Calendar
Contact us
Leadership and the Next 100 Years
In early February, Girl Scouts of the USA launched its Year of the Girl campaign and the "ToGetHerThere" cause -- a multi-year effort to bring attention to girls' leadership issues. The ultimate goal of the campaign: to create gender-balanced leadership in one generation.
At Girl Scouts, we've been helping girls discover their inner leader for 100 years. But, outside the supportive Girl Scout environment, girls face so many discouraging messages that many of them opt out of pursuing their ambitions and never dare to believe in their potential. In the next 100 years, Girl Scouts wants to change that for good, not just for girls who are Scouts, but for every girl.
One way we can make a difference is by getting others involved in our cause, and having conversations about what holds girls back, as well as what helps them succeed. Ask them to sign the ToGetHerThere pledge to become informed, speak up, and invest in girls.
On February 7, 2012, Girl Scouts of Alaska did just that with Honorary Troop 49, Alaska's female legislators and commissioners. Troop 49 met with Girl Scouts in Juneau at the State Capitol and spent more than an hour talking about leadership.
Events like these, that give girls the chance to meet women leaders and talk openly about issues that matter, are what Girl Scouts is all about. It's why we're making a difference, and why I know that our next 100 years will be just as successful as our last 100.
Read our blog for more about the leadership conversation in Juneau. And, if you haven't already, take a moment to sign the ToGetHerThere pledge.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Marge Stoneking, CEO
100 Years of Girl Scouts: Celebrate With Us!
We have SO MANY exciting events planned, we decided to create a new tab on our website to help keep track of everything that's going on. Check it out at this easy-to-remember URL: www.girlscoutsalaska.org/100.
Here are some highlights of events already passed:
- Troop 49 and Juneau Girl Scouts gathered on February 7 to talk about Leadership and kick off the Year of the Girl campaign in Alaska. Read our blog post about this event.
- Girl Scouts filled the stands at the Aces hockey game for Girl Scout Night on February 25, which was also the first day of cookie booth sales. A small group of Girl Scouts dressed in vintage Girl Scout uniforms and paraded on the ice at first intermission, with signs depicting each decade of Girl Scouts.
- In honor of our 100th annivesary, Girl Scouts was the recipient of ticket sales proceeds for the Rage City Roller Girls bout against Fairbanks on March 3. If you were at the event and didn't get your patch, come by the council office to pick it up.
Here are some highlights of events yet to come:
- 100th Anniversary Camp Fires: Monday, March 12th. This is a great way that all Girl Scout across the state can celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts together. Camp fires will be happening in multiple places across the state including Camp Singing Hills and CampTogowoods.
- Centennial Celebration Challenge: Deadline, May 7. Here's your chance to celebrate 100 years and take action at the same time! Share a story and photos of what you did and we'll enter you in a prize drawing worth more than $100.
- Community Parades: Share the excitement of Girl Scouts' 100th anniversary by carrying our 100th anniversary banner in your local parade. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details about how to get a banner.
We invite all current Girl Scouts and volunteers, as well as Girl Scout alumnae, former staff, parents, and anyone else who wants to celebrate the mission and cause of Girl Scouts to join us for these and other events throughout our anniversary year.
Check out these other resources:
100th Anniversary FAQs
Are you planning a 100th anniversary event?
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Silver and Bronze Awards
Bronze Awards
Congratulations to Eagle River Junior Girl Scout Troop 916 successfully completed their Bronze Award. Several of the girls have pets they've adopted or rescue, so they decided this was a community need they wanted to support.
The girls used fleece material donations to make pet beds, baked pet treats, made cat toys, and sold bandanas at a holiday bazaar and in their school's teacher lounge. They donated the dog beds and pet toys and treats to the local SPCA, along with more than $174 they received in sales and donations.
Troop leader Chris Kelliher noted that her troop members are: Lily, Chloe, Rachel and Tia.
Silver Awards
Congratulations to Girl Scout Troop 642 in Eagle River for completing their Silver Award Project!
The first requirement for earning the Girl Scout Silver Award is completing one Cadette Journey. The troop completed the "It’s Your World—Change It!" aMaze! journey.
