Girl Scout Blog Clippings

ArticlesBy JunoKughlerCarlson

Girl Scouts finish a record-breaking cookie seasonby Juno Kughler Carlson May 2011

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council had a record-breaking cookie season this year with 2,085,276 boxes sold council-wide. Last year’s total number of boxes sold was 1,753,148. The average boxes sold per girl this year was 252 as opposed to last year’s average of 234 boxes per girl. This is the second highest per girl average in the nation.

The Girl Scouts’ “I CARE” program also raised a record number of donations. Through “I CARE,” cookie buyers choose an organization they would like to gift with their cookie dona-tion. The program benefits military service

Top seller, Caitlin Loret, sold an incredible 4,051 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

The “I CARE” program benefits military, emergency service providers and local charities.

people as well as local charities such as food banks, women’s shelters, Ronald McDonald houses and camps. Our slogan was “If you can’t eat ‘em, Treat ‘em.”

As a result, 164,600 boxes of cookies were donated through I CARE--an increase of 34% over last year. More than 107,000 of those boxes were donated to Operation Gratitude to be shipped to deployed military, the largest single donation from any orga-nization ever.

It’s an incredible feat for a troop to sell 4,000 boxes of cookies. It’s absolutely astonishing for a single girl to do so. Yet this year the two top selling girls from San Gorgonio Council did just that.

Top selling girl, Caitlin Loret, sold 4,051 boxes. She focused her energy on booth sales, a mall kiosk and door-to-door direct sales. Caitlin will be trav-eling to Richmond, Virginia with three members of her family to visit ABC Bakery, where the Girl Scout cookies are made. They will tour the amaz-ing facility, have lunch with the General Manager of the facility and discuss strategies for another successful sale.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio donated a record-breaking107,000 boxes of cookies to Operation Gratitude

Elizabeth Locke-Thomas, Vice-President of Retail & Product Sales with top seller, Caitlin Loret

Second top seller, Dakota Gregory, sold 4,000 boxes of cookies. She focused on the “I CARE” program, posting information to her Facebook and on door flyers.

How did Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio manage to achieve these record-breaking numbers at a time when the country is suffering from an economic downturn?

“It’s because our focus is always on the girl,” said Elizabeth Locke Thomas, Vice President of Retail and Product Sales. “It’s about helping girls develop entrepreneurial, business, service and leadership skills that will last a lifetime. Each girl has her own unique sparkle and per-sonality and we encourage her to express that in everything she does.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgo-nio also offers cumulative incentives to girls at differ-ent sales levels.

“The foundation of this program is to teach the girls that they can achieve any goal they choose to set for themselves,” said Locke-Thomas. “We try to come up with incen-tives that give them the opportunity to do some-thing that they might not normally be able to afford or experience and place them at attainable levels. They can spend a week-end on Catalina Island, receive an iPad or earn “Cookie Dough” that can be applied to things like going to camp or buying

their high school class ring. The sense of pride and accomplishment these girls get from earning these things all on their own is absolutely incredible. By the end of the experience, they walk away knowing that they can accom-plish anything they set their minds to.”

Dakota Gregory, the second top seller, sold 4,000 boxes of cookies by focusing on the “I CARE’ program.

Girl Scouts selling 750+ boxes of cookies enjoyed an exclusive Cali Girl experience at Disneyland

HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

For each box of Girl Scout cookies sold:

• 42% provides girl programs, volunteer training, upkeep of camp facilities, special events and more in the Inland Empire

• 28% goes directly to troop funds• 30% pays for product costs.

NUMBER OF GIRLS AT MAJOR INCENTIVE LEVELS

Cali Girl Disneyland Experience• 750+ boxes of cookies• 544 Girls

Weekend at Catalina Island• 1,250+ boxes of cookies• 129 Girls

Apple iPad• 3,000+ boxes of cookies• 42 Girls

NUMBER OF GIRLS EARNING COOKIE DOUGH

This year 5,902 girls earned $366,789 in “Cookie Dough” that can be applied to things like going to camp, attend-ing special events and buying their high school class ring.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confidence and character who help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Girl Scouts travel Europe thanks to cookie sales by Juno Kughler Carlson - July 2011 Thanks largely to money earned from cookie and fall product sales, Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Troop 593 were able to travel to Europe. The fourteen girls and 6 leaders spent two weeks exploring London, Paris, Rome and Munich.

A history previously only known through textbooks sprung to life as they visited sites once inhabited by artists, writers, politicians and other famous figures. One girl was thrilled to visit the home of her favorite author, Nathan-iel Hawthorne. Another girl who had taken AP art history gasped and cried when she saw Raphael’s painting, “The Mass at Bolsena” in Rome for the first time. A World War II history buff was excited to visit the Winston Churchill War Rooms in London.

“We even got to see the Queen at a distance,” laughed one girl. “We were watching the changing of the guards

when suddenly everyone started running up to this Jaguar and taking photos. It was the Queen and her driver.”

In Germany they visited Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp. The stark rooms and gas chamber had a chilling effect on the little group. One of the Girl Scouts was Jewish, and the tour had a big emo-tional impact on her. She held her friend’s hand tightly and the two stayed close to one another as they moved from room to room. One of the guides observed their reaction and asked them who they were and why they had wanted to come to the concentration camp. They ex-plained they were Girl Scouts from America. “My friend here is Jewish, and I am from German descent,” said one girl. “I know there are Ger-mans who deny the Holocaust ever happened. For me it ‘s important to educate myself about my ancestral history and see this place firsthand.”

The Eiffel Tower in Paris proved to be an unexpected lesson. One scout struggled with her intense fear of heights, panicked and sobbing as she

and having fun with the other girls. I don’t think it would have ever hap-pened if she hadn’t made this trip.”

There were also cultural differences that surprised the group. At one point the girls sat picnic style on the ground outside to eat and received a lot of dirty looks from the locals. “Ev-idently you can’t sit on the ground to eat. It’s just not done. It was kind of funny because people were sit-ting down on monuments and drinking, and that was okay. Also you NEVER eat

with your fingers in Europe unless it’s a sandwich--not even pizza! It’s considered barbaric.”

The girls enjoyed staying at the hostels, which were simple but comfortable. In the evenings it was hard for them to remember to go to sleep because the sun was still out. “We’d be laughing and talking together and one of the leaders would remind us it was getting late and we needed to get to bed. It was weird because the sun was still out which made it feel earlier. It didn’t start getting dark until after 10:00 at night.”

The troop offered these suggestions to other scouts who are planning international travel. “Don’t dress alike. When we wore the same troop shirts, we were treated like tourists. It sets you up a vic-tim for theft and people also constantly try to sell you things. When we dressed differently, we had a much better time.”

They also recommend do-ing two countries instead of four so that you can really explore and not be rushed. “We would just start getting familiar with a city when we had to take off again.” The troop also advises groups to leave room in their schedule to make unexpected stops. Local people will often make recommendations of inter-esting places to visit, but if

you are too tightly booked you can’t take advantage of it.

“It was a life-changing trip,” said leader Vickie Ward. “It really had a huge impact on the girls and I could see them grow up so much because of it. For me, this was the best part. They also learned how to gracefully adapt to the unexpected. Sometimes places we had scheduled to visit were closed or things didn’t go as planned.”

17-year-old Caitlyn Ward agreed. “The whole trip was in-credible. I love history, and being able to visit places I had only read about in books was just amazing. It brought everything to life in a way I could never have experi-enced otherwise.”

The entire 2-week trip cost $3,300 per person and covered all expenses except for souve-nirs. Caitlin Ward was able to cover almost 85% of her cost with money raised from her Girl Scout cookie and fall product sales and made small payments over the course of a year to cover the rest.

