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Girl Scouts of Connecticut Centinnal Celebrations
Monday, September 24, 2012

Natalie Hardy of Hamden, 94, was the first African-American girl Scout  
to receive the Golden Eaglet Award in 1935 when she was a member of
 the first  African-American troop, New Haven Troop 24 in New Haven. 
In honor of its 100th anniversary, Girl Scouts of Connecticut recently honored 100 area individuals and organizations for embracing and living Girl Scout values.


One of the honorees is Hamden resident Natalie Hatcher Caple Douglas Hardy, who was recognized in a special ceremony held earlier this month in Hartford. She already received a Distinguished Alumnae Award.
Hardy, 94, was a member of Girl Scout Troop 24, one of the first African-American troops in the country. She also holds the distinction of being the first black woman to earn the Golden Eaglet Award — now known as the Gold Award — and the equivalent of the Boy Scouts’ Eagle Award.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Hardy said as her friends and fellow residents gathered around her.
“As we looked to celebrate our 100th anniversary we looked collectively at the power of these 100 individuals,” said Shannon Sullivan, chief development officer for Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “We felt we wanted to do something to celebrate the accomplishments of 100 years of Girl Scouts.”

Thus, to include current Scouts, alumnae and groups, organizers came up with five categories for recognition: Community Champion; Trail Blazer; Woman of Promise; Girl of Promise; and Distinguished Alumnae.

Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.
“As we looked to celebrate our 100th anniversary we looked collectively at the power of these 100 individuals,” said Shannon Sullivan, chief development officer for Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “We felt we wanted to do something to celebrate the accomplishments of 100 years of Girl Scouts.”
Thus, to include current Scouts, alumnae and groups, organizers came up with five categories for recognition: Community Champion; Trail Blazer; Woman of Promise; Girl of Promise; and Distinguished Alumnae.

Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.
Thus, to include current Scouts, alumnae and groups, organizers came up with five categories for recognition: Community Champion; Trail Blazer; Woman of Promise; Girl of Promise; and Distinguished Alumnae.
Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.

Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.
Community Champion awards are given to individuals, families or groups who have volunteered in their community or on a larger level. These recipients have served as mentors and role models whose lives and work exemplify the community service central to scouting.
Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.

Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.
Trailblazer awards are given to individuals, families, organizations or groups whose efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow.
Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.
Woman of Promise honorees are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated promise in their ability to assume significant leadership roles.


The anniversary ceremony brought more than 300 current Scouts, former Scouts and Scout supporters from across the state. Organizers said they’re looking forward to the next century of scouting.
Girls of Promise are current Girl Scouts between the ages of 12 and 18.

Distinguished Alumnae have demonstrated commitment, service and dedication to the Girl Scout Movement.

Other honorees who received Distinguished Alumnae recognition include: Loretta Paul Goldin and Sally Onofrio of Milford; Agnes Farrar of Hamden; and Margaret Jerrell of West Haven.

Community Champion honors went to: The Latina A.R.M.Y. in Milford, whose mission is to celebrate and empower young Latinas by providing inspiring role models; Patricia Scussel
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Girl Scouts Centennial
Sunday, September 23, 2012

ST. LOUIS • Saturday was billed as the Girl Scouts’ BIG Day downtown, and the hour-long parade celebrating their centennial attracted thousands of participants and spectators.

“A hundred years. Wow!” said Jane Emanuel, a leader of Cadette Girl Scout Troop 51 in the Affton area. She watched the parade move along Market Street with fellow troop leader Kathy Floyd and four of their Scouts, each girl 11 years old.

Emanuel said the staying power of the Girl Scouts as an organization was worthy of a giant celebration. But she also said she wasn’t surprised that the Girls Scouts had lasted so long.
“They’re teaching young ladies to be strong and independent. That’s an enduring message,” she said.

Plus, the four Cadette Scouts added, it’s a lot of fun.

