PROMISEFall 2016

Aaniyah has been a member of Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) troop 7140 for a year. During her first year she has had many Girl Scout experiences: selling cookies, troop camping and engaging in community service. In fact, when Aaniyah first joined Troop 7140–even before attending a GSBB meeting at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women (MCI-W) – she went

troop camping. While she was embarking on a new experience with a couple of girls that she did not know, she would find out by the end of the trip that their mothers being incarcerated

Girl Scout Aaniyah poses with one of the camp counselors at camp. ▶

Girl Scout Builds Bonds Beyond Bars

would make them family. During the camping trip, the girls had fun together learning about animals living at GSCM's Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center and canoeing. While the other girls were excited about canoeing and learning how to navigate the waters, Aaniyah was most comfortable with her feet planted firmly on land. In fact, she did not canoe that day.

Continued on page 2

Over 1,100 girls enjoyed a variety of activities—many STEM and outdoor focused—at GSCM’s summer resident and day camps. When asked why she wanted to come back to summer camp next year, an 8th grader replied, “Because it was a new experience that helped me understand myself better while learning about culture and how to do/make things.” Summer camp experiences help girls grow, develop self-esteem and confidence, while having fun and trying new things.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your story of courage, confidence and character (include photos if you’d like). Send your story to: giving@gscm.org.

GSCM Supporters

"Ours is a Circle of Friendship United by Ideals"

Building Bonds, continued from page 1

This quote by Juliette Gordon Low, sums up the relationships that our girls establish with each other and, why individuals, businesses and organizations partner with Girl Scouts to fulfill the mission of developing girls of courage, confidence and character. The majority of people believe that girls should have the opportunity to lead, and to develop the skills that allow them to do so effectively. In fact, a recent GSUSA survey revealed that 47% of respondents are involved

with Girl Scouts because they want to help girls grow and reach their full potential.

Whether girls are discovering their inner scientist or engineer through STEM programming; honing their entrepreneurial abilities through the annual cookie sale; practicing independence while making new friends and taking on new challenges at camp; or, making a difference in their communities by implementing their Bronze, Silver

and Gold Award projects, Girl Scouts is at the center of it all. This is why your support is so important. We appreciate and rely on our circle of friends to help us provide the programs and experiences that help girls discover the leader they can be. We are united by our hopes and dreams for girls. Together we can help them realize their potential.

A year has passed since Aaniyah began participating in troop meetings at MCI-W with her mom and her camp mates’ moms. During that time Aaniyah's troop had a sleepover at MCI-W and a rainy birthday weekend with her GSBB sisters at Camp Woodlands; she even attended sleep-away camp at Camp Conowingo. Although it was a challenge to get her to camp, when she got there she made the most of it. Aaniyah made new friends and overcame new challenges while at summer resident camp. She morphed from a shy cautious girl into a brave Girl Scout. She went to camp not knowing any of the girls in her group. This time she tried what she could not do before: navigating the waters in a canoe!

These are the experiences that have an impact on a girl’s life and what makes Girl Scouting great.

A message from our CEO

Violet M. Apple Chief Executive Officer

Promise Fall 2016

Violet M. Apple Chief Executive Officer

Lorrie Caudle Chief Operating Officer

Katrina Straker Chief Development Officer

Yong Kim Chief Financial Officer

Lynne M. Durbin, Esq. Board Chair

Karen M. Singer, Esq. 1st Vice Chair

Betsy A. Bender 2nd Vice Chair

Gwendolyn D. Skillern 3rd Vice Chair

G. Louise Green Treasurer

Judy McGovern Secretary

Board Of Directors

Members-At-Large

Karen BarbourJuliet BodinetzChristine E. Buckley, J.D.Regina ClayDeborah H. Diehl, Esq.Grace Fieni (Girl Member)Barbara A. Hutchinson, MD, PhDMarian C. Hwang, Esq.Julie Lenzer J. Glenn Little, IIKellie T. MacDonaldValencia L. McClureL. Content McLaughlin, Esq.Carmina Perez-FowlerCynthia E. Rodgers-Waire, EsqDeborah Stallings, SHRM-SCP, SPHRJania StoutJaNean Stubbs-TaylorSuzanne ThompsonJoyce L. UlrichEmily Vajo (Girl Member)

Kimberly Valentine-Langley

Executive Staff

"Girl Scouts is important to me because I get to see my mother and meet new people."

