Tuesday, August 21, 2012

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Bishop


Molly Bishop is being highlighted as our guest blogger this week.  Molly's experiences span from a young Girl Scout to now as a volunteer. Thanks Molly for your contribution!
If you would like to be our next guest blogger, email us and tell us your story.
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Molly Bishop
Volunteer - Troop Leader
When I think over my time as a Girl Scout (so far!), and all that Girl Scouts has given me, there are many things I could discuss. One theme, however, has held true every year since I started Girl Scouts as a Brownie in first grade: Girl Scouts has continued to help me grow by giving me new opportunities and experiences. 
Growing up in my troop, this was spending time with different people than I did at school, and having the chance to help choose what to do. It was the opportunity to watch a surgery at a vet clinic – also known as the moment I knew I didn’t want to be a vet after all.
I started going to Girl Scout camp after third grade, and that introduced me to a whole new set of experiences. Camp is where I learned how to build a fire, climb the tower, and identify constellations. It is also where new experiences helped me gain the confidence to try things that are a little scary, the ability to trust those around me, and the courage to be myself. My troop didn’t last through middle school, but my love for camp did. After completing the Counselors in Training program, I worked at camp for five summers – my first job! My final two years on staff, I took on roles on the administrative team. This gave me more new experiences than I can count!
Fast forward to last fall, when I contacted my new council (Greater Iowa!) about getting involved. The past year has contained no shortage of new experiences! My first year as a troop leader has been challenging but extremely rewarding – very different from a week-long camp counselor. Also, this summer, I had yet another new opportunity – day camp!
Ames/Gilbert and Roland/Story City community teams partnered up at the end of July to host their second summer Day Camp!  I helped plan and run this event with the help of a wonderful team of volunteers who put on the event last year! Our event was held at the local Izaak Walton League. We included crafts, canoeing, archery, fire building, fishing, outdoor cooking, nature time, games, songs, indoor cooking, and more, all packed into three (very full) days of fun!
Day camp is an amazing opportunity for the girls, especially those that may be nervous about attending resident camp. It is a wonderful stepping stone to going to a council camp. I encourage you to try something new like this in your service unit, or in your troop! It may be a one day event, maybe just canoeing, or maybe a day of archery, but it is not the details that are important – use the skills of the volunteers near you. I learned during the planning process of day camp how many people there are in our service unit with skills in a variety of area. I loved hearing “I caught my first fish!” or seeing the look on a camper’s face when she lit her first fire at day camp! I know that these girls are having those new experiences that Girl Scouting continues to give me. 
The experience of day camp, as well as reflecting over this blog, has me thinking, as I hope you are too: “What other new experiences can I give the Girl Scouts around me?” Good luck!
- Molly Bishop
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Monday, August 13, 2012

100th Anniversary - Guest Blog: Derdzinski

We thank our guest blogger, Mary Derdzinski, for her thoughts, involvement, and commitment to Girl Scouts! 

Would you like to be our next guest blogger?  Please email us and let us know.
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Mary Derdzinski
Troop Leader
Service Unit Volunteer
I'm Mary Derdzinski.  I was never a Girl Scout growing up, but I am now a lifetime Girl Scout.

When the second oldest of my four daughters was in second grade, her troop needed a Brownie leader and I agreed. Since then, I have been leader at one time or another for each of my girls, sometimes leading two different age groups in one year.  This year, without a troop to lead, I am assistant to the Senior/Ambassador leaders and the press secretary for our service unit. I really enjoy being part of Girl Scouts and am so glad that this has been something I could give my girls - all of my girls, not just my daughters!

Here’s a quick story I’d like to share from ‘Girl Scout Day Camp’ which several local Girl Scouts participated in:

The Greene Girl Scouts sponsored their annual Girl Scout Day Camp on July 10 & 11, 2012, at the Winnebago Boy Scout Camp.  51 Girl Scouts, 4 younger children (who are too young to be Girl Scouts), and 18 adults came together for two days of fun.  Each day began with a Flag Ceremony presented by the Girl Scouts and announcements from headquarters.  The girls helped cook their own food and earned the Girl Scout Ways badge from the new Girl Scout Badge book for their age group.

The days weren’t all work.  Craft time brought the transformation of old t-shirts into bracelets and necklaces and plastic store sacks into flowers.  Meadow games included “Giant Jenga,” Four foot long “Pick-Up-Sticks,” “Twister,” songs, and relays. This year each unit also made a little craft to swap with the other unit girls. The girls were able to swim in the Winnebago pool each day and finished with a snack and closing Flag Ceremony.  On the July 11th, the girls going into fifth grade or higher had the opportunity to stay for an overnight at the camp.  They cooked their own pie-iron dinners, swam, and made duct tape purses. 

- Mary Derdzinski

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