Oklahoma Girl Scouts on the Cover of a Magazine!

In Oklahoma, Tulsa Kids features two Girl Scouts on the cover and includes an article about Girl Scouts Beyond Bars. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars is a nationwide program designed to help girls (and boys) who have been impacted by the justice system. The primary focus of the program is family reunification. In May, Tulsa World reports that Oklahoma has the highest per-capita rate of female inmates in the United States, with 85 percent of those women being mothers.

The Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Initiative was established in 1992 in partnership with the National Institute of Justice. The goals are to lessen the impact of parental separation due to incarceration, to foster the personal and social development of girls and their mothers, and to provide girls with the opportunity to participate with their parents in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Last year, Tulsa World reported that The Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma received another large grant to provide services to children with incarcerated parents, bringing the amount to $1 million awarded the group for Girl Scouts Beyond Bars in 2010.

Girl Scouts Attend Space Camp in Arizona

Girl Scouts in Tucson, AZ, are learning why astronauts eat tortillas, among other things. Arizona's Fox 11 reports that Girls from third to sixth grade are at NASA camp and are learning from experts about space travel and robots, plus what astronauts eat. NASA and the Girl Scouts of the USA are committed to inspiring young women to pursue careers in science, technology and mathematics (STEM). We provide education materials and training to Girl Scout leaders, who help NASA fulfill its mission to inspire the next generation of explorers.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is a STEM Advocacy Champion

The Boston Business Journal reports that the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachussetts has been named a STEM Advocacy Champion. The honor was bestowed upon seventeen councils nationwide by the Girl Scouts of the USA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office. This new national initiate equips and empowers Girl Scout councils to lead efforts at the local and state level to increase girls’ involvement in science, technology, engineering and math by addressing and ultimately changing an issue that impacts the lives of girls in our area. The national Girl Scouts organization has honored the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts for its work promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines in education, paving the way for the organization to encourage girls even more statewide to pursue their interests in math, science and other projects.

The new national initiative will allow the Boston-based Girl Scouts affiliate to increase girls' involvement in STEM through programs with Raytheon Corporation, collaborations with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

As part of the new national initiative, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts also will be building awareness among community leaders, aimed at increasing girls involvement in STEM and looking for policy solutions to improve education for girls.

Where the Sidewalk Begins

Follow a group of Brownies on the Brownie Quest Journey. The Brownies convinced Colleyville, TX City Hall to build a sidewalk and make their neighborhood a safer place to ride bikes and walk to school. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is made easy and fun for girls and adults through the journey approach. Journeys provide an important foundation for each level in Girl Scouting for girls and volunteers. Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!.

How have you seen Girl Scouts improving their communities through a Girl Scout Leadership Journey?

New York Girl Scout's "Disaster Relief Team" Builds Homes in Florida

New York's Rome Sentinel reports that area Girl Scouts spent their spring break helping to build homes for those in need in Florida.

As part of the "Disaster Relief Team", members come together each year during spring break in April and travel to areas throughout the U.S. to help with whatever is needed. This year they chose to work with Habitat for Humanity and help rebuild homes in Florida for those who lost them in recent storms. During the week, the girls spent their time building wall structures for the homes, painting and landscaping.

Do Girl Scouts in your community come together to help those in need?

LA Times Readers' Choice Award for Best Charity/Nonprofit Goes to...

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles has won the Los Angeles Times Readers’ Choice Award for Best Charity/Nonprofit of Southern California in 2011!

"The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles do more than just spoil us with indulgent desserts," writes the LA Times. "Their organization facilitates the growth and empowerment of girls across Los Angeles County. Surfing, hiking and camping — as well as community service projects — all cultivate courage, confidence and character. Each year, Girl Scouts contribute 750,000 hours of community service to local and global charities. Who knew so much could be found in a box of cookies?"

With the help of over 22,000 volunteers and in collaboration with schools and nonprofit organizations, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles serves over 40,000 girls.

Congrats to Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles!

Girls Excelling in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

David Rice reports for the Seminole Heights Patch that The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida have taken it upon themselves to work toward changing the professional landscape through their Mind for Design camp. Educators have found through various studies that young girls begin to inexplicably move away from science and math disciplines around the fifth grade. The Girl Scouts identified this is as a concern and are working toward reinvigorating girls' passion for the science of engineering in grades 6-12.

A major step in the right direction, The New York Times reports that American Girls recently won all of the top spots at the First ever Google Science Fair. Budding inventor and scientist, Shree Bose, tackled ovarian cancer, and that research won her the grand prize and $50,000 in the Google Science Fair. For the winning research Ms. Bose looked at a chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, that is commonly taken by women with ovarian cancer. The problem is that the cancer cells tend to grow resistant to cisplatin over time, and Ms. Bose set out to find a way to counteract that. Read more here. Video below provided by My Fox Tampa Bay.

Do you think more girls in the future will be more likely to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math?

