VIRTUAL JOURNEYS FAQ & POLICIES
If you have questions after reading these, please contact us.
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WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Each Workshops4girls Journey Program consists of 4 or 5 virtual meetings which are live, interactive, and fully guided. Scouts will participate in collaborative activities using Google Classroom and complete a few activities at home prior to and between sessions.
For Juniors, (Amuse journey) the Take Action Project is included. In the Cadette, Senior & Ambassador journeys the final day is spent giving tips for Silver & Gold Award development. WHY choose WORKSHOPS4GIRLS?
EXPERTISE We have guided thousands of girls through the Take Action Project planning process from Junior Journeys all the way through Gold Awards.
PROMOTION Our website can serve as an additional platform for girls to promote their projects. NETWORKING Where possible, we connect girls with other troops to promote their projects. MENTORING and inspirational guest speakers. PASSION Workshops4girls was created by longtime Girl Scout volunteers. Combined we have 90 years of Girl Scout experience! In addition to running these workshops as a business, we remain active volunteers in our councils specializing in the Highest Awards - Bronze, Silver & Gold. RESOURCES Post Journey, the girls retain access to the planning tools and our advice and guidance. WHO RUNS THE JOURNEYS?
Katie Casey-Anderson (Owner, Journey Facilitator) has been a GSOC volunteer for 15 years. She began her Girl Scout journey (pun intended) as a troop leader for her two daughters, leading their troops from Brownies through Ambassadors. After her troops graduated, she stepped into several volunteer roles for Girl Scouts of Orange County, including Adult Volunteer Trainer, Trainer for the Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver & Gold) and her favorite role of all, Gold Award interviewer. In 2010, she founded Workshops4girls, combining her background in vocational education with her passion for the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Through Workshops4girls, she facilitates Journey programs for Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors. To date, she has run over 100 Journeys for thousands of girls. She never expected how her life would be enriched by empowering the next generation of Girl Scouts to change their world!
Dianna Sundell (Journey Facilitator) is a lifetime Girl Scout, having been a member for more than 50 years! As a girl, she moved through all levels and earned the highest award at that time, the First Class Award. She has never stopped scouting! As an adult, she has held multiple volunteer roles for the Girl Scouts of Orange County, including troop leader, Camp Sherman Counselor, member of the Board of Directors, and her current role as Gold Award interviewer. She also inspired both her daughter and granddaughter to be Girl Scouts, making them a three generation Girl Scout family! Dianna credits her success as a teacher and administrator to skills she developed in Girl Scouts. She enjoys bringing those skills to a new generation as a Workshops4girls Journey Facilitator. She loves all that Girl Scouts offers from leadership to lifelong friendships. Barb Christensen (Journey Facilitator)is a lifetime Girl Scout and has been volunteering for Girl Scouts of Orange County for over 25 years. Raised in an Air Force family, her parents always found her a Girl Scout troop every time they moved, and Barb earned the First Class Award (predecessor to Gold Award). She was a leader from Daisies to Ambassadors and has led three troops. Barb has been the Project Advisor for dozens of girls for their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Projects as well as a Gold Award interviewer for GSOC for 10+ years. She trained thousands of adult volunteers at every level on a variety of topics, including travel and Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). Barb was one of the first GSOC volunteers to be trained on Journeys, and girls from her troop were the first to be interviewed for their Gold Award projects with Journeys as the prerequisite. She loves the materials covered in the books and believes good Journey Take Action projects set girls up for success in their pursuit of their higher awards. Barb is excited to work with girls in achieving their goals to make the world a better place. WHAT IS A JOURNEY ? Why does my scout need to take one?
Completing a journey is required prior to starting the Bronze, Silver or Gold Award (Highest Awards) because during the Journey they create a “Take Action” project which follows the same steps, but on a smaller scale. For Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors the journey includes creating a project plan that is carried out post session. The Junior Amuse Journey includes the Take Action Project.
In the AMUSE workshop, the Take Action Project is a presentation "busting a stereotype" at the final session. CAN SCOUTS SHARE A SCREEN?
We recommend that each scout has their own screen. If you need to share a screen, two is the maximum per screen. There is no discount for sharing a screen. The fee is per girl, not per screen.
What is the cost? HOW DO i PAY?
