GIRLS SCOUTS CELEBRATE 94 YEARS
Friday, March 17th, 2006 -- 10:34 AM
For 94 years, the Girls Scouts of America has worked to build girls? of ?confidence, courage and character?. This is Girls Scouts Week. Appearing on our Viewpoint Program Thursday morning, Girl Scouts of Woodland Council CEO Ann Saris explained the Scouts are more than just cookie salespeople. ?Troops up here are really, really active,? Saris says. ?One of our recently graduated alums recently spent last summer in Kenya doing community service. Nancy Dean is the head volunteer of the Clark County area. She does an outstanding job.?
The Wisconsin Rapids-based Woodland Council covers nine area counties - including Clark. Saris says around 150 girls and 45 adult leaders participate in Clark County troops. Woodland Council is currently seeking more leaders ? and they don?t have to be females.
?By all means having grandpas, dads or uncles involved ? the girls love it,? Saris says, but notes Girls Scouts puts extra precautions in place for male leaders. ?Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of girls that don?t have that male figure around like we used. Having that strong male character around makes a difference.?
The Girls Scouts began back in 1912 when Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia for a meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid, Saris says.
And while they?re most known for the cookie sales, Saris says it?s summer camps that make the biggest impact on the girls themselves.
?Maybe it was their first time building a pit toilet, or roughing it. It?s (sometimes) their first time away from home and out of their comfort zone,? Saris says.
You can contact the Woodland Council by calling 715-423-6360. In case your wondering, the cookie sale is coming up this fall.
On The Web: [url=http://www.woodgsc.org]Woodland Council[/url]
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