Parents Guide of Las Vegas

Girl Scouts Sabina Manzini and Lauren Nelson, along with Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada were recently honored by Clark County Commission.

For most people the phrase ‘going for the gold’ conjures up visions of the Olympics – a beautiful ice skater or gymnast. But if you’re a Girl Scout, ‘going for the gold’ takes on a whole different meaning. Similar to the Olympics, Girl Scouts offers Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards in recognition of extraordinary achievement, but the road to achieving gold is not about competition – it’s about community and girl leadership.

Girl Scouts have been “going for the gold’ since 1916, when the award, then called The Golden Eaglet, debuted. Several name changes later (Curved Bar Award or First Class), The Gold Award continues to inspire girls to find their leadership potential by taking action to make their community and the world a better place.

“Although it’s difficult to endure through the whole process, Girl Scouts should go for the Gold Award because it is a worthwhile experience that will help connect them to their community and help them find their passions,” said Marcy Brown, a 2013 honoree.

Girl Scouts in southern Nevada, including Illyana Preth and Brown who are pictured on the cover, are being honored at the Young Women of Distinction ceremony this month. They are among an elite group of women who have left a lasting impact on their communities and the world. Approximately 5.6 percent of Girl Scouts achieve their Girl Scout Gold Award annually.

Brown spent more than 80 hours preparing her project, “Diversity in a Diverse City – A Guide to Ethnic Markets and Farmers Markets in Southern Nevada.” She felt the need to create a guide that would bring the community together and encourage awareness of the variety of ethnic markets and farmers markets that are available right here in southern Nevada. Brown chose her project to answer environmental concerns people face today about the quality of their food and the level of nutrition they are receiving.

“These issues have people seeking quality food and they are fast becoming locavores, as they seek food that is grown closer to their communities; thus reducing their carbon footprint,” she said.

Preth reached out to more than 500 youth, 10-15 years-old, at middle schools, day camps, and Boys and Girls Clubs to encourage and engage them to lead healthier lifestyles through proper exercise techniques and nutrition. Her Gold Award drew from her passion for competitive swimming.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is more than just a good service project. It is the culmination of a girl’s experiences in Girl Scouting; encompassing her organizational, leadership, networking, and critical thinking skills. The Girl Scout Gold Award challenges girls to identify a need in their community and take action to alleviate or solve that need – in the process learning that one girl has the power to change the world.

“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award taught me confidence, compassion, patience, and perseverance through my interactions with people.” Brown said.

A Journey To Gold

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a girl in grades 4-5 can earn. It starts with a girl identifying a team of girls to work with. Together they explore their community, identify a need, make a plan to fill the need, and then put their plan in motion. Girls from Troop 354 partnered with the DMV for a W8 2 TxT campaign. They created thumb bands to remind people to not text and drive, along with PSA’s at DMV locations.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest honor a girl in grades 6-8 can earn. At this level a girl may choose to work with a team or take the lead by herself. Building on what she’s learned, this award requires her to develop a project that addresses a need in her local community. She is required to work through her plan and once she has completed her project she is asked to share her story with others. Troop 199 collaborated with Clark County School District Safe Routes to School program to paint STOP and LOOK reminders at eight crosswalks around Betsy Rhodes Elementary School.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve. It is the culmination of a girl’s experiences in Girl Scouting and is reserved for girls in grades 9-12. This prestigious award challenges girls to complete a project that will leave a lasting impact in the world. In addition to the learning and leadership benefits, girls who achieve their Girl Scout Gold Award are eligible for college scholarships and can enter any branch of the U.S. military at a higher rank. Sabina Manzini teamed up with Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada to create a resource book to help foster children understand their rights and take action on decisions that impact their lives.

By Emily Smith

Summer is just around the corner and for many kids that means it’s time for summer camp! Many of us share fond childhood memories of summer camp – making new friends, sleeping in bunk beds, day hikes, campfires, and don’t forget the s’mores. But camp is so much more beneficial for our kids than we may have imagined. Here are four benefits disguised behind the fun of camp:

1. The Road to Independence
Camp is a safe place for kids to learn responsibility as they are empowered to take care of themselves. Camp counselors provide structure and guidance, but kids at camp are responsible for getting themselves up and ready for the day, making their beds, keeping track of their personal belongings, and finding their way to and from the dining hall.

2. The Great Outdoors Prevails to Electronic “Time Suckers”
Camp is a perfect way to get kids outside and active! With so many inside distractions, it can be hard to pull kids away from their cell phones and Wii’s long enough to see the sun. At camp, kids trade their button pushing and joystick maneuvering for rock climbing, mountain biking, ropes course challenges and more!

3. There’s a Leader in Every Kid
The camp setting is a small community unlike any other. The unfamiliar setting, new people, and shortened time together help kids make friends and bond. As kids make choices and direct projects, their leadership instincts progress. They learn to get along with others and become self-reliant without parents there to save the day.

4. I Can Do Anything! Camp, the ultimate self-esteem boost.
For many kids, camp is their first time away from mom, dad, and their extended family. This can be a huge boost to their self-esteem. Summer camp is a place where children can express themselves, discover their own abilities and mature through experiences that challenge them to discover resilience and good decision-making.

