GSCCC Holiday Hours

All offices and shops will be closed Wednesday, November 27 beginning at noon, Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Chesapeake Shop will be open regular hours on Saturday, November 30.

All offices and shops will be closed beginning Tuesday, December 24 and will resume regular hours January 2, 2014. The Peninsula office and shop and the Chesapeake shop will be closed on Friday, December 13, however, the Chesapeake office will be open regular hours.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Juliette's Players Present Fairy Tale Shenanigans

A group of Girl Scouts participating in a theater arts series in Newport News will present their first production, Fairy Tale Shenanigans, on Wednesday, December 4 at 6 p.m. at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in Newport News. This is a free event. Come support your fellow Girl Scouts as they show off all of their hard work!

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center
2410 Wickham Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607

Little Women: The Broadway Musical

Girl Scouts are invited to attend the Virginia Musical Theatre’s production of "Little Women: The Broadway Musical" on Sunday, December 8 at 2 p.m. during Girl Scout Recognition Day at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach.

Brimming with all the life of Louisa May Alcott’s classic American novel, this timeless tale is given new life as an exhilarating musical filled with glorious song and dance. Five generations have read it, this one will sing it!

This is a great mother-daughter opportunity! Tickets for Girl Scouts and siblings are $12 each. Tickets for accompanying adults are $38. One complimentary ticket is available for troop leaders. For more information and to make reservations, call 757-340-5446.

Hour of Code

The week of December 9 to 15 is Computer Science Education Week. This observance is celebrated annually to call attention to the need to improve and strengthen computer science education.

The Hour of Code is just one of many different events planned for Computer Science Education Week. People across the country are invited to host and attend an event that provides an introduction to computer science to show that anyone can be a maker, creator and an innovator. There are plenty of resources to help you host an event, including self-guided tutorials that cover topics such as writing your first computer program, teaching JavaScript and making apps.

Computer science provides a background for nearly every career, and if women and members of other underrepresented groups joined the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce in proportion to their representation in the overall labor force, the STEM worker shortage would disappear.

2014 Volunteer Support Team Retreat - "We're All in this Together!"

JANUARY 17-18, 2014

Volunteer Support Team Retreat 2014

"We're All In This Together" will be the theme of the Volunteer Support Team and Adult Learning Facilitator Retreat that will be held January 17-18, 2014, in Camp Skimino's Enmeier Center.  This retreat is for Community and Service Unit level volunteer support team members (includes adult learning facilitators).

Friday night we will open the doors for check-in at 6 p.m. Saturday will be a full day of activities from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m..  Join us for team building and professional development workshops plus a lot of fun activities. View event details here, and register now here.

There is still time to reserve your hotel room if you will be staying at a hotel (you will also have the option to stay at Camp Skimino).
You can decide where you want to spend the night!  Hotel reservations can be made now; however, if you wish to stay at Camp Skimino, you can do that later.

The two hotels where we have a block of rooms under "GSCCC" are listed below.  Please note that rooms must be reserved by December 17^th at the Holiday Inn Express.  After that date, volunteers will not be able to receive the discounted rate.

  

Days Inn Williamsburg

902 Richmond Road

Williamsburg, VA 23185

757-229-5060

Rates:  $48.23 for up to 4 people in a room (includes tax)

Must reserve by January 10, 2014

Block of rooms is listed under “GSCCC”.

OR

Holiday Inn Express

720 Lightfoot Road

Williamsburg, VA 23188

757-220-0062

Rates:  $68.54 for up to 4 people in a room (tax and occupancy fee already included)

Must reserve by December 17, 2013

Block of rooms is listed under “GSCCC”.

Please contact Cheryl McGrenra, Adult Learning Manager, at 757-410-0595 or cherylm@gsccc.org with any questions.

Volunteer Open House - Sunday, November 24

We look forward to seeing you at the annual Volunteer Open House!   This event is a great opportunity to meet staff; tour A Place for Girls, The Lodge and the Outback; learn about camp and programs; make SWAPS; network with other volunteers; visit the retail shop and attend new troop leader classes!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

A Place for Girls

912 Cedar Road, Chesapeake

Open House: 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Classes: 3-6 p.m.

