Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is marking the 100th anniversary of World Thinking Day, a global Girl Scout tradition that celebrates international friendship, cultural understanding, and girls’ leadership, with immersive events across Southwest Florida.

On Feb. 1, Girl Scouts will gather at Camp Caloosa in North Fort Myers for a vibrant international celebration featuring 139 registered participants, including girls and adult volunteers, representing 20 countries. The event will showcase cultural and educational displays, traditional foods, live performances, and a colorful parade of flags, providing strong visual storytelling and interview opportunities.

Founded in 1926, World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 22 by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides in more than 150 countries around the world. The milestone anniversary marks a century of girls learning about global issues, building cross-cultural understanding, and recognizing their shared responsibility to make the world a better place.

“World Thinking Day reminds girls that they are part of something much bigger than themselves,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “For 100 years, this day has helped girls develop empathy, global awareness, and the confidence to lead — values that are just as important today as they were a century ago.”

The celebration at Camp Caloosa builds on an earlier World Thinking Day event held on Jan. 17 at GSGCF’s Camp Honi Hanta in Bradenton, where more than 50 Girl Scouts participated, representing five countries through hands-on cultural activities and educational exhibits.

The global celebrations coincide with Girl Scout Cookie Season, when girls put leadership and entrepreneurship skills into action. Cookie booths open Feb. 6 at 4 p.m., with proceeds supporting local Girl Scout programming, leadership development, and experiential learning opportunities like World Thinking Day.

Community members can find Girl Scout Cookies by texting “Cookies” to 59618 or visiting www.gsgcf.org.

Event Highlights Include:

• Cultural and educational country displays
• International food tastings
• Live performances and traditional attire
• Parade of flags representing participating nations

Emily S., a member of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award by creating a project focused on supporting youth mental health through crochet.

Recognizing the challenges that young people face with anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health concerns, Emily designed a website offering free, accessible resources to help teens cope in a healthy, creative way. Drawing from her own experiences managing anxiety, ADHD, and OCD, she used her skills as a crocheter to develop tutorials for projects such as anxiety “blobs” and scrunchies, as well as short instructional videos on common crochet stitches. The site also provides information about the positive effects of crocheting on mental health, links to additional patterns, and encourages youth to create scrunchies to share within their schools and communities.

“My goal was to provide a fun and affordable outlet for young people to manage stress and anxiety,” said Emily. “Crochet gave me a way to feel calm and focused, and I wanted to share that with others who might be struggling but don’t have access to therapy or other resources.”

Emily shared her website with Girl Scout leaders, mental health professionals, theater instructors, and friends, using social media, emails, and in-person outreach. She also created videos and distributed scrunchies with tags linking to the site, allowing more youth to benefit from her project.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second-highest honor in Girl Scouting and recognizes girls in grades 6–12 who demonstrate leadership, initiative, and a commitment to making a lasting impact in their communities. Emily’s project exemplifies the Silver Award’s mission by addressing a critical need in her community and providing practical, meaningful solutions for youth mental health.

Alexis E., a Girl Scout Cadette from Troop 499, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award from the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. For her project, Alexis organized a team of volunteers to create recycled enrichment toys to help shelter dogs reduce stress, stay mentally engaged, and increase their chances of adoption.

The Silver Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, challenges scouts to take meaningful action in their communities.

Alexis was inspired by her own experience rescuing two shelter dogs. “I learned that dogs in animal shelters can suffer from stress, boredom, anxiety and destructive behaviors. Some dogs can be housed at shelters for a very long time before being adopted. These animals need enrichment activities like the ones that my team and I created to stimulate their minds and improve their mental health, which will make them happier, and therefore more likely to be adopted.”

Alexis identified a need for mental stimulation for dogs living in shelters, understanding that boredom and anxiety can impact their behavior and adoption potential. She partnered with Animal Welfare League of Port Charlotte and Fairytale Endings Rescue to research best practices for dog enrichment and design toys using recycled toilet paper and paper towel rolls stuffed with treats.

Through her leadership, Alexis organized volunteer workshops, purchased and collected supplies, and supervised the creation of 90 enrichment toys for the two shelters. She also provided step-by-step instructional flyers so community members can continue making toys, ensuring the project’s sustainability.

Reflecting on the experience, Alexis shared, “I discovered not to be discouraged by setbacks and to persevere… I had to be very persistent and try again.” She also emphasized the leadership and organizational skills she gained: “Another useful skill I learned was how to use leadership to delegate tasks… One of the most important skills I learned was to be persistent when problems came up. All of these skills will help me in the future in many ways.”

