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Back by popular demand! Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is planning a mini-Destination to Huntsville, Alabama and the Space and Rocket Center and it is not for the faint of heart!  This action packed trip offers something for everyone!

Friday, June 10: Destination Huntsville begins Friday evening at the Sci-Quest Museum. Enjoy the 100+ interactive programs and complete the Spa Science Program. More info:  http://www.sci-quest.org/index/php

Saturday, June 11: Breakfast at the Sci-Quest Museum and then off to the Botanical Gardens for a visit. Enjoy the nation's largest seasonal butterfly house and a unique children's garden as part of "Wings, Warts, and Wonders". More info: http://www.hsvbg.org/index/php

After enjoying the gardens, travel to the U. S. Space and Rocket Center for the 2-day New Horizons program. Features include hands on Science lab a 3D movie, build and launch a rocket, a trip in the Mars Simulator, the Space Shot and the G Force Accelerator. More info: http://www.spacecamp.com/museum/groups/newhorizons

Sunday, June 12: Our destination ends at 2:00 PM and troops are free to do more exploring or head home!

This all -girl trip is open to rising Juniors -Ambassadors, leaders, and moms (Sorry, no men or tagalongs).  All participants must be registered and adults must be registered and approved. Troops must furnish sufficient adults to meet the ration of two per: 16 Juniors, 20 Cadettes, 24 Older girls. Individual members may register with their moms.

The $160 fee (may use Cookie Bucks) covers all programs  and admissions, five meals( Saturday  breakfast-Sunday lunch), overnight on the floor at the Sci-Quest, overnight in the Habitat (bed and shower) at the USSRC, IMAX movie, event t-shirt, event patch, and the services of two experienced council leaders. Not included: transportation and dinner Friday night.

To reserve your place, send an Event Registration Form and $25 non-refundable deposit to the Mobile Service Center by January 14, 2011. The remainder of the money will be due April 1, 2011. All monies are non-refundable. This is based on 50 minimum participants and 100 maximum participants. Questions? Contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at extension 1202.

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It's that time of year again for destinations! Check out the 2011 destinations.

·         Explore It! Your Guide to Girl Scout destinations a resource for girls filled with tips on applying for destinations.

·         Girl Scout destinations can whisk you to the far corners of the world where you will meet remarkable girls, develop leadership skills, gain confidence, and enjoy valuable learning opportunities. Read Explore Your World (PDF) and learn about all the fun and exciting experience these Girl Scouts had on their destinations trip.

·         Got the travel bug? You're in the right place. The Global Travel Toolkit consists of four exciting resources to prepare you for international travel.

2011 destinations timeline:

UPDATE 10/28:

·         Thanksgiving: All applications are in route to event sponsors from the applicants' home councils

·         Dec. 1: All "early" applications received by event sponsors

·         Jan. 14: All applicants notified of their status for "early" applications

·         Feb. 1: All deposits holding a participants' spot are due to event sponsors for "early" applications

·         Feb. 16: "Late" applications received by event sponsors

Girls can apply up to 4 destinations. Application process - fill out a Girl Scout application with 2 letters of recommendations. You can use the same letters of recommendation for additional destinations that you apply for.

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Rockin' the Apple

4 days in New York City

June 19 - 22, 2011

Join us for "Rockin' the Apple" as Girl Scouts enjoy four days and three nights in New York City!  We'll go to all the great sites including: Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park, 5^th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Financial District, including the Stock Exchange and "Ground Zero", South Street Port, SoHo Art Gallery District, and Greenwich Village.  We will also see a Broadway Show.  Don't miss this once in a lifetime trip! 

Who:  All registered Girl Scouts and adults. 

·         Note:  Troops are welcome to register for this trip. 

·         GSSA Staff can supervise individually registered Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts.  

·         Daisies and Brownies must come with a parent.

Cost: $925 per person

·         NOTE: Girl Scouts can use Cookie Money earned during the 2010 and 2011 cookie sales

·         Non-refundable deposit of $100 due Sep. 15, 2010

·         2^nd Deposit $200 due Nov. 14, 2010

·         Balance due Mar. 8, 2011

·         Cost Includes: Roundtrip motor coach and local transportation; deluxe hotel; all admission fees and taxes; evening activities including a Broadway Show; 3 breakfasts (all-you-can-eat-buffets); 3 dinners at NY restaurants; liability insurance; 24-hour licensed Tour Guide; and nighttime security.

·         Spending money for souvenirs, miscellaneous, and money for all lunches and meals to and from New York is the sole responsibility of the participant.  A minimum of $120 ($20 a day) for meals, snacks, and souvenirs is recommended.

Registration:  Complete an Event Registration Form for each participant (use participant's information and not the troop leaders) and mail with initial $100 deposit to:

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama

145 Coliseum Blvd.

Montgomery, AL  36109

Minimum: 40 participants; Maximum: 50 participants

Registration Deadline:  September 15, 2010

Questions?  Call Christine Shavers at 334-272-9164, 800-239-6636 ext.2202, or e-mail cshavers@girlscoutssa.org.

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Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is planning a mini-Destination to Chattanooga, Tennessee July 16-18 and it is not for the faint of heart! This action packed trip offers something for everyone!

Friday, July 16: Destination Chattanooga begins Friday evening at the Chattanooga Riverboat. We will enjoy a movie and dinner before our moonlight cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat. Then we will sleepover on their new dockside boat.

