Help inspire GSWPA's next council patch

Juliette Gordon Low’s vision for the Girl Scout Movement was that it would be, and will always remain, girl-led. In celebration of her birthday today, October 31, GSWPA asks our Girl Scouts to take the lead to help our council develop our new Girl-Inspired GSWPA Council patch!

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Use our online submission form to enter your artwork for the Girl-Inspired GSWPA Council patch.

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PARTICIPATION: Submit your council patch ideas that demonstrate what it means to be a Girl Scout in western Pennsylvania. 

Previous GSWPA Council patch

ELIGIBILITY: Artwork must be an original and created by a Girl Scout from the Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania council. The contest is open to Daisies through Ambassadors! All mediums, formats, and shapes are encouraged and accepted. The deadline for submissions is Monday, December 17. 

ARTWORK SUBMISSION: Use our online submission form to officially enter your artwork to be considered for the Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania Girl-Inspired Council patch. You can upload your work of art or a photo of your work of art! 

IMPORTANT NOTES: Elements of more than one Girl Scout's submitted artwork may be incorporated into the final patch design. Submitted artwork will be used to inspire the look of the patch, and the final patch may not be an identical replication of any singular submission. 

If for any reason you have trouble uploading your file or completing the online form, please contact Melissa Gawlinski at mgawlinski@gswpa.org.

Shop Talk in November | Holiday Open House

For November, here are some special announcements from the GSWPA Shops.

GSWPA Shop Holiday Open House (Click Here for Event Flyer)
It's that time of year again! The GSWPA Shop Holiday Open House is just around the corner, so check out all of the details here. We'll have refreshments available for you as you get a head start on your holiday shopping! The Girl Scout Shop features gifts for current Girl Scouts, troop leaders, parents, and alumnae, as well as all the gear and uniform basics needed for adventures in Girl Scouting.

Where: All Shop locations (Edinboro, Greensburg and Pittsburgh)
When: Saturday, Nov. 10 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Holiday Open House Exclusives: 

• Bring in a non-perishable food donation* and receive 15% off your full order (some exclusions apply), or receive a free Food Drive fun patch if you are a Girl Scout Daisy-Ambassador making a donation. (Girl must be present to receive patch.) *Please check expiration dates before making donation.
• Enjoy a free gift with your purchase of $50 or more. Supplies are limited, so shop early! 

Can’t make it on Saturday? Bummer! We'll miss you, but you don't have to miss the sale!
Visit one of the GSWPA Shops on Friday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m.-noon to shop our Preview Sale, and get the same deals listed above!

Coming soon: Cyber Weekend Specials
Look for Cyber Weekend specials, including free shipping from Friday, Nov. 23- Monday, Nov. 26 at shop.gswpa.org.

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Shop Hours Reminders:
Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Second Saturday each month (Sept.-May only): 9 a.m.- noon

Upcoming Extended Hours: 

• Greensburg: 
• Monday, Nov. 5: Open until 7 p.m. (prior to scheduled service unit meetings)
• Tuesday, Nov 6: Open until 6 p.m. (prior to Service Unit Cookie Manager Training)
• Edinboro:
• Thursday, Nov. 8: Open until 6 p.m. (prior to Service Unit Cookie Manager Training)
• All Shop locations (Edinboro, Greensburg, Pittsburgh):
• Friday, Nov. 9 Holiday Open House Preview Sale: Open 9 a.m.-noon.
• Saturday, Nov. 10 Holiday Open House: Open 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Troop camping opportunities extend beyond summer

Last month, GSWPA Troop 30487 of Erie County set off for a weekend fall camping trip to Camp Skymeadow in Armstong County. The group of eleven girls and their leaders arrived for their first camping trip at this GSWPA camp on a Friday evening and stayed through Sunday morning.

The group took full advantage of their time at Camp Skymeadow with activities like hiking, archery, building and cooking over a fire, and canoeing, which was a new experience for most of the girls.

Their troop leaders, Leanne, Angela, and Molly, said they knew the activity was beyond the comfort zone of some of the girls, a few of which made it clear ahead of time that they wouldn't go out on the water.

"Of course we would never force them," said Leanne, "but the instructor was really wonderful and walked them through each step."

With the great instructions and watching their friends out on the water, the confidence in them started to grow, and soon the whole group was in canoes learning about canoe safety, practicing switching spots with one another, and racing across the pond with their new paddle skills.

All of these experiences, including debuting a new recipe for Campfire S'mores in a Cone (A tip from the girls—add peanut butter!), made truly wonderful camping memories for the Girl Scouts and their leaders.

The troop even used Camp Skymeadow lodging as a way to help their girls get to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium that weekend to join their sister Girl Scouts for Girl Scout Day, which reduced their usual drive to Pittsburgh from over two hours to a mere 50 minutes!

"Our weekend was filled with amazing memories, and I had a fun and awesome time," said GSWPA Cadette Emma P.

"Camp Skymeadow has many enjoyable features," said Elizabeth K., GSWPA Cadette. "From canoeing to archery, they know how to keep Girl Scouts entertained!"

Start planning your next camping trip at a GSWPA camp using the resources and online reservation system on the left side of the GSWPA camp page at gswpa.org/camp.