The following classes will be offered:

• Girl Scout Program Basics
• Parents as Partners
• Conflict Management
• Managing Troop Funds
• Girl Scout Patchwork (Songs, Ceremonies, Traditions)

Registration is required for all classes.  See the event flyer for more details and registration information.

Open House Shop Special:

10% off all purchases (excluding clearance merchandise and Girl Scout Gold & Silver awards)
November 24, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Outdoor I: Cabin Camping - Sunday, November 24, 2013

Outdoor I:  Cabin Camping course just added! 

When:  Sunday, November 24, 2013

Time:  1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where:  Great Neck Park

               2513 Shorehaven Drive (Shelter closest to playground on right just past the Great Neck                                    Recreation Center)
              Virginia Beach, VA, 23454

Please register through eBiz here.

Remember Seniors - December Community Service Opportunity

Be A Santa to a Senior by filling a small gift bag or santa stocking. These bags need to be generic and may contain mild bath soap, unscented body lotion, unscented deodorant, slipper socks with grips on the bottom, hair brushes, combs, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, postage stamps, pens, hats, gloves, large print word searches or large print crossword puzzle books, etc.

Drop off locations are:

Home Instead Offices
751 Independence Blvd, Suite 204, VA Beach and
3614 Pruden Blvd, Suffolk.
Deadline for Virginia Beach is December 8, 2013. The Suffolk deadline is December 13, 2013.
Drop off Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Note:  Please mark the gift bag or santa sock female or male.
For questions about this take action project contact donnaf@gsccc.org.

The Albert G. Horton Jr., Memorial Veterans Cemetery Wreath Society - Volunteers are needed

December 14, 2013
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetary
Suffolk, VA
Since 2008, The Horton Wreath Society has provided live wreaths for every grave site at the Albert G. Horton, Jr., Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk Virginia.

These Wreaths are made possible by generous donations from individuals and organizations. We receive donations from all over the United States.

Last year, December 2012, 4,250 Live Wreaths were placed at the cemetery by over 3,000 volunteers, with more being added every year.

Our goal each year is to provide a live wreath for each gravesite/columbarium row at our annual wreath laying event in December.

Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery

Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

9 a.m. Arrival of Wreaths with Escort

9:05 a.m. Family Members Place Wreaths for Loved One(s)

9:45 a.m. Brief for Wreath Laying

10 a.m. Placement of Ceremonial Row

10:15 a.m. General Placement of the Wreaths

11:30 a.m. Seating at Committal Shelter

12 p.m. Formal Ceremony Begins


Refreshments available 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

For more information visit hortonwreathsociety.webs.com.

2014 Model NATO Challenge Scholarship Program

Norfolk NATO Festival (formerly Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival) started the Model NATO Challenge in 2007 to provide a unique opportunity for high school juniors and seniors interested in the advancement of international studies. Students who are selected to participate in the Challenge serve as Student Diplomats in a role-playing exercise which simulates real world issues faced by today’s NATO Alliance on March 20, 2014 at Virginia Wesleyan College. Scholarship applicants are evaluated on the essay that they submit and on their ability to represent their assigned nation during the Model NATO Challenge.

Applications must include a 600-750 word essay that clearly demonstrates the student's level of knowledge about NATO, its member nations, its purpose and/or its stand on issues of current events as well as a letter of recommendation from school guidance counselor or teacher.

The application and essay are due by December 16, 2013.
Email sarah.jordan@natofestival.org for more information or to apply.

Service Unit Delegate Training

It is that time of the year again when service units are electing their Service Unit Delegate Chair, delegates and alternates.  Once the election process has been completed, the Delegate Chair will need turn in the paperwork (available here) no later than Friday, November 15 to the council office.  Paperwork includes the following:

• Completed Delegate and Alternate Delegate Consent Forms
• Completed Special Service Unit Meeting Report Form

All delegate chairs, delegates and alternates will need to register for the face-to-face training on Tuesday, November 19th.  If you are unable to attend the face-to-face training, please make sure you register for one of the upcoming webinars on Wednesday, November 20th, or Tuesday, December 3rd.  For more information about registering for one of the upcoming trainings, go here.