Operation Cookie Drop a Huge Success

DVIDS reports that United States service members recently got a taste of home with cookies donated by Girls Scout of Hudson Valley, N.Y., through Operation Cookie Drop.

Operation Cookie Drop began in the wake of the aftermath of 9/11. Girl Scout communities all over the Hudson Valley began sending cards, letters and boxes of Girl Scout cookies to as many servicemen and women they could. The project began with 36 girls and 111 boxes of cookies and has now expanded to 849 girls and 56,000 boxes of cookies. Girl Scouts along with 25 sailors from Fort Dix, N.J., helped package boxes of cookies in preparation for shipment to troops serving overseas. The cookies were donated by customers who wanted to send cookies to the service members stationed overseas. In addition to the 56,000 Girl Scout cookies shipped to Kuwait, 1,000 boxes went to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. for wounded warriors, 2,000 boxes went to Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y., to be flown out to Iraq and Afghanistan and 1,500 additional boxes were sent out by local Girl Scout communities to soldiers from the Hudson Valley serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reflecting on the Recent Tragedy in Norway

The 2011 Norway attacks were a series of twin terrorist attacks against the people and government of Norway on Friday July, 22, 2011. The first was a bomb explosion in Oslo, outside the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other government buildings. The explosion killed eight people and wounded several others. The second attack occurred less than two hours later at a youth camp on the island of Utøya in Tyrifjorden, Buskerud. A gunman disguised as a policeman opened fire, killing 68 attendees, in what is believed to be the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in history.

Our thoughts go out to the people of Norway and everyone affected by this tragedy.

Girl Scout Silver Award Project up for Vote in Pepsi Refresh Project

Two Jackson Girl Scouts, Brittany Acacia, 13, and Kasey Suszko, 14, are cousins and members of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. New Jersey's Asbury Park Press reports that they have collected hundreds of donations for foster children in pursuit of the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second-highest honor a girl scout can receive.

Acacia and Suszko have named their project Cousin’s Care for Foster Children, which has propelled them to number 11 of 101 participants in the $5,000 Pepsi Refresh Project. The girls must still be in the top 20 on July 31 to receive the grant, but only the public’s votes can determine the winners. If the girls win, they must spend the money to further aid foster children.

To vote for the girls, text 107217 to PEPSI (73774), visit www.refresheverything.com/cousin or use the Pepsi Refresh app. Power voting also is available, as specially marked Pepsi products have codes worth one to 100 votes.

Read more about Cousin’s Care for Foster Children here. Do you have any stories about your Girl Scout Silver Award process?

Serving Girl Scouts in Iraq

Montana's KULR 8 TV reports that Montana Army National Guard soldier, Jade Wisecup, recently spent nine-months in Iraq, where she served as a computer information specialist and as a Girl Scout troop leader. She and other service members met with youngsters once a week on her military base in Baghdad.

"They loved every minute of it. You would walk in and you would have five girls run up to you, give you the biggest hugs," she said, "They would drag themselves behind you. You would be carrying kids after kids around."

Maria Wynne is a Woman Making a Difference

Today's Chicago Woman reports that Maria Wynne, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is among the “100 Women Making a Difference”. Wynne leads the largest council in the country, following the merger of seven independent Girl Scout corporations in 2008. She ensures that innovative leadership opportunities are available to 86,000 girls and 23,000 volunteers. Within two years under Ms. Wynne's direction, the organization was awarded ATHENA International's Organizational Leadership Award and the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago's Highly Innovative Project Award. The Public Relations Society of America recognized Ms. Wynne as the 2011 Chicago Executive of the Year.

In June, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana offer workshops at their interactive space, called Journey World, to teach girls about science, math, engineering, the environment and nature.

Journey World offers 45 workshops, camps and overnight programs for young people including the Eco-Lab, where a mock cave, campground, prairie and lake ecosystem teach kids to figure out the consequences of a fire, a flood, an algae bloom and other simulated surprises. Students at all-day events explore 30 types of scientific careers and work in teams on projects such as creating animal habitats that use solar and wind technologies.

Spotlight on Famous Girl Scout Alumna: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is a famous Girl Scout alumna.

An American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress, Swift released her debut single "Tim McGraw" in 2006, then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In November 2008, Swift released her second album, Fearless, and the recording earned Swift four Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Fearless and Taylor Swift finished 2008 at number-three and number-six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million. Fearless topped the Billboard 200 for 11 non-consecutive weeks; no album has spent more time at No. 1 since 2000. Swift was named Artist of the Year by Billboard Magazine in 2009. Swift released her third album Speak Now on October 25, 2010 which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week.

Who is your favorite famous Girl Scout?

NASA's Space Shuttle Program, Curtains, For Now...

NASA's Space Shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System, was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011. The shuttle was the only winged manned spacecraft to achieve orbit and land, and the only reusable space vehicle that has ever made multiple flights into orbit. Each vehicle was designed with a projected lifespan of 100 launches, or 10 years' operational life.