“Most of these girls would never have had the opportunity to take an international trip without Girl Scouts,” said Vickie Ward, “Not only did they enjoy visiting other counties. It really gave them a great feeling of pride and ac-complishment.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio are always exploring exciting new opportunities. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

11-year-old Girl Scout rescues drowning toddlerby Juno Kughler Carlson - October 2010

For Michelle Navarrete and her friend, Monday started as a typical joint family outing. The two moms had decided to take their kids for a relaxed stroll along the Riverbank Walk in Riv-erside. After walking a bit, the families went over to explore the hedge maze. The children were all playing together in the maze when a two-year-old toddler in the group suddenly wandered out of one of the outlets by the river and slipped on the em-bankment, falling into the river.

“It happened so fast!” said Michelle Naverrete.”We all ran to save her, but my daughter Grace was already there ahead of us, jumping into the river and calling her name. We got there a few seconds behind her and I remember hesitating, scanning the water and trying to figure out where the child was. For as long as I live I will never forget the sight of that baby’s tiny foot and hand popping up then disappearing--it was impossible to actually see her because the water was so murky. But Grace kept moving her arms through the water until she felt the little girl’s shirt and was able to grab onto her.”

Grace pulled the toddler towards the embankment and handed her to Michelle who scooped her up and gave her to her mother. The women soothed the frightened child and tried to help her expel any fluid she had swallowed. Surprisingly the toddler spit up a mouthful of mud, but seemed to have taken in very little water. Her mom had been teaching her how to hold her breath underwater in the swimming pool over the summer, and both women believe that because of this the little girl reacted instinctively when she hit the water.

Grace climbed out of the river and ran to get her sweater to wrap around the baby. The child’s mother was shaken and moved beyond words at Grace’s selflessness and quick thinking.

“If it weren’t for Grace, I would not have gotten my baby back. There is no doubt in my mind. We were only a few seconds behind her, but when you’re dealing with a child that tiny those few seconds can be the difference between life and death. Once she went under, no one could see her, and she wouldn’t have been able to hold her breath much longer. I would have lost her.”

Grace is just happy her little friend is okay. “I was really scared when I saw her fall in,” said the eleven-year old. “She was splashing around in the water and then she just went under. I kept looking for something to grab and finally managed to grab hold of her shirt. When we pulled her out the water she was quiet and shaking--not even crying. You could tell she was really scared.”

Those who know Grace are not surprised by her heroic rescue. “She’s like everyone’s big sister,” said Dani Greg-ory, Grace’s Girl Scout Troop leader. “She is always looking out for people. When she first joined Girl Scouts, Grace was really shy and introverted. Now she’s this outgoing and confident girl who enjoys new experiences and is always ready to help others. She is a wonderful friend to the other girls, a great big sister, and a good daughter to her Mom, showing nothing but love & respect always. Even before saving this child and becoming a hero in other’s eyes, she already was a hero in mine. She’s an amazing young lady, and I am so proud of her.”

Scouts go behind the scenes at Palm Springs Fire Station #2By Juno Kughler Carlson - May 2010

Recently the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Daisy Troop 111 invited their big brothers and little brothers to join them for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Palm Springs Fire Station #2. The children were able to walk through the living quarters to see where the firemen eat, sleep, workout and relax between calls.

To show the children what happens when a call comes in, the firemen simulated a nighttime alarm. They climbed into their beds and turned off all the lights. A moment later alarms rang , all the lights flashed on and off and the men had sixty seconds to race to their trucks. The Girl Scouts were impressed by how quickly everything hap-pens!

The firemen talked to the children about fire safety

and explained that it was vital for each family to have an es-cape plan and to establish a safe place where they can meet outside the house in case of emergency.

The Daisies learned how 911 calls work and got to meet the dispatchers who handle the

phones. They learned how important it was to be able to give your location when calling in an emergency, espe-cially when using a cell phone, because the dispatchers are only able to pinpoint your address from land lines.

Next the children were invited to tour the various kinds of fire engines. They were able to climb into the trucks while the firemen explained the importance features of each fire engine and its purpose. The girls were impressed to see that each truck was equipped with its own computer and GPS system that allowed the firemen to pull up the location of the fire and determine the fastest route.

The Girl Scouts also discovered that there were different kinds of trucks used to respond to different kinds of emer-gencies. They learned that there was a fire engine whose job was to put out fires on planes. That truck had a special spear-like tip to the fire hose that allows the firemen to puncture through the skin of the plane to quickly put out a fire, without having to try to find an open door.

At the end of the tour, the children were allowed to hold a fire hose to see how fast the water flows when it rushes through. Then one of the moms took over and sprayed the kids while they laughed and ran through the water. Afterwards, the Daisies presented the firemen with boxes of Girl Scout Cookies as a thank you for all they do.

The Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council are always doing interesting things! To learn more on how to get involved with Girl Scouts in your area call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at www.gssgc.org.

Girl Scouts credit wilderness first aid training in their rescue of a comatose hikerby Juno Kughler Carlson - July 2010

When camp counselors Kathleen Crocker, 21, and Victoria Carroll, 22, attended the Girl Scouts of San Gorgo-nio Wilderness First Aid class at the end of June, they never thought they would actually have to put those lessons into practice. But when an elder-ly man showed up at Camp Azalea Trails this month, seeking help for his comatose son, the girls’ skills were put to the ultimate test.

The man, who appeared to be in his late 50s, had been on a 12 hour hike with his 27-year-old son on the Seven Pines Trail in the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild. Towards the top of the moun-tain the son, a Type 1 diabetic , began feeling ill and short of breath. Soon after, he lost consciousness and fell into a diabetic coma. The father remembered passing the Camp Azalea Trails Girl Scout camp on the way up and de-cided to go there for help. Carrying his son, he walked back down the mountain for 5 hours before his body gave out from exhaustion. Carefully he laid his son down off the trail near a creek where he thought he would be safe and continued the trek to the camp, almost two miles away.

Finally the man made it to the edge of Camp Azalea Trails, where he approached the horse wranglers for help. Immediately, camp director Monique Nichols (Turtle) contacted 911 emergency crews, requesting paramedic help and airlift assistance. In the meantime, the Girl Scout staff assembled a rescue team that included assistant camp director Jennifer Thomsian (Trumpet), camp nurse Christina Abraham (Kitty) and camp counselors Kath-leen (Triceratops) and Victoria (Hello).

“We are so well-trained and have such trust in each other and our abilities, that there was no hesitation or pan-ic,” said Kathleen. “No one freaked out, and we felt confident and calm. We knew exactly needed to be done and what role each person would play in the rescue.”

Christina, the camp nurse was positioned at the base of the trail with a walkie talkie radio where she became the primary communications contact between the staff rescue team and the fire department. Kathleen, who is a cross

country runner, was selected to be first responder. Her job was to run ahead of the team and carry the glucose needed for the unconscious hiker. Victoria followed close behind with the backboard in tow. Jenn was 15 minutes behind the girls, walking with the fa-ther, monitoring his condition, and maintaining radio contact with Christina.

”I never thought we’d actually have to use our first aid training this way,” said Victoria. “Suddenly here we were, running up the side of a mountain, but inside I felt really calm and prepared. It was an intense mo-ment, but it felt good to realize I knew exactly what to do.”

Kathleen was the first to reach the unconscious young man. She immediately checked his vital signs, paying attention to his breathing, circulation and the color of his lips.

“I was totally focused on what I had to do. In my mind I was following step-by-step each procedure I had

learned in our first aid training. I didn’t get caught up in fear or worry because I knew I had the skills to deal with the situation. It was my job to help people. I was giving him my very best and that was all I could do.”

Once she was satisfied he was stable, Kathleen turned the man on his side to prevent him from choking while she put some of the liquid glucose into his mouth. The sugar immediately helped, and he became semi-conscious, moving slightly and mumbling for help.

