Monday, May 20, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Caramel deLite Waffles)

Take your Girl Scout cookies to a new level by introducing them at breakfast!  This recipe will be sure to get your taste buds going for the day!


GIRL SCOUT CARAMEL DELITES WAFFLES WITH COCONUT CARAMEL SAUCE


Caramel Sauce Ingredients:
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup 
  • 2 tbs butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
Caramel Sauce Directions:
  • In a pot over high heat, melt the sugar and corn syrup. 
  • Stir until melted, then stop stirring, allowing to boil untouched. You will start to see the edges of the sauce turn a dark amber, while the center is still clear. 
  • Swirl the pan, without stirring, to redistribute the sugar so the edges don’t cook faster than the middle. 
  • Once the entire pot is an amber color and you can smell the caramel flavors, remove the pan from the heat (about 8-10 minutes). 
  • Stir in the butter, the sauce will bubble up furiously. 
  • Add the coconut milk and stir until well combined. 
  • Allow to cool to room temperature before serving. Store in the fridge in an air tight container.

Waffle Ingredients:
  • 6 Girl Scout Caramel deLites Cookies
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbs sugar
  • 3 eggs, divided into whites and yolks
  • 1 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbs vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Butter flavored cooking spray
 
Waffle Directions:
  • Preheat waffle iron.
  • Roughly chop the cookies and put them in a food processor, processing until mostly crumbs are left. A few larger pieces are fine.
You’ll need three bowls.
  • On one bowl, put the cookies crumbs, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir until combined.
  • in the second bowl, put the egg yolks, milk, vanilla and oil, whisk until combined.
  • In the third bowl, add the egg whites and beat with a hand mixer until frothy and very light, about 4 minutes.
  • Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the milk mixture, stirring until just combined. Don’t over mix.
  • Gently fold in the egg whites.
  • Spray the inside of the waffle iron with butter flavored spray. Cook the waffles according to waffle iron specifications. 
Top with caramel sauce, and additional Caramel deLites crumbs if you wanna get craaaazy.
 
Recipe Source: domesticfits.com

Friday, May 17, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Pudding Peanut Butter Patties Cookies)

Make your cookies into... cookies!  These peanut butter cookies have a great Girl Scout surprise wrapped up inside. Try these out for a new twist!


PUDDING PEANUT BUTTER PATTIES COOKIES

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12-14 minutes


Ingredients:

  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 package (3.4-ounce) instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cups Peanut Butter Patties Girl Scout Cookies, broken into pieces

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat liner.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a mixer, cream the butter, peanut butter and the sugars together. Add eggs, pudding mix and vanilla and mix until well-combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
  • Stir in the cookie pieces by hand. Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets. Using the bottom of a glass cup, lightly flatten each cookie. They can be fairly close together; they will not spread during baking.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes. The cookies will be lightly set on the outside while still soft in the middle. Cool on the baking sheet for 2-4 minutes and finish cooling on a wire rack.
Chef's Notes:
  • You can use any mix-in or other kind of Girl Scout cookie you have on hand.
  • If you prefer to leave out the peanut butter, this recipe can be easily adapted by replacing the 1/2 cup peanut butter with butter (use 1 cup butter total.)

Recipe Source: Bake Your Day

Adapted from All Recipes

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Chocolate Cookie Pudding)

This recipe is so easy and delicious - so, grab the kids to help you make a quick after school or summer snack.  You could also substitute any kind of cookie and pudding to suit your own tastes and make different creations.  Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE COOKIE PUDDING

Ingredients

  • 1 (5.9-ounce) package chocolate instant pudding mix
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter* 
  • 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 16 peanut butter patties cookies, crushed (about 2 cups)
  • 3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts**
*if using other cookies substitute 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
**if using other cookies substitute 3/4 cup toasted pecans

Directions

  • Whisk together chocolate instant pudding mix and 2 cups milk for 2 minutes. Cover pudding, and chill 5 minutes.
  • Stir together peanut butter or cream cheese and whipped topping, blending well.
  • Place 1 cup crushed cookies evenly on bottom of an 8-cup bowl. Spread half of peanut butter or cream cheese mixture over crushed cookies; sprinkle with half of nuts. Spread all of pudding evenly over top; spread remaining cream cheese mixture evenly over pudding. Sprinkle with remaining cookies and pecans. Chill until ready to serve.
Recipe source: Southern Living

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Lemon Shortbread Cheesecake)

Use Shortbread cookies to make this delicious and delectable dessert! 

