What Did You Do This Summer?

Take an exciting trip? Learn an interesting piece of history? Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore wants to help provide opportunities for all girls to experience these activities. Whether you're interested in snorkeling in Australia or the art and history of Paris, the wider and mini wider opportunities provided by the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore can help you reach these dreams.

Wider Opportunities & Mini Wider Opportunities

Each year the Council sponsors National and International trips called Wider Opportunities, and shorter less expensive trips called mini wider opportunities (see below for mini wider opportunities.) The large trips are planned at least eighteen to twenty-four months in advance. Depending on the trip they can cost from $2,000 to $5,400. There is several money earning opportunities available to the girls to help them pay for the trip, plus some limited financial assistance. Through Wider Opportunities Opportunity, girls have the opportunity to receive the PSA (see below) for the 2011 & 2012 trips.

Product Sale Advantage (PSA)

• Nuts – girls receive $1.00 per item sold after the first 35 items. The troop or Independent Girl Scout also receives the basic commission for every item sold. Girls do not receive any additional incentives.
• Cookies – girls receive $1.00 per box sold after the first 75 boxes. The troop or Independent Girl Scout also receives the basic commission for every item sold. Girls do not receive any additional incentives.
• Plant Sales
• For girls going on the 2012 Wider Opportunities – will receive information on the two spring sales (plants are sold in late February), and the poinsettia sale (plants are sold in late October). Girls can make 75¢ to $6 per item. This rate changes from year to year depending on the grower. To sell plants girls must participate in the Nut & Cookie Product sales each year.
• Money earned through the above opportunities is for a specific trip only and is not transferable to other trips. If a girl is unable to participate in the trip, the money must be transferred to other trip participants or to the Carol Kubida Fund.

Additional Money Earning Opportunities

• Troops may conduct money earning activities e.g. dances, car washes, craft sales, bagging groceries. Before plants are made, an application must be submitted to the Senior Director of Program Services for approval. The Council reserves the right to limit the number of money earning opportunities.

Financial Assistance

• Assistance from the Carol Kubida Fund is available. The money is limited, and need based and the committee takes into consideration whether a girl has taken full advantage of the nuts, cookies and plant sales. Applications for these funds will be sent to each eligible participant early in the year the trip takes place.

Click here for a list of Council Sponsored Opportunities and corresponding forms.