Written by Kenyatta Connaway, founder of Kenyatta Speaks, LLC, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Board Member, and Keynote Speaker at our 2024 Mentor Me event. In today’s world, self-confidence is essential for teenage girls to navigate challenges and accept their unique identities. Building self-confidence is a journey that requires self-awareness, self-acceptance, and the power of One More mindset. Here are four supporting tips that can help girls uncover hidden talents. F: Focus on your strengths – Self-awareness is the foundation of self-confidence. Take the time to understand your strength ..read more

In the world of Girl Scouts, there is a special place that holds the roots of this empowering movement – Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. As troop leaders, taking girls on a journey to Savannah is more than just a trip; it is an opportunity to delve into the rich history and values that Girl Scouts cherish. Dedicated Girl Scout volunteer Tracey Eller serves as Leader of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s Troops 21025, 20425, and 20651, is the Service Unit Manager for the Jupiter Service Unit, and is a Gold Award Advisor. During her ti ..read more

In culmination of 13 years of service with Troop 10685 of Davie, Gold Award Girl Scout Ella Glassman reflects on her inspiring journey in Girl Scouting and shares her story with attendees of the 2023 Broward Emerald Awards Honoree Reception. “It is often said that childhood is a time for exploring your interests and trying your hand at different activities. I have explored a lot of things between kindergarten and twelfth grade:  ballet, basketball, baking, student government, horseback riding, yearbook, peer counseling, Marvel movies podcast, speech and debate, and even filmmaking. Some ..read more

For the fifth year in a row, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida has challenged our membership to get out into their communities and defend the earth – one project at a time. What our Girl Scouts and troops do is up to them, as long as their service project is focused on protecting the planet. The Earth Defenders project ran through October 1 – 31, 2023 and now we get to see the long-term impact of some amazing projects the Girl Scouts took part in! Transforming T-Shirts into Bags: Upcycling For A Cause Girl Scouts in Troop 42021 from Fort Pierce decided to breathe new life into old t-shirts by ..read more

In the spring of 2023 our council added a new opportunity for older Girl Scouts (Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors) to take part in a virtual program focused on building a safe space for themselves and others to talk about relationships and domestic violence. A topic that is typically swept under the rug and can be difficult to talk about, dating abuse – whether its sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional – effects more than 33% of American adolescents (dosomething.org)! Sabrina Harris, a local psychologist, educator, counselor, and motivational speaker, has helped our programs team come up wi ..read more

Written by Jayne Chase, 2023 Emerald Award Palm Beach Go-getter awardee I am so honored to receive the Go-Getter Emerald Award from Girl Scouts. Not only am I grateful to be recognized by my friends who I respect deeply and who have received similar awards from Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, but I am truly honored I am in a position in my life to give back and share my message and my experience with younger girls.   Jayne Chase hosting an interview for her online show Perfectly Palm Beach I was lucky enough to have women who came before me who set an example for hard work, perseve ..read more

Creating the Gina Rose Montalto Gold Award Scholarship Written by Jennifer Montalto  Five years ago, our daughter Gina Rose Montalto, went to school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day. It struck her father Tony and I as adorable, how ninth graders still reveled in this pink-drenched day celebrating teenage relationships with teddy bears, balloons, flowers, hearts, and of course, candy. We had readied chocolate roses for Gina to take to school as we sat that morning at the breakfast table – our Valentine’s Day tradition. Off she went! Little did we ..read more

Hi! I’m Sadie. I am a Cadette in Troop 10804 in Coral Springs, FL. I’m here to talk to you about the Corporate Cookie Connections Program. In 2021, before the Corporate Cookie Connections Program existed, I did something like it. I reached out to a few businesses that I had connections with and asked them to buy Girl Scout cookies or support Cookies for the Military. Since I had a bigger goal this year, and the Corporate Cookie Connections Program was introduced, I developed a plan, and I contacted more businesses so I could get closer to my goal. I had a goal of at least 1,000 boxes of ..read more

Troop 14005’s attendance at S.M.A.R.T. Cookie was an unforgettable adventure itself! Contributed by: Jennifer Storey, Girl Scout mom and troop leader of Troop 14005 Troop 14005 posing with the 2023 Cookie Mascots Krumble and Dunk at S.M.A.R.T. Cookie 2022. Troop 14005 riding the Brightline train back to Fort Lauderdale. Our troop is based in east Broward and since the event was held in West Palm Beach, I thought riding the train would be a good idea. Due to different weekend train schedules, the most convenient arrangement was taking Tri-Rail outbound and Brightline on the return. At ..read more

Ruby I., a Daisy Girl Scout from Troop 41217, sold more than $2,100 worth of Girl Scout Cookies using the Digital Cookie Platform during the 2022 Cookie Program! She ranked second highest in our council and impressed us all with her outstanding results. With the help from her mom Amy, we wanted to know just how Ruby crushed her online goals to help other Girl Scouts do the same. Ruby with her 50 States of Cookies Map to boost her Cookies for the Military DonationsRuby packing up her cookie orders for delivery GS: Why did you decide to ‘jump in’ and expand your Girl Scout Cookie Sale using Digi ..read more