Volunteer Connections by Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Grab your favorite cold weather beverage (mine is hot chocolate), a blanket, and anything to help you get extra cozy to listen to our December podcast episode! Join us for the last episode in 2022, “Winter Activities.” You’ll learn about badges, patches, and SWAPS to offer your troop, so you have plenty to discuss and they have options to decide how they want their Girl Scout experience to be this season! Pro Tip: Keep your meetings fun in the winter by offering something extra special that your troop would only do during the cold months. Have them come dressed for a slumber party in their favorite winter PJ’s or have a dance party. Put it to a vote! The December episode airs on Thursday, December 29 at 9:00 AM, and consecutively on the last Thursday of every month. However, you can listen on demand! That means you can tune in anytime, anywhere that works for you. Be sure to follow the podcast and turn on notifications, so you’ll know when new episodes are released.  You can ...

One of the most inspiring parts of volunteering with Girl Scouts is getting to witness girls discover their strengths through engaging in activities in STEM, financial literacy, the outdoors, art, and more. When it does come time to introduce new topics to Girl Scouts, many leaders feel intimidated because they do not have experience in these fields. Volunteers don’t need to be an expert or a scientist to bring these activities to their troops! There are a variety of ways for Girl Scout volunteers to build their confidence and positively impact their Girl Scouts through new experiences. Find an expert – volunteers can use their network of peers to identify someone who is a professional or has knowledge of the badge or activity the troop is working on. Let that individual take the lead! Participate in the activity alongside the girls to join in on the fun and learn something new. Prepare – review the materials needed to earn a badge or complete an activity. Make any modificati...

On Monday, November 14 the Volunteer Training and Resource team and special guest speaker, Theresa, met with Girl Scouts of Nassau County volunteers for a discussion about volunteering, professional development, resume writing, and more! Theresa, who is a parent, Girl Scout volunteer, and human resources professional with over 20 years of experience, spoke to the attendees about how to leverage their volunteer efforts in professional and other leadership settings. She shared insight into current resume trends and helped volunteers understand the importance of creating a personal brand statement. What are the skills you develop when you volunteer? This is a question the volunteers were asked to consider. Together they came up with a list of skills that included: Public speaking Organization Networking Management Community relations  One volunteer even shared that being a volunteer has helped her to step out of her comfort zone! Toward the end of the evening, there was a...

  “Organizing and planning Girl Scout meetings during the beginning of the year is SUPER easy”- said no Girl Scout volunteer ever! That’s why the first episode of our brand new podcast, “Starting Your Girl Scout Year Strong” will cover our most important tips and resources that will help you as you start diving back in to planning. Mark your calendars! The first episode launches today (Thursday, October 27) , and thereafter the last Thursday of every month. Here what you’ll learn about in this month’s episode:  Time management tips  How to build a strong Co-Leader relationship  How to plan Girl-Led meetings  Money Earning Activities We know you work smarter, not harder. That’s why we’re giving you all of the follow up resources you need in the description of each episode! There, you’ll find time stamps that tells you when each topic is talked about. No need to waste time and listen to the entire thing again, just jump ahead to the specified time stamp! You’l...

On Monday, October 10 the Volunteer Training and Resource team hosted the first Volunteer Connections (Live Meeting) of the 2022/2023 Girl Scout year! The purpose of the monthly live meetings is for volunteers to learn how their efforts fit into the Girl Scout Movement, while supporting their own personal and professional development. At this meeting, the team connected with volunteers from all different service units to discuss Time Management Essentials. What is time management? Time management is a person’s ability to prioritize, plan, and manage the hours in their day effectively. It’s all about making the most out of the time we have available! Some ways to effectively manage time are to: Analyze how you’re using it . Identify the biggest “time-stealers” throughout the day, like scrolling through social media! Look for opportunities to save time and to, “work smarter, not harder.” Prioritize your responsibilities . Sort through the activities and tasks that you have going on in yo...

gsLearn is an online training platform available to all Girl Scout adults that are currently registered and with a volunteer role. It helps Girl Scout volunteers take their Girl Scout learning to the next experience.  Here’s why: 1. Easily Accessible. Just sign in to your “MYGS” account to access the gsLearn tab Step1: Visit www.gsnc.org and click “MYGS” Step 2: Log-In with your Email Address and Password (same one you created upon registration) Step 3: Click the gsLearn tab on the left-hand side. That’s it! Now you’re in! 2. Visually Pleasing. Each optional course in gsLearn has fun graphics and pictures so your experience isn’t a snooze fest! 3. Time-Friendly. Stop and start the video courses at any time to fit your schedule!   4. Tracks your Progress. Never forget where you left off, with the progress tracking feature. See your completion rate next to each course, as you go. 5. Save Your Personal Achievements. Upload any professional development or certifications you ...

Did you know Girl Scouts from Nassau County who sell Girl Scout Cookies® have an opportunity to earn Cookie Rewards based on the number of packages of Girl Scout Cookies they sell through the Girl Scout Cookie Program.  Are you wondering about this year's Girl Scout Cookie Season Rewards for Girl Scouts of Nassau County? Well, Troop 2324 got the inside scoop.Watch as they "un-box" the rewards and hear what they think about them. For a complete listing of girl rewards, please visit: https://www.gsnc.org/en/cookies/cookies/for-cookie-sellers/rewards.html 

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...

Saying ‘Thank you’ to Cookie Customers There's more to Girl Scout Cookies than what is in the cookie package! When your Girl Scout sells Girl Scout Cookies , they’re learning skills which can be used in business and in everyday life. Whether she is interacting with past customers or new ones, make sure she practices good customer service! For example, when a Girl Scout says “thank you” to her cookie customers, she is learning about business ethics , communication skills , and how to be professional and polite. Saying thank you is so important! By saying thank you, you show how much you value them helping you reach your goals. Here are some unique ways that our Girl Scouts say thank you to their cookie customers. Sarah from troop 2232 and Emily from troop 2531 show their neighbors, family, and friends that they appreciate their support during cookie season by placing fulfilled orders in a hand crafted paper bag that includes a thank you note and a business card. ...

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...

Different Ways to "Bling Your Booth" and Stay Within Your Booth Sale Location’s Guidelines Today (January 31, 2020) is the official start of Girl Scout Cookie Booth Sales here in Nassau County! One of the fun things for your Girl Scouts to do during booth sale season is to “Bling your Booth.” But, how can you “Bling Your Booth” when your booth sale location has guidelines. Try some of these ideas: Girl Scouts can set up the cookie packages and cases in a fun, decorative way.  Have each of the Girl Scouts in your troop come up with a unique "elevator" pitch. Then let the girls take turns trying out their “elevator” pitch on customers. This gives each girl the opportunity to practice their marketing and people skills while at the booth sale.  Make sure their vests/sashes are Girl Scout Cookie Season ready. The GSNC Shop even has a patch for that! When you go into the GSNC Shop for a uniform checkup, you will receive a free patch with you...