Guest Blogger Emma Downey shares her Girl Scout Experience at the Creative Problem Solving Institution in Buffalo, NY

Our Trip to the Creative Problem Solving Institution in Buffalo

by

Emma Downey

Hustling and bustling to the airport in the early hours of the morning to catch a flight to Buffalo New York was just the beginning of our trip to the Creative Problem Solving Institution Conference (a.k.a. CPSI). Over the next week our group of 6 girls and 5 adults would become more creative, become leaders and some even CPSI presenters, experience creativity in new and extreme ways, and create friendships to last forever.
To begin with, our group of six girls had lots of fun learning the creative problem solving method in the Youthwise program. In addition we were able to meet and network with many professionals such as Tony Baxter, a Walt Disney Imagineer and the Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Walt Disney Imagineering. These experiences were invaluable and taught us about creativity and finding ourselves. We also met new role models and friends, grew close to the old ones, and bonded with each other. It seems almost impossible the amount of things we accomplished in a week!
While in Buffalo we were able to discover Niagara Falls, rock out at a Rusted Root concert, and attend Shakespeare in the Park too. So whether we were lying in the grassy lawn watching a play in the park, listening to amazing rock music, or getting soaked by the roaring falls we were always having fun! This was definitely a trip we will never forget!

GSGCF receives $5000 grant from the Manatee Community Foundation

The Manatee Community Foundation Awarded GSGCF $5000 to go towards the Pool reconstruction! Melissa Burtless, GSGCF CDO, Sue Stewart, GSGCF CEO, and Betsy Benac, GSGCF Board Member were there to accept the gift.

Girl Scouts in Lee County honor Rosemary Flemming with 80 year pin

Girl Scout Troop 2007 in Lee County organized a special event for longtime volunteer Rosemary Flemming. Rosemary received her 80 year pin in a special ceremony at Calusa Harbour. Volunteers Daralene Jones and Stormy and Girl Scout Kim Reichenbecher shared stories about Rosemary and talked about how she influenced Girl Scouting in Lee County. Rosemary's Story was featured in the News Press.

Stevie Peacock featured on Costra Rica Outward Bound Blog

While wishing there was a "Reblog" button for Blogger - Check out the Blog Post about Stevie Peacock on Your Costa Rica Outward Bound Hanashita! It shows pictures from when she carried the Olympic Torch, Project HOPE (A GSGCF Program) and her Girl Scout Bronze Award - Project Kindness.

Girl Scouts Who Earn It: Part 4

Photo above from Mary Peacock: Stevie also received the Prudential Spirit of Giving Award for the 3rd year in a Row!

Sarasota Girl Scout Troop 79 and 300 honor Veterans on Memorial Day

Sarasota Girl Scout Troop 79 and 300 came together to honor veterans on Memorial Day at Palms Memorial Park and Gardens.

Fossil Hunting in the Peace River

These Girl Scouts went hunting for Fossils in the Peace River - no word on if they found a new species of Dinosaur!

The BEST Thinking Day Pictures EVER

International Thinking Day was a worldly success this year! Here is a picture of Girl Scout Troop #121 from Sarasota as Egyptians. Girl Scout troops from Service Unit 11 created booths representing countries from all over the world. Each troop came in that country's costume, served a food from the country and of course traded SWAPS! Each troop told a few facts about their country and received stamps for their passports. One of the highlights of the evening was a fund-raising project for Haiti Relief sponsored by Brownie/Junior Troop #121. All those attending could visit their photo booth and for a donation could get their picture taken by the pyramids! A local company named go11media, two of the partners being Girl Scout parents, donated their time and materials to make this possible. The group raised $183 and sent it to Unicef so it will benefit children in Haiti.

Photos and Write Up Submitted By:
Marcia Cruce
Troop #121

Think Outside the Box Contest Winners

Congratulations to all the troops that participated, your creativity was amazing! Keep an eye out in future publications for pictures of your troop and there creative ideas.

Winners are:

Troop 844 for the Most Environmentally Friendly activity – in which the daisy troop created a vermaculture composter (composting left over vegetables using worms) and not only used recycled cookie boxes but learned the importance of composting there food scraps!

Troop 246 for the most creative – They created a Leprechaun Catcher.

Troop 78 for the Best Service Project which was birthday boxes, that were donated to Faith Lutheran Church Food Pantry

Emma Downey for creating “101 ways to reuse a cookie box” and actually making 101 things including a solar cooker and dehydrator!

Venice Girl Scout receives the Congressional Silver Medal

Venice Girl Scout Senior Stevie Peacock received her Silver medal from Congressman Vern Buchanan on Friday April 30th in his Sarasota office. Stevie has completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold certificate levels as well as the Bronze and Silver Medal requirements. She is currently working towards the Gold Medal requirements.

Her 4 areas to earn through the Silver Medal level were:
Exploration ~ 3 week trip to immerse herself in the French culture, Stevie traveled alone to France and stayed in Montesson with the DeLalande family
Physical Fitness ~ 500+ hours of Crew/rowing with the Sarasota Crew team
Personal Development ~ improving her piano skills and learning to play the drums in a band; Stevie accompanied her school chorus on the piano and enrolled in the Venice School of Rock as well as private piano and drum lesson.
Voluntary Public Service ~Traveled to Cambodia for the dedication of a School that she helped fund, supplied school supplies to Memorial Elementary in Arcadia, Oak Park School for Special Needs Students as well as Jordan's Crossing which is a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood in Sarasota. She also visited Memorial Elementary throughout the year to read and deliver holiday gifts. Stevie organized a toy drive for All Children's Hospital.

