This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, and even after a century of success, the Girl Scouts continue to be a positive way for girls to make a difference.
Juliette Gordon Low gathered the first group of girls in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912.
The idea was to take girls out of sheltered homes and make them strong leaders, by teaching them various skills, growing strong ethics, and opening their minds to the world.
Low’s idea really stuck, with the Girl Scouts now having over three million active members and 50 million alumnae.
Locally, the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts include some 14,000 girls ranging from kindergarten age through high school.
With that number of scouts in our area, they will be able to grow even more in what will soon be a new regional headquarters.
The almost 10,000 square foot building will be on Kelly Way in Holyoke, near the Holyoke Mall, and was chosen for its centralized location.
Another perk of the site is that it will sit on almost three acres of land with plenty of outdoor space to utilize as a learning area for the girls.
Completion for the $1.5 million headquarters is expected in November.
In Westfield, volunteer Pat O’Connor is a Girl Scout alum who now also leads two troops of her own.
“The kids are welcoming and accepting of others. They are really good kids,” O’Connor said of her scouts.
O’Connor said one of the things that she has had to work on is keeping the girl’s parents involved, so that they can see how much being in Scouts is a way of life that follows structured values, goals, and laws.
She used an example of how some team building games can resemble normal play, when in fact there are almost always values and goals being worked on, if you take a closer look.
The girls take part in a large variety of activities, including cookie sales, camping, and working in the church, to name a few.
“Whatever we are currently working on always seems to be my favorite,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor’s older troop has a new “Take Action Project” planned for spring, which is to do yard work for the Amelia Park Museum in Westfield.
Diana Jay is the service unit manager for the Westfield area and has been everything from a Girl Scout, co-leader, leader, town leader, and is also a lifetime member.
Jay’s various roles recently earned her an Appreciation Pin for the work she has done as not just a troop leader, but also in the service unit.
Being a Girl Scout herself, Jay more recently became deeply involved again when her stepdaughter and daughter each joined, as well.
Although the girls do many activities that are fun and exciting, Jay said “there is still structure. We still do an opening and closing ceremony at our meetings. The Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise, and going over the laws.”
Although being a Girl Scout is important in so many ways, true “Girl Power” is a something that has really been carried on throughout the last 100 years.
“Being a Girl Scout shows girls that they can do anything,” Jay said. “That it’s not just a man’s world.”
Jay is such a devoted member of the Scouts, that she even passed it on to her daughter by giving her the middle name Juliette, after the founder herself.
Both O’Connor and Jay’s older troops will be attending “The Big Event” tomorrow.
The event is being held at the Mullen’s Center at UMass in Amherst from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with an optional overnight, as well.
The event will be a celebration of the Girl Scouts, including games, prizes, and tradition.
The celebration is open to the public so that all current scouts, alumnae, family, and friends can take part in the special day and learn about Girl Scouts.
