exclusively for leaders and volunteers | |
? Routine System Maintenance Ahead! ?
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Starting on Friday, February 2, 2024, we will be performing routine system maintenance to myGS, including the Volunteer Toolkit and gsLearn. Access to these tools will be unavailable during this time. Everything should be back up and running by Monday, February 5, 2024!
This maintenance may impact caregivers, volunteers, and our customer care team aka the GSCV help desk team, who will be unable to respond to online inquiries until the updates are complete. This includes the following scenarios:
● Current members (volunteers and caregivers) trying to access:
○ Their Girl Scouts profile and troop information on myGS
○ gsLearn for volunteer training
○ The Volunteer Toolkit for guidance and program materials used to conduct troop meetings
● Girl Scout staff members and customer care teams trying to respond to online inquiries including but not limited to new members transactions.
We know that it’s a busy time of year for Girl Scouts, which is why we want to make sure our system is in tip-top shape! Routine system maintenance is necessary for keeping things running smoothly for our caregivers, volunteers, and staff. Make sure you have everything you might need in advance of this downtime so you aren’t inconvenienced!
| | Program Events & Activities | |
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2024 events are open for registration. Sign up now!
Program Events & Activities for all Program Age Levels
Daisy (D) grades K-1
Brownie (B) grades 2-3
Junior (J) grades 4-5
Cadette (C) grades 6-8
Senior (S) grades 9-10
Ambassador (A) grades 11-12
| | | | COMING SOON: GSCV Scholarship | | |
Calling all exceptional Girl Scout Ambassadors!
The Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia is delighted to offer $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who embody the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and have demonstrated outstanding leadership in our organization, academia, and their communities.
Eligibility Criteria:
? Registered member of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a minimum of three consecutive years, including the current membership year.
? Graduating high school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
? Planning to attend an institute of higher education, such as a college, university, business school, trade school, or technical school.
Key Details:
? Application opens on Friday, February 2nd.
? Application deadline: Sunday, March 3rd at 11:59pm.
Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to support your academic journey! Find the application and more info on our website starting February 2nd and take the first step towards a bright future. Good luck to all aspiring Girl Scout leaders! ?
Questions? Contact our Director of Program, Cierra Hall, at chall@comgirlscouts.org.
| | Spread Love to Veterans with Valentines for Vets! | | |
Join Congresswoman McClellan in a heartwarming initiative to honor our Armed Forces heroes this Valentine's Day! Show your gratitude by creating heartfelt cards for veterans.
Here's how you can participate:
1. Write a thoughtful note to a veteran on a handmade or store-bought card.
2. Mail or drop off your cards at the Richmond office (11 S. 12th Street, Richmond, VA 23219) or the Brunswick office (100 Athletic Field Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868).
3. Your cards will be personally delivered to Veteran-serving organizations within the district, spreading love and appreciation to those who've served our country.
Let's make this Valentine's Day special for our veterans! Your small gesture can make a big impact.
| | We’re going to… Wintergreen! | | |
Grab your snow gear and get ready for two exciting sessions on The Plunge, the ultimate snow tubing experience, on Monday, February 19, 2024.
Bus pickup will be at our Service Center, 4900 Augusta Avenue, at 9:30 a.m. You'll arrive back safely by 6:30 p.m.
After conquering The Plunge, we’ll refuel with lunch in a cozy area near the slopes. Following our action-packed day, the bus will safely bring you back to our Service Center by 6:30 p.m.
Don't miss out on this action-packed day and frosty-fun opportunity to make the most of the winter season with your Girl Scout friends. Reserve your spot now and let the winter adventure begin!
Tickets are $80 per person. This includes a spot on a Passenger Coach Bus and two tubing sessions.
We ask that you bring your own lunch. Snacks will be provided.
Registration is currently OPEN and closes on February 1st, 2024.