“I like the flag twirlers” in the parade, said Ryleigh Gagen, one of the Troop 51 Scouts. “I really didn’t know the parade was going to be this big.”

Rissy Emanuel, Jane’s daughter, said she liked “the giant stuff, like the giant (inflatable) birthday cake” filled with helium that led the floats.

Jenna Floyd, Kathy’s daughter, said, “I like those people in the little cars and motorcycles,” referring to the Moolah Temple Shriners performing stunt driving routines along the parade route.

And Alyssa Bennett, the fourth Scout in the group, added, “I’d have to say the marching bands are my favorite part of the parade.”

In an unexpected bonus, the girls and their two leaders got to meet St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, who had left his place in the procession to work the crowd. He stopped long enough to pose for a photo with the Troop 51 contingent.

“He was very friendly,” said Kathy Floyd. “It’s just a beautiful day and a great parade.”
The BIG Day, short for Believe In Girls, was organized by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri to observe the 100th anniversary. When the parade was over, the girls and their leaders moved on to refreshments, information booths, rides, games and musical entertainment in the park setting around the Soldiers Memorial.

Still, it was the parade that formed the day’s most enduring memories for many.
Featured floats included a model of the City of St. Louis steamboat, a patriotic float decked out in red, white and blue and emblazoned with a large “100,” and a float carrying tropical plants along with Scouts and their leaders, bearing the words “100 years of fun in the great outdoors.”

There were dozens of cars and other vehicles, ranging from antique and classic cars and hot rods to late model Chargers and Camaros. A modified bus called the Bubblebus used a large wind machine to blow soap bubbles over the crowd. Another specially painted Metro bus carried the sign, “A Century of Courage, Confidence and Character.”

One more highlight was a float with huge models of toasted marshmallows on sticks saluting one of Scouting’s campfire favorites — s’mores.

The Girl Scouts trace their beginning to March 12, 1912, when Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls in Savannah, Ga., for a meeting of what Low started calling the Scouts. She said she wanted all girls to get a chance to develop physically, mentally and spiritually. So her original Girl Scouts hiked, played ball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars and studied first aid, among other activities.

Girl Scouts of the USA today claims a membership of more than 3.2 million girls and adults. Its records also show that more than 59 million women in the U.S. today are Girl Scout alumnae.
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Eagle Scout

On Aug. 1, 1912, Arthur Eldred became the first Boy Scout to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

Throughout the past century, more than 115 million boys have participated in Boy Scouts, and more than 2.1 million have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Golden Spread Council, Boy Scouts of America, serves the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. The council has recorded more than 4,000 Eagle Scouts from this region, with an average of more than 50 boys earning the rank each year for the past several years.

During 2012, more than 5,500 boys and young women will participate in scouting programs throughout Golden Spread Council. There are many requirements a Boy Scout must complete in order to achieve the Eagle Scout rank. He must first work his way through scouting’s other five ranks (each of which requires numerous badges, community service, leadership, and activity), be actively involved in scouting and earn 21 or more merit badges (including certain specified merit badges, like Citizenship in Community, First Aid, and Personal Management). He must also organize and execute an Eagle Scout leadership service project, which serves as an opportunity to implement the leadership skills he has learned for the benefit of an area organization other than scouting.

The national average of time spent on each Eagle project is an impressive 185 hours. Each Eagle project requires hours of preparation, develops leadership and character, builds camaraderie among those involved and benefits the community. A few of the agencies in our area that have benefited from an Eagle Scout project include The Salvation Army, High Plains Food Bank, United Way of Amarillo & Canyon and Habitat for Humanity.

Lastly, before his 18th birthday, the Eagle candidate must complete a final Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review, both of which are designed to test traditional scouting skills, ensure good character and determine what the scout learned on his journey.

“Becoming an Eagle Scout was one of the guiding influences of my life,” said Bill Gething of Pampa, who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1947. He has continued to be active with the Golden Spread Council and has 73 years of consecutive scouting service.

