Buffalo

Zaria’s Gold Award project, ‘Inspire You’

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Zaria Gibson-Stevenson recently completed her Gold Award project! Watch her project and learn more about it, in her own words!

“I did a Girl Scout recruitment and awareness video that interviewed African American/Black Girl Scouts from all troop levels talking about how fun and exciting scouting can be. My Gold Award Project video, Inspire You, will hopefully help brown and black girls stay in Girl Scouting to the Ambassador level, and encourage new girls to join Girl Scouts.”

“My Inspire You Gold Award Project video helped others by showing brown and black girls the benefits of Girl Scouting. It also showed positive images of brown and black girls doing positive things. It also gave my Girl Scout sisters and I another positive experience in Girl Scouting.

I was able to bond with my Girl Scout sisters, and encourage them on one day completing their Gold Award Projects. I was able to serve as a role model to them, and that made me feel good. Another good thing that came out of my Gold Award Project was that many of my Girl Scout sisters in my Williams Park Service Unit stated how they now wanted to work on their Gold Awards.

One of my Girl Scout sisters told me that when she heard that I was doing my Gold Award Project, it motivated her to complete her Silver Award. I was humbled and honored to be an inspiration to my younger Girl Scout sisters. It has taught me that you never know who is looking at you, and it is always important to set a good example.”

“I hope to encourage African American/Black girls to join Girl Scouts, to stay in Girl Scouts, and to see all of the benefits of Girl Scouting. I want my video viewers to learn about the importance of being a good Girl Scout sister, the activities/journeys some scouts participated in, the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and how to be a sister to every Girl Scout.

While going on Girl Scout cookie fundraisers/troop activities, my Girl Scout sisters and I would often get comments from others in the community about how surprised they were to discover that black and brown girls were involved in scouting, and that I was involved in a predominately black/brown Girl Scout troop. They would often comment how many of my Caucasian/White Girl Scout sisters were often visible in Girl Scouting, and that they did not know any black/brown troops existed. I wanted to do something to change that.”

Congratulations for your incredible work, Zaria!

Community Event: Call for Volunteers for She Started IT Buffalo

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Call for Volunteers – She Started IT, Buffalo | April 13, 2019

Join us to inspire 6th to 10th grade girls to explore careers in the Tech industry and entrepreneurship. We are delighted that you are interested in volunteering to assist at She Started IT, Buffalo on April 13, 2109. Following are a few opportunities for your consideration:

She Started IT

Date:  Saturday, April 13, 2019

Location:  Buffalo & Erie County Public Library | 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203

Event website:

https://www.buffalo.edu/content/www/entrepreneurship/alumni/encouraging-youth-entrepreneurship.html

Volunteer opportunities to consider:

  • General Event Volunteer | Volunteer from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: 

Event volunteers will assist with the registration process, checking in attendees and answering their questions, helping the event facilitators, guiding girls as they transition between programming activities, helping the volunteers who are hosting a demo table and encouraging girls to engage with the volunteers during interactive displays.

  • Tech Industry Facilitator | Volunteer from 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: 

During the lunch portion of the event, facilitators will sit with a group of girls and facilitate a discussion about the video clip from She Started IT, as well as the presentation the girls will be introduced to earlier in the program. We will provide you with a facilitation guide, as well as an online Zoom call training in advance of the session. Following lunch, you will accompany your squad of girls through the hands-on demo tables and continue to answer questions that they might have. You’re not on your own, we’ll assign another volunteer to support you.

We will provide lunch, swag, and a feel good experience!

Register to volunteer: https://tinyurl.com/SheStartedITVolunteer19

Volunteer Information Request:

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email
  • T-shirt size
  • Volunteer preference: General Volunteer or Tech Discussion Facilitator
  • If yes to Tech Discussion Facilitator; please provide position title & organization.

This program is operated exclusively by Blackstone Launchpad at the University of Buffalo and is not associated with any activity sponsored by Girl Scouts of Western New York.

Taste of Camp Recruitment Events

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New to summer camp? Visit us this spring to get a glimpse of what your summer camp experience will look like. Informational sessions, tours, and a sampling of camp crafts will be available. You will also have an opportunity to register for summer camp 2019, and a chance to enter your name for a free week of camp and other cool camp prizes.

April 27 ◾ 1 to 3 p.m.
Camp Piperwood
222 Turk ill Rd, Fairport, NY 14450

May 4, 2019 ◾ 1 to 3 p.m.
Camp Seven Hills Goodyear
10150 Olean Road (Rt 16), Holland, NY 14080

May 11, 2019 ◾ 1 to 3 p.m.
Camp Timbercrest
11169 Moore Rd., Randolph, NY 14772

2019 Summer Camp Spotlight – March 18, 2019

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Summer camp is just around the corner and we wanted to remind you about some really cool programs that are taking place this summer.  Don’t forget our early bird discount expires March 31st so don’t delay! Sign up now and reserve you spot for the hottest place in town, Girl Scouts summer camp! 

Register for Camp

Summer Camp Spotlight

Camp Piperwood

Program Aide – (OPEN TO GIRLS ENTERING GRADES 7-8 IN FALL 2019)

Girls can register for two program session weeks only.

Here is an opportunity to get a jump start on being a future camp staff member. Spend time at camp getting trained in program aide, earning leadership hours and developing valuable skills through hands-on experience working with younger campers. This training program will also allow you to assist at program events, troop meetings, and campouts. At the end of the week girls will receive their program aid pin for successfully completing the program.