To complete their Silver Award, the troop first spent 10 months identifying issues important to them, exploring the community around them and developing leadership skills. They had to answer questions about those issues, why they were important to each individual girl, discover how those issues effect their community, and figure out a way for each girl to get involved in order to implement their project. They had to make community contacts and find partner organizations to help implement their project. The girls talked with project advisors, troop mentors, neighbors, religious leaders, teachers and local community sponsors and explored the internet to identify what projects they might be able to help with.
After discovering how many projects were available, the girls spent countless hours strategizing and narrowing down project ideas to those that would work for the group. Several smaller projects were started and completed as a means to determine what one project would work best for the troop and community.
Community member, Cynthia Juettner, approached troop members in July of 2010 and asked if they would be interested in assisting with "Trick or Treat in the Heat" for the Eagle River community. Girls sat down and discussed the possible supplies they would need, how they could help the organization, how to get others involved and if this project could be sustainable. Girls went to the computer, community and other news sources to research the project before they committed to it.
After deciding to take the project on, the girls were tasked with the following:
- Designing and creating posters and street signs that would last for several years
- Putting up and taking down these signs on the day of the event
- Monitoring street and pedestrian traffic during the event
- Securing entertainment for the kick-off block party
- Set up for entertainment
- Hand out candy at the homes of event organizers
- Collect trash around the neighborhood after the event
- Promotion of event to family, friends and neighbors
While the troop did not officially fundraise for the event itself, they used teamwork and volunteerism to support the first Eagle River Trick or Treat in the Heat event. As a result of their contributions, more than 600 children and families attended the event, and all the proceeds were donated to support Ronald McDonald House, Hospice of Anchorage and the Make A Wish Foundation. In Eagle River, over $7000 was raised this year, adding to the more than $33, 000 raised at all three Anchorage bowl events.
Thank you to Troop 642 Adult Volunteers: Laura de Mander, Melissa Papasodora, Lisa Sandefur and Brenda Fogleman, and Project Advisor Cynthia Juettner and Laura de Mander.
Congratulations to Troop 642 and its members: Madeline Corbett, Emma de Mander, Hailey Sandefur, Brooke Meredith, Cathryn Papasodora, Skye Spindler, and Kayla Fogleman!
Council-Wide Events and Opportunities
100th Anniversary Sale: March 12, 2012, 9am-5pm
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts of Alaska will have a sale on all 100th merchandise, apparel, and clearance items.
Enjoy 25% off all 100th anniversary items. This discount applies to phone, fax & email orders. This discount does not apply to shipping & handling charges.
For more information, contact the shop at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (907) 248-2250/1-800-478-7448.
March 12 Mini-Store
Girl Scouts of Alaska will also be having a mini-store at the bonfires at Camp Singing Hills and Camp Togowoods with 100th anniversary items. All 100th anniversary items at the bonfires at Togowoods & Singing Hills will be 25% off.
Don’t forget to purchase our exclusive 100th anniversary patch for $1 at the bonfire. See you there!
Adult Learning - Conference Call Schedule
March 8, 2012
April 12, 2012
May 10, 2012
2012 Camp Registration is Open
If you haven't seen it yet, you can download a copy at www.girlscoutsalaska.org/programs/camps. You’ll find exciting programs on every page along with the registration and campership forms at the back of the catalog.
Camp registration opens on March 1st for all our camps. For most of our programs, you’ll be able to register your daughter online. You can also mail, fax or drop off your registrations to the Anchorage office.
We hope you’re as excited about the upcoming summer camp season as we are!
Girl Scouts Forever Green
April 7, 2012
Upcoming Events - Anchorage and Southcentral
Young Women of Distinction Luncheon - March 29
March 29, 2012, Noon - 1 p.m., Denai'na Center, Anchorage
Every year, Girl Scouts of Alaska honors its Gold Awardees at a luncheon in Anchorage. This year our event takes place on March 29, and will include recognition of teen girls from Homer, Kodiak, and Anchorage, as well as celebrate Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary. We'll also showcase a new Girl Scouts of Alaska video highlighting how Girl Scouts supports girls in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
If you plan to attend the Young Women of Distinction Luncheon, we suggest a minimum donation of $100 per person.
This luncheon supports Girl Scouts of Alaska’s Annual Fund, which allows any girl to participate in Girl Scouts without regard for family economic status or remote geography.
