The Joy of Singing Together - At Great Escape

If you have already been to GE you know singing is an important part of the event.  Bring your 'fans' so you can join in!  This year we are planning an update to the 'fan' with some new, fun songs to learn and teach.  It's gonna be great - and if you've never been, well, we'll give you a 'fan' when you sign in.  No matter what the weather is, at GE we're all hot and we all need fans!  So bring 'em if you've got 'em and whether you are old or new, register now!

If you'd like to try out one of the new songs we might sing, here's one.  I think it's appropriate for the end of summer; sing it to the tune of Bing Crosby's old hit, "The Bells of St Mary's."

The embers of campfires are now slowly dying,
the birds and the wood folk have gone to their rest.
The stars up above us are now shining brightly,
O God of nature grant to us a peaceful rest.

Product Sales - Mugs, Bags, Blankets

Our custom made mug!

We'll be selling our mugs, tote bags and warm fleece blankets at Great Escape this year.  The mugs and totes are $5 each and the blankets are $20.  So register now and bring cash or checks with you to the event!

Blankets come in different colors...what ever we can buy each year...

Makes a nice but not too large beach or book bag!

Summer Escapes - North to Alaska!

The plaque has been traveling all over this summer, and as we approach Labor Day, here's a couple of pictures of its trip to Alaska!  First, floating down the Chilkat River at the Bald Eagle Wildlife Preserve.

The lucky laminate got to see some beautiful scenery as it traveled around - threatening skies, a rainbow, mountains and green fields.

I hope that you got to see something pretty this summer too! But if you weren't one of the lucky vacationers this year, you have a chance to make up for it by coming to the Great Escape.  Don't forget to register for your "glamping" weekend in Scenic New Hampshire!

Volunteer

School is starting.  Girl Scouts always needs volunteers because girls need women to guide them.

When was the last time you were this happy in the rain?  Volunteer!

Summer Escapes - O Canada

Did you wonder where the traveling plaque has been?  The lucky laminate took a long trip to the west coast of Canada and up North.  Here it is in Vancouver Harbor surveying a fabulous looking cruise ship!

The plaque is keeping a journal of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."  See the plaque and journal at the Great Escape by registering to attend the 2014 event, September 26 - 28th.

See You In September!

At a recent dinner, some of the committee sang a rousing round of that old favorite - "See you in September, See you when the summer's through..."  (Why yes, we were in a nice restaurant - do you think that would stop us from singing?)

This year Great Escape is on September 26th - 28th.  Register Now!  A few workshops are full but some still have room; Gift Tags, Art Journaling, the field trips to Quilted Threads and the Fells,  Hand and Foot (it's a card game!,) Beginner Latin Cardio, Acrylic Painting, Christmas Ornaments, and Theater Games and Improvisation.  So go see the complete list and join us for a fall weekend in beautiful New Hampshire!  Where else can you find two nights lodging, all the yummy food you can eat and beautiful scenery plus workshops and beautiful music for only $55.00?  See you then!

Go Glamping on Martha's Vineyard

GSEM has a great new event for gals and girls!  Glamping on the Vineyard September 5th - 7th 2014!  If it's good enough for the Obama girls it's good enough for yours, is what I say!

Register here!  You'll be staying at Camp Wampanoag (cost is $100 per person plus you book and pay for your own ferry tickets.)  Here's the description from the GSEM website...

Enjoy a weekend of camping in style as we explore Martha’s Vineyard. Meet us on the island to begin the adventure. We’ll pick you up at the ferry station and travel by van to Camp Wampanoag for dinner and a campfire including gourmet s’mores. On Saturday we’ll see the sites of the island and stop at the Martha’s Vineyard Wind Festival to make and fly kites. Be sure to book a return trip ferry ride and we’ll drop you off on Sunday. Open to all ages: girls must be accompanied by an adult.

GSUSA'S Kelly Parisi - Ban Bossy

GSUSA's Kelly Parisi recently spoke at our GSEM Symposium kicking off the new Girl Scout year.  She's working on the "Ban Bossy" campaign that GSUSA is doing with the "Lean In" foundation.  Here's a video of a TedX Times Square talk that she did.  When you watch it, pay special attention to her story about her gymnastics coach.  Think about that story in the context of your work with girls.  Are we as good as we can be at making sure that leadership qualities are rewarded rather than stigmatized?