Do you have a recipe to share with us?  Please let us know by emailing marketing@gsiowa.org.


LEMON SHORTBREAD CHEESECAKE 

Ingredients

  • 7 ounces shortbread cookies
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 tsp. finely grated fresh lemon zest (from about 3 lemons), divided
  • 1 cup sugar, divided
  • 12 ounces fresh, mild goat cheese (such as Haystack Boulder Chèvre) - or substitute
  • 10 ounce cream cheese
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs $
  • 8 to 10 medium strawberries, stemmed

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 325°. Crumble cookies into a food processor and pulse until finely ground. In a medium bowl, toss 2 tbsp. lemon zest with 1 1/2 tbsp. sugar. Add cookie crumbs and mix well. Butter sides of an 8-in. pan with removable rim and press cookie mixture into bottom; bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool in pan.
  2. Lower temperature to 275°. In standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat goat cheese and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add remaining lemon zest, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, the orange zest, 3/4 cup sugar, the sour cream, and the vanilla; beat well. Scrape bowl and add eggs; beat well.
  3. Pour batter onto crust and bake about 1 hour, or until set on the sides but still quite jiggly in the center and only slightly sticky. Turn oven off, crack oven door, and let cake cool in oven 2 hours. Remove and let cool completely; then chill, covered, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
  4. Run a thin knife between cake and rim of pan and remove rim. Thinly slice strawberries, then toss with remaining 2 1/2 tbsp. sugar and lemon juice. Arrange on cake.
  5. Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Recipe source: www.MyRecipes.com

Monday, May 13, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Thin Mints Pizza Supreme)

This recipe using Thin Mints is so easy and tastes so good.  Feel free to make variations - add a scoop of ice cream, use chocolate chunk cookie dough - why not double the recipe and bring some to your neighbor!  Enjoy!

Do you have a recipe that you'd like to share with us?  Please email us at marketing@gsiowa.org


THIN MINTS® PIZZA SUPREME 

Devour half the box of Thin Mints—then make this recipe in honor of the Girl Scout Cookie.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 10 mins
Bake: 20 mins 


Ingredients
  • 1 18 ounce package refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
  • 1/2 box Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies (about 20 cookies)
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (6 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or half-and-half
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-inch pizza pan or a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Using your fingers, press the cookie dough to fit the pan. Break the Thin Mints into quarters and gently press them into the dough. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool.
  2. Meanwhile, in a double boiler, whisk together the white chocolate chips and cream until the chocolate melts. Remove from the heat. Using a fork, drizzle the topping over the cooled pizza. Cut into slices.
Recipe Source: Rachel Ray Magazine

Friday, May 10, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (PB & J Pie)

Peanut Butter Sandwiches can be transformed into this delicious dessert that will please all the snackers in your house.  And, you can't beat the combination of PB & J!

Do you have a recipe that you'd like to share with us?  Please email us at marketing@gsiowa.org!
 


PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY ICE CREAM SUNDAE PIE
Serves 8




Ingredients
  • 1 pkg. Peanut Butter Sandwich Girl Scout cookies
  • 5 tbs. butter or margarine, melted
  • 1 qt. vanilla ice cream, softened
  • 2/3 c. strawberry topping
  • 1/3 c. peanuts, chopped
  • Chocolate fudge topping, optional

Instructions

  • Place cookies in food processor or blender; process until they make fine crumbs.
  • To make crust, combine cookie crumbs and butter.
  • Set aside 1/2 cup of crumb mixture and press remaining crumbs into bottom and sides of an ungreased 9-inch pie pan.
  • Freeze until firm.
  • Spread 2 cups of ice cream in an even layer over cookie crust.
  • Drizzle with 1/3 cup of strawberry topping and sprinkle with Ï€ cup of reserved crumb mixture.
  • Top with remaining 2 cups of ice cream; spread in an even layer.
  • Drizzle with remaining 1/3 cup of strawberry topping.
  • Sprinkle with remaining Ï€ cup of crumb topping and chopped peanuts.
  • Freeze until firm.
  • To serve, cut into 8 wedges. If desired, top each serving with chocolate fudge topping.
 
Recipe source: http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/peanut-butter-and-jelly-ice-cream-sundae-pie 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Shortbread Sandwiches)

These tasty treats using Shortbread Cookies are sure to get you in the mood for summer.  Using two simple ingredients and a juice can, you can create as many "sandwiches" as you would like!


SHORTBREAD SANDWICHES
Ingredients
  • 1 qt. sherbet, frozen yogurt, or ice cream, softened
  • Shortbread Girl Scout cookies (2 per sandwich)
  • 1 empty 6-oz. juice can

Directions
  • Fill juice can with softened sherbet, frozen yogurt, or ice cream and refreeze.
  • Remove the end of the juice can. Push frozen sherbet, yogurt, or ice cream out and slice into ¼-inch rounds.
  • Sandwich each slice between two Shortbread Girl Scout cookies.
  • Store in freezer.

Recipe Source: http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/shortbread-sandwiches

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Thin Mint Brownies)

Here is a recipe using the famous and favorite Thin Mints!  These are deliciously minty and very pretty as well.  Enjoy!

THE ULTIMATE THIN MINT BROWNIES



Brownies:
  • 1 whole batch of your favorite brownie recipe (9x13 pan size), unbaked
  • 1 sleeve Thin Mints cookies

Mint Icing Swirl:

  • 8 Tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 Cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 3-4 drops green food coloring (as desired)
Blend brownie batter and crushed cookies.  Stir until just combined.  Pour into greased baking pan.  To prepare icing, combine butter, sugar, 1 Tablespoon milk and peppermint extract.  Add additional milk as needed to achieve the proper texture.  The icing should be spreadable but not too thick.  Spoon strips of icing across brownie batter and use a warm knife to marble.

Bake at 350°F for slightly less than the length of time directed on your recipe.  Watch closely near the end of baking since the icing sugar may overflow (and nobody wants burnt sugar on the bottom of their oven!).  Brownies are done when the edges begin to pull away from the side of the pan and the center no longer appears liquid - it will still be dark and fudgy from the melted sugar.  Remove brownies from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.  Run knife around the edges of the pan to loosen.  Allow to cool in pan.  Use any remaining icing to decorate, and garnish with crushed Thin Mints - if you haven't eaten them all already!



Recipe source: http://travelingspoonblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/ultimate-thin-mint-brownies.html

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Lemonade Trifle)

Want to use some Lemonades that you have left?  Christina Luther, staff member for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, came up with this deliciously light and summery dessert.  Enjoy! 

LEMONADE COOKIE TRIFLE


Ingredients
  • 1 yellow cake mix (prepare as directed)
  • 1 packages of instant cheesecake jello pudding mix (prepared with milk as directed)
  • 1 package of whipped topping
  • 1 box of Lemonades Girl Scout Cookies (crushed but leave 1-2 for garnish)
  • 1 pint of blueberries (optional)
Baking Directions
  • Bake cake in cake pan as directed on package. Cool
  • Cut cake in 1 inch squares
  • Prepare instant cheesecake jello pudding mix as directed on package.
  • Crush cookies, leaving three for garnish
Layering Directions
  • Use trifle bowl and layer 1 inch cake in bottom of bowl.
  • Spread an inch layer of pudding over the cake.
  • Then sprinkle a layer of cookies
  • Spread a layer of whipped topping
  • Sprinkle some blueberries next
  • Repeat process until last layer is whipped topping.
  • Garnish with your remaining Lemonades Cookies and any remaining blueberries 
  • Chill for at least one hour before serving 

