Volunteer Connections by Girl Scouts of Nassau County

by Guest Blogger Madison S. I have participated in research activities with Nobel Prize-winning scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. I traveled to Albany to advocate for the homeless in New York State. I mentored a group of young women with special needs — all as a Girl Scout! My name is Madison S, and I’ve been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. Now, I’m a senior in high school, member of Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Board of Directors, and have earned my Gold Award. Since becoming a Girl Scout almost twelve years ago, I’ve been asked the same two questions countless times: "Which is your favorite cookie?" and "What do you do as a Girl Scout?" The first question is simple, because the Samoas are obviously superior, but unless you have all day, it's impossible to answer the second. I've had so many unique experiences and opportunities to discover myself and my passions, impact meaningful change, and serve my community, all while fostering life...

Who are Girl Scouts? Girl Scouts are Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, and Leaders. They’re girls who design robots, learn life skills, improve our neighborhoods, and go on amazing adventures. They’re making a difference. Girl Scouts is a lifelong adventure full of friendship, connection, service, and fun! Every Girl Scout has a unique story to tell, and we’re sharing those stories. Girl Scout Lifetime Member , Dienamarie was a Girl Scout for 12 years and has been volunteering with Girl Scouts of Nassau County in a variety of ways for 17 years. Currently, she is a troop leader in the Merrick Service Unit and she mentors Girl Scouts in our council who are working toward earning their Girl Scout Gold Award. Name: Dienamarie G. Council: Girl Scouts of Nassau County Tell us about your time as a Girl Scout. Looking back, what were some highlights, important moments, life lessons, and/or favorite memories? Girl Scouts has given me a well-rounded experience from the begi...

Have you ever wondered what is the benefit of earning your Girl Scout Gold Award? A 2012 study by the Girl Scout Research Institute, titled Girl Scouting Works:  The Alumnae Impact Study reports that overall, Gold Award Girl Scouts do well in life. Here are some of their findings Gold Award Girl Scouts tent to... Higher education and career Distinguish yourself in the college admissions process Earn college scholarships Enter the military one rank higher Life skills Be seen as a role model and distinguished leader Master time management skills Make the world a better place Community Use your vision for change Tackle an issue, locally or globally Establish a lifetime network Create your community legacy with a sustainable solution to a problem To learn more about earning your Girl Scout Gold Award, visit www.gsnc.org .  

We are pleased to announce a change in requirements for the Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Award . Girls may now do Take Action projects that benefit the Girl Scout community. In order to make sure that this change doesn’t dilute the prestige, leadership efforts, or impact of each girl’s project, Silver and Gold Award projects must still meet the requirements that are key to taking sustainable action: The project makes a lasting difference in the local community, region, or beyond The project puts the Girl Scout Promise and Law into action The project includes provisions to ensure sustainability The project identifies national and/or global links to the girl’s selected issue And the project inspires others Take Action projects must go beyond community service. When choosing to benefit Girl Scouts, the projects must identify an issue in the world that needs improving, then determine if Girl Scouts could be one of the audiences to help propel the change you want to ...

by Gina G. Gold Award Intern Girl Scouts of Nassau County As my internship with the incredible organization that is the Girl Scouts of Nassau County quickly comes to an end, I can easily say that I am extremely grateful for the time spent working within the marketing office here. As a current graduate student pursuing my Master’s and a future career in public relations, I appreciate this experience, one which led me to gain many valuable skills while adding to my pre-existing understanding of public relations, marketing, and communications as a whole. Having the chance to work in a close-knit department where open communication came easily and asking for assistance was never a hesitation, GSNC has shown me a prime example of what a positive office setting looks like. As a current full-time student, experiencing the many tasks and duties of marketing led me to understand how much and how often it overlaps and involves public relations, proving how important it is that I have...

If I could name only one thing that girls learn when they’re involved with Girl Scouts, it’s that they become capable of tackling pretty much anything. With the right encouragement, guidance, training, and confidence, they grow into women who lead by example to do great things for the world. There are so many reasons to support Girl Scouts and stand with girls: Girl Scouts is the best leadership experience for girls in the world. Our programs are specifically designed with girls in mind and provide opportunities that they can only get from the preeminent leadership organization for girls. Girl Scouting bolsters the benefits of school by fostering a safe, inclusive, and girl-led environment where girls are free to practice different skills, try new things, and take on leadership positions. The fact is, most of a girl’s life is coed. The girl-only, girl-defined, and girl-led aspects of Girl Scouts are crucial for girls; the safe space that Girl Scouts offers helps them str...