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNjKfGLKVFs

Remember, we're going to be discussing "Lean In" and how we can use the campaign in our work with girls and adults at this year's Great Escape.  You can see more here:  Lean In at Great Escape.

Order Your Jacket Or Vest Today!

Remember, August 20th is the deadline to order a jacket for pickup at the GE.  Go to the order page on the website for details!

Contests for Girls!

If you know any Girl Scouts, here's a couple of contests they can enter!

GSUSA Girl Sports Contest:  see Get Up! Get Active! Play GirlSports! Win Big!

GSEM destination logo contest:

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is sponsoring a destination in July, 2015 that will bring Girl Scouts from all over the world together with GSEM girls for a fun and learning experience. Girls participating in Whales, Tales and Trails will spend a week living on a college campus and traveling all over Metro Boston and the North Shore learning about Massachusetts’ past and present including our ocean, our people and our writers.

A logo is needed for our communications, our website, and maybe for the event’s t-shirt or patch! Registered GSEM Girl Scouts entering grades 6 – 12 are invited to submit original artwork. The rules are simple:

 The title “Whales, Tales and Trails” may be included as part of the logo
 All work must be original
 Cannot be larger than 8 ½ X 11”
 Color or black and white
 Can be hand drawn or done on a computer as long as graphics are original
 Girls may submit as individuals or may collaborate with other registered Girl Scouts
 Must be submitted by 11:59 pm on September 1, 2014.

Send an electronic picture or scan of your design (best way) or send your actual artwork (but don’t fold it!) to:
GSEMDestination@gmail.com
OR
GSEM Destination Committee
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
1740 Turnpike St
North Andover, MA 01845.

All submissions become the property of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts in perpetuity for use in all media and products in promoting the 2015 destination and any future destinations. Submissions will be judged on their creativity and originality. GSEM reserves the right to modify the designs. All decisions of the judges are final.

Find out about destinations at www.girlscouts.org/destinations/

Consider applying for a 2015 destination – the application process begins in Fall 2014!

Memory Lane 4

Another walk down the lane - some of us had dinner with Lou Ann last week.  She's doing well and looking beautiful.  This picture is from about 7 years ago.

I found a big box of Girl Scout memorabilia in the attic today which I had put away for the auction this year.  It's getting closer!  Don't forget to register.

Walk In The Woods

Today I went to the Garden In The Woods in Framingham.  I didn't notice the wildlife in this picture until I got home.  See him there above the 'cone' of the flower?

I was happy to see May Apples, too, about which I had only read before.

And a "Curlytop" too - not Shirley Temple, but this clematis.

I always look forward to Great Escape and the woodland treasures to be discovered there.  Register here and see what you can discover when you walk in the fall woods. 

Leap Before You Look

If you've ever thought, "I should try the Great Escape," remember this and register now!

Lean In - Again

As a new feature of the 2014 Great Escape, we're going to have a discussion of the book "Lean In" by Cheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.  In preparation, some GE committee members have been reading the book and at our meeting the other day, several mentioned that, although they were skeptical at the beginning, as they read they were blown away by the book's relevance to their lives, as well as how important it is to our work as Girl Scout Volunteers.

We hope you'll join in the discussion at GE - it will be between workshops and dinner on Saturday.  Read the book if you can, but if not, join us anyway - I guarantee you'll learn something useful!  Here's the original post about the discussion; New in 2014 - Lean In.

Memory Lane 3

Just got back from dropping DD at work.  Of course we stopped for coffee on the way - which reminded me that we always have plenty of coffee (tea and cocoa too!) at GE.  I think this photo says it all.  Don't forget to register!

Memory Lane 2

This picture is more recent than the last; one of these dessert makers was in my troop and attending in her last year of high school.  If you have high school seniors, bring them to Great Escape!  It's a great way for them to meet people who have continued Girl Scouting beyond graduation; there are young, dynamic people for them to meet as well as some of us 'golden oldies.'  They'll see that singing is a big part of GS still; if they are interested in being camp counselors, they will meet staff from our resident camps!

Memory Lane

Less than two months until GE! Over the next weeks I'll take you on a trip down memory lane.  Here's a photo I call 'campers on a rock.'  Y'all come too - register!