In the meantime, the fire department had arrived, but their radio equipment wouldn’t work in this mountain area. They stationed their truck at the foot of the trail where Christina, the camp nurse was in radio communica-tion by walkie talkie with the girls. This enabled them to exchange information on the young man’s condition. Because of the hiker’s con-dition and the isolated location he was in, he needed to be airlifted to the hospital. The staff rescue team was able to provide detailed di-rections to the fire department regarding their exact distance from the trail head and direct the helicopter to the best pickup point.

When the helicopter arrived, two of the fire-men repelled to the ground one at a time and raced across to where the staff had secured the hiker to a backboard. They checked over the man’s vitals and commended the girls on their fast action and professionalism in stabilizing the patient. The young man was then airlifted into the helicopter and transported to the hos-pital for further treatment.

The staff then followed the father to where he and his son had pitched camp and helped him to pack up his things and carry them back down the mountain. Back at Camp Azalea Trails, they gave him food and drink and printed out a Google map to give him driving directions to the hospital.

Despite all the excitement of helicopters flying overhead, the Girl Scout camp was surprisingly serene. The re-maining camp counselors had calmly continued their work with the girls, making sure the various routines and programs continued as usual.

“Our counselors go through intensive training that includes everything from first aid and basic outdoor skills to team building techniques and helping kids deal with homesickness,” said camp director Monique Nichols. “Most of these young women are pursuing careers like teaching, counseling or medicine that involve working with kids, so they understand how to help them to feel safe, confident and happy. The most important thing they can do in this kind of situation is to maintain a feeling or normalcy for the girls, so that was their primary focus.”

For the staff rescue team, not only did the day’s events underscore the effectiveness of their Girl Scout training classes, it also was a good test of the breadth and quality of their equipment. Their first aid kit was well stocked with emergency medicine like the needed glucose. The backboard was professional grade and worked well during the airlifting. Possibly most important of all, the walkie talkie radios the camp had invested in performed effectively when those of the fire department did not. Without that critical two-way communication, it would have been impossible to share important patient care information or direct the helicopters to the proper location.

“We have an amazing team here at Camp Azalea,” said Monique Nichols . “It’s really comforting to know that our staff has the skills, capability and trust in each other, to handle any emergency situation that might arise.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, character and confidence who help to make the world a better place. To learn how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, contact us at 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at www.gssgc.org.

Girl Scouts enjoy a well-earned trip to Catalina Islandby Juno Kughler Carlson - September 2010Photos by Elizabeth Locke-Thomas

Better incentives had many girls from the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council (GSSGC) setting higher cookie sale goals for themselves this year. Previously, girls who sold the top level of 1000+ boxes of cookies earned an overnight stay at the Lazy J dude ranch in Malibu. This year,GSSGC revamped incentive levels to include: a week-end on Catalina Island for 1250+ sellers and a new Dell laptop for 2000+ sellers.

“The difference in sales was astonishing.” said Elizabeth Locke-Thomas, Vice-President of Product Sales. “We had a 42% increase from last year! That’s the highest year over year growth in the history of Girl Scouts in the United States. That’s amazing! Many of the older girls had never sold more than 300 boxes before. But they set these goals for themselves early on and were determined to succeed. That’s really what it’s all about--teaching girls that they can achieve their dreams.”

For these eighty-nine top sellers ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old, their Catalina Island adventure was an in-credible dream come true. The girls planned all their own activities, including hiking, sports and waterfront activi-

ties. Because the Campus by the Sea where they stayed provided their own life-guards, the Girl Scout counselors were able to actu-ally join the girls in the water and share in the fun.

“I was really impressed by ev-erything that was available for the girls to do,” said one leader. “Kay-aking, tubing, snorkeling--all

the equipment was supplied for them. It’s something we just never could have afforded to do on our own. I’m grateful that our girls were able to have this kind of experience.”

“I think my favorite part of the trip was when the girls went fishing from the pier,” said Nancy Perdue, Vice-President of Finance. “One of the girls actually caught a fish for the first time in her life. The look on her face was priceless! Not only did catch her own fish, she cleaned it herself and ate it too. When I talked to her later, she was just glowing with pride at having accomplished something like this all by herself.”

“The girls had an amazing time, and they are al-ready making plans to come back next year,” said Locke-Thomas. “You’d see them sitting together in

little circles, totally unprompted by adults, sharing selling tips and strategies. They are very smart young businesswomen and almost never sell cookies by the box. They always approach people with the question: How many cases can I get you?”

Although the waterfront activi-ties were the hands down favorite among girls and staff, there were other special moments that every-one will remember: the smell of fresh baked bread wafting down to the beach from the campus kitchen, songs and stories around the campfire at night, the skits and ceremonies performed on stage, hiking up the trails and enjoying the amazing view, setting up a makeshift spa and giving each other facials and manicures, and the hilarity that ensued when one of the Council staff was rescued from an overturned kayak and was sure she was being attacked by seaweed.

As they headed for home on the ferry, the girls were treated to

another magical moment. They were awed to see a whale surface just ahead of their boat, blowing wa-ter through his spout and putting on quite a show. The captain stopped the ferry so everyone could watch. It was the perfect ending to an amazing adventure.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls with courage, character and confidence. Learn how you can get involved in Girl Scouting. Visit us online at http://gssgc.org or call us at 1-800-400-GIRL (4475).

Girl Scouts Visit Savannah to Explore Their Historic Rootsby Juno Kughler Carlson - August 2011

When it came time to plan the bridging ceremony to mark their graduation from Cadettes to Seniors this year, Troop 799 knew they wanted to so something special. They decided to take a trip to Savannah, Georgia to visit Girl Scouts’ First Headquarters and see where Girl Scouting first began. What started as an historic field trip became a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would renew their commit-ment and change the way they looked at scouting forever.

“We all knew the basic history of Girl Scouting and our founder Juliette Low,” said co-leader Melinda Dougherty. “But this experience really helped us to understand just how radical Juliette’s ideas were for her time. This was a woman refused to let anything hold her back.”

The troop toured Juliette’s birthplace, then took a class on how to be a proper lady in the 1800s. It was a fun and eye-opening experience. They donned hoop skirts and shawls and spent two hours learning basic society rules and etiquette. Lesson one? The only way to sit gracefully in a hoop skirt is to perch uncomfortably on the very edge of one’s chair!

The scouts quickly realized just how strict the rules of society had been. Conversation between men and women was often limited so they relied on more subtle ways of communication. If you were a single woman, you would sit with your palms in your lap facing upwards to let a potential suitor know that you were available. If you were married, you kept your palms down to show your jewelry and how well you had married.

The girls also learned that fans were not just pretty accessories. The way a woman held or fluttered her fan had very specific meaning. Placed near the heart, it said you have won my love. Touching finger to tip of fan meant I wish to speak with you. A fan held over left ear said I wish to be rid of you.

The troop also toured Tybee Island and visited an old Civil War fort where they learned about the Girl Scout Militia program and earned a patch. The instruc-tor taught them the flag system the Girl Scouts used and talked about how the Girl Scouts trained soldiers from World War II in the art of Morse code. Two of the girls

were even able to prime and load a cannon, which the instructor subsequently shot!

On the day of their bridging ceremony, the troop visited the Girl Scout museum at First Headquarters where they learned more interesting facts about their Girl Scout Heritage. Their guide told them a story about how Girl Scouts had been part of a California WWII evacuation plan.

It was believed at that time that California was vulnerable to attack after Pearl Harbor because of its ammunition manufacturing plants. The plan involved children being taken to the closest school in their neighborhood if there was a perceived threat of attack. Girl Scouts were to meet them there and hike out of city limits to outlying caves that were stocked with emergency supplies and food. They were to stay there until the adults came back for them and if they didn’t within a week’s time they were to hike to the next city and ask for help. Fortunately, they never had to put that plan into action.

