Girl Scouts of CT encourages girls to join

As summer draws to a close and parents and caregivers begin preparing for back to school, Girl Scouts of Connecticut is inviting all girls K-12 to join the fun and Take the Lead like a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, and Leader). Girl Scouts brings the timetested methods and researchbacked programs that speak to the strengths of girl leadership development. Girls and interested adults can learn more about Girl Scouts of Connecticut at its two Kickoff events on Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 6-8 p.m. at the West Side Middle School in Waterbury, and Saturday, Aug 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at RHAM High School in Hebron.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience, a one-of-a-kind, proven leadership development program, pairs girls with strong, caring role models and mentors who prepare them to take the lead from age 5 to 18 and into adulthood.

A new report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, The Girl Scout Impact Study, shows that participating in Girl Scouts helps girls develop key leadership skills they need to be successful in life. Compared to their peers, Girl Scouts are more likely than non–Girl Scouts to be leaders because they:

Have confidence in themselves and their abilities (80% vs. 68%); act ethically and responsibly, and show concern for others (75% vs. 59%); seek challenges and learn from setbacks (62% vs. 42%); develop and maintain healthy relationships (60% vs. 43%); identify and solve problems in their communities (57% vs. 28%); and take an active role in decision making (80% vs. 51%).

Importantly, what girls gain through Girl Scouting positively affects all areas of their lives. For example, Girl Scouts do better than their non–Girl Scout peers in the classroom, earning better grades and aspiring to higher educational attainment, and are more likely to seek careers in STEM, law, and business—industries in which women are underrepresented.

And the benefits of Girl Scouting are not exclusive to any particular demographic, which means that no matter where girls live or what their age or background, Girl Scouts can help them develop to their full potential and excel in all aspects of life.

Girl Scouts also makes it easier than ever to be a Girl Scout volunteer. The new Girl Scout program elements are now available to more members than ever before via the recently expanded Volunteer Toolkit, Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s first “digital assistant” for troop leaders and parents, allowing them to more easily plan meetings and activities, keep track of important information, and, ultimately, make it easier to support amazing experiences for girls.

In the toolkit, most Girl Scout programming for girls in grades K–5 is auto-populated so that troop leaders can view activity plans and necessary materials; customize meeting plans, track troop finances, and more, all in one place. Further, the instructions that are included throughout make subjects that might otherwise intimidate some volunteers—like STEM—accessible and understandable, so that they can confidently lead troop activities.

To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit gsofct.org.

Youth triathlon set in Portland

PORTLAND » MY TIME TO TRI youth triathlon will be held at Camp Ingersoll (94 Camp Ingersoll Road), on Sunday, Aug. 27. Young people, entering grades 3 through 12, are invited to participate in an open water swim, a closedcourse multi-terrain bike ride, and closed course run. Athletes can register by phone or in person at the Middlesex YMCA (99 Union Street, Middletown; 860-347-6907).

Volunteers are needed. Visit mid-ymca.org/my-time for more information about My Time, a scholarship program that benefits families impacted by cancer.

Contact Abbi Nelson (abbinori@aol.com) with questions or to volunteer.

Durham Fair needs volunteers

DURHAM » Do you love the Durham Fair and want to get involved? As a non-profit and all volunteer Fair, it depends on the local community to help host Connecticut’s Largest Agricultural Fair.

The 98th Annual Durham Fair is Sept. 21-24. A big need is for help with the gates; ticket sellers, ticket takers, hand stampers. Not only is it fun to greet visitors from all over New England, but you also get a free ticket and parking pass to the Fair. To volunteer, email lisag33@icloud.com.

To learn more, come to the Durham Fair Volunteer Open House on Thursday, Aug. 24 from 3-6 at the Durham Fair House at 30 Townhouse Rd. For more information, please email marketing@durhamfair.com. Meet other volunteers and learn all the opportunities to get involved.