Mollie earned her award by creating PAL (Pets Altering Lives), a pet therapy program. Through PAL, Mollie not only visited assisted living facilities with her dog, but provided information to pet owners on how to certify their pets to be therapy dogs and find places to volunteer, and compiled story books for readers of all ages to enjoy. She also created a slide show to present the opportunity to her fellow Girl Scouts, as well as with people and organizations who may be interested in pet therapy.

“I felt it was important to participate in therapy because it was something I enjoyed, my dog enjoyed and the residents themselves enjoyed,” said Mollie. “In no way was my service hard work; it was simply fun and time for socializing.”

Through PAL, “I learned that a little of my time can make a world of difference in someone’s day,” Mollie added.

“We are incredibly proud of Mollie and her amazing achievement,” said Kim Jowell, CEO, GSWCF. “Her dedication to community service is inspiring, and a true testament of how Girl Scouts strive to make the world a better place.”

Mollie received her Girl Scout Gold Award in 2009. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning and personal development. She will be attending the University of Maryland in the fall, and plans to double major in business and Chinese.

Mollie Schick with GSWCF CEO Kim Jowell

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the culmination of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and the three keys to leadership: discover, connect, and take action. The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, sustainable community service, career planning and personal development. A Girl Scout must be in at least ninth grade and successfully complete requirements before she begins working on her Gold Award project.

This year’s Girl Scout Gold Award recipients completed projects focused on a variety of community issues that will have a lasting impact, including developing an after-school art enrichment program for elementary school students; repairing the grounds at local churches, parks, camps and organizations; educating youth about healthy cooking and eating habits; providing displaced families with clothing needs; and much more!

Congratulations to Alexis Aldamuy, Carolyn Ballard, Kelsey Bly, Kristin Bramlet, Meagan Carlson, Morgan Casselton, Emily Craven, Shelby Dale, Kathryn Dorn, Margaret Goscinski, Sarah Kiesow, Rachael Landes, Kimberly Manning, Heather Mooren, Kathleen O’Leary, Lauren Piehl, Jessica Rosenblum, Devin Watson and Michelle Wherley.

In addition to the 2011 Gold Award recipients, Anjali Modi and Mollie Schick, both of Tampa, received Girl Scouts of West Central Florida scholarships for their outstanding accomplishments in Girl Scouting, contributions to their local communities and their future aspirations following high school graduation. Modi received her Gold Award in 2010; Schick in 2009.

The 2011 Gold Award Recipients with Leigh Spann, mistress of ceremonies and News Channel 8 meteorologist.

Samoas will be one of several American classics featured on a special one-hour “All-American Eats” segment on Saturday, joining Coca-Cola, Twinkies Starbucks and Little Debbie, among others. “Unwrapped” visited Little Brownie Bakers’ Louisville bakery to film the segment and just how the Samoas are made.

Tune in to the Food Network, Saturday, May 28 at 9 p.m. to get a sneak peak at how one of the most popular Girl Scout Cookies earns her stripes! For more information about the show and episode air times, click here. Check your local listings for channel numbers.

We have five camp properties that we manage – Camps Dorothy Thomas, Indian Echo, Scoutcrest, Wai Lani and Wildwood – and recently completed roof projects on several buildings at all five properties.  

But we’re not done yet! 

Our long range property planning task force is looking towards the next projects… this is where you come in. 

Please take a few minutes to complete the surveys so that we can get your perspective – both girls and adults – of what is important to you in regards to our camp properties and programs offered.  

Girls, click here to take the survey.

Volunteers, parents and members, click here.

We sincerely value your thoughts and opinions and hope you will participate, and spread the word!  

And don’t forget to register for summer camp – there’s a camp for every girl’s interests. Register today!

Spring Break is here (or just around the corner), and summer will be here in no time at all! It’s time to plan for summer camp!

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) offers day and overnight camps ranging from three to 13 days at all five of our camp properties! Designed for all girls entering grades 1 – 12 – whether or not they’re registered Girl Scouts! – choose the week and camp that best suits your girl’s wants and needs, and she’s set for the summer!

Photography, horseback riding, water skiing, challenge course and swimming are among the many activities offered. Can’t decide on just one? Don’t want to sleep away for a week? Girls can customize their summer camps to fit what interests them most.

Summer day camps are offered for girls going into grades 1 – 7 at two of our camp properties: Camp Dorothy Thomas (Riverview) and Camp Indian Echo (Hudson). Go for a half-day, full-day, one week or more! (Click here to register starting April 2!)

Overnight summer camps are offered for girls going into grades 1 – 12, depending on the camp, at four of our camps: Camp Dorothy Thomas (Riverview), Camp Scoutcrest (Odessa), Camp Wai Lani (Palm Harbor) and Camp Wildwood (Wildwood). (Click here to register starting April 2!)

On the first day of overnight summer camp, girls will choose from a ton of different activities to participate in throughout the week. Each camp has its own unique options, all of which lead to new adventures!

On top of that, every girl who goes to summer camp will experience cookout nights, all-camp evening activities, traditions and a very special final campfire, but the rest is up to her!

Why should parents consider Girl Scout Summer Camp above the rest?

According to an outcomes study published by GSWCF, of girls under the age of 10 who attended summer camp in 2009, 86 percent seek challenges in the world (discover); 84 percent develop healthy relationships (connect); and 75 percent are resourceful problem solvers (take action). Of girls ages 11 and older, 88 percent develop positive values (discover); 89 percent can resolve conflicts (connect); and 94 percent educate and inspire others to act (take action).

These outcomes speak to the organization’s three keys to leadership – discover, connect and take action – and are integral components of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and the 15 outcomes set forth by Girl Scouts of the USA.

In addition, Camp Scoutcrest and Camp Dorothy Thomas are among just four camps within a 60-mile radius of Tampa that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), a national agency that conducts independent safety audits; Camp Wildwood is also accredited by the ACA. Background checks are conducted for each employee working at a Girl Scout Summer Camp, something that is not the norm, according to a story that aired on ABC Action News last summer.

This summer, send your girls someplace where they will learn leadership skills they will carry with them throughout their lives, develop healthy relationships and positive values, and learn more about themselves than they ever could in front of a computer. Send them to summer camp!

To browse through the 2011 Summer Camp Guide and to register for Girl Scout Summer Day and Overnight camps, visit www.gswcf.org.

Earth Hour is one part of the Girl Scouts’ broader commitment to environmental sustainability. Girl Scouts Forever Green (GSFG), the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary Take Action Project, involves three key projects: 1) using reusable water bottles and bags to reduce plastic waste; 2) planting and maintaining rain gardens at schools, homes and other sites; and 3) participation in Earth Hour events and installing ENERGY STAR qualified or other energy-efficient light bulbs. Participants are also encouraged to take an online pledge stating their yearlong commitment to GSFG efforts.

Initially a single-city initiative in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, Earth Hour has become a global movement in which hundreds of millions of people from every continent join together to acknowledge the importance of protecting and improving the planet. Earth Hour 2010 was the world’s largest global climate change initiative, with millions of participants in more than 4,600 cities across nearly 130 countries and territories. Since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour’s iconic “lights out” event has seen some of the world’s most recognized landmarks switch off their lights, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Buckingham Palace in London, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the Forbidden City in China.

Factoid: If 3 million Girl Scouts replaced an incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified light bulb, more than 1.3 billion pounds of CO2 would be saved this year.

The Women of Distinction Luncheon honors women who have achieved success in their chosen fields and who serve as role models for girls and young women in our communities.

The 2011 Women of Distinction Luncheon speaker is Jenna Hager, a contributing correspondent to NBC’s “The Today Show;” author of New York Times bestseller Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope and Read All About It! Mrs. Hager is the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.

New at this year’s event, Girl Scouts who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, will be at the event displaying information regarding their projects.

The 2011 Women of Distinction are Sarah “Scottie” Beasley (Winter Haven), Chief of Police Jane Castor (Tampa), Judy Lisi (Tampa) and Margaret Sullivan, PhD (St. Petersburg). All four 2011 Women of Distinction personify the courage, confidence, and character that Girl Scouting instills in young women today. Their community leadership and advocacy, both personally and professionally, set leading examples for Girl Scouts of all ages.

In addition to the Women of Distinction, Girl Scouts who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, will be at the event displaying information regarding their projects.

We hope you will join us – RSVP today!

In case you haven’t heard about the cookie locator app, it’s a free, downloadable tool for iPhones and Android phones that guides cookie buyers to their neighborhood cookie booths. Once downloaded, the user can choose either GPS or search by zip code to find the dates, times and locations for the nearest cookie booths. The app can be downloaded in the iPhone App Store or Android Market Place, or by calling **GSCookies (**472665437) from a mobile phone.

For cookie lovers without a smart phone, visit our website and click on the Cookie Locator button to view a listing of Girl Scout Cookie booths throughout Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties. Find your Girl Scout Cookies today!