2020 - A Year In Review

2020 Graduating Ambassadors

In May, we were unable to acknowledge our graduating Girl Scouts in person, but we still celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to hearing what they will achieve in the future.

2020 Silver Award Honorees

This year, we honored 31 incredible young women with individual recognitions at a drive-thru Silver Award ceremony held at our Program Activity Center in Farmingdale. Together, these girls devoted over 1,500 hours of service, making a significant impact on their communities.

Celebrating Ruth Bader Ginsburg

In celebration of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and legacy, our council created a patch program to educate girls about her accomplishments. In all, more than 6,000 Girl Scouts from across the country earned the patch. This video highlights a few of the girls who participated.

Promote The Vote

As part of the council's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, we encouraged girls to participate in GSUSA's "Promote the Vote" initiative to become more engaged in the democratic process. After participating in the program, Junior Troop 254 decided to do its part to get out the vote. The result is this public service announcement.

Girl Scout Cookie Program

2020 truly was the year of two Girl Scout Cookie Programs. The year began like any other. Our Girl Scouts were having an amazing cookie season - setting, meeting and exceeding goals. From their first sale to a member of their family to their cookie booths outside local businesses, they shared delicious treats with their customers while learning essential skills for life.

Then COVID-19 changed everything.

Our Girl Scouts still had cookies to sell and those risking their safety for the community deserved recognition. Our girls came up with innovative initiatives to solve complex challenges and delivered more than 130,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to essential workers on the front lines of the pandemic with our COVID-19 Cookie Relief Fund. Local businesses also stepped in, including both Investors Bank and OceanFirst Bank; each donated 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to area non-profits.

Camp Amity Acres

Summer at Camp Amity Acres was a success! With safety as the top priority and accommodations in place to ensure the health and well-being of our campers, families and staff, we had a success, fun, COVID-free 2020 summer season.

Camp Sacajawea

Our children need camp more than ever for their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. At Camp Sacajawea, girls continued to thrive in the outdoors, taking on new challenges and gaining leadership skills while enjoying a fun, successful, COVID-free summer season.

Camp Song Contest Winner

One activity the council created to keep girls engaged while at home this spring was a Camp Song Contest. Our winner, Cadette Maia Minty from Jackson Troop 50061 wrote lyrics to accompany the tune of Fight Song by Rachel Platten.

Merry Grinchmas

In December, guests enjoyed a Whoville scavenger hunt through Camp Sacajawea as they saved the holiday season from the clutches of the Grinch. Participants snacked on tasty s’mores, created a Grinch-themed holiday ornament and even snapped photos with the Grinch in his very own mini snow flurry!

Spooktacular

More than 1,000 socially distant guests joined us for our annual Spooktacular event. With a scavenger hunt and Haloween-themed activities, everyone had a great time outdoors.

Mother's Day

To celebrate Mother's Day, we asked Girl Scout families to share photos that show their appreciation for mom.

Father's Day

To celebrate Father's Day, we asked Girl Scout families to send photos of dads in action, supporting their daughters.

Women of Distinction and Community Partners Gala

After a six-month delay, we gathered for our Women of Distinction and Community Partners Gala in July. While the event was outdoors and our guests were in-person, the program and its speakers were all virtual.

• Click to watch our full Gala program

Phenomenal Women Under 40

2020 brought our fifth annual Phenomenal Women Under 40 event. We honored 10 outstanding women for their accomplishments to date and for their future potential.

Girl Scout Golf Classic

In a great show of support during the challenging COVID-19 health crisis, the community came together in October for the Girl Scout Golf Classic, sponsored by Investors Bank and OceanFirst Bank. The event raised over $50,000 that will enable more young girls to thrive with Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

2020 Council Recognition Awards

This year's Council Recognitions occurred remotely, allowing us to celebrate our amazing volunteers for all they've done over the past year. This year, more than ever, their dedication to the growth and development of girls into women of courage, confidence and character, should be recognized and celebrated.

• Watch the entire Council Awards program
• Nominate a volunteer for a 2021 recognition