If you would like to attend, have questions, or are interested in being a table captain, contact Lorrie McCann at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Women of Science - Mat/Su
Discover the worlds of science and technology through hands‐on activities in three fun workshops! Connect with local women working in science and technology related fields. This is Girl Scouts of Alaska’s signature event, and many troops’ favorite event of the year!
Date: March 31, 2012
Time: Daisies/Brownies (grades K‐3): 10:00 AM – Noon
Time: Cadettes and Junior (grades 4 - 8): 1 PM - 3 PM
Place: Mat-Su College
Cost: $5 for all girls (Girl Scouts and others) Adult Chaperone: no cost
Earn: Participation Patch
Info: Registration ends March 26. (Registrations accepted on a space available basis after March 26 for $8 per girl.) Girl Scouts may attend either with their troop or with an adult chaperone. All other girls should turn in Individual Girl Registration when signing up for the event at the Council office. Questions? Contact Julie Alexander at 907-376-3822.
Note: This event is open to all girls in grades K‐8. Girl Scouts can sign up using an Event Registration Form. Girls who are not currently Girl Scouts may attend with a parent or guardian. Contact the Council Office at 248‐2250 for an Individual Registration Form.Chef Vern Wolfram told us today that we're going to have 7 or 8 Girl Scouts of Alaska cookie recipes to sample this weekend at his demo in Anchorage, so no one will leave hungry. See you at 10 am Saturday morning at the SBS Design Center!
Science Saturdays at Campbell Creek Science Center
Girl Scouts is partnering with 4-H and the BLM Science Center at Campbell Creek to for a special series inviting middle school youth to discover the fun of science and the outdoors.
March 24: "Mining and Minerals" - Investigate rock chunks from active Alaskan mines and connect them to everyday products. Try your hand at making a successful "edible" mine.
April 21: "Letterboxing" - Challenge your navigational skills with this outdoor treasure quest similar to geocaching. Learn how to find letterboxes and how to set your own.
May 5: "Stream Studies" - Test creek health by measuring pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and even critter living in the water. Come with your break-up boots ready to get INTO Campbell Creek.
All activities are $5 and start at 1pm and all programs will have some outdoor time, so be sure to dress appropriately. Adults may accompany children free of charge. Must be a member of 4-H or Girl Scouts to participate.
Call Marianne at 786-6300 for more information, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
SBS Gourmet Chef Series - March 10
University of Alaska's Chef Vern Wolfram is sharing 7 or 8 new recipes using Girl Scout cookies on March 10 at his demo in Anchorage. See you at 10 am Saturday morning at the SBS Design Center!
Lemonade Day - May 6
Lemonade Day is an experiential program to teach youth about entrepreneurship through actually starting their own business (specifically, the quintessential youth business -- a lemonade stand!) Registration is FREE, and participants receive a backpack with workbooks to help them walk through the steps of starting their own business.
Last year, Lemonade Day debuted in Anchorage with almost 1,000 registrants. This year, the program is being offered state-wide to over 3,500 participants. We are planning to reach 2,200 kids in Anchorage alone. But, we need your help to spread the word.
Lemonade Day organizers are looking for speakers for workshops geared towards youth, as well as locations to hold registration and events.
To find out more about this great event and how you can help or get involved, please contact Kathryn Abbott at 907-786-5419.
Alaska Energy Kids Day - March 13
FREE admission to the Anchorage Museum on March 13, 2012 for this event geared towards kids of all ages. Come learn about Alaska's oil industry, and other energy industries in Alaska.
Upcoming Events - Western Alaska
Women of Science, Bethel
Discover the worlds of science and technology through hands‐on activities in three fun workshops! Connect with local women working in science and technology related fields. This is Girl Scouts of Alaska’s signature event, and many troops’ favorite event of the year!
Date: March 10, 2012
Time: 1 pm - 5 pm
Fee: $5 Per Girl (suggested, not required)
Place: University of Alaska, Kuskokwim Campus, Bethel
Adult Chaperone: no cost
No pre-registration required. Earn a participation patch!
For more information, please contact Amanada Block at 907-248-2250.
Upcoming Events - Juneau and Southeast
Juneau Centennial Camp-In
Celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouts in Juneau by joining us at the Dimond Field House on March 10 and 11 for a Celebration and Camp-In.
