GSEM Call for Nominations

Do you know one or two fabulous GSEM volunteers who go above and beyond to support the Girl Scout Mission?  Please think about nominating someone for a National or Council award. Individuals can receive recognitions every 3 years. You may also nominate service units or committees for joint awards.

To recommend a volunteer or team for recognition, the Volunteer Recognition Committee must receive a nomination and endorsement.  Decisions are not final until approved by GSEM’s Board of Directors.  Final Deadline for nominations and endorsement is Friday, February 6^th!

Details and nominations/endorsement forms can be found at Volunteer Recognitions and Awards .

The Volunteer Recognition Dinner will follow the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 5, at the Holiday Inn, Marlborough. Separate registration is required for each event.

Juliette Needs a Trunk!

Our GSEM Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill needs a wardrobe type steamer trunk to use for their educational programs.  Here's the kind of thing they are looking for....

If you have one you'd like to donate, please call the museum at 781-373-4360 or email them at cedarhillmuseum@live.com.  Thanks!

Happy New Year, 2015

What's Your Destination?

Know some teen girl scouts?  Remember to tell them about destinations!

Formerly known as "wider ops" destinations are travel, adventure and service trips for girls aged 13 - 18.  They can go far away (Costa Rica! India!) or stay close to home.  They can learn, camp, climb, paddle or just have fun.

See them all here:  destinations!

GSEM is sponsoring a destination this summer called Whales, Tales and Trails.  It will take place on the North Shore of Massachusetts, in and around Boston, with one side trip to New Hampshire!

http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/whales-tales-and-trails/

Experience Massachusetts from the shores to the woods, through the eyes of settlers, sailors and some of America’s most important writers. Walk in the footsteps of Americans of many heritages while exploring Boston’s neighborhoods and coastline. Debate whether the witches persecuted in Salem were really witches or just citizens caught up in local disputes.  Journey to the sea, and watch mighty whales breech and blow. Take action as we provide service in a coastal fishing community. Find unique treasures in Boston shops and in small coastal boutiques. With imagination and creativity, our stories of the past and present will help you create an exciting chapter in your life-long journey of discovery.

Girls should submit their applications ASAP for the second round!  See the website for all of the details!

Outdoor Badges - Final Voting!

It's time to vote on the next and final stage of Girls' Choice!

The votes have been tallied and your voices have been heard. The next set of badges - one each for Brownies through Ambassadors - will be based on an Outdoor Recreation theme!

Now is your chance to vote on the type of badge activities you will get to earn next year! Voting ends December 31st, so be sure to get your votes in!

GO HERE:   GIRLS VOTE NOW!

Which set of badge activities appeals the most to you?* (choose one)

Fall for Service

Final Total: 64 blankets.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Blankets - and more - for Preemies!

Today I saw some Great Escapers at a GSEM Alumnae Event where we made fleece blankets, photo mounts and ornaments to be donated to NICUs via Project Sweet Peas.  Over 80 Girl Scouts aged 21 months to - well, the top range is privileged info - gathered at the Great Hall at Cedar Hill under the auspices of the GSEM Alumnae Committee today.  Last week we were at Rice Moody and there's one more, next week at Mass Maritime. 

We've made 42 blankets and too many ornaments and photo mounts to count!  If you want to help out next week, here's the skinny:

November 23, 1 – 3 PM (RSVP by November 18)
The Beachmoor at Mass. Maritime Academy
11 Buttermilk Way, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to attend, and we encourage you to bring a friend! Alumnae, please
consider bringing a current girl member of Girl Scouts to "Fall For Service!" Please RSVP to alumnae@girlscoutseasternmass.org or call 857-453-5329. Thank you for your RSVP (so they can have enough supplies!)

And I invited a bunch of people to join us at GE next fall, so I hope to see you in September!

Where's Your Camp Home?

Great Escape, of course, is held at Camp Wabasso.  A great place for winter sports, as well.

It used to be at Camp Favorite, on Cape Cod.  That's where my daughter first learned to sail.  A fabulous place to take troops in the spring/early summer.

I went to Cedar Hill, as did my daughter and generations of other girls.  Can't count how many troops I've taken there as a leader/encampment director.

Maybe you float your boat at Camp Runels?

Which one of our GSEM camps is your home?  Virginia, Edith Read, Winnetaska, WIP? Rice Moody or Maude Eaton? Menotomy?  Somewhere to dream about as the snow starts to fly....

(thanks to the GSEM Waltham Store for lending me these shirts, which BTW are on sale for just $5 next week....)

Camporee 2016

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts has started planning for a Camporee in Fall 2016.  I know that may seem far away, but when you are planning an event for 2000 people, that time will pass quickly.

Fluke has a blog post over on the Camp Runels page with photos from 2012.  Here's one just for fun!

If you want to get involved, there is a discovery meeting on Thursday, November 13 at 7 PM at Camp Cedar Hill and we'd love to have you come find out more. To RSVP or to find out more information, drop Jill an email at jregister@girlscoutseasternmass.org - hope to see you there!

Adult Learning Conference

I met some people today at the ALC who haven't attended GE yet. Lesley and I invited everyone we met (and those we didn't meet too!) to join us next September 25 - 27 for a weekend of 'glamping.'  That's glamorous camping, and I think GE qualifies because you don't have to look good, but you'll eat well and have fun.  Bring your buddies!

If there's a workshop you want us to offer, a new craft or activity you want to learn, let us know!  Here's one from this year - Happy Halloween!

Email gsgreatescape@yahoo.com and let us know your desires!  (Hey busy moms!  When was the last time someone asked you for YOUR desires.) We'll put you on our list and let you know when registration opens next spring.  Remember that if you sign up before August 1, you get a $10 price reduction!

And if you didn't get to today's ALC there's one in Kingston next Saturday.  Sign up here:
 Sign up!

Sign up Daisys - Cadettes here:
http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/search.html?id=13033

The Importance of the Outdoors and Camps

One of the main goals of the Great Escape is to support our Girl Scout Camps.  When adults come to GE at Camp Wabasso, they are more likely to bring their troops to camp there.  And of course, Great Escape has donated lots of dough and lots of time to camp improvements at Wabasso and beyond.

Camps and camping are an important part of the Girl Scout experience - this report from GSUSA's Girl Scout Research Institute details exactly how important.  You can help by taking this survey!

And by the way, GSEM runs a program called Teen Escape that reminded me a lot of GE!  Here's some happy campers from this last weekend.

Blowing tissue paper fishies across the floor in "Minute To Win It"

Taps

As you know, at the end of camp it's tradition to retire the flag and sing "Taps."  Here's a virtual "Taps" for Great Escape 2014.  

Here's a nice photo from Jen from Sunday morning - the fog was just burning off as she walked to the dining hall for breakfast. 

Sunday morning breakfast was amazing, wasn't it?

 Milk, juice, coffee, tea, cocoa, bagels, pastry, oatmeal, french toast and sausage.  Don't you wish someone would cook for you every Sunday?  Our GE cooks got up early that day and this cooks'  parade proves it!

 Most of the photos posted in the last two weeks were taken by our roving photographer, Louise.  Thanks for your good work!  Isn't this one lovely? 

Until the next friendship circle, Goodbye Girl Scouts!

Hasta la vista!