Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande

Big John's Zink trailer

Zink the Zebra is a Big Hit with Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande

Zink has many new friends in the eight West Texas and Southern New Mexico counties of Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande (GSRG).  After attending a training session in August, 2002, where she learned about the Zink the Zebra Foundation, Grace Rocha, Training Specialist of Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande, brought Zink home with her to El Paso, Texas.  Grace quickly introduced Zink to leaders through her training programs, and several of the summer camp programs introduced Zink to their campers.  Zink was an instant hit with all involved.   Girls loved the story and the stuffed Zink they received when finished with the activities.  Leaders and camp counselors saw an immediate improvement in interaction among their girls.

Zink also had an impact on community members outside the Girl Scout organization.  Sandy Tyler, CEO of Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande, was discussing Zink with a friend whose hobby is wood-working.  Within days, Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande was presented with a “Zink, the Rocking Zebra”, followed by a truck pulling a Zink the Zebra Trailer.  And Zink’s message is spreading.  Big John, the wood-worker, invited Sandy and Grace to speak at his woodworkers’ club.  The message was a hit with this club as well, and is spreading through their publicity chains.  National Wood-Working Magazine will be publishing an article in September about how Zink the Zebra became the inspiration for Big John’s “Rocking Zink.”

Given the popularity of Zink with the girls, Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande developed a bi-lingual (English-Spanish) activity book to accompany the program (with the approval of the Zink the Zebra Foundation).  The activity book features Kelly’s story, information about cancer, and puzzles, friendship activities and a journal, with artwork by Emilia Casillas, also of Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande.  Another moved community member has underwritten the first publishing of the activity book so that it can be provided free to each girl who completes the program.  This book may be purchased from Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande for the cost of printing and mailing, currently $1.85 each (28 pages, 8 ½ x 11).  For more information, contact Grace Rocha at (915) 566-9433, or toll-free at (800) 895-7390; Grace’s e-mail address is grocha@gsriogrande.org.

Grace Rocha and Big John with "Zink the Rocking Zebra"