Recent University of Texas graduate Andrew Altman said, “Being an Eagle Scout is not only an honor but a responsibility to continue exhibiting the values and ideals that scouting has instilled in me. By the virtue of being an Eagle Scout, I can honestly say that this achievement has been my foot in the door to many opportunities that I might not have otherwise had the chance for. This award is as widely recognizable as any honor society, military achievement or scholastic accomplishment, and it is something I will remain proud of for the rest of my life.”
Countless anecdotes suggest the experience of becoming an Eagle Scout changes an individual for life. Recently completed formal research backs up this belief.
Two years ago, Baylor University was awarded a $992,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation to research the impact of scouting and the Eagle Scout rank. The study, “Merit Beyond the Badge,” found Eagle Scouts regularly held leadership positions in their jobs and community, demonstrated exceptional organizational skills, fostered positive relationships with others and contributed time and money to those in need.

This research gives credence to a frequently used phrase in scouting — “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.”

Some of the most well-known Eagle Scouts in our nation’s history include: President Gerald Ford, film director Steven Spielberg, Pulitzer Prize winner Harrison Salisbury, EDS Corp. chairman H. Ross Perot, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and astronaut Neil Armstrong. In our community, we are blessed to have Eagle Scouts like Pat Hickman, chairman of the board of Happy State Bank; Mark White, managing partner of Sprouse Shrader Smith; and Ron Boyd, owner of Duncan & Boyd Jewelers.

Mayor Paul Harpole, a longtime support of scouting and past President of the Golden Spread Council, said “Our community has benefited from scouting for many years. It’s not hard to look to various leaders in business, church, community and nonprofit ventures to find leaders with a background in scouting, many of whom are Eagle Scouts. We’re fortunate to live in an area where boys are encouraged to develop leadership skills, further their personal faith and become participating citizens through scouting. I’m proud to be involved in the Boy Scouts of America.”

Looking to the future, the region looks forward to seeing the great things the future generations of Eagle Scouts will contribute to our community, nation and world.
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International Partnership Award
Friday, April 6, 2012
To gain this award, the young person must complete the following requirements:
  1. Identify a partner and a project or activity that relates to the International Friendship theme.
  2. Together with those involved, set objectives for what you wish to achieve and plan the project.
  3. Take part and successfully complete the joint activity.
  4. Assess the benefits to those involved.
  5. Award the Partnership Award to those Members taking part.

Time requirement

There is no set time requirement associated with the award. Project Leaders should work with partners to establish a realistic timetable bearing in mind the ages and availability of the sections or partners involved.
Leaders should be guided by the principle that young people should make a significant time contribution, while experiencing new and challenging personal development opportunities, as is appropriate to their age and availability.
For example, Beaver Scouts might undertake one hour per week for four weeks at their Colony meeting, with a two-hour project one Saturday. However, Explorer Scouts might contribute 32 hours over the course of two weekends within the same project.

Example activities

  • Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts organise an 'unfair games' event with the local Oxfam Committee to draw attention for the need for Fair Trade.
  • Scout Groups spend a weekend bag packing to raise funds for a charity.
  • Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts organise a penny fair to buy goats for an African family.
  • A local Scout Troop acts as a host to Dutch Scouts for a weekend camp at a local site.
  • Explorer Scouts perform a two-mile walk for charity.
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Faith Partnership Award
To gain this award, the young person must complete the following requirements:
  1. Identify a partner and a project or activity that relates to the faith area.
  2. Together with those involved, set objectives for what you wish to achieve and plan the project.
  3. Take part and successfully complete the joint activity.
  4. Assess the benefits to those involved.
  5. Award the Partnership Award to those Members taking part.

