Enjoy a wide range of unique fall activities at Roca Berry Farm.  Girl Scouts, friends, parents and siblings can participate in everything from the Life-size Candyland Game to Hillybilly Bowling and one of fall's most treasured traditions: a hayrack ride out to the Pumpkin Patch to hunt for the perfect pumpkin. 
 
If the daytime events aren't thrilling enough for your little boos and ghouls, Roca Berry Farm presents Hauntfest 2008.  Prepare to be scared on the Psycho Path, a 15 minute walk into the eerie woods, and the Haunted Hayrack Ride, where you must stay on to stay alive!  
 
Roca Berry Farm is open daily, 9 a.m. - sunset, through October 31st.
Weekday rates: $5.25 per person.  Weekend rates: $7 per person.  Kids two and under are free.
 
Hauntfest is open every Friday and Saturday in October.  Hours are 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., or until capacity is reached.  Open every night October 26th - 30th, 6p.m. - 8:30 p.m., or until capacity is reached.
Admission: $12 per person.
 
For discounts on pumpkins and Hauntfest admission, click here.
 
To reach the Info Hauntline and Group Reservations, call (402) 421-2255.
For directions and more information, visit the Roca Berry website here.

Fall
The 2008 Fall Product Programs are in full swing throughout the Spirit of Nebraska Council.  Keep in mind that this year the program is delivered separately by service center area, so dates, products and particulars of the program will vary.
Here are the dates for Fall Product Programs in each area: 
Goldenrod Service Center - Based on local United Way Campaigns,
girls take orders Aug. 29- Sept. 22.
Homestead Service Center - Girls take orders from September 1 - October 20.
Guiding Star Service Center- Direct sale November 1st through December 1.
Great Plains & Prairie Hills Service Centers - Girls take orders from friends and family October 10 - 26.
For more information visit our website or call the service center in your area.
 
Cookies
Spirit of Nebraska Girl Scouts will be Going Places with the 2009 Cookie Program
Mark your calendars with these important dates for the 2009 state-wide cookie program:
January 9 - 26, 2009: Girls take door-to-door orders
January 26, 2009: All orders due to Troop Cookie Manager (TCM)
February 23 - 27, 2009: Troops pick up cookies
February 23 - March 13, 2009: Girls deliver cookies and COLLECT MONEY
March 13, 2009: ALL money due to Troop Cookie Manager (TCM)
March 13 - April 5, 2009: Cookie Booths are open
 
Complete program information will follow in our next e-news and is available at your service center.

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska wants you to take advantage of all the wonderful programs we provide.  Below are just a few of the program events - listed by service center area - featured in your Fall 2008 Program Book.  For more information and registration, consult your program book or the service center nearest you.  
 
Guiding Star
Hazel's Pumpkin Patch
Celebrate Juliette Low's birthday with the Girl Scouts at Hazels Pumpkin Patch. You will pick your own pumpkin and go on a Hayrack ride.
Friday, October, 17                       10 a.m.-6 p.m.                                           $6

Ft. Collins Detour Theater Trip
Arrive in style in a custom touring bus, have lunch on the town, then tour the Colorado State University Fort Collins campus. Shopping and dinner are followed by a performance of "White Christmas" at the Carousel Dinner Theater.
Saturday, November 8- Sunday, November 9         timeTBA                         $120
 
Goldenrod
Guy and I Dance
Get ready to dance the night away at this special "Guy and I" Disco Night! Bring your Dad, Grandpa, or your favorite uncle.
Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE
Sunday, November 2                                     5-8 p.m.                             $9 a pair

G.S.I Aurora
Have you ever wanted to be a CSI like you see on TV?  Earn your "Science Sleuth" badge and a CSI patch.
Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora, NE.
Friday, November 7- Saturday, November 8         6 p.m. to 10 a.m.               $30
 
Prairie Hills
Junior Jeweler
Learn about gems and their symbolism, jewelry and jewelry boxes!  You will earn the Junior Jeweler Badge.
Wayne Middle School in Wayne, NE.
Saturday, October 18                10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.                                     $12

Sew Glamorous
Make a polar fleece hat to donate, "Glam" up your jeans and decorate a bandanna. You can earn the Sew Glam IP.
First Christian Church in Norfolk, NE.
Saturday, October 25               10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.                                         $16
 
Homestead
Petal Pushers
Bring your bike, water bottle and all your safety gear and head down one of Lincoln's most beautiful bike trails.  You will also learn about bike safety, bike care and helmet fitting.
Mo-Pac Trail in Lincoln (84th street entrance), NE.
Saturday, October 18                       1-3 p.m.                                                   $4