Recipe source: Christina Luther, Sioux City, Staff Member for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa

Monday, May 6, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies: Recipes (Caramel Delight)

We all know that Girl Scout cookies keep and freeze really well.  If you are interested in using them now and looking for something fun to do with those yummy cookies, we have some great recipes to share with you!  Stay tuned for the next two weeks as we bring you one recipe per day - and feel free to submit some to us for posting at marketing@gsiowa.org!  


GIRL SCOUT CARAMEL DELIGHT
Yield: 9-12 squares, depending on how big you cut them.



Ingredients
  • 1 box Caramel deLite Girl Scout Cookies
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 eight ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip, thawed
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 four-serving package instant vanilla pudding
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce (usually found near the ice cream cones)
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Directions
  1. Line a 9 inch square baking pan with foil, letting the edges of the foil extend past the sides. Spray with cooking spray 
  2. Put the whole package of cookies (yes, the whole thing!) in a food processor and process until the cookies are fine crumbs. Mix with melted butter and press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  3. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar and two tablespoons of milk until fully combined. Stir in 3/4 cups Cool Whip and carefully spread over the cookie crumbs.
  4. Whip the instant pudding mix with 1 1/4 cups milk for two minutes, and carefully pour over cream cheese layer, spreading to edges as needed. Freeze for several hours.
  5. Remove from freezer and carefully remove from the pan by lifting up with the edges of the foil. Peel the foil away and place the uncut dessert on a cutting surface.
  6. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top of the dessert. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Carefully cut into squares.
  7. You can either serve right away or let it come to room temperature (squares will be a little softer this way). Store any leftovers (ha!) in either the refrigerator or freezer, depending on how firm you like them.

Recipe source: www.framedcooks.com

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Journey: Wonders of Water

Read on to find out how one local troop creatively explored the Wonders of Water Journey!  Thank you, Troop 541 for your submission and passion for our natural resources.  They have also provided a way for you to take action yourself regarding water issues at the end of their blog entry.
_____________________________________________________


“Wonders of Water” Journey
Urbandale Girl Scout Troop 541, Leader: Dee Richards - March 3, 2013

Water is life.   This is what the Troop 541 girls have been learning this year, in their second year as Brownies.   They’ve learned that, while water is lots of fun in its different forms, it’s also a resource that can easily become in short supply.   And it’s a resource that’s vital to life - ours, animals’, and plants’.  As such, we have to love it.  Protect it.  By protecting it, we help to sustain life.  There are many ways we can do this. Many ways we can have an impact.

And we begin with One…

We looked for small ways we could make an impact - as one, in our own homes.  The girls showed that they loved water by turning off the water while they brushed their teeth…until it was time to rinse; by re-using leftover water in drinking glasses and bottles to water plants and give pets a drink; by catching rainwater in buckets…to water our flowers later; and by being careful to keep our water “clean”… getting garbage into its proper place.

We then look a little further outward and move on to Community…

The girls teamed up as a troop to make an impact outside their homes.  They participated in a “clean the creek” event at Walker Johnston Park, where they pulled garbage from inside and alongside the creek.    They trudged through cold, ankle deep water, through brush that left them covered in burrs, and continued excitedly on to get more. They knew they were doing a good thing and had a blast doing it. These girls are amazing!

They then got others involved in protecting and loving water.  The girls built a list of water saving ideas for their school mates, and then in smaller teams created beautiful posters for their schools.  They incorporated their saving ideas, as well as the Girl Scouts “Love Water” design, and some of their own creativity and artistry into the posters. They were so proud of their creations and eagerly took them to their school principals to hang up for their school communities.



