July 23, 2019 www.broadcasteronline.com Girl Scouts Launches 42 New Badges To Mobilize Girls To Change The World Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) today reveal 42 new badges exclusively for girls in grades K–12 that allow them to make their own choices about how they want to experience and influence the world. The badges enhance the organization’s existing girl-led programming, offering girls everything from adventuring in the snow to learning how to use coding to solve problems they care about. Among the new offerings are Outdoor High Adventure badges that feature, for the first time in Girl Scouts’ history, two distinct activity options, letting girls choose how they want to earn each badge. Giving girls choices is important for developing their sense of self, their own voice, and gender equality— research from the World Bank Group shows that increasing women’s agency and decision-making abilities is key to improving their lives, communities, and the world. And research shows that Girl Scouts are more likely than other girls to take an active role in decision making (80 percent vs. 51 percent). In addition to existing badge offerings, girls in grades 6–12 can now pursue: • Nine Cybersecurity badges, through which girls learn about the inner workings of computer technology and cybersecurity and apply concepts of safety and protection to the technology they use every day. Activities range from decrypting and encrypting messages, to learning proper protection methods for devices, to exploring real-world hacking scenarios (funded by Palo Alto Networks). • Three Space Science badges, through which girls explore topics such as the universe and their place in it, properties of light, and inspiring careers in space science (funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and led by the SETI Institute). • Think Like a Citizen Scientist, a Girl Scout Leadership Journey during which girls participate in interactive activities to practice observation techniques; collect data; and share their findings with real-world scientists through an online network. As with all of Girl Scouts’ Leadership Journeys, girls use their newly honed skills to take action on a community issue of their choosing (funded by Johnson & Johnson and The Coca-Cola Foundation). The new programming for girls in grades K–12 includes: • 12 Outdoor High Adventure badges, designed for girls to explore nature and experience exciting outdoor adventures like backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, and tree climb- ing—giving them the confidence to support one another, take healthy risks, and spend dedicated time in nature. These are the first Girl Scout badges that members can earn by choosing one of two selfdirected paths (funded by The North Face). • 18 Coding for Good badges, which not only teach girls the basics of coding but also detail how every stage of the coding process provides girls with opportunities to use their skills for good. Girls will learn about algorithms through age-appropriate, creative activities, such as coding positive memes to spread a message about a cause they care about, designing a digital game to educate people about an issue, and developing an app to promote healthy habits. Every Coding for Good badge includes a plugged-in and unplugged version, so that all girls can learn the foundations of coding, regardless of their access to technology (funded by AT&T and Dell Technologies). “Girl Scouts has ignited the power and potential of girls for over a century, and we are committed to ensuring that today’s girls are the future of American leadership,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Girl Scouts is where girls can explore new subjects, discover their passions, learn to take smart risks, and become their best, most confident selves— whether they want to become a NASA astronaut, an entrepreneur, a rock climber, a coder, or a cybersecurity agent.” GSUSA works with top organizations in fields that interest today’s girls. Combined with Girl Scouts’ expertise in girl leadership, these organizations and specialists advise and weigh in on content to provide the most cutting-edge programming available to girls. Content collaborators include codeSpark, the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC), SciStarter, and Vidcode. In true girl-led fashion, girls also tested the new offerings. At Girl Scouts she’ll discover who she is, what she’s passionate about, and what she wants to achieve—both today and in the future. Join or volunteer at www.girlscouts.org/join. About Girl Scouts—Dakota Horizons Girl Scouts—Dakota Horizons is a non-profit organization that serves nearly 13,000 members in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. We are committed to building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. For more information visit http:// www.gsdakotahorizons.org/ or call 1-800-666-2141. Register Now For Disaster Unemployment Assistance PIERRE, S.D. – Farmers and ranchers, employees and self-employed individuals in 16 counties and reservations across South Dakota who are unable to work as a result of the severe winter storms and flooding from March 13 to April 26 may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance. Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program is administered locally. The state Department of Labor and Regulation is accepting applications through Monday, July 15 from all counties and reservations (except Turner) that have been declared for Individual Assistance. For those in Turner County, the deadline is Friday, July 26. Individuals can register by calling the Claims Call Center (605) 626-3179, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. CDT. Specify that your claim is related to disaster unemployment and the severe storms that occurred between mid-March and late April. Benefits are available for qualifying individuals in Bennett, Bon Homme, Charles Mix, Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, Dewey, Hutchinson, Jackson, Mellette, Minnehaha, Oglala Lakota, Pine Ridge Reservation, Rosebud Reservation, Todd, Turner, Yankton and Ziebach counties. Among the conditions for eligibility: Applicants must not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state. For further information, go to the Department of Labor and Regulation’s DUA webpage at https://dlr.sd.gov/ui/individuals/dua.aspx. For a Fact Sheet on FEMA’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, go on the agency’s website to https://www.fema. gov/media-library/assets/documents/24418. Thank you for your support! Buying, Selling VARSITY PUB GOLF TOURNAMENT or SATURDAY, JULY 27TH Renting 2PM SHOTGUN START connect with area landlords, renters, home buyers and home sellers with the Broadcaster classifieds! The Bluffs Golf Course, Vermillion, SD 4 Person Scramble: Men - Blue Tees • Women - Red Tees 60 & Over - White Tees $50 Per Person (does not include cart) 201 W Cherry Vermillion 624-4429 Contact The Bluffs at (605)677-7058 to reserve your spot Tournament prizes awarded at The Varsity Net Proceeds will be donated to the Main Street Center Broadcaster Press 3 Future-Focused Agriculture By Governor Kristi Noem In South Dakota, our way of life is largely rooted in agriculture. It’s where many of us learned how to work hard, how to be good stewards of the land, and how to focus on the things that matter most in life. While we treasure the traditions we grew up with, it’s important to acknowledge that agriculture is an ever-evolving industry. We must continually grow and learn together to be competitive on the market and prepare our farms and ranches for generations of success. We must be future-focused. In early July, I had the chance to host my first Governor’s Ag Summit – an event designed to bring farmers, ranchers, and industry leaders together to discuss the future of South Dakota agriculture. At the Summit, I led a discussion panel with four young ag professionals. We discussed the challenges of being young producers and agriculturalists, the technological experience the younger generation brings to the table, and the importance of community support for those just starting their careers. As South Dakota’s first farmer-rancher duo to be elected as governor and lieutenant governor, Lt. Governor Rhoden and I are primed to tackle these challenges and make a real impact for producers. Recently, an economic contribution study found that agriculture’s footprint has only increased in South Dakota over the last five years. In 2014, the ag industry contributed $25.6 billion to our state’s economy. Today, that number has increased by nearly $7 billion dollars. This is largely due to the diversification of product in our state and the increased processing we have seen. With more than one of five South Dakotans employed in the ag industry, these numbers are good news. This growth doesn’t mean much, though, if our overall ag economy isn’t functioning as it should. Earlier this month, I reiterated my support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which would expand markets, increase stability, and open more opportunities for producers to sell their product. It’s time to modernize our trade agreements. It’s time for Congress to support American agriculture and ratify the USMCA. We’re also pursuing key initiatives to increase stability at the state level. Right now, we’re providing options like the Second Century Habitat Program that will help take producers’ least productive acres and allow them to try something new. Establishing grass or other conserving covers on those acres – with the ability to hay or graze – is good for soil health, good for water quality, and good for wildlife. Perhaps most importantly, it’s good for a producer’s bottom line. I look forward to partnering with producers and groups across the state to expand my Second Century Habitat Program in future years. We are making good progress in our work to strengthen South Dakota agriculture, and we’re doing so with tomorrow in mind. As we continue advancing ag, we must stay future-focused. We will continue developing our ag economy and giving young people the opportunity to thrive as farmers and ranchers in South Dakota for generations to come.