FEE
All Journey programs (4 meetings) are $100 per Scout. PAYMENT OPTIONS Zelle, Paypal, Troop checks, personal checks & money orders. WHERE DO I MAIL A CHECK? If you are paying by check, the address will be sent in your registration confirmation. See our registration page for more info. DO YOU TAKE CREDIT CARDS? You can use a credit card to pay through Paypal. Check their website for info. DO YOU ACCEPT LATE REGISTRATIONS?
If we have room, we will accept late registrations, but check with us first to make sure that there are spots available.
If it is full, you will be placed on the waiting list & notified if a space opens up. DO you provide BOOKS & PATCHES?
We do not provide books and patches. All sessions are designed to be completed with minimum use of the book. While we recommend that you buy the book, it is not required. Everything you need will be provided.
If you want to have books or patches, you can order them through the GSUSA Shop or your local council shop. (Link to GSOC Shop). Do you Accept COOKIE CREDITs as payment?
We cannot accept "cookie dough, Juliette dollars, etc as payment ,because we are not part of GSUSA. Workshops4girls is a community partner with Girl Scouts of Orange County (outside company providing program). You can use Cookie dough for the books and patches at your local council shop.
DOES A LEADER HAVE TO ATTEND?
For troops over 6 girls we may request that a leader or parent be available during the session. We may not need them the entire time, but may ask them to assist with break out groups and discussions especially during Take Action Project planning.
What Journeys do you offer?
Juniors (4th-5th grade) - AMuse
Cadettes (6th-8th grade) - AMAZE, MEdia & Breathe Seniors (9th-10th grade) - Mission Sisterhood, Girltopia & Sow What Ambassadors (11th-12th grade) - Your Voice Your World & Justice We do not offer Brownie or Daisy Journeys at this time. WHICH JOURNEYS WILL YOU BE RUNNING NEXT?
We run journeys for each level at least 3 times a year.
We run journeys all year. Sunday afternoons during the school year. Consecutive morning sessions during the summer. All our 2021 sessions will be virtual! Ask to be placed on our email list for next session. We usually release summer dates in March, fall dates in late spring, spring dates in October. If you have a request for one of the Journeys listed above, but is isn't on our posted schedule, email us to see when it will be offered next. Only half our troop is available this session. Should we still sign up?
Many troops break up and attend separate sessions. The most common feedback we get from our Journeys is that the girls loved making new friends. They may even be attending with Girl Scouts from another state!
Breaking the troop into different sessions can also help increase their leadership skills. The girls can involve the troopmates that didn't attend when they carry out their Take Action Project. POLICIES
MISSED SESSIONS
My scout has a conflict for more than one session. Should we still sign up?
If a scout knows she is going to miss more than one day of the series we suggest that she sign up for a later session. If a girl is absent for more than one session, the journey cannot be completed or "earned" in our workshop setting. Each session builds upon the previous one. Missing multiple sessions the girl misses too much of the journey process. She is welcome to attend the remaining sessions with her troop, but the journey will not be "earned" and can’t be used as a pre-requisite for the Silver or Gold Award. However, the girl's troop leader can use the leader guide to help the girl earn the journey on her own. My Scout can't attend one of the days, can we get a discount? There are NO partial refunds or discounts if a girl misses any of the workshops, for any reason. A girl from our troop signed up, but now she can't attend. Can we send another girl in her place? If you inform us before the first session of the workshop series begins, you may substitute another scout for a girl previously registered, but that girl must attend all the workshops. My scout is going to miss one day of the workshop. Are there makeup sessions? There are no makeup sessions, but arrangements can be made for her to make up the session on her own before the next session. Can she still complete the journey if she misses one session? She can complete and “earn” the journey only if she completes the missed activities on her own. The parent or leader should contact us. We will send a list of makeup activities to be completed. She must complete it before the next meeting. We recommend that you don't sign up girls who can't attend all sessions. That said, sometimes girls are sick or unexpected conflicts arise. If you know a scout is going to miss a single date, please let us know ahead of time, if possible. We will provide the leader or parent with guidance to assist for the absent scout(s) to fulfill the journey requirements. The activities should be completed prior to the next meeting. If you know in advance you may miss a date, please email us. Some days can be "made up" easily but others very are more difficult. We have an unpredictable schedule. We don't know our schedule ahead of time? Should we still sign up? Since the journey can't really be "earned" if you miss more than one session, our compressed format might not be a good fit for you. We suggest trying for a session in your sports off season or during the summer when all the sessions are completed in a single week. We run journeys all year. What if we have to leave early or will arrive late? If you know you are going to leave early or arrive late, please inform us and make arrangements for makeup materials. WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY REGISTRATION?
