juliette gordon low

Twin Lakes Service Unit shines in cookie season

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[This post was submitted to us from Patty Bowen from Troop 20173 related to the Twin Lakes Cookie Drop. To submit your story, email communications@gswny.org]

Does 13,272 boxes of Girl Scout cookies sound like a lot?

Now imagine unloading them, sorting them, and passing them on to girls from 16 troops in just an hour and a half!

That is exactly what happened on Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in Mayville, as the Twin Lakes Service Unit, which consists of Girl Scouts from Chautauqua Lake, Westfield and Ripley school districts, took delivery of their cookies for the season.

Now those young entrepreneurs, from Daisies in Kindergarten and 1st grade through Ambassadors in 12th grade, are busy delivering  the  yummy cookies that earn money for all of the girls’ adventures.

These young people worked together to fund their troops’ camping, exploring, and traveling. From a roller skating party to celebrate Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday to learning first aid from local EMTs, the girls are busy year-round, learning life skills and building confidence to become strong women and leaders of the future. Once a year they ask for help to fund their dreams of becoming a citizen scientist, expressing themselves through the arts, and  celebrating their communities to become better citizens.

Didn’t get cookies yet? Thankfully there is still time! Find your favorite Girl Scout to get that case of Thin Mints, or look for a cookie popup booth at GSWNY.org. Either way is a great way to support this amazing organization that has molded the lives of girls from Lucille Ball and Taylor Swift to Queen Elizabeth II of England!

And remember that a diet is no excuse to turn away these girls. Send a box to a military person! The Twin Lakes Service Unit has already donated 119 boxes through the Blue Star Mothers Lake Erie 4 chapter, and are happy to pass on even more. That taste of home can really make someone’s day as they serve overseas.

For information about joining a troop or volunteering with one, go to GSWNY.org. Adult volunteers and experts are always needed!

“I am so proud of our girls for their hard work selling these cookies, and for their customers who donated boxes to service members,” said Lonikay Fisher, leader of Girl Scout Troop #20153. 

The newly formed Brownie troop in Ripley has been together for only two months, yet they have the distinction of being responsible for more than half of their service unit’s Girl Scout  cookie donations to military personnel this cookie season.

Brownie Troop #20153, six girls led by Lonikay Fisher and Megan Orton, sold 63 of those boxes for the troops!

“This is a community of people who help each other,” said Fisher. “They obviously wanted to support the troops who help us all. And our girls are amazing. They’ve worked super hard to show that support.”

Thank you, Daisy, for how you changed the world!

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Today marks the passing of Juliette Gordon Low on January 17, 1927. The following obituary appeared in The New York Times the next day.

She passed away in the Low home in Savannah, GA, after a battle with breast cancer and complications surrounding the treatments of the time.

We appreciate all she did for girls and how her legacy continues to impact the lives of millions of girls, volunteers, and communities across America and beyond.

Memories from a Hi-Adventure volunteer

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Girl Scouts of Western New York recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, but the history of Girl Scouts runs much deeper in the area. Prior to becoming one, our legacy councils served their girls with unique and unforgettable programs.

One such program was Hi-Adventure, an outdoor experience for girls in Niagara County. They would learn outdoor skills and venture into the wilderness for seven to 10 day trips where they would backpack, camp, and canoe.

Recently, one of the program volunteers reached out to us to share some of his memories and photos from his time leading trips with Hi-Adventure.

Dean Johnson, pictured above in a tipping test, was a canoeing instructor who started his time with Girl Scouts as a one-time volunteer helping girls in a pool learn about canoeing. Soon he became a part of the Hi-Adventure program, helping to lead several trips.

After going through his photos, Dean sent along all the photos in this post (and promises to send more!).

Since our beginning, Girl Scouts have been passionate about getting outdoors. In fact, one of the main goals of Girl Scouting in the beginning was getting girls involved in physical activities outside. Juliette Gordon Low even established the first Girl Scout camp in 1921.

Volunteers like Dean have helped us continue Juliette’s mission and help girls get outside and find adventure. Hi-Adventure no longer exists, but its spirit lives on in our outdoor programs and camps.

Troop 20173’s second annual JLow Glow Party!

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[This post was submitted by Troop 20173. To share your troop story, email communications@gswny.org.]

What’s the best way to celebrate a birthday? Throw a party!

So how do you celebrate the birthday of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts? Gather 42 Girl Scouts from 13 troops, along with a Juliette Girl Scout, together to sing “Happy Birthday” and party in her name, of course!

Girls from Westfield, Chautauqua Lake, Ripley, Cassadaga, Sherman and Clymer schools came together on October 28 to have a “JLow Glow” party at Eason Hall in Westfield.

The girls skated (or tried to!), played games, and shared snacks with their sister Girl Scouts. With the lights low, the glow party’s colored lights and glow sticks set the mood for fun.

At the end of it all, the girls gathered in a huge friendship circle and sang in honor of Girl Scout founder Ms. Low. Some girls even took the opportunity to join Girl Scouting that evening!

Hosted by the Cadettes in Westfield’s Troop 20173 of the Twin Lakes Service Unit, this second annual event was a terrific success.

March 16 – Saturday Theme: G.I.R.L. Agenda and Girl Scout Sabbath #GirlScoutWeek

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MBe a catalyst for change in your community—and the world. Champion your views, influence leadership, and advance the G.I.R.L. Agenda to make the world a better place. Every girl has a voice. Every girl’s voice is important.

