On April 22 and April 30, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida hosted a free event for the community at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
As part of their ongoing community outreach efforts to provide all girls the opportunity to become Girl Scouts and reach their full potential, the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida recently partnered with Suncoast Remake Learning Days to host two Jungle Adventures days at Sarasota Jungle Gardens on April 22 and April 30.
The day, which was free and open to the public, included a self-led scavenger hunt throughout the gardens, flamingo feeding and encounters, goodies and swag provided by Girl Scouts, and an exclusive animal show tailored just for the Girl Scout group.
The community event was enabled by a grant funded by Suncoast Remake Learning Days, a 10-day festival of free events for children and families in the Suncoast, Florida region. Suncoast Remake Learning Days is the largest Remake Learning Days celebration in the nation, featuring over 200 free events and community organizations.
Thanks to the generosity of The Patterson Foundation, these multi-generational hands-on learning experiences will be robust, free, accessible, and open to the public.
“We take great pride in joining forces with the Girl Scouts of the Gulf Coast and the Remake Learning Days program,” said Nancy Lavick, Marketing Director at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. “At Sarasota Jungle Gardens, we are passionate about connecting individuals with nature, fostering quality family time, and providing our community with valuable, hands-on learning experiences with animals and the natural world. These shared objectives make our partnership with these two organizations a natural fit.”
She went on to say, “At the heart of Sarasota Jungle Gardens’ mission is to engage and enlighten our wider community through interactive, hands-on experiences. Partnering with two great organizations, the Girl Scouts of the Gulf Coast and Remake Learning Days, is a natural step in promoting conservation and cultivating a deep appreciation for the natural world.”
For the second year in a row, GSGCF was proud to partner with Suncoast Remake Learning Days to facilitate experiential learning encounters in the arts, outdoor learning, science, technology, and youth voice.
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida donated 40,528 boxes of Cookies to soldiers, first responders, and other community heroes through their Hometown Heroes and Mints for Military programs.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is proud to host its annual Hometown Heroes and Mints for Military Cookie donation programs once again. This year, 40,528 boxes of Cookies were donated through the programs to local first responders, public servants, and essential workers, as well as soldiers stationed locally and overseas.
Girl Scouts have been delivering Cookies donated through the Hometown Heroes program at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, St. David’s Jubilee Center of Englewood Florida, Englewood Helping Hand, Inc., Englewood Meals on Wheels, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton Fire Department, the Bradenton Police Department, NCH North Naples Hospital, Lee Memorial Hospital, Iona McGregor Fire District in South Fort Myers, and to many other local first responders, teachers, public servants, and essential workers throughout the Gulfcoast footprint.
GSGCF’s Mints for the Military program allows customers to purchase Cookies to be donated to support active military personnel and veterans. Cookies are donated locally and overseas.
GSGCF partners with Soldiers Angels and Support our Troops to deliver Cookie donations to military and veterans. Soldiers Angels and Support our Troops are non-profit organizations with the mission to provide aid, comfort, and resources to the military and veteran community. A total of 25,000 boxes of Cookies were donated to Soldiers Angels and Support our Troops this year by Gulfcoast Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout troops throughout the Gulfcoast footprint have also been delivering Cookie donations locally through the GSGCF Hometown Heroes program. Over 15,000 boxes of Cookies were donated locally, and hand delivered by Girl Scouts to local first responders, schools, hospitals, and to other hometown heroes.
“Locally girls have been visiting fire stations, police stations, schools, hospitals, veterans’ facilities, and any other heroes that have helped us keep afloat over the last couple of years,” said Ashley Gill, GSGCF Product Program Manager. “The number of smiles we are causing with these donations is truly heartwarming.”
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida were invited to the Red Sox’s Inaugural Spring Training Girl Scout Day on March 26th. Two Girl Scouts were presented with $5000 scholarships in a pre-game ceremony.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida recently partnered with the Boston Red Sox to host the first ever Inaugural Spring Training Girl Scout Day at JetBlue Park Stadium on March 26th for girls and their families to enjoy. A total of 60 Girl Scouts and their family members purchased tickets for the weekend game.