Today marked the final mission of the American Space Shuttle. The mission launched on July 8, 2011, and touched down on July 21, 2011.

On Board was Girl Scout Alumna Sandra Hall Magnus, American engineer and a NASA astronaut.

Girl Scouts Learn at Engineering Summer Camp

The Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center connected the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania with Philadelphia University’s Engineering department last year when they ran a successful engineering camp for a troop of girl scouts from West Philadelphia. The Street reports that the program was so well received by the Girl Scouts that they contacted The Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center again this year to put together another Engineering summer camp at Philadelphia University.

This year campers will be divided into five groups and expected to give a ten-minute debate / presentation on one alternative energy topic and the pros and cons of their assigned source of energy, including Solar, Thermal, Hydro, Wind, and Nuclear. The middle-school age girls will have the opportunity to formulate well-organized and insightful arguments based on the information they have learned throughout the program. They will be guided and taught by leaders of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math industries as well as Philadelphia University professors and current undergraduates. This year’s judges are from The Naval Surface Warfare Center and will use three main criterion, including quality of presentation, content quality, and answers to closing questions.

Solving Crimes at C.S.I. Camp in Dallas

In Texas, NBC DFW reports on Camp Scouts Investigation (C.S.I.) Camp. The program is going on at Camp Whispering Cedars in south Dallas this week and it involves stolen marshmallows. If the girls don't get to the bottom of the stolen marshmallow mystery by Friday, their might not be a s'mores party.

Each day during this weeklong C.S.I. camp, the girls will investigate a different suspect, one suspect being a bird. At one center, the girls studied beaks to find out if a bird is actually capable of picking up a marshmallow. At another station, the girls went through owl regurgitation to see if they could find any marshmallows, but had no luck.

The nature of that task didn’t bother Girl Scout Brittany McMillen. As a matter of fact, it was her favorite center so far. “It’s just really fun to experience learning about the science while enjoying the part of nature so I thought it was really fun,” she said.

View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.

New York Brownie Comes in First Place at Pinewood Derby

New York's Poughkeepsie Journal reports that a Brownie has won the New Oaks Girl Scout Community pinewood derby! The Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson recently held its annual Spring Fling camp-out where more than 100 Girl Scouts attended and participated in a pinewood derby.

Prior to the derby, the girls spent a month building and decorating their cars. The overall winners were Brownie Mikayla in first place, Junior Caitlyn in second and Junior Stephanie in third place. Kudos and congrats to all who participated!

Have you ever participated in a pinewood derby?

The Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pines Council Awarded Grant for Girl Scouts Beyond Bars

Arizona's Ahwatukee Foothill News reports that The Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council has been awarded a major grant for its Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program that benefits girls with mothers who are incarcerated. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Foundation awarded a $114,000 grant to the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council that will last two years and will allow the Cactus-Pine Council to increase the number of mentors for the program from 17 to 75 and double the number of girls served in the program from 75 to 150 by 2014.

Established in 1992 in partnership with the National Institute of Justice, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars works with girls whose mothers are incarcerated with the goal of breaking the intergenerational cycle of incarceration and poverty and has a holistic approach of strengthening the mother-daughter bond while building girls’ inner leadership abilities. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars aims to lessen the impact of parental separation due to incarceration, to foster the personal and social development of girls and their mothers, and to provide girls with the opportunity to participate with their parents in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Parents and their daughters take an active leadership role in the planning and implementation of Girl Scout program activities and also participate in facilitated discussions about family life, conflict resolution, and the prevention of violence and drug abuse. After release, parents and daughters can continue to participate in troop meetings in their communities, making Girl Scouting a consistent presence in their lives.

Are there similar programs in your community?

Turkey Crossing: Safer Because of Girl Scouts!

In Massachusetts, ABC News 40 reports that Troop 522 in Hadley recently posted homemade signs in an effort to get drivers to slow down because of wild turkeys in the street. Soon after the signs went up, they were vandalized.

When the signs came down, the troop took action. They quickly got to work and made new signs with slogans such as, "Honk for a Turkey" and "One Safe Driver, One Safe Turkey" and "Big Birds Walk Slow and Fly Low." The new signs are mounted deep into the ground, on thick wooden posts. The girls say they did this to keep turkeys and drivers in the community safe. The town of Hadley also joined the effort by posting official signs to warn drivers of a turkey crossing zone.

Juvenile Outreach in Southern Illinois

Suburban Journals reports that Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is partnering with the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center to provide female residents with programming that develops leadership, self esteem and healthy relationship skills. Trained Girl Scout staff will lead workshops and interactive exercises for girls that will include topics such as recognizing personal strengths and values, resisting peer pressure, maintaining healthy habits, communicating assertively, working cooperatively and overcoming obstacles and stress.

The aim is to empower girls to overcome challenges in their lives and to make informed and educated decisions regarding their sense of self, relationships, body and mind.

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Wins Social Enterprise Award

Congratulations to Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles for recently winning in the category of Social Enterprise at the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards.

The Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards, presented by The Los Angeles Business Journal, pays tribute to the nonprofits of Los Angeles and those professionals and organizations that continue to make a positive impact on the community. The Social Enterprise Category recognizes a nonprofit organization that demonstrates creative application of the principles of social enterprise in the operation and funding of the organization.

With the help of over 22,000 volunteers and in collaboration with schools and nonprofit organizations, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles serves over 40,000 girls.

Reminder! Tune in Tomorrow Morning to See Kathy Cloninger on Lifetime’s The Balancing Act on Monday, July 18th at 7am

Host Danielle Knox, asks Kathy Cloninger, CEO of GSUSA and Lisa Gable, President of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and member of GSUSA’s National Board provocative questions about girls health and fitness on The Balancing Act on Monday at 7am ET on the Lifetime Channel. Check for local channels.

This segment focuses on girls’ health and how to help them lead happy, active and healthier lives. The Balancing Act is America´s only one hour morning show that´s about women, for women, and trusted by women. Celebrating life and all there is to accomplish, The Balancing Act inspires and empowers with entertaining and educational shows–which helps place women in the best position to achieve success in every area of their lives.

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation is a business-led initiative aimed at helping to reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity. Lisa has been on the National Board since 2008. Take a look and show your support of GSUSA.

Checking in on Anna's Adventure in Scotland - Election Edition!

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas CEO, Anna Chávez, was selected as the only council representative to be part of Girl Scouts of the USA's delegation to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland! Below is a daily account of her adventures as she spends July 9-15 abroad. Follow Anna on her Blog and on Twitter @GirlScoutEagle1.

She started yesterday with a series of important votes as a delegation. The plenary proceedings began with testimonials from a few delegates sharing their life experiences and the impact of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting on their lives. The nominees for the WAGGGS World Board were identified early in the week and they have spent the last three days meeting and greeting the convention delegates to share their bios and their vision of the world board. At yesterday's session, the delegates used the electronic voting system to systematically narrow down the field of candidates and six new World Board members and two substitute were eventually elected.

WAGGGS also launched a global campaign today at the world conference to stop the violence against girls and young women and to ask people to join the conversation. As the largest youth organization for girls and young women, WAGGGS is committed to taking action to stop this global epidemic of violence against girls.

Healthy Media for Youth Act Hits the Media!

On Wednesday, Girl Scouts of the USA, Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D- WI), and Geena Davis, Academy Award winning actor and founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, campaigned in support of the Healthy Media for Youth Act. Joined by teen Girl Scouts, the group outlined the bill, introduced by Hagan and Baldwin, which would improve media literacy for youth and encourage the promotion of healthier media messages about girls and women. The story has been picked up by OMG! Yahoo, The Washington Examiner, Politico, Reuters, Media Bistro, The Daily Caller, The Hill and multiple others.

Stay tuned for further developments!

Girl Scouts Louisiana East Recognizes Adult Volunteers

The Times-Picayune reports that The Girl Scouts Louisiana East recently held its Adult Recognitions program, where volunteers from the East Jefferson area were among the adult volunteers receiving special recognition.

The council level adult recognitions include the Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, President’s Award, Thanks Badge II, Years of Service Pin, Outstanding Principal Award and Outstanding Religious Leader Award. The Appreciation Pin recognizes a volunteer’s outstanding service beyond the expectations of the position held that benefits at least one Girl Scout service unit. This year’s pin was awarded to Susan Adam, Jodi Laurent, Lisa Tarride and Cindy Trosclair.

For information on how you can become a volunteer, look here. Does your council honor adult volunteers?

Michigan Girl Scouts Upcycle

Michigan's Observer and Eccentric reports that Girls Scouts will be on hand at the Ann Arbor Art Fair to teach kids how to create usable art with recycled materials at the Art Activity Zone on Ingalls Mall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 20-23.

Girls attending Camp O' the Hills Fine Arts Camp, which is owned and operated by Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, and local troops will teach children how to create bracelets and eco-envelopes using magazines, catalogs and calendars.

“Creating a memorable art-making experience is very important to us,” said Michelle Schaefer, director of programs and outreach for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. “We work to ensure that our Art Activity Zone offers quality arts education projects to kids and families. Organizations like Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan make this possible.”

Do you recycle the old into the new? Cutting jeans into shorts comes to mind...

Growing Girl Scouts in the Bronx

The Wall Street Journal reports that The New York Community Trust recently gave a $125,000 grant to the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York to support a career-exploration program for girls that attend low-performing schools in the Bronx. It was the fourth such grant to the Council.

"Unlike traditional Girl Scout troops that meet outside school hours and with volunteer leaders, the girls in the South Bronx program meet as part of their middle-school curriculum and their leaders are all professionals employed by the Girl Scout Council," reports Melanie Grayce West. "The troops still have all the traditional Girl Scout activities, from camp to cookies, and the focus remains on self-empowerment and leadership. But the curriculum covered during class time is enhanced to focus on subjects like bullying, family, money management, employment and career exploration. For example, sixth- graders learn about careers in finance, medicine and marketing and seventh-graders learn about law, environmental science and entertainment."