The guide also explained how caring for children

is a long standing tradition for scouts and how they even baby-sat for moms who were crossing the picket lines during women’s suffrage. Babysitting stations were set up close to the polls to allow the moms to vote without having to carry their children across the hostile picket lines.

On the day of their bridging cer-emony, the troop gathered in the courtyard where Juliette had made her daily walk from her house to the headquarters. One by one, the girls were invited to come forward. Each was asked “Are you ready to

follow in the footsteps of Juliette Gordon Low and step up to the challenges of being a Senior scout?” When they answered yes, they were invited to step up and through the door. There, their leaders pinned them with the spe-cial pin only girls who have visited First Headquarters are allowed to wear, gave them the Girl Scout handshake and welcomed them to Senior scouting.

Afterwards their guide challenged the girls to think about how they wanted to impact the world and make it a better place, and the girls recited the promise in front of Juliette’s portrait in the museum room of the house.

Finally the guide led them to where the Eternal Flame lit by the first registered Girl Scout, Daisy Gordon Law-rence, flickered inside a gas lamp in the courtyard. She spoke to them about the sig-nificance of the Candle Light Ceremony that is so popular with scouts which was started by Juliette. The flame represent-ed the glow we feel when we do good, the warmth we get from the friends we make in scout-ing, and how we should be the light of the world.

Each girl was given a candle to light from the Eternal Flame and was charged with the task of passing its light on to others. As part of Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary next year, the troop will share that flame of friend-ship and service with their sister scouts in the Inland Empire in a special ceremony.

“The whole thing was so in-spiring,” said co-leader Melin-da Dougherty. “You could see the pride the girls felt at being a part of an organization with such a rich history. They come from a long line of exceptional women who broke through traditional boundaries to make a difference in the world around them.”

“I am glad, very glad, that I stayed in Girl Scouts,” said scout Sarah MacMillan. “I am not stopping now. I am only getting started!”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, con-fidence and character who

help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Girl Scouts send 10,000 Cranes and $7,500 to Japanby Juno Kughler CarlsonMay 2011

When images of the devasta-tion from Japan’s tragic earth-quake and tsunami hit the news, girls and volunteers at Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council had just one question on their minds: “How can I help?” The result was the GSSGC Japan Aid project.

According to Japanese legend, anyone who folds a thousand

paper cranes will be granted their heart’s desire. Girl Scout troops, along with friends and neighbors, folded paper cranes as a symbol of hope and support to our sisters in Japan. In addition many of the scouts sold cookies to contribute to the relief efforts in the most severely affected communities. Altogether the project raised $7,500 and produced 10,000 paper cranes.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confidence and character who help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Top-Selling Girl Scout visits Wisconsin factoryby Juno Kughler Carlson - November 2011

Murrieta, Calif. - For 12-year-old Dakota Greg-ory, Girl Scouts is not just about earning badges and attending troop meetings. It’s about getting to know interesting new people and experi-encing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that wouldn’t be open to her any other way.

Last year Dakota was the top fall product seller for Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council, selling $1,700 in nut and candy items. In recognition of her amazing accomplishment, the Council flew Dakota and her mom Dani to Waukesha, Wisconsin in August to visit the actual factory where the nuts and candies are made.

Because she was wearing her Girl Scout vest on the plane, Dakota immediately caught the atten-tion of the pilot, who invited her to join him in the cockpit. The captain put his hat on her head, and invited her to take his seat. He talked with her about flying and explained what different buttons and gauges were for. She was impressed to learn that pilots had to retrain and re-qualify all the time in order to meet airline safety stan-dards. The captain also talked about the fact that

there are more men than women in his profession and how hard it is to be away from your family so much of the time. It was a wonderful experience that came about all because her Girl Scout uniform.

Finally they arrived at the first of the two fac-tories owned and operated by A.L. Schuzman. They were met by the Vice President, Mark Beveridge, who took Dakota and her mom on a tour to show them from start to finish, all that goes into getting a simple can of nuts. Dakota was invited to push the big red button that set the assembly line in motion.

She was able to observe the nuts making their way down the line and see the machinery that roasts the nuts in peanut oil. Mark described the men who monitored this process as “art-ists” and explained how they are able to tell what needs to be adjusted just by the color of

Girl Scout Dakota Gregory on a factory tour with Mark Beveridge, Vice President of A.L. Schuzman

the nuts coming out.

Next was the packing line, which was dominated by a gigantic tower of silver cans with no labels or bottoms. Instead, the safety seal top of the can acted as the bottom during the filling process. After each can was filled, the plastic top and can bottom were then added and the labels were glued on. The cans of nuts were then packed into flats to be stacked onto pallets for shipping. At the end, Mark presented Dakota with one of the finished cans of nuts as it came off the line.

Last, they visited the chocolate fac-tory. The aroma--even outside the factory--was simply delicious. Dakota

and Dani were able to watch pecan clusters being made, and the long tubes carrying chocolate from giant vats made them feel like they were in Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. They were fascinated by the careful, multi-lev-el process that very slowly cooled the chocolate to the correct temperature.

Throughout the trip, Dakota and Dani learned more about the history of the family-owned company that has been in business since 1921. They were surprised to learn from Mark that many of the employees had been work-ing there for 20-30 years. He explained that it was a small community and that the employees were proud of their jobs and thought of each other as family. There was very little turnover.

He noted that Ashdon Farms, the fundraising sales division of the company, has the newest employees. The division is actually growing and creating new jobs both here and abroad thanks in part to the sales generated by Girl Scouts! It was a fantastic example of how Girl Scouts affect change not only in their local communities but on a national and global scale as well.

Dakota loved every minute of her time at the factories and felt immensely proud that Girl Scouts plays such an important role in generating jobs as well as making a difference in her own community.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confidence and char-acter who help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org. Dakota Gregory and Vice President Mark Beveridge

outside of the A.L. Schuzman nut factory

Girl Scouts help kids in crisis with Cuddles for Kidsby Juno Kughler Carlson - April 2011

When it came time for Troop 955 to select their Bronze Award project, the Juniors had a difficult time settling on an idea. It was one scout’s memory of a tragedy and a stranger’s kindness that finally inspired them in a mission to help kids in crisis.

The little girl remembered going to Disneyland with her infant brother and their parents when she was just 3 1/2-years-old. It was a typical amusement park outing, and the family was enjoying the time away together. Their mom had just finished nursing the baby and he was sleeping comfortably against her chest in the baby carrier. Moments later, the family discovered the 4-month-old had died in his sleep of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syn-drome.

The little girl remembered all of them being rushed to the hospital and how scared she was by everything that was going on. In the middle of all the sadness and craziness, a paramedic came over, knelt beside her and handed her a little teddy bear. She remembered holding tight to the stuffed animal and how in that brief moment it made her feel safe and normal again.

Every one of the girls in the troop could relate to that story. All of them had stuffed animals that they loved and knew how happy and secure they felt holding them. The Girl Scouts decided they wanted to help police and firemen make a difference to kids in crisis by collecting donations of stuffed animals they could hand out when responding to emergency calls. They named their project Cuddles for Kids.

“This is an exceptional group of young ladies,” said leader Sue Herring. “I am so proud of this troop and how they are taking charge of this project to help our police and firefight-ers give comfort to the children of our community. Not only are they helping others, they are also learning important skills like project management, time management, market-ing and so much more. The project means a lot to them, and they are so happy to be doing something that helps kids”

If you would like to help Troop 955 with their Cuddles for Kids project, you can drop off your donation of new or gen-tly-used stuffed animals at the First Lutheran Church, 1207 W. Cypress Avenue in Redlands. The office hours are 9-5, Monday through Friday. The deadline for donation drop off is August 1st. For more information on Cuddles for Kids, please contact leader Sue Herring at 909-307-6161.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confi-dence and character who help to make the world a better place. For more information on how you can get involved with Girl Scouts call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us on-line at http://gssgc.org.

