Dear Members, Volunteers, Parents, Alumnae and Friends of GSEP,

I'm excited to announce that it is officially Girl Scout Cookie Season, an important time when girls gain the valuable skills of goal setting, money management, business ethics, people skills and decision making.  

GSEP celebrated the start of Cookie Season with a Cookie Kickoff on January 16^th in downtown Philadelphia. The event was a great success, as local Girl Scouts sold cookies and got the public excited about two new flavors this year: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread and Cranberry Citrus Crisps.

GSEP is proud to be one of 20 councils across the country piloting the gluten free cookie, which speaks to the Girl Scout dedication to diversity and will allow more of our girls and individuals living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to partake in the fun!  We're especially excited to partner with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) this year in an effort to increase awareness about gluten sensitivities. 

As part of the Cookie Kickoff, I was honored to join two of our Girl Scouts and NFCA Vice President Jennifer North to talk with NBC 10 News Anchor Tracy Davidson about the benefits of cookie season and the new gluten free cookie. Click here to watch the interview. Be sure to check out our website for complete media coverage of the Cookie Kickoff and the latest updates on the Cookie Program.

I wish everyone a fun and successful Cookie Season, good luck Girl Scouts!

You can keep up to date on everything that's going on at GSEP by following us on Facebook and Twitter. And don't forget to let us know what you're up to as well! You can check out some of the photos that troops have shared with us recently at the end of this email.

Yours in Scouting,

Real Girls Social Impact Conference 

Saturday, March 15, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. 

Real Girls Social Impact Conference - Grades: K-5

Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia

Cost: $15 per girl

This is a girl-only event! Spend the morning with girls from across Eastern Pennsylvania as you become inspired to take action and make change in the world.

Daisies: Make your own petal power car as you discover how to protect natural resources. Connect with others as you take the stage and role-play ways to resolve conflict and explore your own feelings. Create an animal flip book and learn how you can stay safe while taking action to care for animals.

Brownies: Explore the wonders of water and think about the use of water around the world. You'll create passports to take on a journey to the country of Jordan where you'll explore how you can help girls in other parts of the world. 

Juniors: Become energized and use that energy to create your own bracelets from recycled paper beads. Discover how energy is used in your everyday life and create an Energy Pledge you can take action on. Put your critical thinking and design skills to the test as you examine products in your everyday life. Create your own product prototype that could help make the world a better place. 

Workshops are themed around the It's Your Planet- Love it! and It's Your Story-Tell it! Journeys. An Event Patch is included.  Space will be available for an adult lounge. If you have any questions or concerns, please email girlprogram@gsep.org. 

Saturday, March 15, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Real Girls Social Impact Conference - Grades: 6-12

Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia

Cost: $15 per girl

This is a girl-only event! Spend the afternoon with girls from across Eastern Pennsylvania as you become inspired to take action and make change in the world.

Cadettes: Tune out for an afternoon to think about the media you consume and examine the messages about girls and women being shared. Discover how you can take action and take back control of the image of girls and women in the media. Make some noise and experience peaceful silence while thinking about how clearing the air can make an impact.

Seniors: Become your best self as you explore how female bodies are portrayed in the media. You'll discover how the media can influence the way you see yourself and gain the tools to create a positive impact. Sow the seeds of change in healthy, sustainable living and understand how what you eat can help change the world. 

Ambassadors: Dream big, and achieve bigger! Hear from other young women who turned their dreams into reality and share your dreams to make an impact. Analyze your own carbon footprint and brainstorm ways to reduce it. Discover ways to take care of the planet and speak out for environmental justice to make the world a better place.

Workshops are themed around the It's Your Planet- Love it! and It's Your Story- Tell It! Journeys. An Event Patch is included. Space will be available for an adult lounge. If you have any questions or concerns, please email girlprogram@gsep.org. 

National Girl Scout Weekend is February 7-8th! 

In celebration, GSEP has once again joined forces with the culinary staff at renowned chef Emeril Legasse's restaurants at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem to create original dessert recipes which incorporate Girl Scout Cookies as ingredients. These unique cookie desserts will be available for purchase in all three restaurants beginning February 7 through the end of the month.

In addition, we're encouraging everyone in our council to join the fun on social media! We'll be participating in World's Largest Cookie Twitter Party on February 5 at 9pm!  Join us by using the hashtag #cookieboss.  

Cookie Booth Locator

On the lookout for cookies? Check out the mobile Cookie Booth Locator App to find out where you can pick up a box of your favorites!

Girl Scout Week and Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath

this year the celebration will run from Sunday, March 9 through Saturday, March 15. Every year, the week containing the Girl Scout Birthday (March 12) is bookended by celebrating the connection between Girl Scouts and their faith. Girl Scout Week begins the Sunday before March 12 (a day known as "Girl Scout Sunday") and extends through the Saturday following March 12 (a day known as "Girl Scout Sabbath"). Tools and resources for celebrating Girl Scout Week are available on our website.

Printed bulletin covers and inserts highlighting Girl Scouting and Girl Scout week may be ordered using the GS Sunday Order Form. Deadline for print orders is 3:00 pm, Monday, February 10. Submit orders to Linda Mikle at lmikle@gsep.org. Completed orders will be available for pick up at our service centers after February 20. You will be notified when your order is ready. Orders received after Feb. 10 will be fulfilled only if print overages permit, and will be on a first-come/first-serve basis. You can also download covers or inserts to print yourself on our website.