Dear GSWNY Members,
We want to provide you with an exciting update regarding our 2021 summer camp programs. Our camp team has been working hard to assure that our camp programs will be able to operate in person and that hard work has paid off. We are very happy to announce that we are planning to operate our summer day camp programs , Camp Piperwood and Camp Windy Meadows in person for summer 2021. We also understand how important it is for our Girl Scouts to have the full outdoor camp experience and that includes overnight camping. We are pleased to announce that starting summer 2021, troop camp overnights will be rolled out in a phased approach.
The health and safety of our campers, camp staff, volunteers and families is our highest priority and we are confident in our ability to follow all currently stated public health safety guidelines for summer day camp operation. As we learned this past year, health officials may make changes to safety guidelines and we will keep you updated if we need to make any changes to our summer camp plans.
Please know that we have every intention of operating our resident camp programs, Camp Seven Hills and Camp Timbercrest in person as well. However, we are still waiting on specific safety and operational guidelines from the New York State Health Department. We are hoping that we will be in receipt of them soon and will be able to provide you with updated information at that time. A decision on whether we will be offering alternative camp this summer has not been determined at this time.
Please see the two letters about day camp and troop camp here. If you have additional questions regarding day camp, or Phase I troop camping for summer 2021 or need assistance with pre-registering your troop, please reach out to customer care at customercare@gswny.org or 1-888 837-6410.
Thank you for all you do!
Spring Renewal Sneaker Drawing – Last chance to qualify!
Girls and co-leaders who renew by Thursday 4/14 11:59 pm will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 5 pairs of KSwiss cookie-inspired sneakers! We also have Girl Scout lunch sacks for all girls and co-leaders who renew by 4/30. There’s great incentives for troops too! Check out the complete list of incentives and instructions for renewal on our Renewal page.
Join us for Becoming Me, a program inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama!
Ready for another year of discovery, fun, and sisterhood? Get started now with our new Becoming Me program, where girls will earn badges, explore their stories and who they can become, and even join their Girl Scouts sisters across the country for a special members-only virtual event with Mrs. Obama on May 6!
Register for the event »
Lifetime Members + Renewal
Lifetime Members who are leaders or SUMs must renew their positions by incentive deadlines in order to qualify. Lifetime Members do not automatically qualify for any renewal incentives (except “Adult” incentive) – their positions must be renewed for 2022 in order to earn. If you need assistance to renew your position, please contact customercare@gswny.org or 888-837-6410.
Earn Points for College Scholarships From Girl Scouts of Western New York– Renew by 5/31
This is an exclusive benefit for girls, co-leaders, and SUMs who participate in our annual Girl Scout Membership Spring Renewal Campaign and renew by 5/31. After their first year of Girl Scouts, girls, co-leaders, and SUMs can earn Tuition Reward Points when they renew their Girl Scout membership. Each 1 Point equals $1 in college tuition scholarship. Girls earn 2,500 Points and co-leaders/SUMs earn 3,500 Points. Points will be applied to SAGE Scholars accounts in July. Want more information? Visit our SAGE Scholars Page.
The Girl Scout Shop will have a special offer to show our appreciation to our volunteers!
For every shop visit between April 19-30, 2021 in-person or for a curbside pickup order, you get a chance at a spin!
There will be 10 different offers*: percent off your purchase of apparel, accessories and gifts, free item, or buy one get one free clearance items.
*Sample of offers – some may differ in each shop location
The Five Languages of Appreciation
During April, we’re celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Month! The impact that a simple thank you has on people from our wonderful troop co-leaders, to our dedicated Service Unit team members, and to all other incredible volunteers, is incredible to see. It’s very easy to tell someone thank you, but did you know that most people prefer to be thanked in specific ways? Some people love applause and public accolades while others really do not like to have the spotlight put on them. So how do you go about thanking someone?
The GSWNY Volunteer Experience Team is hosting our 2nd New Leader Welcome Meeting via Zoom “Face to Face with GSWNY!” for new co-leaders on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The purpose of the virtual meeting will be for them to meet GSWNY staff face to face, learn about our council’s various departments and what they do through a series of short presentations, and network with other volunteers.
Service Unit Team members are also invited; come meet and greet your new volunteers.
To submit your own Volunteer Spotlight, please fill out this form: http://bit.ly/gs-vol-spotlight
Retail Item of the Week: Girl Scout Stuffed Animals AND a Girl Scout Towel
We have a variety of these adorable super soft animals to show your Girl Scout Love.
Original price $11.95/$12.95 | Spring Sale Price is $8.99 each (while supplies last)
Plus, our 30X60 beach towel will be a great summer accessory!
Original price $21.95 | Spring Sale Price is $14.99 each (while supplies last)
Girl Scout Shops – Time for a Spring Sale!
