Welcome to Girl Scouts Louisiana East

Girl Scouts Louisiana East is nearly one month old, and we have been busy! We are committed to bringing together the best that both Girl Scouts - Audubon Council and the Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana have to offer, ensuring outstanding programming and delivery of Girl Scouting to our 23-parish jurisidiction with no interruption of existing services. Over the next several months, you'll see some things changing, with both new and familiar faces on staff, and in some cases changes in departmental responsibility. This is a time of growth and challenge for all of us, so please be understanding as we move forward in the realignment and merger process.

The corporate headquarters is in New Orleans at the Clearview Parkway location and the Regional Service Center is in Baton Rouge on Colonial Drive. Jackie Alexander, CEO, and her senior management staff will be working out of both offices so meetings can be arranged at either location, with some advance notice.

Beginning Monday, May 26, the Council will be moving to its summer hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday. The Council is open Memorial Day, May 26.

Cookie Sale Hall of Fame

Congratulations go to every girl who participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Sale this year. You all did an outstanding job, and both areas saw an increase in sales! Southeast LA recently celebrated with a Hall of Fame skating party, inducting 103 girls who sold 500+ boxes into its Hall of Fame. Audubon Cookie Hall of Fame events are coming right up (a laser tag overnight for Cadette/Senior topsellers on May 3 and a Brownie/Jr swimming party on May 10). The RSVP for the swimming party is Friday, May 2.

Camp Rocks this summer!

Wow! Girl Scouts in our Council now have more resident camp options than ever! Rock climbing and a high ropes challenge course are just some of the activities at Camp Whispering Pines located in Independence, while Camp Marydale has horseback riding. To check out resident camp session information at CWP, click here. Camp Marydale resident camp information is available here. Come check it out this summer!

Fundraising luncheon, Rhapsody in Green gala planned

Audubon's Our Girls Our Future luncheon held in March in Baton Rouge provided much inspiration to its guests as well as needed funds for the Council. A similar Every Girl, Everywhere luncheon is planned for Wednesday, May 7, at the Vintage Court in Covington. If you would like to attend, please be sure to RSVP to Cerise McClendon, (504) 733-8220, ext. 222.

Join us for a Night of Glitz, Glamour, and Girl Scouting at the second annual Rhapsody in Green gala on Saturday, June 21, at the Louisiana Children's Museum in New Orleans. Guests will enjoy performances by both Wanda Rouzan and Kermit Ruffins, as well as silent auction & raffle, and delicious hors d'ouevres and open bar. Hotel accommodations are being arranged. Tickets are $100 per person, but currently registered adult Girl Scouts can purchase tickets for $75 per person (limit two). Invitations will be mailed in May, but tickets can also be purchased by credit card online.

Day Camp information

Summer day camp registration is happening now. For information on the six, volunteer-led one week day camps held in Houma, Independence, St. Bernard, Destrehan, Marrero/Algiers, and Slidell, visit the Southeast LA website at http://www.girlscoutssela.org/camping/daycamp08.asp

Happy Days session updates are available in the calendar section on the Audubon Council website. Please visit the calendar to see what sessions still have openings. Additional information about day camp sessions is available in the Resident & Day Camp Book.

Sign up for some fun events this spring

Don't forget to sign up early since programs fill up fast. Just a few of the events include:

Cabela's Outdoor Scout Challenge - Saturday, May 17, Cabela's in Gonzalez. Girl Scout Troops will compete against other Girl Scout troops. Challenges include GPS plotting and compass reading, tent raising, treasure seeking, map reading, knot tying and accuracy skills.

Girl Scout Day at the State legislature in Baton Rouge- Tuesday, May 20. Juniors and older. Space is limited so reserve a space today. Girls/troops in the Baton Rouge area, contact Cynthia Dyson at (225) 927- 8946, ext. 229; in Southeast LA (N.O.) area, complete the registration form.

Explore Engineering event (1-2 p.m.) now includes an Astronomy component (2-3 p.m.)- Saturday, May 24. Deadline to register May 16.

New Orleans Zephyrs Family Night & Troop campout - Friday, June 6. $8 per person (game only). $25 per girl or adult camper package. Deadline to register: May 28.

St. Tammany Arena Fun and Fit Days - June 28/July 19/August 23. Designed for Junior Girl Scouts, but open to all Girl Scouts. $25 per girl per three-day June-Aug schedule.