Girl Scout getaway
For three days this summer, the grounds of Shady Grove Park and Campground in North Union Township were filled with girls as they sang songs, played games, cooked over a campfire, performed crafts and went hiking through the woods.”I like the crafts and the campfire,’ said Pearl Ruschak, 10. “I like the campfire and archery,’ said Rachael Bachman-Miller, 9.
“I think it’s fun, exciting. I like the campfire and sports and crafts and songs and games,’ said Morgan Trout, 8, reeling off a list that included just about every activity.
This was the first Fayette County Girl Scout Day Camp to be held in about 15 years and it’s fitting that it should take place in 2007 as the Girl Scouts organization celebrates its 95th anniversary.
According to the national Web site, Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912 in Savannah, Ga. The organization began with just 18 members and has grown to 3.7 million today throughout the United States, U.S. territories and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.
The Web site explained, “Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls – all girls – where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.’
“There are roughly 1,500 Girl Scouts in Fayette County,’ said Michelle Magiske-Treadwell, membership coordinator.
Currently the Fayette County Girl Scouts – which are divided into several smaller communities – are part of the Trillium Council, which is based in Pittsburgh and includes Allegheny, Greene, Washington and parts of Westmoreland and Somerset counties as well as chapters in Maryland and West Virginia. Susan Orr, director of marketing and communications, said there are currently 21,000 Girl Scouts in the Trillium Council. But a nationwide reorganization means the Fayette County Girl Scouts will eventually become part of a new council that covers 31 counties in western Pennsylvania.
Girl Scouts include five ranks: Daisy, for girls in kindergarten; Brownie, first through third grades; Junior, fourth through sixth grades; and Cadette and Senior for older girls.
Traditionally they meet in troops. But there are also local after-school and in-school programs as well as Juliettes, who are individuals.
Magiske-Treadwell, of Perryopolis, who was a leader for six years and has been with the council for 14 years and whose mother was also Girl Scout leader, said of Girl Scouts, “I think it gives girls a solid base. It teaches them skills they carry through their life, whether working as a group making stew or playing sports, or achieving goals through the cookie program and badges.’
LaJennifer Lacombe, who served as day camp director with Holly Guess, is a leader in Connellsville, a volunteer for her community and a volunteer/trainer for council.
“I enjoy seeing girls know they can do things on their own. … Everything I do is for that. I love to see that look of satisfaction – when you see how happy they are,” Lacombe said. “…Kids are very capable. You have to be patient and trust they can hear you and do it…. My main goal is to help girls realize they are every bit as capable as anyone else and to build strong leaders for the future.’
Lacombe reported the recent day camp included 235 participants – 48 adults and 187 youths. The camp was not exclusive to Girl Scouts with 23 non-members participating with officials hoping it will introduce them to the organization.
Haley VanNorman, 9, is not a member of Girl Scouts but participated in the camp and said, “I think it’s fun. I like everything.’
The camp took place June 19-21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Brownies and Juniors worked on requirements for badges such as “Ready, Get Set, Go Camping,’ “Sports Sampler’ and “Girl Scouts Through the Years’ by going through stations for songs and games, crafts, campfire and sports. There was also a misting station to cool off and a first aid station with two nurses.
During the day camp, the Juniors performed archery while everyone participated in basketball, soccer, Frisbee, stretching, decorating a sports bag and making picture frames, journals and pen toppers. At the campfire, under the watchful eye of leaders such as Leah Welling, they made s’mores, Brownie stew and ?clairs. They also learned to tie knots and all the children received a water bottle, a bandana and a backpack to carry their supplies.
“After the first day, it was reported one little girl couldn’t stop talking about it,’ said Lacombe.
Abbey Sitko, 8, of Dunbar Township Elementary, said, “It was fun, decorating our backpacks and picture frames. I met new friends. We went through the trail in the woods.’
The last day was to feature a 95th celebration with old-fashioned activities that included songs such as “Linger,’ “The Juliette Lowe Song’ and “Day Is Done;’ games such as hop scotch and marbles, and traditional crafts such as making yarn dolls.
Cadettes served in leadership roles, helping the younger girls.
Chelsea Kozar, 12, said of working with younger girls, “It’s a little hard but it’s also a good learning experience.’
Susan Caccimelio, a leader of a Uniontown troop and mother of Girl Scouts Annie, 14, and Sadie, 13, said eight Cadettes were working on their own Silver Award at the camp.
“It’s the highest award at the Cadette level,’ she explained. “For their project, they were in charge of songs and games. They had to do 30 hours. They worked here and the rest was in planning. They will present in September.’
Brenda Stipanovich, whose daughter Emily Swecker, 12, is a Girl Scout, served as camp photographer.
“I think the girls are having a blast,” she said. “I’ve heard good feedback about them making friends. One girl said ‘When I came, I didn’t know anybody. When I left, I knew everybody.”
Both women talked about the positive aspects of Girl Scouts.
“It teaches the girls responsibilities, helps them gain friendships,’ said Stipanovich.
“It teaches them community services and it gives them a goal, especially when they’re working on an award,’ said Caccimelio.
The Fayette County Girl Scout Day Camp was made possible with support from several individuals, organizations and businesses.
That included a grant from the Community Foundation of Fayette County, which gave $5,000 with much of it supporting bus transportation that brought girls from around the county to the camp.
“We believe it was something we wanted to see happen in Fayette County,’ said Clara Pascoe, Community Foundation executive director and former Girl Scout. “…We were happy to make this possible.’
Toni and Jim Tesauro, owners of Shady Grove Park and Campground, donated use of the camp as they do for Boy Scouts.
“I love coming here and seeing their smiling faces. It seems they are enjoying themselves,’ said Toni Tesauro.
Other supporters included the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School, which provided lunch.
From all the smiles, it’s clear the day camp had an immediate effect on its participants. But there are probably lasting impacts that may not be realized until years in the future.
For example, Orr, who was also a Girl Scout, still talks enthusiastically about her experiences that included a camping trip she took while a youth to Colorado.
“I had an opportunity to travel across country and see states I never saw before. We went whitewater rafting, hiking, rappelling, cooking over a fire. It gave me a chance to do things I never would have done,’ she said.
Orr believes her work with Girl Scouts is now an opportunity to give back and she has shared the experience with her daughters, who are 11 and 12.
“You can’t go wrong with Girl Scouts,’ said Orr. “It’s a wonderful organization. I can see why it has lasted 95 years.’