Medford Juniors and Cadettes Learn About Civil Rights and Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

img_0755Members of Girl Scouts Junior Troop 67712 and Cadette Troop 72102 from the Brooks School, Andrews Middle School and McGlynn Middle School, all in Medford, Massachusetts, honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and learned about the Civil Rights Movement during an overnight winter lodge camping experience on Sunday, January 19 – Monday, January 20, 2020. Troop leaders Tracy Keene, Diane Cervati, Patricia Wheeler, Veronica Hunt and Paul Ruseau, also a member of the Medford School Committee, organized this troop outing at the GSEMA Camp Runels in Pelham, New Hampshire as a learning and service experience.

Troop 67712 co-leader Tracy Keene said, “We thought it was very important for our girls to learn about civil rights during this weekend honoring King’s legacy. The girls worked on two civil rights badges, Four Little Girls and Civil Rights History. They also earned a Martin Luther King, Jr. patch and patches for Winter Camping, Homeless Awareness, and Wildfire Relief.”3064007_main-01

Boston University professor of political science and Medford resident Timothy Longman led the eighteen girls in a discussion on Sunday on civil rights. Professor Longman provided a history of slavery, Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. The girls listened to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech,” discussed prominent African American women, and learned about the September 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four girls. Carole Robertson, one of the girls killed, was an active Girl Scout.

The girls, ranging in age of 10-12 years old, also studied about segregation and civil rights in the Girls Scouts USA. Using material from the Girl Scouts Museum in Waltham, MA, the girls discovered disagreements over whether the first integrated troop in the US was the Red Rose Troop founded by Miss Emma Hall in New Bedford, MA, in 1913 – the third Girl Scout troop in the country – or a later troop in 1924. The girls were surprised to learn that even in Massachusetts, many troop remained racially segregated until the 1950s.

img_0767In addition to learning about civil rights, the troops participated in projects for the MLK Day of Service. They made pine cone bird feeders to hang around the snow-covered campsite. They also sorted and assembled care packages for the unhoused community. The troops are partnering with Ari Barbanell, Medford Resident and the Executive Director of the Winter Walk, to see that the care packages are distributed to members of our community who have found themselves without shelter during these winter months. Winter Walk is an initiative to raise funds and awareness about homelessness and will be held February 9 in Copley Square.

In addition, the girls made posters of encouragement and concern for the Girls Scouts and Girl Guides in New South Wales, Australia.  The girls learned that at least 28 people have died in Australia and more than 3,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the state of New South Wales alone and that millions of wildlife have be impacted.  The posters will be shared on the Facebook pages of Australian Girl Scouts and Girl Guides and mailed to their Council.

After the trip, Anna Shanley, said about her daughter, “Sofia still can’t stop talking about it and she really learned a lot of valuable lessons.”

Tufts Girls of Code win the Outstanding Service Unit Partner award for their contributions to Medford Girl Scouts

IMG_6765-editMedford Girl Scouts deeply appreciates the special partnership it has with the Tufts Girls of Code. Founded in 2016 by Dr. Laney Strange, a professor in the Department of Computer Science at Tufts University, the group brings together female computer science students to hold hands-on coding workshops for girls.  Their goal is to “create a welcoming environment for girls and other individuals who are frequently underrepresented in computer science.”  The Tufts students are fantastic mentors who show Medford Girl Scouts that coding is fun and something everyone can do.

Held in the computer science labs at Tufts, the workshops are free and open to all girls ages 10 and older and, each year, the Tufts Girls of Code give priority registration to Medford Girl Scouts. Recent workshop topics have included:

  • Animating in JavaScript
  • Programming games in the Python computer language
  • Using the language Alice to create 3D animations
  • Creating websites from scratch by coding in HTML and CSS

“It’s a really fun program to take because I’m learning a lot of new things that I can use later in life. Everyone that is teaching is patient and helps out when you need help with something.” – Cadence McPherson, Junior Girl Scout

““I really enjoyed it. They provided a positive environment and taught me things about coding that I hadn’t learned anywhere else. They made coding fun!” – Claire Gingo, Junior Girl Scout


Girls from the at least seven different Medford troops have jumped on the opportunity to attend the workshops. In addition to their general coding workshops, at the request of Medford Girl Scouts, the Tufts Girls of Code developed a special workshop just for Brownies who want to earn the Computer Expert badge.  They held three Computer Expert workshops and each was filled to capacity.  This was the first time the Tufts Girls of Code had led workshop for girls who were younger than 10 years old. The girls loved being in the lab, working on the computers, and seeing their work come alive on the screen.


“About half my troop participated in the Brownie Computer Expert workshop, and they all proudly showed their work at pickup time! It was such a gift to have this event. The young women leading it were great role models, and I think it is so important for our girls to see a wide range of leaders in addition to their own troop leader.” – Jane Hamel, Leader, Brownie Troop 72096


Tufts Girls of Code has a special mission to “spark engagement and interest in computer science.”  They strive, and succeed, in creating a warm and welcoming environment in which all girls get to code their own creations, and then play the games, or watch the animations, that they bring to life through their code.

Thank you to Dr. Laney Strange and the Tufts Girls of Code for expanding Medford Girl Scouts interest in STEM and coding!

About the Award:

The Outstanding Service Unit Partner recognizes a partnership that is instrumental in expanding program at the Girl Scout Service Unit level. In Girl Scouts, a Service Unit is a team of volunteers who organize and support Girl Scout programming in a particular community or region (such as the City of Medford.)  A program partner supporting a Service Unit has a direct impact on the local community which gives girls the tools they need to be successful leaders in today’s world, shows girls future career possibilities and supports one or more of the pillars of Girl Scouting (Entrepreneurship, STEM, Outdoors and Life Skills).

The award was presented to Dr. Laney Strange by Lu-Ann Souza (Manager, Program Partnerships & Member Benefits) and Jennifer Duczkowski (Director, Girl Program and Partnerships) at Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’s first Program Partner Brunch on June 16, 2018 at Camp Cedar Hill.

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There’s a Patch for Every Season from the New Hampshire/Vermont Council

Many Girl Scout councils across the United States have special patches that all Girl Scout can earn and the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains in New Hampshire and Vermont are no exception.  Click here for a complete list of their council’s own patches and see below for a highlighted patch for every season.

Summer – Sunsational Summer Patch

Open to all levels of Girl Scouts, this patch has tons of different options for activities including going on a theme walk for Daisies, going on a hike or putting on a skit for the neighborhood for Brownies, plan an all-day or overnight outing for Juniors and Cadettes, making a windmill or solar water heater for Seniors and Ambassadors.

Fall – Apple Quest Patch

12683195544664_main-01This patch will bring girls and troops out to an orchard to go apple picking.  In addition, girls can also pick activities like baking with apples, learning about the importance of bees to orchards, bring apples to a food pantry, and/or learn about different varieties of apples and where they come from.

 

 

Winter – Operation Snowflake Patch

Don’t let the cold weather keep you trapped indoors. Girl Scouts of all levels can earn this patch by learning about winter sports,  reading books about the snow, and learning about first aid for frostbite, for example.

Spring – Maple Sugaring Patch

NHVT Maple Sugar patch The sap runs when the nights are still cold but the daytime temperatures get above freezing and maple syrup seasons is usually a sign that winter is coming to an end.  Girl Scouts of all ages can earn this patch by learning about how maple syrup is made (including the two types of maple trees that produce maple syrup sap), the difference between artificial and real maple syrup,  and the important role maple syrup plays in the economies of New Hampshire and Vermont.

All Year ‘Round – A Year in the Life of Juliet Patch

a_year_in_the_life-juliette_patchThis patches program gives girls and troops a chance to learn more about the life of the founder of Girl Scouts, Juliet Gordon Low.  Girls start with the center patch and then build out around the circle with a new activity and piece of the patch each month.  Activities may change over time but currently include learning how to be inclusive of girls with disabilities in September, learning about World Thinking Day in February, and learning about how to be a friend to  animals in March.

 

The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains Store

Click here to order the patches from the online store or call (888) 474-9686 (and ask for the store) to order over the phone.

If you are going to be in the area, you can stop by and visit their Girl Scout store in person at:

  • Bedford, NH Corporate Office
    One Commerce Drive, PO Box 10832, Bedford NH 03110-0832
    Hours of Operation
    Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
    888-474-9686
    603-624-5989
    customercare@girlscoutsgwm.org
  • Williston, VT Service Center
    60 Knight Lane, Suite 30, Williston VT 05495
    Hours of Operation
    Monday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Tuesday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Wednesday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Thursday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Friday, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
    Closed for lunch daily from 1:00-1:30 pm
    888-474-9686
    802-872-5887

 

 

Spring Renewal re-registration has incentives for girls, troops, and Medford!

1489495718491The Girl Scout membership year officially runs from October 1 to September 30 but Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is offering special incentives for girls, troops and for Medford when girls and adult volunteers re-register early.

To re-register, go to http://www.gsema.org/en/about-girl-scouts/renew.html or call customer care at 844-306-GSEM (4736).

Please note, the membership fees for next year will go up to $40 for girls ($25 for Girl Scouts USA and $15 for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts) and $25 for adults (for Girl Scouts USA).  Girl Scouts is committed to making sure that ability to pay will never be a barrier to being a member and financial aid is available upon request. Look for the check-box to request financial aid in the renewal process.

GIRL INCENTIVES

Email_PatchGirls who renew before April 25 will receive:

  • Spring Renewal patch
  • $5 girl program credit for GSEMA programs
  • a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at a GSEMA shop

If a girl renews between April 26 and June 13, 2017, she will receive the Spring Renewal patch.

TROOP INCENTIVES

Girls_Choice_Results_960x960 (002) (1)Renew 75% of your girls in your troop (and two adult volunteers) by June 13 and receive:

  • a coupon for the NEW 2017 Girls’ Choice Troop Camping badges for Daisy through Ambassador Girl Scouts, redeemable at any Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts council shop. This badge is the first-ever for Daisy Girl Scouts. (Coupon will be valid for number of badges equal to number of girls renewed.)
  • a link to the Troop Camping badge requirements.  Badge requirements will be ready for download this summer and in council stores by August.

Note: To qualify for troop incentive, troop must renew a minimum of four girls and two adult volunteers, have no Product Sales debt, and submit a troop financial report by June 30, 2017.

MEDFORD SERVICE UNIT INCENTIVES

If we renew the following percentages of girls by June 13, we will receive a cash bonus that we can use to benefit Medford Girl Scouts:

  • 75% of girls (which is 237 out of 316 girls): $500
  • 65% of girls (which is 205 out of 316 girls): $400
  • 50% of girls (which is 158 out of 316 girls): $300

20170106_145152Last year, we re-registered more than 50% of our girls and we received $300 that we used to buy a set of Girl Scout flags which we can use for city-wide events and which troops can use for their own flag ceremonies.  Click here for more information about our new set of flags.

Additionally:

  • The three service units/areas with the highest percentage of renewed girls will receive lunch with GSEMA’s CEO, Pat Parcellin, and Chief Membership Services Officer, Carrie Weatherbee.
  • The service unit/area with the highest percentage of renewed girls will also be awarded a complimentary table for eight at GSEMA’s signature breakfast event, the 2018 Leading Women Awards.

Tufts Girls of Code are Ready to Partner with Medford Girl Scouts

tuftsgoc2Tufts University has a new club this year called Tufts Girls of Code and the group would love to connect with Medford Girl Scout troops.  Tufts Girls of Code is organized by Dr. Laney Strange and she works with a dynamic group Tufts Computer Science undergrad women, to teach coding, confidence, and creativity to girls from around the Boston area.

Tufts Girls of Code would look forward to organizing a workshop for interested Girl Scout Troops in Medford. Dr. Strange took at look at the Girl Scout badge requirements and she identified the following badges as ones that the Tufts Girls of Code could help troops earn:

  • Brownies – Grades 2 and 3: Computer Expert badge (Click here for the requirements.)
  • Juniors – Grades 4 and 5: Entertainment Technology badge, specifically Step 2 “Dig into Video Game Development.” This step has the option of creating an interactive story or game using a downloadable coding program, such as MIT’s Scratch or Carnegie Mellon’s Alice. (Click here for the requirements.)
  • Seniors – Grades 9 and 10: Website designer badge.

tufts-goc1Troops don’t have to work on a badge to join forces with the Tufts Girls of Code. Middle-school and high-school aged troops are welcome to connect with Dr. Strange if they would simply like the Tufts Girls of Code to lead a workshop for the troop.  For example, the group already led a couple of workshops that were open to all girls in Medford.  The first one taught girls to build an animated Jack-o-Lantern in JavaScript and the second one  helped the girls create their own Android app video game.

If your troop is interested in working with the Tufts Girls of Code, send an email to Dr. Laney Strange at laney@cs.tufts.edu
You can also follow the Tufts Girls of Code on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/tuftsgoc

Three Tips for Helping Girls Earn Badges

Rebecca Scott, Co-Troop Leader for Medford Troop 68137, was a guest writer for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts blog. Her post shares tips for helping girls earn badges as a troop or on their own.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts | Blog

troop68137atpondshelterspring2016 Rebecca Scott (top right) with her co-troop leaders and Junior troop 68137

Volunteers are at the heart of our organization. They carry their responsibilities with so much care, and we value all of the hard work they do to help girls try new things and find their spark.

Rebecca Scott, a co-troop leader for Junior troop 68137 in Medford, shares three tips for helping girls earn badges:

troop68137cookiebooth troop 68137 selling cookies

1. Start with a vote

At the beginning of the troop year, all troop members and their caregiver(s) are asked to review possible badges. The Badge Explorer page on the Girl Scouts website is a useful tool for giving girls an overview of the steps required to earn each badge. At the next meeting, we post all the different badges on the wall and give each troop member three stickers, each representing one vote. Each girl places her stickers…

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Have a Girl Scout Staycation in Eastern Massachusetts

Warm weather has finally arrived, and school is basically over for the year, so what’s a Girl Scout to do with all her free time? Earn our local council’s patches, that’s what. Each Girl Scout council in the United States has its own patches and Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is no exception. You don’t need to be visiting from away to explore some of our local historic sites and attractions, and earn a special patch while you are at it.

Below are some of patches unique to Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. Each patch has its own requirements and, once you have completed them, you can buy (or order) the patch from one of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’s stores.  Click here for store locations and hours.

freedomtrail

 

Freedom Trail Patch:  Starting in the Boston Common, follow the red line on the sidewalk to trace a path through history.  All levels of Girl Scouts are invited to answer one of two quizzes about the historic sites along the Freedom Trail to earn this patch.  Click here to download the requirements.

 


marathon

Marathon: Go the Distance! Patch:  Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors can earn this patch learning about the Boston Marathon, how to train for a marathon, and the history of marathons.  Girls must also help out,  or run in, a road race of any distance (or set up their own fitness routine.) Click here to download the requirements.

 


jfkJourney with JFK – the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Patch:  This patch is open to all levels and it offers girls a variety of different activities, puzzles, worksheets, and games, some of which they can do at home and some which require them to go to the JFK Museum in Boston. Click here to download the requirements.

 

fetchFetch! Patch:  PBS’s TV show “Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman” teaches kids to explore the world and try new things.  Brownies and Juniors can earn this patch by completing science and engineering activities, and then demonstrating what they have learned to younger kids (like Girl Scout Daisies, for example.)  Click here to download the requirements.

plimothPlimoth Plantation Patch:  Brownies and Juniors can earn this patch by visiting the Plimoth Plantation and learning about the history of the relationship between the Native Wampanoag people and the 17th-century colonists. Click here to download the requirements.
Plimoth Plantation also runs different programs for Girl Scouts throughout the year, including sleepovers.  Click here for details about their special programs just for Scouts.

The Friends of the Fells are also friends of Girl Scouts

Bordering Medford to the north, the Middlesex Fells is a network of over 100 miles of forest trails, and Friends of the Fells is the non-profit organization dedicated  to protecting and supporting the harmonious use of the Fells.  A fantastic resource for Medford Girl Scouts, the Fells is the perfect destination for outdoor programing and the Friends of the Fells are happy to be a resource for Girl Scouts who want to explore the natural world at their doorstep.

Medford Girl Scout leader, Ann Frenning Kossuth (Troop 65264 Co-Leader), recently started working for the Friends of the Fells as their Youth Programs Coordinator and Lindsay Beal, their Volunteer Coordinator, is also happy help.  Troops or individual Girl Scouts can participate in regularly scheduled programs or they can reach out to the Friends of the Fells for suggestions, insight, and help setting up troop-specific programs. The best way to reach them is to send an email to friends@fells.org.

Lindsay has the following suggestions for different ways individual Girls Scouts and Girl Scout troops can connect with the Friends of the Fells.  She says that:

  • We frequently lead educational and trail service field trips for Girls Scouts.  These can be by appointment, and most of the hike leaders listed on the calendar below are happy to accommodate them as well, if something looks intriguing.
  • For older Girl Scouts, there are ways to get extra service hours.  They can fill out our volunteer form: www.friendsofthefells.org/volunteer
  • Older Girl Scouts can also check out our event calendar–any one of the hike leaders would be happy for an assistant: www.friendsofthefells.org/events-calendar
  •  If they have something more major in mind (like for a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award), we can also mentor match, and assist with community connections, and help brainstorm project ideas.

Troops can also head to the Fells to earn badges at every level.  Here are some suggestions for badges which work well in the woods:

  • Daisies:”Use Resources Wisely” petal and “Make the World a Better Place” petal
  • Brownies:  Hiker, Outdoor Adventurer, Bugs, Senses, and Making Games
  • Juniors: Animal Habitats, Staying Fit, Geocaching, and Flowers
  • Cadettes: Trailblazing and Trees
  • Seniors: Adventurer, Voice for Animals, and Sky
  • Ambassador: Water and Photographer

In addition, Troops can look to the Fells as a place where they can work on their “Take Action” projects for the Journeys, or their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award projects.

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World Thinking Day 2016: Connect!

February 22 is World Thinking Day, a day to celebrate61014p the world-wide sisterhood of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides.  Girl Scouts of all ages and levels have the opportunity to earn a special World Thinking Day badge by participating in World Thinking Day activities on their own, or as a troop.

Each year, there is a different theme and this year’s theme is Connect.

Suggested activities related to this theme for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors include:

  1. Keep a “happiness diary” for a week. Before you go to bed each night, write down three things that made you happy during your day—or draw pictures of them! At the end of the week, look back at what you’ve written. What kinds of things did you write down? Did any of them surprise you? Did it make you feel happier to think about the good things at the end of each day? (Connect with me)
  2. Draw a picture of a place that feels safe and calm to you. It might be a real place, like a room in your home, or it could be a place from your imagination. Include lots of details that you can see, and imagine the ones you can’t—like how the place smells or what kinds of things you might hear. The next time you feel nervous or upset, think of your safe place and imagine being there. Does it help you feel calmer? (Connect with me)
  3. There’s always room for new friends! Hold a “Bring a Friend” event with the girls in your troop or group. Plan an outing—like a trip to the park—and have each girl bring someone new to join in the fun. What kinds of games could you play to help everyone get to know each other? (Connect with friends)
  4. Girl Scouts of the USA is part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS for short), which includes 10 million girls in 146 countries. Celebrate World Thinking Day by learning about another country that is home to Girl Guides. Then, with your troop or group, celebrate its culture. You might dress up in costumes, sing songs, or make traditional foods from the country. (Connect with friends)
  5. Buddy up and take a walk around your community. (Your community might be your neighborhood, your school, or your town.) What are your favorite parts of your community? How could it be improved? Write down your thoughts and ideas—or draw a map that shows them. Girl Scout Juniors: You can learn more about community mapping in the Agent of Change Leadership Journey. (Connect with the world)
  6. Make the world a better place by taking a Girl Scout Leadership Journey. With the girls in your troop or group, put together a Take Action project that helps a place in your community. (Connect with the world)

Suggested activities for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors, as well as more info about World Thinking Day in general, are on this site:

www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/global/world-thinking-day.html

Other World Thinking Day ideas including partnering with a Girl Scout or Girl Guide troop in another country to trade crafts, SWAPS, letters, or collaborate on an activity.

Let us know how your troop is celebrating World Thinking Day.  You can comment below or or post on our Facebook page at:  www.facebook.com/MedfordGirlScouts

Get Ready for Cookie Season by Earning Leaves and Badges

Daisy LeavesTo prepare for cookie season, Girl Scouts has specific badges for all ages that lead the girls through age-appropriate activities to help them prepare to sell cookies.  Daisies can earn leaves, older girls earn badges, and all of these activities help the girls learn how to interact with customers, set goals, learn about money, as well as to think about how they want to use the money they earn to pay for troop activities and to support charities that make the world a better place.

Here’s more information about the badges and leaves related to the cookie sale for each level.  Complete requirements can be found in each level’s Girl Scout Handbook.  Click here for an overview of the cookie badges from Daisies to Ambassadors.

In addition to these badges, the cookie sale is an ideal opportunity for Juniors to earn their Junior Aide Award.  This award is for Girl Scout Juniors who help lead activities for younger Girl Scouts.  By the time they are in 4th and 5th grade, Girl Scouts are cookie sale masters and they would be experts in helping younger girls learn about the different types of cookies, how to ask people if they want to buy cookies, and how to make change, for example.  To earn the Junior Aide Award, Juniors must help lead activities at three different meetings.  Click here for the complete requirements.

junior-aide

If you know of a Junior who would like to earn this award, or if you are a leader of a Daisy or Brownie Troop and you would like to invite Juniors to come and help your girls learn about the cookie sale, contact Medford Girl Scouts through this page and we will try to help you make the connection.  https://medfordgirlscouts.org/contact-us/