Archery and Travel

What does Archery and Travel have to do with Girl Scouts?

I fell in love with archery thru our councils archery club.  The opportunities have changed since I started.  And my mom and GS leader are both instructors.

Since I am going to Cyprus, Greece with Girl Scouts this summer -- I knew I needed to do a much as I could to help pay for the trip.  So I am helping them teach a series of classes.

ARCHERY with Troop 1587

Explore Archery Workshop

This 3 hour workshop follows the USA Archery Explore Archery guidelines and activities.  The youth will earn the archery badge for their age level.  Enjoy the workshop, all equipment is provided.  Students will learn their dominant eye, proper form for shooting, parts of the bow, how to score and how to be safe – yet have fun.  Bring your friends and family for a day of archery fun – grades 2-12. Questions? – kate@texasdirector.org

To register for one of the sessions  - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girl-scout-archery-badge-workshop-tickets-28630535703

Fee $30.00 - Early Bird pricing ends 12/1 for December class      $35.00 registration until December 12^th

B, J, C, S, A ****Siblings and friends are welcome

Archery Country – 8121 Research Blvd, Austin 78758

            December 19 – 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.                       December 19 – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Location:  Grace Presbyterian – 1705 Gattis School Rd., Round Rock 78664

Early bird registration until March 1st

                March 11 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.                   March 12 – 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.                                 March 12 – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

What to wear? – Closed toed shoes, hair needs to be pulled back, no loose clothing (for example strings from jackets)

WHO ARE WE?

We are Girl Scout moms and daughters who are top in the state ranked barebow target archers; Carrie Rogers Casey and Kate Woodward Young have enjoyed archery since they were kids shooting arrows at the family farm in the summer.  These GS leaders have trained over 40 adult volunteers in GSCTX and hundreds of girls.  When their daughters and troop wanted more – these moms made it happen.  Troop 1587 has 9 USA Archery trained coaches.  Kate, Carrie, Jennifer and Justin are trained level 2 instructors with USA Archery – they have been excited to share their new passion for the sport with young students around central Texas. Over 1000 kids  have benefited from classes with these coaches.  Currently, they coach a homeschool archery team in the Austin area.

 

Samsung STEM Challenge

This year I have joined the Girl Scouts Toastmasters club, press corps and robotics team.  As a member of the robotics team, all of us were encouraged to participate in the GSCTX Samsung STEM challenge.

The Lady Cans, GSCTX Austin Robotics Team sponsored 5 teams for this years Samsung STEM challenge, 3 Cadette and 2 older girl teams.  Lady Cans, CEO, Stephanie Waugh, Senior from Westwood High spoke at the event about the importance of STEM in Girl Scouts and how her joining the Lady Cans changed everything and that this contest helped her narrow her Engineering focus to Civil Engineering.  Lady Cans teams took 1^st and 2^nd in the Senior/Ambassador division and 1^st in the Cadette division.  Girls who are part of the Lady Cans come from troops around the Austin area. 

 

If you are looking for ways to get your daughter involved in STEM, make sure to explore the GSCTX calendar for events.  Middle and High School girls are welcome to contact the robotics volunteers about team opportunities.  There are seven First Lego League Robotics teams sponsored by council for elementary school and middle school students as well.

 

Giving Sylvia A. - Tour of the Edge

Today, I got to give the Interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA a tour of our councils Tech Lab.  The lab and program have been called "The Edge" since it started in 1999.

Welcome to “The Edge” lab.  In 1999, Girl Scouts Lone Star Council met with a group of older girls and asked them WHY they wanted to learn about computers.  One of the girls responded that it would give them “the edge” in school and in life.  From that day forward “The Edge” was the name of our technology programs and computer lab.

I am excited to have been a part of the FLL team here for 2 years, a Samsung STEM participant and IBM Watson camp participant. 

