BellaOnline Forums Family Girl Scouts Don't ever drop out

I was a registered girl scout for 12 years!!
I loved every minute of it and always work with parents to let them know why I stayed in it for so long.
I am not your typical Girl Scout so many people didnt believe me or understand why I was there.
In all honesty if I had not had the support of the GSA comunity I would have ended up worse off then I could imagine.
I also got to do many once in a lifetime things, I made good friends and learned many things that I will use for the rest of my life.
My best experience of all with GSA was my senior trip over to Europe with my troop.
We spent 51 days in 9 different countries (and several cities out of those countries!!)
I got to stay in 2 world centers (Our Chalet in Adleboden, Switzerland and Pax Lodge in London, England) and got to camp on Brownsea Island (Lord Baden Powell took the first BSA group there to try out the idea) (This is also where I decided that I didn't like Peacocks anymore)
So I saw this forum and had to post something in hoping that some little girl would get to hear my story from another area and decide to work towards a great goal like mine, it can happen, but it will always take a lot of work and planning.
If they stick to it they will never forget the great things this Orginization has to offer!
Alicia
Anigaya Service Unit
Magic Empire Council of Girl Scouts,
Tulsa, OK

Dear Alicia,

May I please have your permission to print your letter and read it to my Brownie Troop? You see, I started a Brownie Troop in 2002. My daughter wanted to be in Girl Scouts but in our area, there wasn't any room for her. I took the classes and became a leader. I take my position and the organization very seriously. I did have to leave for a year (work) but am back now <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And, most of the girls that started out with me are still together! I never had anything like that in my childhood and think what a great way to have fun, learn new things, make friends, build relationships and most of all, aquire the abilities to become a strong leader. I think you're letter will absolutely give the girls exactly what they can expect in their own future. Right now, we are working towards a six flag expedition through cookie sales. And how wonderful would it be if they could have the opportunity like yourself to travel the world! I'm so glad to hear the Girl Scouts of America built you into a strong, independant young lady. With your letter, I plan on not only sharing your story with one girl, but 14 of them! With your permission of course. Your's Truly,

Erin
Troop Leader
Girl Scout Wagon Wheel Brownie Troop 14 Colorado

I too will state the same thing, "Don't give it up!" I never did so many wider ops as Alicia, but I too had a mom that was a leader. SO many thing si had a tase of though, camping, sewing, art, dance, woodcrafts...I wish we had then all the badges then that we do now! I do see a tendency for certain girls to continue, just because they love learning. I was constantly amazed in High School at the number of people that took only enough to graduate, filled the blanks with study hall and never tried anything new! That was good enough for them I guess, but after seeing my grandpa take a college course in geology, just because he never got to take it when he was younger, I decided that I would learn about any skill I didn't know yet.
My father made sure I knew my way around my Volkswagon enginebefore I moved out. He also encouraged me to take trig, Physics, Architecture and German. I helped him lay bricks, shingle a house, trim the trees, build model cars, build houses...and my mom made sure I could cook (basics, although I am much better now!) sew, paint, clean; and I taught myself the computer!
This need for learning is something I got out of Girl Scouts. Keep at it...

This is for all of the girls out there that have their friends thinking that "it's not cool" to still be a Girl Scout after the age of 12. I lost so many members of my troop as I was going through school. But I stayed in scouts right through my senior year of high school. We did so many things to help the community. Some of my fondest memories are Girl Scout related. One of which was as we were wrapping up a service project we were delivering a food/holiday basket to a family that was recently hitting some hard times - dad was layed of just before Christmas, and mom was doing the best she could to feed three little children under 5 on what unemployment money that dad was bringing in. As we were bringing in the two jugs of milk that we had picked up as part of the basket, the mom looked at one of the kids and said in a very greatful tone "look guys - they brought us milk!!" At that moment I realized exactly the impact that our troop was having on this family. These members of our community that just needed a little extra in a time of need. I like to think that maybe the mom remembered our troops service project and registered her daughter in Girl Scouts when the letter came home from school. Sometimes it isn't about fun (though there is a lot of fun in the planning) - it really truely is about making a difference in our communities.

I suppose I actually had the exact opposite thing with Girl Scouts. I didn't start until I was 12. I have had a great scouting experience and will never drop out!!!