THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS.

WE'LL GET ONE OF THE LARGEST INCREASES IN BENEFITS THIS DECADE.

BUT THERE ARE WORRIES.

WILL THAT KNEW HIM OUT ACTUALLY HELP COMBAT HIGHER PRICES DUE TO THE RISE IN INFLATION.

THE AUTUMN AIR BRINGS A SENSE OF FEAR AS HALLOWEEN DRAWS NEAR AND UNDERSTANDING BEHIND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SEEKING OUT THE CHANCE TO BE SCARED.

AND PROVIDING AN INCLUSIVE CAMPING ADVENTURE.

THE ORGANIZATION THAT DELIVERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILLS OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE WALTER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS WEEK A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR NEARLY 72 MILLION BENEFICIARIES BEGINNING IN JANUARY OF 27 RECIPIENTS WILL GET A 3.6% INCREASE.

THAT IS THE LARGEST INCREASE IN BENEFITS SINCE 2023.

THE EVENT JUST MEANT IS ON PAR WITH THE RISE IN INFLATION OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHICH HAS BEEN ABOUT 3.7%, ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AND WHILE THE RAYS AND SOCIAL SECURITY IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THERE ARE CONCERNS IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR THOSE OLDER ADULTS WHO HAVE TO RELY ON THE BENEFITS AS THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME.

WITH MORE ON THE 2027 IN COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

I'M JOINED BY BILL 20 SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WITH AARP.

AND THANKS, BILL, FOR TALKING WITH US.

SO JUST WHAT IS THIS GOING TO MEAN TO REAL PEOPLE?

3.6% INCREASE IN SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> WHAT IT MEANS IS SOCIAL SECURITY IS ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.

AND SO THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

THE CALL AS WE CALL IT, IS THERE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT AS INFLATION GOES UP, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CAN GO UP JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH IT SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO AFFORD TO PAY THE BILLS YOU HAVE TO PAY IN THE QUEUE FOR DINNER TABLE FOR SOME THE AVERAGE PERSON IN AMERICA WHO'S ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET ABOUT A $75 INCREASE IN 2027 OR ABOUT $900 OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

SO IT'S A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT MANY PEOPLE SAY IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE PRICES THAT THEY'RE SEEN.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

AND IT TELL US SOME EXAMPLES.

WHAT OUR PEOPLE REAL AMERICANS HAVING TO CALL IT.

>> IN ORDER TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.

>> THINGS ESSENTIAL THINGS THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP.

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY DRIVING, THAT THE SQUEEZE THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE FLORIDA ARE ELECTRIC PRICES.

THE ELECTRICITY RATES ARE GOING UP.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING EVEN MORE AND ELECTRICITY THAN THEY HAVE PAY BEFORE.

THEY'RE SEEING HIGHER GAS PRICES.

THEY'RE SEEING HIGHER MORTGAGES, WORRIED RATES ARE HIGHER.

RENTS ARE HIGHER.

THAT IS A REALLY BIG SQUEEZE FOR PEOPLE.

AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THEY REALLY CAN'T CONTROL.

YOU CAN'T A SHOP AROUND FOR A LOT OF ELECTRIC PRICE.

YOU PAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO PAY AND SO WHAT WE'VE ASKED PEOPLE AS WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO HAVE EVEN LIKE A 5% CUT IN SOCIAL SECURITY?

AND THEY TELL US THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR THEM TO CUT BACK ON AT THIS POINT IS FOOD.

YOU KNOW, THE OR MEDICINES THAT THEY WOULD BE THERE HAD TO STOP TAKING THE MEDICINES ARE DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBED OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT DOWN ON THE FOOD THAT THEY EAT.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OF THAT FOR OUR SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS.

IT'S REALLY SOBERING.

AND I THINK IT IT REALLY SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT THE SOCIAL SECURITY COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IS TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND HIGH INFLATION YEARS LIKE THIS ONE.

YEAH.

ONCE.

>> IN YOUR HEART ABOUT THAT, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT HIT THE EU IS SOMEONE WITH AARP?

WHAT THEY'RE TELLING YOU WHAT THEY'D HAVE TO GIVE UP TO.

>> IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING.

AND I THINK WE I HAVE HEARD THE STORIES WE'VE WE'VE HEARD SO MANY TIMES.

THE IS SOMETHING LIKE 28% OF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE PILLS.

THEIR DOCTORS ARE PRESCRIBING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING A SIDE EFFECT.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT IS THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND SO WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE SICKER AND THERE AND THEY'RE STRUGGLING MORE THAN THEY SHOULD.

AND THERE'S NO REASON AN AMERICA THAT ANYONE CERTAINLY NOT OUR SENIOR SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH THAT.

AND THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY WE'RE HERE AND FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE FIGHTING ON CAPITOL HILL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> WELL, MEN AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AND ILL PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE INSTALLED AND THEN ANOTHER 5 AND A HALF YEARS IN THE EARLY, MAYBE BY 2032, WHAT DOES THIS INCREASE MEAN FOR THE SOLVENCY?

OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM?

>> WELL, THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE IS BAKED INTO SOCIAL SECURITY.

NOW SINCE THE MAIN TO LATE 1970'S, IT IS AUTOMATIC AS PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY.

AND IT REALLY IS THE THING THAT MAKES SURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY CAN STAY STRONG AS YOU GET OLDER.

SO OF IT, WE DIDN'T HAVE A COLA.

SOMEONE IN THEIR 80'S OR 90'S WOULD FIND THAT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK WAS NO LONGER CLOSE ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE HIGH PRICES.

THEY'RE PAYING AND IT PUSHED SO MANY PEOPLE INTO POVERTY.

SO THAT CAUSE ACTUALLY ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.

IT'S REALLY AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE KNOW THAT INSOLVENCY IN SO SICK IS ABOUT 6 YEARS AWAY.

2032, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT INSOLVENCY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RUNNING OUT OF MONEY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IS BROKE OR BANKRUPT.

IT MEANS THAT IT CAN ONLY PAY ABOUT 80% OF THE BENEFITS IN 2032.

AND IT NEEDS AT 20% SHORTFALL FIXED.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING CONGRESS CAN DO.

THEY'VE DONE IT BEFORE IN THE 70'S AND THE 80'S THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT RECOGNIZE IT 6 YEARS FROM NOW IS THE END OF THAT TERM OF THE UNITED STATES SENATORS WHO WE'RE ELECTING IN NOVEMBER ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SO THE PEOPLE WE ELECT IN NOVEMBER FOR THE SENATE WILL BE IN THE SENATE WHEN IT'S TIME TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS TO BE ACTIVATED ON THAT AS WELL.

BUT THERE'S PROPOSALS THAT WOULD CUT THE COLA IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, PUT MORE MONEY INTO SOCIAL SECURITY.

I GUESS.

BUT IT WOULD REALLY MEAN TAKING MONEY OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS WHO NEED IT DESPERATELY TO KEEP UP WITH HIGHER PRICES.

RIGHT NOW.

>> IT WAS A MUCH RACE.

DO YOU HAVE THAT THE POLITICIANS WE'LL TAKE ACTION IN THE NEXT 6 YEARS.

SO THAT'S THE SYSTEM CAN SURVIVE THAT THERE MIGHT BE REFORMS.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH THAT POLITICIANS ARE GOING TO FIX THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.

SOMETIMES THEY WAITED TO LET IN 1983.

THEY WAITED FOR THE ALMOST THE VERY LAST MINUTE TO DO IT.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU KNOW, IN FLORIDA, THERE'S 5.2 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS THAT THEY'VE EARNED.

IT PUTS ABOUT 120 BILLION DOLLARS INTO FLORIDA'S ECONOMY.

THAT IS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS ARE GOING TO REALLY WRESTLE WITH GOING HOME TO THEIR VOTERS.

2032 IS AN ELECTION YEAR TOO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT POLITICS IS GONNA WANT TO GO ON TO THEIR VOTERS AND SAY I FAILED.

I DIDN'T GET THE JOB DONE.

THEY SENT ME TO DO.

I THINK IT'S JUST TOO BIG OF AN ISSUE FOR THAT.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THE VOTERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY.

DON'T WRITE.

THANK YOU, BILL SWEENEY.