When our first computer lab opened in 2000 we were lucky to have Dell, Microsoft and National Instruments as early partners.  Quickly we had Intel.  We offered programs to all the girls in our council including the Girls Beyond Bars troops and the outreach program troops. The growth of the program was supported by IBM when we launched the Edge Express – our first “on demand” programs where we would go out to troops meeting locations, set up a small network and teach girls and leaders how to build websites and make digital scrapbooks.

By 2001 we had introduced over 600 girls to lego robotics thru the Expanding Your Horizons events, dad and me robotics day and more.  This meant continued support from the Kodoskys and National Instruments as we expanded our robotics programs to First Lego League teams and as FIRST grew so did our opportunities for girls. 

Currently, “The Edge-Austin”-one of our 5 lab locations, is also home to the world qualifying Lady Cans, FRC team, 1 of 2 in our council and we went from 2 First Lego League teams to sponsoring 7 this year.   

Our volunteers and staff have offered various national pilot programs and first experiences keeping Girl Scouts on “The Edge”.  Including Intels Fair Play, Techbridge, Dells Video Game Designer, Google Made with Code and local programs including Samsung STEM challenge, Coder Girls, Daisy STEM patch series and our Outdoor STEM journey.

The homeschool STEM club is starting its 4^th year.  We have explored green building, engineering, aviation, scratch, CAD and 3D printing.  This semester was inspired by you – we are exploring Rocket Science and rocketry.

Graduates of “The Edge” have gone on to be graphic designers,  robot builders for NASA and NASA engineers.

Juliette Circle - Sharing my story

When Marianne asked if I was available tonight to talk – I asked what does she want me to talk about.  The response was a great Girl Scout experience.  I anticipate my best memory being next summer when Girl Scouts of Central Texas girls spend 2 weeks with Girl Guides in Cyprus. Seriously I thought.  I could talk to you for hours.  And then, I thought I could tell you about my Silver Award project – again this could be for hours.  And thanks to the Girl Scout toastmasters club – I really could talk to you for hours.

I am going to try and make it not an hour – but instead tell you why being a Girl Scout in Middle and High School is the best time to be a Girl Scout.  And I should know – I am a 4^th generation Girl Scout/Girl Guide.  You could say I bleed green. 

My older sister and mom have told me since I was a Daisy that the real fun doesn’t start until middle school.  I wasn’t sure I believed them because I was having so much fun as a Daisy, Brownie and Junior.  I got to do special events, parades, commercials, camping, service projects, plant trees, build robots, earn badges, learn to cook and go to camp.  What else could be better than a week a GS camp?

 Traveling! I head about older girl travel opportunities called destinatons.  I already traveled with my family a lot and didn’t really think I needed to participate.  But, my sister went to Ireland, Iceland, Virgin Islands, and Ghana.  My mom went on 6, including Iceland.  Other troop members when to scottland, italy, costa rica.  With such a large troop we always got to hear the stories of what the older girls did. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough. 

 

Last year, the 14 Cadettes in my troop decided that we would start with a trip to Houston and a NASA overnight.  We did it.  As soon as we got in the van to head back to Austin – we started talking about where did we want to go next and when. Our troop planned, earned money thru cookie sales and went to Savannah Georgia this summer.  Now, I had already been there once – but, it was so much fun going with my GS sisters.  For three of them it was their first time away from parents, 2 their first time on a plane and 6 of us their first time to Savannah.  I really think the best part for us was knowing that we earned the money ourselves to get there.  For some of us selling 1000 boxes wasn’t a challenge – however, 5 of our troop worked with their sisters and for the first time sold 1000 boxes 3x the amount previous years. 

 

And next summer, I am working towards the trip to Cyprus, Greece. (So if you need some cookies I can hook you up).  Older girls get to decide where, when and how they do what they do.  As our leaders allow us more decision making opportunities, we start to take ownership of the process.  We are developing into Girls with Courage, Confidence and Character.

