Critical Issues Programs
Girl Scouts of Nassau County is committed to helping girls develop physical and emotional strength. We have programs for current Girl Scouts, Parents, and community groups such as PTAs, schools, religious groups, and sports teams. Click the links below information about these programs.
Programs for Girl Scouts, non-registered girls, and adults:
- Girl Speak
- Volunteer Training
- Meet the Author Day
- Surviving Bullies Event with Guest Speaker Jamie Isaacs
- Be Friendly for Brownies - AT CAPACITY
- Be Friendly for Juniors - AT CAPACITY
- Film Screening and Discussion of Killing Us Softly 4
GIRL SPEAK
Are you interested in talking about important issues, like bullying or body image? Would you like to helps others deal with these issues? Join Girl Speak, our leadership and advocacy series for older girls.
Members of Girl Speak will:
- Develop leadership, teamwork and project management skills by talking about topics that are of interest to them and developing projects* to take action on these issues in their community. Topics may include bullying, body image, relationships, or other ideas the girls develop.
- Help with national campaigns about these issues.
- Connect with female mentors on career skills, body image, and other issues.
- Practice skills that can be utilized for Gold and Silver Awards.
- Participate in an advocacy trip to Albany for a subsidized fee.
- Receive a Girl Speak patch and t-shirt.
- Attend an end-of-year party.
Our meetings will take place on the dates below. For more information, please contact Eliza Zipper, Advocacy and Critical Issues Coordinator, 516.741.2550 x254.
WHO: Middle and High School (Gr. 6-12) Girls who are current or past Girl Scouts, or who are new to scouting.
DATES: All meetings will take place on the last Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:30pm. **Exceptions include school holidays in December and March.
9/27/12, 10/25/12, 11/29/12, **12/20/12, 1/24/13, 2/28/13, **3/21/13, 4/25/13, 5/30/13, 6/27/13
TIME: 7:00-8:30pm
PLACE: GSNC Service Center, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City
COST: $15.00 per year for Girl Scout members; $30.00 per year for non-members.
REGISTER:
- Current Girl Scout members - Click here to register online and pay the $15.00. Then read, sign, and send the this participation agreement back to Girl Scouts.
- Non-members - Click here to register online and pay the $30.00 fee. Then read, sign, and send the this participation agreement back to Girl Scouts.
QUESTIONS: Contact Eliza Zipper, Program and Critical Issues Manager, 516.741.2550 x254.
*Girl Speak projects can help girls develop ideas or complete certain tasks for Silver, Gold, or Journey Awards.
MEET THE AUTHOR DAY
Do you like writing? Are you interested in learning what it takes to publish a book? Meet Yvonne Capitelli, author and publisher of Daria Rose and the Day She Chose. Ms. Capitelli will help girls learn how to make healthy choices, explore what it takes to be an author and publisher, and write their own stories.
WHO: This program is for Juniors. Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are invited to help.
WHEN: Sunday, February 10th.
TIME: Juniors meet from 2:15-4:15pm, older girls help from 1:30-4:15pm.
PLACE: Rockville Centre Public Library, 221 North Village Avenue, Rockville Centre
COST: $13.00 per Junior Girl Scout, free for Cadette helpers
REGISTER: Junior Girl Scouts register here. Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador helpers register here.
QUESTIONS: Contact Eliza Zipper, Program and Critical Issues Manager, 516.741.2550 x254.
CRITICAL ISSUES VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Do you know girls who have been bullied? Or who have issues with friends, or body image problems? Would you like to help girls confront these problems? We are looking for a few good volunteers to lead programs for schools and community groups. Don’t worry, we will train and prepare you until you are comfortable to work with groups on these issues.
WHO: All adult community members, including parents, teachers, Troop Leaders, coaches, etc.
WHEN: 10/18/12 OR 1/14/12. Volunteers can attend EITHER of these trainings. Sessions are also scheduled for groups of at least 5 people on an as-needed-basis. If you can not attend either of these sessions, please contact Eliza Zipper, Advocacy and Critical Issues Coordinator, 516.741.2550 x254.
