BEDFORD, NH – Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains 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 COVID-19 pandemic and transition to virtual learning and activities has disrupted important educational milestones, particularly for children entering kindergarten this year. Social and emotional learning is important for success in kindergarten, and as the experts on girls’ leadership and development, Girl Scouts is uniquely poised to lead fun and impactful events that help girls make new friends while boosting their social skills, self-confidence, and experience in a classroom or virtual setting.

One of the largest girl-serving organizations offering social and emotional kindergarten readiness programming, Girl Scouts has designed a specialized, engaging four-part virtual event series that is free and open to all girls who are entering kindergarten. Girls will:

• practice interacting with other girls, exploring new ideas, and gaining the courage to ask questions about what they see;

• explore emotions and learn how being persistent can help them achieve their dreams;

• use their senses to process the world around them while practicing reasoning and problem-solving skills; and

• learn how to listen to a story, identify key characters, follow a plotline, and then share what they learned.

Five sessions are offered this summer, with weekly half-hour virtual meetings. Sessions run at your choice of 10 a.m., 3 p.m., or 6 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesdays – July 7, 14, 21, 28

• Thursdays – July 9, 16, 23, 30

• Wednesdays – July 15, 22, 29; Aug. 5

• Mondays – July 27; Aug. 3, 10, 17

• Tuesdays – Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25

Many in-person kindergarten readiness and pre-K programs have been cancelled or modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including opportunities to meet teachers and classmates and to try out a classroom activity. Knowing that social and emotional learning and development are some of the strongest predictors of academic success and healthy relationships, Girl Scouts has designed fun activities for girls to meet these critical milestones. Events will include activities for girls to explore the solar system, create an inspiring drawing to represent their dreams and remind them to be persistent, and much more.

“Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is committed to giving girls across New Hampshire and Vermont the best start possible in kindergarten this fall,” said Patricia K. Mellor, CEO of the local council. “Making new friends and starting kindergarten with confidence is a win-win!”

“Girl Scouts is filling the critical need of preparing girls to learn, lead, and thrive in their kindergarten classrooms,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Girl Scouts’ national reach gives girls in rural, urban, and suburban communities the opportunity to learn important pre-K readiness skills, especially social emotional learning. Our Make New Friends virtual event series helps girls create friendships, develop independence, and practice social awareness skills so they are poised for success.”

Enter your ZIP code to sign up for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains’ Make New Friends event series at www.girlscouts.org/ready.