PROGRAM NEWS

GS Express is a monthly e-newsletter to provide timely news and updates about programs, events, registration and other issues pertinent to girl and adult members as well as staff in a Web-friendly format. In being Web-friendly, the content of GS Express will link from the e-newsletter to additional information/expanded articles on the GSWCF website. GS Express is e-mailed to volunteers, girls, parents, adult members and staff.

The primary method of distribution is e-mail, and the print version has been phased out effective July 2008. It is imperative that everyone in the GSWCF community updates her/his e-mail addresses or signs up to receive the e-newsletter via the newsroom on www.gswcf.org. Please communicate the importance of updating e-mail addresses and subscribing to GS Express to your troop leaders, volunteers and parents. E-mail addresses can be updated and paper copies are available for print by visiting http://www.gswcf.org/news-room/news-pubs.aspx.

New Grade Levels

Each new calendar event contains markings indicating participation requirement. See legend below:

T - troop/group
I - individual girl (girl/adult ratio provided; girls can attend other events with an adult)
F - family
D - Girl Scout Daisies (Grades kindergarten-1)
B - Girl Scout Brownies (Grades 2-3)
J - Girl Scout Juniors (Grades 4-5)
C - Girl Scout Cadettes (Grades 6-8)
S - Girl Scout Seniors (Grades 9-10)
A - Girl Scout Ambassadors (Grades 11-12)

Coming Soon! Discover! Program Fall/Winter Edition

Keep an eye out for the fall/winter edition of Discover! Program, coming to a mailbox near you in mid-August! You will be able to view a PDF of the publication on www.gswcf.org beginning Aug. 18, and registrations will open on Aug. 30.

We are also pleased to announce registration is now real-time. Before you click submit, you will know whether or not there is room for your troop to participate. We hope that this will make things easier for you and you will take advantage of online registration now more than ever.

The fall/winter edition of Discover! Program edition reflects many changes troop leaders and parents have asked for. Some things to note include:

• The format has been changed and is organized by month. Each event is also listed with a quick find key so you can see at a glance if this is an event for your grade level troop. For example, you will see an F for families, a D for Daisies and a J for Juniors.
• Troops have also let us know that learning an event is cancelled two weeks before the event date does not allow enough time for troops to plan alternative activities. All events will now close or confirm three weeks prior to event date, so don’t wait ’til the last minute to register or you may miss out!
• Council events are designed around the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and the three keys. The connect key: connecting with others to form caring relationships, promote cooperation and team building, and embracing diversity is an important part of all council-level events. Girls who attend council events as a troop may be split up to help them make new friends and embrace those different from themselves. Learning to meet new people and connect with others is an important life skill we want to help girls grow from.
• Obviously, we need adult volunteers to help make the Girl Scout experience happen for girls, but please observe Safety-Wise ratios when attending council events. If every parent attends an event with her daughter, a lesser amount of girls will be able to experience the program designed just for them, since there are a limited number of openings. We also know girls are more likely to experience growth when they participate in activities themselves. Events are designed for girls, and adults will not be able to participate in activities.
• Discover! Program is going green! In an effort to use resources wisely, the fall/winter 2009 issue will be available as a PDF on the website, and copies will be mailed only upon request.

The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience is:

• The new design for what girls do in Girl Scouts
• Set to launch in fall 2008 with full implementation by 2010
• Based on the three keys to leadership: Discover, Connect, and Take Action
• Girl-led, based on “learning by doing” and “cooperative learning”
• Serving the Girl Scout mission of building “girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place”

Gold Award Recipients Featured in Local News

On Saturday, June 14, 32 Girl Scouts of West Central Florida received their Gold Awards, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. Several of the girls’ projects were featured in local news outlets. To check out the Gold Awards coverage, visit the newsroom on our website.

Equestrian Facilitator Training

Do you love horses? Do you want to help girls experience the equestrian program? If so join us for equestrian facilitator training.

This two day training will teach you basic horse care skills and how to help facilitate girl workshops like Horse Rider Badge and the Horse Kicks Try-It.

After completion of the training, you will be certified to help facilitate at council sponsored equestrian program events; facilitators earn $10 per hour for their services. You must be at least 18 years old and be able to successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screening to be eligible.

Questions? Contact Connie White, equestrian program manager: (813) 417-9583. To reserve your spot, fill out the registration form; you will receive a confirmation two weeks before training. Deadline for registration is Sept. 22.