Reminder! Tune in to See Kathy Cloninger on Lifetime’s The Balancing Act on Monday, July 18th at 7am

Host Danielle Knox, asks Kathy Cloninger, CEO of GSUSA and Lisa Gable, President of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and member of GSUSA’s National Board provocative questions about girls health and fitness on The Balancing Act on Monday at 7am ET on the Lifetime Channel. Check for local channels.

This segment focuses on girls’ health and how to help them lead happy, active and healthier lives. The Balancing Act is America´s only one hour morning show that´s about women, for women, and trusted by women. Celebrating life and all there is to accomplish, The Balancing Act inspires and empowers with entertaining and educational shows–which helps place women in the best position to achieve success in every area of their lives.

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation is a business-led initiative aimed at helping to reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity. Lisa has been on the National Board since 2008. Take a look and show your support of GSUSA.

California Girl Scouts Touring Europe

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council's Blog reports that largely due to money earned from cookie and fall product sales, Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Troop 593 were able to travel to Europe. The fourteen girls and 6 leaders spent two weeks exploring London, Paris, Rome and Munich.

"A history previously only known through textbooks sprung to life as they visited sites once inhabited by artists, writers, politicians and other famous figures," writes Juno Kughler Carlson. "One girl was thrilled to visit the home of her favorite author, Nathanial Hawthorn. Another girl with an AP in art history gasped and cried when she saw Raphael's painting, "The Mass at Bolsena" in Rome for the first time. A World War II history buff was excited to visit the Winston Churchill War Rooms in London."

Where in the world has Girl Scouting taken you?

Tagging a Beautiful Piece of Girl Scout Art in Denver

Denver's NBC 9 News reports that after continued vandalism, The Girl Scouts of Colorado's office reached out to reformed taggers to create a beautiful piece of art.

In an unlikely alliance, the Denver Police Department, taggers and Girl Scouts came together with one common goal - to keep vandals away and to get the word out about the Girl Scout leadership programs.

Do you have any examples of a community coming together to turn a bad situation into a great opportunity?

Girl Scouts of the USA, Sen. Hagan, Rep. Baldwin, Geena Davis, Seek Healthy Media for Youth

Today Girl Scouts of the USA, Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D- WI), and Geena Davis, Academy Award winning actor and founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, campaigned in support of the Healthy Media for Youth Act. Joined by teen Girl Scouts, the group outlined the bill, introduced by Hagan and Baldwin, which would improve media literacy for youth and encourage the promotion of healthier media messages about girls and women.

“I am pleased to join Congresswoman Baldwin to sponsor the Healthy Media for Youth Act to promote positive media messages about girls and women among our youth,” said Sen. Hagan. “Children today are exposed to upwards of ten hours a day of recreational media. With this bill, Congresswoman Baldwin and Ms. Davis and I want to ensure our kids – both boys and girls - have realistic and healthy views of the role women play in our society as they grow up."

“Girl Scouts of the USA thanks Sen. Hagan, Rep. Baldwin, and Geena Davis for joining together to promote positive media literacy and positive images of women and girls,” said Girl Scouts CEO Kathy Cloninger.

A survey by Girl Scouts of the USA’s (GSUSA) Research Institute, Girls and Body Image, found that 89% of girls say the fashion industry places a lot of pressure on teenage girls to be thin. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) Report on the Sexualization of Girls (2007) found that three of the most common mental health problems among girls—eating disorders, depression or depressed mood, and low self-esteem—are linked to the sexualization of girls and women in media. And according to the Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media, despite being 50 percent of the U.S. population, in family films and television, male characters outweigh female characters nearly three to one and five to one in background or group scenes, a statistic that has remained the same since 1946. Only 27 percent of the speaking characters are female. (GDIGM)

Betty Ford April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011

On August 30, 1976, Betty Ford, wife of President Gerald Ford, became Girl Scouts of the USA’s 11th Honorary President. Ford, who died aged 93 on Friday, July 8, 2011, helped bring previously taboo subjects such as breast cancer into public discussion and openly discussed her own battle with the disease. She was candid about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, and spearheaded the Betty Ford Center to treat those addictions.

Rosalynn Carter, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, George Bush and Nancy Reagan attended the funeral of the former first lady. Speakers hailed Ford for reshaping the role of first lady with her plain-spoken candor and as an inspiration for the addiction rehabilitation centers that bear her name.

"Millions of women are in her debt today and she was never afraid to speak the truth even about the most sensitive subjects, including her own struggle with alcohol and painkillers," said Rosalynn Carter, who succeeded her in the White House. "She got some criticism, but I thought she was wonderful and her honesty gave to others every single day."

In the years after leaving the White House in 1977, she continued to lead an active public life. In addition to founding the Betty Ford Center, she remained active in women's issues taking on numerous speaking engagements and lending her name to charities for fundraising.

Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.

50 Years Later, Toasting to a European cruise

Iowa's Sioux City Journal reports on a 50 year Girl Scout reunion. Girl Scout Troop 116 "drank champagne out of elegant crystal goblets" in memory of their first sip of cruising to Europe on the S.S. United States 50 years earlier. Their travels took them to England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. For the most part, they stayed in Girl Scout hostels where they met girls from other countries. In Switzerland, they were treated to several nights in a hotel - the Chateau Gutsch.

Troop chaperon Ardyce Winter expected her scouts to adhere to rules of conduct on their cruise and European tour. Rule # 9 was "maintain a positive attitude toward food, living circumstances, adverse conditions." What codes of conduct do you follow when travelling abroad?

Checking in on Anna's Adventure in Scotland!

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas CEO, Anna Chávez, was selected as the only council representative to be part of Girl Scouts of the USA's delegation to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland! Below is a daily account of her adventures as she spends July 9-15 abroad. Follow Anna on her Blog and on Twitter @GirlScoutEagle1.

Yesterday Chávez discussed the future direction of the Girl Guiding movement. This included a quota of membership they are aiming reach, fund development of the Global Girls Fund and the possibility of a fifth world center.

She then sat in on an intergenerational discussion hosted by the young women attending the convention and the candidates for the World Board. At this year's World Conference, six new voting members will be elected by the delegates of Full Member Organizations to serve for a term of six years. The duties of the World Board are defined in the WAGGGS constitution and states that the World Board "acts on behalf of the World Conference between its triennial meetings and carries out the policy laid down by Member Organizations meeting" at the World Conference... and they are responsible for "the strategic planning, accountability and measurement of performance of WAGGGS as a whole."

Chávez then participated in regional meetings. The member organizations of WAGGGS are grouped by regions, GSUSA being in the Western Hemisphere region. See the countries in our region here and the other four regions here.

The Girl Guides of the UK performed traditional Gaelic dancing at the end of the day. Pictures here!

Healthy Media Commission Convening in Washington DC

Today in Washington DC Healthy MEdia: Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls brought together media leaders and subject related experts to create a blueprint of recommendations for promoting positive media images. Healthy MEdia is co-chaired by Geena Davis, Academy Award-winning Actor and Founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and Deborah Taylor Tate, former FCC Commissioner.

Recognizing the need for gender balance and positive portrayals of women and girls in the media, in 2010 the Girl Scouts of the USA along with the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition hosted the Healthy Media for Youth Summit. The summit recommended the formation of a Commission to spearhead an industry-wide commitment to promote positive images of girls and women in the media.

Most 8- to 18-year-olds spend upwards of 10 hours a day engaging with media. (Kaiser 2009). In family films and television, male characters outweigh female characters nearly 3:1 and 5:1 in background or group scenes; only 27 percent of the speaking characters are female. (GDIGM). More than half of girls (55 percent) admit they diet to lose weight; 31 percent admit to starving themselves or refusing to eat as a strategy to lose weight (GSRI).

To meet these challenges, Healthy MEdia aims to host the National Discussion on best practices to promote positive and balanced images of girls and women and secure Industry-wide, public commitments to take steps toward positive change.

Washington Girl Scouts Learn to Make Goat Cheese

The Daily Herald, WA, reports that a group of Lake Stevens Girl Scouts recently learned to make goat cheese. In a class taught by Cyndi Ball, girls learned how to make their own food and were shown where some of their food comes from.

Ball, who manages a 7-acre farm, teaches gardening, beekeeping and more to help people learn how to grow their own food. She calls herself a homesteader, which she defines as someone wanting to become more independent from grocery stores and living a sustainable life.

Do you have any experience cultivating your own food?

Monday, July 11 – The 34th World Conference Officially Begins

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas CEO, Anna Chávez, was selected as the only council representative to be part of Girl Scouts of the USA's delegation to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland! For a daily account of her adventures as she spends July 9-15 abroad, look here. Also, follow Anna on Twitter @GirlScoutEagle1.

"I wore my navy suit and scarf today as the Conference has officially begun!" Chávez writes. "We had ten items on the agenda for today and here are some highlights: New Full Members of WAGGGS – several nations are applying for Full membership in WAGGGS, and I've included a photo of the delegation's vote in include Swaziland into the global Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement. Introduction on Vision 2020 – No, this isn't the same as our Mayor's SA 2020 though the intent is similar. WAGGGS Vision for 2020 was unveiled and participants introduced to the milestones along the global consultation journey."

Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Kathy Cloninger and Girl Scouts National Board of Directors President Connie Lindsey will participate in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom from July 11-15, 2011.

Tune in to See Kathy Cloninger on Lifetime’s The Balancing Act on Monday, July 18th at 7am

Host Danielle Knox, asks Kathy Cloninger, CEO or GSUSA and Lisa Gable, President of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and member of GSUSA’s National Board provocative questions about girls health and fitness on The Balancing Act on Monday at 7am ET on the Lifetime Channel. Check for local channels.

