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Post by FrostG1anT on May 9, 2009 0:01:33 GMT -9
Is anyone available and interested in helping out the Susitna Girl Scouts with learning how to geocache at their upcoming Girl Scout Encampment? Below is some information about the event. I know several who have heard about it already have expressed interest and the deadline for letting them know is May 15. If you are interested in helping and can dedicate time to this cause that would be a great thing. Please respond in this thread as we will need to know who will be helping out and what days and time they will be available.
A background check is needed for anyone who will be volunteering for these sessions. We need to get a good and accurate count of who will be able to volunteer for this so we can have the right number of sessions and days scheduled. This will be in Palmer.
If you are interested in being part of this please make it know and you will be added to the list and I will contact you with information to contact Tasha Nichols directly to pass long information. What days would you be interested in and available for? Thank you for considering this.
Here is the letter from Tasha Nichols:
My name is Tasha Nichols and I am writing on behalf of Girl Scouts Susitna Council, in regards to a statewide event we are hosting this summer. The Alaska Girl Scout Encampment 2009, which is taking place June 4-7 at the Fairgrounds.
The Girl Scout Encampment is a biennial event attended by over 900 girls age 8-15. Girls from all over the state come to pitch their tents for 3 days of fun. One of the things that we provide for their enjoyment is the opportunity to attend several types of hands-on workshops, clinics, or presentations. Examples of past workshops include a wide rage of choices such as: dance, quilting, self defense, dog mushing, jewelry, basket weaving, and more.
We are currently seeking volunteers who would be interested in presenting a workshop at this year’s Encampment. Programs may be outdoors or in on of the fairground buildings and may be with a large or small group. This past year we received 10 GPS units from a donor and are looking for ways to incorporate into our program. We are looking for a person or group who would be willing to set up several caches, teach a group how to use the GPS units, and then give the girls the opportunity to practice what they have learned.
Program workshops are needed for Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. Session times are: 10:30 am to 12 pm, 1:30 pm to 3 pm, and 3:30 pm to 5 pm.
If you have a fun idea or activity you would like to share, we would like to invite you to participate for both days, all 6 sessions, if your time permits. However, if you would like to participate in the event and are only able to do some of the workshops, we would still appreciate and enjoy having your program presented. Please let me know if you (or an associate) will be available tans would like to participate in this exciting Girl Scout event.
It would be helpful in planning workshop attendance if you were able to provide the following information, should you decide to join us at Encampment this year:
-The age level of girls appropriate for your program (8-9, 10-12, 13-15)
-Which sessions you are able to present
-What size group of girls your program is best suited for
We currently have 10 Garmin eTrex Legend GPS units. We were thinking two girls to a unit so that means about 20 girls max per session.
Below is some additional information for presenters:
BACKGROUND CHECKS
To help us in our planning, we need names of all the adults who are attending to assist with the workshop. We will be conducting background checks on all adults who will be working directly with girls, regardless if they have already had one done through their company/organization. To help us with this process, we are asking adults to complete the Authorization Form for a Background Check that is attached to this email. They can fax the form back to the office. Adults can also email me the required information for the background check. Please make it known that all personal information will be destroyed once the background check is completed.
MEALS
We will be providing lunch for all the workshop presenters each day in the Sluice Box. If you will be joining us for lunch, I need to know which day (Friday, Saturday, or both) and how many people, by Friday, May 15, 2009.
The following is the information they will need for background checks:
ALASKA ENCAMPMENT BACKGROUND CHECK AUTHORIZATION AND CONSENT FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION
I hereby consent and voluntarily authorize Girl Scouts Susitna Council to obtain an independent criminal background report and Social Security Number validation report. I further authorize said council to request or receive information including motor vehicle reports, past employment and/or references from any persons, or previous employers only pertinent to my potential work as a volunteer. I further understand that a credit report may be requested if my assignment includes the handling of money.
Moreover, I understand that failure to complete this form will preclude me from volunteer opportunities with Girl Scouts Susitna Council.
I understand that the background check requires my full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and Social Security Number.
I further understand that I will receive a complete and accurate disclosure of the nature and scope of the background verification, in the event such investigation negatively affects my placement as a volunteer.