I have to cancel. Can I get a refund?
Requests for refunds must be made 8 days prior to the first meeting of a Journey series. There are NO refunds if notice is received less than 8 days prior to the first workshop, except for extreme medical reasons. “No Shows” will not receive a refund for any reason. It is more than 8 days before the first meeting and I need to cancel. What do I need to do?
aRE THERE returned checks OR REFUND SURCHARGES?
There will be a $25 fee charged for checks returned for insufficient funds.
There is a 3 % processing fee for refunds. LARGE TROOP REGISTRATION DEADLINE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
The registration deadline for troops with 10 more girls is 5 weeks before the session start date. The deadline for cancellation with refund for large groups is three weeks prior to the session start date.
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TAKE ACTION PROJECT QUESTIONS
dOES THE jOURNEY INCLUDE THE TAKE ACTION PROJECT?
JUNIORS - For the AMUSE journey, the sessions include the TAKE ACTION PROJECT as the requirement for that particular journey is to create a presentation "busting a stereotype" for an invited audience. The girls will create their project and present it to invited family and friends on the last day. We recommend that they show their presentation to others as well.
CADETTES, SENIORS & AMBASSADORS - The scouts will create a detailed written Take Action Project plan . The girls will implement the project plan after our sessions complete under parent or troop leader supervision. WHO GUIDES THE GIRLS THROUGH PROJECT COMPLETION?
The troop leader or parent is in charge after our session ends. The final day of the session we offer a leader/parent "training" for follow up. If you can't attend, need guidance or more information about Take Action projects refer to our Leader/Parent Resources. If you still have questions, we are always available to answer them.
DOES THIS JOURNEY INCLUDE CREATING A SILVER OR GOLD AWARD PLAN?
The girls are required to finish the required Journey project BEFORE starting their Silver or Gold. The purpose of a Journey is to create a Take Action Project that addresses an issue within the Journey topics. Think of it as a practice project for the Silver or Gold. It follows the same steps on a smaller scale project. We do discuss tips for creating strong Silver & Gold projects and familiarize the Scout with the Silver & Gold Award resource pages on our website.
No, we have had Girl Scouts attend our Journeys from across the country as shown on this map!
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Special Notes for Summer Journeys
MISSED SESSIONS We do not recommend signing up for a summer journey unless you can commit to all of the days. There is no time to make-up missed activities.
My troop just bridged in June. Are my girls ready for a Cadette Journey?
Middle school is a time of great changes physically, mentally, socially & academically. While all journeys are geared towards the age level specified in terms of maturity and content, the jump in complexity from Junior journeys to Cadette Journeys is a big one. Some newly bridged to Cadette girls, especially in the case of summer journeys where they will start 6th grade in the fall, will do better if they wait until they have had a some middle school experience and curriculum before starting the journey. If you have questions about this please contact us.
Special consideration for incoming 9th graders
A Senior level journey is designed for girls who are already attending high school. It is a more effective preparation for the Gold Award if you wait until the girls are older.
If you decide to send your girls to a journey the summer after 8th grade, I suggest that you use the Journey Take Action Project plan (that they create in our session) as basis for your Girls Scout program during their 9th grade year. This will help serve as a better preparation for their Gold Award.
Special Notes for Summer Journeys
MISSED SESSIONS We do not recommend signing up for a summer journey unless you can commit to all of the days. There is no time to make-up missed activities.
My troop just bridged in June. Are my girls ready for a Cadette Journey?
Middle school is a time of great changes physically, mentally, socially & academically. While all journeys are geared towards the age level specified in terms of maturity and content, the jump in complexity from Junior journeys to Cadette Journeys is a big one. Some newly bridged to Cadette girls, especially in the case of summer journeys where they will start 6th grade in the fall, will do better if they wait until they have had a some middle school experience and curriculum before starting the journey. If you have questions about this please contact us.
Special consideration for incoming 9th graders
A Senior level journey is designed for girls who are already attending high school. It is a more effective preparation for the Gold Award if you wait until the girls are older.
If you decide to send your girls to a journey the summer after 8th grade, I suggest that you use the Journey Take Action Project plan (that they create in our session) as basis for your Girls Scout program during their 9th grade year. This will help serve as a better preparation for their Gold Award.
