9 Reasons Why Girls Keep Coming Back 
to Girl Scouts

During this time of membership renewal, it is important to recognize all of the reasons why girls keep coming back to Girl Scouts, year after year. In doing so, we can ensure that we continue doing what we're doing and sharing with others why being a Girl Scout is so important!

Here are 9 Reasons Why Girls Keep Coming Back to Girl Scouts:

1. Some girls make friends in Girl Scouts that they don’t get to see any other time.
2. When girls take an active role in deciding what their activities are, they are more naturally inclined to stay involved.
3. Get them outdoors! Girl Scouts provides various unique opportunities for camping and traveling
4. Let girls take the lead in activities in their own troop, and they'll become more comfortable in being a leader in other settings. Girls can go on to Program Aide, Leader In Training and Counselor in Training.
5. Journeys and badges offer options to learn new things and to explore new ideas. The Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards provide even more in-depth and meaningful ways to follow their interests.
6. Girl Scouts will become more involved in their communities as they learn new ways to serve others around them.
7. Girl Scouting provides opportunities for new and bold experiences that aren’t offered elsewhere.
8. Getting up, getting out means being active - staying fit.
9. Being the leader that they look up to, listen to, and want to be around is certainly a large part of keeping girls involved, and that's YOU!

Remember, the Girl Scout experience doesn’t have to end over the summer. Girls are registered through September 30th. It is the perfect time to add new girls that may not have been available during the school year to learn about the wonderful opportunities available in Girl Scouts.

Annual Troop Finance Reports

Girl Scout Badges: 
Price Increase Effective July 1, 2017

Girl Scout Merchandise (GSM) continues to honor its commitment to U.S.-made products and to strive to keep its carbon footprint as small as possible. Girl Scout vests, sashes, tunics, and insignia are all currently produced in this country, and we are reaching out to more vendors that have capabilities to produce stateside. In addition, beginning in July, Daisy, Brownie, Junior, and Cadette badge production will take place in the United States. The fabric, thread, iron-on backing, and packaging are all produced in America.

Will there be a price increase?
In order to offer the USA made product there will be an increase to the pricing structure. The new retail is $3.00 per badge. 
Please refer to the USA Made Badges Price List for a complete listing of badges increasing.  

When will price increases be effective?
New retail prices will be effective July 1, 2017          

BENEFITS OF RESHORING  

Reshoring the manufacture of products provides a number of benefits.  Producing stateside supports U.S manufacturing, the U.S. economy, and creates jobs for American workers. Reshoring our products also reduces the lead time from production to customer and simplifies our supply chain management process. Both aid us in providing better service to our customers. Additionally, choosing to bring manufacturing here, where regulations on industrial waste and emissions are consistent and companies are incented to become more environmentally sustainable, benefits the world by limiting waste output. U.S. reshoring also brings production assemblies closer to end users. As a result, vehicles consume less fossil fuel to transport goods to customers, reducing emissions.

G.I.R.L. 2017 National Convention

The G.I.R.L. 2017 National Convention will be held in Columbus, Ohio from October 4-8, 2017. Girl Scouts from all over come together to celebrate girls in a big way! From educational sessions to inspiring speakers, and tons of one-of-a-kind fun, this is the girl-power event of year.

Here are the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan 2017 National Council Delegates:

As a delegate, they'll help determine how Girl Scouts' future will look! Check out the official G.I.R.L. 2017 National Convention page for more information about how you can become a National Council Delegate for the next convention!

G.I.R.L. 2017 National Convention Trips

Did you just say, "I want to go to to the convention!"? Here's your chance! Take a peak below at the convention trips that we're putting together right this minute. Keep looking out for more information. We'll be sure to update you as more details and registration links become available!

Day Trip - BJCSA
Sat, October 7, 2017
$125 per person (girls & adults)
Includes: transportation, Hall of Experiences, t-shirt, snacks & breakfast on the bus

Overnight Trip - BJ
Sat, October 7 to Sun, October 8, 2017
$250 per person (girls & adults)
Includes: transportation, National Council Session, Hall of Experiences, museum camp-in [inc. lodging, dinner and breakfast], closing ceremonies, t-shirt, snacks on the bus

Weekend Trip - CSA
Fri, October 6 to Sun, October 8, 2017
$450 per girl
Includes: transportation, lodging w/breakfast [4 person occupancy], opening and closing ceremonies [girls & adults], welcome reception [girls], plenary [girls & adults], breakout sessions [girls & adults], Girl Breakfast, Girl Luncheon, Girl Welcome Reception, National Council Session, Hall of Experiences, t-shirt, snacks on the bus

$500 per adult
Includes: transportation, lodging w/breakfast [4 person occupancy], opening and closing ceremonies, plenary, breakout sessions, National Council Session, Hall of Experiences, 
t-shirt, snacks on the bus

Certification Trainings at Camp

At Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, we want everyone to feel empowered and to seek challenges in the world. One way we can help girls and leaders achieve that is through our amazing training opportunities.

This year, we are offering even more ways for you to become certified in activities like archery, boating and lifeguarding so you can take your girls on trips to last a lifetime. 

Take a look at our Overnight Camp Guide (pg. 26 & 27) to learn more about our trainings and camp opportunites for girls! Don't forget: there's still time to sign up for Girl Scout camp! There are so many great adventures waiting for you throughout the summer. You can also check out the Kalamazoo Day Camp Guide and Ypsilanti Day Camp Guide. 

It’s simple: girls collect donations to send treats and cookies to local Hometown Heroes. “It is amazing to see how much our community supports and appreciates all that we do as first responders by putting Girl Scout cookies in the firehouse," said one first responder.

Girl Scout Treats and Cookies mean a lot to the heroes who keep us safe and help girls learn skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives. Whether sending cookies to fire or police stations, deployed military, veterans, children’s hospitals, or local food banks, Girl Scout cookies are sure to let someone know how much they’re appreciated.

Your troop can work with area businesses to collect donations, hold Hometown Heroes cookie booths, or walk their neighborhoods as a caravan and pass out donation cards to send to your local heroes. Troops will earn $.70 to $.80 per package. Large Hometown Heroes donations are tax-deductible.