I am volunteering at Alaska Girl Scout Encampment 2009. My workshop is
________________________________________________________________
Your address so we can notify you of the results of your background check: After the background check is completed, the information below will be destroyed. Driver’s License Number and State Social Security Number Date of Birth
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Post by Valerieseaker on May 9, 2009 12:11:47 GMT -9
I can help on Sat the 6th, any or all 3 sessions. (Especially since they'll feed me. Food is always good ) I could possibly do it on Fri the 10:30 or 1:30 sessions, but not as easily as the Sat sessions.
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mtboy
Silver Cacher
Posts: 139
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Post by mtboy on May 11, 2009 12:40:39 GMT -9
It looks like Ole is out after the great Girlscout cookie caper of 1994 that he was involved in...He'll never pass the background check.
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Post by li1gray on May 11, 2009 18:44:48 GMT -9
Am looking at the dates and if I don't have to work I should be able to help on both days all sessions. I just have to go back down and redo my registration at Council, my wife and I were leaders of a few troops at Elmendorf and my wife was a council trainer for the leaders for years, She always had me come out to show knot tying and some types of the fire building. I have attended encampment and it is a blast! Good memories as we had a nasty thunderstorm the year I was there and lots of tents got blown over and flooded. Mrs Li1gray is a life member of GSUSA and we know Ms Nichols, I printed out the information, I should know before weeks end
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Post by tzipora on May 11, 2009 22:02:10 GMT -9
I'll have to figure out my schedule. I'd love to help; I have fond memories of encampments as a girl.
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Post by FrostG1anT on May 14, 2009 21:52:45 GMT -9
Those of you who are interested and can commit the time needed to take part in this event and make it happen, please contact me offline ASAP so I can pass along the information to contact Tasha Nichols so that you can get your background checks taken care of and can touch base with each other so you can formulate a plan for teaching each session of geocaching to the girls at the Encampment. It looks as if there are enough volunteers available to make the Saturday sessions a reality and a success.
The Girls Scouts have to know the names of the volunteers who will be taking part in the geocaching sessions no later than Friday, May 15.
I wish you all the best and know you all will do a great job of showing the girls about geocaching. You will have to let us all know how if went after it is over.
Have a great weekend, it should be a sunny one.
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Post by Hazelsgroup on May 15, 2009 18:52:08 GMT -9
Just seen this post. I will be there at encampment with troop 912. I can help on Saturday. I should already be cleared with all the checks. I will contact you. Thanks to all that are helping.
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Post by oleruns on May 21, 2009 21:46:55 GMT -9
That was 1992 and they never found the cookies.
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powmia
Silver Cacher
Caches Found/Hidden xxxx/x
Posts: 208
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Post by powmia on May 21, 2009 22:05:14 GMT -9
That was 1992 and they never found the cookies. I heard the cookies were thrown from an airplane in a suitcase over the Chugach Mtns. The only item ever retrieved/identified was a tattered parachute.
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Post by Valerieseaker on Jun 6, 2009 22:36:54 GMT -9
Stoweak, Akbeauty, and I presented at the Encampment today. We had 11 caches hidden around the fairground, which the girls enjoyed finding. We did 3 session, over 70 girls and 15 or so adults. I didn't do a head count. Many girls told me they had a fun time. One even said this was her favorite session!
Lessons learned for next time: 1. Have the GPSrs already programmed with the cache locations. The girls just want to get out and find them. You don't have to show them how to enter the coords. All they need to know is how to get to the next cache's coords. ("that screen with the arrow")
2. Carry extra batteries with you. At least half the GPSrs, even though they had fresh batteries in them, died while out in the field.
3. Do the first cache together. Then show them how to get the next cache on their GPS. Then groups that think they know what they are doing can go off and find another. The ones who want more help will hang with you as you head for the next cache.
4. Tell them, and keep reminding them, to close the cache and put it back where and as it was. This means hidden. Not left out in the open. And kindly wait for the person who is putting the cache back.
5. Tell them, and keep reminding them, to only take one item, not the whole bunch.
6. Only hide caches large enough to put swag into, decons and larger. Put lots of swag in them. Each cache must have different swag, not the same thing.
All in all, it was very fun.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jun 6, 2009 22:59:08 GMT -9
Sounds like you all had a great time and a good turn out.
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