  • Girl Scout Week Activity
  • Get inspired. Find a problem big or small in your community. Think of a way you and others can solve it and let your voice be heard.
  • Get prepared. Take a stand and be an advocate for an issue that is important to you. Share with others why you are so passionate about this cause.
  • Get mobilized. Unleash your inner leader and make the world a better place.

March 15 – Friday Theme: (Leader) Camp and Outdoor #GirlScoutWeek

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A Leader is confident, responsible, and committed to changing the world for the better—and she’s happiest when others join her in taking the lead!

Girl Scout Week Activity

  • Be a role model. Lead younger girls in celebrating Girl Scout Week activities and being G.I.R.L.s!
  • Lead a Take Action project. Make the world a better place when you Take Action to solve issues in your community in a sustainable way.
  • Invite the community. Welcome your community to your Girl Scout Week celebrations or Take Action projects.

Girl Scouting Year-Round – Virtual Join Event

  • Tune-in to a Facebook Live throughout the day or evening and check-in for exciting giveaways around how Girl Scouts offer year-round experiences for girls in the areas of Camp and Outdoor.
    • Facebook Live – Member of Camp/Outdoor Program will speak to the breadth of Girl Scouts’ Camp/Outdoor Program and how it impacts girls year-round.
    • Daily Incentives: Engagement and Membership  on Facebook and Instagram
    • One-time Incentive: Starter Kit and 1 Week of Camp

March 14 – Thursday Theme: (Risk-Taker) Programs – Girl Scout High Awards and Community Service #GirlScoutWeek

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Courageous and strong, a Risk-Taker’s keen to try new things and to embrace the unfamiliar. She’s ready to step up and break the mold if that’s what it takes.

Girl Scout Week Activity

  • Do something new. Girl Scouts explore the world around them. Do something that you’ve never done before.
  • Eliminate “can’t” from your vocabulary. Think about the times you’ve said “I can’t (do something).” Try something that you thought you couldn’t do.
  • Break the mold. Be the first person you know to try something. Share with your friends and family about your experience.

Girl Scouting Year-Round – Virtual Join Event

  • Tune-in to a Facebook Live throughout the day or evening and check-in for exciting giveaways around how Girl Scouts offer year-round experiences for girls in the areas of the Girl Scout High Awards – Gold, Silver, and Bronze and Community Service.
    • Facebook Live – Member of Girl Experience will speak to the breadth of Girl Scouts’ Programs and how they impact girls year-round and a Girl Scout Gold Awardee and Alum will speak about her experience.
    • Daily Incentives: Engagement and Membership  on Facebook and Instagram

March 13 – Wednesday Theme: (Innovator) Cookie Power #GirlScoutWeek

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Thinking outside the box is an Innovator’s specialty, so she’s always looking for a creative way to take action. She definitely knows how to get things done.

Girl Scout Week Activity

  • Solve a problem in a creative way. Whether it is a broken shoelace or a polluted beach, Girl Scouts innovate to find unique solutions. Find an imaginative solution to an everyday or community problem.
  • Invent something new. Think outside the box and find a new way to do something. Share your idea with other Girl Scout sisters or your family.
  • Create a work of art. Choose your favorite type of art and make a masterpiece that’s cookie-related that looks like something that no one has ever seen before.

Girl Scouting Year-Round – Virtual Join Event

  • Tune-in to a Facebook Live throughout the day or evening and check-in for exciting giveaways around how Girl Scouts offer year-round experiences for girls in the area of Entrepreneurship with the largest girl-run business in the world – the Girl Scout cookie program and learn what the Digital Cookie Drawing and Cookie Drive-thru is all about. GSWNY Thunderclap Social Media posting where everyone in GSWNY posts the same message to social media on the same day.
    • Facebook Live – Member of Product Program and a girl will speak to the breadth of Girl Scouts’ Cookie Program and how it impacts girls year-round.
    • Daily Incentives: Engagement and Membership  on Facebook and Instagram

March 12 – Tuesday Theme: Girl Scout Birthday and the Importance of Volunteering #GirlScoutWeek

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Girl Scout Week Activity

  • Wear your Girl Scout uniform to school to celebrate your Girl Scout sisterhood. Today, over 3.2 million girls and adults are active Girl Scout members, and over 50 million women are Girl Scout alumnae. In honor of the Girl Scout Birthday, take a moment to recognize and celebrate all that Girl Scouts of the USA has done for local communities across the country!
  • Learn more about Juliette Gordon Low. Visit the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace website. Every year many troops visit the birthplace as an extended trip. Interested in learning more? Check out our Traveling with Girl Scouts packet.
  • Throw a birthday party for Girl Scouts! Celebrate with birthday cake, party games, and more. Invite your sister Girl Scouts and friends who are not yet Girl Scouts. Ask all of your guests to bring a birthday gift to donate to a local charity.

Girl Scouting Year-Round – Virtual Join Event

  • Tune-in to a Facebook Live throughout the day or evening and check-in for exciting giveaways around how Girl Scouts offer year-round experiences for girls in the areas of exciting programs and travel.   
    • Facebook Live – Member of Volunteer Experience will speak to the breadth of Girl Scouts’ volunteer opportunities and how they impact girls year-round.
    • Daily Incentives: Engagement and Membership on Facebook and Instagram.