Volunteer Connections by Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Let’s talk about bridging! If you’re not familiar, bridging is a beloved Girl Scout tradition that honors girls’ achievements throughout the year and celebrates their “crossing the bridge” to the next Girl Scout level. Girl Scout troops hold their bridging ceremony in May or June, and some tie it to the end of the girls’ current school year. When are Girl Scouts ready to bridge? Grade 1 Daisies bridge to Brownies Grade 3 Brownies bridge to Juniors Grade 5 Juniors bridge to Cadettes Grade 8 Cadettes bridge to Seniors Grade 10 Seniors bridge to Ambassadors Grade 12 Ambassadors bridge to adults Even if your troop is not ready to bridge yet, remember, this episode will always be available for you to come back to, when you’re ready! We’ll discuss how to plan a bridging ceremony and how to keep it girl-led, who you can get involved, the insignia you’ll want to include, how to customize it to fit your troop’s needs, and resources you can use to make the planning process a breez...

Of all the different first jobs a young person could have, summer camp counselor is simply the best. Other regular jobs won’t leave a young person with as well-rounded a skill set as summer camp and in my (incredibly-biased) opinion, being a Girl Scout summer camp counselor is even better for introducing young minds to the workforce. Growing up I had two dreams: become a world famous best-selling author and be a Unit Leader at Camp Blue Bay. Thanks to my experience working at summer camp, I’ve already been able to achieve one of my lifelong goals! (And as soon as I finish my novel, I’ll complete the other one…)  It all started 15 years ago. I was 8 years old and enjoying the sleepaway experience at Camp Blue Bay for the very first time, but my camp counselors were an enigma to me. They were teenagers and college kids who were also adults, and they were cool but also responsible?? I had never met a person like that before. They were friendly and helpful when I misplaced my water bot...

From Brownfield Busters and Bucket Lists to Bubbles and Bridges . Patch programs give every Girl Scout the opportunity to further explore an array of topics and learning experiences outside of traditional badge work. The impact of the patch program has given Girl Scouts the space to be innovative and persevering individuals with a passion for changing the world. Getting Started with Council Patch Programs  Dedicated, fun, sassy, and super-smart busy bees are just a few words used by troop leader Crystal Peterkin to describe the personality of her troop. Her comfort with children coupled with years of working in special education gave her just the right tools needed to lead a successful troop. Peterkin has had great success in implementing the patch program for her Girl Scouts and leads by example. “In the beginning, it was slow to start - patch programs were new for me, the parents, and the girls. So, of course, there was apprehension.” Over time a shift began to happen, and s...

As a Girl Scout volunteer, you are changing the lives of the new generation of leaders. You are a mentor and a cheerleader. You make new experiences possible and help create lasting memories. You provide comfort and inspiration in trying moments and encourage confidence and growth. You help build girls of courage, confidence, and character while finding the same within yourself. On Monday, April 10, we celebrated volunteers at Lead with Impact, a special in-person Volunteer Connections event. The evening offered volunteers the chance to connect with one another to share their thoughts and ideas about the impact of volunteering. GSNC staff were present at informational tables to answer volunteer questions about Highest Awards , program opportunities , CampBlue Bay , and more! Volunteers are always looking for activities to do with their troops so that is why we had three hands-on activity tables! Volunteers learned how to build an edible fire, make a campfire SWAP, and they mad...