I still did Girl Scout  “camp” this summer – it was so cool.  An entire week at IBM with Watson!  Every day we were challenged and we accepted it.  Girl Scouts and STEM go hand and hand as far as I am concerned.  I am part of the homeschool STEM club – this semester we are heading to Outer Space (Rockets, Mars and more), I spent the last 2 years on the council lego robotics team – Galaxy Girls, participated in coder girl programs, Microsoft classes and Samsungs STEM challenge the first year.

 I am sure that all of you are familiar with Girl Scout cookies. I LOVE to sell Girl Scout cookies – it is my business and I take it very seriously for 8-9 weeks.  I work hard so that I can play hard.  When I think back to the PSA I did as a brownie with Lolis “What can a cookie do” – I realize that it does so much more than I ever thought.  It allows our troop to cook dinner for first responders and bake treats on 9/11.   We can participate in International Peace Day, Veterans Day flag ceremonies, community parades, go camping, go to the zoo, visit national parks, earn badges – lots of badges.  And, it gives all 62 of us an opportunity to make new friends.

Because One is Silver and the Others Gold

Silver Award - Junior Ranger Program - Waco Mammoth

National parks

I have always loved the National parks.  When I was 10 years old,  I completed my first Junior Ranger program (that I remember) at Capulin Volcano in New Mexico.  It was on my first cross country road trip.   taking my sister to Wisconsin through Wyoming and South Dakota.  Because those states and national parks are “on the way”.  Two years later I am still doing Junior Ranger programs for my history and science classes as a homeschooler.

What is a Junior Ranger? According to the NPS or National park service a- Junior Ranger program is an activity based program conducted in almost all parks, and some Junior Ranger programs are national. Many national parks offer young visitors the opportunity to join the National Park Service "family" as Junior Rangers. Interested youth complete a series of activities during a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger patch or badge and Junior Ranger certificate. Junior Ranger programs are my favorite thing to do on any vacation, I even went to four National parks on my trip to Disney World.

Junior Ranger programs can be done even when I am not at the site, because I can send them to the park and they will send me back my badge and certificate.

This year for my Girl Scout Silver Award, I created the Junior Ranger program for the newest Texas National Monument, WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENT.  The Silver Award is the highest award a Cadette Girl Scout can earn.  You earn it by creating a Take Action project with at least 50 hours of time.  By creating the Junior Ranger Program with Waco Mammoth National Monument, I hope to inspire kids to go to more national parks, to earn their Junior Ranger badges, To get outside and to learn more about nature and the National Park service.

There are many ways to protect the parks, and the biggest one is to know the history.  national parks started March 1, 1872 when Yellowstone National Park was founded by congress. New ones were founded but not all of them were treated the same way, because there were no rules at the time, that is when the National Park service was created, On August 25, 1916 (100 years ago), President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal Department of the Interior responsible for protecting the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the department and those yet to be established.   Every site has their own history and it is great to learn how they became a part of the NPS system.  We have 16 in the state of Texas.

Waco Mammoth National Monument has tried to become a national park 2 times, once in 2010 once in 2012, but was never completed, to become a national park, seashore, forest or river, you have to go through a long progress of going through congress and the senate house and lots more, to become a national monument the acting president has to sign a form and agree, so on July 10, 2015, President Barack Obama made Waco Mammoth a national monument.

On a spring day in 1978, Paul Barron and Eddie Bufkin embarked on a search for arrowheads and fossils near the Bosque River. To their surprise, the men stumbled upon a large bone. Recognizing the unusual nature of the find, they removed the bone and took it to Baylor University's Strecker Museum for examination. Museum staff said the find was a femur bone from a Columbian mammoth . This now extinct species lived during the southern Ice Age. Between 1978 and 1990, the fossil remains of 16 Columbian mammoths were discovered. Their efforts uncovered a nursery herd that appears to have died together in a single flash flood. Between 1990 and 1997, six additional mammoths were found, including a large male. Crews also uncovered the remains of a Western camel, and the tooth of a juvenile saber-toothed cat, which was found next to an unidentified animal. They kept it private until they decided to make it a public park in 2009.

while working on my junior ranger program  I knew I wanted to promote the Scout Ranger Patch - so that more Girl and Boy Scout troops and families would get out and visit the parks.  These programs have been around - but, not everyone knows about them - even a lot of the parks didn’t know about them.  To earn the patch, complete 10 hours of education activities and/or volunteer service at one or several  national park, monument, historic site, sea shore or river.

