Earning community service hours

By Stephanie G.

Community service hours are important to all Grades 6-12 because you will be working on your Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold awards or your Community Service Pin. You may ask the question, “How am I going to do that?” Well, it’s really simple. Just pick out normal things you enjoy like babysitting, walking dogs, helping out at animal shelters, community gardening or taking care of someone's pet (without being paid).

The steps are easy:

1.  Decide what type of work you want to do

2.  Contact the organization or individual to set up hours

3.  Go do it

4.  Make sure you record all of your hours

5.  Have an authorized person sign a statement as documentation for your troop leader

My story:

I wanted to work with homeless or abused animals because I felt that I needed to help them. After my research, I decided to volunteer with an organization that rescues animals and holds an adoption day. Not only did I volunteer to assist with an adoption day, I also went to the shelter and helped with everyday chores. I was assigned to work with puppies; I gave them baths, cleaned their pens and gave them water. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was!

While volunteering, you can learn something too. It taught me responsibility, hard work and compassion. The puppy in the picture to the right was found near death’s door. Fortunately, now with treatment, Tiney Man is on the road to good health!

Remember, selecting an area you are interested in will make your community service hours fun! Then, you can have the reward of earning your Bronze, Silver or Gold award or your Community Service Pin.

Where can I get my hours?

If you would like to earn your community service hours by helping animals, try contacting your local Humane Society, Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends or the Society of Humane Friends. Also, be aware that some organizations do require special training and adult supervision for youth volunteers.

Letterboxing: An adventure

By Elizabeth W.

You may be asking, “What is letterboxing?” Well, letterboxing is a fun outdoor and occasionally indoor scavenger hunt similar to Geocashing ! Hundreds of Letterboxers have found cleverly hidden boxes and stamped their signature stamp in the letterbox’s logbook!

Letterboxing is a great, fun activity for individuals, families and Girl Scout troops! Following clues and using a compass, you meander along a pathway for a long or sometimes short time until you find what you’ve been looking for: the letterbox. A letterbox isn’t always hidden way back in a forest, some letterboxes you walk right by every day, and just don’t know it. Some are even hidden in SOLD packages in stores! You can find letterboxes pretty much everywhere in the world!

Hundreds of adventurous people before you have followed clues, found letterboxes and signed logbooks, now it’s your turn! For more information on finding these hidden treasures and clues to the letterboxes, go to www.letterboxing.org or www.atlasquest.com!

Safe travels

By Michele M.

Girl Scouts of the USA states that “in Girl Scouting, travel is about fun, exploration and progressive experiences in appreciating the outdoors, new places and other cultures.” Safety is the most important aspect of traveling and it begins when you pack.

Recently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued new guidelines in order to increase efficiency when going through the airport security checkpoint. The TSA prefers that each traveler bring only one carry-on bag. They also ask that inside your carry-on you have a one-quart sized zip-lock bag, holding no greater than three ounce liquids or gels.

The U.S. Department of State recommends that you “put your name, address and telephone number inside and outside of each piece of luggage.”

Don’t bring anything you would hate to lose and carry a minimal number of valuable items. Items such as credit cards and money should be hidden. Try to refrain from discussing plans including your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers; you never know who is listening. Always travel with other people. Leave your emergency contact information with a friend or family member. Most importatly, be smart, especially in unfamiliar locations, and stay safe. Happy travels!

Packing tips

By Eilidh G.

You are so excited about the trip you are about to take, that you have put everything you want to take in your bag, only to find it doesn’t fit! After agonizing over what not to take and several attempts to close your suitcase by sitting on it, it finally closes! Sound familiar? Here are some tips on how to pack well for your next big trip:

• Make a packing list of everything you will need and stick to it
• Roll your clothes instead of folding as it avoids creases and saves space

• Put heavier things in first, that way your sneakers won’t break that delicate souvenir you got for your best friend

• If you are traveling by plane, check that your bag is within airline size limits. You don’t want to arrive at the airport only to find yourself with a hefty fine because your bag is too big

• Put a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage in case your suitcase gets lost

Have a fun and unstressful vacation!