The History Committee has been offering
programs for girls for more than ten years. One of the first
was “Gateway to the Past,” in the early 1990s. The
first year the series of activities that were once a week for
six weeks proved so popular that extra sessions were added.
There were seven sessions of Gateway planned for the next summer.
The first two sessions were for Cadettes and Seniors and five
were for Brownies and Juniors. Each of those years Gateway served
more than 500 girls. Older girls learned about memorabilia collecting
and caring for treasures from the past. Girls were each photographed
wearing a replica camp uniform of the past. The girls learned
to knit, a popular activity in earlier years. They explored
requirements for badges which their grandmothers might have
earned. The final session of the summer helped girls understand
how Juliette coped with being partially deaf most of her life.
Songs and games were always included, too. “Juliette Low”
(aka Marlene Edwards) visited some sessions of Gateway.
The History Committe now offers troop tours of current displays
and the building lasting two hours. A scavenger hunt to find
specific items in the exhibit is available to ensure the girls
see the whole exhibit. Several requirements of a Junior Badge
are included. The video, “The Golden Eaglet” is
shown. It was originally made as a black and white silent movie
in 1918. Juliette Low has a couple of cameo appearances. A staff
member talks with the girls about her particular responsibilities
and about the work of the staff in general. Vintage uniforms
are shown beginning with replicas of very early models. Touring
the building the girls see the president’s office, see
staff members at work, visit their service units’ membership
manager, and see a number of other exhibits which the History
Committee has provided.
The History Committee put together some Treasure Chests of activities
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troops can check out for three weeks. The first
one was introduced at the Membership Development Conference
(MDC) in 1997 as a Traveling Trunk for Brownies. Currently these
are called Treasure Chests and there are four different ones
available. “Treasures from Daisy” includes activities
that Juliette Low might have done as a young girl growing up
in Savannah in the years after the Civil War. “Treasures
from Camping” will help a troop prepare for a camping
weekend. “Treasures of Girl Uniforms” and “Treasures
of Adult Uniforms” are collections of ten or twelve uniforms
spanning the years of Girl Scouting. Girls may dress up in those
uniforms if the size of the girl and uniform are compatible.
Also in 1997, S’More About San Jacinto Girl Scouts, Inc.,
An Activity Book for Girl Scouts of All Ages, was created by
the Council History Committee. It is available in our Girl Scout
shops. A patch program for all Girl Scout levels was also created
to help girls and leaders use the publication to learn about
our unique Girl Scout Heritage.
In recent years the History Committee has offered a “Tea
Party” for Brownies or for Juniors. The girls dress up
in party dresses and enjoy the crafts and games of the Victorian
era of Juliette’s childhood and also learn manners |
 Marlene
Edwards is wearing a uniform from Juliette Low’s era.
for a Tea Party.
Individual members of the History Committee are available
to visit troops, day camps, and other activities. The “Juliette
Low” uniform is also available to be checked out by
an individual member or troop or service unit. Some girl members
have checked out this uniform and appeared in it as part of
a school history project or book report.
The latest girl program activity by the History Committee
is Just for Juniors, a Project Horizons event at Camp Silver
Springs on October 30. The activities for Juniors and their
leaders are based on Girl Scout traditions.
The Vintage Fashion Show is not just a Girl Program, it also
includes a lot of adults. Girls are definitely a part of the
show and those who participate are well received by the viewers.
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Girl Scout library news!
The library at the Girl Scout Center has a new book about
KNOTS. The excellent illustrations explain how to tie each
knot. It is a great tool for teaching girls, especially in
preparation for camp or for badge work! You’ll find
it on the SK shelf which is the camping information shelf.
Original ceremonies your troop may have created that you were
especially successful with are still being collected. The
Council librarian is working on a ceremonies notebook to be
used as a resource. Any resource notebook may be copied in
the clerical department for a nominal copy fee. However, you
MAY NOT check out a notebook that says RESOURCE book! It must
remain on the shelves for others to use.
Please, please remember to return your books within the check
out period. Too many of our wonderful books don’t come
back in, even when the person who checked it out is reminded.
Many of our books, especially about Juliette Low and handbooks
from other countries are out of print, and cannot be replaced.
Our library is totally dependent on donations to keep it going.
When a book isn’t returned, a donation must be used
to replace it, if it is still available.
If there is anything you would like to have as a resource
in the library contact Kathy Elliott at 713-292-0224 or kelliott@sjgs.org.
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