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.”

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.

It’s Easy to Sign Up

All you have to do is call River Valleys at 800-845-0787 or 651-227-8835 Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm, and we’ll handle the rest.

The largest take action project in River Valleys history, Centennial Day of Service will be a historic event. Girl Scouts, volunteers and alumnae from all over the council will participate by:

• removing grass and leaves from public spaces
• distributing door hangers to educate the public
• marking storm drains to warn citizens against dumping debris in them

You Did It! Let’s Celebrate.

After the hard work is done, join Girl Scouts in your community to relax and celebrate. Check out our map and find a Centennial Day of Service celebration near you.

With your participation and support on October 13, Girl Scouts will make a real difference to the environment by keeping local waterways clear, and fish and aquatic wildlife healthy.

Registration officially closes on October 5, so take action now by calling 800-845-0787 or sign up online. Enjoy an October day outside and do something big!

Have you heard about Sunny, the Sunfish? Take a photo of her in a place you love, and add it to our Facebook wall.

1. This is the last opportunity that girls and volunteers will have to participate in the Girl Scouts’ Centennial celebration. This historic event will not happen again in our lifetimes.
2. This is a rare chance to hang out with girls and volunteers from all across the council. All 49 counties in River Valleys will be participating.
3. Participating on October 13 is one of the steps to earning your Leaf Rocker patch. (See full Centennial Day of Service patch requirements.)
4. You’ll make a real difference to the environment by keeping local waterways clear, and fish and aquatic wildlife healthy.
5. You’ll help your local community and communities throughout River Valleys save millions of dollars in clean-up costs.

With the support and participation of our Girl Scouts, alumnae and volunteers, Centennial Day of Service will demonstrate the true impact of what Girl Scouts can do. Are you ready to join us and make the world a better place? Take action and sign up now.

Leaves + water = algae = dead fish

Leaves, grass and pet waste release phosphorus into our lakes and rivers, which feeds algae. When this kind of organic debris isn’t bagged and properly composted, it runs through storm drains and directly into our waterways, turning our clear water green. This depletes the oxygen in the water and makes it hard for fish and other wildlife to survive.

By cleaning up on October 13, Girl Scouts will remove 20,000 pounds of phosphorus, preventing 10 million pounds of algae growth and saving $6 million in cleanup costs.

Did you know?

• Just three percent of the water on earth is fresh water. That means if all the water on earth equaled 100 drops, only three of them would be fresh enough to use.
• The surface of a city block can generate five times more polluted runoff than a wooded area of the same size.
• Storm drains are not connected to water treatment systems. Anything that enters a storm drain flows untreated into the nearest waterway (including the lakes and rivers where you swim and fish).

Want to learn more? Watch this video, created by Freshwater Society and Friends of the Minnesota Valley.

Take action in your community! Join us for Centennial Day of Service on October 13. It’s free to register and participate.

For more information, contact your local Centennial Take Action Project service unit coordinator or visit River Valleys’ Centennial Day of Service information.

For the past three years, River Valleys’ Take Action Project theme has been Forever Green. Girls have learned about science through environmentally-focused projects. This year, the focus is to improve water resource conservation and protection.

With the leadership, support and participation of our Girl Scouts, alumnae, volunteers and local communities, we are confident we will reach these goals:

• 54,000 participants (36,000 girls and 18,000 adults)
• Remove 20,000 pounds of phosphorus
• Prevent 10 million pounds of algae growth
• Save $6 million in clean-up costs

Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate!

Each service unit across River Valleys’ 49-county area will organize and implement the Centennial Day of Service with members of their community. Through this highly-visible project, Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to make their local communities and the world a better place. Registration for Centennial Day of Service will be in conjunction with early-bird membership registration, which opens April 2. More details on registering for this event will be available soon.

Complete the Water Quality Troop Activities for your program grade level.

The Centennial Day of Service is more than just cleaning up leaves. It’s an opportunity to learn the importance of water quality, to protect and restore local water resources, and to raise community awareness. If your troop is not working on water quality activities, don’t delay. It’s a requirement for earning the Centennial Day of Service patch, which also is a requirement for earning the 100th Anniversary patch.

Together, Girl Scouts and adult volunteers across our 49-county region will do their part to make the world a better place. Each service unit should have a Centennial Take Action Project coordinator who will plan and implement the Centennial Day of Service: 2012 Take Action Project in your community.

For the past three years, River Valleys’ Take Action Project theme has been Forever Green, and girls have learned about science through environmentally-focused projects. This year, the focus is to improve water resource conservation and protection. Over the course of the 2011–2012 program year and on the Centennial Day of Service, participants will:

• Rake, sweep, bag and remove loose dirt and leaves from sewer grates, boat launches, parks, Parking lots and other public spaces where leaves accumulate
• Educate local residents by distributing educational door hangers to inform the community about how Girl Scouts is making the world a better place and invite them to get involved
• Label storm drain inlets with pre-cast messages to warn citizens not to dump pollutants such as chemicals and leaves into the drains

All of these activities will reduce phosphorus levels in lakes, rivers ponds and streams. Cleanup efforts are estimated to remove 20,000 pounds of phosphorous from entering the waterways, prevent 10 million pounds of algae growth and save the state up to $6 million in cleanup costs.

Learn more about the Centennial Day of Service: 2012 Take Action Project and how you can get involved.

Cast your vote at the Patch Contest page. Voting is open to everyone, so encourage your friends and family to vote for their favorite too!

Voting is on your honor; please cast your vote only once.