Time requirement

There is no set time requirement associated with the award. Project Leaders should work with partners to establish a realistic timetable bearing in mind the ages and availability of the sections or partners involved.
Leaders should be guided by the principle that young people should make a significant time contribution, while experiencing new and challenging personal development opportunities, as is appropriate to their age and availability.
For example, Beaver Scouts might undertake one hour per week for four weeks at their Colony meeting, with a two-hour project one Saturday. However, Explorer Scouts or Scout Network Members might contribute 32 hours over the course of two weekends within the same project.

Example activities

  • Scout Troop builds links with the local Sikh community culminating in a Scout's Own and campfire.
  • A Jewish Cub Scout Pack pairs with a Chinese community youth group for a special festival, in each culture eg Jewish New Year and Lunar New Year. Together they prepare their place of worship, make decorations for homes and explore the stories of each tradition.
  • A Catholic Scout Group works with their Parish team to organise a series of special youth liturgies during Holy Week.
  • A Scout Group participates fully in the local Parish's harvest festival and distributes the produce after the service to those in need.
  • A Muslim Scout Troop shares details about one of its festivals and an Open Scout Troop illustrates how it celebrates a variety of festivals with its members.
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Environment Partnership Award
Serco sponsor the Scout Environmental Partnership Award. Some great resources are available which include activity ideas that leaders can use to help Scouts gain their badge.
To gain this award, the young person must complete the following requirements:
  1. Identify a partner and a project or activity that relates to the themed area.
  2. Together with those involved, set objectives for what you wish to achieve and plan the project.
  3. Take part and successfully complete the joint activity.
  4. Assess the benefits to those involved.
  5. Award the Partnership Award to those Members taking part.

Time requirement

There is no set time requirement associated with the award. Project Leaders should work with partners to establish a realistic timetable bearing in mind the ages and availability of the sections or partners involved.
Leaders should be guided by the principle that young people should make a significant time contribution, while experiencing new and challenging personal development opportunities, as is appropriate to their age and availability.
For example, Beaver Scouts might undertake one hour per week for four weeks at their Colony meeting, with a two-hour project one Saturday. However, Explorer Scouts might contribute 32 hours over the course of two weekends within the same project.

Example activities

  • Scouts link with young ornithologists to make and set up bird boxes in local woodland
  • Explorer Scouts work with the Waterways Trust on canal restoration project
  • Cub Scouts work with local villagers to clear and renovate a churchyard
  • Explorer Scouts work with a local building contractor to paint a historical mural on the temporary wall surrounding the building site
  • Scouts and Guides design and decorate a float for the local carnival on a local heritage theme.
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Chief Scout's Gold Award
This badge is the highest award available in the Scout Section.
It is gained by completing:
  • The Promise Challenge
  • The Community Challenge
  • The Fitness Challenge
  • The Creative Challenge
  • The Global Challenge
  • The Outdoor Challenge
and two of the following:
  • The Outdoor Plus Challenge
  • The Adventure Challenge
  • The Expedition Challenge
If a Scout has not quite completed the requirements for the top award before they move on to the Explorer Scout Unit, they may complete it in their early weeks in the Explorer Scout Unit.

Notes

Scouts can earn the same challenge badge more than once while working towards this award, but the challenge must be more progressive. If this is the case, Scouts can wear more than one of the same badge on their uniform.
View Template for Chief Scout's Gold Award certificates (Word document)
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Entrepreneur Challenge

The Entrepreneur Challenge has been developed by The Scout Association in conjunction with Richard Harpin.
 
The Entrepreneur Challenge aims to develop Scouts’ nature for enterprise through activities which enable them to set up, or create an idea for, a Scouting enterprise or business. Scouts will need to demonstrate an aptitude for understanding the Mind for Business principles.
To request an activity pack call the Information Centre on 0845 300 1818 or email info.centre@scouts.org.uk

News


On 10 November 2010, Scout Leaders took part in a teleconference with entrepreneur Richard Harpin, who shared why entrepreneurship is important, and how activities can help your Scouts learn entrepreneurial skills.