Girl Scouts sleep with the sharks at Adventure Campby Juno Kughler Carlson - June 2010

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Troop 1673 recently had the incredible experience of sleeping inside the shark aquarium at San Diego’s SeaWorld Adventure Camp. The nine parents and twenty-nine girls arrived in the early evening and enjoyed a private dinner buffet followed by a personal tour of the park. They visited the bat ray pool and learned about the composition of a bat ray, how it swims and how it compares to sharks. The guide showed the Girl Scouts how to feed the bat rays by holding fish in the V of their fingers so the rays could suction it and eat it.

Next they visited the seals and the sea lions and where the girls learned about the differences between the two. Seals are dark in color while seal lions are peppered, and the two animals have different types of fins. Some of the girls had fun trying on seal and sea lion cos-tumes and masks.

Then it was time to learn about the sharks. The tour guide explained about the composition of a shark using a plastic model. The Girl Scouts were able to see actual shark jaws and learn about the three different type

of shark’s teeth. Knife teeth were pointy and serrated, fork teeth had points on all sides and can-opener teeth had a curved ridge like a can opener.

The guide gave each of the girls a real shark’s tooth and beads to make a necklace. She showed them how to make a slipknot around the tooth to keep it secure. Afterwards the girls spent some time at the shark petting pool, where they had the opportunity to pet baby tiger sharks.

Next the group attended the Shamu Rocks light show. The troop was seated in a private area and every girl was given a snack, a drink and a fluorescent necklace to wear. After the show, the crowds left and the girls were treated to a spec-tacular surprise fireworks show.

Finally the troop gathered inside the aquarium tunnel where they got ready for bed. The bravest moms and girls laid out their sleeping bags on the air conditioner units that lined either side of the shark aquarium. The more faint of heart bunked down in the scaredy cat area with the tropical fish.

“There were quite a few squeals throughout the night as girls would wake up to find themselves face-to-face with a shark,” laughed leader Kimberly Romaro. “They loved it.”

The next morning the girls had a wonderful break-fast in the An-heuser-Busch Deli and then joined their families for a day of fun in the park. Everyone had a fantastic time, and the girls are already planning next year’s Adventure Camp: this time sleeping with the penguins!

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council are always doing interesting things. To learn how you can get involved in Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at www.gssgc.org.

Girl Scout wins Walkabout Photo Contestby Juno Kughler Carlson - February 2011

To kick off cookie season this year, Girl Scouts of San Gor-gonio ran a Facebook contest for the best Walkabout photo. A Walkabout is focused on the imaginative ways girls find to sell cookies within their own neighborhoods, from decorat-ing a wagon and pulling it door- to-door to setting up a lem-onade-style stand in their own front yard. Eighty-nine girls entered this contest and the photos were voted on by close to 2,000 Facebook fans. The winner was Junior Girl Scout, Car-son Schumacher .

It’s hard to find a little girl with more determination than Car-son. Once this tiny 13-year-old gets an idea into her head, she is completely focused on making it happen. When Girl Scout cookie season rolled around this month, Carson chose the top

sales goal of 2,000 boxes of cookies which would allow her to earn an iPad. This ambitious goal is all the more remarkable, because Carson has a medical diagnosis of mental retardation.

“Carson started with Girl Scouts three years ago,” said mother Tina Schumacher. “A group of us moms with special needs girls banded together to form Troop 340. We wanted our children to be part of something special that would help teach them social skills and responsibility. It’s not easy because the girls all have varying levels of ability and awareness. Many can’t even write their name. But Girl Scouts gives us a structure that helps us focus them on activities that teach them important values like helping others. We even work on badge requirements, modifying each activity to fit the capabilities of the girls.”

For mom Tina, sharing the Girl Scout experience with Carson was an important way to have one-on-one time with her daughter--something that is often hard to come by because of their family situation. Carson’s little sister is severely disabled and unable to talk or walk. She has to be fed and changed every three hours and is completely reliant on their parents to care for her.

“It’s a struggle,” admitted Tina. “I have one daughter that totally depends on me for everything and another that constantly wants my attention. Girl Scouts allows me to carve out that special moth-er-daughter time where I can focus just on Carson and doing things exclusively with her.”

Tina also feels that the Girl Scout Cookie program teaches her daughter important life skills she wouldn’t learn any other way. When Carson chose her cookie goal of 2,000 boxes, she sat down at the kitchen table with her mom and wrote down the names of all their family and friends. Next she figured out how many cookies she had to sell each day to make her goal.

“Carson realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t going to be as easy as she had first thought. She’s a very compet-itive person and doesn’t give up easily. She began planning ways to bring in more sales, like talking to friends she had at neighborhood businesses.”

When her first day of sales arrived, Carson was bubbling with excitement. She had her uniform on and was ready to hit the pavement with her wagon. Unfortunately the morning was particularly cold and nasty with pouring rain. On top of that, her mom had just recouped from a long illness and was afraid to risk getting sick again from the bad weather. She told Carson that she was really sorry, but that she would just have to wait till tomorrow to start her sale. The little girl was crushed. But she was just as determined to make this work.

When her mom left to run an errand, Carson and her dad came up with a plan. They borrowed an E-Z Up tent from a friend and set up a lemonade stand booth in the front yard. Using the signs and decorations she had made for her wagon, the two of them created an eye-catching display for the Girl Scout cookies. Carson was thrilled!

Returning from her errand, Tina pulled onto their street and was completely floored to see Carson sitting proudly with her daddy in the beautiful stand they had constructed all on their own. She was so happy and so moved by what they had done that she pulled the car over, put her head on the steering wheel and just cried. It was just an amazing moment. She took a picture of the booth and entered it into the walkabout photo con-test, never dreaming that Carson would be the winner.

On the night Carson received her award, the girls and moms from troop 340 were there with her. The scouts brought in cookie and I CARE posters to feature in their own cookie commercial. The girls also posed for photos and talked about what they loved best about being a Girl Scout.

At the end of the evening, Carson accepted her walkabout prize with a quiet apology to her friends. “I m sorry that everybody didn’t win something. Every girl deserves a prize.”

Way to go Carson! You make us proud.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, character and con-fidence. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at www.gssgc.org.

Girl Scout Troop adopts female Marinesby Juno Kughler Carlson - May 2010

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Troop 1124 adopted two female Marine Privates who are both currently deployed overseas. The two women, along with Gunnery Ser-geant Lee from the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Temecula, visited with the Daisy troop to talk to them about what it is like to be a soldier in the military.

The girls were very curious about bootcamp and had many questions about what was like. They learned that it helped build strength and stamina. The Privates described what it was like to do massive amounts of marching and running with

heavy packs on your back. “Do they give you extra time to do stuff because you’re a girl?” one scout asked.

“Sure they do,” the women laughed. “The men have to make the run in 8 minutes. We have to do it in 8 1/2 min-utes. They give us a whole extra 1/2 minute!” The troop also learned that the Marines are the only branch of the military that puts women on the front lines.

The girls wanted to know who made a better soldier--men or women. The Marines replied that it depended more on the person rather than on their gender. The women talked about how courage, character and confidence, the founda-tions of Girl Scouting, apply to the military as well. These three important principles, they told the troop, are what make a good soldier.

Gunnery Sergeant Lee gave each of the girls Marine lan-

girls. One little girl in the troop still carries it around with her wherever she goes. One of the biggest lessons that the troop came away with was that girls could be pretty and feminine and still be strong soldiers.

