Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) is the premier all-women organization in the United States. For 100 years, GSUSA has been dedicated to “building girls of courage, confidence, and character”–even in “women” as young as Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts. This nurturing infuses the programs, but dedicated leaders create opportunities in which it flourishes.
Such was clear on Monday, December 10, 2012, at a 6:00 p.m. meeting of nine third graders in troop 5294, at Morrison Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL. Rebecca Albrecht, Troop Leader, is aided by Assistant Leaders Laura Wilson and Tawnya Carroll [Albrecht’s daughter.]
While awaiting the arrival of the entire troop, those present each began signing 30 Christmas cards “to a recovering soldier” at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The opening ceremony included recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, Girl Scout Promise, and ten points of the Girl Scout Law.
As part of the “Healthy Eating” Brownie Try-It unit, girls previously brought fruits, grains, and vegetables for tasting.
Albrecht stated, “No one declined [to sample the items], but they unanimously disliked strawberry marshmallows!”
Working in teams of three to measure ingredients, this evening they would make three smoothies. Peach, mixed berries, and strawberry were the yummy flavors.
Later, girls would make bracelets with each colored bead representing a different aspect of the Girl Scout Law–or code of conduct. A non-official vest patch indicated their mastery. The patches of this vest indicate a wide vareity of past troop experiences.
A second service project was to donate cleaning supplies to the Morrison Friends Food Pantry, which is located across the hall from the girls’ meeting room. They carried 18 bottles of dishwashing soap and 25 containers of laundry soap to the hallway.
Shown left-to-right, prior to the transfer, are Jessica, Corinne, Tanna, Allison, Macy, Lorilee, Kate, and Haley. Riley arrived after the photos had been taken.
