Critical Issues Programs
Girl Scouts of Nassau County is committed to helping girls develop physical and emotional strength. We have programs for current Girl Scouts, Parents, and community groups such as PTAs, schools, religious groups, and sports teams. Click the links below information about these programs.
Programs for Current Girl Scouts and Adults:
- Girl Speak - Develop leadership skills and create change! For 6th-12th graders.
- Volunteer Training - Help our community deal with bullying and body image. Volunteer to help with our programs.
- 2012-2013 Program Calendar for K-12 and parents coming soon.
Programs for Community Groups: Critical Issues Programs are interactive and utilize a variety of different senses and learning styles.
- Healthy Relationships - Bullies, friends, and partners
- Generation Text - Responsible citizenship in a digital age
- Body Confident - Exploring "beauty beneath the surface"
- Time Management and the Art of Saying "No" - Do less to increase success
- Killing Us Softly 4 - A film screening and discussion for adults on media messages about girls and women
- Girl Speak - Develop leadership skills and create change! For 6th-12th graders.
- Volunteer Training - Help our community deal with bullying and body image. Volunteer to help with our programs.
GIRL SPEAK
For all girls in grades six through twelve who are current or past Girl Scouts, or who are new to scouting.
Members of Girl Speak will:
- Develop leadership, teamwork and project management skills by talking about topics that are of interest to them and developing projects* to take action on these issues in their community. Topics may include bullying, body image, relationships, or other ideas the girls develop.
- Help with national campaigns about these issues.
- Connect with female mentors on career skills, body image, and other issues.
- Practice skills that can be utilized for Gold and Silver Awards.
Our meetings will take place on the dates below. Girls can try out the group by signing up for either one of our next two meetings by clicking the link below. For more information, please contact Eliza Zipper, Advocacy and Critical Issues Coordinator, 516.741.2550 x254.
WHO: Middle and High School (Gr. 6-12) Girls
DATES FOR 2011-12: Monday Group: 2/27, 4/16, 5/14, 6/11, and WEDNESDAY 7/25 or Thursday Group: 3/15, 4/19, 5/17, 6/14, and WEDNESDAY 7/25
DATES FOR 2012-2013: All meetings will take place on the last Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:30pm. **Exceptions include pre-planned meetings and school holidays in December and March.
9/27/12, 10/25/12, 11/29/12, **December TBD, 1/24/13, 2/28/13, **3/21/13, 4/25/13, 5/30/13, 6/27/13
TIME: 7:00-8:30pm
PLACE: GSNC Service Center, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City
To sign your girl or group up for Girl Speak, please contact Eliza Zipper, Advocacy and Critical Issues Coordinator, 516.741.2550 x254.
*Girl Speak projects can help girls develop ideas or complete certain tasks for Silver, Gold, or Journey Awards.
CRITICAL ISSUES VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Do you know girls who have been bullied? Or who have issues with friends, or body image problems? Would you like to help girls confront these problems? We are looking for a few good volunteers to lead programs for schools and community groups. Don’t worry, we will train and prepare you until you are comfortable to work with groups on these issues.
WHO: All adult community members, including parents, teachers, Troop Leaders, coaches, etc.
WHEN: 10/18/12 OR 1/14/12. Volunteers can attend EITHER of these trainings. Sessions are also scheduled for groups of at least 5 people on an as-needed-basis. If you can not attend either of these sessions, please contact Eliza Zipper, Advocacy and Critical Issues Coordinator, 516.741.2550 x254.
TIME: 7:30-9:00pm
PLACE: GSNC Service Center, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City
ELIGIBILITY: In exchange for this training, we ask that all participants commit to observe or help with AT LEAST 2 programs over the next 12 months.
BULLYING & HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
For community groups, including girls in grades K-12, parents, educators, coaches, leaders, etc.
Girls will learn how to:
- Build positive friendships and romantic relationships.
- Resolve conflicts.
- Identify and react to bullying from peers and adults as well as increase awareness of their own behavior.
Adults will learn how to:
- React to bullying from staff members, parents, leaders, coaches, and girls, including ways to address victims, bullies, and bystanders.
- Model healthy relationships for girls and encourage them to build positive connections with others.
- Understand their rights and responsibilities according to New York State anti-bullying legislation.
Eligibility: For girl groups of 25 or more, or adult groups of 20 or more.
Fees: $5.00 per participant. Financial assistance is available for groups.
GENERATION TEXT
For community groups, including girls in grades 6-12, parents, educators, coaches, leaders, etc.
Girls will learn how to:
- Become responsible digital citizens.
- Take appropriate precautions to protect their cyber-safety.
Adults will learn how to:
- Identify cyber-related dangers girls face in class and their personal lives.
- Help girls develop safe and effective digital networking and research skills.
- Engage girls in discussions about cyber-safety and responsibility.
- Understand their rights and responsibilities according to New York State anti-bullying legislation.
Eligibility: For girl groups of 25 or more, or adult groups of 20 or more.
Fees: $5.00 per participant. Financial assistance is available for groups.
BODY CONFIDENT
For community groups, including girls in grades K-12, parents, educators, coaches, leaders, etc.
Girls will learn how to:
- Appreciate and deal with the issues that underlie negative body images.
- Engage in healthy eating, exercise, and body-talk behaviors.
Adults will learn how to:
- Understand the impact of their words, actions, and their own body image on girls.
- Identify advertisers who utilize healthy media images.
Eligibility: For girl groups of 25 or more, or adult groups of 20 or more.
Fees: $5.00 per participant. Financial assistance is available for groups.
TIME MANAGEMENT & THE ART OF SAYING "NO"
For community groups, including girls in grades 4-12, parents, educators, coaches, leaders, etc.
Girls will learn how to:
- Develop a healthy and balanced schedule.
- Prioritize activities and talk with their parents about their choices. Doing less can mean more success.
Adults will learn how to:
- Identify situations in which it might be difficult to say “no”.
- Model successful time management skills for girls.
Eligibility: For girl groups of 25 or more, or adult groups of 20 or more.
Fees: $5.00 per participant. Financial assistance is available for groups.
KILLING US SOFTLY 4: A film screening and discussion about perceptions of girls and women in the media.
For parents, community members, Troop Leaders, and 9th-12th grade girls (with parental permission).
Through this eye-opening documentary, participants will:
- Explore how the media reinforces unhealthy perceptions of beauty, perfection, and sexuality.
- Discuss how to address these issues in your home or group.
Troop Leaders will have the opportunity to explore how to use the Girl Scout Journey and Girl Guide books to address these issues.
Eligibility: For girl groups of 25 or more, or adult groups of 20 or more.
Fees: $5.00 per participant. Financial assistance is available for groups.
Eliza Zipper
Advocacy and Critical Issues Coordinator
516.741.2550 x254
Read the results of our survey on girl friendships highlighted in Girlfriends Magazine.
We want to be better at all we do. Please tell us if there is a critical issue you would like to see us address,