As a parent and adult volunteer, I am involved
in Girl Scouting to give my daughters the opportunities that
are available for new activities and friends, for their personal
enrichment and growth; to enjoy these same activities and friends
myself; and to help other leaders and girls to do the same.
My daughters have been able to do things and go places in Girl
Scouting they would not have otherwise done. They also participate
in service projects, badge and try-it work, Fall Product and
Cookie sales, social activities and Green Starlettes! My girls
and I have developed lifelong friendships through Girl Scouting,
in our own circles, and at service unit weekends, dance clinics,
banquets, etc, etc. We would not have met these friends other
than in Girl Scouting! What a diverse, and yet cohesive, world
of special parents and girls we now interact with on a daily
basis! What a kick, watching the girls all grow as children,
as girls, and now as young women, in Girl Scouting! I have learned
to do things I never thought I would do, too. For one thing,
I can now get us to Six Flags AstroWorld, to Camp Casa Mare
and to the GSSJC Center. I had never driven in Houston before.
Well, guess what – now I can! What a confidence-builder!
I can manage cookie money, permission slips, and am now first-aid
and CPR-certified. Also, since I never went Girl Scout camping
as a child, I am now making up for lost time, and vicariously
enjoying all the things I didn’t do then. We have canoed
and hiked and done archery. I made three bulls-eyes the first
time I tried – another confidence builder right there!
I enjoy helping girls accomplish the same thing. Last service
unit weekend, I took some girls up the “ropes trail”
and down to the creek at camp. They told me they had never experienced
anything like that before. They didn’t think they would
be able to go down that big old hill, and back up again, just
hanging onto a rope. But they did, anyway. They were so excited!
Surely their lives were touched in some small way by that, and
I helped! That’s what it’s all about, and that’s
why I’m involved in Girl Scouting.
–Gina Small
Why I stay with Girl
Scouting is:
1. My girls – and trying to give them the opportunities
that I had and enjoyed as a girl.
2. My memories of being a Girl Scout and learning all
that I was capable of doing. Experiences while camping
were my favorite memories.
–Beatrice White |
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I was a Girl Scout from
second through ninth grade. During my first Girl Scout
experience as an adult, I led a troop of mentally challenged
girls (I was also their teacher). The principal of their
school thought I would teach bedmaking and housecleaning.
Instead, we went shopping, cooked outside, and eventually
went camping. I guess that’s when I realized the
potential for the Girl Scout Movement. We change to meet
the needs of the girls of today, while maintaining the
contact of girls with nature. I recently read that several
developmentalists are concerned that today’s kids
do not have first-hand knowledge of the natural world,
of nature. I think the Girl Scout Movement is a vital
link in helping girls experience and appreciate nature,
while developing values that serve them now and in their
futures. We can’t predict the future, but we can
prepare the next generation to be good citizens and good
people. And any scenario of the future is enhanced by
good people. Personally, Girl Scouting as an adult helped
me realize my potential in many arenas. I know I can lead
girls, but I did not know that I could inspire others
to invest in the future of Girl Scouting through donating
to Family Partnership. I know I can be enthusiastic, but
I did not know that I could prepare other adults to turn
their enthusiasm into good leadership for girls. I know
that I can resist change, but I did not know that my experience
in learning to accept change could help a whole district
embrace changes in Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
boundaries. Most importantly, I love the people in Girl
Scouting. I love the girls I meet and hear about from
their leaders and advisors. I love the adults, love learning
how we are alike and how we are different, and love seeing
how we can work together in this kaleidoscope called Girl
Scouting. That is why I stay in Girl Scouts.
–Joan Gilliland |
I choose to continue in Girl Scouting because of the benefit
of watching the girls grow and learn new things about themselves.
I have been a registered leader for almost 12 years now and
as each year passes, my involvement grows. There is nothing
more rewarding than watching your daughter and other girls experience
something they may not otherwise be able to enjoy and to see
the look on their faces. It’s neat to watch them grow
into wonderful young women with the confidence needed to succeed
in life.
– Lynda Starbuck |
My daughter graduated from high school in 2003. She became
a lifetime member that year as well. She continues to support
Girl Scouting when she can and shares with others what she learned
growing up as a Girl Scout. I no longer have a troop; yet, I
still find that the values, programs and interests that Girl
Scouting provides keep me coming back for more. I train both
adults and girls (program aides), enjoy day camp, carousel,
Brownie Magic, etc, etc, etc. which I have been doing for around
14 years. I like the boost that using my talents and abilities
gives me. Overall, the camaraderie and support I am given makes
me feel good about me. If my concern, smile, compassion, and
knowledge help others to feel supported and unconditionally
loved – that is a bonus! And so – that is why I
am proud to be a Girl Scout.
–Julie Roy
I stay involved because
Girl Scouts is my second family. I grew up a Girl Scout
starting out as a first grade Brownie and stayed until
I graduated high school. Right after graduation I started
my first Girl Scout troop, which was a Junior Troop. I
have never married and I have no children but Girl Scouts
is a very big part of my life. You see, life will throw
you some curves along the way and I have had my share,
but each time I was dealt a curve, my Girl Scout family
has always been there for me. I have been involved in
different areas of my service unit, and at the district
and Council level. I have enjoyed each and every moment
and I hope to continue on for years to come. I have seen
girls come and go and I have kept in touch with some.
A couple of my girls have become leaders and have had
their own successes. I’m just happy knowing that
if I was able to help one girl, than all my time and effort
was worth it. I continue to stay in Girl Scouts because
it is one place where a girl or adult can make a mistake
and no one will laugh or tease her. It is a place where
we can grow and become independent, strong women. I realized
one thing, that I am a strong woman and that life can
keep giving me curves, because Girl Scouts has taught
me that I can handle anything that comes my way and that
I will always have someone in my corner. I celebrated
32 years as a member of Girl Scouts and 20 years as a
leader this year and I hope to be here for many, many
more years.
–Marianna E. Olivarez |
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