September 2005 Volume 31 Issue 8  

Girl Scouts enjoyed math and science

Michaela K. and Hannah P.
worked magic at their Arithmetricks Booth.
      Saturday, April 30, more than 400 Girl Scouts from about 80 troops came to the Houston Museum of Natural Science specifically for the GEMS (Girls Enjoying Math and Science) event. Half of those girls also went to see Earth’s Wild Ride in the IMAX theatre and 100 girls visited the Butterfly Center. In addition, a number of non-scout patrons participated in the open house type events!
     Thanks to the event’s community booths, girls had the opportunity to learn about geosciences from the Lone Star Chapter of the Association of Women Geoscientists, make holiday gifts for Houston’s underprivileged youth with Gifts with Heart, meet the inventor of a great science game, Adventures of the Elements, and much more! Troops from GSSJC hosted booths situated along the Museum exhibit halls and had hands on activities that helped girls earn badges like Math Fun, Puzzler, and Aerospace. While trading handmade SWAPS, the girls were able to meet other Girl Scouts interested in math and science and make lots of new friends.
     Allison Seeman, HMNS Curator of Education Collections and Overnight Coordinator, received a lot of enthusiastic feedback from the girls and parents about how much the event was enhanced by the inspiring Museum environment. The Program Department invites troops to host booths to make next year’s Girls Enjoying Math and Science event, February 18, 2006, even better! Sign up at the Scout Open Houses at the HMNS in October (Earth Science) or November (Dino Days) or online on the October Council Information Network, CIN on the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Web site, www.gssjc.org.
From left to right, Molly W., Samantha R., Hannah L., Melissa S., and Kaylen D. enjoy GEMS.

     A huge thank you to all of the HMNS staff in the Museum on Saturday for all of their help in herding the masses of Girl Scouts. Thanks also to the GSSJC staff and HMNS Education team who helped in the preparation and planning for the event.
     Thank you to all of GSSJC Troops (#16009/Juliette, #2126, #2340, #4371, #8169, #8226, #12674, #10547, and #12053) who participated in hosting booths. And thanks to our community booth hosts – Adventures of the Elements, Lone Star Chapter of the Association of Women Geoscientists, BOOKS, Brainsrule-University of Texas at Houston, G.R.A.D.E. Camp for high school females at UH Cullen College of Engineering, Gifts with Heart, Greensheet Education Foundation, Mad Science of Houston, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, and the Weather Research Center.

Fall fun during Girl Scout Day at AstroWorld

     Six Flags AstroWorld theme park is closing its gates to the public and reopening them up just for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. This day is full of fun and excitement when Girl Scouts and their friends and family can go on their favorite rides and see special exhibits and performances by Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups. The Green Starlettes drill team, Take Note choir, and the Council Puppetry Troupe provide entertainment for this family fun event.
     Something new this year for Girl Scouts is Art in the Park, where artwork created by the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will be unveiled at a special ceremony on Scout Day and displayed inside the park during the entire 2006 season! See the Program section of this issue of The Golden Link for details.
     A service project, Bears, Blankets and Backpacks, is also part of the day. Drop off of donated items will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Please see the service section in this magazine for more details about Bears, Blankets and Backpacks as well as other service projects that are available to Girl Scouts.
     The date for Scout Day is Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 plus tax. To be a part of the action, purchase your tickets in advance at any of the Girl Scout Shops or through Six Flags mail order.
     Make it a Girl Scout Day! Race for the Cure is the morning of October 1. You can support the walkers and runners in the morning and hit Six Flags AstroWorld in the afternoon!