>> FROM AARP, GOOD TALKING WITH YOU TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE STORIES THAT ARE IMPACTING YOUR WALLET.

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP HALLOWEEN SEASON BRINGS OUT THE GHOSTS AND GHOULS TO PLAY.

BUT ONE CROSS A PERSON TO SEEK OUT THE UNKNOWN.

ALL FOR THE SAKE OF BEING SCARED.

IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE HORROR MOVIES BECOME REGULAR VIEWING AND TRIPS TO HAUNTED HOUSES ARE ON THE WEEKEND ITINERARY.

BUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT THOSE SPOOKY SEASON THAT MAKES PEOPLE FIND WAYS TO CARE OF THEMSELVES.

WELL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF TERRIFYING WAYS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN.

SO W G C IS KAY KRONON LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY FOR THE ALLURE OF CHASING FEAR.

>> FOR MORE ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR.

I'M JOINED BY CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AREA LIVE IN HARA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY THAT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

SO I WANT TO START BY EXPLORING WHAT TRIGGERS THE FEELINGS OF FEAR.

WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BODIES AND OUR MINDS WHEN WE START FEELING AFRAID?

>> YEAH.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A PART OF OUR BRAIN THAT IS IN CONTROL OF THE YEAR.

IT'S CALLED THE AMYGDALA.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT TRIGGERS THAT FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE AND ARE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

AND SO WHEN YOU START TO FEEL YOUR INCREASED HEART RATE AND YOU START TO FEEL YOUR SWEATY PALMS.

THAT IS ALL BECAUSE YOUR BRAIN IS DRIVING THOSE CONNECTIONS TO PROTECT YOU.

AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ALIKE.

MY BRAIN IS THERE TO TELL ME WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG AND WHAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE SCARY OR NOT SCARY, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY ONLY DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.

AND SO IT DOES THAT ARE THAT THE DETECTION OF FEAR >> AND I KNOW EVERY YEAR HALLOWEEN ROLLS AROUND, WE SEE SPOOKY COSTUMES HAUNTED HOUSES.

WE DO SCARY MOVIE MARATHONS.

WHY ARE PEOPLE DRAWN TO THESE THESE SCARY TOPICS WHEN 2 PEOPLE ENJOY THIS FEELING OF BEING AFRAID?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF SENSE OF COMMUNITY AROUND THAT.

TYPICALLY PEOPLE ARE DOING THOSE THINGS AND GROUP SETTINGS AND SO SOCIALLY, IT'S SORT OF A SHARED EXPERIENCE WHERE IT DECREASES THE POTENTIAL WHERE IT'S ALSO IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND SO IT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE THAT SORT OF ADRENALINE RUSH.

AND THOSE LIKE INCREASE OF ENDORPHINS AND KNOWING THAT THERE IS NO REAL POTENTIAL THREAT THAT'S THERE, THAT IT'S ALL SORT OF MAKE BELIEVE.

BUT IT'S ALSO THAT COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY THEY'RE SORT OF LIKE THIS BONDING EXPERIENCE OVER, YOU KNOW, HAVING A SCARY INTERACTION AND THEN BEING ABLE TO LAUGH ABOUT IT AFTER WHICH MOST PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY GO THROUGH A HAUNTED HOUSE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT LIKE EXPERIENCE TOGETHER AND DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN SCARED OR THEIR FRIENDS BY HAVE BEEN SCARED.

>> YEAH.

AND THEN HOW DOES IT COVER?

REACTIONS DIFFER.

SAY WE'RE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE.

KNOW SOMETHING SCARY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIRST AS WINNER AND A REAL-LIFE SCARY SITUATION.

HOW DO WE RESPOND IN EITHER OF THOSE CASES?

YEAH.

SO GOING INTO A HAUNTED HOUSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT ANYTHING HARMFUL RIGHT HAPPENING THERE.

>> AND IT'S MORE OF THIS SURPRISE FACTOR AND THE ANTICIPATION.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THE POTENTIAL RULES THAT MIGHT BE THERE AS WELL.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT GO TO COLLEGE SCREAM OR, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSAL'S A VERSION OF THAT, AND THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES ARE LIKE PEOPLE CAN'T TOUCH THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME PROTECTION FACTORS THERE.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT TO KNOW THAT, ALTHOUGH I'M I HAD A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF ANXIETY GOING IN THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO SCARE ME.

