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!

November 11

Outdoor Badges Theme Poll

https://jfe.qualtrics.com/form/SV_cUtsr5vSMqKEpLv


At the Girl Scout National Convention in Utah last month, GSUSA announced that four new outdoor badges would be added to the National Program Portfolio.  Here is a chance for girls to vote on which theme they'd like the badges to cover; Survival, Recreation or Environmentalism.  If you know a girl, have her vote at the link above soonest!  The winning theme will be announced November 30th.

I'd vote for survival but we need to get the girls to weigh in!

Pretty Things

It's been over a month since GE 2014 ended.  During November and January, the committee will be thinking about next year in preparation for our Committee retreat and marathon meetings weekend in January.  Here's one little thing I made today - like it?

I liked it so much I made another:

I won't be posting as frequently, but if you have a question or comment feel free!

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"

Leaning In Hard!

We added a new feature to GE this year, a discussion of Sheryl Sandberg's book "Lean In" and its relevance to us as women and as leaders of girls.  After we came to that decision, her foundation approached GSUSA to ask that they partner with them to help change the perception of girl leadership in the United States, resulting in the "Ban Bossy" campaign (we'd no idea that was going to happen when we chose the book.)

The results of this choice were more far reaching than we anticipated.  Members of the committee who read the book found that it was changing our outlook towards some of the things we do as a committee dedicated to providing services to Girl Scout Adults and raising funds to benefit our GSEM camps.  At least two people who read the book approached it thinking that they did not agree with Sandberg, and found that their attitudes changed, perhaps not totally, but to some degree.

 It also provided little epiphanies to those of us who work with girls outside of Girl Scouts.  I was  called out for correction  (literally - no hand raising for this young lady!)  by a "difficult, disruptive" fifth grader last year and instead of reproving her as she expected me to do I rewarded her for her strong leadership skills!    (See the Camp Runels blog for an account of another "ah hah moment."   http://camprunels.blogspot.com/2014/10/lean-in.html )

After the discussion, some of us agreed that we needed help with constructive ways to try to balance encouraging girl leadership while maintaining inclusiveness in our troops, and we'll be asking the GSEM Volunteer Development Team to help with that - we'd like to see some workshops at Symposia/Conferences.  In the meantime, check out this tip list from GSUSA: Leadership Tips.

Those who participated in the discussion enjoyed it very much, and our leader, Julie, did a wonderful job.  So next year, we'll choose another book. We'll announce the choice here ASAP so you can beg, borrow or download a copy.  Julie has already volunteered to facilitate next year and she has some great book suggestions.  We hope you will join us between the end of Saturday workshops and the beginning of dinner next year - whether you've read the book or not. (The weather cooperated so that we could sit outside the dining hall and snack on our appetizers while we talked!  Let's hope September 26, 2015, is a beautiful day.)