Got an idea about a Gold Award Project? Not sure if your Gold Award project is Gold worthy? Come chat with the Gold Award Team! You need to attend the Take Action for the Gold Award seminar and read through the Gold Standard first, so you understand what is expected in the Gold Award process. Strike Gold is not a training; it will help you develop the project idea you have.  Here are some ways we can help you: -         What is your goal? -         Who can be your Project Advisor? -         How do you build your team? -         What’s the Global connection? -         How do you sustain your project? -         Will it reach 80 hours? -         How do you measure the impact?  Look for new dates on the www.gsnc.org website...

As Girl Scouts of Nassau County closes out 2016, we look forward to 2017 and give thanks for the time and work of our volunteers who are the mainstay of Girl Scouting!   This past year we celebrated the 100 th Anniversary of the Girl Scout Gold Award with an extra fancy Gold Award Ceremony for 101 recipients at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, with Captain Cynthia Robson, Gold Awardee and a professor at the Academy, as our keynote speaker.   In November we concluded our 100 th Anniversary Celebration with our Golden Flight to Leadership Conference that included noted women as keynote speakers and panelists.   Geared to both adults and older girls, the Conference provided information and inspiration on the skills and traits one needs to be a leader. The bulk of Girl Scouting occurs in Troops and groups that meet regularly.   Troop Leaders, parents and Association volunteers set the path for our Girl Scouts to pursue Journeys and badges that intro...

Meet the “Golden Girls” of Girl Scout Troop 520 of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. Not only have most of the girls been together since Daisies, but 10 of the 11 girls earned the Gold Award this year— and the 11th is currently waiting for final approval on her completed project. Connie, mother and adult Girl Scout Volunteer, has led her Troop of girls from Girl Scout Daisies into mature Girl Scout Gold Award honorees. “I watched these girls grow up. It’s an amazing commitment on their part — they have stuck with the program since they were in kindergarten. To watch their progress has been an amazing experience,” said Connie, whose daughter, Amanda was one of the recipients. “Most Troops don’t stay together; many groups shrink after the girls enter middle school or high school,” Fratianni-Wysota said. “With high school graduation, tests and getting ready for college, it takes a lot of effort to do this.” Congratulations to Connie and girls on a job well done! Learn more a...

Girl Scouting is full of unique, incredible, and life changing opportunities for all girls involved, but earning the Girl Scout Gold Award is a life changing experience in itself. Going for the Gold is so much more than earning a prestigious award ; it gives girls the opportunity to find themselves while also making a difference/impact in their community. While the journey in earning the Gold Award is unique for every Girl Scout because of the many different take action projects, the skills, connections and feelings that come out of earning the Gold are very similar. As a lifetime Girl Scout who earned her Gold Award as an Ambassador, I know from experience that earning the highest award in Girl Scouting is an enriching and unforgettable journey. It all started with an idea and identifying how I wanted to help my community. Over the course of a year and half I watched what started out as an idea, blossom into a project that helped make my community a better place, and that is wh...

In January, we tried for a record… a cookie dunking record that is! Even though we didn’t break the official record, we had lots of fun and laughs trying. In February, we cheered on our Robotics Teams as they moved to the regional finals! Every March we celebrate Girl Scouts’ Birthday and our Volunteers! This year, we honored 90 amazing volunteers who do so much for our girls at our Adult Recognitions Ceremony! Recognizing those people who give so much to our girls and our community can never be overdone…we’re firm believers in saying “Thank You!” In April, Girls Go the Distance Walkathon focused our attention on fun and fitness and was a great way to bring our girls, their families and friends and members of our community together to share a fun filled day in the outdoors learning about healthy living. Our Annual Meeting in May gave us some new Board Members and the opportunity to consider changes to our Bylaws.   And in May and June we celebrated our girls w...