Hurricane Ike Updates for our Girl Scout Family

  • All GSSJC offices and service centers, and the Program Place for Girls, have resumed regular business hours.
  • We know that girls are eager to resume their scheduled activities, and we are too!  Most program activities have resumed. We will notify registrants via phone if their program has been cancelled or postponed. We recognize that some participants will not be able to attend programs for a variety of reasons related to Ike, and we will refund participants on a case-by-case basis in the coming weeks. If you are reading this message and know you are unable to attend a program, please inform the registrar's office at 713-292-0370 so that we may plan accordingly. You may also contact Julie Deeter at jdeeter@sjgs.org or 713-292-0203; or contact Linda Pau at lpau@sjgs.org or 713-292-0218.
  • Scheduled rallies are posted on our web site. We will coordinate with our school partners and update that information on a regular basis.
  • For inquiries regarding adult development training, please contact the Adult Development department at 713-292-0217.

Volunteer opportunities are listed at the volunteerhouston.org website. Click on Hurricane IKE Volunteers for the complete listing. You may also call 713-853-8802 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. to volunteer or for more information. 

Contact the American Red Cross Greater Houston Area Chapter at 713-526-8300 or 866-526-8300 and your local United Way to see what they need.

GSSJC will be hosting a city-wide blood drive for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center on Friday, Oct. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at its administrative building, located at 3110 Southwest Freeway. Please call 713-292-0367 for more information or to sign up.

The Fall Product Sale

  • The 2008 Fall Product Program began Saturday, September 20. We realize many troops who planned on participating in the Fall Product Program have been deeply affected by Hurricane Ike. If your troop is still wanting or able to participate, we want to support you in that decision and have extended order-taking through Saturday, October 11.
  • Troops may participate any time during this period. Please check with your service unit fall product manager for updates on delivery dates and locations.
  • For those who are unable to participate, the super troop requirement to participate in both the 2008 Fall Product Program and the 2009 Cookie Sale has been removed.
  • Here are some ideas for those who, understandably, may not want to ask friends and neighbors to buy products at this time. Consider asking friends or relatives who live outside the area affected by Hurricane Ike to support your troop’s fall product sale. If they choose, they can make a purchase and allow your troop to donate it to a friend, neighbor or organization who can use a treat during this difficult time.
  • We understand how product sales proceeds fund activities for your troop. Please contact 713-292-0300 if you have questions on how we can support your efforts.
  • If you are a troop fall product sales manager and you have not taken training, you may access the online training at: http://etraining.gssjc.org. If you have any questions regarding online training, e-mail fallproduct@sjgs.org.

Information for those in need of assistance and those who want to help

  • If you need assistance with health and human services, call United Way of Greater Houston's 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE by dialing 211.
  • Ways that Girl Scouts Can Help Southeast Texas Recover from Hurricane Ike:
    • Girls may help clean up area parks (713) 222-5052 or www.houstonparks.org
    • Girls may volunteer at PODs (points of distribution) in Southeast Texas http://www.chron.com/databases/ikepods.html
    • Girls may encourage adults who are healthy to donate blood in your area, if possible.
    • Girls may host a day camp or day event to help occupy kids who are not in school.
    • Girls may help find resources for those less fortunate in their area (food, water, ice).
    • Girls may create activity bags for children who are not in school.
    • Girls may contact their schools to see what help is needed to ready the property to reopen.
    • Girls may check on their elderly neighbors and those with small children to see what help they might need.
    • Girls can thank your local heroes. Consider doing something to thank the people who are working and volunteering to keep our community safe and livable, such as city, county, state and federal workers; power company employees; police and fire personnel; health care workers; shelter workers; POD delivery drivers; and military personnel.
    • Girls can check with local food pantries to see if they need food donations and/or volunteers.
    • Girls can check with local pet shelters to see if they need volunteers and/or pet supplies like newspaper, food, and toys.
    • Girls can visit neighbors to see how they are faring. Bring them a treat and let them know you care.
    • Girls can contact local assisted living communities and find out if you can visit their residents and offer entertainment or conversation.

We want to know

  • Please let us know what you are doing. If your troop takes action in your community, please send an e-mail to: cvillarreal@sjgs.org. We want to hear your stories and share them with others as this web site is updated.

GSSJC Camp Updates

Camp update posted 10/30/2008

With the exception of the Galveston Boat Club, which will remain closed for the forseeable future, all camps are open. Following is a list of camps with any restrictions still in place while clean-up or repairs continue.

Camp Silver Springs

  • Selected elements of the Ropes Course are closed for repair. Projected reopening - TBD.
  • All other facilities are available.

Camp Robinwood

  • The archery range remains closed for repairs. Projected reopening - two weeks.
  • All other facilities are available.

Camp Whispering Pines

  • Silver Ridge Trail remains closed for clean-up. Reopenig TBD.
  • All other facilities are available.

Camp Agnes Arnold

  • Cabin B2 in the Fishing Village in unavailable, but is under construction. Projected reopening - four weeks.
  • All other facilities are available.

Camp Misty Meadows

  • All facilities are available.

Camp Camwood

  • All facilities are available.

Camp Wind-A-Mere

  • The Tee Pee unit is available for use, however, there are no tee pees on the platforms. You may pitch tents on the platforms in the interim until new tee pees are installed.
  • The lodge will remain closed for the forseeable future because of extensive hurricane damage.
  • All other facilities are available.

Camp Casa Mare

  • The archery range remains closed for repairs. Projected reopening - two weeks.
  • Port and Starboard Dorms, Clipper Dorm (side B) remain closed. Projected reopening - three weeks.
  • All other facilities are available.

Camp Myra S. Pryor

  • All facilities are available.