This event is open to Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. This is not a drop-off event.
| | Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia | | |
Date: Saturday, Feb 24 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia/Central region/Richmond Metro
Levels: Daisy-Ambassador
Patch received: Black History Month Patch
Cost: Girl/Adult, $6/$6
Earn the Black History Month fun patch with a scavenger hunt tour of the museum! There are fun, educational, and interactive activities for all to enjoy. Additionally, the Richmond Chapter of Jack and Jill of America will dress as important African American historical figures and tell the inspirational stories of the person they are dressed as. They will be dispersed throughout the Museum so make sure you look for them!
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On February 22 of each year, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides celebrate World Thinking Day. Each year has its own theme, such as helping the environment, fighting poverty, achieving gender equality, or making sure everyone has access to education. On this day, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides everywhere will honor their global community by doing activities around this special theme.
Here are the four steps to earn your World Thinking Day award.
1. Explore World Thinking Day.
2. Experience World Thinking Day with purpose.
3. Investigate this year’s World Thinking Day theme.
4. Share what you learned and commit to a better future.
Ready to think big and explore meaningful issues in your community and beyond? Get started with our World Thinking Day Facilitator Guide!
| | Council Sponsored Cookie Booths | |
Council Sponsored Cookie Booths launched on Monday, January 22nd, ensuring all troops' ability to register for one booth.
On Wednesday, January 24th at 7pm, the number of booths each troop can secure will increase from one to two.
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You may have noticed the girl delivery option in Digital Cookie has been paused. This is temporary and happens between the time the parents can enter their orders and the time we submit the troops’ initial orders. This is done to eliminate confusion on what orders transferred to Smart Cookie and what order still needs to be filled. Girl Delivery will appear as an option again next week once the initial order has been placed.
Girl Delivery orders submitted before 11:30pm on Sunday, January 21st were automatically transferred to Smart Cookies.
Once the girl delivery option is turned back on, the cookies won’t automatically transfer to Smart Cookies anymore. Troop leaders and parents will need to check for new girl delivery orders and pick up cookies from the troop leader or at a cupboard.
An easy way to do this is to run the All Order Data report and then sort it by type or order and date to see what came in since the initial order. Below is an example with personal information removed.
Once the cookies have been picked up by the girl, the leader can transfer the cookies to the girl in Smart Cookies to ensure she get credit for the sale.
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We are aware of discrepancies in what parents and leaders have entered in the Digital Cookie system and what showing as the initial order in Smart Cookies. To assist troops in making sure the initial order is correct, GSCV staff will be contacting all troops by phone this week to ensure the initial order is correct. | |
A friend purchased cookies from my daughter, and they received an email saying the cookies would be ready for delivery March 2nd. Since we are picking up cookies in mid-February, why are customers being given a March delivery date?
When a customer purchases cookies through the Digital Cookie site, they receive an email telling them the cookies will be available for delivery March 2nd or 3rd. Most likely, you will have your cookies in-hand prior to that date since the cookie deliveries and drive thru will be happening mid-February. The system naturally adds two weeks to the deliveries date to give girls enough time to secure cookies from the troop leadership. Girls and parents can let customers know if they plan to deliver the cookies prior to that date.
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My troop is showing as "opting out of rewards" in Digital Cookie, but we want the rewards and are too young to opt out.
Troops Cadette-Ambassador who want to opt out of cookie rewards will need to do that through Smart Cookies under the Troop Information tab. Because GSCV is not using the rewards portion of Digital Cookie this year (we are waiting on some improvements), all troops show in Digital Cookie as having opted out. It simply means the Council has opted out of the rewards tab, not that the troop has opted out of rewards.
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When I try to use the mobile app I’m getting an error message. What am I doing wrong?
In order for the mobile app to work, the troop must first set up its virtual booth in Digital Cookie. Once this is completed, the app will allow troops to take orders and collect payments through the mobile app.
For more information on setting up your troop virtual booth, check out this helpful tip sheet.
