 | The Biggest News for Troop Leadership Teams |
| - Early Renewal for MY22 is opening April 22. Girls who participated in the Cookie Program will have $25 reimbursed to the troop account, and girls who did not participate will have $5 reimbursed to the troop account, if renewed by May 2. Take advantage of these specials and renew your troop on Thursday!
- Launching May 6 is the Becoming Me program, a members-only virtual event featuring former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama. Girls will earn badges, explore who they want to become through journaling, and join their Girl Scout sisters across the country for a members-only virtual event. You must renew your Girl Scout membership for MY22 to register for this event. Deadline to register for the event is April 30.
- Make sure to take the Girl Scouts Voices Count Survey. It came in an email from GSUSA in early April and is open to take through the end of the month.
- If your troop earned their Bronze or Silver Award since May 2020, please fill out the submission form linked in the newsletter below so we can honor the troop in a virtual ceremony in May.
- Is your troop bridging this year? If so, check out our bridging kits below!
- Go shopping with a special discount! Use code VOLUNTEER2021 for 20% off your purchase at the Girl Scout Shop.
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 | Becoming Me: a new
GSUSA virtual program featuring Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama
This spring, GSUSA is collaborating with Penguin Random House and Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama to introduce the Becoming Me program, inspired by themes from Mrs. Obama’s Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers. Through the Becoming Me program, girls will earn badges, explore who they want to become through journaling, and join their Girl Scout sisters across the country for a members-only virtual event with Mrs. Obama in May. Mrs. Obama knows what it means to find her voice and become more than she ever thought possible, and through the program, girls will unlock the power of their unique stories and embark on their journey to becoming their best selves. You won’t want to miss out! The Becoming Me event with Mrs. Obama is open to members who join or renew starting April 1. You must renew your membership and wait several minutes before you are able to register for the event. Renew your membership here and register for the Becoming Me event here.The deadline to register is April 30. The Becoming Me Patch and Mini-Journal
Get the exclusive Becoming Me patch and mini-journal that accompanies the program! The patch is available for $1.50 and comes with the journal. The deadline to order is April 30. Order here. |
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 | Thank You, Volunteer! We see you there. Hauling supplies to a meeting in the rain, tracking down cookie forms, and finding ways to strengthen friendships even when your troop can’t be together in person. We see you taking the time to build up the girl who isn’t so sure of her abilities. We see you giving girls space to test their ideas and express their feelings about our increasingly-complicated world. We also see the result. The goals, the confidence, the “we’ve got this” troop energy that only you could inspire. Because of you, we have community. Because of you, we have resilience. Because of you, we have Girl Scouts. So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for volunteering with us. | |
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As a special thank-you, we’re happy to offer you a 20% discount at our online store, the Girl Scout Shop, when you use discount code VOLUNTEER2021*. You are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting, and we’re grateful for all you do. If there’s ever anything we can do to help, any way we can offer support, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are on your team. With many thanks,
Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama*The code is active through April 26, 2021, for a 20% discount at girlscoutshop.com. The code is for one-time use per customer, online only at girlscoutshop.com. Discount is not taken on any applicable shipping/handling or taxes for each order. |
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 | Make Your Voice Count - Take the Voices Count Survey!
At Girl Scouts, we care about your experience and we want to hear from you! In April 2021, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) will be conducting a national survey with girls, parents or caregivers, and troop leaders called Girl Scout Voices Count. (Service unit volunteers will be surveyed in May.)
We use your feedback to find out what’s working and what’s not, and to improve the Girl Scout experience for all families and volunteers. On April 5, you were emailed an invitation to take the survey.
The survey is open throughout April 2021. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for an invitation to participate, and make sure to check your SPAM folder, just in case. Girl Scout parents and caregivers may receive two survey invitations -- one for themselves, and a second asking permission for their Girl Scout to take the survey.
We can’t wait for you to make your voice count! Got questions? Email GSVoicesCount@girlscouts.org. |
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 | Celebrate Earth Day: Plant the Future event
Join GSUSA on Earth Day to celebrate the environment and learn about the power of trees to keep our communities healthy and strong.
