The dynamic of each group is so different – so unique—in the smiles, laughter, inside jokes and friendships that are formed. There is always a sense of camaraderie, support and respect that weaves its way through the shared understanding of how each girl has grown and come to be the woman sitting before them.

This week, I had the pleasure and privilege to be invited to a meeting with Troop 84205. The participants in the troop decided to help make dog treats for the Nebraska Humane Society. As they made the treats they discussed how their parents worry, Facebook, clothing – we even talked about how they occupied their time when they were bored: dancing, basketball, talking, volleyball and generally keeping their mind and hands busy. This was beneficial for me, since they taught me how to make rubber band bracelets (though they used smaller rubber bands so their bands were much tighter than the ones shown on the site).

What I enjoyed most about this troop was their willingness to accept me into their private meeting time. They allowed me in to listen and share. I felt their respect. Their graciousness and politeness was something that I have realized over the years, is not something I can expect from all teens – but I know I can always expect it from teen Girl Scouts. My heart was warmed by this group of young women – fiercely loyal, strong-willed, fighters – wading through this confusing world – but doing it hand-in-hand.

I sometimes wonder if people outside of Girl Scouts – or even all the participants within Girl Scouts realize how far into our communities we reach; how many ways Girl Scouts extends its hands, wide open to every girl in every situation.

I know this because I work for Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska and Troop 84205 takes place every week, behind bars, at the Douglas County Youth Center, Units 1 and 2.

The girls at Gomez Heritage Elementary held a “Walk and Roll to School” event on April 25th. Their troop wanted to learn about health and fitness. Their leaders helped the girls plan activities around their topic of interest and they ended up having a fantastic semester. This included the planning of their all-school fitness activity – Walk and Roll to School – which encourages kids, schools, and families to be more active on their way to school.

The semester activities leading up to the big event included:

- Inviting fitness instructor Danae Wolcott to teach them interesting ways of keeping their heart rate up for an hour.

- Games included Buildings and Bulldozers, Full Body Rock-Paper-Scissors, and Giants-Wizards-Elves

- Earning the “Our Fair Play” badge

- Having a healthy eating day

- Promoting their Walk and Roll to School event by making health-conscience posters to hang up all over school

Finally the big day came and there was a huge turn out!

Some of the group starting the journey – there are 23 girls in the Gomez troop, but they recruited close to 75 others to join the fitness fun!

The map of their quest

These boots are made for walkin’ – I mean sandals…

Treasures found only when walking! :)

Street art

They were even able to get the boys to join in – If you look closely, you can see a few :P

Beauty found along the way

On the second leg of the trip – almost to school.

The rewards of hard labor! All the kids who participated were treated to breakfast when they arrived back to school (very awesome and generous of the Gomez troop!).

The leaders decided that since their girls worked so hard on their event, they deserved some fitness prizes – including jump ropes, water bottles and Velcro-catch – my favorite summer game!

Relaxing and enjoying breakfast!

As always – I want to hear from you! Walk and Roll to School made me wonder what other troops out there in Girl Scout Land are planning events all on their own!?! That’s a BIG accomplishment and I want to hear about it. If you aren’t planning an event, what are you doing for your fitness regimen? Get at me!

Yours in Girl Scouting,
Erin

Did you know that the First Lady is our National Honorary President for Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA). This tradition was not started this year though. This is a long standing tradition that dates back to 1917, when Juliette Gordon Low, foundress of Girl Scouts, asked then First Lady Edith B. Wilson to be the first National Honorary President. Edith said, “Yes,” and the rest is history. Since then, each First Lady of the United States has followed suit, leading up to the present day with Michelle Obama.

There are many contributions that each First Lady of the United States has made for our country. Time after time, they demonstrate the phenomenal social and philanthropic work that begins at the top with the First Lady and is then carried forward throughout the nation by its citizens.

Here are a few photos that I found of some past National Honorary Presidents:

Grace Coolidge and Juliette Low in 1923

Eleanor Roosevelt – the year was not given but it would have been around the time of WWII, so the early 40s. What a cool vintage poster! I would love that for my office ;0)

Bess Truman around 1945.

