World Ninja Competition --

Austin area teens head to Ninja World Championships

Austin, TX –  Three area teens and their coach head, Kye Ackel, with American Ninja Warrior season 9 participant and ANW course tester.

When the Ninjas aren’t taking on the American Ninja Warrior obstacles, they’re not exactly sitting around idle. Many of the fan-favorite competitors take part in local competitions, such as those organized by the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association.

The UNAA hosts qualifying and regional competitions all around the country, and now, the world. It all builds towards the looming UNAA World Championship Finals.

Over 2000 Ninjas have attended qualifiers held by 75 gyms (eight outside of the US) this season. The top Ninjas are now heading to the Championship Finals taking place July 19-21.

Cayden Bell, Buda - Cayden has been pursuing his passions since he was 3 years old. From playing music to acting to acrobatics, parkour, and dancing, he actively performs them all. After seeing American Ninja Warrior on tv as a baby, he is now taking on the challenge of the UNAA Finals.

Seth Markham, Georgetown - Seth was introduced to ninja obstacles and competitions when a fellow archery team member invited him to go to one of the local gyms.  As a natural athlete who has always climbed whatever he could find this was all completely natural to him. He has found the community of athletes to be the best part of the sport.  “Even other athletes who I compete against, will take the time to help me figure out the best way to complete an obstacle. “ Seth is a homeschool high school sophomore who competes with Baseball Factory and Austin Royals baseball and track team.

Marie Young, Pflugerville - “You don’t have to be a gymnast or even an awesome athlete.  What I love is that the community is here to help and support everyone.” Marie Y., the hot pink ninja, started rock climbing at Austin Rock Gym twelve months ago after body shaming and bullying because she was so tiny.  She has made it her goal to go from twig to strong. She made it through multiple rounds of auditions for the upcoming season of American Ninja Warrior Junior. And is happy to be going to World Championships instead.

To qualify for the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association (UNAA) World Championship Finals in New Mexico, a competitor must first compete at an area qualifier. There were 68 area qualifier competitions held throughout the world. They qualified by placing in the top 50% at their area qualifiers held at Austin Ninjas and The Jungle Movement Academy in March.  By placing in the top 50 percent in the 10-13 (Marie) and 14-17(Caden and Seth) year-old age group, they qualified to compete in a regional qualifier.

With only 26 locations throughout the world holding a regional qualifier competition, the three traveled to Houston for the regional qualifies. In that competition, held on May 19, they had to compete in three rounds of competition. To complete the various obstacles the competitor needed to utilize upper body strength, balance, and agility. Marie placed third for the 10-13 year old girl group, Cayden and Seth placed in the top five earning them a spot at the UNAA World Championship Finals in New Mexico.

More on Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association:  http://www.ultimateninja.net/

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/-hot-pink-ninja-competes-in-international-obstacle-course-finals/1307190555

More information:
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/bullied-body-shamed-austin-girl-scout-overcomes-obstacles-to-qualify-for-world-championships/269-571437409

GOLD AWARD - SWE NEXT CLUBS

Gold Award Luncheon

Marie Young, June 9, 2018

·        If you earned one of the higher level GS awards, First Class, Curved Bard or Gold Award – including those of us being honored today – please raise your hand

·        If you have been a girl member for 10 years or more – please raise your hand.

I am honored to stand here today with the 37 2018 Gold Award recipients of the Girl Scouts of Central Texas.  Think about it – there are 16,922 girl members in our council, 723 seniors and ambassadors – and today only 37 of us have earned the highest award in Girl Scouting – less than ½% all girls in our council – we are the role models for the younger scouts – we are only 5% of Seniors and Ambassadors. 

We are amongst roughly 3000 Girl Scouts who have earned the higher level award here in Central Texas since this council and legacy councils were formed. 

We are the inspiration for the next generation of girl scouts, the next generation of engineers, lawyers, politicians, moms and action takers.

As a fourth generation Girl Scout/Girl Guide and the third Gold Award recipient in my family – I was born with Green blood.  I was raised on Girl Scouts and STEM – 19 years ago – Girl Scouts of Lone Star Council started one of the first STEM programs in the country.  Giving girls the edge in school and in life. As a result, I was taught for as long as I can remember that girls should do science, technology, engineering and math programs and I can do whatever I wanted.

 I think my mom signed my sister and me up for every STEM program she could find in the councils we lived in.  Programming, robotics, engineering, applied STEM and more.

So when I started to explore options for my Gold Award – it was upsetting to me to hear that the statistics for women in STEM careers were actually less than 19 years ago.  I knew I had to figure out a way to get more girls involved in engineering.  I knew to make a real impact it had to be more than just in Austin or in Texas.  Working closely with the Society of Women Engineers headquarters staff -  we identified projects that the volunteers and staff thought would be useful to youth outreach efforts.

Working with adult volunteers and staff, I took action by creating videos, slide decks, promotional pieces, social media plans, scripts and other marketing materials for them regarding their SWENext club program.  I love the fact that any group, team, club or troop could be a SWENext club.

SWENext clubs offer girls ways to

·        connect with female engineering role models,

·        solve real world problems,

·        participate in regular competitions with clubs around the globe and

·        anything else the group wants to do. 

SWENexters are eligible for scholarships and clubs are eligible for grants.  I am proud of the fact that as a result of these resources they have grown from 70 clubs to over 140 clubs around the world.

My gold award is only one of the awesome opportunities that I have had in Girl Scouting – learn new things, entrepreneurship, public speaking, archery, traveling and meeting others make me who I am. 

In Girl Scouting we have all had opportunities, to make friends, and memories.  We are given experiences to help us become young women of Courage, Confidence and Character.    It is how we use these experiences that define us.     

I was part of a group of middle and high school girls  a year and  a half ago – at the time I called them my friends.  During the first 6 months I was teased about my size, not once, not twice but to the point that I changed who I was, who my friends were, how I dressed and even how I treated my family – I wanted to fit in.  Even after all the changes they still body shamed me and made sure I wouldn't be able to participate the in the group the way I wanted.   In their mind I wasn’t strong enough and couldn’t be strong enough.  

My mom picked me up from my group and for the eleventh time I was crying.  She encouraged me to talk to mentors.  That resulted in an adult explaining to me for 2 hours why the names were pet names and not meant as insults.  This did not make it better, it actually made it worse.  I knew I had to do something – I did not like the “pet names”.

I made it my goal to get stronger and to prove I was strong enough, that I could do the job that I wanted.

I had the courage to try new activities – I started to rock climb 5 days a week making new friends who shared with me their knowledge and supported me.  Peers and adults alike – it was amazing that even those who might have been considered “the competition” were supportive and helping.   A few months later I was strong enough to do the job I wanted – HOWEVER, the decision had been made – I never got the opportunity to even show that I could do it.

I found the confidence to leave this group, define friendship in a different way and to strive to be the type of friend that I needed , others needed those friends too.  Friends who would be supportive, encouraging and always teaching – this is my character. 

Through cookie and product sales – I have learned how important goal setting can be to being able to participate and excel in new opportunities.  I set a goal to go from Twig to Strong and from teased to a friend. 

I continue to set new goals and as an accidental athlete. I have qualified for the regional and national Ultimate Ninja Athletic Association tournaments.  I will be competing in the American Ninja Warrior Junior show this fall –

No one will ever describe me as a twig or weak again.

We learned in kindergarten to “make new friends and keep the old – one is silver and the other is gold. “Don’t be afraid to let go of those friends who aren’t supporting you, make new ones. 

Before you leave today – make a new friend, at your table or the table next to you.  You will never know when or where you might meet again. 

You are part of a sisterhood,

you are the elite Girl Scout,

you are your own warrior.

Amy's Ice Cream and Thin Mints

March 2018

This cookie season I had the opportunity to write and submit a business plan to work with Austins own Amy's Ice Cream.

While putting together my business plan describing how I saw the marketing working -- I also learned how to describe my business to others..

Introduction

Mission Statement

Young Girls Cookies mission is to provide ABC Baker cookies to individuals and businesses in the northern region of the Austin Metropolitan Area through personalized interactions and appreciation from  the business owner.

Vision Statement

Our vision is that everyone who interacts with Young Girls Cookies will understand “It is more than just a box of cookies.”

About Us

Young Girls Cookies  is in the baked goods distribution industry distributing ABC Baker cookies in partnership with Girl Scouts of Central Texas and Girl Scouts of the USA.  The business was launched in 2005 by my sister, Sarah Young, I joined her in 2009. Total sales hit 10,000 during 2017. Customers can choose from nine different flavors, including five vegan and 1 gluten free.  We are open mid January to late February, (Opportunity knocks). Our focus market is ages 20-45 and mainly female. Businesses can use my cookies in their products or as gifts.