And then finally we make our impact on the World…

Several times in the first few months of the journey, we talked about people in other parts of the world.  Not everyone enjoys the ease we do of getting clean water from our faucets.  Many have to search for water.  For miles and hours.  Every day.  And many times, this water makes them sick, or even kills them.  In fact, one child dies every 20 seconds from drinking this unclean, unsafe water. 

We watched a video showing people scooping water from puddles and ponds.  This water was very dirty. After a borehole well was installed in their village, they had much better water.  We also enjoyed a visit from our friends Lucy and Ashley, who visited us last year to share stories of Kenya.  Last year they told us about a book shortage there; this year they told us about all the children who get sick there. From bad water.

To better understand why this water makes many people sick, we decided to take a closer look at our own water system.  What happens to our water to help keep us from getting sick, too?   We visited and toured the Des Moines Water Works plant and learned about the extensive, careful process of pulling water from our community’s rivers, cleaning it, and transporting it to our homes.   DMWW staff gave us plenty of eww’s, ahh’s, and wow’s as they told us about each part of this process.  They even took us inside their science labs, where we learned about the culprit behind the sickening, or killing, of so many people in other parts of the world.  Bacteria.  We saw microscope magnified images of some of these live creepy crawlers, and learned that chlorine helps to kill them to make our water safe to drink.   The tour was definitely a fascinating, worthwhile learning opportunity for all.

So…with this knowledge, how can we have an impact for people in other parts of the world?    How can we help them get better water?  It’s very difficult to do without the help of others.  So we asked for help.    We asked for a partner.  We invited Water Our Thirsty World (WOTW), a non-profit from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, to become our partner.  WOTW has a device that makes chlorine to kill the bacteria in water - the same bacteria that’s making so many people sick.  And they help to get borehole wells in place.  So people don’t have to spend hours searching for water. Children can spend more time in school, learning and growing. Parents can spend more time caring for their families in other ways – like tending their gardens. WOTW plans to visit the girls on March 10 to tell them more about their work and about the impact the girls  can- and will- have by helping people get better water.   These girls will be helping to save lives.  Very cool.  And …even more cool, we’ve gotten a 2nd partner commitment!  Molly Long’s 2nd grade Brownies heard what we were doing and excitedly agreed to help us get the word out and walk with us.  So, more girls having an impact!

In fact, through the combined efforts of Girl Scouts and WOTW, we could have an amazing impact on lives saved around the world.  We are doing this by organizing and promoting a “water walk” as partners.  We are hoping to bring several people together in our community to tell them about the water crisis.  And we hope more people will want to also help get better water around the world.  We’re going to walk for a mile, all of us gathered together, carrying water – to symbolize the daily ritual of so many who are thirsting for clean, accessible water.   We’re also going to talk about what we can do here at home to make sure our own water stays safe and protected.  We’ve invited Polk County Conservation to help us educate and inform others at our walk.

We’re already getting the word out, inviting lots of people to join us at our walk.  We have presented our story to Urbandale Chamber of Commerce members at the Girl Scouts Shades of Green event. We’re also going to share our story with State Legislators, and invite them to come walk with us.   The girls have also begun hanging posters around Urbandale.  And finally, the girls will capture their journey story in a video, to reach even more people of the community. To help more people of the world. These girls are amazing!

So…that’s where we are in our journey. We’re hoping to be successful in our efforts.   And we’re hoping more people will be aware, as we are now, of how important it is to love our precious resource, water.  Water is life, and it’s our responsibility to protect it.


The girls are learning to be great leaders of tomorrow through their journey experience.  Below is a summary of each award earned.

  • Love water – girls recognize that they can have an impact on protecting the earth’s resources.  They shared what they most enjoy about water, and made commitments to protect water at home.  They also participated in “Clean the Creek” event at Walker Johnston Park. 
  • Save water – girls realize that if they can extend their impact by asking others to join them in their efforts. They created posters to encourage others in their (school) community to also protect and conserve water, and gave them suggestions on how to do it. 
  • Share water – girls realize that if they tell others what they’ve learned and how they are making a positive impact at home and in their community, others may also want to join in to make the impact far greater. Girls are doing this via short presentations, event posters & invitations, and video. 
WOW! – this is the culmination of the girls’ efforts.  They hope to have a large number of people participate in their water walk event.  This will be a visible indication of how many people they’ve reached by sharing their story.   They will celebrate their efforts with a WOW! party at their final troop meeting.