TIME: 7:30-9:00pm
PLACE: GSNC Service Center, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City
COST: Free for current adult Girl Scout members. $12.00 for non-members. Financial aid is available. If you are not a member and cannot pay this fee, please contact Eliza Zipper at the email address or phone number below.
REGISTER:
* For the 10/18/12 Training - Current members click here. Non-members click here.
* For the 1/14/13 Training. Current members click here. Non-members click here.
QUESTIONS: Contact Eliza Zipper, Program and Critical Issues Manager, 516.741.2550 x254.
ELIGIBILITY: In exchange for this training, we ask that all participants commit to observe or help with AT LEAST 2 programs over the next 12 months.
Be Friendly for Brownies 
-THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY. NO ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
Being friends with other girls can be tough. Explore friendship-building skills like how to express feelings and be a better friend through fun games and activities. Receive a certificate, patch, and Friendly’s coupon.
WHO: Brownies
WHEN:Tuesday, November 6th 2012 (Election Day)
TIME: 9:30am-11:00am
PLACE: Friendly’s, 3287 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, NY 11756
REGISTER here
COST:
- $5.00 per registered Girl Scout, free for accompanying adults
- $25.00 per non-registered Girl Scouts, free for accompanying adults (includes Girl Scout membership)
QUESTIONS: Contact Eliza Zipper at 516.741.2550 ext. 254
IMPORTANT:
- Girls who are registered with Troops must have a Troop Leader accompany them. Girls who are registered as individuals must have a parent/guardian accompany them. Due to space limitations, parents are not permitted to accompany girls who will also have a Troop Leader with them.
- Food will NOT be served at this program. Girls can stay afterwards with their parent/guardian or Troop Leader and use their Friendly’s coupon for food.
Be Friendly for Juniors - THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY. NO ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
Being friends with other girls can be tough. Explore friendship-building skills like how to express feelings and be a better friend through fun games and activities. Receive a certificate, patch, and Friendly’s coupon.
WHO: Juniors
WHEN: Monday, November 12th 2012 (Veteran's Day)
TIME: 9:30am-11:00am
PLACE: Friendly’s, 150 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, NY 11791
REGISTER here
COST:
- $5.00 per registered Girl Scout, free for accompanying adults
- $25.00 per non-registered Girl Scouts, free for accompanying adults (includes Girl Scout membership)
QUESTIONS: Contact Eliza Zipper at 516.741.2550 ext. 254
IMPORTANT:
- Girls who are registered with Troops must have a Troop Leader accompany them. Girls who are registered as individuals must have a parent/guardian accompany them. Due to space limitations, parents are not permitted to accompany girls who will also have a Troop Leader with them.
- Food will NOT be served at this program. Girls can stay afterwards with their parent/guardian or Troop Leader and use their Friendly’s coupon for food.
KILLING US SOFTLY 4: Film screening and discussion about perceptions of girls and women in the media.
Explore how the media reinforces unhealthy perceptions of beauty, perfection, and sexuality. This
humorous and eye-opening documentary will be followed by a discussion of how to build healthy and confident girls in your home or group. Girls will engage in a separate discussion of how they can take action on these issues. For more details on the film, go to Killing Us Softly 4.
WHO: All Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (with parental consent) and adults, including parents, Troop Leaders, and community members
DATE: Wednesday, December 12th 2012 **Please note this date/time has changed since Possibilities was printed.
TIME: 6:45pm-8:45pm **Please note this date/time has changed since Possibilities was printed.
PLACE: Malverne Public Library, 61 St Thomas Place, Malverne, NY 11565
COST: $5.00 per person for registered Girl Scouts and adults. $18.00 per person for non-registered Girl Scouts.
REGISTER: Click to Register for KILLING US SOFTLY 4: Film Screening and Discussion
QUESTIONS: Contact Eliza Zipper at 516.741.2550 ext. 254
IMPORTANT: Because this film raises awareness about the ways women are depicted in the media, it does contain some violent and sexual images. Parents/guardians of attending girls must download the consent form. Please mail or fax the signed form back to GSNC. All consent forms must be received by Friday, December 7th.
Eliza Zipper
Program and Critical Issues Manager
516.741.2550 x254
We want to be better at all we do. Please tell us if there is a critical issue you would like to see us address,