For more information on setting up the mobile app, check out this tip sheet.
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How will troops take payment at booths this year?
Girls will be able to take payment at booths using the Digital Cookie mobile app, but only if the booth is added to the Smart Cookies system. Girls can also take orders for individual sales using the mobile app.
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I can't pick up my cookies the day that the drive-thru is going to be held. What should I do?
If you are picking up your cookies at one of the three drive-thru locations February 15th, 16th, or 17th, you have several options.
- You can choose to come to any of the three locations that best meet your needs.
- You can have a parent or Troop Cookie Manager pick up the cookies on behalf of your troop.
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If you still don’t have any way of getting the cookies, please contact our HelpDesk, at gshelper@comgirlscouts.org and they will connect you with someone who can arrange to meet you at our warehouse in Chesterfield the following week to pick up your cookies.
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Cookie Booths –Smart Cookies
Are you scheduling booths on your own for your troop? Remember to enter those in Smart Cookies so they will show up on the Cookie Finder app. Listing them in Smart Cookies enables your troop to use Smart Cookie credit card processing for electronic payments at your booth. When scheduling your troop’s booths, keep in mind this guidance from Girl Scouts of the USA:
"Certain locations may be inappropriate for young girls based on the standards of your local community, may negatively impact the cookie program experience for girls, and/or may negatively impact our brand in your community. For clarity, girls should not sell in or in front of establishments that they themselves cannot legally patronize."
For this reason, GSCV does not approve cookie booths at breweries, wineries, and dispensaries.
To enter your troop’s secured booth in Smart Cookies, follow the steps below:
● Log into Smart Cookies
● Click on Booth at the top of your dashboard
● Click on Troop Secured Booths
● Enter the location with the complete address
● Enter the day and time of the booth
● Click Save
These booths will need to be approved by a member of the GSCV staff before they show in the Cookie Finder app or as a booth in your troop listing. Booths are approved weekly prior to cookies arriving and daily once booth season begins.
The first come, first serve cookie booths went live in Smart Cookies on January 22 at 7pm for all troops. We will continue to add more booth locations as they become available so be sure to check back with Smart Cookies regularly. Initially we will limit troops to one booth so everyone has a chance of getting one. Later in the program we will expand the number of booths a troop can sign up for as we add more opportunities.
To register for one of these booths, follow the steps below:
- Log into Smart Cookies
- Click on Booth at the top of your dashboard
- Click on Schedule Booth
- Select a booth out of the available opportunities
Below is an update on the status of some of our community partners and cookie booths.
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Opting out of Cookie Rewards – Older Girl Troops Only
If your troop is made up of just Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, and your girls have decided to opt out of recognitions, it is important you do this prior to placing your initial order. Follow these steps to complete this process:
● On your Troop Dashboard, click on My Troop
● Click on Troop Information
● Click on Main Recognition Plan and choose Opt Out. This will change to opt out in both the main recognition line and the troop recognition line.
● If Opt Out doesn’t appear and you can’t make the choice, it may mean your troop isn’t strictly older girls and is not eligible to opt out, or you may have already created a recognition order and will need the Help Desk to assist you. You can contact the Help Desk at gshelper@comgirlscouts.org
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Parent/Guardian agreement (pdf option)
Don’t forget to have the parents/caregivers in your troop sign the parent/guardian agreement.
Keep these on file for your troop and only submit if there is an outstanding balance at the end of the program.
Parent/Guardian agreement (digital option - complete online)
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Correction in the How to Guide for Troop Leaders and Troop Cookie Managers
Under Options for customers on page 9 in the guide it refers to being able to order online and pay at the time of delivery. This season all cookies ordered online will be paid for at the time of the order. The only orders that are not paid for at the time of ordering are the orders taken on the hard copy order card.
| | | 2024 Cookie Phone Backgrounds are Here! | | |
Celebrate Cookie Season in style with our cool new phone backgrounds! Jazz up your device with images of the cookies that change the world.