I now want to be a Park Ranger when I grow up. Every Wednesday afternoon I visit Waco Mammoth and see what a ranger does when they are at work, they lead tours, sort stuff for the gift shop, teach school groups, and lots more.

Thank you for taking the time to listen, I am Marie Young a senior junior ranger with 48 junior rangers.   

Archery - Before there was a badge

In October, 2014 - 75 girls gathered for an interest meeting about archery.   150 girls participated in their first archery workshop.  In the last 2 months, 5 girls who started with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas archery program have gone to 2 different state championship tournaments.  Less than 15 months after 5 of the 50 Archery Club members joined, they have gone on to qualify and participate in state championship tournaments. 

 

Sydney Zapalac of Texas Star service unit has been with the club since January 2015.  During the Texas Field Archery Association state tournament in February she placed 3^rd in her age division and bow class.  Her interest has grown and she now practices weekly with regular competitions. 

 

 

 

Carolyn Nguyen, Emma Quartaro, Sarah and Marie Young competed in the Texas Archery in the Schools Program tournament.  All 4 girls started with archery thru the Girl Scouts of Central Texas archery club.  They enjoyed it so much they got their parents and Girl Scout coach to lead a school NASP curriculum based team.  The 4 girls competed April 1^st in Belton as part of the Texas National Archery in the Schools Tournament – the four girls qualified based on their individual scores during the qualifying tournament season. 

 

According to club volunteer, Jennifer Yanta, over 20 of the girls have competed in various archery tournaments during the year.  “We hope that more girls will join the club in the fall.”    Elizabeth Nguyen, Junior GS, feels that she is more confident as a result of being involved in the Girl Scout archery club and the opportunities as a result of that program.

 

Over 350 girls have gone thru the archery workshops and over 30 adults have been trained as Level 1 instructors with USAA archery.  This program would not be possible without all the adult volunteers.

38 Girls Scouts walk the Red Carpet

38 Girl Scouts walk the red carpet

By Marie Young, Girl Scouts of Central Texas Media Girl

Kung-Fu-Panda 3 came to Pflugerville early - January 16 the same day in Los Angeles where the cast of Kung-Fu-Panda 3 walked their red carpet at their premiere of the movie. On that day around the US and Canada movie theaters made there own red carpet for special guests to walk. Thanks to Cinemark Tinseltown in Pflugerville for hosting this event and asked Girl Scout troops around the area to be a part of the event complete with popcorn and drinks.

Troop 1587 participated as special guests walking the Red Carpet along with Salvation Army families.  For most of the girls it was their first time walking the red carpet, Ava said “This is my 3rd time on the red carpet, it is so much fun!”.  “Sometimes a little break and some fun in the day is exactly what a family needs.  As a leader we often know what rough times families are going through and can't always do something about it.  Today we could give one of our families a special afternoon after a rough week,” Kate Young, co-leader.  

This movie was great for Girl Scouts all over the US. Michala said, “I think this is a good movie for Girl Scouts because it shows lots of courage and activity in it”.  Those who came to the premiere enjoyed it, especially 4th grader, Ella who said “I would rate this a million stars, it’s awesome and funny!”

I hope everyone gets a chance to watch this movie, Kennedy said “it’s better than 1 and 2 combined!”.  Girls from Kindergarten through middle school said they want to see it again and tell their friends all about it.    

Operation Cookie

Every year - Operation Cookie has been a big part of my cookie season.  My dad said one of the best things about being deployed was getting cookies from home.  It did remind him how much he missed his girls at home.  But, it was like having us with him.