The Marines were all incredibly good sports, not only answering questions, but also working with the girls doing improvisational skits and planting flowers.

Both of the female Marines are currently deployed overseas, and the Daisy Girl Scouts still stay in touch with their adopted friends by sending letters and drawings. Whenever either of the Privates writes back to a girl, she brings the letter to her troop meeting to read aloud to the rest of the scouts. The girls also take turns watering the flowers planted by the two Privates as a way to honor and remember them.

According to Gunnery Sargent Lee, there are many other soldiers who would love to be adopted by the Girl Scouts. Troops can contact him at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Temecula for more information (951) 719-3486.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio are always finding new and exciting ways to make a difference. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Girl Scout patches become family keepsake blanketsby Juno Kughler Carlson - August 2011

MURRIETTA, Calif. The use of patches to mark significant events has long been a tradition in scouting. For 12-year-old Dakota Gregory, her brother C.J. and her mom Dani, collecting patches has turned into a family passion. They currently have more than 1,275 patches in their collection.

The Gregories try to pick up a patch for everything they do, from local scout council events to field trips and camp-outs. Recently they took a cross-country trip, traveling across 10 states in 3 and 1/2 weeks. They visited thirteen national parks where the kids earned their “Ju-nior Ranger Badges.”

“Fun Patches are how we celebrate every adventure our family takes,” said Dani Gregory. “We’re very disappointed if a place does not have a patch we can take home to remember the experience by.”

Typically Leaders and Girl Scouts will wear their patches on the backs of their vests or sewn onto a blazer. But with such a fast growing collection, the Gregories had to find a different way to display their treasures.

Dani finally hit upon the idea of patch blankets. “It’s such a perfect way to gather all those memories we’ve shared together as a family. They really are the keepers of our stories. Each patch holds a different piece of our history.”

One of the most meaningful patches for Dani is from a Disney Castaway Cay cruise where she swam with stingrays and kissed dolphins. The trip was a gift to her family from a couple for whom she had been a surrogate. Dani is also very proud of the Walk of Fame patches she has received every year for supplying the girls in her troop with a quality, well-rounded Girl Scout program.

Dakota’s favorite patch is from the Lazy J Camp in Malibu, an experience she earned as a Council

top cookie seller. She was part of the last group to attend the ranch before it closed down, and the patch holds memories of horses, rabbits, archery and fencing.

Dakota also loves her Crime Scene Investigation patch earned at Camp WiWoCA four years ago. She attended the camp with a friend where they had to follow clues to help solve a “Who done it” mystery case. The culprit turned out to be the Teddy Bear!

Even Dakota’s old Girl Scout vests and T-shirts have been turned into treasured keepsakes as pillows. It’s a reminder of the Girl Scout ideal of making the world a better place every day.

“The patch blankets have become a special part of our family tradition,” said Dani. “It’s definitely something we want to continue for years to come.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confi-dence and character who help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Horse camp inspires generations of Girl Scoutsby Juno Kughler Carlson September 2011

Since its inception in 1940, several generations of Girl Scouts have grown up with horse camp at Camp Azalea Trails.

Most of the girls who attend the camp don’t have any oth-er access to horses. Twenty percent of them are foster children for whom the hors-es are an invaluable form of therapy. The relationships they build with these beau-tiful creatures helps them to overcome their shyness and uncertainty and mature into confident, responsible young women.

Unlike private luxury camps, where it’s just about putting on a saddle and going for

a ride, the girls at Camp Azalea Trails must care for each horse’s needs, from feeding and grooming to mucking and raking. They learn what it is like to be completely responsible for the well-being of these animals on a much deeper level. It’s a unique experience they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Thirty-four-year-old Meridith Rhea attended her first horse camp at Azalea Trails when she was in 5th grade.

“I was crazy about horses,” said Meridith, “but had no opportunity to be around them. I had no pets of my own, so horse camp was my first time being responsible for an animal. I had to learn about my horse’s needs and care for him on every level. The bond we formed was just incredible.”

Her favorite memory is a camp trail ride where the girls actually got to sleep overnight with the horses on the trail. “It gave us all a sense of independence we had never had before. We weren’t just a bunch of kids anymore. We were like real cowgirls looking after the animals, the land and each other. It felt amazing.”

Today Meridith is a professional in the field of necropsy and works closely with the California racing board.

She diagnoses illnesses and injuries suffered by racehorses and works to prevent them from spreading to others. Eleven years ago, she bought a large draft horse named Quincy, her best friend and a much loved member of her family.

Earlier this year, Meridith’s own daughter Kiley attended horse camp at Azalea Trails for the very first time. “She really loved it. Quincy is such a big boy that it was fun for Kiley to get to know smaller horses that were more at her level. She’s hooked and can’t wait to go back.”

For the Rhea family, horse camp is an unforgettable rite of pas-sage they wish every girl could experience.

“Everything about camp feels more intimate. You’ve bonded so closely that you can can’t help but cry and feel sad to leave. And the next year you always look for that old horse friend.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confi-dence and character who help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

A Walk in the Park - Lessons in Girl Scout Cookiesby Juno Kughler Carlson - February 2011

Brownie Girl Scout Lydia Smith and her mom Joni found themselves with 30 minutes between a library program and karate class, and decided to grab a mixed case of cookies and go for a walk through the park.

Even though most of the people Lydia approached about buying cookies said no, the little girl stayed positive. She walked up to an older gentleman and asked him if he would like to buy some cookies. He shook his head, saying he had already bought from his granddaughters. Mom and daughter thanked him for supporting girl scouts and spent a few minutes just happily chatting.

Lydia asked the man what his favorite cookie was. It was Caramel deLites, which happened to be the little girl’s favorite too. It didn’t matter that she was eight and he was seventy--they shared a common bond. They talked a little more, then Joni and Lydia smiled, wished him a good afternoon and walked away. Suddenly the man yelled after them to stop. He wanted to buy a box of Caramel deLites. He paid for the cookies and wished the little Brownie good luck with her sales.

After the man left, mom and daughter continued their walk. Joni told her daughter that she had made that sale, not because he really wanted another box of cookies, but because he wanted her to be successful. She explained that it works that way in all aspects of life. If you are positive and happy, you bring joy to others, and that’s a blessing all on its own. She was able to put a smile on that man’s face just by being happy and positive and being herself.

This wonderful conversation happened all because of a single box of Caramel DeLites.

As the two continued through the park, they headed towards a basketball court, where eight large guys were playing ball. Despite their baggy pants, tattoos and piercings, Lydia never hesitated. She walked right up and asked them if they’d like to buy cookies. The first one said no. But then one said yes, we want cookies. He asked how much and then proceeded to run across the street to his car to get the money.

Joni and Lydia were left with the other guys to carry on a conversation while waiting to complete the sale. So again, they talked about cookies, asking about their favorites, talking about Girl Scouts, setting goals and work-ing hard. They all joked and laughed a lot together. Several minutes later, the young man came back with his $4

for a box of Shortbreads. He opened them up right there and started eating them. Mom and daughter walked away laughing, and the guys waved goodbye and wished them good luck.

As they continued through the park, Lydia commented that the way the guys were dressed kind of made them look scary but they were actually really nice. Her mom smiled and talked with her daughter about how you can’t tell what kind of per-son someone is on the inside by looking at the outside.

Again, a priceless lesson... all from a single box of Short-breads.

Being a Girl Scout can open the door to so many special experi-ences and opportunites. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts of San Gorgo-nio, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at www.gssgc.org.

A big thank you to Joni Smith for sharing her experience with us.

Girl Scouts’ Penny Drive brightens holidays for families in needby Juno Kughler Carlson - November 2010

What difference can a penny make? Just ask Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Troop 416 in Menifee. For two years in a row, these Brownie Scouts have held a penny drive to provide complete holiday meals for families in need.