Oct. 11 & 12
9 a.m. Saturday – 3 p.m. Sunday
Camp Wildwood Barn; sleeping accommodations have been reserved at Horseshoe Meadows
$15/person to cover cost of food
Bring: sleeping gear, personal items and a bag lunch for Saturday
Minimum:8/Maximum: 25

Cha-ching, Cha-ching!

Are you interested in helping Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors learn about financial literacy? If so, please attend our workshop on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Tampa Service Center. This workshop will give you skills to work with your own girls on this topic or facilitate this workshop for troops in our council. It’s never too early to learn money management skills! If interested, please e-mail tcostello@gswcf.org.

GSWCF Program Facilitators Needed For the Polk County Area

Do you like helping girls and have a taste for a challenge and adventures? We are looking for adults to facilitate events in Polk County. Older girls can also facilitate program for service hours. For more information or to volunteer, contact the regional program manager: (863) 688-7648, ext. 106.

Winter Break 2008 at Hogwarts needs Program Aides!

Girl volunteers will be the primary facilitators during this weekend in December. Girl Scout Cadettes (7th and 8th grades), Seniors and Ambassadors who have completed program aide training may apply for the position. Adult volunteers are also being recruited.

Interested? E-mail your interest to GSTroop453@aol.com (please put “Hogwarts: Program Aide Volunteer request” in the subject line or your e-mail may be deleted as spam).

Community/Volunteer Service Opportunities for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors

• Earn the Hi-Tech Hide and Seek Interest Project working on pre-event assignments/ projects and helping to staff a Letterboxing and Geocaching event. No prior knowledge required. You must commit to do research and “meetings” by phone, e-mail or in person before the event and for the entire event day, Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Withlacoochee State Forest near Inverness and Floral City. Contact Cindy Lackey: (877) 215-4425, ext. 105.
• Marion County Springs Festival needs Girl Scout volunteers to help with a public festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Silver River State Park, Ocala. Contact Cindy Lackey: (877) 215-4425, ext. 105.
• Ocala National Forest Centennial Celebration would like to involve Girl Scout volunteers at the Dec. 13 event at Camp Kiwanis in the Ocala National Forest. Contact Cindy Lackey: (877) 215-4425, ext. 105.

See a Show at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center!

See a Show at the Lakeland Center

See Winnie the Pooh Live (Aug. 21), Disney on Ice-Worlds of Fantasy (Aug. 29 & 30) and MAGIC TREE HOUSE®: THE MUSICAL (May 9) at the Lakeland Center!

Donate a Book!!

Take a look along your bookshelves and donate gently used – or new! – books for newborns to kids up to age 10 for the United Way’s Annual Book Drive.

GSWCF has accepted United Way of Tampa Bay’s invitation to participate in its Annual Children’s Book Drive this summer. The drive will put books directly into the hands of thousands of children who don’t have them.

Between Aug. 6 and 27, drop your books off at the front desk, Resource Center, or Girl Scout Store at any of our three office locations and help children in low-income families take the first step needed to one-on-one reading time:

This is a great opportunity to involve your family in making a difference in the lives of low-income kids in our community.

For more information, please contact our United Way Workplace Coordinator Kristie Wiley: (813) 281-4475, ext. 252 or kwiley@gswcf.org.
 

Here’s to Your Heart’s Health

The new Walking Trail Kit, created by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, is available to check out through the Resource Centers. The kits were developed to help kids in the community get healthy and active, and include information and tools to set up a walking trail at little to no cost! Inside the kit are sign up sheets, flyers, mile markers, stickers and certificates.

Reserve a Walking Trail Kit today!

Programs Available at Bok Tower Gardens

Brownie Eco Explorer or Plants
Join us for fun and educational field trips that include a self-guided tour and kit to complete one or both of the Eco Explorer or Plants Try It! This program includes completing all the requirements for your selected badge program.
$7/participant; 2 comp teachers/parents/chaperones per 15 girls
By reservation; schedule your own date; first come, first served. Program is two hours.

Junior Earth Connections or Outdoor Creativity
Join us for fun and educational field trips that include a self-guided tour and kit to complete one or both of the Earth Connections or Outdoor Creativity badge programs. This program includes completing 7 of the 10 requirements for your selected badge program.
$7/participant; 2 comp teachers/parents/chaperones per 15 girls

By reservation; schedule your own date; first come, first served. Program is two hours.

Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Eco-Action or Plant Life
Join us for fun and educational field trips that include a self-guided tour and kit to complete one or both of the Eco-Action or Plant Life badge programs. This program includes completing many of the requirements for your selected badge program. For girls in grades 6 – 12.
$7/participant; 2 comp teachers/parents/chaperones per 15 girls
By reservation; schedule your own date; first come, first served. Program is two hours.