Queens of the Court
Learn to play volleyball! You will participate in skills practice at a coaches clinic, then you will pull up your knee pads and play the game.
Abbott Sports Complex in Lincoln, NE.
Saturday, October 18                        9:30 a.m.                                                $16
 
 
Great Plains Service Center
Haunted Hayrack Ride and Bonfire
Who's ready for a frightfully fun time?  All girls in grades 6-12 are invited to attend the annual Haunted Hayrack Ride and Bonfire at the Bellevue Berry Farm in Papillion, NE. 
Friday, October 17                           7-10 p.m.                                              $20

Teen Court
Future lawyers, judges and anyone else interested in how the legal system works will want to come to Teen Court. You'll get to attend a mock trial and observe the volunteer Sarpy County Teen Court in action. For girls in 6-12th grade.
Sarpy County Courthouse, Papillion, NE.
Tuesday, October 28                        6-7p.m.                                                  $5
 
(The information below is NOT in the program book).
 
artVenture
Explore your inner artist, artVenture 2009 is just around the corner!  We're busy recruiting artists and scheduling Artist-Girl Scout collaboration workshops.  The Youth Artist application forms will be available on November 1 and girls will have until November 30th to return them.  All workshops will take place in January and February. Contact Lori Williamson at 402.558.8189, x. 239 or lwilliamson@girlscoutsnebraska.org for more information
 
destinations
Girls from Great Plains Service Center who are applying for 2009 destinations are reminded that applications are due October 31, 2008.  For more information, please contact Corinne Anderson at 402.558.8189, x214.

Juliette's Boutique, in the Great Plains Service Center in Omaha, is looking for a bright and enthusiastic part-time staffmember to help in the store.  Duties include: cash handling, helping customers, stocking, organizing and basic cleaning.  Knowledge of Girl Scouting helpful.  Hours are flexible, but generally Tuesday through Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and some Saturday afternoons. Interested applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Please contact Erin Huerter via email ehuerter@girlscoutsnebraska.org or 402.558.8189 ext. 224. Thanks!

Keep 'em coming!  The Name the Spirit of Nebraska Newsletter Contest is still underway for five more days. The winning submission, be it from an adult or girl member or a troop, will be awarded a very cool prize: a $100 Gift Certificate to Dairy Queen and your picture(s) on the cover of the very first issue!  WOW. Don't wait, enter our "Name the Spirit of Nebraska Newsletter" contest by emailing your ideas to Sarah at: seden@girlscoutsnebraska.org. 
 
A few rules:  Enter as often as you like.  If two entries are the same and we pick that name, the first one entered will win. There is no purchase necessary and the decision of our panel of judges is final.  Contest deadline is October 10th at 5 p.m., CST, so hurry. 

 

Earn the Gold Award 4B Challenge charm in one afternoon! Gather information to help you choose a Gold Award project and network with area organizations to discover your community.  For more information, contact Joanne Savicky toll free at 1.877.447.5888 x 211 or jsavicky@girlscoutsnebraska.org.  This workshop is being held in the Omaha area, but is open to girls throughout Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, please join us.  For details and registration click here.

 

GIRL SCOUTS SPIRIT OF NEBRASKA NEEDS YOUR HELP!  Our cookie program, shop sales and program fees cover only a portion of the actual cost of operating our 25,000 member organization.  It is crucial that we receive additional support from individuals and families like you, who believe in and support the efforts of our now statewide council.  Please consider giving a gift that is meaningful to you. Your contribution will stay in our council and will directly support Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska.
For more information, or to make your annual gift, please contact Melissa Murante at 877.447.5558 x206 or mmurante@girlscoutsnebraska.org.

 

Please visit our website and the Adult Training page to preview our statewide training schedule. Leaders must register for training a minimum of five days prior to the training date. Registration deadlines are noted on the schedule. Leaders are to register with Trish Streur, training registrar, at the Great Plains Service Center. You may contact her at 1.877.447.5558 x221 or email: psteur@girlscoutsnebraska.org.
 
In-person training remains the best training option for our leaders. However, if schedules do not allow leaders to attend an in-person training, the online and self-study trainings are alternatives.  See website for more details.
 
Specialty trainings such as: Outdoor, CPR/FA, Leader In Training (LIT), and Program Aide will be scheduled by request with Janice Donoghue at jdonoghue@girlscoutsnebraska.org.
 
The process to create a new and consistent statewide training package will begin very soon! An initial draft will be ready by April 1, 2009, with pilot testing occurring through August 2009. By this time next year, we plan to showcase new leader training via in-person, webinar, online, and self-study options!