Mamie Eisenhower around 1953.

Nancy Reagan in 1987, commemorating the 75th years of Girl Scouts!(I can’t help but notice the hats in all of these photos. Go back through and check them out. It’s fun to see how they change! And then no hats in the 80s, I think we need to bring back the hats!)

Now, here’s Michelle Obama. How awesome!?! I couldn’t find a photo of her with Girl Scouts in the White House, but I did find this gardening event that took place this spring.

So back to the events of yesterday.  It was a day for my personal history book. I had the honor of meeting the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. It was one of the most inspiring experiences ever. She was everything that I expected, and more.

I was very nervous, as anyone would be, but all of my nerves were washed away as soon as she shook my hand. “Hi! How are you? So, nice to meet you, Erin”, (she only knew my name because the staffers had everyone’s name written on cards and there was a gentleman that asked me how to say my last name. He mispronounced my last name at first. “No, Huerter (phonetically her-der). “Mrs. First Lady, I give you Erin Huerter.”… I just melted. Her hands were soft. She had the biggest smile, so warm. I just wanted to ask her if she wanted to get a cup of coffee and share dreams.

I can only imagine that every First Lady is like this. The First Lady is like the mother of the country.

I did get a little tongue tied. After I said, “Hi, it’s an honor to meet you!” I went a little blank. So we turned toward the camera. While the photos were being taken – she squeezed my shoulder and said, “You look fantastic!” – I blushed and said “Thanks! So do you!”  After that I was able to look at her and tell her that I worked for Girl Scouts and that it was an honor to have her as our honorary president in our 100^th year. She told me that Girl Scouts “were everywhere” she went and they were all so “ENERGIZED” – what a great word to describe us! Energized.

Here are some photos from the event:

On my way to meet the FLOTUS

The First Lady speaking in Omaha, Nebraska at the event I attended

The First Lady shaking hands after the event in Omaha

I hope one day, to have the opportunity to meet the first female President of the United States (FFPOTUS) – a woman who will have not only have won the heart of a single person, but one who will have captured the hopes and dreams of a nation.  And that woman, I am most certain, will have been a Girl Scout!

Okay – so now I want everyone to send photos and stories of the strong Girl Scouting women in their lives. Who are they? Why do you look up to them? I want to write about YOU!

This last weekend I had the pleasure of taking the Skinner Magnet Juniors to Camp Crossed Arrows for their very first camping experience.

Like most first time experiences, they were hesitant and didn’t know if they would have a good time or not; probably because, like many of you, first time experiences tend to come with incorrect expectations. The Skinner troop was probably thinking that camping with Girl Scouts looked like this:

Which, it did at one time! But now it looks more like this:

My troop ^ :0)

We did most of the normal “camp stuff” that troops do when they go to camp –crafts, hikes, sang songs, stayed up too late and ate a lot of snacks! But we also discovered that the giant hill at Camp Crossed Arrows was a great hill for rolling down, which seemed to be a favorite among the troop. The simple things!

One of my favorite activities was our campfire ceremony.

We used candles instead of flashlights and it was really an awesome ceremony. Everyone got to take their candle with them to remind them of the ceremony and the trip!

By the end of the weekend, the consensus was “It’s not like I thought it was going to be. It was a lot better!”  Which made me happy!

Here are some of the highlights of our excursion:

What a view/perfect hill to roll down!

Florence G. Schlesinger Troop House – this is where we did our crafts and ate.

Making our craft – want to make one too?! Click here.

Sunset from the troop house and fire bell

The beginning of our night hike – at the Elkhorn River – so cool :)

S’MORES! This was our treat after the ceremony. It was a moonless night so it was really dark!

I had my hair in braided pigtails for the trip but the girls insisted that they re-braid them!

The weekend got me thinking about all of the amazing first time experiences that Girl Scouts provides for all of you and I want to hear about it! Click here to send me photos and stories of a “first-time” opportunity you were given through your Girl Scout experiences thus far. I am excited to hear how many different experiences we can come up with!