Winter in Southeast Alaska is not the ideal time for a camp OUT, so industrious Juneau Girl Scouts set out to find an alternative solution. The Dimond Field House provided the perfect location with its large, “grassy” field and lots of space for tents and song-circles! Thanks to a generous donation by the Field House Board of Directors, Juneau Girl Scouts will take to the field Saturday night for games, singing & reflection. We’ve got big plans for campfires outside on the bank of the Mendenhall River for our treasured s’mores! Every troop in Juneau is planning to attend and celebrate, so you don't want to miss out!
The cost is $10 per girl and adult chaperones are free.The cost includes snacks and a t-shirt! The traveling Girl Scout shop will also be on location at the Field House for girls to purchase fun items to commemorate our 100th Anniversary!
For more information about the Juneau Camp-In, contact Melanie Coleman at 209-9424.
Juneau Auction - March 17
Come to the 23rd Annual Girl Scout Charity Auction on March 17th at the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, from 6 to 10 p.m. Traditionally an autumn event, this year’s auction will be in March to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting. We’re planning a big party in keeping with this benchmark year!
We'll have a vast array of items to bid on, and guests will enjoy hors d’oeurves and a no-host bar.
Auction proceeds will directly benefit Southeast Girl Scouts with memberships, camperships, and travel assistance.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BUY TICKETS
Sitka 100 Year Camporee - March 18, 19, 20
Halibut Point Recreation Area, March 18-20, 2012. For all registered Girl Scouts. Call Patricia MacPike for details.
Astronomy Camp for Girl Scout Leaders - April 13-15, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona.
Join a nationwide group of leaders in STEM education, learn hands-on activities in astronomy with your troops, learn how to engage girls and young women not only in science and math but also the astrological and technological concepts relating to the James Webb Space Telescope's mission.
For more information contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the Astronomy Camp website.
Pen Pals and Swap Requests
Requests for Daisies
1. "We are a Daisy troop that studied Alaska for Thinking Day. We would love to get a letter or swap from a troop in Alaska. Please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can help us out! Thanks!"
2. "I'm a Daisy leader for a troop in Mountain Home, Idaho. We are currently working on the Petal VI, Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout, and we would love to exchange letters with girls from Alaska. We have 7 Daisies, all in Kindergarten. Please contact me at 208-286-8975 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested. Thanks so much. Jill Schildhauer."
3. A Daisy troop in Louisiana seeks pen pals in Alaska. Contact Ashley Myers for more information: 504-234-8528.
Requests for Brownies
"Greetings! I am hoping you can help me with this project my troop is doing. We are making and swapping SWAPS with other troops all over the USA. We are 13 Brownies in Missouri. Please send us 13 swaps and a letter about your troop and what you like to do. A picture of your troop would be great, too. We are pinning all of our letters to a map of the U.S. so we can see where our new friends are from. If you want to send us swaps and letters we will send some back to you! Thank you for your time, and happy SWAPing! Pam Sokolic, Troop 1687, Girl Scouts of Greater St. Louis. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Brownies and Juniors Seeking Pen Pals
My name is Kathi Kline and I am a Girl Scout leader for a troop of Brownies and a troop of Juniors in St. Louis, Missouri. Please let me know if there are any troops that are interested in being pen pals with my troops. My Brownie troop has 13 girls and my Junior troop has 10 girls.
Thank you, Kathi Kline.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 314-749-8830
Requests for Juniors
Debbie Sparer wants to connect with another Junior Girl Scout troop and exchange scrapbook pages. They are collecting two pages per state for the 100th anniversary. Please call Debbie at 917-882-0647 if you have a Junior troop interested in doing this.
Rhonda Williams has a troop of 4th grade Juniors who are interested in exchanging letters, or communicating on Skype. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (316) 262-4733.
Cadettes Seeking Pen Pals
A Cadette troop from Jacksonville, Florida is seeking pen pals. If you think your troop would be interested in communicating with this troop, please contact Lynn Harper-Nimock at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Volunteer Opportunities - Anchorage
Do you like to skate, or want to learn how? This might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!
Anchorage Parks & Recreation needs volunteers to help at the Westchester Lagoon Family Skate events on Saturdays through March 10 from 12:30 - 3 p.m. Help is needed with skates, serving hot cocoa, helping the program coordinator, or to dress in costume. Call ahead, or just show up! This is a simple and fun way to give back to your community. Contact Jen for more info: 343-4495.