I ALSO CAN PREDICT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN VERSUS AND A REAL SETTING.

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PROTECTION FACTOR AND IT'S SORT OF THE UNKNOWN, WHICH IS WHERE YOUR BRAIN TAKES OVER TO SAY I NEED TO KEEP YOU ALIVE AND SAFE.

>> AND I KNOW PERSONALLY, I LOVE HORROR MOVIES TO EVERYONE ELSE IN MY FAMILY.

ABSOLUTELY HOPES THAT.

YEAH, YOU THINK IT IS THAT SOME PEOPLE REALLY LOVED GETTING INTO ALL OF THE SCARY SPOOKY STUFF, BUT SOME PEOPLE CANNOT STAND IT.

>> I THINK A LOT OF AGO ALSO INTO A PERSONALITY TYPE.

AND SO THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE HIGHER SENSES OF NEUROTICISM FOR THEIR PERSONALITY TYPE MIGHT GRAVITATE AWAY FROM IT.

FIRST, AS THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE MORE OF A SENSE OF OPENNESS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, DESIRABLE AND TO ENGAGE IN SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES FOR IT.

SO A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH PERSONALITY AND THEN ALSO THE ADRENALINE FACTOR.

AFTER SOME PEOPLE REALLY LIKE THAT IMMEDIATE RUSH AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY ENJOY THAT AS MUCH SIMILAR TO ROLLER COASTERS.

YOU FIND PEOPLE WHO REALLY ENJOY THAT FOR ALL.

AND THEN SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T AND MORE SO BECAUSE OF THAT FEAR COMPONENT.

AND AND SO USUALLY AFTER YOU EXPERIENCE A 21 MASTERS USUALLY LIKE THAT SHAKE THE FEELING THAT OCCURS AFTER AND SOME PEOPLE JUST REALLY FIND THAT TO BE UNPLEASANT.

AND SO THEY TYPICALLY SHY AWAY FROM THAT OR THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, CONFLICT FOR THE VALUES AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE WATCHING THAT TYPICALLY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE HORROR MOVIES.

AND SO IT COULD ALSO BE POTENTIALLY LIKE MORALS AND VALUES CONFLICTS THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THAT DIRECT AS FALL.

>> DO YOU THINK CONSUMING ALL OF THOSE SCARY SPOOKY MEDIA CAN EVER GET TO A POINT WHERE IT'S TOO MUCH FOR PEOPLE TO HANDLE.

>> I THINK EACH PERSON HAS THEIR THRESHOLD IN LIMON.

SO I THINK THAT I THINK IS UNIQUE TO EACH PERSON.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE KNOW THAT GOING INTO IT AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T GOING INTO IT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU FIND THAT SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCED NIGHTMARES AFTER WATCHING IT OR BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE ANXIOUS AFTER.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY TELLTALE SIGNS THAT MAYBE YOU'VE CROSSED OVER YOUR THRESHOLD FOR WHAT YOU ARE ALLOWING YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU FEEL IS BEST FOR YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE ARIELLA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND HELPING US LEARN ALL ABOUT WHY WE LIKE TO BE SCARED.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> FROM UNDERSTANDING FEAR TO FINDING WAYS TO BE MORE MINDFUL.

YOU CAN FIND A VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH RELATED STORIES BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT OR WHEN THE GIRL SCOUTS FORMED 114 YEARS AGO, IT WAS DURING A TIME BEFORE WOMEN COULD VOTE TIME WHEN THEY WERE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO STRICT SOCIAL NORMS.

WELL, THE GIRL SCOUTS ORGANIZATION WOULD HELP TO CHANGE THAT BY CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN.

AND THIS WEEK, A LOCAL TROOPS FROM ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE PREPARING TO CELEBRATE FOUNDERS DAY WJC YEARS.

JENNIFER CRAWFORD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT RESONATES WITH SCOUTS TODAY.