Yours in Girl Scouting,
Erin

Quote of the Day:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. - Maya Angelou.

Date: Sunday, April 21, 2012

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: York 4-H Building

Discover your way using a GPS. Discover how to read a map, find coordinates, use a Global Positioning Device and discover hidden treasures.

Click here to register online.

GSCU was developed in collaboration between University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO) College of Business Administration and Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska. The program, which is designed to provide girls (grades 9-12), with business skills, entrepreneurial building blocks and exposure to leadership opportunities, uses the Girl Scout Cookie Program as its foundation.

The program’s focus was on the five key leadership skills of the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The girls heard from a panel about decision making in the business world, learned about setting goals from a UNO counselor, practiced their people skills in mock job interviews, made skits to pitch potential products and much more. One UNO professor commented the she “wished her college students had as many great answers as the Girl Scouts!”

The girls also stayed at UNO for the three-day event and enjoyed touring the campus, sleeping in the dorms and experiencing college life.

However, the highlight of the program was the girls’ trek to the ABC bakery in Sioux City, South Dakota, where Girls Scout Cookies are made. When they set off on their road trip, one of the girls told staffers that she felt like she had received “the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket.”

At the factory, this lucky group (pictured getting ready for their tour) had the opportunity to watch the bakery business in action including watching giant tubs of fresh, sweet-smelling shortbread dough (2,000 pounds per batch!) coming off the line and going into the molds. The girls were delighted when the bakery workers handed them fresh boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to take home to share with their families.

GSCU was so popular that girls are already counting down the days to next summer when we will present the second installment of this amazing leadership experience. If you want to learn how Peanut Butter Patties and Lemonades make you smarter, attend GSCU in the summer of 2012. Contact Julie Madsen (jmadsen@girlscoutsnebraska.org) at Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska for more information.

These Girl Scout “horse whisperers” are not only becoming adept riding, they are building skills in the saddle that will serve them in every area of their lives. One particular challenge was to get a horse to go over an obstacle without talking to, touching or bribing the animal in any way. The girls worked together on a strategy and put the plan into place. In the end, the horse, a calm and cooperative Comanche, completed the task and the girls’ hard work paid off.

We are having great success with our Camp Crossed Arrows horse programs this summer. If you wanted a spot in horse camp, but couldn’t find an opening this year, there will be plenty of opportunities in 2012. Yehaw!

The Daisies were thrilled to receive a package last March from the U.S. troops as a thank you for the Valentine cards.  The package included a U.S. flag that was flown over Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, a certificate presenting the flag and photos of Afghani Girl Scouts!

Because the Daisy troop had no place to display the U.S. flag, they donated it to the council where it was raised yesterday to pay tribute to the women and men serving our country.  Thank you Daisies for the wonderful gift.  We are so proud to display this flag.  Thank you leaders and everyone at St. Margaret Mary’s who support Girl Scouting and the amazing things that these girls are doing to make the world a better place.

For more photos from this special flag ceremony click here.

Afghan Scouts play tug of war at a Scout meeting in Kabul.

Not everyone knows this, but before I worked for Girl Scouts, I hosted a kids program on FOX 42 in Omaha. Every year, we would take our custom parade float (complete with Power Ranger cut-outs, a skate-boarding Bart Simpson and real C02 fog) and charm the cheering crowds in towns all around Nebraska and Iowa. The most touching attribute about a small-town parade is how it builds kinship and community. Every citizen with a lawn chair and the means to get there, lines the street waiting for their daughter, niece, grandchild, husband, aunt, neighbor, cousin or best friend to pass by; EVERYONE comes out for a parade

It never mattered which town we were visiting, we always felt like we belonged on a small-scale to the big picture. The sound of bands, the smell of diesel, the sight of children scooping tossed candy off the sidewalk…nothing compares to a parade.

Do you have a photo of your Girl Scout parade float that you want to share? Send to marketing@girlscoutsnebraska.org. We will publish your photo in our next JG magazine.

We can’t wait to see where this takes us. As always thank you for your ongoing support.