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.

Earth Day is a great time to show appreciation for nature and to pursue environmental projects, but let’s face it, it comes only once a year and at Girl Scouts we think that every day should be Earth Day. So, here is your chance to get involved and do something great for your community, neighborhood and ultimately the globe!

Girl Scouts Forever Green is a project that empowers girls to make an impact on the environment and, as honorable Girl Scouts do, leave things better than they found them. You’re already making strides, recycling at school, planting gardens and educating others about the importance of caring for Mother Earth. But, if you want to embark on a Girl Scouts Forever Green Take Action project, we will give you a jump start with a guide to get you going. Your project can be simple and close to home and if you get stuck, just let us know.

Remember, you have the power to change the world. It takes only an idea, a little dedication and elbow-grease, the right connections and you will make a difference.

To get your Girl Scouts Forever Green Community Take Action guide, send an email to ehuerter@girlscoutsnebraska.org or click here.