>> JOINING ME NOW IN STUDIO, CEO OF GIRL SCOUTS OF GULF COAST OF FLORIDA, MARION SERBIAN AND GIRL SCOUT AMBASSADOR WHO IS 17 YEARS OLD AND A JUNIOR IN FORT MYERS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

OUR PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE GIRL SCOUTS WAS FOUNDED?

SURE, >> JULIETTE GORDON LOW, WHO WAS OF AN ASSOCIATE?

>> OF LORDS, BADEN, A PAL WHO STARTED THE BOY SCOUT.

SHE WAS INTRIGUED YOU ABOUT THE WHOLE SCOUTING EXPERIMENT.

SO SHE BROUGHT IT BACK TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND IN 1912, SHE STARTED THE VERY FIRST TRUE.

AND SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, IN ORDER TO TEACH GIRLS CONFIDENCE, ENCOURAGING CHARACTER.

>> AND LANAI, YOU HAVE BEEN A SCOUT SINCE YOU WERE 5 YEARS OLD DAYS.

WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES THAT ARE TAUGHT IN THE SCOUT?

I BELIEVE IT IS.

>> CONFIDENCE LEADERSHIP IN JUST KNOWING THAT GIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING AROUND THE WORLD DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS.

>> AND WHAT YOU LOVE MOST SO FAR ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I'M ABLE TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE I'VE NEVER BEEN HORSE THE GRATING THOSE LIKE MY FIRST TIME.

AND THOSE GUYS AND THEY'VE BEEN CAMPING IN THE FIRST TIME.

IT IS TRYING TO FIT THINGS AND THINGS I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

I WAS A BIT.

>> SO WHO DO GAS COSTS?

AND THAT'S WHERE THAT CONFIDENCE IS SO IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ON TV BEFORE 11 IRVINE UPDATE FOR YOU BY DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.

WE LOVE YOU NOW.

HOW DOES THE GIRL SCOUTS TODAY CARRY OUT THE LEGACY?

THIS LOW FROM 100 YEARS AGO?

SO >> I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE THE EXACT SAME CORE MISSION IS 2 BILLS, GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE AND CHARACTER.

SO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

WE ARE STILL DOING THAT.

AND WE DO IT THROUGH THE TYPES OF CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE.

THE PATCHES, WHICH ARE FROM PATCHES.

THEY TEACH FUN, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES.

BUT THE BADGES ARE WHERE THEY LEARN THE SKILLS.

AND THEY'RE OUTDOOR SKILLS.

THEIR ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS, THEIR STEM AND STEAM TYPE OF THINGS.

SO THEY'RE LEARNING ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF SKILLS, THEN THEY PUT THEM TO WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN THEIR SCHOOL AND IN THEIR LIVES.

I LOVE THAT.

YOU TOLD ME THAT IMMOKALEE HAS A THRIVING GIRL SCOUT PILEUPS JUN.

THEY DO WITH BILINGUAL VOLUNTEERS KNOWN TILING.

ALSO, WE HAVE GIRLS THAT SPEAK HAITIAN CREOLE GIRLS THAT SPEAK SPANISH AND THEN GIRLS WHO SPEAK ENGLISH.

AND SO THE LEADERS COME FROM THOSE SAME COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT'S THE CASE ACROSS OUR 10 COUNTIES.

WHEN WE HAVE GIRLS JOINED TROOPS THAT ARE BILINGUAL OR MULTILINGUAL OR AN ORO DIVERSE OR WHATEVER IT IS, WE MAKE SURE WE EQUIP OUR LEADERS WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THOSE GIRLS.

>> THEY HAVE A FOUNDER'S DAY CELEBRATION COMING UP.

YES.

>> TELL US ABOUT THAT.

IT'S ON OCTOBER 31ST.

>> AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE ARE.

>> REALLY GETTING TO HONOR JULIE LOW FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT SHE HAS SENT FOR US.

AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING WHERE HAPPY TO CELEBRATE US.

IS THAT TRUE?

OUR TRIB 11, 40, WE DECIDED TO DO A PROJECT AND WE MADE BASES WE NEED A LITTLE BORED.

IT WAS REALLY QUE IN.

WE LOVED.

