Girl Scouts and U.S. Green Building Council Working Together to Green Our Nation’s Communities
New York, N.Y. —Two leading nonprofit organizations have joined forces to help girls take action to improve the environment and their communities by promoting green schools. Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) will team with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to leverage local Girl Scouts Forever Green projects as part of USGBC’s National Green Schools Campaign. Girls will team with USGBC volunteers throughout its extensive chapter network to develop and use their leadership skills to significantly impact the environment by working in schools and throughout their communities to save energy, conserve water, increase green space, improve air quality and reduce waste.
The announcement of the GSUSA/USGBC partnership coincides with the mass market release of the Girl Scouts’ new series, It’s Your Planet–Love It! The environmentally-themed books help girls tackle issues of conservation, pollution and renewable and reusable resources and challenge them to take the lead in protecting the planet. The series, developed for girls in grades K-12, uses lessons and exercises that focus on leadership development.
“The environment—protecting it, preserving it, and understanding it—is a tremendously important issue to today’s girls. This new partnership is a great opportunity to combine their passion and energy with USGBC’s knowhow and organization to make a significant difference in the future environmental footprint of America’s schools,” said Kathy Cloninger, CEO, GSUSA.
Green schools cost less to operate, freeing up resources to truly improve students’ education. Across the country, school districts large and small are realizing the benefits of green schools. Students, parents, teachers and community members are making the difference, by letting decision makers know they want their schools built, operated, and maintained green. The Green Schools Campaign provides a natural way for Girl Scouts to apply their environmental lessons in their own educational community.
USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC launched the National Green Schools Campaign in 2007, with the ambitious goal to provide a green school for every child in America within a generation. Through this campaign, USGBC supports federal, state and local initiatives that advance the green schools movement.
“Through our partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA, we have the potential to reach and inspire millions of girls – America’s future leaders – to impact the way school buildings are designed, built and operated, enabling a healthier and environmentally responsible built environment for future students and teachers,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC.
Tens of thousands of Girl Scouts throughout the country are engaged in environmentally friendly projects in their communities as part of the Forever Green initiative. Forever Green projects are part of a range of activities leading up the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts in 2012.
CONTACTS:
Girl Scouts of the USA
Josh Ackley 212.852.8038
jackley@girlscouts.org
U.S. Green Building Council
Ashley Katz 202.742.3738
akatz@usgbc.org
Merry Christmas from Girl Scout Guide!
It’s been a great year, and I wish I’d have been able to post more for you, but I’m just getting warmed up. I wish you all a very fantastic Christmas and a terrific new year. I pledge to be able to post more badge work activities in 2010 as I upgrade my badge books to the current versions as a Christmas present to myself!
To you & yours, Merry Christmas!
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The Girl Scouts Fabric Collection
I’ve always got my ear to the ground, and when I saw this I thought it was pretty awesome. Fabric.com is now selling Girl Scout Fabric themed prints. I’ve seen more and more Girl Scout crafty things at retail stores (like the scrapbooking kits at my local craft store), but this is really cool for any sewing or other fabric related crafts for troops to take part in.
The fabric is 100% cotton, 44” wide and most are roughly $9 per yard.
The Girl Scouts® Fabric Collection celebrates the spirit of this treasured organization with a combination of fun and colorful designs. Inspirational words mix easily with “Think Green” slogans and the traditional Girl Scouts® cookies. This collection is appropriate for quilting and craft projects as well as apparel and home decor accents.
I promise to find more crafts to share that you can use this fabric for!
Read MoreHappy Birthday, Juliette Gordon Low!
I’m going to guess that if you’re reading this site, you already know who Juliette Gordon Low is. Today, aside from being Halloween, is her birthday. This would be a great opportunity to teach your girls more about the history of Girl Scouting and the life of it’s founder, fondly known in her youth as “Daisy”.
Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, was born Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon on October 31, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia. On December 21, 1886, her parents’ 29th wedding anniversary, Juliette married William Mackay Low, a wealthy Englishman, at Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia. Although the couple moved to England, Juliette continued her travels and divided her time between the British Isles and America.
Here’s a few cool facts about her:
- On July 3, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill authoring a stamp in honor of Juliette Gordon Low. The stamp was one of the few dedicated to women.
- During World War II, she had a “Liberty Ship” named in her honor.
- In 1954, in Georgia, the city of Savannah honored her by naming a school for her. A Juliette Low School also exists in Anaheim, CA.
- On October 28, 1979, Juliette Low was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY.
- On December 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill naming a new federal building in Savannah in honor of Juliette Low. It was the second federal building in history to be named after a woman.
- In 1992, a Georgia non-profit honored Juliette Low as one of the first Georgia Women of Achievement. A bust of Juliette Low is displayed in the State Capitol. In 2000, The Deaf World in Wax, a traveling exhibit, featured her as a famous deaf American.
- On October 14, 2005, Juliette Low’s life work was immortalized in a commemorative, bronze-and-granite medallion as part of a new national monument in Washington, D.C. The Extra Mile Points of Light Volunteer Pathway pays tribute to great Americans who build their dreams into movements that have created enduring change in America. The monument’s medallions, laid into sidewalks adjacent to the White House, form a one-mile walking path.
Long Time, No Update
Work has been really crazy, so unfortunately I haven’t been able to update this resource as often as I’d like. I will soon be working on adding more songs and more badge activity help, so please stay tuned.
If you have any news or events about local Girl Scout events that you’d like to submit for publishing, please let me know and I’d be happy to help spread the word!
Read MoreStealing from Girl Scouts? Be ASHAMED!
Of course, when I see a headline regarding the Girl Scouts I have to look. With the sensational nature of the news media in the United States, it’s usually not good news. I hadn’t heard this story before this one, which was regarding ther verdict, but this woman should be ashamed of herself.
DAYTON, Ohio – A former Ohio Girl Scouts leader has agreed to pay the organization $20,000 as restitution for stealing money from a cookie account and using it for vacations, groceries and other personal expenses.
Prosecutors say Tamara Jo Ward had access to a bank account the Dayton-based troop used to deposit cookie sales revenue that was to pay for the troop’s recreational activities.
The 45-year-old Ward pleaded guilty in April to grand theft.
Under a restitution agreement, she’ll pay $5,000 up front. She’ll also pay $250 a month during a five-year probation and spend 30 days in jail.
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio staff representative Marcia Dowds attended Thursday’s court hearing. She says the agreement allows everyone in the case to move on.
Stealing from a non-profit organization is despicable. I’m not usually a terribly judgemental person, but I’m passionate about the organization and what it does for young girls. I’m more passionate about this than any semblance of a religion, so this fires me up. I hope this woman is kept far, far away from Girl Scouts and that people learn a lesson to not steal from Girl Scout troops!
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