This segment focuses on girls’ health and how to help them lead happy, active and healthier lives. The Balancing Act is America´s only one hour morning show that´s about women, for women, and trusted by women. Celebrating life and all there is to accomplish, The Balancing Act inspires and empowers with entertaining and educational shows–which helps place women in the best position to achieve success in every area of their lives.

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation is a business-led initiative aimed at helping to reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity. Lisa has been on the National Board since 2008. Take a look and show your support of GSUSA.

Malia Mailes, National Young Woman of Distinction, Awarded Scholorship

Lynda Rivers reports for the La Cañada-Flintridge Patch that High School graduate Malia Mailes has been awarded the Caruso Affiliated Spirit of American Youth Scholarship recognizing outstanding community service and leadership. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to two graduating high school seniors who from the San Fernando or San Gabriel Valleys. Caruso Affiliated seeks out students who have “shown commitment to community improvement and dedication to academic excellence.”

"Mailes is probably best known in La Cañada for her activism regarding the dangers of truck travel on the Angeles Crest Highway," reports Rivers. "Troubled by the history of accidents where the Crest meets Foothill Boulevard, including the September 2008 crash when a truck lost its brakes and careened to a stop next to Hill Street Café, spewing 78,000 pounds of onions across the intersection in the process, Mailes decided to take on the safety issues in a report for her Girl Scouts Gold Award..."

Malia Mailes has been named by the Girls Scouts as their “National Young Woman of Distinction” for her community service and leadership. With that award comes a two-year appointment with the National Board of Girl Scouts. Mailes will work as an advisor to adult scout leaders on how to keep Girl Scouts relevant and interesting to today’s girls and young women.

Spotlight on Audra Fordin, Owner of Great Bear Auto Repair

New York Daily News reports that Girl Scout troop leader Audra Fordin is the first woman to run Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body in Flushing, Queens, a family business dating back to 1933. On Tuesday, Great Bear will be named Queens Small Business of the Year by New York City at its annual Neighborhood Achievement Awards.

For over a year, Fordin has been running free monthly workshops—called "What Women Auto Know"—teaching hindreds of women so far how to change a tire and fix a tail light.

Fordin's leadership has lured new customers, helping Great Bear stay the course during the economic downturn. She also offers car repair tips on Verizon Fios TV Channel 1 and on the Auto Lab, a call-in car radio show broadcast locally on WMCA (570) AM on Saturday mornings at 8:05 a.m.

"I think different than men," said Fordin. "When I talk about cars, I talk about things that you can relate to. You need air to breathe. Well, the air induction is the respiratory system of the car. The circulatory system is your cooling system. If your car has a fever, the gauge goes up and it leaks."

Do you know any aspiring female mechanics?

Follow Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas CEO, Anna Chávez World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 34th World Conference!

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas CEO, Anna Chávez, was selected as the only council representative to be part of Girl Scouts of the USA's delegation to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland! For a daily account of her adventures as she spends July 9-15 abroad, look here. Also, follow Anna on Twitter @GirlScoutEagle1.

Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Kathy Cloninger and Girl Scouts National Board of Directors President Connie Lindsey will participate in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom from July 11-15, 2011.

The conference will take place in the Heriot-Watt University campus, the leading venue for academic meetings, exhibitions and functions in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh.

The Conference will be an opportunity for World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to celebrate together the centenary of international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. We will be able to meet with other Conference participants and partners from all over the world, from within and outside the Movement, both formally and informally. There will be input from keynote speakers, and training and educational opportunities, with a focus on young women taking the lead.

Girl Scout Recipe Inspires Hunger

The Beacon News, IL, reports that the hottest restaurant around is the campfire at Camp Greene Wood, where Girl Scouts cook up culinary creations during day camp with a “Camp Chef” focus.

The Girl Scouts have added pitas, quesadillas, fajitas, pocket pizzas, marinated chicken breasts and much more to their personal cookbooks. Below is their recipe for "Fudgy Fruit Cones", which sounds delicious.

Fudgy Fruit Cones

An original dessert by Girl Scout Camp Chefs. Makes a dozen.

15 ice cream cones

1 21-ounce can apple pie filling

4 bananas, sliced into coins

8 cups chocolate chips

1 pound bag mini marshmallows

Spoon apple filling into 12 cones. Top with banana slices. In a saucepan on a grate over a campfire (or on stovetop), melt chocolate chips and marshmallows, stirring and watching so it doesn’t burn. Spoon mixture into cones. Crush three remaining empty cones and sprinkle atop chocolate. (Or sprinkle on chopped nuts). Let cool and serve.

Do you have a favorite camping recipe to share?

Colonial Coast Scouts Headed to the South Pacific!

Virginia's WAVY TV 10 reports that Nearly 60 Girl Scouts from the area will be heading to the land down under. The trip to Australia and New Zealand is a special pathway opportunity sponsored by the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast.