See if your child is ready for a sleep away adventure with this camp readiness assessment. Just know if they are not ready for life at camp, don’t push them. It’s better to wait a year then spoil the experience for years to come.

Emily Smith is the CMO for Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada. Membership in Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is open to all girls 5-17 years-old. For more information on Girl Scouts, Camp Foxtail call (702) 385-3677 or visit girlscoutsnv.org .

Winder Farms, a premier grocery home delivery company, has added two delicious milk flavors to its award-winning line of chocolate milk: Raspberry Chocolate and Caramel Chocolate. To celebrate the launch of these tasty drinks, Winder Farms is offering free samples for a limited time only.

To receive a free sample of the new flavors, log on to ATasteofWinderFarms.com, click on “request a free sample” and choose Raspberry Chocolate or Caramel Chocolate. In just a few days, Winder Farms will hand-deliver the milk to your door.

“We are always looking for original flavors to add to our wide selection of milk products,” said Ashley Vanderhoof, marketing manager at Winder Farms. “Free samples are a great way for our customers to try the new flavors and I’m sure they will agree they are delicious.”

Raspberry Chocolate, available in the half-gallon size, combines Winder Farms award-winning chocolate milk with the fresh taste of raspberries for a delicious fusion of tart and sweet. Caramel Chocolate, available in 16 oz. bottles, blends rich caramel with chocolate for a smooth salty-sweet flavor. The two new flavors join their lineup of unique flavors available on a rotating basis throughout the year including: Root Beer Milk, designed to taste like a root beer float, Orange Vanilla Milk, similar to the refreshing taste of a Creamsicle, Cookies and Cream, Peaches and Cream and many more.

The Public Education Foundation and its literacy initiative, Clark County READS, are replacing outdated books in the Cheyenne High School library with nearly 1,000 new nonfiction books and more than 200 new nonfiction e-books, thanks to a generous donation made by Generation Vegas.

Cheyenne’s is the second in a series of library upgrades made possible by a donation from Generation Vegas to the Foundation. The $50,000 donation is enabling Clark County READS to upgrade at least three Clark County School District (CCSD) libraries. The first upgrade took place last February at Mabel Hoggard Elementary School.

Prior to ordering books for a library, Clark County READS analyzes a library’s collection to determine which new nonfiction books will most benefit the library and its students and which outdated nonfiction books will be removed.

“Generation Vegas is providing resources for tangible, lasting improvements to our schools,” said Judi Steele, president of the Foundation. “This donation means that Cheyenne’s students will have access to up-to-date information at school as well as at home, boosting their chances for success.”

Founded in 2012, Generation Vegas is a new organization that is working to ensure a bright future for today’s youth. Its mission is to make the Las Vegas Valley a better place for future generations through education, leadership and community. Its board members include Emily Morris and Clare Madsen of MorrisMadsen, Chad Harris of Las Vegas Billboards and Jamie Cogburn of Cogburn Law Offices.

Since its inception in 2001, Clark County READS has placed almost $1.4 million worth of new nonfiction books in more than 100 CCSD libraries. This translates into 85,100 new nonfiction books, benefiting more than 89,000 students.

By Dr. Stephen Fife and Jenae Lindsey

Although some say that love is a universal language, relationship expert Dr. Gary Chapman asserts that each of us “speaks” and “understands” love in a unique way. He calls this our love language—the way we best understand love. Chapman says there are five common “languages” in which we give and receive love. They are: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, physical touch, and acts of service.

Most of us identify primarily with one language. There is one way of receiving love that speaks to us over all other ways. However, if our primary language is different than theirs, we may have a difficult time understanding each others’ efforts to communicate love. If my partner shows me love in Greek, when I only understand English, I won’t recognize or appreciate the message.

Fortunately, we can learn our partner’s love language—it just requires some language lessons and practice. Consider which of these is the primary love language for you and your partner.

Words of affirmation. Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Expressions of appreciation, compliments, and words of encouragement feed the soul of those who speak this love language. A simple, “You look great today,” or “I appreciate that hard work that you do” is sometimes all a person needs to carry them throughout the day.

Quality time. For those who speak this language, quality time trumps all other forms of receiving love. Quality is key. It is not enough to share space with your partner, but to be engaged in the moment. Setting aside time to be together for bonding activities and conversations.

Receiving Gifts. Mother Teresa has been quoted as saying “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” This could be a mantra for gift receivers. A heartfelt gift says more than a verbal expression or any other kind of love.

Physical touch. Nothing speaks “I love you” more to this person than handholding, hugs, or physical intimacy. For those who grew up in a home where physical affection was uncommon, this might be difficult to learn. Start small, and eventually it will begin to feel more comfortable.

Acts of Service. It won’t matter how many gifts you give your partner or how many times you express your love, they may not understand how you feel if you’re not helping with the things that are important to them. Look for ways to serve this person. It can be as simple as taking out the trash or doing the dishes.

It’s important to know how you and your partner understand love. You can find out more by reading Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages or taking a short online quiz at www.5lovelanguages.com. Speaking your partner’s love language may not be natural at first, but your efforts will pay off with increased closeness and connection. Couples who become bilingual have more opportunities to share and receive love in ways that each partner understands.

Dr. Stephen Fife is an Associate Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at UNLV. Jenae Lindsey is a graduate student in the MFT Program. E-mail Dr. Fife at stephen.fife@unlv.edu .