To collect their change, the girls decorated “Adopt A Family” oatmeal cartons. They asked friends and family to donate spare change and even picked up coins they found lying on the ground. Their goal? To feed two families for Thanksgiving and another two for Christmas.

“It was such a huge goal for these girls,” said leader Amanda Gallegos. “and I was a little worried that because of the economy that they might not be able to achieve it. I was absolutely amazed when they came to the troop meeting with their oatmeal car-tons filled with coins--some all the way to the brim!

I think their experience helping families last year made a really big impact on them. The girls got to see firsthand that there are people out there who really struggle just to put food on their table, and they want to continue to help as many of them as they can.”

So far the Brownies have raised $160 through their Penny Drive. This past weekend they were able to deliver a complete Thanks-giving dinner to one family of four and another family of seven. Co-leader Leticia Aguayo worked with a local

church to help the troop find families who wanted to be adopted and contacted the families to arrange the deliv-ery. The Brownies had fun packing up the dinners and making cards for the family, signed by each girl.

“I was really proud of how they interacted with people when we made the Thanksgiving deliveries,” said Gal-legos. “They were very sweet, friendly and respectful. Sometimes the shyer girls can get a little scared in new situ-ations, but that didn’t happen here. You could see by their faces how happy they were to have been able to make a difference to these families.”

The girls will continue collecting coins through December 17th. Although they have already met their goal of raising enough money to help two more families over Christmas, the girls want to bring in enough money to help two addional families, and perhaps buy each family some small presents as well.

To bring in extra money, the girls plan to take the oatmeal they saved from their donation containers and mix it with sugar crystals to create Magic Reindeer Food. The little bags of reindeer food will come with a poem and sell for 50 cents each.

“Make a wish and close your eyes tight, Then sprinkle it on your lawn tonight. As Santa’s reindeer fly & roam This food will guide them to your home.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio are always looking for ways to make a differ-ence to their community. To learn more about how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, visit us online at http://www.gssgc.org or call us at 1-800-400-GIRL (4475).

Girl Pays It Forward with Girl Scout Cookiesby Juno Kughler Carlson - January 2011

Last year when Chloe Gamboa planned her cookie sale strategy, she had one major goal in mind: to pay it forward.

Her inspiration was one of her mom’s friends who also happened to be a Girl Scout leader. The woman was co-founder of a local pet adoption center for dogs and cats. She had helped Chloe with her Bronze Award project by teaching her about animal rescue and placement.

Unfortunately the leader had fallen on tough times. Her husband had been laid off and was having trouble finding work. The family comput-er died , and they couldn’t afford to get another. It was becoming impossible to post information on rescued animals or communicate with people who were interested in adopting.

When Chloe heard that the incentive for the $2,000+ level of cookie sales was a new Dell laptop, she saw this as an opportunity to make a difference--not only to the woman who inspired her, but also to the animals who so desperately needed a home.

She developed a plan of action and worked hard every day to achieve her goal of selling 2,000 boxes of cookies. On the night of her awards ceremony, she and her mom picked up their friend, not telling her where they were going. The woman was stunned when she finally realized what was happening--that this lit-tle girl with a big heart was making it possible for her to continue her work.

“It made me feel proud to be able to do that,” said Chloe. “I didn’t do it for the awards. I did it to help someone else. It

felt better to give back than it did to receive. I think the experience also made me more aware of all the opportu-nities there are to help people less fortunate in our community. It makes me want to keep doing more.”

Thanks to Chloe’s unselfish gift, her leader friend has been able to continue her work with animals. Her husband has also been able to post resumes and find a part time job. Chloe is currently working on her Silver Award, a project that will donate more than 50 toiletry baskets to King’s Hall to help people in need .

What would she say to Girl Scouts who aren’t sure they want to partici-pate in the Cookie Program?

“Don’t just do it for yourself, do it for others. If you don’t want to sell much, that’s okay. Do what you can to help your troop. You can donate your sales to the other girls and help them reach their incentive goals. It will make you feel good to give back and make others very happy.”

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, character and con-fidence who help to make the world a better place. To learn more about how you can get involved with Girl Scouts visit us online at http://www.gssgc.org or give us a call at 1-800-400-GIRL (4475).

Girl Scouts enjoy troop activities in Palm Desertby Juno Kughler Carlson on September 2010

Thanks to one grandmother’s donation of a time share, Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Troop 267 was recently treated to a week long stay at the Palm Desert Marriot. Each day the girls worked on a different activity that tied in with the theme of the Breathe Journey.

They were able to experience a yoga class and a Zumba class. They created handmade paper, made scented sachets and strung necklaces with beads they made from recycled magazines. They visited the windmills in the desert, took a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, went hiking, swimming and even saw the movie “The Last Airbender.”

The girls’ favorite activity was a meditation session that included the creation of their own Zen garden. The troop had found beau-tiful black frames at the dollar store that were deep enough to hold sand. They also were able to purchase tea lights, plastic forks and 3-packs of large smooth stones inscribed with words like “peace,” “love,” and “joy.” Putting together their gardens, lighting their candles, and having that quiet meditation time proved the perfect way to unwind at night and reflect on the day’s adven-tures.

For these ten Girl Scouts, the trip became a way to bond more

deeply as a group. “We’re always doing so many things at our troop meetings,” said leader Dani Gregory, “There’s not enough quality time to hang out and just be friends. This was a great way for the girls to get to really get to know each other. We did a lot of team building exercises that helped us grow as a troop.”

Each day the girls were asked to look for the good in everyone in the group and share five of those observations with the troop each night.

“Whether it was that someone cooked you a delicious meal, or made you laugh, or held

a door open for you--it made you appreciate all the positive things each person contributes,” said Gregory. “Everyone shared troop tasks and responsibilities by pairing into small groups that rotated daily. They each took turns cooking and making snacks or super-vising a game or activity. They all took pride in doing their part.”

The Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio are always do-ing interesting things! To find out how you can get involved in Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://www.gssgc.org.

Helping high risk kids gain confidence through etiquetteby Juno Kughler Carlson - April 2010

When it came time to select a project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, Jenny Moreland chose to combine her love for children with her passion for teaching. She had been volunteering at Micah House, a non-profit organization focusing on the educational, emotional and social needs of high risk children from low income families. Her expe-riences with the kids there inspired her project idea of creating a book and leading a series of classes to teach the children about manners, etiquette, and job interview skills.

“The kids at Micah House aren’t given a lot of the opportunities that other kids have,” said Jenny, “and I really wanted to help them gain the confidence they needed to be successful. Right now the econ-omy is so bad that there is huge competition for even the most basic jobs like working in a store or restaurant. By teaching them practical things like

etiquette and job interview skills, I wanted to help them be competitive and achieve their dreams.”

To raise funds for her project, Jenny pitched her idea at a board meeting of the Optimists’ Club. They loved the concept and donated money to help cover class supplies. Her father’s company, Arroyo Insurance, also contribut-ed money to cover the printing and binding of 40 copies of the handbook she wrote for the class, “Keys to Confi-dence that Lead to Success.”

Jenny was ready to put her plan into action. She set up two sessions of classes, one for each of Micah Houses’ two locations. Each session included a one hour class, two times a week for seven weeks.

“We covered a pretty wide variety of topics,” said Jenny. “For instance we talked about how to write thank you notes and why they’re important. The kids really had a great time with it. They all wrote thank you notes to the Director of Micah House and every-one made calendars as thank-yous for their moms. We also talked about things like how to behave on a job interview--things like dressing appro-priately, making eye contact and not slouching. “

T o engage the kids and make it fun, Jenny created activities around each of her teaching concepts. The children did a clothing relay race with items she purchased at a thrift store. They also had fun dressing up in the clothes to illustrate what was appropriate or inappropriate for a job interview or party and discussed why.

