WESTFIELD – Pat O’Connor has seen firsthand how the Girl Scouts has evolved since she was a Brownie growing up in Ludlow.
“When I was young we spent a lot of time on earning badges,” she said. “Today all of the programs are simplified and have a global perspective.”
On Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church on 127 Holyoke Road, O’Connor will be on hand with other troop leaders in the city to register girls for the new school year.
National studies from the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) show it’s not just what girls do, but how they do it that makes Girl Scouts so beneficial, according to Dana Carnegie, communications manager, Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts, based in Holyoke.
“Girl Scouts is unique because girls get to learn by doing, and they do so in a girl-led environment,” said Carnegie. “This means that, in addition to girls learning in a hands-on and active way, they are encouraged to choose their activities, decide which topics they want to explore, and determine how they want to go about exploring them.”
O’Connor, now entering her 11th year as a troop leader, encourages others in the community to consider being a Girl Scout volunteer. O’Connor and co-leader Lisa Stawasz oversee Troop #40230, and O’Connor and Cindy Waite are co-leaders for Troop #40222. Both troops meet every other week at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church.
Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life; they are women, men, young professionals, retirees, and college students, and can join at any time of the year.
Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through Grade 12.
“We invite girls to join the fun of Girl Scouts,” said Carnegie. “Girl Scouts provides countless opportunities for making friends, trying new things, and exercising leadership skills through activities like building robots, participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and playing sports.”
For O’Connor, being a Girl Scout troop leader is personal. Her daughters, Heather, now 15, and Morgan, 13, have participated in Girls Scouts since kindergarten.
“It’s been fun watching all of the girls grow and come into their own as young women,” said O’Connor. “I’m so proud of all of them.”
O’Connor noted that she and her co-leaders create a safe environment which allows the girls to participate in nonjudgmental activities and learn invaluable leadership and life skills.
“All of my girls are wonderful,” she said. “They are all role models in the circles they belong to.”
O’Connor said that Westfield is a “supportive” community of the Girl Scouts with close to 16 active troops; however, volunteers are always needed to help with special projects or serving as chaperones for events.
“It’s a real joy spending time with the girls,” said O’Connor, adding that the Girl Scouts organization provides training to ensure a successful transition into a troop.
“Girls cannot experience the positive impact of Girl Scouts without adult volunteers, and each adult who volunteers has the opportunity to make a real differece in the life of a girl,” said Carnegie.
O’Connor echoed those sentiments.
“Individuals shouldn’t be afraid of the commitment,” said O’Connor. “You fall in love with the girls and it’s rewarding to see them grow and learn new skills.”
Currently, the regional Girl Scout organization that encompasses 186 towns and cities serves 9,000 girls from kindergarten through Grade 12, according to Carnegie.
While some traditions remain including singing songs and conducting ceremonies, the GSRI reports that at least 75% of girls who experience the fun of learning by doing and are part of a girl-led program become better at conflict resolution, problem solving, team building and cooperation, and developing self-confidence.
From one young girl’s perspective, the decision to become a volunteer is an easy one.
“Adults should volunteer with Girl Scouts because it’s fun, exciting, and interesting, and you get to work with kids,” said Morgan O’Connor.
To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, call (413) 584-2602, or visit www.girlscouts.org/join. Parents also interested in enrolling their girls this fall in a city program are encouraged to attend the Oct. 6 registration night.
