united way
california
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Helping kids reach new heights
S
erving 18 counties, Girl Scouts
Heart of Central California (GSHCC)
offers programs that educate and
inspire girls ages 5-17 in a girl-only
environment. GSHCC helps facilitate
the four components of the Girl Scout
program – STEM, life skills, outdoors,
and entrepreneurship. Girl Scouts gives
girls the key leadership skills needed
for their futures— something that
CEO Linda Farley calls the “Girl Scout
Advantage.”
“Science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) are critical to our
future, and getting girls involved helps
prepare them to become leaders in
these fields,” says Farley. “This is about
creating future opportunities for girls
and filling a STEM workforce pipeline.”
Girls Scouts has developed a
new set of STEM-related badges and
recently opened their first STEM Center
+ MakerSpace in Sacramento. A second
center will soon open in Modesto, and a
mobile STEM unit offering programs will
begin traveling in late 2019.
The life skills component of the Girl
Scout program, encompassing civic
engagement, community-based work,
and more, also has a new badge set.
Girl Scouts has been offering
outdoor adventure programs since
its inception more than 106 years
ago. Outdoor activities such as rock
climbing, white water rafting, riding
horses and more, not only help build
resilience and grit, they are fun. “We
own two resident camps, covering more
than 500 acres,” says Farley.
Finally, the primary focus of
the entrepreneurship component is
the Girl Scout Cookie Program, the
world’s largest girl-led business. By
participating, girls learn goal setting,
decision making, money management,
business ethics, and people skills.
YOURLOCALUNITEDWAY.ORG
You don’t have to be a parent
of a Girl Scout or a troop leader to
make a difference in the lives of girls.
Opportunities abound to support Girl
Scouts. Join us today in investing in
girls for a brighter future for us all.
(girlscoutshcc.org)
August 2018 | comstocksmag.com
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