At the end of the seven weeks, Jenny threw a graduation tea party for the kids. Tim Rochford, owner of the his-toric Burrage Mansion in Redlands, graciously donated the use of the mansion for the celebration. The children were treated to finger foods and ice cream treats and had fun running three-legged sack races on the mansion grounds. At the end of the party, Jenny gave each of the children a copy of the book she had written as a keep-sake.

“One little boy came up to me and asked ‘We really get to keep this?’ They aren’t used to being given a lot of things,” Jenny said. “The tea party was where I finally saw how much the kids had actually absorbed from the classes. Their behavior was so much improved from when we had started. It made me really proud.”

What was her biggest challenge for this project? “Patience,” said Jenny. “Patience was huge. I was dealing with six and seven year olds who had less respect for someone like me than they did for a substitute teacher. I had to do a lot of trust-building and let them know I wasn’t going to leave them. I also had to be very firm and let them know that they couldn’t just do whatever they liked.”

What advice does she have for other Girl Scouts who are getting ready to start their Gold Award project? “Enlist the support of other adults--my troop leader, Fran Herbert, and my mom helped me immensely with the plan-ning process. Also really focus on organization. Try to work out every possible scenario in advance so that you’re prepared.”

What are her goals now? Jenny laughed. “At this point I’m focused on just getting to college. I definitely want to work with kids, maybe as a first grade or special education teacher or possibly a counselor. Girl Scouts has taught me to challenge myself to achieve the highest possible honors. It has given me the confidence to go out and show younger children how to improve themselves.”

The Gold Award is the highest recognition a girl can earn in scouting. It requires her to partner with the com-munity to address a need or to raise awareness and support of an issue. Only 5% of Girls Scouts earn this prestigious award.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio are help-ing to make a dif-ference in their community. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Girl Scouts cache in on outdoor adventureby Juno Kughler Carlson on July 2011

REDLANDS, CA: Unraveling mysteries, deciphering clues and tracking down hidden treasure has become new form of adventure for some Girl Scouts, thanks to a popular under-ground sport known as geocaching.

Geocaching is an international, outdoor trea-sure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-en-abled devices and then share their experiences online. Some caches are hidden out in nature, others in neighborhood spots you pass by every day. Unless you are into the sport, you would never know they existed.

Caches come in all different shapes and siz-es, some as tiny as a fingertip. All contain a logbook for the finders to sign. Some also hold trade or trackable items. If you take something from a cache, the rule is you must leave an-other item of equal value. People can log their finds online at http://geocaching.com.

“It’s a fantastic sport for Girl Scouts,” said leader Irene Trovato, who has a multi-level troop in Muri-etta made up of Daisies through Seniors. “It com-bines orienteering, problem-solving, and outdoor adventure. The girls especially like the trackable items like Travel Bugs, which are engraved with special code numbers and travel from cache to cache. They love going online afterwards to see all the different places a trackable has been.”

Six-year-old Sadie Bertoldo is always ready to go geocaching. She has quickly learned how to use GPS devices to pinpoint a location and knows all about longitude and latitude and what those co-ordinates actually mean. Her favorite part is the search, which is often difficult because the caches are so carefully hidden. “I’m getting pretty good at figuring out the clues,” said the Daisy scout proudly.

Often geocaches are themed around a personal story, a favorite site or historical landmark. There

also “Cache In Trash Out” caches that encourage finders to pick up litter and do clean ups in parks and cache-friendly sites. It’s a fun way to learn about an area, take care of the environment and get to know others in the community.

“Geocaching is great because it’s a free thing you can do with your kids,” said co-leader Cynthia Bertoldo. “They’re walking around, get-ting exercise, learning navigation skills and using their brains to put together clues to solve puzzles. We love it!”

In June, Troop 1124 created their own geocache and hid it on the grounds of the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council office in Red-lands. Since then, 21 people have found it and signed the logbook. The cache description reads, “Girl Scouts needs leaders” and the girls hope people will be inspired to get involved with the organization.

The girls would also like to teach other scouts about the sport. They hope to organize a geocaching event for Girl Scouts’ 100th Anni-versary next year and invite other troops to create 100 caches to be hidden throughout the Inland Empire region.

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio builds girls of courage, confidence and character who help make the world a better place. To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts, call 1-800-400-GIRL (4475) or visit us online at http://gssgc.org.

Girl Scout House Vandalizedby Juno Kughler Carlson September 2011

BLYTHE, CA - Colorful kids’ art that once covered the walls is now tram-pled and tattered on the floor. White boards where activities were eagerly planned is desecrated with graffiti. The little kitchen where snacks were prepared and shared is soiled and covered with

broken glass. The small white bridge that proud little girls once crossed over to signify their transition from one Girl Scout level to the next is burnt and broken. These are just a few of the acts of vandalism recently discovered at Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio’s scout house.

“The damage was immense,” said Erin Stout, vice president of business operations for the council. “We’ve been slowly working towards scout house renovations for several months, and had hoped to be able to reopen it for the girls by next spring. This is going to push our timeline back considerably.”

The vandals broke into the scout house Monday evening, September 19. They smashed the kitchen window and climbed into the house, where they proceeded to desecrate the property with graffiti and excrement before finally setting fire to the place.

“It’s heartbreaking to have something like this happen,” said Michele Penn, membership and community devel-opment manager for the council’s low desert region. “We have three troops in that area who have been waiting for the scout house to reopen so that they can hold their meetings there.”

Damage to the property is still being assessed but is estimated to be in the thousands. If you would like to help restore Blythe Scout House, check donations can be mailed to Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council, 1751 Plum Lane, Redlands, California 92374. For credit card donations contact Erika Riddle, finance assistant for the council at 800-400-GIRL (4475).

Ribbon cutting to be held at Blythe Scout Houseby Juno Kughler Carlson November 2011

BLYTHE, CA - A ribbon cutting cer-emony and grand re-opening will be held on November 19th at the Blythe Scout House on 324 North Third Street in Blythe, CA from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

The house, which is owned by Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council, serves as a meeting place for Girl

Scouts in the local community. In September, Vandals broke into the little house by smashing the kitchen win-dow, and proceeded to desecrate the property with graffiti and excrement before setting fire to the place.

The Blythe community was outraged and decided to take action. Rallied by local businessman Craig Wiita of Wiita Mining and Exploration, a crew of 30 people was formed to help the Girl Scouts with renovations. Sever-al local businesses also stepped forward to lend a hand, including Sheltering Wings, Subway, Palo Verde Valley Disposal, RE Hoover Backhoe & Breaker, All Pro Pumping, and Inland Builders’ Supply Inc. ACE Hardware.

“We have been amazed at the outpouring of help from the community,” said Erin Stout, Vice President of Oper-ations for Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio. “Without their hard work and contributions it would have been almost a year before we could have opened these doors again. Craig has been incredible at pulling everyone together to make this happen, and we’re grateful for all he’s done.”

Many supplies are still needed to complete the renovation. Monetary donations for this project can be made to:

Provident Bank 350 East Hobsonway Blythe, CA 92225 For Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio CouncilCommunity Checking Account #4988762

About Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio CouncilGirl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council (GSSGC) serves more than 10,000 girls in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. With the dedicated support of 5,000 adult volun-teers, Girl Scouts meets the needs of girls ages 5 to 17 years through fun, value-based,educational programs. For more information, visit the GSSGC website at www.gssgc.org or call (800) 400-4475.

For further information please contact:Michele Penn, Membership & Community Development Manager at mpenn@gssgc.org (760) 345-1703

Volunteers Craig Wiita, Greg Ganz, George Thomas, Tom Hocking work on Blythe Scout House renovations.