Saturday, July 17: Breakfast at the Riverboat and then on to a full day of touring Ruby Falls, Rock City Gardens, the Incline Railway and the Tennessee Aquarium. Saturday evening will be a sleepover and dinner at the Creative Discovery Museum. 

Sunday, July 18: Breakfast at the Creative Discovery Museum and then on to caving at Raccoon Mountain Caverns. You will have a choice of the Wild Caving Eco Tour or the Crystal Palace Walking Tour.

Our destination ends mid-day on Sunday and troops are free to do more exploring or head home!

This all-girl trip is open to rising Juniors - Ambassadors, leaders and moms.  You do not have to currently be a member of a troop to attend. The $150 fee covers all attractions, meals (Friday night -Sunday morning), a patch, a t-shirt, and the services of two experienced leaders. Transportation and parking is not included, but troops are encouraged to carpool together.

To reserve your place, send an Event Registration Form and $25 non-refundable deposit to the Mobile Service Center by May 10. The remainder of the monies will be due in two installments: $75 by May 14 and $50 by June 10. All monies are non-refundable. This is based on 50 minimum participants and 100 maximum participants. All deposits will be refunded if the minimum isn't met. Questions? Contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at extension 1202.

The initial deposit deadline is extended until May 10 to meet the minimum number of registrations.

UPDATE 5/13/10

We met our minimum for the Chattanooga Mini-Destination - Yea! We still have a few spaces remaining, so if you're interested in going, send Event Registration Forms with $100 non-refundable deposit to the Mobile Service Center by June 3. The balance and all forms are due June 10.

Earned Cookie Bucks, a Campership, Store/Program Certificate, or destination?  Here's how to use them!

Girls who earned cookie camperships must use them during the summer 2010 camp season.  However, if a girl originally chose a campership and realizes she cannot use it during this time period, she may change her choice to a store gift certificate instead by contacting Chris Shavers, extension 2202.

Cookie bucks, Store/Program certificates and destination money may be used throughout the 2010-2011 membership year and will not expire until Sept. 30, 2011.  The funds can be carried over if the girl registers for a council sponsored trip or event that occurs after the Sept. 30, 2011 deadline.

We also will allow troops planning Girl Scout-related trips to use their Cookie Bucks, Store/Program Certificate or destination money to offset the cost associated with them.  They may carryover these funds until the time at which they participate in the trip (i.e. they will be valid beyond the Sept. 30, 2011 date). However, we must be notified of the troop's intent to defer these funds prior to Sept. 15, 2010.

We ask each troop that wishes to do this to complete a special form (available on our website soon) that provides us with the dates of the trip, it's purpose, etc.  We also ask that the girls who are allowing their cookie money to be used to sign (along with their parent or guardian) a waiver stating that they approve of the use of the money they have earned to be used by the troop. We will either pay vendors directly, or provide reimbursement to the troop after we are provided with copies of applicable receipts.

It's not too late to apply for a destination! Check online for the 2010 destinations accepting "late" applications. Some of the destinations will be accepting applications after the Feb. 16 date depending on whether the event is full or not. The website has been updated to reflect the destinations that are full. Destinations are great opportunities for Older Girls to gain confidence, develop leadership skills and are a unique learning experience. Please let your girls know about these great opportunities, you don't want them to miss out!

If these trips look fun to any girls in your troop, remind them they can use their Cookie Bucks on them. Their hard work during cookie sales can go towards the cost of the destination.   What a goal to set - selling cookies today, could allow you to explore the rain forest in Costa Rica tomorrow!

Does the idea of going somewhere new, doing something different and meeting people from everywhere you can imagine sound like fun? If so, a Girl Scout destination will allow you to do just that! And now GSSA is offering you the chance to receive a scholarship to help make your travel dreams a reality.

We will award scholarships to two Girl Scouts to attend GSUSA Destinations in 2010. Thanks to the Barbara Gilewicz Travel Scholarship Fund and private donors, we are able to offer one $1,000 and one $500 scholarship to deserving Girl Scouts. Applicants must be 14-18 years old and registered for the 2009-2010 membership year. Visit the Girl Scout destinations Web page www.studio2B.org/destinations for trip descriptions, current offerings and applications.

A volunteer committee will award scholarships based on a girl's desire and suitability as determined by her application package. Completed applications, references, and essays must be submitted to Mary Anne Brutkiewicz in the Mobile Service Center by November 9, 2009, for consideration. Those awarded will be notified within 10 days. Assignment of scholarships is contingent upon receipt of sufficient quality applications and acceptance to the destination.

Join other girls and leaders from around our council on our "Heritage Trip" to the birthplace of Girl Scouting!  Take advantage of President's Day and Mardi Gras holidays and go on a once in a lifetime trip this Feb. 12-16, 2010.

Savannah is a fascinating city and there are many things to do, see and eat!  Just a few of the activities will be the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Program, a dolphin cruise, a tour of some reportedly haunted places the city and a visit to Paula Dean's renowned Lady and Sons restaurant.

The "hold your space" deposit of $50 is due August 31, which is half refundable.

All of the details including cost, payment schedule and the itinerary are on the Heritage Trip flyer.  If you have questions, please contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz (extension 1202).

When: July 10-19, 2009

For more information:

Visit http://www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations/event_details.asp?eventid=393

for a complete description of the event, costs, and application procedures or contact Rea de la Cruz, rdelacruz@girlscoutssdi.org or (619) 610-0739.

Submit applications to Mary Anne Brutkiewicz by February 27 at mbrutkiewicz@girlscoutssa.org.