The Great Girl Gathering was a monumental event for River Valleys. Girls rocked it with China Anne McClain, Zumba’d with Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez, learned how to prevent phosphorus and made memories with old and new friends. During the two-day event, 1,000 volunteers donated 3,200 hours to assist with 15 concurrent events and over 140,000 girls along with their family and friends from across the nation attended the event!

Thank you to all the attendees, volunteers, partners, sponsors and staff who made the Great Girl Gathering possible! We are proud to share this award with you.

Many limited-edition banners, T-shirts, tote-bags and more are marked down significantly. Available only while supplies last, so be sure to visit your local Girl Scout Shop soon.

Girl Scout Shop Sale Items.

Darby Nelson has been traveling throughout Minnesota to speak about his book, For Love of Lakes, and to discuss the problems facing our waterways. Nelson made a special stop on October 13, visiting more than 200 Girl Scouts in Brooklyn Park who participated in Centennial Day of Service.

Nelson learned about Centennial Day of Service during one of his public appearances and he knew he wanted to be involved. As he described it, it made his month to hear about Centennial Day of Service and he could just picture the thousands of hands preventing leaves from entering waterways and turning into phosphorus.

“I couldn’t believe the efforts put forth by the Girl Scouts,” explained Nelson. “All their preventative efforts during Centennial Day of Service are exactly what I have been going around speaking about.”

As he continues his journey to inform people about the dangers of phosphorus in leaves damaging our lakes, Nelson will carry with him the memories of all the girls and volunteers he met during Centennial Day of Service.

“It’s more than just helping the waterways. These girls are learning really important lifelong skills.”

• Centennial Day of Service activities will occur rain or shine, so please be prepared and dress accordingly.
• Call 800-845-0787 with any questions or issues on Saturday. Staff will be available from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. to respond to calls.
• Check GirlScoutsRV.org throughout the day tomorrow for continuous news. You can also follow the #CDOS hashtag on Twitter to see updates from us and volunteers. Use the “Subscribe to GSRV News” box to the top right to have news delivered to your email once it’s published.
• Share your day with us! Post your pictures to River Valleys’ Facebook page with first names and let us know how you’re doing.

Thank you for registering and participating in this event to improve local water quality and make the world a better place. In recognition of your commitment to community, Girl Scouts River Valleys was presented with a Certificate of Commendation signed by Governor Mark Dayton. Click to see a copy of the certificate and find out more.

Want to know how big this event really is? Check out the map to see all the locations where Centennial Day of Service celebrations are taking place. 

Did you know that Centennial Day of Service is connected to our core Girl Scout program? By participating, you’ll make a difference and fulfill Girl Scout program requirements at the same time. Learn more.

Looking for a fun troop or family outing? Attend the Girl Scout Centennial exhibit at River Falls Public Library and complete some steps towards earning your Follow Me Girls history patch!

Celebrating 100 Years of Area Girl Scouting is a display of Girl Scout historical artifacts and memorabilia that covers the entire lower level of the library. It celebrates the first 100 years of Girl Scouts in the United States, with a focus on Girl Scouts in the area.

Library staff have all the information for the Follow Me Girls patch so girls can complete requirements while viewing the exhibit.

Check out library hours and information and attend the exhibit anytime from now through October 25. There is no admission fee for the gallery, which is generally open during regular library hours beginning at 10 a.m.

A number of local alumnae, including Centennial Honoree Mary-Alice Muraski, contributed items to the Girl Scout Centennial display. It was coordinated with strong support from River Valleys Heritage Committee members Bonna Scherer and Midge Andreas. An opening reception held on Sunday, September 30 was very well attended by Girl Scouts from the community.

If you have an interest in Girl Scout history, you won’t want to miss this fun, informative exhibit.

Register now to join your sister Girl Scouts on October 13 during Centennial Day of Service. While you take action to make the world a better place, you could win a trip for 12 to Waterpark of America. The overnight trip includes:

• A slumber party for 12 at the Radisson Bloomington Hotel
• Passes to the Water Park of America
• 100 arcade tokens

The registration deadline is today—Friday, October 5.

Centennial Day of Service cleanups and celebrations will take place across our entire region. Check them out on the Centennial Day of Service map.

The weather was gorgeous, and volunteers helped lead hundreds of Girl Scouts in water quality activities, one of four steps required to earn the Centennial Day of Service Patch. Girls participated in several activities including learning about water careers, making a water filter, and pledging to fight against pollution to make a difference in their communities.

Each site offered something unique: Girls could go on a hayride, pick apples, explore a corn maze or pumpkin patch, and even make their own scarecrows.

Thank you to all of the volunteers and everyone who came out and showed their support for the upcoming Centennial Day of Service. Be sure to register and take action with the Girl Scouts on October 13!

While many people may have seen the artifacts during the Great Girl Gathering, it is worth a trip to the museum as new items such as camp songbooks and alternate uniforms are now included. The exhibit is on loan to the museum for the foreseeable future.

A visit to the museum is an excellent way to introduce girls to the history of Girl Scouting in Wisconsin and Minnesota through pictures, facts and recordings. Located at 2640 E. Seventh Avenue in North Saint Paul, the museum is open Wednesday—Friday from 1–5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday–Tuesday as well as evenings by appointment only. For additional information, visit their website.

Tweite’s Pumpkin Patch
Have a fun fall day in the corn maze
Saturday, September 15, 1–5 p.m.
Tweite’s Pumpkin Patch, Byron, MN

Holmberg Orchard
Enjoy hayrides, corn activities and much more
Sunday, September 16, 1–5 p.m.
Holmberg Orchard, Vesta, MN

Camp Elk River
Experience the Girl Scout-themed corn maze at the 101 Market
Sunday, September 16, 1–5 p.m.
Camp Elk River, Zimmerman, MN

Traveling by motor coach, the group traveled from New Ulm, MN to southeastern United States, visiting historic and natural sites along the way. They visited the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, Kentucky Horse Park, historic Shaker Village, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, Lincoln’s Birthplace National Monument and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. In addition, the group experienced some very memorable trip highlights.

One highlight was overnight camping on an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, in Charleston, SC. The Girl Scouts experienced World War II history and gained an understanding of military service by sleeping in bunks, eating meals in the mess hall and exploring the ship and planes. The girls were thrilled to hear that Girl Scouts played an important role in World War II by supporting the troops, recycling essential materials, caring for injured soldiers and planting victory gardens.

Visiting Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace was another trip highlight for the Girl Scouts. They participated in a special Interest session about the history of Girl Scouting, explored Savannah and found information about Juliette Gordon Low throughout the city.
For many in the group, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean was also a trip highlight. The girls spent a day at the ocean and saw dolphins, pelicans and other wildlife. They explored the shore with a naturalist, spent an overnight at the Georgia Aquarium and learned about tidal ecology, environmental protection and care of ocean mammals.

This trip was the culmination of three years of planning for the group. It helped them learn cooperation, leadership and self reliance. By accomplishing their goal of planning and taking the trip, the Girl Scouts learned that they can successfully carry out a major project.