Since Toys for Tots doesn’t reach as far north as their community, they created an initiative called Movie Mania Toy Drive, which is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The local movie theater holds a private viewing of three movies with an admission fee of a toy donation. The toys are then given to the girls’ classmates.

The drive this year was extra special for the girls, because they planned everything on their own. They made arrangements with the movie theater, promoted the event to their local service unit and managed donations the night of the showing.

At the end of the night, the donation boxes were overflowing with more than 75 donated toys. Over the last five years, the girls have collected 500 items for boys and girls of Chisago County.

Four Girl Scout Cadettes from Eden Prairie completed their Silver Award this fall by raising awareness about bullying. Together they created videos that were shown in Eden Prairie schools during the month of October.

Ellie, Kaitlyn, Rachelle and Star, members of troop 10785, brainstormed ideas for the videos, wrote scripts and then shot footage of kids in different bullying situations. The videos, posted at YouTube GS Bully Busters, show kids how to respond to each situation and stand up for themselves.

The videos were part of a series of events hosted by the Eden Prairie Disability Awareness Committee and Eden Prairie Schools Parent Teacher Organization for National Bully Awareness Month. As part of their Silver Award project, the girls also volunteered and helped with planning and running the events which included a screening and panel discussion of the movie “BULLY”, a presentation and discussion about what parents can do, PACER’s Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying, and a day to wear orange to show solidarity against bullying.

To learn more about the events and how the girls helped raise awareness, read the article from Eden Prairie News.

Ellie, one of the Cadettes, also wrote an opinion piece that was published in September. She offers some advice to parents about how to talk with kids about bullying. “Most of the time, we can handle it,” she writes, “but don’t just assume that we can. If we say we want your help, then please help us . . . but whatever you do, please don’t take over. We just want your support.”

• You must be a current, registered member of River Valleys in order to be recognized as an award recipient. Make sure your membership is current; if it isn’t, register now and continue your membership.
• The final report deadline is quickly approaching. Those of you working on your Gold Award must submit your final report to River Valleys no later than September 30 after high school graduation. Those of you working on your Silver Award must submit your final report to River Valleys no later than September 30 after completion of grade 8.

We also invite you to check out this upcoming volunteer opportunity for older girls. This year, Girl Scouts River Valleys will have a booth and a parade float at the Minnesota State Fair August 25–26. The parade will start at 2 p.m. both days. Adult and girl opportunities are available and all volunteers will receive a complimentary ticket into the fair.

Interested in volunteering? Contact Sheila Her for more information at 800-845-0787.

The 12-year-old seventh grader from Wayzata Central Middle School began her Silver Award journey by addressing the Plymouth City Council last September. When the council decided to switch recycling providers, Josie helped notify her neighborhood of the change and worked with the new recycling company to offer a discount to neighbors who became new customers, consolidating waste pick up and cutting pollution by reducing the number of excess waste management vehicles in the neighborhood.

Since the changes were implemented, Josie says that she’s been getting calls of thanks from her neighbors. “I discovered that you can have as many good ideas as you want, but you will only be great if you are able to put those ideas into action.”

Josie, who has been a Girl Scout for seven years, fulfilled the requirements for the Silver Award, and it was presented to her on May 20. The highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, the Girl Scout Silver Award shows that the girl is a leader who is organized, determined and dedicated to improving her community.

“Because of my project,” Josie says, “people in Plymouth are recycling more than they were before.” She added that she hopes that through her efforts people “will come to appreciate what Girl Scouts does for the community.”

This summer we’re featuring randomly selected Bronze, Silver and Gold Award recipients on our blog. Stay tuned for more stories about Girl Scouts who’ve made a difference in their community!

The girls are working with an organization called Retrieve A Golden Of Minnesota (RAGOM). They have raised enough money through cookies sales this year to sponsor two dogs at $325 each, and they have also raised more than $200 in cash to buy supplies for the foster parents of these dogs. Supplies are needed for care due to illness, abandonment, personality problems, etc. The girls have set up boxes at many local animal hospitals and veterinarian offices around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area asking for new/gently used canine supplies. They also have pre-packed free treats in baggies for visitors to these establishment; the treats are set up on counters next to a small donation box for change.

There was also a Girl Scout information display set up where the general public could stop in and ask questions about Girl Scouting in Faribault (or River Valleys in general).  This was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to learn and practice leadership and public relations skills.

Faribault’s service unit also invited Miss Washington County, Mary Swenson, to partake in the festivities, and the girls loved her. She mingled with the Girl Scouts and the audience, worked with the girls in the activities booth, was a featured guest speaker, appeared on stage and shared her platform (self-esteem building through the uniquely ME! program), participated in numerous  photo opportunities, gave autographs, etc.

The Girl Scouts also packed up bags filled with goodies and coupons (including Girl Scout brochures/bookmarks) and passed them out to passersby.

Kristine DCamp, leader of Troop 21594 had 4 girls from her troop.  Luanne Anderson leader of Troops 10519 – 2 girls; 10651 – 3 girls; and 11202 – 2 girls.
Jane, the master gardener, was a girl scout herself.  She wore her Girl Scout pins from when she was a girl. The girls that attended thought it was really great that she still had her pins and so proudly wore them.

Some of the 17 fourth- through seventh-grade girls who participated in the event March 7 had never used a sewing machine before. They sewed blocks which consisted of a front, batting, and a back, and adult volunteers assembled the blocks into finished quilts.

The quilts will be donated to Sewing Angels, a nonprofit group that gives quilts and blankets to seriously ill or traumatized children in local hospitals.

The service unit, which includes schools from Roseville, Maplewood, and Falcon Heights, has been hosting the annual event to make quilts for charity for nine years.

Thank you to Randy for helping out your local Girl Scouts.

Pictured (left to right): Amanda, Karissa, Becki, and Randy.