Love our planet? Want to create a healthy climate for future generations? Join us on Earth Day, April 22 from 6:30 – 7:15 pm for “Awesome Girls: Planting the Future with the Girl Scout Tree Promise,” a live virtual event and learn about the power of trees to keep our communities strong. Danni Washington, Girl Scout Alum, science TV Host, and correspondent on season one of Mission Unstoppable on CBS, will join the fun! During the event, we’ll take the Tree Promise with Danni and commit to planting 5 million trees in the next five years—together! Girls of all ages are welcome. Stay after the event for the opportunity to speak with Danni about her career path as a science communicator and conservationist. This extended Q&A session is best suited for older girls. This event is made possible by the Elliott Wildlife Values Project. Register now here. |
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 | Women in Trucking Patch and Event
Earn the Women in Trucking patch at this FREE upcoming event in Birmingham! Come join J&M Tank Lines for a day of fun and learning about women in the trucking industry. Meet a female truck driver, do some fun trucking activities and tour a tractor trailer. Also earn the Women in Trucking patch. The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.
Saturday, May 1 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Birmingham, AL
Register here! |
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 | Coming in May: A Virtual Bronze and Silver Celebration!
Attention Bronze and Silver Award Girl Scouts, volunteers, and parents! GSNCA will host a Bronze Award Ceremony on Facebook Live on May 19 and a Silver Award Ceremony on Facebook Live on May 20. These ceremonies will honor girls who have earned the award since May 2020 (when the last ceremonies were held). Troop leaders of Bronze and Silver Girl Scouts: Please fill out the form below and include pictures of your troop working on their Bronze and Silver Awards.
Bronze Award submission form
Silver Award submission form |
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 | Gold Award Training
This training is required for girls who want to earn the Gold Award. Girls must be in 9th-12th grade and must have completed their Gold prerequisites (earned the Silver Award and completed 1 Senior or Ambassador Journey OR completed 2 Senior or Ambassador Journeys). Girls who have previously attended training are encouraged to attend again for a refresher. Parents and volunteers welcome!
Saturday, May 8 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Virtual
Register here |
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 | Create Hammock Camping Sites at GSNCA's Camps!
Girl Scout Olivia from Madison is working on her Gold Award to create hammock camping sites at our camps. The sites at Camp Trico are complete, but she also wants to see them at Camp Coleman, Camp Cottaquilla and KPC. "This is a great service project for a troop, a Take Actions Project for an outdoor Journey, or even Bronze or Silver level projects," Olivia said. Troops must work with the council before selecting this project. Check out the service project instructions and hammock camping basics here. |
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 | 2021 Summer Camp - Registration OPEN!
Registration for 2021 Summer Camp is officially open! All dates and descriptions of the different camp experiences can be found on our website here.
Sessions are filling up fast and waiting lists are available. |
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 | GIRL Leadership Summit: Save the Date!
The 4th annual GIRL Leadership Summit will be in-person this year! Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 21 at the Trussville Civic Center. This event is for Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. Registration will begin May 1 and space will be limited.
There will be a special Summit Track just for Seniors and Ambassadors! |
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 | GSNCA'S newest t-shirt! Check out our brand new council t-shirt! It features the words "In a world where you can be anything, be a Girl Scout." Shirts are currently available for pre-order. If a troop early renews 80% of their current girl members, they will be able to purchase the shirts and get their troop number added to the sleeve for no additional cost!
T-shirt sizes are Youth Small-Adult 5X.
YS – Adult XL - $12.00
3X, 4X, 5X - $14
Pre-order the shirt here! |
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The GSNCA Patch of the Month for May is the Juliette Sews patch!
This patch program will help girls learn more about sewing by hand and by machine. The requirements to earn this patch have been collected from past Girl Scout handbooks, badge books, online resources, and more.
Requirements include learning about sewing tools, trying different embroidery techniques, cutting shapes for a quilt, and sewing for service (choosing items to make for people in need).
Check out the full requirements here.
Order the patch here.
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  | Bridging Season is Here! Is your girl or troop bridging to the next level of Girl Scouts? We have bridging kits with all the necessary items included to save you time and hassell so you can focus on celebrating!
Bridging kits range from $6 to $9.50 and include a bridging award, the new bridging fun patch, a bridging certificate, a membership star and disc, and more based on which level the girl is bridging to!
Use this form to order your bridging kit!
You can also purchase the bridging fun patch separately. We have a new patch for 2021, and we still have 2020 patches if your troop bridged last year! Come on by one of our council shops! |
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  | Celebrate your girl's achievements! We have a wide selection of gifts for graduating Girl Scouts as well as Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Girl Scouts! We have individual gifts AND cost-effective gift sets! Want to give us a call before coming by? Call us at 800-734-4541 or email us at retail1@girlscoutsnca.org. |
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