Listen to the teleconference (starts around 3.30)

Launch of the Entrepreneur Challenge with Chris Evans

Activities

These activities can be used to help the Scouts develop their Mind for Business while having fun and being challenged:
You may recognise some of these, and also find that there are other activities that you regularly undertake with Scouts that can be adapted slightly to help develop their Mind for Business.

Other ideas

It doesn’t matter if you choose to use your own activities to help the Scouts complete the Entrepreneur Challenge. It is most important that they can identify what they learn from the activities, and can make the link to how it can be used in a business context.
For some inspiration about activities you could adapt to bring out entrepreneurial learning, look at Scout Games, The Troop Programme Plus, The Troop Programme Plus: Volume 2, Scouts Taking the Lead or Programmes Online
If you have success with your own adaptations, upload them to Programmes Online, so that other leaders can try them.

Completing the Challenge

The badge will be awarded to Scouts for demonstrating a Mind for Business, doing one of the following:
• Create a successful Scouting enterprise as part of a small group
• Create a business idea and present it to a small panel of relevant people (leaders, parents or local business people)
• Present, as a case study, a successful business that they are involved in running
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Community Challenge Award
The Community Challenge Award, sponsored by the Police, links with the Community Zone, and encourages Scouts to find out about some aspect of their local community
Complete the activities in the two following areas. Examples are provided below but other activities can also be undertaken.

Area 1 - Exploring the local community

Explore one aspect of how the local community works and is organised to the benefit of its members.
The project should include some factfinding, a visit to or from a community facility or group and some form of report back.
For example: visits to see the workings of a theatre, tourist attraction, railway station, airport, local industry; chances to meet people involved in local government, charities, faith groups, interest groups; opportunities to hear about or take part in community traditions or customs, local clubs and interest groups.

Area 2 - Community service

Take an active part in some form of local community service totaling at least six hours. The time may be spent doing a number of different projects or by showing commitment to a single project over a longer period of time.
For example: running a fund-raising stall or game, delivering leaflets, clearing an area, gardening, collecting materials for recycling, helping with activities for younger children, moving furniture, clearing debris, painting fences, environmental projects.
Where possible the service should link in with the visit in Area 1.
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The Promise Challenge
To gain this award, Scouts must complete five activities in total, taken from at least two areas.
Examples are provided below but other similar activities can also be undertaken.

Area 1 - Commitment to the Promise and Scout Law

  1. Explain how you have recently 'done your best' on at least three occasions and how this has made a difference.
  2. Explain to a new Scout in your Troop the meaning of the Scout Promise and Law.
  3. Assist with the planning and take part in an investiture ceremony or similar.
  4. Demonstrate that you can be trusted by taking on a special responsibility on behalf of the Troop. This might involve the management of money, or the Troop's reputation.

Area 2 - Relationship with your God

  1. Take part in a number of acts of worship with others in the Troop, such as Scout Parades at your place of worship, and/ or Scouts' Owns.
  2. Complete a course that furthers your understanding of your own faith community.
  3. Choose and read prayers and/ or reflections for your Troop's opening and closing ceremony.
  4. Hold the My Faith Activity Badge.

Area 3 - The life of the Troop

  1. Take an active part in at least two Troop Forums and express your views on at least one item being discussed.
  2. Contribute to the writing or reviewing of your Troop's 'Code of Conduct.'
  3. Play a full part in at least two Troop Leadership Forums and help to implement a decision of the forum.
  4. Successfully run a learning experience for other Scouts.
  5. Successfully lead a group of Scouts at a two-day camp or other similar event.

Area 4 - Developing beliefs and attitudes

  1. Honestly review an event or activity and decide how it might be done better in the future.
  2. Visit an act of worship of another faith community and compare the traditions and customs with your own.
  3. Investigate a political or world issue, such as climate change, smoking or fair trade, and explain your views on the subject to others.
  4. Take part in a debate on a topic of local or national interest.
  5. As a Scout, give freely of your time to help someone less fortunate than yourself.
READ MORE
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