While the Chicago Teachers’ Strike was underway, our GirlSpace program made sure that more than 70 girls from Chicago’s West and South neighborhoods still had a safe, structured and supportive learning environment during the school closures. For the 11 day duration of the strike, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) staff members provided these girls a host of informative workshops, fun activities, and much more!
With financial literacy and STEAM activities, healthy living lessons, movie-days, and field trips, the girls dove all into the fun and educational programs Girl Scouts GCNWI had to offer. Thanks to the dedicated GCNWI staff, the girls left every day with several fun patches and smiles on their faces!
Chillin’ Out In Chicago
Kicking off the first two days, the girls had the very special opportunity to participate in the Toyota Financial Services Badge Workshop, a financial literacy crash course where girls are given the chance to be product designers, pitch their products, and learned about the needs and wants of consumers. They finished their day off with delicious smores over a campfire!
The girls continued their fun with an Artbots and Coding workshop, and engaged in robotic fun, building “artbots” and learning some coding basics by building their own online game!
The next day was all about STEM–– and roller-skating. The girls visited the Martin Luther King Roller Skating Rink and built paper cars out of scrap paper and roller skate wheels, and then tested the velocity of their paper cars! The rest of the afternoon was spent putting their roller skating skills to the test on the rink.
On Oct. 23, the girls relaxed and watched the Lion King and played games. The next day, the girls got moving with some yoga and meditation, dancing, and karaoke. The “Healthy Living” afternoon was spent celebrating Juliette Gordon Low (J-Lo), making J-Lo pumpkins, fruit parfaits, and “All About Me” books.
Pumpkins and Pajamas
Halloween was approaching fast–– so what better way to celebrate than by visiting a pumpkin patch? The girls spent a beautiful fall day together at Johansen’s Farm petting animals, riding the hayride, playing mini-golf, jumping on bouncy houses, and of course, leaving with their very own pumpkin!
The girls continued their outdoor-focused activities the next day when WTTW 11’s Nature Cat came to visit! They spent the entire day concentrating on nature-themed activities and hanging out with Nature Cat’s bunny friend, Daisy.
The last two Girl Scout days were all about expressing creativity–– through art or silly pajamas! The girls participated in the Art of Animation workshop, where they learned all about what animators do and some tricks of the trade. They worked on a paper flipbook and then took their art to the iPad to bring their creations to life!
For Halloween and the last day of the program, Girl Scouts GCNWI threw a Pajama Party for the staff and girls! Everyone dressed up in their best PJ’s and started the day watching movies and playing musical chairs. In the afternoon, the girl’s talents were celebrated with a talent show! Before the girls left, they decorated cookies and dunked them in some delicious hot chocolate.
GirlSpace is the Place!
Education doesn’t only happen in the classroom–– Girl Scouts know this for sure. Thanks to our dedicated GCNWI staff, these girls were able to learn, grow, enjoy and explore all sorts of subjects while the strike carried on.
GirlSpace is a year-round school integrated and staff facilitated Girl Scout program that provides girls from varied communities with a safe, structured and supportive learning environment that empowers them with skills that are essential for success in school and in life, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills. The program serves nearly 3000 girls from the South and West sides of Chicago, Proviso Township, Joliet and northwest Indiana.