Jr. CIT –  (OPEN TO GIRLS ENTERING GRADES 9-10 IN FALL 2019)

Girls can register for one program session option only.

Begin training to become a camp counselor. Junior Counselors in Training (JCITs) learn the fundamentals of leadership, camp management, childcare, and the safety and risk management aspects of running a camp program. A participant must demonstrate appropriate maturity for her age, have leadership potential, a positive attitude, and be able to work well with others. Junior CITs can access all of the basic camp programs, (e.g., exploring nature, arts & crafts, and relaxing around campfires, songs, games, etc.) This is a two-week program. No application, interview, or references required.

Camp Seven Hills

Letterboxing It’s a Real Life Camp Treasure Hunt! (for girls in grades 1-3 fall of 2019)

Put your problem solving skills to the test as you spend this adventurous week searching for clues and solving riddles to find the treasures hidden throughout camp. Girls will practice the art of letterboxing by learning the basics, making stamps, thinking of clues, and creating a camp letterbox. Challenge your camp friends to see who can find the camp letterbox first. All of the other great aspects of camp are also included in this great creative week. Girls will earn requirements towards the following Girl Scout badges –

  • Daisy – Rosie’s Petal (Make the World a Better Place)
  • Brownie – Letterboxer

The Lazy Days of Summer (for girls in grades 4-6 in fall of 2019)

Spend your time at Seven Hills lazing your days away with friends. Sleep in late, lounge by the pool, or just catch up on one of your favorite books. In the evenings there are campfires to enjoy and sparkling stars to keep you company. #GirlScoutCampLife is what you make of it. The decision is yours during these relaxing weeks at camp.

Scuba Diving Explorers  (for girls in grades 7-12 in fall of 2019)

Experience the underwater world through a mask, snorkel, and breathing device. Professional scuba instructors from Dip N’ Dive will take you through every step necessary for you to obtain your Jr. Open Water Diver or your Open Water Diver scuba certification. Spend a week at camp training in our Seven Hills pool covering the first phase of your certification. Spend your second week completing the second phase: open water dive with overnight conducted at the Windmill Quarry, located in Fort Erie, Canada. When you surface, don’t forget to leave time for all of the other great activities at Seven Hills.

Camp Timbercrest

Tent, Trail, ‘N Kayak (for girls in grades 4-6 in fall of 2019)

Discover and explore the natural splendors of camp. Professionals from Adventures in Fitness will spend three days and two nights teaching you the basics of backpacking and kayaking, compassing, knot-tying, building safe fires, outdoor cooking and low-impact camping. You will also learn how to develop an itinerary, pack your backpack and hike and camp out under beautiful starlit skies at Allegany State Park. You will learn the basics needed to prepare yourself for future wilderness trips of Camp Timbercrest. All the other wonderful activities of camp are also included.

Canoeing the Alleghany Reservoir (for girls in grades 7-12 in fall of 2019)

Spend eight glorious days and seven exhilarating nights discovering the wonderful sites of the Allegany Reservoir as it takes you through the state park and the national forest. Professional guides from Adventures in Fitness will start your trip at Webs Ferry in Allegany State Park and end your journey in Tionesta, PA. Paddle with friends, pitch tents, and share stores around the campfire at night.

Celebrating Judy Cranston

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Leader – Mentor – Friend

With heavy hearts we say farewell to our fearless leader, Judy Cranston. She joined us in 2009 as our COO and helped navigate our merger from several councils around our nine counties to the organization we are today, Girl Scouts of Western New York.

For the last three years she’s been our CEO and continued to lead by example and push us to further success. Her passion for our mission was displayed by the way she led every day.

During her farewell celebration, there was hardly a dry eye in the house as staff members shared stories of the impact she had on their lives. She wasn’t an unavailable CEO; she gained our respect by relating to us and most importantly, caring about us.

Leader, mentor, and friend are three of the best words to describe Judy, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t more. Pulling from the Girl Scout Promise and Law, you see how she’s friendly and helpful; considerate and caring; courageous and strong; responsible for what she says and does; respects herself and others; and is a sister to every Girl Scout.

Staff submitted words like encouraging, inspirational, supportive, kind, leader, welcoming, inclusive, thoughtful, wise, hilarious, and fun-loving. When you think about a person who embodies all those characteristics, it’s easy to understand while she’ll be so missed.

Fortunately, we can comfort ourselves knowing we’re still in wonderful hands.

Alison Wilcox has served as our COO for three years and will now become our CEO. With 17 years of global experience in organization leadership and experience with Girl Scouts both at the national and local levels, Alison has channeled her passion for championing women and girls into a successful career. We’re thankful to have Alison, an alumna, as our new CEO.

To access all of Judy Cranston’s tweets while she was our CEO, click here (Excel Spreadsheet)

Camp Registration is NOW OPEN!

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Get ready to experience the #GirlScoutCampLife because registration is now open for all three of our camps – Camp Timbercrest, Camp Piperwood, and Camp Seven Hills!

Check out the camp guides to see what programs are available here.

Register for Camp

Camp Guides are out now!

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We’re still months away from summer and our camp season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start dreaming about all the fun we’re going to have. Both our Resident and Camp Guides are out to tell you all about the amazing programs we have planned this summer!

View the Resident Camp Guide | Day Camp Guide

To learn more about all our camp options, visit our Summer Camp page!

Registration opens soon!