😊I did get the contract to supply them with thin mints for a limited edition flavor they had in June. It was fun.

I also applied for the GSUSA cookie pro program. Although I didn't get it -- again I am working on creating more and more videos.

Pink Ninja in the Jungle

So in July I attended a Ninja Camp - similar to the show - American Ninja Warrior.  I really enjoyed the instructor and have had some private lessons with him.

He has a group of parkour athletes and ninjas that train and workout together.  I was asked to participate in their photo shoot today.

We had a lot of fun climbing rocks, trees and jumping.

I was definitely the youngest one there.  But I had a blast with The Jungle Movement Academy.

GSUSA - Convention

GSUSA Convention - 2017

What a week!  I joined my mom and grandma for a few days in Columbus Ohio and the G.I.R.L. convention.

I worked the National Park Service booth and the SWE booth.  it was great to meet so many new friends.

The SWE booth and social media take over for them is part of my Gold Award.

I also had the opportunity to participate in the entrepreneur pitch contest.

I cannot wait until 2020 -- it will be my senior year AND it will be in Orlando!

While we were in Columbus -- my moms home town -- we visited The Columbus Zoo, Graters Ice Cream, COSI and because I had to ask -- Michelle Warnky's gym - MLAB Ohio

Although I could write and show all kinds of photos -- this is what I feel like today!

Posted: https://gsctx.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/life-after-girl-scouts/

AND

https://alltogether.swe.org/2017/08/life-girl-scouts/

A 5-year-old girl, Amy, walked into her first Girl Scout meeting. She didn’t know what to think or what to expect. Was she going to make friends? Was she going to get into trouble? Would anyone like her? She walked through that door, shy. She walked out of the meeting thinking she had had lots of fun earning badges, she’d made friends, and she wanted to do more with the community.

Traditional Girl Scouts was lots of fun for Amy, but when she got in high school, she wanted to do even more for her community and in her interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).  And she wanted to make new friends outside of her Girl Scout troop.

After a bit of Girl Scout and STEM research, Amy found and joined the Lady Cans Girl Scouts robotics team her sophomore year of high school. Walking into the first meeting was a little like her first Girl Scout meeting. Would she like it and make friends? It was a whole different environment than Amy had ever experienced: ten other girls who all had the same interests and goals, a coach who would help her until she graduated, a community she could call her second home, and friends she could truly call her Girl Scout sisters.

According to their coach, Susie Rich, the Lady Cans is an all-girl, Girl Scouts robotics team located in the greater Austin area.  “They strive to build the courage, confidence and character of young girls and teach them to strive for success in everything they do,” Rich said.

According to the Lady Cans website, their mission is “to introduce young women to science, technology, engineering, and math principles while developing the skills to be successful in a variety of careers.”

Two years after joining, after building and programming robots, Amy was elected CEO, or captain, of the Lady Cans Robotics Team 2881, giving her the opportunity to learn leadership and public-speaking skills—and to lead an amazing team of 30 girls into being the award-winning team they are today.

After Lady Cans, Amy went to college with the goal of building robots for NASA. Last fall Amy got that opportunity with an internship at NASA Langley in Virginia building prototype robots for the International Space Station. “[In the Lady Cans,] every girl needs to do the building, the programming, and the leading,” Amy said. “I was more than prepared for my internship here at Langley NASA because of building with the Lady Cans.”

Amy, now 21, is in college studying aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. She enjoys her classes, and she has been accepted into the NASA Pathways Program based out of Houston. The Pathways Program allows young adults to be hired by a federal agency. The interns work one semester and go to school the next. Yes, it takes longer to finish their degrees, but they already have jobs when they finish.

“I knew Girl Scouts and the Lady Cans would give me the opportunities to learn and fail. Through these programs, I learned the courage, confidence, and character to be an amazing leader and employee.” Amy said.

100 years of Girl Scout cookies

Cookie Season is here!

This year the council wanted to showcase Girl Scout camps and everything you can learn at camp.  I was excited to participate in the first day of cookies media fun with my friends who had been part of the council Archery Club.  I miss the club - buy most of us still compete as part of DG Archery.

Anyway - this is the 100th anniversary of Girl Scout cookies - my mom sold cookies, my grandmother sold cookies.  Last year I earned the opportunity to sell cookies to Hopdoddys - this year I will try again.  I will probably go with a retro theme -- I think my grandmothers uniform.

What is your favorite cookie?  Do you eat them as cookies or do you use them to make fabulous desserts?