Alexis’s project demonstrates the Silver Award’s mission: empowering young women to take meaningful action in their communities while developing skills that will serve them throughout life. By combining creativity, persistence, and leadership, Alexis has created a sustainable project that will continue to benefit shelter dogs and inspire others to get involved.

Two dedicated Girl Scouts from Troop 224 have earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Adelyanna M. and Aubrie D. led a meaningful community service project titled “Girl Scouts Helping Foster Families,” demonstrating leadership, empathy, and initiative as members of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

The project began in October 2024, when the girls recognized a critical need in their community: foster children often enter care suddenly, with few personal items. Wanting to help kids their own age, Adelyanna and Aubrie met with the Safe Children Coalition in Sarasota to learn directly about the foster system, the challenges children face during emergency removals, and the gaps in available support.

Motivated by what they learned, the Girl Scouts took action. Over the course of the next 12 months, they assembled 20 toiletry bags for children entering foster care, thoughtfully stocked with essentials meant to offer comfort, dignity, and a sense of stability. To make an even greater impact, the girls used part of their Girl Scout cookie earnings to purchase additional supplies for the Safe Children Coalition’s Family Closet, ensuring families and children have practical items when they need them most.

Throughout the project, Adelyanna and Aubrie practiced key Bronze Award skills—project planning, teamwork, problem-solving, budgeting, and communication. They produced a video to raise awareness and share their message with families and peers, helping expand community understanding of the needs of foster youth. Their work created a tangible, direct impact for children experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The girls also experienced personal growth. Their troop leader, Liz Mercado, shared, “I loved seeing them grow through this project and seeing them realize their blessings. My own daughter now wants to be a foster parent.” One of the greatest challenges the girls faced was learning to scale their project—they felt deeply moved to help even more children than their resources allowed.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award encourages Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4–5) to work together to address a community need, take action, and develop lasting leadership skills. Projects must demonstrate research, planning, measurable impact, and community connection—key steps toward becoming confident, compassionate leaders.

Adelyanna and Aubrie hope their project inspires others. Their advice to younger Girl Scouts preparing for their Bronze Award: “Find something that can help the community. Look for organizations in need of help and awareness.”

Their awareness video and message encourage others to support foster families and the organizations that serve them—helping ensure every child feels seen, supported, and cared for.

We’re excited to share some great news! Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida has received a generous grant from the Collier Community Foundation, making it possible for even more girls in Collier County to experience all that Girl Scouts has to offer.

This funding is especially important because it tackles some big challenges girls face today. The State of the Florida Girl Report shows that girls across the state are dealing with growing pressures related to their mental, emotional, academic, and physical wellbeing. Programs like Girl Scouts provide a safe, supportive space where girls can build confidence, explore their strengths, and try new things—helping them grow in all areas of life.

With this grant, local troops in Collier County will have the resources they need to participate fully in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). That means uniforms, badges, troop supplies, program fees, and transportation to activities—everything that makes it possible for girls to be part of the fun, hands-on learning that Girl Scouts is known for.

Girl Scouts is about more than badges and outings. It’s about helping girls develop courage, resilience, and leadership skills while supporting their overall wellbeing. Whether they’re learning a new skill, working together on a team project, or discovering a passion they never knew they had, girls in Girl Scouts are growing academically, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Thanks to the Collier Community Foundation, even more girls can experience the confidence-building, life-changing programs that Girl Scouts provides. We can’t wait to see the amazing things these girls will accomplish!

Want to learn more about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida? Visit www.gsgcf.org.

The Juniors of Girl Scout Troop 178 are showing the world what compassion in action looks like!

These amazing young leaders recently earned their Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Their project willenable the Animal Welfare League in Port Charlotte to kick off a new “Reading with Cats” program.

The Bronze Award challenges Girl Scouts to identify a meaningful community need, plan a thoughtful project, and take action—while developing leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills along the way. Troop 178’s project, “Pawfect Project,” did all of that and more.

The girls started their mission by raising awareness for homeless pets and collecting essential donations—including food, cat litter, towels, detergent, and more—during their trunk-or-treat event.

But Troop 178 didn’t stop there. They took their project to the next level by building bookshelves to support the shelter’s upcoming “Reading with Cats” program, a creative initiative designed to encourage young readers to practice literacy while spending time with adoptable cats. In doing so, the girls learned hands-on construction skills like measuring, sawing, assembling, and painting—practicing safety, precision, and teamwork every step of the way.

Through this project, the girls honed valuable life skills such as planning, communication, leadership, and project management, all while making a tangible difference in the lives of animals and children. Their efforts not only provided immediate support to the shelter, but they also created a lasting resource that will enrich the community for years to come.

