Have you ever looked around your neighborhood or school and wondered how you could make a change for the better? Going for the Girl Scout Silver Award—the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn—gives you the chance to show that you are a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving your community. Earning the award puts you among an exceptional group of girls who have used their knowledge and leadership skills to make a difference in the world.

Here are the steps you’ll take to earn your Girl Scout Silver Award:

1. Go on a Cadette journey.
2. Identify issues you care about.
3. Build your Girl Scout Silver Award team or decide to go solo.
4. Explore your community.
5. Pick your Take Action project.
6. Develop your project.
7. Make a plan and put it into motion.
8. Reflect, share your story, and celebrate.

Once you complete your journey, the suggested minimum time for earning your Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours. These suggested hours are a guide. You can start by planning the time in chunks, dividing it up by the steps. Check out the silver project that my troop came up with in the following blogs!!!

The Bully

Silver and Gold

Why Can’t We Be Friends

The girls of Troop 2149 got together and looked at some of the issues facing girls today. After some brainstorming, they came up with the idea to create a series of puppet shows based on these issues and perform them for our Service Unit Daycamp. They had over 60 girls in attendance. Get some popcorn and pull up your tweens and enjoy our production of “Silver and Gold” ~

The girls of Troop 2149 got together and looked at some of the issues facing girls today. After some brainstorming, they came up with the idea to create a series of puppet shows based on these issues and perform them for our Service Unit Daycamp. They had over 60 girls in attendance. Get some popcorn and pull up your tweens and enjoy our production of “Why Can’t We Be Friends” ~

The girls of Troop 2149 got together and looked at some of the issues facing girls today. After some brainstorming, they came up with the idea to create a series of puppet shows based on these issues and perform them for our Service Unit Daycamp. They had over 60 girls in attendance. Get some popcorn and pull up your tweens and enjoy our production of “The Bully” ~

Donna McAleer and her daughter

International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.

Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women’s rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as ‘International Women’s Year‘ by the United Nations. Women’s organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women’s advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women’s equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. Click here to find out more ~ International Women’s Day.

Girl Scouts of Utah held its annual International Women’s Day celebration, raising $75,000, at The Complex on March 7. In the past few years, the event has seen a dramatic increase in style and community awareness, thanks to increased sponsorship and production design from Events by LMG. Army veteran and 2012 Utah Congressional candidate, Donna McAleer was given the first-ever Tough Cookie Award, which honors exceptional women role models in the community. Upon entering, guests were served champagne from an evening gown custom-made to hold glasses. The program featured inspiring speeches from high-ranking women in the community, along with Girl Scout speaker Kelly Lopez. Guests also enjoyed a silent auction with more than 100 items, live music from Daniel Day Trio, dinner with a Girl Scout cookie dessert and cocktails.

Here are some highlights from the celebration!

Saturday, September 15 th – Salt Lake City, UT

9 am – 4 pm

http://www.goddessdaycamp.org/

Join me and some of my friends for a day full of motivating and inspiring workshops. Topics include -

Ronda Devereaux (that’s me)

Has the bluebird of happiness “should” on your head?

Vikki Carrel

Providing strategies for raising self esteem and helping mothers and daughters to connect.

Angel Shannon

Teaching stress relief solutions with humor and joyful wisdom

Vicki Winterton

Organization guru to help you un-clutter.

Holly Draper

An introduction to Aromatherapy and it’s many health benefits.

Additional classes include, Yoga, Dressing for Your Body Type, Debt Elimination and Minute Meals.

This event is a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts of Utah H.U.G.S. Campaign (Help Us Grow Strong)

http://www.goddessdaycamp.org/

*For all women ages 18 and up

*$25 early bird registration before August 25th

$35 registration August 26th-September 7th

(Lunch included for either option)

Solve it…like a girl! On February 18, Girl Scouts of Utah teamed up with the University of Utah’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for the third annual Girl Scout Engineering Day. Student engineers instructed over 100 Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors in fun science projects, including experimenting with bridges and robots, designing a house on computers and making ice cream with liquid nitrogen.

In addition to the workshops, Girl Scouts discovered ways to become involved in engineering fields. At the event, representatives from SWE and Professor Cynthia Furse discussed the lack of females who go into engineering. Speakers told girls that in any given engineering class, only a small handful of students are female.

Girl Scouts understands it is important for women to get more involved in these male-dominated fields. Events like Engineering Day are the perfect places to introduce girls to potential careers.

Girl Scouting’s Focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Engineering Day supports Girl Scouting’s focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (also known as STEM). STEM events teach girls to push boundaries, test limits and look at the world around them. The STEM initiative also inspires girls to pursue careers that solve world challenges and helps ensure that the U.S. stays relevant in a competitive global, knowledge-intensive economy.

Women and STEM: The Facts
In 2001, the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) published a study called The Girl Difference: Short-Circuiting the Myth of the Technophobic Girl. Since the initial publication, Girl Scouts of the USA and councils across the country have continued to research and speak on introducing more girls to the exciting world of STEM.

The Girl Difference examined the gap between girl and boy participation in math, science and technology at school, and why girls do not pursue courses in these subjects as frequently as boys. The study also found that even though today’s girls are increasingly using technology, it is not mirrored in their adult academic or economic pursuits. This contributes to the gap in the number of females and males employed in STEM fields.

In addition, social messages that are ingrained during childhood influence girls’ choices in classes, activities and, ultimately, careers. Boys are expected to learn about machines and how things work; girls are not. GSRI found that both girls and boys incorrectly perceive girls as “‘outside’ the technology culture” or “less competent”.