Submitted by Stevie Peacock

Special Thanks to the 2010 Cookie Task Force

Thank you to our volunteers who participated in the 2010 Product Sale Task Force! Would you like to volunteer to help guide the future of Product Sales? Well now you can! Email Corinne for how you join - corrinew@gsgcf.org! Open to girls, parents and leaders.

Sarasota Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Dinner

Girl Scout Troop Leaders in Sarasota celebrated a year of accomplishments together with special guest CEO Sue Stewart.

Venice Girl Scouts Troop 542 Plant Butterfly Garden for Bronze Award

Photos Submitted by Troop Leader Allison

Lee County Girl Scout Daisies Take Action with service project for the Humane Society

On May 1, 2010 Daisy Troop #663 completed a service project at the Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers. It was in conjunction with the United States Postal Services unveiling of the "Adopt A Shelter Pet" stamp.

Daisy Troop #663 used some of their troop cookie profits to provide the much needed items for the shelter and its animals such as dog and cat food, cat carriers and cleaning supplies for the
shelter. We learned how a shelter operates and also learned information about the USPS. All
the girls had a wonderful learning experience.

Cindy Ishley, Leader
Troop #663
Lee 14
Daisy Girl Scouts

Immokalee Girl Scout accepted to The Govenor's Academy in Mass.

Dieusica Dieujuste, a freshman at Immokalee High School, has received a full scholarship to attend the four year program at The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts.

The school’s mission statement states:

The Governor's Academy, founded in 1763 on New England coastal farmland, combines centuries of tradition with a dedication to educational innovation. Students flourish in a diverse community distinguished by enduring relationships with teachers and defined by a commitment to learning and a thoughtful balance of academics, athletics, arts and service to others. Academy graduates are life-long learners who embrace their civic duty and global responsibility.

Dieusica has been an active member of Girl Scouts in Immokalee for ten years. She attended the 95th Anniversary Celebration of GSUSA in Washington, D.C. and also the Girl Leadership Institute at the GSUSA National Convention in Indianapolis.

Girl Scout Brownies at SeaSnooze!

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 138 joined GSGCF Staff at Mote Marine for a Brownie Seasnooze Overnight! Girls learned about manatees, sharks and other ocean creatures and playing in the touch tanks!

Lee County Girl Scout Honored by Sheriff's Department

Girl Scout Jaclyn Granitz, from Fort Myers, was selected by the Lee County Sheriff's Office for the "Do the Right Thing" Youth Recognition Program. A veremony to honor these actions was held on May 20, 2010 where Jaclyn was presented with her award in front of school and community leaders.

Girl Scout Junior from Englewood is a Media Maven!

Emily became a Media Maven when she joined CEO Sue Stewart for a radio interview about Girl Scouts in Englewood, FL. Host Karen Maurer raved about how Media Savvy Emily was. Also a special THANK YOU to SUM Niki LeVasseur for joining us and talking about Girl Scouts with us as well!

Girl Scouts make PSA for Visionary Award

Check out this video Girl Scout Senior Troop 297 made for their Girl Scout Journey Visionary Award. (The link in case the video doesn't play here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhjfiHErpBU)

Girl Scout Recognition Ceremony Photos

Girl Scout Bronze Award Recipients

Girl Scout Religious Award Recipients

Girl Scout Graduating Seniors!

Girl Scouts who sold over 2000 packages of cookies

Girl Scouts who sold over 1500 packages of cookies

Girl Scouts who sold over 1000 packages of cookies

Girl Scout 10 Year Pin Recipients

Congratulations to all girls that received awards at the Girl Scout 2010 Recognition Ceremony!

Girl Scout Silver Award 2010 Honorees

The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida awarded Girl Scouts from around the council with the top awards in Girl Scouting at the Girl Scout Recognition Ceremony in Punta Gorda this weekend. Girl Scouts from around the council gathered to celebrate each other’s accomplishments in leadership and service.

Fifty Eight Girl Scouts were awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. The Girl Scout Silver Award represents a girl's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and her community as she grows and works to improve her life and the lives of others. The following girls earned the Girl Scout Silver Award this year:

Bonita Springs:
Natalie Reid

Bradenton:
Paige Parker, Jessica Smith, Jennifer Sillars, Emily Rheinheimer, Katelyn Velez, Brionna Baird, Ronja Wodtke, Shannon Mead, Kodie Brandt, Ciara Bennese, Colleen Brennan, Erica Cioffi, Erin Gillies, Frances Marcucci, Kaitlyn Mitchell, Emma Orth, Kelsey Pecenka, Shannon Carter, Samantha Howard, Regan Walker, Brandi Achenbach , Lindsey Bethany

Cape Coral:
Emmie Bileau, Erin Suggs, Jaclyn Granitz, Rebecca Coffman, Pheobe Harper, Julia Overstreet, Lauryn Klaasse, Sammy Hyatt, Carley Engelberger, Payton Douthett, Courtney Diem, Lindsey Wheeler, Alexandra Hagaman , Britteni Kayser

Estero:
Brooke Stanaland, Brianna Dewitty, Jessica Groberg

Ft. Denaud:
Crystal Lanzing

Ft. Myers:
Savannal Lococo, Melissa Meetze, Jennifer Reali, Emma Grooms

Holmes Beach:
Mackenzie Para

Myakka City:
Caitlin Greyson

Naples:
Madison Ward, Kayli Figueroa, Alyssa Page

Palmetto:
Aliyah Hurt

Parish:
Alexandra Van Den Ochten

Sarasota:
Sarah Lacomini, Lauren Golom, Kaitlyn Bailey, Audrey Shapiro, Rebecca Rocuant

Wauchula: Jessica Morris