The shops are having a GSWNY April Spring Sale, we will feature several items throughout the entire month and feature a select few each week.
Email us at Shop.Buffalo@gswny.org, Shop.Jamestown@gswny.org, Shop.Lockport@gswny.org & Shop.Rochester@gswny.org to learn all about these items or come check them out in person! Our shops are open Monday 1:00-4:00 pm for curbside pickup only, Wednesday 2:00-6:00 pm curbside pickup & in-person shopping and Friday 1:00-4:00 pm curbside pickup & in-person shopping during the months of April & May!
For in-person shopping we do recommend if you have a large shop order to please email them to us a few days before your visit allowing us time to have it ready and you still have plenty time to look around.
New for GSWNY Members on Facebook!
To provide an improved customer service experience for our members on the GSWNY Facebook page, we’ve made some updates. In addition to viewing great content on the GSWNY main Facebook page, GSWNY members will now also have a special place to collaborate and receive helpful information through our private GSWNY members-only group ! This group will help to foster greater collaboration and information sharing for members. Use the link below to learn more and join!
FA/CPR Certification Updates
Jamestown
Attention Troop Leaders, Troop First Aiders and other Girl Scout volunteers in the Jamestown area who need to renew your FA/CPR Certification, Saturday April 17th at 10am GSWNY and our partner EPIC Trainings, Inc. are offering a session of the First Aid and CPR Blended Learning Classes right there at the Jamestown office. To register for this opportunity contact EPIC Trainings, Inc. right away via phone at (585)615-4379 or by email at mail@epictrainings.com.
Rochester
Are you in the Rochester area and need to renew your FA/CPR Certification, but missed our April 7th session? Don’t worry, we have 2 sessions coming up at our Rochester offices in May. On Saturday May 1st at 10am and Wednesday May 5th at 6pm GSWNY and our partner EPIC Trainings, Inc. are offering sessions of the First Aid and CPR Blended Learning Classes. To register for one of these opportunities contact EPIC Trainings, Inc via email at mail@epictrainings.com or via phone at (585)615-4379.
Last Chance to Register (registration deadline extended to 4/14)!!!
Championship Martial Arts 716 – Martial Arts for Brownies
Sunday, April 18 | 12:00-12:45 pm
Cost: $3
This is an opportunity for Girl Scouts to learn some basic self-defense in a positive and safe environment. The class will focus on martial art exercises and self-defense drills. This program includes a fun patch to be mailed after the program.
How to Live On My Own Using the MoneySKILL™ Program for Ambassadors
Sunday, April 18 | 1:00-2:00 pm
Cost: $3
Join students from the University at Buffalo School of Management for an interactive program about budgeting! Learn how to manage your money and plan for your future. The On My Own badge will be mailed out after the program.
Girl Scouting at Home
Looking for ways to stay involved with Girl Scouts? Check out our Girl Scouting at Home page today! New resources are added regularly.
Two New Badge in a Box sets are available now!
Brownie Painter
Inspire the inner painter in you and learn to paint and color your world! Box comes complete with 18 colors of paint, three different brushes, a paint palette, and more!
Cost: $10
Junior Entertainment Technology
Learn the ins and outs of entertainment by animating your art, building a rollercoaster, creating 3D glasses and more!
Cost: $7
Grant funds are available for some areas of our Council reducing the cost of boxes down to $5.00. If there is not a grant available in your area, members can apply for Council Opportunity Funds.
There are a limited number of boxes available for curbside pick-up at the Buffalo, Rochester, Lockport, and Jamestown Service Centers and shipping for an additional cost per box. Click here to order your Badge in a Box >>
Awesome Girls: Start Your Engines with Automotive Design
Leaders/adults/girls can still earn free the GM patch by watching the recorded program. Limited patches are left and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once girls have watched the program they can email girl.experience@gswny.org to request their patch.
Link to the playback of this program
Looking for more options? Head to girlscouts.org for even more at-home opportunities for your Girl Scout.
Girl Scouts Doing Good Things
Girl Scouts have a long tradition of making the world a better place through community service. Our Cookie Share program encourages girls and community members to make a difference by donating Girl Scout cookies to the military and community organizations here in WNY.
Last week, 7,300 packages of Girl Scout Cookies were delivered to the Niagara Falls Air Force Base and Friends of Family Support Association – FFSA for distribution! Congratulations to all our Girl Scouts and their customers who were able to make this happen! You have provided a much loved sweet treat to many happy heroes! Thank you, 914th Air Refueling Wing and 107th Attack Wing for your service! 💚
We are #GirlScoutStrong! Looking forward to talking to you next Tuesday! In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Customer Care customercare@gswny.org or call 1-888-837-6410. In an emergency, please call 1-800-882-9268.
Categories: Member Essentials
GSWNY Blog 