Sarasota 3 "Whos" in the Holiday Parade

Submitted by Cynthia Downey in Sarasota 3.

Girl Scout Junior Troop 795 donates book to GSGCF Library

Girl Scout Junior Troop 795 donated a handmade book to GSGCF Library. The book was accepted and put in the library by GSGCF CEO Sandi Stewart. The girls told Sandi why they wrote the book and got to explore the GSGCF library and museum after.

Girl Scout Cadette Troop 839 Parent's Night Out

Girl Scout Cadette Troop 839 had "Parent's Night Out" for girls in their Service Unit. Parents could pay to drop off their children for 3 hours to go Christmas Shopping or a special night out. Kids that attended played games, read stories, watch movies and ate dinner. All activities were planned and put together by the girls.

Manatee 1 Tillman Elementary Girl Scouts

Tillman Elementary Daisy, Brownie and Junior troop let us come and take pictures at a recent troop meeting. If you would like to have GSGCF staff attend one of your events and take pictures email alexandrag@gsgcf.org for more details.

Girl Scout Daisy Troop 863 wins Gingerbread House Contest

Congratulations to Girl Scout Daisy Troop 863! They won their division for the CYD Gingerbread House Contest at the Sarasota Square Mall.

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 865 walks in Venice Holiday Parade

Thank you Lisa for submitting these great photos!

Girl Scout Junior Troop 208 participates in Pet Appreciation Day and Jingle Bell Walk

By Niki LeVasseur:
Like Juliette Low, founder of Girl Scouts, the girls in Troop 208 of Englewood love animals.

Earlier this year, Girl Scout Junior Troop 208 toured Suncoast Humane Society, and decided to donate a portion of the cookie sale proceeds to help the animals. They contributed $200 and became Shelter Angels to both a cat and a dog. The Shelter Angel Medical Fund is used to provide special medical needs for pets that otherwise would not have a chance for adoption. The girls were happy to learn that both animals found their "forever homes."

Recently, the girls were invited back to Suncoast Humane Society to participate in the annual Pet Appreciation Day and Jingle Bell Walk. The Girl Scouts, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus and SantaPAWS, led the one-mile walk for the animals. The mission of Suncoast Humane Society is to reduce the number of homeless animals and improve the quality of human and animal life through their companionship. Girl Scout Junior Troop 208 is pleased they have been able to help support this mission.

Lee 14 Holiday Tea Party and Service Project

Girl Scouts from Lee 14 celebrated the holidays with a Tea Party. All the girls brought canned food items to donate to a local church food pantry to the event.

Girl Scout Daisy Troop 138 Holiday Service Project

Girl Scout Daisy Troop 138 of Sarasota put together stockings of games and necessities for the less fortunate for Christmas.

Girl Scouts decorate Cookies at Whole Foods

Girl Scouts from Sarasota held a booth at Whole Foods where community members could come decorate sugar cookies for the holidays. The girls had a blast getting their faces painted and helping children decorate cookies.

Science in Everyday Life

Girl Scout Junior Troop 235 attended "Science in Everyday Life" hosted by the Parks and Recreation at Rotary Park in Cape Coral. According to troop leader Christina Risley "The girls had blast and were kept very busy."

My First Car

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors from around the Gulf Coast visited Auto Quest in Fort Myers to learn about cars. Not only did the girls get to sit in the drivers seats of some of the most expensive sports cars around they also learned what questions to ask the sales staff when purchasing a new car and how to find a car that fits their needs and budget. Mechanics also gave the girls a few tips on "those funny noises" cars make and what it may mean.

Girl Scout Cadette Rachyl Driver wins the YMCA Volunteer Youth Award of the Year

Girl Scout Cadette Rachyl Driver won the YMCA Volunteer Youth Award of the Year from the Bradenton YMCA. Rachyl has helped the YMCA run programs for youth in her community through sports, aquatics, and promotions.

Girl Scout Cadette Rachyl Driver wins the YMCA Volunteer Youth Award of the Year

Girl Scout Cadette Rachyl Driver won the YMCA Volunteer Youth Award of the Year from the Bradenton YMCA. Rachyl has helped the YMCA run programs for youth in her community through sports, aquatics, and promotions.

Manatee 2

Girl Scouts from Manatee 2 Service Unit joined the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida on Make A Difference Day to collect canned goods at the Sarasota Headquarters.

Girl Scouts from Manatee 2 Service Unit packaged gifts in shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child to be sent overseas.

Girl Scouts from the Manatee 2 Service Unit also participated in Coastal Clean Up Day this fall to help keep the beaches on the Gulf Coast clean.

Girl Scout Troops of all levels participated in the Manatee County Veteran's Day Parade this year.

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 757

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 757 decorated canned food they collected for Thanksgiving like Turkeys before donating them to the local food pantry for some added Holiday Cheer!

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 757 also made swap banners for all the swaps they will collect at this year's events at their first sleep over of the year.

Englewood Investiture and Rededication

Sister Girl Scout Troops 411 and 208 of Englewood recently held an Investiture and Rededication Ceremony. Friends and Family looked on as the troops welcomed new members and renewed the commitment of others into Girl Scouting.

Brownies from Troop 411 acted out the part of the Brownie Story "Twist me and turn me, and show me the elf" (from the Brownie Journey Book) and sang the "Brownie Smile Song." Juniors from Troop 208 spoke about the Girl Scout Promise and Law being part of their every day lives and sang "Whene'er You Make a Promise."

The ceremony concluded with all of the Girl Scouts singing "Make New Friends."

Stewardship Forest Award

At a recent Caloosa Task Group Meeting the Department of Forestry awarded Camp Caloosa with the Stewardship Forest Award. Lee County Senior Forester Michael Weston presented a Land Stewardship plaque and a Stewardship recognition sign, (to post at our property) to CEO Sandi Stewart and board member Rock Abooujaoude. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida has been recognized for our diligence and commitment related to our land management practices. We have worked with the department of Forestry in developing a complex land management plan which includes removal of all exotic and invasive vegetative species, harvesting high fuel timber, replanting native species, and providing maintenance to avoid exotics re-growth and survival of new seedlings.

Early Bird Registration Waterpark Adventure

Girl Scouts from all over the Gulfcoast were invited to Sun Splash Family Water Park in Cape Coral as an incentive for registering early and on time for the 2010 membership year. The girls had a great time playing on all the water slides and coaxing their troop leaders to "take the plunge."

- Pictures submitted by DMT, more will be posted on our Facebook Profile page!

Media Mavens

Are you a Media Maven? Girl Scouts from the southern region leaned how to be media savvy at the Shell Point Community TV station. They learned how to work behind the cameras and how to act on camera. The girls interviewed each other and created their own show. These girls are ready for their close up!

Highlands Girl Scouts Costume Bowl

Girl Scouts in Highlands County celebrated Halloween at the local bowling alley where they dressed up and bowled for candy!

Girl Scouts Visit Sterling House for Pumpkin Caroling

Since the 1960s, children of all ages have watched Charlie Brown’s friend Linus, clutching his blanket, waiting with Sally in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to rise up and bring toys to all good little boys and girls. During this TV classic, the Peanut gang stops by the pumpkin patch before they head out to go trick-or-treating, and Linus asks if they came to sing pumpkin carols. No pumpkin carols are sung during the show, but Girl Scout Troop 208, dressed in costumes, made an early Halloween visit to the residents of the Sterling House, an assisted living home, and sang several Halloween songs.

--Submitted by Niki LeVasseur and Troop 208

Boo at the Zoo!

Girls all over the southern region had a spooktacular good time at Boo at the Zoo at the Naples Zoo. They took part in a costume contest, trick or treated and visited with all the animals.