, but Stan and Lois are the benchmark,” said Villie M. Appoo, GSSI Chief Executive Offi cer. “This won-derful couple volunteer in so many different roles for GSSI, ranging from leading two Girl Scout troops, to Service Unit involvement and teaching CPR/First Aid/AED certifi cation classes,” Appoo added. “We have recognized their volunteer service here in southern Illinois, but it is heart-warming to see them recognized statewide by Comptroller Munger.” Stan and Lois grew up across the street from each other and bonded from their mutual love of Scouting. They stayed involved through all age levels, and went right on to becoming leaders as adults. From being stationed overseas and back, they never left Girl Scouts. Lois even started a troop of Girl Guides when they lived in Greece. Their children were also in Girl and Boy Scouts…in fact, each of them earned the Girl Scout Gold Award (two daughters) and their son earned the Eagle Scout Award. “Stan is a perfect example of how we should respect each other and respect those who lead us. He is dedicated to what Girl Scouts stands for…dedicated to God, Country, helpful and courageous; he is the Girl Scout Promise and Law wrapped into one human being,” said JoAnna Espique, Service Unit 202 volunteer. “Lois is a very special person who is a leader and inspiration,” said Lara Lynn, Service Unit 109 volunteer. “She is caring and loving. Because of all these traits she is a true Girl Scout from the heart. I don’t know where my life would be if I had not met and worked with her!”

Congratulations!!Congratulations!!

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Gir

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New

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Shop Hours and LocationsShop Hours and LocationsCorporate Service Center#4 Ginger Creek ParkwayGlen Carbon, IL 62034 618.692.0692800.345.6858Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.Shop Contact: Stacey Port

Extended GSSI Shop HoursCouncil Shops will be open on the follow-

ing Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. September 12, 2015

October 3, 2015November 7, 2015December 5, 2015

Regional Service Center4102 S. Water Tower PlaceMt. Vernon, IL 62864618.242.5079800.345.6858Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.Shop Contact: Brittany Galloway

Shop Online at Shop Online at www.gsofsi.orgwww.gsofsi.org

shop anytime at www.girlscoutshop.com

while supplies last

Every girl deserves her very own !

Girl ScoutStarter Kits include:

Choice of Sash, Tunic or Vest, Wavy Flag, Council ID Set, Troop #s, Insignia Tab, Pins, Journey Book or Girl’s Guide, and a Free Canvas Bag (Purple or Black). Stop by one of our council retail stores. Check out the starter kits and all of our other new items!!!

From September 15 until December 15

both shops will be open until 7 p.m. on

Tuesday evenings.

NEWNEWITEMSITEMS

Baseball Style Tee

$30-33Peace, Love

& Nature. Relaxed fi t.

Cotton/poly-ester rib knit.

Adult sizesStripe Cross Body Bag

$16Adjustable strap. Cotton canvas; polyester lined.

6 1/2 BY 8 inches.

Daisy Mia Doll

$19.95Mia joins

her three newDaisy friends,

Lily, Ava and Kiara

*NOTE: $10 coupon can be redeemed on a $25 or more purchase

Nov. 25

Check it OUT!!

2015Summer/Fall

Legacy

Registered adult Girl Scout volunteers in the 4L’s program need to recruit at least one ADULT who is NOT currently registered as a Girl Scout for the 2015-16 membership year to join Girl Scouts.

Both people fi ll out their portion of the 4L’s registration form on the back of this page. The newly recruited volunteer must register using the 4L’s registration form by May 31, 2016 or register on-line. The name of the recruiter MUST be listed on the form.

The recruited volunteer submits his or her 4L’s registration form along with a $15 Girl Scouts of the USA membership fee*. Mail to: GSSI, Attention: 4Ls, #4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen Car-bon, IL 62034.

Or the new volunteer can register online by going to www.gsofsi.org and click on REGISTER NOW, create an account and register.

Once registered, the recruited volunteer can start attending Girl Scout programs and events.

*Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Call 800.345.6858 or visit our website, www.gsofsi.org, for the Opportunity Fund form to request fi nancial assistance. This form should be submitted with the 4L’s registration.

GIRL SCOUT LEADER RECRUITERFree 4L’s t-shirt (one per recruiter)Pride in sharing Girl Scouting with other girls in your community.

NEWLY RECRUITED VOLUNTEERMembership in the premier leadership organization for girls!New friends, opportunities and lots of fun!

How 4L’s Works:

4L’s Perks:

Find Us: www.gsofsi.org

Leaders

a Legacy

4L’s Volunteers are the heart of Girl Scouting2015-2016

Leading

Girl Scout Chronicle Magazine

Registered Girl Scouts (all age levels) in the 4G’s program need to recruit at least one girl that is NOT currently registered as a Girl Scout for the 2015-16 membership year to join Girl Scouts. Girls are able to recruit girls at all age levels. Th e recruited girl must be NEW to Girl Scouting.

Both girls fi ll out their portion of the 4G’s registration form on the back of this page. Th e newly recruited girl must register using the 4G’s registration form by May 31, 2016 or register online. A girl recruiter must be listed on the form.

Th e recruited girl submits her 4G’s registration form along with a $15 Girl Scouts of the USA membership fee*. Mail to: GSSI, ATTN: 4G’s Coordinator, #4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen Car-bon, IL 62034. Or the newly recruited girl and guardian can go to www.gsofsi.org and click on REGISTER NOW, create an account and register on line. Once she is registered, the recruited girls can start attending Girl Scout programs and events.

*Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Call 800.345.6858 or visit our web-site, www.gsofsi.org, for the Opportunity Fund form to request fi nancial assistance. Th is form should be submitted with the 4G’s registration.

GIRL SCOUT RECRUITERFree 4G’s t-shirtFree 4G’s patchTh e proud feeling of sharing Girl Scouting with other girls in your community.

NEW RECRUITED GIRL SCOUTFree 4G’s patchMembership in the premier leadership organization for girls!New friends, opportunities and lots of fun!

How 4G’s Works:

4G’s Perks:

Girls Guiding Girls to Girl Scouting (4G’s) 2015-16

Adventure

Friendship

Fun

Find Us: www.gsofsi.org

Discovery

Once registered, the newly recruited girl can start attending Girl Scout programs and events.

1.2.3.

4.

Dancing With Our Stars raises $21,000

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a Proud Partner of United Way. Each year, Girl Scouts receives fi nancial sup-port from various United Ways. Without United Way’s continued support of Girl Scouting, we would not be able to provide as many programs, services and activities for our girls and adult volunteers. Thank You, United Way!

Your United Way Dollars at Work for Girl ScoutsYour United Way Dollars at Work for Girl Scouts

DevelopmentDevelopmentUpdateUpdateBuilding Leaders For America

Dancing With Our Stars raises $21,000Dancing With Our Stars raises $21,000 Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois raised more than $21,000 during its 7th Annual Dancing With Our Stars (DWOS) fund-raiser at Krieger’s Convention Center at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon on Sat-urday, Aug. 22. Dance team Bollywood Twisters, sponsored by Kaushal Pediat-rics, took home the Mirror Ball Trophy for fi rst place. Carolyn and Dean Montague, sponsored by Paulette and Ron Schnei-der, won the Judges Choice award. Also participating were the dance teams of: Centre Stage Dancers, spon-sored by Centre Stage Studios; Devin Riley and Kara Bachelor, sponsored by Poppy’s; Mt. Vernon High School Drama Club, sponsored by Candy and Fred Is-berner; Lesa Woods, sponsored by Larry and Bobbie Drury; Sister Suffragettes, sponsored by Centre Stage Studios; The Hocketts, sponsored by Higgins Custom & Collision; Drama Mamas, sponsored by Diane and Rick Siemer; and The New Evolution, sponsored by National Rail-way Equipment Co. This is the second time the Bolly-wood Twisters participated in Dancing With Our Stars. Gauri is a freshman at University of Missouri Kansas City in a 6-year medical program. Younger sister

Priyanka is a Mt. Vernon High School fresh-man. Their parents own Kaushal Pediatrics Services LTD in Mt. Vernon. “What a wonderful night during our 7th An-nual Dancing With Our Stars,” said Villie M. Appoo, GSSI Chief Executive Offi cer. “We are so grateful to everyone who participated in and supported this year’s DWOS fundraiser,” said Appoo. “Everyone from our DWOS com-mittee, to our dancers and the generous Mt.

Vernon community helped make this fun-draiser very successful.” According to Ap-poo, funds raised during DWOS will help Girl Scouts continue to develop leadership programs for girls, maintain and improve its camps and help out-reach to at-risk girls. Co-hosts for the event were Brandon Bul-lard with RARE and Bria Ashby with Commu-nity First Bank. Celebrity judges were Mike Beard from The Insurance Store, Joe Gliosci with Peoples National Bank, Finny Mathew of Crossroads Community Hospital and Mary Beth Mezo with Smokin’ T’s Competi-tion BBQ. Teams competed to win DWOS’ Mirror Ball Trophy by earning the top spot in a two part scoring system. The judges’ scores provid-ed the fi rst element to the dancers’ scores. The second element added a dash of audi-ence participation and even more excite-ment, as dancers accrued points with dona-tions from their supporters and attendees at the event. Other DWOS sponsors included: Trophy Sponsor: Crossroads Community Hospital; Vote Tabulation Sponsor: Community First Bank; Silent Auction Sponsor: First Mid-Il-linois Bank & Trust, Premier Radio Sponsor, WDML; Fred and Tammy Klapetzky, DJ; and Krieger’s Convention Center at Holiday Inn.

Bollywood TwistersBollywood Twisters2015 DWOS Champions

• $1,500: Give $500 a year for three years and become a Juliette Gordon Low Society Member. Your gift helps fund girl program development, assists in camp maintenance and improvements and provides fi nancial assistance for at-risk girls.•$500: Provides reusable Robotic Kits to start a Robotics Team.• $250: Provides safety training and materials for 15 volunteers.• $100: Pays for a Girl Scout membership for 7 girls for one year.• $50: Purchases a sash/vest, badges and journey book for 2 girls.• $25: Provides First Aid kits or program arts and crafts supplies.

You can help get her there by supporting GSSI’s TGHT Campaign

Send your donation to: Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, #4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen, Carbon, IL 62034

Invest in Girls.Change the World! Or visit the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois website at

www.gsofsi.org to make a secure online donation.

Girl Scouts of Southern IllinoisCorporate Service Center#4 Ginger Creek Parkway

Glen Carbon, IL 62034

Regional Service Center4102 S. Water Tower Place

Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

Start Your Girl Scout Journey Today...visit our website at: Start Your Girl Scout Journey Today...visit our website at: www.gsofsi.orgwww.gsofsi.org

Girl Scouts is for girls like US!Girl Scouts is for girls like US!