Girl Scouts Prepare Girls for Kindergarten with Virtual Series

Fort Myers, FL—Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida and Girl Scouts of the USA is launching a free “Make New Friends” virtual event series to ensure that all girls are prepared to start kindergarten with confidence.

The free, four-part virtual series provides opportunities for girls to strengthen four competencies as they enter kindergarten. Girls will connect with the same new friends each day, as well as Girl Scouts staff and volunteers who lead fun, interactive sessions focused on language and literacy, cognition, approaches to learning, and social and emotional learning.

The COVID-19 pandemic and transition to virtual learning and activities have disrupted important educational milestones, particularly for children entering kindergarten this year. Many in-person kindergarten readiness and pre-K programs have been canceled or modified, including opportunities to meet teachers and classmates and to try out a classroom activity. Yet, social and emotional learning is essential for success in kindergarten.

“Girl Scouts is filling the critical need of preparing girls to learn, lead and thrive in their Kindergarten classrooms,” said Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian. “Girl Scouts’ national reach gives girls in all communities the opportunity to learn important pre-K readiness skills. Our Make New Friends virtual event series helps girls create friendships, develop independence and practice social awareness skills, so they are poised for success.”

The Gulfcoast Council is hosting two virtual series sessions, August 11-14 from 12:00-12:30 p.m., and August 25-28 from 4:00-4:30 p.m. Additional sessions are also available now through October. To see a list of available sessions and register, visit www.girlscouts.org/ready.

To learn more about Girl Scout programs, membership registration and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gsgcf.org or call 800-232-4475. Program scholarships are available based on financial need.

About Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. Our mission: to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves girls in grades K-12 across 10 counties including Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier. To volunteer, join, donate or learn more, visit www.gsgcf.org.