IT WAS A THING THAT WE REALLY ENJOY DOING WITH THE YOUNGER GIRLS.

SO YEAH.

>> AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE 10 COUNTIES.

SO EACH OF THE TROOPS AND OR SERVICE SERVICE UNITS KIND OF HAVE MULTIPLE TROOPS ROLLED UP INTO A SERVICE UNIT.

THEY MAY DO A SERVICE IN A PROJECT.

MOST OF THEM ARE DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JULIA GORDON LOESCH STRESSED DURING WORLD WAR, ONE AND WORLD WAR 2, THE GIRLS COLLECTED THINGS THAT COULD BE USED TO SEND TO OUR SERVICE MEN.

AND SO IT'S ALL THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE.

BUT EVERY TROOP DOES THERE OWN SAYING GIRL SCOUTS, HIS GOAL LEAD?

SO WE DON'T WANT TO TELL THEM THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE TO CELEBRATE.

YOU CELEBRATE IN THE WAY THAT IT MAKES YOU FEEL.

JOY IS AND MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN REACH ALL THE WAY BACK IN TIME AND TOUCH.

JOY, A CORDLESS HAND.

>> AND I LOVE THAT.

THE MISSION HAS NOT CHANGED THIS HIGH 90'S IN OUR SOCIETY HAS TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE CORRECT TO MISSION REMAINS MISSING AND THERE WAS ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SAY TO A YOUNGER GIRL WHO MIGHT BE THINKING OF JOINING THE SCOUTS.

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SHARE?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE IN THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED SAID THAT I DON'T REGRET IT BECAUSE GIRLS GO HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH JUST BECOMING AS COMMUNION.

LEE DEAN IS A WOMAN IS JUST TAUGHT ME SO MUCH.

TO KNOW THAT I CAN DO ANYTHING AS POSSIBLE AND I CAN ACHIEVE MY GOAL FOR REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO.

>> SO YEAH, WHEN AND PASTOR OF THE GIRL SCOUTS AND AN EXCELLENT ONE AT THAT, AND THEN OUR CEO MARY AND SERVING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY IN STUDIO IS IN OUR PLEASURE LANGUAGE.

YOU.

>> AND HERE'S A FUN FACT OF THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF US CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOLD OF A BOX OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.

THE TRADITION DATES BACK TO 1917, WHEN A GROUP IN OKLAHOMA BEGINS SELLING HOMEMADE SUGAR COOKIES TO RAISE MONEY.

WHILE THAT TREND EXPLODED AND THE ORGANIZATION NOW GENERATES NEARLY 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE EACH YEAR SELLING AROUND THE 200 MILLION BOXES OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.

EVERY SINGLE YEAR AFTER THE BREAK AND SUMMER MIGHT BE OVER.

BUT THE CAMPING EXPERIENCE GOES ON.

WE'LL CHECK OUT THE FUN BEING HAD TO RETREAT THAT DESIGNS AND AMAZING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE FOR A VARIETY OF SPECIAL CAMPERS.

ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE CHARITY, THE ABLE TRUST, THERE ARE ABOUT 3 MILLION ADULTS LIVING IN FLORIDA WITH A DISABILITY OR WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

AND THAT CAN MEAN LIVING WITH LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT ONE GROUP IS LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT.

MY OFFERING A WEEK-LONG CAMPING EXPERIENCE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF EVERY CAMPER.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE HAS MORE.

>> EMILY RIVERA HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE PERFORMING SAYING THE RIGHT THING DURING THE RIGHT THING HERE.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO HIDE THE AUTISM, THE OCD OR THE ADHD IN THE WORLD.

>> THEY'LL SEE US YOU HAVE A DISABILITY >> AND WE'LL TALK TO LIKE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

>> YOU'RE A LITTLE KID.

I PUT ON A MASK AND I DON'T KNOW MYSELF.

AND SO NO ONE REALLY KNOWS THAT I HAVE DISABILITIES OR WHEN I'M HERE, I CAN BE MY TRUE SELF AND FEELS LIKE A WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS.

>> HERE IS TRULY IS CAMPS.

A LEASED FACILITY LABELLE FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAS NURSES CAMP COUNSELORS AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS VOLUNTEERING ON SITE.

THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES LAST YEAR.

RIVERA WAS THE ONE BEING WELCOMED AS A CAMPER THIS YEAR.

SHE'S THE ONE DOING THE WELCOMING.

>> I WANT TO SEE ON THE VOLUNTEER SIDE TO THE CAMPERS THAT WE'RE AFRAID TO GO HORSEBACK RIDING THAT WERE AFRAID TO GET IN THE POOL ACTUALLY GO SWIMMING ACTUALLY GET ON A HORSE ACTUALLY DO ARCHERY OR WHATEVER ACTIVITY WE WERE DOING.

THEY WERE SCARED TO DO IT AND THEN THEY DID.

AND THEY REALLY SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES >> THAT PRIDE SHOWS IN THE ACTIVITIES THINKS MANY CAMPERS HAVE NEVER BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH OR BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO TRY.

JONATHON MINCY BO IS 38 FROM CORAL SPRINGS.

HE WAS BORN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY AND LIVES ON HIS OWN.

THIS IS THIS FIRST KIM.

WE ASK WHAT RIDING A HORSE FELT LIKE?

>> HIS >> CONCERT.

JAKES, WHEN DEMAND IS 27 FROM FORT MYERS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF SHY AWAY FROM THIS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATE OR THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENCES MAY BE.

>> BUT IT'S JUST REALLY IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO LEARN ABOUT THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY THEY HAVE TO LIKE JONATHAN HAS A LIFE TOO.

>> AND IT'S JUST SO SPECIAL TO TO GET TO KNOW THEM AND TO LEARN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT THEY ENJOYED ENJOYED A DO AND LOVE.

AND THAT'S JUST BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

>> WHEN ASKING MEN, SIEBEL WHERE HE TURNS ON THE HARDEST DAYS, HE DOESN'T HESITATE FOR >> ONE >> OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION AS THEY RISE TO ADULT HERDS IS THEY GET LOST.

THEY'RE AN IDENTIFIABLE.

THEY JUST MANY OF THEM JUST GO HOME AND SIT ON COUCHES AFTER SPECIAL ED.

AND THERE'S A LONG WAITING LISTS.

AND IT'S HARD TO EVEN COMMUNICATE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEM.

HOW MANY?

WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS?

WHAT DO THEY REALLY WANT OUT OF LIFE?

>> THIS CAMP WAS BORN OUT OF GRIEF.

FOUNDER SHARON MILLER AND HER HUSBAND, JERRY, BOTH LOST THEIR SONS.

ROBERT AND BENJAMIN TO A RARE DISEASE.

THEY LIVED TO 34.

AND 44, THE MILLERS REFUSE TO LET THAT BE THE END OF THEIR STORY.

THEY STARTED THE CAMP IN TEXAS TO HONOR THEIR BOYS, THEN EXPANDED TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE WANT PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT THEM TO BE SPECIAL AND VALUE THEIR UNIQUE GIFTS JUST LIKE OUR SONS, TED, LIKE WE VALUE THEM.

WE WANT THEM TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEMSELVES.

>> THE CAMPUS FOR DAYS AND WHAT THEY'LL MISS MOST >> THE POINT I HAVE THE >> JUST THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU BUILD HERE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE COUNSELORS, THE CAMPERS.

IT'S ALL JUST REALLY SPECIAL, YOU KNOW, COMING TOGETHER.

AND HONESTLY, I JUST MISSED AT ALL, BUT ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THE CAMPERS ON MY TEAM.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE STILL SEE IT.

JUST WHY.

IT WAS A LOVE FOR.

HE MENTIONS SELF.

WITHOUT ANYONE JUDGING ME OR THINKING AND DIFFERENT.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M ELIZABETH ANDARGE WITH VIDEOGRAPHER AMANDA WHITTAMORE.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING RETREATS OR HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.

PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TRAILWAYS CAMPS.

DONALD WORK OUR NEXT BROADCAST AMENDMENT 3 LOOKS TO BOOST THE STATE'S HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AT THE EXPENSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE.

ONE SHERIFF WORRIES ABOUT WHAT THIS FINANCIAL DECISION COULD MEAN FOR HIS AGENCY'S FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD