Medford’s Cookie Sales Bounce Back in 2022

April 20, 2022April 27, 2022Leave a comment

Medford Girl Scouts’ cookies sales bounced back to their 2020 high after dipping down last year during the pandemic. In total, Medford sold 48,441 packages of cookies this year, which is a 22.5% increase over last year’s total of 39,532. 307 girls participated in the cookie sale this year, up from 245 last year.

Medford’s cookie sale accomplishments contributed to Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) setting a new PGA (per girl average) record of 140 packages. GSEMA also reported that “the new Adventurefuls became the fourth most popular cookie in the lineup this year following Thin Mints, Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Patties. Through the Cookies for a Cause donation program, customers donated nearly 54,000 packages of cookies to first responders, healthcare workers, teachers, hunger relief groups, and military organizations.”

Congratulations to 1st Grade Daisy Troop 83400 for being Medford’s top selling troop this year. This was only their second year selling cookies!

Top 5 selling troops

Daisy Troop 83400 – 4,344

Cadette Troop 69039 – 3,924

Brownie Troop 67708 – 2,554

Senior Troop 68137 – 2,337

Junior Troop 62974 – 2,280

Top Selling Girls and Members of 500 Club*

Olivia M – Troop 83400 – 878
Shayna H – Troop 72103-805
Karley K- Troop 62969 -703
Emily M – Troop 64366 – 679
Jenny O – Troop 65007 – 629
Trinity L – Troop 72096 – 614
Abby L – Troop 65007– 522
Meredith D – Troop 83400 -515
Sophia L – Troop 69039 – 514
Bethiah P – Troop 68137 – 514
Evelyn P – Troop 83400 – 512
Mikalin B – Troop 69039 – 504
Reanna P – Troop 69039 – 502

* Girls who sell at least 500 packages of cookies in Eastern Massachusetts are members of the 500 Club. This year, 500 Club members could either receive 2 tickets to Canobie Lake Park on June 5 (rain date June 12) and charms for their charm bracelet, or a cozy kit featuring koala slippers, a blanket and a sleep mask.

This year marked a milestone for Medford Girl Scouts because it was Ambassador Troop 65007’s last year selling cookies. Over the years, they have often been the top selling troop as they raised funds to support their travel plans from Rocking Horse Ranch in Upstate NY to their European adventures. Congratulations to all the girls for being exemplary Cookie Bosses.

What a Year for Medford Girl Scouts!

June 17, 2018June 18, 2018Leave a comment

As Girl Scout troop activities wind down for the summer, it’s a good opportunity to look back and celebrate. Medford Girl Scouts had a great year building girls of courage, confidence and character and here are some stats that back up that claim.

Medford had 30 troops this year ranging in age from Kindergarten Daisies to 10^th Grade Seniors.
We had a total of 329 Girl Scouts and 175 adult volunteers.
We sold 35,490 packages of cookies, which was a significant increase over the past three years.
Four new kindergarten Daisy troops got up-and-running.
Three patrols from Junior Troop 68137 worked on their Bronze Awards (one of which was about protecting city trees and another which encourages people to take care of their Medford Public Library books) and Cadette Troop 75198 worked on their silver award restoring a meadow in the Fells.
Girls took field trips around town and other troops went farther afield to New York City, Rocking Horse Ranch, and Senior Troop 65007 is about to leave for a trip to Europe with EF Tours.

Moving on Up

The following troops bridged to the next level

Daisies to Brownies

Troop 62732 – Leaders: Rachael, Courtney, and Ellen
Troop 62969 – Leaders: Melissa and Shalena
Troop 62970 – Leaders: Meghan and Kerri
Troop 62971 – Leaders: Eve and Lynde
Troop 62974 – Leaders: Lisa and Jacque

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Brownies to Juniors

Troop 72096 – Leaders: Jane and Lisa
Troop 69024 – Leaders: Amy and Jeannette
Troop 69039 (3rd grade girls) – Leaders: Jenna, Lynda & Tara

Juniors to Cadettes

Troop 69166 – Leaders: Selena and other Tufts students
Troop 68137 – Leaders: Rebecca, Gretchen and Moira
Troop 68140 – Leaders: Carolyn and Julie

Cadettes to Seniors

Troop 75198 – Leaders: Gretchen, Kim, and Lindsay

Seniors to Ambassadors

Troop 65007 – Leader: Monique

Celebrating our Volunteers

The following new leaders received the Green and Growing Award. This award is for leaders and assistant troop leaders who have lead a troop for less than two years, who have completed their required trainings, participated in at least one Medford Girl Scout or GSEMA event or program, participated in the cookie sale, welcomed new members to the troop.

Jacque Aureli
Ashley Bennett
Michele Candeias
Dena Dalelio
Rose Polenzani Drozek
Christin Keegan
Leah Leach
Jessica Rivieccio
Yamaris Vazquez

In addition, the following Medford leaders were awarded the Volunteer of Excellence pin for going above and beyond their troop roles to help organize city-wide events or support Medford Girl Scouts and GSEMA in other ways.

Jane Hamel – for organizing caroling in the retirement community
Jenn Iacopucci – for organizing the Brownie Computer Expert badge workshops with the Tufts Girls of Code
Tracy Keene – for being a GSEMA Regional Delegate
Sharon McCarthy- for organizing participation in the Medford/Malden Lantern Parade)
Lynda Panico – for organizing the city-wide bridging with Jenna LaBissioniere
Paul Ruseau – for supporting other men who want to be leaders in GSEMA

Girl Scouts in Medford’s 2017 Patriot’s Day Ceremony

April 17, 2017April 17, 2017Leave a comment

Special thanks to all the girls and their families who came to the Salem Street Burying Grounds to participate in Medford’s Patriot’s Day Ceremony. The girls collectively recited the Pledge of Allegiance, helped place flags on the graves on the Patriots, and then marched down to Medford Square to wait for Paul Revere to ride through town. It was perfect weather and a great turn out with girls from Daisy to Cadette troops represented.

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

April 4, 2017April 6, 2017Leave a comment

1489495718491 The 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_Patch Girls 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_145152 Last 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.

Girl Scout Membership Has Its Privileges

October 9, 2016October 9, 2016Leave a comment

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts offers Girl Scouts and their families discounts to arts, cultural, and sports events in the area. Girls and their friends and families can attend any event on their own, or troops can arrange to go as a group.

Here are some of the upcoming member benefits:

Disney on Ice – Follow Your Heart – Friday, Nov. 4 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Tickets for Girl Scouts and their family and friends are $17. Fun patch included. Click here for the flyer with details on how to order tickets.

Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions 2016 – Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7pm at the Boston Garden. Tickets for Girl Scouts and their family and friends are $25 and must be ordered by Oct. 30. The Scout tickets include a 2016 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions patch and Scouts can test their balance, flexibility, and strength at the Kellogg’s Fitness Zone on the concourse. Click here for the form to order tickets.

Boston Holiday Pops – Saturday, Dec. 3 at 11 am and Sunday, December 4 at 11 am. Join conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops in a performance filled with holiday music favorites, the traditional Pops sing-a-long, and even a visit from jolly old Santa Claus! You can purchase a Boston Pops Girl Scout patch when you order your tickets. To purchase your tickets visit bostonpops.org/girlscouts

Wachusett Mountain – Nov. 15, 2016 – April 15, 2017. Girl Scout discount for skiing and snowboarding tickets. Click here for the flyer

Pats Peak – Girl Scouts get special discounts on tickets if purchased online in advance at employeeactivities.com/patspeak. Enter code: GSEM under Company/Program name. Also, Girl Scouts get 1 free ticket for every 15 purchased as a group (1 for every 10 on Scout Weekend March 4 & 5, 2017). Click here for the flyer

Annie the Musical – May 11, 2017. Special Q&A for Girl Scouts at 5pm, show starts at 7pm. Wear your uniform to the show. Annie patches will be available for purchase. Click here for details on how to order tickets.

For a complete list of member benefits, click here to see the list on the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts website.