The travel pathway offers leadership opportunities and cross-cultural understanding through council-sponsored and nationally-sponsored trips.

According to a press release, the trip to Australia and New Zealand has been a two-year plan in the making. The girls held a variety of fundraisers including the traditional cookie and fall product sales, car washes, and gift-wrapping events.

The girls will start their adventure in New Zealand. After their four-day stay, they will travel to Sydney, Australia.

Girl Scout Reunion, St. Louis Style

St. Louis Today reports on a recent Girl Scout reunion. Thirty-five years ago Girl Scout Troop 1759 disbanded after nine years. Most of the girls headed to college, found jobs, started families. A Facebook page brought 16 of them to leader Valerie Walch's home in Ladue last Saturday night. Watch the slideshow below and see the reunion unfold!

Girl Scouts of the USA has an Alumnae Online Community. A fantastic resource for all Girl Scout Alumnae - it serves as a site for Alumnae to reconnect with and to rediscover Girl Scouting. Definitely check it out! Have you ever had a reunion with Girl Scouts from your past?

Dr. Joe Puglia, Adamant Girl Scout Supporter

California's La Cañada Valley Sun has a weekly column by Joe Puglia, a practicing counselor, professor of education at Glendale Community College and a former officer in the Marines. This week's column is titled "Just ask Rosie: Girls can do anything".

Puglia writes, "I was volunteering at an Eagle Board of Review, helping a boy transition to the pinnacle of Boy Scouts. His resume and interview were perfect. I had the last question: “Have you ever done any projects or backpacking trips with a Girl Scout troop?” He answered casually, “No, but I wish we had.”

Afterward, I was chatting with the Scout leaders when one of the men rolled his eyes and, in a patronizing tone, said, “Dr. Joe! Girl Scouts don’t backpack. They make bracelets!”... I looked right through those guys and asked, “Can your scouts orientate a compass and follow an azimuth?” They hesitated but acknowledged not everyone could. In my typical Bronx tone, I replied, “The girls in my troop can.”

The column makes a very solid case for Girl Scouting from a man's perspective. Read the entire column here. A special thanks to all of our Male Leaders and Volunteers!

Countdown to Convention

Between November 10–13—the 2011 National Council Session/52nd Convention will unfold in Houston, Texas, affirming the unity of the Girl Scout movement and launching Girl Scouts into its next century of existence. Save the date!

Many plans are in the works for the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts by Juliette Low on March 12, 1912. The kick off will be a "Bridge to the Second Century" event on November 13, 2011 at the Girl Scout National Convention in Houston and sites around the country.

Tzofim Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan Show Hits the USA

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the Tzofim Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan Show made its 10th annual stop at the Tucson Jewish Community Center last week, putting on a free musical performance as part of a three-month tour of the United States.

Performing in front of about 150 folks of all ages, the hourlong show last Thursday featured 11 songs by 16-year-old boys and girls who have practiced since last January after making the final 40 cut from more than 2,000 people who auditioned, Klevitsky explained.

"We are trying to get into people's hearts - basically perform, talk and speak, and just bring the real Israel out there," Klevitsky said. "It's not about the pictures and TV and men in suits that come and speak, it's real teenagers and they sing and dance and they just bring themselves."

Kids at the Jewish Community Center enjoyed the various performances and after the show, audience members got a chance to meet the various performers and ask them questions about being a teenager in Israel.

America the Beautiful by Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus

The Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus recently stopped by Fox and Friends to sing America the Beautiful in time for July 4th! Check it out.

Spotlight on the Girl Scout Gold Award

New Jersey's Tri-Town News reports that The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore celebrated the accomplishments of Girl Scouts in Monmouth and Ocean counties at the Girl Scout Gold Award ceremony recently, where more than 40 girls received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement a teen Girl Scout can receive. This year’s projects included the creation of a mobile media station at a local school, a collection of used prom dresses for those who cannot afford them, a horse rescue expo, senior citizen assistance and care, and many more.

Michigan's Kalamazoo Gazette reports that The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan announced that seven Girl Scouts from Southwestern Michigan are among those who earned the prestigious Gold Award for leadership and dedication to community service this year.

In Maryland, Laura Tayman reports for the Broadneck Patch that Girl Scout Corinne Bailey conceived, planned and constructed a self-guided historical walking trail as her Girl Scout Gold Award project. The informative trail provides facts along an 11-point tour. The Goshen Farm site includes an historic house built in the 1780's, several remaining outbuildings, and 22 acres of open space that will one day be a center for history and nature interpretation.

The San Antonio Express-News, TX, reports that four young women from the northwest San Antonio area have been awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award. The 65-80 hour Gold Award project is a culmination of all the work a Girl Scout puts into the award and offers each girl the opportunity to plan and implement a meaningful Take Action project that fulfills an ongoing need within the community. The project is an empowerment of the girl's passion and personality, resulting in sustainable change.

Are you, or do you plan on being a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient?