As a life-long Girl Scout (and current leader), I’ve recently reflected on how Girl Scouts helped shape my life and career.
Basic skills in Brownies
Like many girls, I joined Brownie Girl Scouts in first grade. I sold cookies and earned badges by learning about how the plumbing in my house worked or rolling up my own sleeping bag to prepare for a camping trip. I learned the Girl Scout promise and the Brownie Smile Song, wore my uniform to school on meeting days and marched in our local parade. Though it was one of many after-school activities I was involved in, I especially liked it because it was fun to go camping and go on field trips, like staying overnight at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, with all my friends in the troop.
Photo by Staff | Used by permission
Older Girl Scouts learn valuable skills
Unlike many girls, I stayed in Girl Scouts past elementary school, even after many of my friends left for other activities. As we got older, we got to do more cool stuff like going to Broadway shows, canoeing, taking longer overnight trips and lighting the campfire ourselves. We started to be responsible for leading the activities – teaching younger girls the songs, how to roast marshmallows, how to pitch a tent or helping them glue dried macaroni onto a paper plate. I took on more responsibilities – I became a camp counselor at Girl Scout Camp (Camp DeWitt) and volunteered at younger troop meetings.
Photo by Staff | Used by permission