Daisy Troop 72096 Makes a Difference in Medford

July 25, 2016July 25, 2016Leave a comment

Medford Girl Scouts Complete “Take Action” Project by Releasing Ladybugs to Support Food Pantry Garden

GirlsWithGardeners The girls from Troop 72096, who just completed first grade, gathered together on Saturday, July 16, with several master gardeners at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford to conclude their Daisy year with a Take Action project: the release of almost 20 ladybugs. These small insects are formidable fighters and eat aphids, tiny bugs that afflict vegetable gardens. Controlling aphids is especially important because the food grown at the church is donated directly to the Community Cupboard food pantry. Fewer aphids will equal healthier plants, which will mean more food for the 7090 families that rely on the pantry each week.

Sydney and Joan The Daisy Girl Scouts spent the past few months learning about gardens. They planted and tended snow peas and beets at Grace Episcopal Church in Medford, which were all donated to the food pantry. Through this work, the girls learned about what gardens need to stay healthy.

They became interested in raising ladybugs and built small habitats to allow each girl to raise a few insects. Having tended them carefully through their larva and pupa stages, the girls were thrilled to watch numerous Spotted Pink Ladybugs emerge from their cocoons. On July 16 at dusk, after carefully watering the plants and inspecting for evidence of aphids, the girls released the ladybugs into their new home. The ladybugs now inhabit the Medford Community Cupboard Food Pantry Vegetable Garden, which is a new program started this year by the food pantry with support from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford and the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association. A team of Master Gardeners “champions” the program and are on site every Thursday from 1PM to 4PM, providing education, working with volunteers, and harvesting vegetables that are distributed at the food pantry on Thursday evenings.

Hannah and Joan The girls very much enjoyed working with the Master Gardeners to contribute to this local food pantry and they eagerly look forward to the projects they may take on as Brownies this coming school year!

5 New Outdoor Badges Just Announced – Download the Requirements Here for Free

July 9, 2015July 9, 2015Leave a comment

Summer is the perfect season to get outdoors and summer is also the perfect time for Girl Scouts to release five new, outdoor-themed badges. To make it even better, the requirements are free! You can download them through the links in this post.

Girl Scouts across the country voted on which badges they would like added and here’s a summary of the winners:

Brownies – Outdoor Adventurer: This is a great warm-up badge for camping. Girls can play outdoor group games, go a nature hike (day or night), watch the sky, play Capture the Flag, learn how to tie knots, light a campfire, build a bird feeder, and/or care for the outdoors. Click here to download the Brownie Outdoor Adventurer Badge requirements.
Juniors – Horseback Riding: If you know a Junior who already knows how to ride a horse, then she will have this badge in the bag. For girls who are curious and want to try horseback riding, this badge will help them learn how to take care of horses, prepare, and then go, for a ride. Click here to download the Junior Horseback Riding Requirements.
Cadettes – Archery: This badge helps Girl Scouts learn about archery equipment and safety, as well as teaching them how to practice techniques, shoot the bow, and, finally, create an archery challenge. As with the Horseback Riding badge, this badge will be a cinch for girls who are already familiar with archery and it will be a good way for girls who are interested, but have never tried it before, to learn. Click here to download the Cadette Archery Badge Requirements.
Seniors – Paddling: My paddle’s keen and bright. Flashing with silver. Follow the wild goose flight. Dip, dip and swing. This badge will teach girls paddling safety, stroke techniques, as well as giving them a chance to learn about different paddling sports, such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. After mastering the basics, girls must go out for at least two separate paddles to earn the badge. Click here to download the Senior Paddling Badge Requirements.
Ambassadors – Ultimate Recreation Challenge: This badge encourages girls to take it to the next level and try things they’ve never done before whether it is on the hiking trail, on water, or while camping. Girls are also required to do something out of the ordinary, such a snowmobiling, zip-lining, or cave diving. Finally, girls will need to also do an outdoor activity that is specific to where they live. Click here to download the Ambassador Ultimate Recreation Challenge Badge Requirements.

Medford Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachuetts Service Unit 406

Tag: Girl Scouts

What a Year for Medford Girl Scouts!