Download them here.
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Girl Scout
Outdoor Cooking course
Have you ever cooked in a box oven?
Saturday, March 9, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Camp Pamunkey Ridge
Cost: $10.00
Registration closes March 1, 2024
Tired of cooking the same old meals each time your troop goes camping? Join experienced GSCV Outdoor Trainers for a day of cooking and eating! You will have the opportunity to try out a variety of cooking techniques, as well as sample what you cook. Included will be the use of a Dutch Oven, Box Oven, Foil Packs, Stick Cooking, as well as just-for-fun methods such as baking rolls in a flowerpot. Participants will receive copies of recipes cooked during the session.
Please note that course participation space is limited, so please consider one adult volunteer from your troop attending.
Register here!
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Beginning Camping training
Girl Scouts are ready to go camping, are you?
Let's get your troop outside! The Beginning Camping course is designed for leaders and troops who have little camping experience and want to take their troop camping. Upon completion of this course, you will be certified to take your Girl Scout Troop on a camping trip in the backyard, in a permanent structure such as a cabin at a state park, or Girl Scout Camp. The course follows progression in the outdoors and is specifically designed for Daisy, Brownie and Junior Leaders. We can't wait to see you at training! This course takes place in a single day with a required prep video to watch prior to training. You will be sent the video after registration is completed and processed.
Beginning Camping Training:
March 23rd | 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. | Camp Pamunkey Ridge
registration closes March 9, 2024
Register here!
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Are you ready to hit the mark?
Level 1 Archery Training
Sunday, April 28th
9:00a.m.- 4:00p.m. Camp Pamunkey Ridge | $40
Archery is a Girl Scout staple and a confidence boosting experience for girls. The Level 1 Archery Training is for instructors and those interested in becoming an instructor. In this training you will become certified to bring this experience to girls in your troop, service unit, and special events! Adult instructors are required for Girl Scout archery activities.
Certification for GSCV’s archery program is provided through USA Archery. USA Archery offers Level I Instructor courses in a blended learning format. Volunteers will need to complete the knowledge portion of the course online prior to completing the in-person session at Camp Pamunkey Ridge.
USA Archery Level I Instructor certification is a required course for volunteers who wish to teach beginning archery skills to Brownies through Ambassadors. In Level 1, participants learn about range safety, range setup, the steps of shooting, equipment, and equipment repair. Girls 16 years of age and older are welcome to participate. This USA Archery certification is valid for three years and renewable online through USA Archery.
Registration for USA Archery Level I starts at the link below. You will receive the information to complete the required online course, then attend the in-person course on Sunday, April 28th.
Register for Archery Level I here!
| | | | Feature Your Troop on Social Media! | | | |
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Has your Girl Scout troop completed a project, taken a trip, or done something worthy of a shout out? Let us know!
We're looking for more incredible Girl Scouts to feature on our social media.
Submit your photos and a short description to Janna Joyner at jjoyner@comgirlscouts.org.
We can't wait to feature them!
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The Retail Shop will open at 1:00pm on Wednesday, January 31st due to a POS Equipment Update.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
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Gear up for cookie booths!
Cookies? ✔️ Uniforms? ✔️ Cookie badges, bags, and accessories? ✔️✔️✔️
Girl Scouts can’t wait for cookie booths because they get to have fun with friends, gain confidence, and reach for their dreams! And when they wear their official Girl Scout gear, they show how proud they are to be unboxing the future!
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Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia
804-746-0590 • 800-4SCOUT4 toll-free
gshelper@comgirlscouts.org • www.comgirlscouts.org
office hours: Monday - Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
shop hours: Monday - Friday | 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sunday | closed
S'more News is an e-publication for troop leaders and other volunteers
of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
| | Girls and volunteers can text NEXT to 59618 to join! | | | | |
