GIRL SCOUTS OF MN AND WI RIVER VALLEYS INC
400 ROBERT STREET SOUTH, ST PAUL, MN 55107 www.girlscoutsrv.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. THE GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM ENCOURAGES HEALTHY CHOICES, INDEPENDENCE, POSITIVE DECISION-MAKING, AND SELF-RELIANCE. GIRL SCOUTS ARE ABLE TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIALS AND LEARN THE STRONGEST LIFE SKILLS WHILE BEING TAUGHT HOW TO DEAL WITH KEY ISSUES FACING YOUNG WOMEN TODAY.

GIRL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:GIRL SCOUTS IS THE PREEMINENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION FOR GIRLS. FOR OVER 100 YEARS, GIRL SCOUTS GIVES GIRLS THE TOOLS TO LEAD, BREAK BARRIERS, AND CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE. EVERY GIRL DESERVES ACCESS TO A SAFE AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT WHERE SHE CAN STAND UP FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN AND BE PROUD OF WHO SHE IS. EVERYTHING A GIRL SCOUT DOES IS CENTERED AROUND STEM, THE OUTDOORS, DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND IS DESIGNED TO MEET HER WHERE SHE IS NOW-AND GROW ALONG WITH HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WHETHER IT'S CLIMBING MOUNTAINS, SPEAKING HER MIND, OR DREAMING UP TECHNOLOGY-EVERYTHING GIRL SCOUTS DO IS DEVELOPED ESPECIALLY FOR, AND IS TESTED, BY GIRLS. 2020 WAS A YEAR FULL OF CHALLENGES, GIRLS NEEDED US MORE THAN EVER, AND RIVER VALLEYS WAS QUICK TO RESPOND. IN JUST A MATTER OF WEEKS, RIVER VALLEYS CREATED VIRTUAL STEM, OUTDOOR, AND LEADERSHIP EVENTS THAT INSPIRED GIRLS TO STAY CONFIDENT AND CONNECTED. DURING A TIME OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ISOLATION, WE MADE SURE GIRLS COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP KEY SKILLS, STAY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER, AND PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES. BEGINNING SPRING 2020, RIVER VALLEYS HELD 82 VIRTUAL EVENTS WITH 3,134 EVENT ATTENDEES. THROUGH OUR GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME PROGRAM, GIRLS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND VIRTUAL EVENTS, EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS, AND 534 GIRLS EARNED THEIR GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME PATCH BY SHARING THEIR STORIES. WHEN RACIAL INJUSTICE IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY, RIVER VALLEYS HOSTED COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND RACIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERS AND STAFF OUR TOP CONCERN, RIVER VALLEYS MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CANCEL ALL SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS FOR 2020. THE SUMMER ADVENTURE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE GIRLS A WAY TO STAY ENGAGED AND CONNECTED OVER THE SUMMER. THIS PROGRAM OFFERED VIRTUAL (GUIDED) AND UNPLUGGED OPTIONS FOR GIRLS TO LEARN NEW THINGS AND EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE FUN AND JOY OF CAMP. 963 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN OUR VIRTUAL CAMP PROGRAMS WITH 239 GIRLS SELECTING THE GUIDED OPTION AND 690 GIRLS CHOOSING THE UNPLUGGED OPTION. HALF OF THE UNPLUGGED PARTICIPANTS HAD NEVER ATTENDED IN-PERSON GIRL SCOUT CAMP BEFORE. ONE GIRL SCOUT PARENT STATED "I SAW HER SMILING, SINGING, AND ENGAGING WITH THE CAMP ACTIVITIES IN A WAY I DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE WITH ONLINE CAMP. THIS WAS A BRIGHT WEEK IN A SUMMER FULL OF CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES."GIRL SCOUTS CONNECTZ PATHWAY BRINGS A CULTURALLY RELEVANT GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TO ALMOST 2,800 GIRLS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TRAINED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, CONNECTZ PROVIDES GIRLS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER, CONNECT, AND TAKE-ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE CONNECTZ PROGRAM REDUCES BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND ENSURES ACCESS TO ALL GIRLS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCE. DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED YEAR, GIRL SCOUTS CONNECTZ WAS ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR GIRLS. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FREE PROGRAMMING TO GIRLS, ADAPTING OUR DELIVERY METHODS TO REFLECT THE CURRENT REALTY. WHETHER IT WAS ONLINE TROOP MEETINGS, SENDING ACTIVITY KITS HOME, ATTENDING VIRTUAL EVENTS, OR SAFELY MEETING IN PERSON, OUR MISSION REMAINED THE SAME ENSURING GIRL SCOUTS IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY GIRL.THE GOLD AWARD IS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GIRL SCOUTS AND IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN THE WORLD FOR GIRLS AND THE MOST DIFFICULT TO EARN. THE GOLD AWARD IS ONLY OPEN TO GIRLS IN HIGH SCHOOL. GROUNDED IN REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS, GIRLS DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR COMMUNITY, MASTER TIME MANAGEMENT, AND PRACTICE FINANCIAL PLANNING. GIRLS TACKLE AN ISSUE LOCALLY OR GLOBALLY AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. THEY ESTABLISH A LIFETIME NETWORK AND CREATE THEIR COMMUNITY LEGACY WITH A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM. YOUNG INSPIRING LEADERS ARE IMPACTING THE WORLDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM), EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, MEDICINE AND MANY MORE THROUGH THEIR SUSTAINABLE GOLD AWARD PROJECTS. LOUISE WORKED WITH HER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY TO CREATE A SEIZURE SMART COMMUNITY FOR HER GOLD AWARD PROJECT. LOUISE TRAINED STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON WHAT A SEIZURE IS, HOW TO REACT, AND HOW TO PROMOTE SAFETY AWARENESS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY. DURING THE YEAR, 145 GIRLS EARNED THEIR SILVER AND GOLD AWARD. THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT FOR LEADERSHIP BY HELPING GIRLS DEVELOP FIVE KEY SKILLS: GOAL SETTING, DECISION MAKING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, PEOPLE SKILLS, AND BUSINESS ETHICS. THE PROGRAM ALSO RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUE OF GIRL SCOUTING AND SUPPORTS LOCAL PROGRAMS AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES FOR OVER 37,000 GIRLS AND ADULTS. DURING THE 2020 COOKIE SEASON, GIRLS ALSO LEARNED TO ADAPT AND EVOLVE IN REACTION TO COVID-19. RIVER VALLEYS LAUNCHED COOKIES FOR A CAUSE, A PROGRAM IN WHICH CUSTOMERS PURCHASED GIRL SCOUT COOKIES THAT WERE, IN TURN, DONATED TO WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION, TROOPS WERE DIRECTED TO DONATE ANY UNSOLD INVENTORY TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DONATION PROGRAMS, COOKIES FOR A CAUSE, AND TROOP UNSOLD INVENTORY, RIVER VALLEYS DONATED 85,621 PACKAGES OF COOKIES. RIVER VALLEYS' GIRLS SOLD OVER 3.6 MILLION PACKAGES OF COOKIES IN 2020.

MEMBERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT:GIRL SCOUTS OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN RIVER VALLEYS SERVES GIRLS AGES 5 TO 18 IN ALL OR PORTIONS OF 49 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN. RIVER VALLEYS SERVED OVER 25,000 GIRLS IN 2020 AND ALMOST 12,000 VOLUNTEERS. AT THE HEART OF EVERY GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCE ARE VOLUNTEERS OUR GIRLS' ROLE MODELS AND TEACHERS. RIVER VALLEYS CONTINUES TO RELY ON THE PASSION AND DEDICATION OF ADULT VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AS TROOP LEADERS, TROOP COOKIE MANAGERS, TRAINERS, EPISODIC VOLUNTEERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. VOLUNTEERS ALSO SERVE IN A RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ROLES THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE UNIT LEVEL. RIVER VALLEYS CONTINUES TO INVEST IN RESOURCES FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS, SO THEY CAN BEST DELIVER THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TO GIRLS IN TODAY'S BUSY WORLD. 86% OF SERVICE UNIT VOLUNTEERS AGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: I GET THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE I NEED FROM STAFF AT MY GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL. 86% OF TROOPS LEADERS AGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: I KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME. NEW LEADER TRAINING AND SUPPORT IS A CONTINUED STRATEGIC PRIORITY.IN 2020, RIVER VALLEYS' COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM CONTINUED TO GROW MENTORED TROOPS IN ITS SECOND YEAR. MENTORED TROOPS ARE VOLUNTEER-LED TROOPS THAT PROVIDE GIRLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE GIRL SCOUT TROOP LED PRIMARILY BY VOLUNTEER TROOP LEADERS OF COLOR. GIRLS DEVELOP A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SISTERHOOD IN A CULTURALLY RELEVANT ENVIRONMENT AS THEY WORK TOWARDS BADGES.ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE REMITTED TO GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA AND RIVER VALLEYS DOES NOT RETAIN ANY PORTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP DUES.

CAMP FACILITIES:RIVER VALLEYS OWNS AND OPERATES FIVE CAMP FACILITIES: ELK RIVER, LAKAMAGA, NORTHWOODS, SINGING HILLS AND EDITH MAYO. RIVER VALLEYS' FOUR RESIDENT CAMPS (ELK RIVER, LAKAMAGA, NORTHWOODS, AND SINGING HILLS) ARE CURRENTLY ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION. ACA ACCREDITATION ENSURES THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE A PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE CAMP EXPERIENCE. ACTIVITIES AT THE CAMPS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DAY CAMPS, RESIDENT CAMPS, PROGRAM EVENTS, AND SERVICE UNIT ENCAMPMENTS. CAMP EDITH MAYO, LOCATED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ROCHESTER, MN, IS PERFECT FOR DAY CAMPS, TRAINING, AND PROGRAMMING WITH AN OUTDOOR FOCUS. RIVER VALLEYS CONTINUES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AT ALL CAMP FACILITIES. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 A MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL AND SKILL PARK WAS BUILT AT CAMP ELK RIVER.

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