The sad fact is that even girls with strong STEM skills do not pursue careers in those areas. In addition to societal pressures, girls may be uncomfortable with a lack of female mentors or with entering heavily male-dominated environments.

Bridging the Gap
The consequences of gender-biased attitudes are limiting. Without equal partnerships between women and men, many industries feel short-changed. STEM programs help correct prevalent social attitudes by guiding girls into careers that will enable them to make a difference alongside male colleagues.

Partnerships like the one between Girl Scouts and the University of Utah help take down barriers. Showing girls that they are welcome and encouraged to enter engineering fields makes it more likely they will begin to pursue opportunities. Learning about engineering directly from female students also shows girls that they have ready-made mentors who will support them as they take their first steps toward technology-focused careers.

How to Encourage Girls in STEM

• The American Association of University Women found that girls are not taking advanced computer courses in high school. Encourage your girl to sign up for STEM-related classes she’s interested in, even if they are not required. Try introduction to physics, calculus, web design, geology or astronomy.
• Check out Girl Scouts of Utah’s Fun Stuff publication. GSU partners with awesome organizations across the state to give you a taste of STEM programming and careers.
• The National Science Foundation found that adults are not encouraging girls to pursue math, science and technology-related courses. Discuss your girl’s dreams and decide how you can work together to help her achieve them.
• Visit Girl Scouts of the USA’s Girls Go Tech web site at www.girlsgotech.org. This site provides information on careers, access to fun games and tips for parents/guardians who want to encourage their girls in STEM.

To learn more about what Girl Scouts has to offer the special girl in your life, visit our web site at http://www.gsutah.org/index.php.

Girl Scouts My Way!

Meet Jamie. Jamie is a Girl Scout and has been since she was five years old. When she was younger, Jamie was in a Girl Scout troop but as she got older and busier she found that being a Juliette was a better fit for her. As a Juliette, Jamie was able to participate in her favorite Girl Scout activities (like service, camp, and cookies) while still balancing school, volunteering, performing, cheerleading, drill team, and earning biology and science awards.

On April 10, 2010, Jamie was recognized along with dozens of her sister Girl Scouts at the Recognition of Excellence event in Salt Lake. Because of her accomplishments as a Girl Scout and her exceptional commitment to service, Jamie was awarded the Cornelia Benton Scholarship and was honored as a Graduating Girl Scout Ambassador.

Jamie is an extraordinary young woman and she attributes her success to being a Girl Scout. Jamie said, “Girl Scouting helps you to believe in yourself and teaches you how to succeed in your talents, school and community.”

No matter your schedule, your interests, your talents, your life… Girl Scouting is for you! Girl Scouting will help you achieve your goals and reach new heights. So, even when your life gets over-scheduled, don’t give up on Girl Scouts. Don’t give up on the possibilities! Follow Jamie’s example and find the best fit for you. That’s the beauty of the Juliette program. You can choose when and how you participate while being true to your goals and interests.

Contrary to popular belief, the Girl Scout experience is not limited to troops.  Juliettes are Girl Scouts of all grade levels who are not affiliated with a troop.  Working with a parent or other caring adult, Juliettes create their own unique Girl Scout experience their way, charting their own course that may lead them to camp, Journeys, badge work, cookies, service, leadership, and so much more.  The possibilities are endless!  For more information about Girl Scout Juliettes, visit www.gsutah.org or call (801) 265-8472.

We are privileged to count Jamie as one of our own. Her future is bright and her Girl Scout voyage has prepared her well. Her Girl Scout experience will illuminate her path as she sets off to accomplish great things.

“Girl Scouting teaches you so many things that help you prepare for the future. Girl Scouting teaches you how important it is to work hard and accomplish your goals. It teaches you how to get along with others and work on a team to get things accomplished. Girl Scouting gives you the confidence to know that you can do anything you put your mind to. Girl Scouting also teaches you about service and how to care for others which is one of the most important lessons I can use when I start to begin a family after college. Girl Scouting teaches you to help your community and to strive to be the best you can be.” – Jamie, Graduating Girl Scout Ambassador

By Maggie W., New Miss Media Girl Scout

Last spring our troop visited the “National Anne Frank Exhibit” at the Salt Lake City downtown library; it is an experience I will not soon forget. This exhibit was in honor of the girl leader Anne Frank.

Anne Frank is a leader to me because she shows that when everything seems hopeless you can survive and even be happy. She shows that you can find things to look forward to; you can find hope. After I read the Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and visited the exhibit I know she was very brave yet troubled and scared during the time of the Holocaust.

It is fun to read the same book as the other girls in my troop because we can talk about what we are reading and it makes me read books that I would not pick out on my own. The next book our troop is reading is The Omnivore’s Dilemma for Kids: The Secret Behind What You Eat by Michael Pollan.

Girl Scouts and volunteers took over a KSL5 studio on Monday, July 19, to film two upcoming commercials about the importance of Girl Scouting.

Both commercials feature individual girls and volunteers, as well as families who share the experience of a Girl Scout Journey.

Participant and Girl Scout father Frank Bedolla knows that supporting his daughter in Girl Scouts has made his life easier. It has also helped give his daughter confidence in herself.

“Parents should understand there is a great support network available to you in Girl Scouting,” he said. “It’s challenging to raise your kids on your own and the skills the girl in your life can learn in Girl Scouts will help her develop into a strong, confident woman.”

Frank’s wife, Cathy Valerio, agrees. “Girl Scouts is worthwhile because it teaches leadership through adults and girls modeling positive behavior. We learn from each other and bond in a special way.”

The commercials will air on KSL in August and September.

To learn more about Girl Scouts, visit our web site at www.gsutah.org .