Other awards earned: 
  • World Thinking Day Award
  • Global Action Award
In promotion of the efforts regarding water, there is a local event below if you are interested in participating.  Go to www.ourthirstyworld.org for more information.



Saturday, February 2, 2013

Governor's Luncheon Speaker: Kushkowski

Elaine Kushkowski, a junior at Ames High School, has been involved in Girl Scouts for ten years.  She served as a Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa delegate to the Girls' World Forum in Chicago last summer and is currently serving as the Vice President of the council's Girl Advisory Committee.  She recently spoke at The Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting, serving as the Co-Master of Ceremonies, which she reflects on below. Thanks for everything you do, Elaine!
____________________________________________________________

Elaine with Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Boy Scout representative
On January 9th, 2013, I went to the Prairie Meadows Event Center as the Master of Ceremonies for the Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting. The Luncheon is an annual fundraiser for Girl Scouts and Boy Scout in Iowa. This year the event attracted more than 550 people and raised much needed funds for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa.

I thought it was great to see so many people come together to support Scouting in their communities. The fact that more than 550 people came to the event really shows that people know the importance of Scouting - for their children, their communities, their country, and the world.

On a more personal level, it was an honor to be able to speak in front of so many people and share my love of Scouting with them. I shared this reflection with the audience:  

“It’s hard for me to put into words the impact that Girl Scouting has had on my life. When I look at the activities I’m involved in, the beliefs I’ve developed, and the passions I’ve discovered, it becomes clear that every aspect of my life has been touched by my involvement in Girl Scouting.

Through Scouting, I have had countless opportunities to meet, learn from, and serve others. I have become a leader, among my peers, at my Girl Scout camp, and in my community. 

I learned, as a sixth grader setting out to earn my bronze award, that even young people can make a difference --- And I do, every Wednesday morning when I volunteer with first graders and help them learn to read.

I’ve learned that I’m more than just a part of Troop 601 - I am part of a worldwide organization composed of 10 million inspiring young women.

I have met Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world, and have come to understand that through sharing our ideas and working together, a world of possibilities lies ahead.  And those possibilities lie in the hearts and minds of Scouts, who strive, each day, to make the world a better place." 

Speaking at the Governor’s Luncheon is but one example of how Girl Scouting has inspired me to be a courageous individual who is willing to take on new challenges. I’m glad I was able to represent the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, introduce Lieutenant Governor Reynolds, and share a little bit of what Girl Scouts is really all about.

My name is Elaine Kushkowski and I am proud to be a Girl Scout.

Elaine at the podium during the flag ceremony

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Young Women of Distinction: Jacobson

Katie Jacobson, one of our local Girl Scouts from St. Charles, is one of ten girls in the entire nation chosen by GSUSA as a “Woman of Distinction.” Katie said she feels honored:


"The summer before my junior year of high school is when I really figured out what I wanted to do for my Gold Award. In my community there are many people who have troubles with bats getting inside of their homes, which is obviously unwanted. Bats don't mean to invade our homes, but they are just trying to find somewhere they can stay. I decided to build bat houses and install them around our community, which the Warren County Conservation Board helped me to do.

When I applied for the National Young Women of Distinction Award I had to fill out a large packet that talked about the benefit of my project, and how it bettered my community. I honestly did not think I would receive this award for my bat house project, but I am very glad that I did! It's really exciting to have another chance to promote my project and the importance of bats in our environment!" 

– Katie Jacobson

Congratulations, Katie!

For a complete list of this year’s Women of Distinction, visit:
http://blog.girlscouts.org/2013/01/girl-scouts-of-usa-unveils-2013.html