Those who attended reported they had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to attending future Girl Scout events with the Red Sox.
“This was a lot of fun for the girls,” said Christine DiBenedetto, a Girl Scout parent who attended the game on Sunday.
Every Girl Scout with a game ticket was given access to special events, including a pre-game announcement welcoming the Girl Scouts to the ballpark, an in-game video shot and a pre-game parade along warning track. All of the Girl Scouts who attended also had the opportunity to announce say “Play Ball” before the game over the PA system. Girls had the chance to meet and fist-bump with players, as well.
In a pre-game ceremony, the Boston Red Sox also presented 15 high school seniors each with the Lee County Red Sox Scholarship, a $5,000 scholarship for academically talented Lee County public high school seniors who are making meaningful impact through service in their community. This prestigious scholarship award is for students pursuing a two-year or four-year degree at any college or university.
Two of the recipients, Autumn Pepper Rhodes and Alexis Smith, are Gulfcoast Girl Scouts and Gold Award Girl Scouts. The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Gold Award Girl Scouts in high school complete projects to make the world a better place and earn the highest award available to Seniors and Ambassadors. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.
“It was really cool to attend a game like this,” scholarship recipient Autumn Rhodes said. “It was something I have never done before, and it was really cool to meet the other scholars, to talk to them and to see how diverse everyone was. Next fall, I am going to college at Rice University in Houston and I am going to be a dual major in mechanical engineering and astrophysics.”
“Attending the game was better than I would have ever imagined,” said Alexis Smith. Girl Scout Day was her very first experience attending a baseball game. “The staff were extremely friendly and seeing all the Girl Scouts there made the experience even better. This scholarship is really going to help take off some of the financial burden and stress I was having. I am working towards becoming an orthopedic surgeon and will be attending Florida International University in the fall to major in health science. I am also pursuing an internship in sports medicine while there.”
The March 26th game was between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. According to ESPN, the Twins won, with a game score of 7 – 2.
For every ticket purchased a portion of that ticket was generously donated by the Red Sox back to Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
March 26, 2023, Fort Myers, FL: Girl Scouts say play ball before a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida Sunday, March 26, 2023.
(Photo by Kelly Gavin/Boston Red Sox)
All of the Girl Scouts who attended had the opportunity to announce say “Play Ball” before the game over the PA system.
March 26, 2023, Fort Myers, FL: Girl Scouts walk the field before a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida Sunday, March 26, 2023.
(Photo by Kelly Gavin/Boston Red Sox)
Every Girl Scout with a game ticket was given access to special events, including a pre-game announcement welcoming the Girl Scouts to the ballpark, an in-game video shot and a pre-game parade along warning track.
Girl Scouts met and shared fist-bumps with players.
March 26, 2023, Fort Myers, FL: Girl Scouts walk the field before a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida Sunday, March 26, 2023.
(Photo by Kelly Gavin/Boston Red Sox)
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida were invited to the Red Sox’s Inaugural Spring Training Girl Scout Day on March 26th.
March 26, 2023, Fort Myers, FL: Girl Scouts walk the field before a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida Sunday, March 26, 2023.
(Photo by Kelly Gavin/Boston Red Sox)
Every Girl Scout with a game ticket was given access to special events, including a pre-game announcement welcoming the Girl Scouts to the ballpark, an in-game video shot and a pre-game parade along warning track
Autumn Rhodes, 2023 Red Sox Scholar
Autumn Rhodes and Alexis Smith, both Gold Award Girl Scouts from Gulfcoast Florida, received the Lee County Red Sox Scholarship on March 26th, a $5,000 scholarship for academically talented Lee County public high school seniors who are making meaningful impact through service in their community.
March 26, 2023, Fort Myers, FL: Scholarship winners are recognized before a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida Sunday, March 26, 2023.
(Photo by Kelly Gavin/Boston Red Sox)
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. 