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WELCOME TO A BRAND NEW YEAR

Dear Friend,

Happy New Year's to you and your family. It is hard to believe it is already 2006 and even more unbelievable that is 55 degrees on January 2nd. I so hope we keep this warm weather for cookie delivery!

Speaking of cookies, we have a very exciting cookie celebration planned for our girls on Saturday, January 14th at the Nutter Center. It is not often that we have the opportunity to host a live concert to kick-off our big and important cookie sale. I hope that you will join in the fun of this special event.

There are so many things going on in Girl Scouts but the two items I would like to highlight are the progress of GSBTC capital improvement campaign and the strategic realignment of our National (GSUSA) organization. Both of these issues will have major impact on the future of Girl Scouts. 

The new urban program center is well underway.  Everyday, we can see progress on the new building and get a better idea what a great place this will be for our girls. We are still planning on a September 1, 2006 completion and move-in date. We are also seeking bids for new facilities for both Camp Whip-Poor-Will and Rolling Hills that will enhance the camping environment at these locations.   

As for GSUSA, they continue the major work on new Core Business Strategies and Strategic realignment for the organization. This new Strategy for Success can be followed on the website or by signing up for GSUSA's E-Newsletter.  This will help you learn more about the direction, track the progress of the plans and give you the opportunity to share your thoughts. 

This is the year that we will all be challenged to make our new mission statement a reality for all of the girls, "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place!"

In June 2005, the Girl Scouts of the USA Board of Directors endorsed the Voice for Girls platform that articulates Girl Scouting's core values and beliefs and demonstrates our responsibility to address issues that impact girls. In order to capture the fullest picture of these issues, the Public Policy and Advocacy Office has worked closely with the Girl Scout Research Institute to create a comprehensive survey based on the broad themes.. A simple question is asked - "As Girl Scouts defines its role as an advocate for girls, what are the three most important issues that you would like Girl Scouts to address" We encourage you to complete the survey to ensure that each participant's voice and interests are accurately represented.

Sincerely, Ann Granger, CEO

DATE IS SET FOR ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

The Annual Meeting for Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at the James S. Trent Arena, 3100 Shroyer Road, Kettering,Ohio. The arena is located directly behind Fairmont High School. Watch for more information about this annual event in upcoming enewsletters.

GIRL SCOUT THINKING DAY IS FEBRUARY 22

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has announced that the 2006 World Thinking Day theme will be Adolescent Health Issues Worldwide. This is an opportunity for all girls to learn about global health issues that affect girls and young women. Girl Scouts are encouraged to engage in projects and activities that increase awareness of health issues in their councils, schools, and communities.

World Thinking Day is when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts think of their connections to each other and of the benefits they gain from Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting. It is also a time when donations are made to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. This fund strengthens the Girl Scout Movement by supporting national and international effort to serve girls and young women. For more information about the Fund ...

Thinking Day Activities

URBAN CAMP BADGE WILDLY POPULAR

The urban camp badge programs are a series of programs that coincide with the phases of construction of our new Urban Camp facility.  Designed to be educational, fun, and hands on the UC programming kicked off in late August.

In late August and early September a portable saw mill was brought to Council and the girls were invited to witness the process by which trees cut to make way for the new building are transformed into finished lumber products that will be used in our new facility.

On October 15th the girls went to the offices of Lorenz & Williams, the architects of our new building. A facility tour was taken and the girls even had the opportunity to design their own room by equating their measurements to draw ups on architectural drafting paper.

On an extremely cold Saturday, November 19th Lavy Concrete drew in excess of 60 hearty scouts to learn about pouring concrete. Amber Lange, from Lavy, was a wonderful leader; explaining what is in concrete as well as walking the girls through the process of pouring. The girls saw footers being poured and ultimately had the chance to make a permanent impression on our new facility by placing their hands in freshly poured concrete. Amber even gave the girls containers of concrete with their handprints to take home.
 
Then it was off to Rick Fender's office/workshop (our lead construction contractor R.L. Fender Construction) where the kiln dried wood from the saw mill step was planed to thickness, sanded and stained to finished wood status, ready for installation into our new building. Girls were able to take sample pieces home.