Please plan on attending the Annual Council Meeting on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Norfolk State University.  Registration details will be forthcoming.

Cookie Rookie Training

Are you a Cookie Rookie?  Calling all first time troop cookie coordinators.  Join us for basic training in the Cookie Program, strategies, and tips for eBudde. 


NOTE:  This training does NOT replace the training provided by each service unit for the cookie program.  You must also attend your service unit's training.

Go here to register for the Cookie Rookie training.

Metropolitan Manhattan
January 16 – 18, 2015

Spend two days and three nights touring New York City! Visit the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, 911 Memorial and take in a Broadway Show.

Prices start at $815 for girls and $1035 for adults. Prices decrease as more travelers sign up for this amazing adventure. Payment plans are available.

Deadline: March 20, 2014
This trip is open to all Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors and Adults.
For additional information contact Eileen Livick at queenleen221@gmail.com.

London to Lucerne July 2016

The L2L tour "London to Lucerne" England, France & Switzerland an 11 day adventure!
A travel opportunity sponsored by the Coastal Connection Community
July 2016
Prices start at $4200 and increase as the trip gets closer. Payment plans are available.

Three European cities… two WAGGGS centers… one amazing tour! Girl Scouts will experience the best of both worlds as incredible adventures take them through the bustling streets of London and Paris, and high up into the Swiss Alps. At Pax Lodge and Our Chalet, girls have special pinning ceremonies - making their visits forever memorable and meaningful.
Visit Windsor Castle, the London Eye, the Louvre, Notre Dame and take a Thames River cruise on this European adventure.

Deadline: March 30, 2015

This trip is open to all Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors 12 years old and older at the time of travel.Adult spaces are limited.

For additional information contact Eileen Livick at queenleen221@gmail.com.

Girl Scout Days at the Wells Theatre

Join us for our 4th annual Girl Scout Day at the Wells Theatre for A Christmas Carol!

Saturday December 7th

Check-in: 1pm

Workshops: 1:30-3:30

Show: 4-5:30

 

Sunday, December 8th

Check-in 1pm

Show: 2pm

Workshops: 3:30-5:30pm

 

$28 per Girl Scout - Troop Leaders receive free tickets

 

Online registration is now open!

Click here to register!

Experience behind-the-scenes tours, theater workshops, award activities, meet the actors, see a Christmas Carol, enjoy a tea and cider reception and more!

 

For more info: 
(757) 627-6988 x355 jburchfield@vastage.com

November Shop News

Throughout November, spend $50 and receive a Year of the Girl tote for free.

Veterans Day Special runs from November 11-15 - show your military ID and receive a 15% discount on your entire purchase!

New leaders who attend the Volunteer Open House on November 24 can shop and receive a 10% discount on their entire purchase!

Stuff a Turkey (provided shop bags only) from November 25-30 and receive a 10% discount on all merchandise you can stuff in a bag!  (Shops closed November 28 and 29)

*Applies to all specials: While supplies last and in-stock items only; in-store purchases, cannot be combined with any other promotions/discounts, and excludes Journey Books, Sets and Girl Guides. Not affiliated with any GSUSA offers or promotions.

Holiday Mail Deadlines Announced

If your troop or group is planning a community service project that involves sending care packages to our overeseas military, be aware of this imporatant postal information.

The Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) recommends that parcel post packages for servicemembers overseas be mailed by November 12, 2013 for delivery by the holidays. Officials at MPSA, an extension of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), have published a chart that shows deadlines for various mailing options, broken down by the APO/FPO/DPO numbers of various destinations. USPS is offering a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box at $14.85. The price includes a $2 per box discount for military mail being sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations worldwide. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available free at local post offices, or can be ordered from USPS online. Postage, labels and customs forms also are available online.