These boxes will be donated to VAs across Central Texas and will be transported for us by a group called Soldier’s Angels http://soldiersangels.org/VA-Support-Program.html

I have aunts and uncles who have been treated at the VAs around Central Texas - I want to make sure that they all understand how much we appreciate their service.
This year I am trying to get 300 boxes for Operation Cookie.  -- you can donate boxes so you don't have to eat them.

Thin Mint Cupcakes - National Chocolate Cake day

National Chocolate Cake Day -- eat with a cookie

 

Thin Mint Cupcakes with Mint Buttercream

Yield: 12 cupcakes
Total Time: 40 min

Rich chocolate cupcake recipe with crushed Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies and topped with a homemade mint buttercream frosting.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey Special Dark – but use what you prefer)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 large egg
1/2 cup low-fat plain (or vanilla) yogurt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 sleeve Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies (16 cookies), crushed slightly
for the mint buttercream:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. mint extract
2 Tbs. milk, more if needed

Directions:

Heat to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cavity cupcake pan with paper liners. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and baking soda. Set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter, cocoa powder, salt and water together. Stir and cook until melted. Remove from heat.
Add about half of the butter/cocoa mixture to the dry ingredients. Add the remaining butter/cocoa mixture and stir until fully combined. Whisk in the egg and stir well. Add the yogurt and the vanilla and stir well. Stir in the crushed cookies.
Portion the batter evenly into the lined cupcake pan, filling each liner about 3/4-full.

Bake in the preheated oven for 17-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely

while the cupcakes cool, prepare the buttercream:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the butter with a paddle attachment until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and slowly incorporate until smooth and fluffy. Add the mint extract and salt and whip just to combine. Stream in the milk.
• For a thicker frosting, skip the milk, or just add more powdered sugar. If the frosting needs thinned out, add a little more milk.
• Frost the cupcakes any way you like.

 

Cake recipe adapted from Bi Rite Market's Eat Good Food cookbook via Two Peas and Their Pod.

#hopdoddylove - - Entrepreneurs in Action

Hopdoddy Burger Bar gave 12 girl scouts (10 individuals or teams) to pitch the idea of selling them cases of cookies for milkshakes.  Those who were invited had been thru the Girl Scouts of Central Texas cookie CEO training and most of us had been 1000+ box sellers in the past.

It was exciting.

Willow and Scout Goldsmith came in second place and will supply Hopdoddy Burger Bar tagalongs for the three Austin area locations.  It was great that they won.  They are part of the councils Harp Ensemble, involved with Girl Scout homeschool STEM club and we were on the same team for the Samsung challenge.  We have been in 4H clubs together including, competing in food challenge contests on the same team. 

Peace, Love and Hopdoddy

Maries first Cookie Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbDq-lWUHac

Shark Tank - #hopdoddylove

Have you ever wondered what someone said that made them win something?  Below is my pitch for Hopdoddy - entrepreneur pitch.   I am honored to be the First Place winner.

Just so you know - I spent a lot of time researching, writing and practicing my pitch.  I wanted this! 

Having taking acting, public speaking and debate classes - along with completing several business related Girl Scout badges - I knew I needed to do more than tell them what they wanted -- I needed to tell them what they didn't know they wanted to know.

My family has always loved hopdoddy burger bar since the beginning, I was 5 when I first visited the south congress location. Before the lines.  We still visit Anderson Lane.  Round Rock will be a regular dinner and lunch stop for us.

I love your food, the buns are awesome and the fries! I agree with Rachael Ray, you make the best burgers in America. The best burgers in America need the best cookie Milkshakes.

According to business insider Thin Mints are one of the best cookies in America.   It is a Crisp chocolate wafer cookie covered in chocolate with natural peppermint oil, these cookies are Vegan, which would make a great Alternative Milkshake.   

I love to cook from scratch in my kitchen and compete in cooking competitions.  Every cookie season I create or modify new recipes for my customers, using our cookies.  How about a Vegan Thin Mint milkshake - Soy milk, coconut vegan ice cream, additional peppermint flavoring paired with the LaBandita. YUM.  

These cookies are my favorite, I like them frozen and on ice cream.

