Register now for our Believe in Girls Walk/Run on Nov. 24. The walk/run will begin at the GSEM Service Center. Join us as we "move" into our next 100 years of Girl Scouting. Participate in a five mile walk/run or a one mile walk/run. This is a perfect event for your troop as well as the whole family. Every participant will receive a "one of a kind" participation medal and a T-shirt. Visit our website for more information.

If you're interested in working with kids and robots, come to the Missouri Educational Robotics Conference on Nov. 9-11 in Jefferson City. Missouri 4-H and the Missouri AfterSchool Network is offering this conference to adult volunteers, teachers, afterschool staff and teens who are interested in learning about the rapidly growing opportunity to help our young people learn more about science, using robots as an avenue. The conference will feature presentations, workshops and demonstrations covering a range of interests and expertise about robot technology, robot competitions, youth development and program development. 

Please visit http://4h.missouri.edu/events/robotcon/ for more information and to register.

Our 2012 Fall Product Program begins this Saturday, Nov. 3. On GO Day, girls start taking product orders and can send emails to their customers about E-Nuts+ and E-Connect. GSEM offers a wide variety of items that make great holiday gifts, including delicious treats, a limited edition collectible Girl Scout tin and popular magazine titles. Customers can renew their magazine subscriptions and support Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri at the same time.

For more information, visit our website and click on the Fall Product Program banner.

Come support our Girl Scout FIRST® LEGO® League teams! GSEM is currently working with 20 amazing FLL teams who are learning to build and program a robot and research the "Senior Solutions" challenge of improving the quality of life for seniors. Come see what the program is all about and cheer our Girl Scout teams on at the regional qualifying events. Qualifiers are free, open to the public and take place on the following dates from approximately 8:45 am-4 pm:

Saturday 11/10/12

Q1 - Brittany Woods Middle School

Q2 - Hazelwood East Middle Schools

Sunday 11/11/12

Q3 - Bishop DuBourg High School

Q4 - Brittany Woods Middle School

Saturday 11/17/12

Q5 - MICDS

Q6 - St. Charles Community College

Sunday 11/18/12

Q7 - MICDS

Q8 - St. Charles Community College

GSEM invites Girl Scouts of all ages to earn a special centennial patch to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting. This patch will be available to purchase in the GS Shop through March 12, 2013.

Below is an example of one of the Centennial Patch Program activities that girls may choose to do with their friends at a Girl Scout meeting.

Connect: Activity 3 Share your Vision

Think about your life as a Girl Scout and what is important to you and your troop. Is there a traditional opening or activity that you share? Do you work as a team at your meetings? Research and find out about other cool women and girls who have contributed to Girl Scouting as we know it today. What do you think they would do different for the future? Write a short story or make up a skit and show at least three elements of your own Girl Scouting culture within the story or skit. Share this with other Girl Scouts.

GSEM would love to hear about your Centennial Patch Program activities and encourage you to post pictures or your interesting stories on GSEM's Facebook page.

Contacts:

Lucretia Penn, Suburban Team, 314.592.2337, lpenn@girlscoutsem.org

Jessica Upchurch, Rural Team, 314.592.2359, jupchurch@girlscoutsem.org

All Ages

"Carol for a Cause" this Holiday Season 

Make plans for your troop to go caroling this season. It's a special way to celebrate the holidays by bringing joy to listeners in December while collecting funds to help area children throughout the new year. Donations collected will go to help 4+ metro St. Louis agencies, including Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. 

Troops choose their caroling date and location, singing in your neighborhood, school or church community.

Girls may also carol at Lambert Airport, shopping centers such as The Boulevard in Richmond Heights, The Meadows in Lake St. Louis, the Schnucks on The Hill, Soulard Market and other public locations. Check the website for a current list.

To participate, call 314.863.1225 and you'll be connected with your Area Chairman who will schedule your caroling and provide supplies, including a collection can, song sheets and logos. Or, visit www.stlchristmascarols.org and submit your information on the form found us on the "Join Us" page. Caroling satisfies requirements for Seasons of Giving.

For questions, email stlcca@att.net.

Note: Girl Scouts have caroled for St. Louis Christmas Carols Association for many years and is one of the recipients of funds raised. Girl members may carol and supervising adults are responsible for taking donations. For more information, see the Blue Books of Basic Documents, 2012 edition, Solicitation of Contributions, p.21.