Additional Urban Camp programs will correspond to upcoming phases of construction and will include framing, electrical and plumbing.  Check out btgirlscouts.org for dates and webcam coverage of the construction, or contact Patti Davy at 937-279-6521 or 800-233-4845 ext. 521 or patti_davy@btgirlscouts.org to be notified as dates appear.

FOURTH YEAR oF CHALLENGE COURSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY oF DAYTON aND BUCKEYE TRAILS IS tHE BEST SO FAR!

For the past four years Dr. Corinne Daprano and Dr. Margie Pinnell, professors at the University of Dayton, have had an interesting item on their syllabus of work for students to perform during the semester….construct a Challenge Course element for Buckeye Trails.  This year's project, Greene's Crossing, was built and installed at Camp Greene on November 13th and 20th after a long process of analysis concerning what the girls want in an element, design development, formal proposals, fund raising and site preparation.

This year's group of students was the largest of the four year collaboration. Eleven teams of 6 students (3 sport management and 3 engineering) competed to have their design chosen, following a formal power point presentation and submission of written materials to a panel of Girl Scout members and staff in attendance. This year the students raised 100% of the money needed to accomplish the project (about $500) through t-shirt sales at UD football games and a 50/50 raffle.
   
"This is a great project and one that benefits the UD students in many ways. The project gives them real world experience not only working with students from another discipline but also with a community organization. They experience what it's like to work on a real project that has time and budget constraints. And, they experience what it's like to present their ideas to people who really care about what they are doing", said Dr. Daprano, professor of Health and Sports Science.

"The benefit to Buckeye Trails is obvious", said Camp Greene Ranger Todd Catchpole, "not only do I enjoy working with the faculty and students at UD but we have received a wonderful continuation to the low Challenge Course progression that is developing in the bottom field at Camp Greene.

The new element consists of two pyramids of platforms, spaced apart from one another and affixed to telephone pole sections, with an "X" pattern of cabling in between. Walk boards allow participants many options to discover in traversing from one set of platforms, across the cabling and on to the next set of platforms.

If you can't visualize it, you'll just have to come on out to Camp Greene and get on it. You won't be disappointed. For more information regarding the history of this collaboration or the elements at our camps that have been created by this partnership, please contact Todd Catchpole at 937-657-0246, 937-767-7972 or todd_catchpole@btgirlscouts.org.

ARE YOU READY FOR AMERICA'S FAVORITE INDULGENCE!

Friday, January 6, girls begin taking orders for the 2006 Girl Scout Cookie Sale. New this year is the Cafe - carmelized with brown sugar, this charmingly crisp cookie will delight even cookie connoisseurs. With a hint of cinnamon spice, it's perfect with your favorite warm beverage. Also available are some of your long time favorites - Samoas, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, Thin Mints, Lemon Coolers, Tagalongs, and All Abouts.

Cookies are again only $3.00 a box and proceeds go to support local Girl Scout programming

FIFTH ANNUAL TRIATHLON

On Saturday, June 10 at Camp Rolling Hills, Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council will be holding our Fifth Annual Triathlon.

This event is for all girls ages 7-17. Watch this newsletter for more information in the future.

ROVING CAMP AMBASSADORS TEAM COULD BE ATTENDING YOUR NEXT MEETING!

Winter is the time for meetings and planning next camp season's adventures and the Camp Ambassadors will be making the rounds. Camp Ambassadors are an energetic and enthusiastic group of Summer Camp veterans who would love to come to your next meeting and share some stories, some laughs and all of the wonder, fun and excitement that is the magic of Summer Camp. Any Girl Scout function including troop or service unit meetings, is a good time for these camping veterans to share their excitement. Don't miss out on the true stories of Summer Campersbook the Ambassadors today. Call or e-mail Patti Davy at 937-279-6521, 800-233-4845 ext. 521 or patti_davy@btgirlscouts.org.

WE WANT YOU TO BECOME A CHALLENGE COURSE FACILITATOR!

As we continue to grow the Challenge Course usership and amount of exciting new elements offered, the only thing we don't have is you!  This program is skyrocketing and we don't have enough facilitators to meet demand. See the new BTU (Buckeye Trails University) for registration information. Get trained and get paid to have a blast while offering our girls an experiential learning experience beyond compare. Check it out on btgirlscouts.org or call John Yancey at 937-279-6569 or 800-233-4845 ext. 569 or john_yancey@btgirlscouts.org.