24%Corporations, Foundations,Organizations

40%Volunteers, Alumnae,

Board, Staff

36%Parents

"The Best Thing I Learned at Camp: Don’t Give Up"

“My favorite part about camp is the climbing wall and archery”Girl Scouts' summer camp is a great, safe place for girls to leave the familiar surroundings of home and explore and discover new things. This summer over 1,000 girls participated in resident camp at Camp Conowingo and more than 400 girls participated in GSCM day camps.

The list of things to do at both resident and day camp included STEM activities (like making s'mores with a solar oven), arts and crafts (tye-dying and building paper roller coasters), rock wall climbing and archery.

Spending time outdoors in nature is different from playing or learning inside. Here’s how:

• The outdoors offers open space where girls are able to be messy, make noise, and move in more physically intense ways.

• Spending time in nature improves concentration and creative reasoning.

• Outdoor experiences often place girls in new physical, psychological, and social situations that motivate curiosity and foster a sense of discovery.

Authentic challenges--starting a fire in the rain or negotiating whitewater rapids--require girls to become more self-aware and to cooperate,

communicate, and solve problems more effectively. Many thanks to these generous sponsors who provided financial support this summer and helped make the Girl Scout camp experience for hundreds of girls fun and exciting:

• Baltimore Rotary

• David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation

• Family League of Baltimore

• Middendorf Foundation

• Northrup Grumman Foundation

• Toyota Financial Services

For information about how you can support summer camp email giving@gscm.org.

"I support GSCM to help give girls the opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills that they will use in all aspects of their lives!”

Cathy Litofsky Judy McGovern

"I continue to make a financial commitment to Girl Scouts because I believe in our Mission. I have seen and experienced what the benefits of Girl Scouting mean to girls and families."

“I started with my girls…now it is for the girls I know. I want to pass along the leadership opportunities and fun.”

Rebecca Conover

Why I Give to Girl Scouts of Central Maryland

72%

No

Total Respondents: 109 Girls

Yes

Maybe

4% 25%

Do You Want To Come To Girl Scout Day Camp Next Year?

Survey Results

The best new thing I learned at camp:

"...different parts about science"

"...to be more inventive"

"...how to shoot a bow and arrow"

Moments at Day Camp 2016

Here are 3 easy ways to make a gift in support of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland:

1. Through your employer's Matching Gifts program or Workplace Giving program. Please use these codes to designate your gift to

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland: Baltimore Combined Charity Campaigns: 8050 Maryland Combined Charity Campaign: 520780207

Combined Federal Campaign: 83032 United Way of Central Maryland: 050

2. On our website: gscm.org/giving

3. Return the form below in the enclosed envelope with your gift.

Name: I am a Girl Scout alumna Address:

City: State: Zip: Email:

My check is enclosed. Charge my credit card:

Account # CVV code: Expiration date:

Signature:

Thank you!

�

� �

Cookie & Wine Pairing October 13, 2016

Invite your friends and join us for the first GSCM Alumnae Cookie and Wine Pairing. Enjoy a beautiful fall evening in our outdoor courtyard. Make new friends and reminisce about your Girl Scout days while tasting Shortbreads & Chardonnay, Caramel Delites & Malbec, Lemonades & Pinot Grigio.

Proceeds from the event support scholarships for girls' membership

and council fees.

6:30 pm | $20 per/person (over 21) Purchase tickets online atwww.gscm.org/alumnae/upcomingeventsor by phone, by calling410.358.9711 Ext. 244

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland4806 Seton Drive Baltimore, Maryland 21215

Girls STEAM AheadNovember 13, 2016

Presenters and sponsors are still needed for Girl Scouts of Central Maryland's second annual STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) event. If you or your organization would like to be a part of this fun, interactive day, contact STEM@gscm.org for more information.

#GivingGirlScouts November 29, 2016

Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday has inspired giving around the world that brings about real change in communities. On Tuesday, November 29, 2016, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland will participate in #GivingGirlScouts, a global day dedicated to giving. Mark your calendar for November 29th and stay tuned for details on how you can help make #GivingGirlScouts 2016 a huge success for our girls!

Upcoming Events

Your support has a big

impact on a girl's life

We hope to see you there!