Girl Scouts Speak Out! PSA Contest

It doesn't have to be like this...

Cliques. Gossip. Whispering in the hallway. Rumors that spread through text messages and on the Internet. These are just some of the ways that bullying causes girls to feel afraid and alone. And, when it comes to bullying, the facts can be scary:

- Everyday, 160,000 students stay home from school because they fear being bullied

- More than half of teens say they witness bullying at least once a day at school

- When a girl is bullied, 85% of the time nobody steps in to help her

You have the power to change it. More than half the time, when peers speak up bullying stops within 10 seconds.

Make a PSA that tells people what the world would look like if all girls treated each other with kindness and respect and no one was bullied - at school, online or out in the world. What would it look like? What can you do to help get us there?

Visit the website for more information. Girl Scouts Speak Out! will accept entries through Jan. 31, 2013. Voting will close on Feb. 16, 2013.

Batman Live

Dec. 7-9 @ the Chaifetz Arena

For the first time in DC Comics' history, Batman, the world's most popular DC Super Hero, is now an all-new, live-action arena spectacular, which is taking the world by storm. Batman Live is a $15 million stage production with an original story featuring a 43 strong cast of actors and circus trained acrobats, a 3D Gotham City landscape, a bespoke symphonic score, custom-built state of the art stage, a 100 foot bat-shaped LED video wall, pyrotechnics and the impressive Batmobile. Girl Scout tickets are $22 and $32 and include a patch. These prices are available for all show dates and times. 

For more information or to order tickets, call Cortney Putters, 314.977.5008.

The Nutcracker

Dec. 14-23 @ Touhill Performing Arts Center

A mysterious party guest, a heroic prince and the "Land of the Sweets" all come to life for 13 full-length performances when the Saint Louis Ballet performs Gen Horiuchi's "The Nutcracker." This beloved holiday ballet presented at the Touhill Performing Arts Center guarantees to captivate audiences with magic and intrigue. Audiences of all ages embrace this holiday tradition, and Saint Louis Ballet is delighted to present it for the 13th year.

Groups of 20 or more will receive a 35% discount off a regular priced ticket. The discounted rate is available by calling the Touhill at 314.516.4940.

If you have questions, pleast call 636.537.1998 or email becky@stlouisballet.org. Visit www.stlouisballet.org for more information.

The Fabulous Fox

527 North Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103, 314.534.1678

The Fabulous Fox is celebrating 30 years of Broadway with discounts for Girl Scouts. Once a show goes on sale, Girl Scout groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets online, by phone, at the Fox Box Office or by filling out the mail order form. Find out more information.

Nutcracker on Ice

Dec. 8 and 9, shows at 2 pm and 5 pm @ Webster Groves Ice Arena, 33 E. Glendale Road., Webster Groves, MO 63119

Bring your troop to the Nutcracker on Ice, St. Louis' premier ice show. Girl Scouts of all ages will enjoy this abridged one-hour version of the Nutcracker. Skaters in costume will glide across the shimmering ice to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite with a magical castle and holiday sets as the backdrop. The cast includes 100 area figure skaters including high level competitive skaters that will spin and jump their way through this holiday classic. Our special Girl Scout group ticket is $10 and includes reserved seating, collectible Nutcracker on Ice custom patch, meet and greet with the cast prior to the show, a show treat bag and two free Troop Leader tickets when six Girl Scout tickets are purchased. Shows do sell out, so plan your outing early and reserve your tickets as soon as possible. 

For ticket information, go to www.nutcrackeronice.org, and contact gstickets@nutcrackeronice.org for questions.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Come to Girl Scout Night at the Peabody Opera House on Nov. 9 for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes. Tickets start at just $25 and a special pre-show presentation will begin at 6:30 pm.

For more information, visit http://peabodyoperahouse.com/events/girl-scout-night.

My Promise, My Faith Pin

Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law and includes many of the principles and values common to most faiths. Girls of all grade levels can earn the My Promise, My Faith pin developed by Girl Scouts of the USA. This pin, which girls can earn once a year, complements existing religious recognitions and allows all girls to further strengthen the connection between their faith and Girl Scouts. A girl earns the My Promise, My Faith pin by carefully examining the Girl Scout Law and directly tying it to her faith. Requirements for the pin are included in The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for all levels.

