May 2024

 Important Dates

May 3rd – Meeting
May 17th  – Meeting; ALL EOY trip deposit money due
May 24th-26th  – Spring Camping @ Hoover
June  1st – Dorney Park
June 7th  – Meeting
June 8th  – Junior/OG to Rafting trip
June 11th  – Daisy/Brownie Glitter Party
June 13th  – Ceremony
June 15th  – Cruise deposit due

Attendance

We have 2 more troop meetings, May 17th and June 7th, in which to complete our badge work for the scout year. If your daughter has missed too many meetings, she may not have completed all of her badge work and will not be able to receive the badges that the troop has worked on this scout year. Attending the final meetings allows your daughter the opportunity to possibly complete badgework.

Camping 

We had so much fun, we’re doing it again, but this time with friends! We’re going back to Camp Lou Henry Hoover in Newton, NJ, the weekend of May 24th-26th. We'll spend Friday and Saturday nights sleeping in heated all-weather cabins, alongside other girl scouts from Orange and East Orange. This time, we'll be able to go boating as it will be warm weather. As always, everyone will need a sleeping bag or bed roll. Please let me know if you need a supply list.

The trip is $10 per person, which covers the cost of dinner on Friday night and a Camp Hoover patch, is due May 17th. All other activities, food, cabin camping and transportation are included. The menu for Friday night will be chicken wings, yellow rice, salad and dessert. 

Remember, we will  be collecting electronics during the day and returning them to girls after dinner. 

Cookie Credit

On Friday, girls were given Cookie certificates for the credit they earned selling cookies as well as a redemption form. They were also given permission slips for all of the trips we are taking. You can pick and choose from which 2 trips you would like to apply the credit to. Please message me, if you need the amount of your daughter’s cookie credit. 

Dorney Park

Our end of the year trip is a day trip to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, PA. Admission includes the amusement park with roller coasters and thrill rides as well as a water park, Wildwater Kingdom, with water rides. Also included are unlimited refills of a souvenir drink cup and all-day meal wristband. With the wristband, girls will be able to get a meal or snack every 90 minutes while at the park.

The cost is $55 for girl scouts and includes admission, meals and transportation. However, girls can use up to $30 of their cookie credit to cover the cost. A $25 deposit is due Friday, May 17th to hold a spot. The cost for adult chaperones is $75. Space is limited on the bus, so make sure you get your deposit in by May 17th. Final payments are due May 31st. 

Special Age Level Trips

Like last year, we have day trips for each age level. Permission slips for all the special trips are going home today Please let me know if you need one. 

Daisy and Brownie Trip. Not the amusement park type? Just want to have more fun? We have a separate trip just for younger Girl Scouts. We are going to Gigi’s PrincessPalace in Bloomfield, for a Paint & Glitter Party. Girls will get to paint a canvas, get glittery makeup and have a dance party. on Tuesday, June 11th from 6:00-8:00p. The cost is $35, which includes the party and transportation admission and jump socks. However, girls can use up to $20 of their cookie credit to cover the cost. A $15 deposit is due Friday, May 17th to hold a spot. The balance is due on Monday, June 10th. 

Junior and OG Trip. Had other plans for Dorney Park weekend? Just want to have more fun? Here's a separate trip for older Girl Scouts. Have the time of your life river rafting at Whitewater Challengers, in Weatherly, PA. We’ll view the beautiful scenery as we paddle down the thrilling Lehigh River. The bus will leave at 9:00a and return at 7:30p. The cost is $65, which includes rafting, lunch, dinner and transportation. However, girls can use up to $35 of their cookie credit to cover the cost. A $30 deposit is due Friday, May 17th. The balance is due on Friday, June 7th. The cost for adult chaperones is $85.

CashApp

CashApp has determined that our troop is a business, despite being a non-profit organization. As a result, we can no longer use CashApp without incurring a fee. We are looking into other forms of payment with cheaper fees. While we search, our PayPal account is still active. Just use our email address, charter_girlscouts@yahoo.com, to make a payment. Another way to make a payment is to bring a sealed envelope with a check or cash payment to my office at 106 Washington St. You can also leave payments with the security guard, Mr Jones, if I am not in the building.

Ceremony

Please join us for our end of the year recognition ceremony on Thursday, June 13th from 5:30-7:00p in the Multipurpose Room at 99 Washington St. Girls will be recognized for all the hard work they have done this year. It's going to be a great party! Light Refreshments will be served. Let us know if you would be able to donate a dish for the celebration. Girls should have their scout uniforms and do NOT need to be picked up from school. Please note that the date of the ceremony has changed from the original calendar. 

Registration

It’s not too early to register for the 2024-2025 scout year. Registration is $40 for the upcoming year. You can send the payment by PayPal, just make sure to include your daughter’s name. You can also create an account and register online at gshnj.org. If you need a financial assistance form, they will be available at the ceremony. It's essential that you register soon, as our spots fill up quickly. 

Sail Away for the 2nd Time!

We cruised in 2023 and are planning another for 2026! The next cruise will be a 7-night cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Carnival Pride departing from Baltimore, MD in April 2026. The cruise is open to all girls who are entering the 7th grade in September 2024. Eligible older girls can bank their cookie credit, for 3 years, to reduce the cost of the cruise, which ranges $1165-$1665 per person depending on the cabin type and number of people in it. The cost includes cruise fare, taxes, tips, all transportation, T-shirt, a shore excursion and beverage card. A $100 non-refundable deposit is due June 15th, with monthly payments beginning in July. See Mrs. Holman for more information and the payment plan.