Operation Thin Mint Thoughts

We get many nice comments on our Facebook page every day. This recent post from one of our volunteers: a troop leader, mother of two and proud wife of a deployed serviceman, about Operation Thin Mint (R) Sendoff really made us think.

"We loved it all! Most of our girls couldn't make it but my daughter and I went (and my honorary Girl Scout son! LOL) and it was incredible!! Our first time. I lead a Kindergarten Daisy Troop but we will definitely be going every year.

When they played "Proud to be an American" I was bawling, probably looked like insane but my husband is deployed to Iraq right now so that was hard, my son cried too.

We got pictures with the Admiral and with General Bailey, the kids loved all the men and women in uniform.

It reminds us why we have to let their Daddy go.

It was an amazing ceremony!! I loved seeing the Coast Guard helicopter pick up the cookies, that woman [Petty Officer 2nd Class Megan Mansfield-Smith] is amazing! My daughter can't wait to be her now. :)"

Shaylynn, Troop Leader

Operation Thin Mint Takes Flight From San Diego

Operation Thin Mint Takes Flight From San Diego

Thank You Fran Styles!

When Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912, women playing basketball would cover the gymnasium windows lest they shock an innocent passerby. Thankfully, those days are long gone, thanks to women pioneers in athletic, like longtime Girl Scout volunteer Fran Styles.

Fran was San Diego’s first woman athletic director. She competes in the national Senior Olympic games, bringing home medals in track, archery, and yes—basketball!

Countless San Diego-area girls and their leaders learned to hit the bulls-eye thanks to her. To honor her selfless dedication to Girl Scouts, the new Fran Styles Archery Range at our Balboa Campus will be named in her honor, Tuesday, June 15!

Thank you Volunteers

For every…

S’more you’ve toasted,

Patch you’ve sewn,

Cookie box you’ve counted,

Hug you’ve given,

Toothless grin you’ve inspired,

Tear you’ve dried,

Swap you’ve created,

Seat belt you’ve buckled,

Trail you’ve trekked,

Fire you’ve kindled,

Song that’s filled your car,

Giggle fit you’ve started,

Green shirt you’ve worn,

Meeting you’ve attended,

Squabble you’ve ended,

Bridging girl you’ve cried for,

And for every time you’ve promised to make the world a better place…

We thank you.

A place called camp

"This is a place where you only have to bring the best of you. Leave all of the unwanted pieces behind. Just be you."

This is the best advice I've ever received. It was not in a classroom, it was not at a church, it was not on a computer screen; it was around a campfire. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of a community of women focused on inspiring and empowering young girls through Girl Scouts and the camp atmosphere. This is a place where we are allowed to leave negativity at home and spend time refreshing our attitude, enjoying the world around us, and focusing on human connections.

As a camp counselor, I get to work on my own growth while encouraging the young Girl Scouts around me to grow. We teach traditional camp responsibilities such as building shelter, fire safety and wilderness awareness. In addition, however, the camp staff works hard to give each girl tools to explore her own independence and learn not only about herself, but also how the world works around her. Girls are encouraged to speak their minds and support their Girl Scout sisters. Counselors spend time learning how to appropriately facilitate young campers' thoughts and let them know that they matter, their thoughts and ideas are important and they have the potential to change the world around them.

My own experience at camp has brought me so much joy and taught me so many valuable lessons. I have learned the importance of taking risks and trying new things. In the span of two weeks, I learned to canoe, worked with fellow campers to complete a teambuilding ropes course, shot an arrow and practiced key survival skills. In addition to learning how to teach various activities and ensure campers' safety, I learned to cure homesickness, befriend the wilderness and encourage girls to be themselves.

In a fast-paced world of mixed messages that demand young women conform to society's outrageous expectations, camp is a place where everyone can let go, laugh, sing, dance and even be a little silly without the world peering over their shoulder. I am extremely proud of the fact that I spend all the time I can supporting a program geared at molding the future woman leaders of our ever-changing world. These girls have inspired me to learn something new every day, and use it, to strive for my best, and not forget to enjoy the journey. My experience at camp taught me not just to listen, but listen actively; not just to work hard, but work passionately; and not just to learn, but learn with the intention of teaching others.

Kayla, our author, grew up in Girl Scouting and is in an active Ambassador troop. She has been through Counselor-in-Training, an intensive one- to two-week resident camp where girls entering grades 11-12 learn what it takes to be a counselor and gain experience working directly with campers. Kayla will be a camp counselor this summer.

Celebrate Girl Scout Week

Happy Birthday to us!

Girl Scout Birthday is just around the corner! On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low officially registered our first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia. Her vision for Girl Scouting is as meaningful today as it was nearly 100 years ago.

Several local city councils have issued proclamations recognizing this year’s Girl Scout Week (March 7-13). During this happy time of year, the community celebrates our efforts and the accomplishments of our Girl Scouts—our future leaders of America and the world! I am proud to accept to accept these public recognitions on behalf of our council’s other 12,500 adult volunteers.

Board President Solveig Deuprey and I just returned from a national conference of Girl Scout CEOs and chairs. We’re happy to report that Girl Scouting is alive and well across our country. Just like Juliette Low, our leadership is deeply concerned about girl issues and dedicated to keeping programming relevant. Juliette’s legacy was evident in the energy at the conference and the continuing commitment to delivering a high quality Girl Scout experience. She would be proud of the passion we all continue to have for Girl Scouting. We are truly making a difference in girls’ lives every day.

Let’s celebrate everything we’ve accomplished since that first Girl Scout gathering in Savannah. And thank you for all you do for Girl Scouting!

Jo Dee C. Jacob, CEO

Is your camper ready for resident camp?

So you've sent your daughter to Girl Scout day camp for a the past few summers. And she had a blast. Can't stop talking about all the fun she had, the things she learned and the friends she made.

Now she's ready to take the next step and go away to overnight camp for four to five days. Or is she?

We get this question every year from parents who are just not sure...

Girl Scouting is all about encouraging girls to discover how strong they can be. After all, we are the world's best leadership organization for girls.

So, we've put together this little online quiz to help you see if your camper is ready for overnight camp. Of course, you know your daughter better than anyone else does. But this quiz might help you know what personality traits and other indicators to consider.

Take a few minutes and see what it tells you. The questions are intended to make you think, and to suggest a few steps you can take with your camper to get her ready for that next big step.

If she's not quite ready to sleep away from home, not to worry. We offer day camps for girls entering kindergarten through sixth grade that fit a variety of interests and abilities.

As your camper progresses and gains self-assurance at these camps, she'll learn leadership skills that help her build the confidence to move on to overnight camps--and to conquer other challenges that she faces!

We are always eager to hear from you. Let us know what you think.