Religious Recognitions

Religious recognitions were developed by individual religious organizations/groups to encourage the spiritual growth of their youth members and reinforce many of the values integral to Girl Scouting. While My Promise, My Faith helps girls connect Girl Scouting with their faith, the religious recognitions programs help girls grow stronger in and learn more specifically about their faith. A girl works with her family and religious leaders to complete requirements for these recognitions. Girl Scouts does not endorse any specific religion; it does foster and support an inclusive environment in which girls develop respect for people of all faiths.

Visit www.interfaithcalendar.org to view interfaith calendars to help you work with girls to avoid scheduling Girl Scout activities that conflict with religious holidays.

Contacts:

GSEM - Lucretia Penn, 314.592.2337, lpenn@girlscoutsem.org

Catholic Committee - Ann Lederman, 314.792.7608, annlederman@archstl.org

Christian (Protestant) Committee - Deb Hazelwood, 314.849.4235, debh@praypub.org

Grades K-3

"Where Does Rain Water Go?"

Nov. 17, 1-3 pm @ the St. Peters City Hall, One City Centre Blvd, St. Peters 63376

Fleur de Lis Garden Society presents the 2nd annual "Where Does Rain Water Go?" Join Master Storyteller, Bobby Norfolk, in a "Journey into the Myth, Fantasy and Truth about Water, the Fourth Element." Girls working on their It's Your Planet-Love It! WOW Wonders of Water Journey will learn the importance of appreciating this valuable source, water.

The event is free but theater seating is limited. Please register at www.fleurdelisgardensociety.org.

 Grades 1-12

Great Amazing Race for Youth

Nov. 11, 1-5 pm @ Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park, 2348 Creve Coeur Mill Rd., St. Louis 63146

Cost for team entry is $30 (adult/kid or kid/kid), one or both participants must be a student in grades 1-12

As a thank you to the Girl Scouts for their dedication to youth development, all Girl Scout families can enjoy 25% off admission to participate in the Great Amazing Race for Youth, a fun and memory-making family activity. Kids in grades 1-12 pair up with a parent, grandparent, sibling or mentor and compete in a series of fun challenges patterned after the show The Amazing Race. Whether you run, jog, walk or watch, it'll be an experience you'll never forget.

This rain or shine event pits teams of two against other teams across a one-mile cross-country course. Clue cards at each station instruct the teams to complete a task (game, relay, obstacle course, etc) before proceeding to the next challenge station. Contestants should be prepared to get a little dirty and wet - it's part of the fun!

Sign up now at www.GreatAmazingRace.com; click on St. Louis. Enter Girl Scouts in the Courtesy Of box at the bottom of the registration page to qualify for the special rate. Online registration will close once the 100 team limit is reached.

Contact Race Director, 513.518.0528 or email info@flyingcolorsports.com for more information.

Volunteer and receive a free team entry for your family. Sign up at www.GreatAmazingRace.com and click on St. Louis.

Grades 2-3

"Family of God" Catholic Faith-Building Program

Family of God, first offered in 1981, is the official religious recognition program of the Roman Catholic Church. It is an activity series developed the complement the catechetical efforts of the parish and families. 

Girls in grades 2-3 who are enrolled in the Girl Scouts of the USA can earn this religious award.

In the Family of God program, parents and guardians play a large role in assisting girls in completing activities and that can take up to three or four months if done within an organizational setting. The program includes a guide for adults. Medals are presented each year at your local parish service.

The program helps girls discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish and understand that they are special in their family's eyes and most importantly in God's eyes.

The chapters include:

- I am Special to my Family

- I am Special to God's Family

- I Belong to my Family

- I Belong to God's Family

- I Can Help my Family

- I Can Help God's Family

For more information on Catholic Girl Scout awards, contact the Office of Catholic Scouting at www.catholicscoutingstl.org or call 314.792.7608 or 314.792.7613. 

Grades 2-10

Challenger Learning Center

205 Brotherton Lane, St. Louis 63135

The Challenger Learning Center now has several Journey workshops available to Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors. Several Our Own Council Badge workshops are also available. In addition, the center offers overnight programs for Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes.

View a flyer.

Program dates and times can be arranged with the Challenger Learning Center by calling 314.521.6205 or emailing info@clcstlouis.org.

