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There’s no doubt these are stressful times. Schools are closed, activities are canceled and the governor’s stay-at-home order has been extended through April for everyone’s safety. While many youth-serving organizations cannot engage their members without an in-person experience, Girl Scouts can! Girl Scouts may be known for their iconic Girl Scout Cookies, but they also have a legacy of service, of preparing girls for any situation, and they continue to be a positive force in our communities, offering helpful, relevant information during this time of crisis for all families:
How to Talk to Your Kids About the Coronavirus
Girl Scouts Research Institute’s Raising Awesome Girls
When it comes to emergencies, the number one rule is to stay calm. But with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading rapidly around the globe — and everyone from news anchors to influencers on social media talking about worst case scenarios — stress and worry can seem downright contagious.
Basically, our kids likely could use a sense of calm in their lives right about now, and you can help.
In fact, having a conversation with your child about coronavirus could be the most important thing you do all week. Depending on your child’s age, simply asking what they’ve heard about coronavirus and how they’re feeling about it not only helps ensure they’re getting correct information, but also lets them know this topic isn’t off-limits and you’re there to support them and help them understand their emotions—whatever they may be.
Click here for some basic dos and don’ts when it comes to handling this subject with care.
Rising to the Challenge — Girl Scouts Never Stops!
Girl Scouts provides virtual activities and safe ways to connect with girls and families
Although we look forward to the day we can gather again in person, our program resources are available online, our troops are meeting at a distance, and our Girl Scout families and volunteers are connecting with each other using virtual conferencing platforms and social media!
Want to learn more about Girl Scouts?
Join us for a virtual Introduction to Girl Scouts and an engaging activity for your girl! Using Zoom, we’ll give you an overview of Girl Scouts, our programs, costs and financial assistance, and how you and your girl can spend quality time together as members of a troop or as an independent Juliette Girl Scout member. Click here to register for one of our events.
Virtual Girl Scout Troops
Want to see why more than 25,000 girls in Northeast Ohio enjoy their Girl Scout experience? Check out our virtual troop meetings! Search Facebook for GSNEO Virtual Troop, and select from Daisy (Pre-K, K, 1st grades), Daisy (1st grade), Brownie (2nd, 3rd grades), Junior (4th, 5th grades), Cadette (6th, 7th, 8th grades), Senior (9th, 10th grades), or Ambassador (11th, 12th grades).
Each week, you and your girl can attend a troop meeting, participate in badge activities, and interact with special guests. If you like what you see and want your girl to become a Girl Scout member, she’ll be able to register for member-exclusive virtual badge activities.
Girls do not have to sign up, log in, or be a registered Girl Scout member to participate in the virtual troop meetings hosted as Facebook Live events. Although the groups are public, the meetings will be led by approved volunteers who have passed a criminal background check. For everyone’s safety, Girls under 13 must be accompanied by a caring adult. We hope you and your girl will join us!
Virtual Girl Scout Programming
Girl Scouts at Home represents a new way to participate in the Girl Scout experience — from virtually anywhere! We’re making select Girl Scout program resources available to every girl, parent, caregiver, volunteer and troop leader. It’s our way of doing our part during these challenging times, and to do what Girl Scouts always do: make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration
At our core, Girl Scouts aims to inspire girls to be leaders in their own lives by building the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place and to be advocates for the issues and ideas that are important to them. In safe, appropriate ways, Girl Scouts are reaching out to senior citizens by sharing videos, they’re donating Girl Scout Cookies to healthcare workers on the front lines of the public health crisis, and they’re serving as a beacon of hope in communities that need inspiration. #GSNEOpositivityproject
Are you ready to join us? Visit www.gsneo.org/join
Sign up for an Introduction to Girl Scouts at gsneo.org/welcome