2010 was a great year - Hopdoddy started and I partnered with my sister for the beginning of my cookie business.  Combined over 8000 boxes of which 2025 boxes were Thin Mints - 30 percent of my sales.  My thin mint customers buy them by the case - they freeze them, eat them all year long. Usually they are women over the age of 20.

The Classic Burger needs a classic flavor.  Such as peanut butter and chocolate - a Tagalong shake.  Including a child size - to go with the Round Rock location launch of the kids menu - because families, love the Tag-A-Longs, kids love peanut butter and chocolate. 

I have two goals with this year cookie profits - using some of it to help with my Silver Award - the highest award a cadette girl scout can earn.   Working with the Waco Mammoth National Monument - writing their Junior Ranger Program.    My second goal with the cookie profit, is a trip to Savannah Georgia with my troop to learn more about our amazing founder, Juliette Gordon Low.   As she said - Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.

As a troop - we plan to create care packages for families of deployed National Guard soldiers.  The families of our soldiers need our support as well -- I know!

Being a Girl Scout helps me build Courage, Confidence and Character through different programs like Archery, robotics, coder girls, going to camp and my favorite the girl scout cookie business where I learn:

●      Goal Setting - by setting goals and creating a plan for cookie sales AND cookie box donations specifically Operation Cookie.  My troop has been a huge Operation Cookie supporter since my dad was deployed to Iraq.

●      Decision Making - I have to decide if the time and location for a cookie booth is a good one.  As well as How to work a booth location, how to work with other scouts and reaching out to businesses

•  Money Management  - Since I was in first grade, I kept inventory - so I knew if my brothers ate my cookies and kept track of the money at booths

●      People Skills by working with others, talking to strangers about their cookie requests, cookie needs

●      Business Ethics making sure donations go where they need too, setting a good example for younger scouts, thanking businesses that allow us to sell at their location.

This seasonal milkshake promotion is great for Girl Scouts and better for Hopdoddy to create lifelong customers.  Thank you judges for taking time out of your busy schedule. I am Marie Young your cookie supplier. ((Stand there don’t say anything.))    

Fox 7 - Austin -- Dave Froehlich on FOX 7wins !

 

This morning I got to work with the folks at Hopdoddy and Fox 7 - Good Day Austin to share about Girl Scout Cookies.  Dave had to sell me a box of cookies.  This Saturday 10 Girl Scout cookie businesses will be "pitching" to Hopdoddy on why they should be the cookie supplier for them.  We have been working hard on our pitches and have all worked hard selling in the past.  My cookie business has sold over 8000 boxes since I joined my sister in 2010.

Got Cookies?

It is that time again, COOKIE TIME!, with the same cookies as last year. And here they are

• Thin mints (Now Vegan!)(4$)- Crisp wafers covered in chocolaty coating. Made with natural oil of peppermint.
• Samoas(4$)- Crisp cookies, coated in caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut, and striped with a dark chocolaty coating.
• Tagalongs(4$)- Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating.
• Do-si-dos(4$)- Crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookie with creamy peanut butter filling.
• Trefoils(4$)- Delicate-tasting shortbread that is delightfully simple and satisfying.
• Rah-Rah Raisins(4$)- Hearty oatmeal cookies with plump raisins and Greek yogurt-flavored chunks.
• Savannah Smiles(4$)- Crisp, zesty lemon wedge cookies dusted with powdered sugar.
• Toffee-Tastic (Gluten free 5$)- Rich, buttery cookies packed with golden toffee bits bursting with flavor.     

I have two goals with this year cookie profits - using some of it to help with my Silver Award - the highest award a Cadette girl scout can earn.   Working with the Waco Mammoth National Monument - writing their Junior Ranger Program.  The city of Waco is paying for most of it -- I want to create the cutouts for photos.  My second goal with the cookie profit, is a trip to Savannah Georgia with my troop to learn more about our amazing founder, Juliette Gordon Low.   As she said - Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.

Please order at younggirlscookies@gmail.com, thanks