Girl Scout Days at the Science Center

Dec. 1 & 2 @ St. Louis Science Center

Registration for Girl Scout Days is now open. Come celebrate in science-style with two full days of programs and discounts just for Girl Scouts. All girls in uniform will be able to take advantage of discounts for Omnimax films, tickets to the James S. McDonnell Planetarium and the Discovery Room. Call 314.289.4400 or 1.800.456.SLSC x400 to register.

- $8 per workshop per Girl Scout or $7 for SLSC members.

- Parking is $10 per vehicle in the main lot and free at the Planetarium lot. Drivers who park in the main lot can pick up a $5 parking coupon at check-in.

- Free chaperones must attend the workshops at a ratio of one for every five children, but they do not need to register. Additional chaperones may be asked to leave the classroom if space is at a premium.

- Activity patches are not available at the Science Center. All girls will receive a souvenir participation patch and a 2012 rocker segment. Girls who have already received a souvenir patch from a previous Girl Scout Days will get the 2012 rocker segment.

Grades 6-12

Career Exploration

Dec. 5, 4-6 pm (check-in begins at 3:30 pm) @ Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse, St. Louis

This program will help satisfy many of the suggested career explorations for girls working on a Journey or badge. Girls will interact with female professionals including law enforcement officers, attorneys and even a federal judge. Learn about how they use skills like leadership, communication, conflict resolution, advocacy and investigation in their careers. Come prepared with questions.

The workshop is free, but reservations are required and space is limited. To register, call Rachel Marshall, the Public Education and Community Outreach Administrator at the Eagleton Courthouse, 314.244.2410, Rachel_Marshall@ca8.uscourts.gov.

Reservation deadline is Nov. 26.

Examples:

Cadette: Finding Common Ground badge, Special Agent badge, aMAZE Journey

Senior: Behind the Ballot badge, Truth Seeker badge, GIRLtopia Journey, Mission:Sisterhood Journey

Ambassador: Public Policy badge, Your Voice, Your World Journey, JUSTICE Journey, BLISS Journey

Winter GAM

Jan. 18-20 @ Camp Tuckaho, Troy 63379

$22 per person

Deadline: Dec. 17

Winter GAM is a gathering for girls who like water sports such as swimming, canoeing or sailing. Winter GAM is hosted by the Girl Scout Mariners who welcome other girls and Mariners alike to spend a fun weekend at camp. The event includes playing games and learning water sport instruction and sea shanties. Participants do not get in the water during this event.

Girl Scout Mariners are girls in grades 7-12 and adult volunteers who enjoy water activities. They are part of "Ships" who get together during the year for fun, friendship and activities. The capstone Mariner event is Summer GAM, which is a week-long resident camp just for Mariners. Girls and adults interested in joining the Mariner program are encouraged to attend Winter GAM.

For more information, contact Lucretia Penn, 314.592.2337, lpenn@girlscoutsem.org.

Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge

Send your best, innovative and creative redesigns to the Stratasays 3D printing company, and you could win your own 3D printer. Everyone who enters will receive an official T-shirt. The top 10 entries will have their redesigns printed on a 3D printer. 

Fashioned for Eternity

Dec. 1, 8:30 am Mass-3:30 pm Closing Prayer @ Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis 63119

Girl Scouts are welcome to attend a Pre-Advent Conference for women and girls grades 6-12 on the Feminine Genius. The Archdiocese of St. Louis and Endow invite you to consider the truth about your nature, dignity and identity as a woman. Girl Scouts and Leaders will receive a special patch for attending the day. Presenters include Eileen Love, M.T.S Endow and Kathleen McGovern, Office of Youth Ministry.

Cost:

Adults $80

Youth $40

* The first 40 youth to register will receive an additional $20 discount.

Group pricing:

1 adult + 1 youth = $99

1 adult + 2 youth = $115

1 adult + 3 youth =  $145

Space is limited. Please register by Nov. 14. Visit www.EndowGroups.org and click on the "Events" tab.

For more information, call 314.792.7460 or judyshipp2@archstl.org.

Grades 10-12

Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program at the Navy Lab

This program places academically talented high school students with interest and ability in science and mathematics as apprentices in the Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research laboratories for eight weeks during the summer. These students work with scientists and engineers who act as mentors. The program offers students a unique and positive experience in their fields of interest, thus encouraging them to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Students must have completed grade 9 and be 16 years old (for most labs). This is a paid apprenticeship. Apply by Jan. 7, 2013.

Visit http://seap.asee.org/ for more information.