New GSUSA destinations announced, plus local travel trainings and workshops!

GSOSW's Troop 11380 traveled to London in 2013!

Ever wanted to go to London, Morocco, Japan or Scotland? Those amazing places and more have just been announced on Girl Scouts of the USA's list of amazing destinations! You can find the list on the Travel section of the GSUSA site. 

If you're planning on applying for one of these trips, have already been accepted or want to take your older girls for a similarly big trip, don't miss these upcoming travel workshops!

Travel Discovery Workshop

Elks Lodge, Bend OR

If you have been accepted or are ready to apply for a destination, council sponsored trip or patrol, this workshop is for you!  You will learn about council expectations, earning money for your trip, forms, packing, passports, financial aid, travel safety and much more!

Bring a sack lunch.

October 5, 2013

10am - 4pm

$10/girl

Extended Travel Training

Elks Lodge, Bend OR

Want to take your Older Girls to the coast for a week, up to Canada, back East or even to Europe? This training is designed for leaders/advisors to learn how to plan a successful Girl Scout trip.  Discussion items include: Girl Scout requirements, transportation, lodging, eating, progression in travel, resources and more.  All the logistical details of how to plan and execute a trip will be discussed….and how to make a trip a girl led and girl decision process.

Bring a sack lunch.

October 5, 2013

11 am - 3pm

$5/person

Rock stars for a day: Girl Scouts perform at Latino Night Celebration

Thanks to Lorraine Navarro, a volunteer with Girl Scout Troop 20504, for contributing this blog post!

Last October, we were approached by Centro Latino Americano to perform in their 40th Anniversary and Latino Night celebration. After speaking with the girls and their parents at our next meeting, we all agreed that it sounded like a fun idea! We had had so much success at the girls' first show at Solvang Retirement Center that we decided to keep up with the community performances. After much practicing and picking out our outfits, the Girl Scouts in Hispanic Initiative were ready to go on stage again!

We all met at the Valley River Inn on a cold and rainy Friday night. Some of the girls had their troop vests over their traditional Mexican folk dance outfits. It was an unspoken tradition that we had adopted at our first show. After getting a little lost in the lobby, we made our way to the “Dressing Room.” Much to our surprise, it was catered by Cinnabon and other delicious looking food! In over 20 years dancing, I have never even had a catered dressing room! They really made the girls feel like stars.

After much excitement and a little bit of exploring around the inn, a representative came to our room to inform us that we were going on soon. Everyone seemed a little nervous but we giggled and gave pep talks to reassure the girls. We made our way down the stairs and were stopped by many guests and staff who wanted to compliment our outfits. We stopped near the Centro Latino banquet hall and waited for our names to be called.

There had much practice before the show for our dances and choreography but we didn't really know what our entrance would look like. Once our names were called, we walked in to a very large banquet hall with cameras and lights flashing. It was very much like being super stars. We made our way to the stage and began our dances: La Botella, Los Machetes, La Raspa and Jarabe Tapatio.

We finished up to an enormous applause! Back out in the lobby, we took many pictures, congratulated each other and thanked the Centro Latino coordinators for inviting us to such a fabulous event! We were very proud of the girls. They really pulled together and improvised. We had been missing a dancer and they worked their way around it. It was a show that all of us will definitely never forget!

Girl Scout Daisies from Troop 45741 help at Oregon Food Bank

Girl Scout Daisies from Troop 45741 (SU15) had the pleasure of donating an afternoon of their time to help repackage bins of carrots for the Oregon Food Bank earlier this year. They had no idea what their assignment would be prior to arrival, but were willing to help out wherever they were needed. Along with other volunteers that afternoon, their efforts helped to provide 11,557 meals to those less fortunate, which equated to 13,868 pounds of carrots that were packaged into family-sized bags. The girls had a wonderful time knowing that they played a part in helping our community, and are anxious to return again. The Oregon Food Bank can accept volunteers as young as 6 years old, so this was an excellent opportunity for our Daisies to learn what community service is all about.

End-of-year ceremony a fun family occasion for troops in Eugene/Springfield

Special thanks to Megan Bassett for sharing this story from a special recognitions ceremony earlier this spring!

Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Cadette girls from Spanish-speaking troops in the Eugene/Springfield area had a wonderful end of year recognition ceremony and celebration at the Eugene Service Center on April 19^th.  This was an occasion for the whole family as new Girl Scouts received their pins and the girls who participated in the cookie program received their patches and earned incentives. After the candle lighting ceremony and receipt of recognitions, everyone enjoyed a potluck dinner. About 30 people attended. 

Girl Scouts get 30% off at Columbia and Mountain Hardwear!

Have we got a deal for you, Girl Scouts!

Our supporters at Columbia Sportswear have offered us a major discount. Girl Scout adult members can show their child's vest, their leader shirt or uniform and receive 30% off your entire purchase at select Columbia and Mountain Hardwear stores August 3-September 3.

You may bring up to four friends or family members with you to share the discount! Print this flier and bring it with you: to the store http://www.girlscoutsosw.org/files/ColumbiaSportswear_GirlScoutAdultMembers.pdf

This offer is good at any of the following Columbia locations:

Columbia Flagship
911 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
503-226-6800

Mountain Hardwear
722 SW Taylor
Portland, OR 97205
503-226-6868

PDX Airport
7000 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97218
503-287-3318

Step into STEM with these fun workshops!

We have some great upcoming STEM workshop opportunities. Sign up soon to secure your place!

STEM: Product Designer Badge Workshop
Inventors and Innovators: learn about great innovators who have changed the way we live, while we build some interesting inventions using LEGO bricks.  Consider and write about what you could invent, what it would take to build it and make it work and how it could change our lives.
Open to GS Juniors
August 17, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Portland Service center
$15/person

STEM: Intro to Robotics Badge Workshop
Prepare for the future as we explore the world of robotics wit LEGO WeDo and NXT Robotics! Build, program and have a great time collaborating with your teammates.
Open to GS Juniors - Ambassadors
August 24, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Portland Service Center
$15/person

Treat yourself at Hooky Weekend!

Girl Scout volunteers, have you had the amazing experience known as Hooky Weekend? 

The 20-year tradition is a campout for all adults, regardless of their Girl Scout experience. There are workshops for skills, for fun and CPR classes, but the thing we hear about the most is the benefit of meeting and talking shop with other volunteers. 

From Hooky Weekend organizer Cheryl Holmes: 

Treat yourself, you deserve it!  Hooky Weekend is Girl Scout camp for adults, happening September 20-22, 2013 on the Oregon Coast near Florence (at Camp Cleawox). Volunteers and adults do so much to enrich girls' lives. This is an opportunity to let us enrich yours.  

For $40, you will enjoy lodging, meals and fun.  The cost includes CPR/First Aid for the first 24 participants that want/need to take the class.  This year we will have speakers during our meals.  I can't wait!  

Call or email Cheryl Holmes for more information 541-510-0800 or girlscout97402@yahoo.com. Registration is through Personify. 

View the flier at http://www.girlscoutsosw.org/files/HookyWeekend_Flier_2013.pdf