A huge congratulations to the girls of Troop 178 for their creativity, generosity, and dedication! Their Bronze Award project is a shining example of how Girl Scouts put courage, confidence, and character into action, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to make the world a brighter place—one paw at a time

Service is at the heart of the Girl Scout experience — and this fall, Girl Scouts across Gulfcoast Florida have been busy making a difference for furry friends in need! From spreading hay to stocking donation shelves, these girls are showing how courage, confidence, and character can make a real impact in their communities.

Troop 499 Lends a Hand at Suncoast Humane Society

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Troop 499 rolled up their sleeves at the Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood, spending the day spreading hay along the shelter’s trails to help the animals and their visitors. After their hard work, the girls got a special treat — a “Happy Cappy” experience where they met the shelter’s resident capybaras! The girls learned about the care of these gentle animals while enjoying a fun, hands-on encounter that brought their day of service full circle.

Troop 178 Earns Bronze Award with “Pawfect Project”

In Charlotte County, Troop 178 of Englewood earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout (grades 4–5) can achieve, for their outstanding community service initiative called the “Pawfect Project.”

The troop identified a need at the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County (AWL) and took action — collecting essential supplies such as pet food, cat litter, towels, and detergent to help the shelter care for animals awaiting their forever homes. They also added a creative twist by building a bookshelf for AWL’s “Reading with Cats” program, which encourages literacy by pairing young readers with feline friends in a cozy, confidence-boosting environment.

Girl Scout Donates Girl Scout BarkBoxes to Local Shelter

Meanwhile, Troop 678 in Port Charlotte contributed over 20 containers of dog food to the AWL, making the effort a true team achievement.

A special shout-out goes to Isabella O., who donated over a dozen limited-edition Girl Scout BarkBoxes during the Fall Product Program, Mags & Munchies. “It was the perfect way to help two causes with one purchase, and she was proud,” said troop leader and Isabella’s mom, Chrystal Ortiz. Fun fact: the Ortiz family recently adopted a shelter dog named Brownie, in honor of the Girl Scout level for grades 2–3!

The Mags & Munchies Fall Product Program helps Girl Scouts raise funds for troop service projects, adventures, and experiences while developing leadership skills such as goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. For the second year in a row, Girl Scouts partnered with BarkBox, offering themed boxes with custom dog toys, treats, and liners that can be purchased to support troops or donated to local animal shelters.

At Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we know that girls grow strong when they have great role models—and our friends at the Florida Gulf Coast University Kappa Delta Sorority are helping make that happen! 💚💛

Every semester, Girl Scouts and Kappa Delta members come together for a series of fun, hands-on events designed to build confidence, foster friendships, and inspire the next generation of strong female leaders. This fall, the sisters of Kappa Delta hosted three unforgettable events with our Girl Scouts—each one packed with creativity, laughter, and leadership in action.

👑 Royalty with Kappa Delta – September 6

The semester kicked off in royal fashion with Royalty with Kappa Delta, where girls arrived ready to embrace their inner queens. Scouts and sorority sisters spent the day crafting crowns, playing games, and learning that confidence isn’t about wearing a tiara—it’s about believing in yourself and lifting others up. Through this fun, empowering theme, girls practiced courage and kindness, discovering that every Girl Scout has the power to lead with heart.

⏱️ Minute to Win It – September 13

Next came Minute to Win It, a lively morning filled with fast-paced challenges and team spirit! Girl Scouts worked together—and with their college mentors—to complete silly and skillful games against the clock. From balancing acts to creative problem-solving, the event encouraged teamwork, perseverance, and positive risk-taking. Laughter filled the room as girls learned that success comes not just from winning, but from trying their best and cheering others on.

🍂 Giving Thanks with Kappa Delta and the Girl Scouts – October 18

The fall semester wrapped up with Giving Thanks with Kappa Delta and the Girl Scouts, a celebration of gratitude and community. Together, participants made thank-you crafts, reflected on what they were thankful for, and shared ways to give back to others. The event was a perfect reminder that leadership starts with kindness, empathy, and appreciation—values shared by both Kappa Delta and Girl Scouts.

A Partnership Rooted in Leadership and Sisterhood

The connection between Kappa Delta Sorority and Girl Scouts of the USA spans more than 25 years. Since 1998, Kappa Delta members nationwide have volunteered their time and talents to mentor Girl Scouts, lead confidence-building programs, and inspire girls to reach their full potential.

Locally, our collaboration with the FGCU Kappa Delta chapter brings this national mission to life, providing Girl Scouts with relatable college role models who exemplify leadership, service, and sisterhood. Each event reminds girls that confidence grows through connection—and that together, women of all ages can make the world a better place.