2014 Adult Learning Summit and Camp Singing Hills Grand Opening

November was a busy month for GSAK! 

The week of November 10 started with "In Week," where GSAK staff from across the Council traveled to Anchorage for training, team-building exercises, and fun. 

Our 2014 Adult Learning Summit was held November 14-15, and we ended the week with the Grand Opening of Camp Singing Hills November 16! 

2014 Adult Learning Summit

More than 50 adult volunteers turned out for the fifth annual Adult Learning Summit. Held in Anchorage, attendees participated in sessions such as "How to Choose Your Battles," "The Power of Gratitude," "True Voice," and "State of Possibilities." 

 Volunteers participate in a course on astronomy

An awards dinner was held Friday evening. The dinner kicked off with keynote speakers Bruce Sexauer, all-girl LEGO robotics coach; Anne Kurland, Juneau Service Unit manager; and Judy Weimer, long-time GSAK volunteer and Volunteer of Excellence awardee.

  2014 Adult Learning Summit award recipients

Thank you to all our volunteers and congratulations to the following award recipients: 

Volunteer of Excellence
Megan Carr
Jasmine Dirkes
Tracy Fishbach
Deanna Gudgell
Maryjane Hinman
Melissa Jones
Gail Moorehead
Bright Nygard
Valerie Peace
Judy Weimer

Appreciation Pin
Amy Arsenault
Debra Boland
Stephanie Davenport
Mary Graber
Laura Ison
Barbara Knaak
Amanda Light
Sabrina Partridge

Honor Pin
Kim Ballard
Teresa Bleakley

Camp Singing Hills Grand Opening

More than 130 girls, adult volunteers, and community leaders turned out for the grand opening of Camp Singing Hills, held November 16 in Chugiak. 

Anchorage Troop 65

The event opened with Troop 65 ringing the new camp bell. Troop 647 conducted a flag ceremony and Troop 690 led attendees in the Girl Scout Promise and Pledge. The crowd then moved into the new STEM lodge and heard from the following speakers:   

• GSAK CEO Sue Perles
• Jane Angvik, Camp Singing Hills Capital Campaign chair
• Senator-elect Bill Stoltze
• Senator Anna Fairclough
• Jayson Smart, program officer for the Rasmuson Foundation 
• Michael Fredericks, president of RIM First People
• U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, honorary Camp Singing Hills Capital Campaign chair

Senator Murkowski served as keynote speaker. Senator Murkowski was a Girl Scout growing up in Ketchikan. In addition to serving as honorary chair of the Singing Hills Capital Campaign, the senator is a member of the honorary Congressional Girl Scout troop called Troop Capitol Hill.

Jane Angvik, left, with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski

The Camp Singing Hills capital campaign was launched in August 2012. Construction at Singing Hills began in spring 2013 and was completed this fall. The project was made possible thanks to GSAK’s many partners including the State of Alaska, Rasumson Foundation, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Mat-Su Health Foundation, ConocoPhillips, BP Alaska, and First National Bank Alaska. 

 The new Singing Hills STEM lodge

Camp Singing Hills has been a very special part of childhood for generations of girls growing up in Alaska. The “new” Camp Singing Hills features include: 

• A 6,500-square-foot lodge fully wired for STEM activities and interactive distance learning,
• Yurts for year-round camping, 
• A waterfront area for environmental lake education and canoeing,
• A playing field,
• Outdoor education sites, and 
• A trail system, including Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible trails.  

Thank you to our 2014 Adult Learning Summit and Camp Singing Hills grand opening attendees for help making these events a success!