Camp! More than a summer experience!
By Katie Garland
Senior Girl Scout

Almost every summer for the last 8 years I have experienced the magic that is Camp Menzies. Every year brings a new adventure that keeps me coming back time after time. Some of my fondest memories have taken place in the meadow or up at forest hill.

For those of you who haven’t visited our little camp this is what it’s like…
           
It begins with a bus: a good chance to make friends, catch some Z’s, write the next great American novel, or (if you’re a visual person) enjoy the beautiful landscape of California. You get our first taste of camp when the drivers hit the dirt road; just pray that you’re not in the second bus because that dust is killer! The trip finally ends with a serenade from the camp staff who have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. The first day consists of Patch-n-go’s, swimming holes, and kaper charts. All this is just the beginning of your action-packed week.

No matter what program you’ve chosen, the fun-filled activities that the whole camp experiences are sure to please. Everyone makes a trip to craft castle, the swimming hole, and Lake Nettie Hunter (more commonly known as the canoe lake). You’ll get to explore the local wildlife at the nature hut, and depending on your age you can attempt to break last year’s record for lost arrows at archery. And don’t forget that all girls are entitled to a trip up the hill to the horse corral.

And if this isn’t enough the camp council will decide on all-camp events like carnivals, biffy balls, counselor scavenger hunts, or maybe an exhilarating game of capture the flag. Also have a chance to fool your taste buds at the theme meal. Be ship wrecked or maybe you need to eat your spaghetti with a spatula, or we can get really crazy and wear our pajamas to breakfast!!

With all the fun things to do at Camp Menzies you are sure to have an amazing time, but don’t just take my word for it; registration is easy and the memories last a life time.

See you there!

Girl Scouts: Changing Lives Forever
By Kathy Laughlin-Miller
volunteer and mother

So…have you ever thought about becoming a Girl Scout volunteer?  I hadn’t!
My exposure to Girl Scouting began as a young girl, participating in Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts.  In my three years as a Girl Scout, I remember the fun we had crafting, learning, and the one camping trip on the beach.

Now, fast-forward a few decades later to find me at a parent information night with my husband. We discovered that there were not enough leaders for girls in our area and our daughter would be placed on a waiting list.  I did not want my daughter to wait to be placed in a troop, she was excited now! 

The host placed me in a group of parents from my daughter’s school and we discussed the situation.  I began to think - this is a nice group of people-and one of the moms offered her home, crafting experience, and the idea of “co-leading” a troop.  With this in mind, I agreed to help her “co-lead” a troop of Girl Scouts.  I had no idea how this would change my life forever.

As I begin my seventh year as a Girl Scout leader/advisor, I reflect on how much I enjoy this role in my life.  Watching the girls in the troop growing up, having fun, and becoming beautiful young women are special memories that I will always cherish.
I am writing this to encourage others to volunteer some time to Girl Scouts.  You may not think you have the time, talent, or skills, but making time, learning new skills, and sharing with others can be rewarding and fun.  Girl Scouts has provided me with training on how to run a troop, ideas for meetings/trips, people you can go to with questions, and the privilege of getting to know the girls and their families.

Now for the fun!  I have done things that I didn’t think I would ever do!  Take camping for example.  I only camped once in my life, with my own Girl Scout troop, so I decided to take the camp certification course to learn how to camp safely with girls.
Now I take girls and their parents camping and we have a blast!  I have learned how to go without my hair dryer, curling iron, and even a shower for a few days (but I still wear make up!).  Our troop now shares how to camp with younger troops that may not otherwise have a camping experience.   My son has even cooked at Girl Scouts' Camp Menzies the past few summers since his experience cooking for us at a camporee.

I have enjoyed other experiences with my scouts and their families such a picnics, sleeping on an aircraft carrier, horseback riding, planting trees, climbing rock walls, cleaning trails (and animal zoo areas!), touring factories/caverns/mines/museums, watching plays/sporting events, working on badge requirements, color guard training, sending care packages to soldiers, selling lots of cookies, Disneyland, and just “hanging out” at sleepovers, pizza/ice cream parlors.  And the list goes on…

My co-leader and I have encouraged “our girls” to help others and the environment around them.  They all have volunteered in their community and one has even saved a life by using the Heimlich maneuver she learned in brownie girl scouts!  So, I encourage you to volunteer and make a difference in a girl’s life – who knows, it may even make a difference in yours.

About the author:
Kathy Laughlin-Miller is a doctor of pharmacy working full time in clinical practice and co-leads/advises a group of 12 girl scouts in Folsom, California.  She is thankful for support from her family, friends, Girl Scouts, and parents in allowing her to pursue this endeavor.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, traveling, and scrapbooking.
You may reach her at rxfurlie@aol.com (please put “Girl Scouts” in subject line) with any questions you may have in juggling your own troop.
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A Fun, Nurturing Environment
By Rachelle Lisby, volunteer

As a young girl, I enjoyed Girl Scouts because I was able to do things that I normally wouldn’t have done and although I was only involved a few years, they were the years that helped form my character. I learned the power of doing things for others, how my actions affected others and especially that I COULD make a difference.

My daughter was a Brownie Girl Scout for a couple of years until sports became an interest to her. As her leader, I saw the excitement and joy when they got a new idea or earned a badge. I was bummed when she decided to step down.

I am now the proud grandmother of three beautiful girls and once again I am involved in Girl Scouts. Not as their leader but as a leader at our church. A few years ago there was a notice in our church bulletin asking for anyone interesting in helping start a troop to come to a meeting. At first I thought that not having any young children of my own might be an issue. I was delighted when the Service Unit Manager said that Girl Scouts would love to have me as a volunteer.

The past four years have been a whirlwind of excitement, heartache, joy, frustration, learning, growing and learning some more. What started out as a simple group of 10 Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts has evolved into a group of sometimes 30 girls from Daisy Girl Scouts through Cadette Girl Scouts. I have learned more from the girls than I believe I have taught them. I have learned patience, understanding and fighting for what you believe in. We have gone on many campouts, council sponsored events and local events as well as a myriad of troop planned activities.

Our troop is faith-based so we are able to parallel the Girl Scout Law with our own Christian faith. The girls eagerly look for and perform community service projects throughout the Yuba City, Marysville area. Currently, we have 11 girls working on their Girl Scout Bronze Award with project ideas like – a book drive for the local libraries, Operation Christmas Child (sending shoe boxes with goodies to kids in needy countries), collecting toys for a local shelter so mom’s can “buy” Christmas gifts for their children, and much much more.

My husband Robert and I work together to provide a fun, nurturing and learning environment for the girls. I am currently the Service Unit Manager for Olliyuma Service Unit and a delegate for the council. I have also served as the Community Organizer and helped to place over 400 girls into troops last year. I have taken camp certification training, first-aid, backpacking, Go for It Silver, Junior and Cadette Girl Scout age level and more.

I continue to volunteer because I thrive on seeing the girls grow and become the leaders of tomorrow. I truly believe that Girl Scouts MUST build girls of courage, confidence and character so that they can change the world. I cannot wait to one day see one of our girls running for Public Office, becoming Teacher of the Year, traveling into outer space and perhaps even becoming President or CEO of a major international company. I will just as proud of those who choose to stay home and pass on what they learned in scouting to future generations. I will continue to be a leader as long as God allows but even then I am sure I will find some way to stay involved.

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One site that I worked at, that I would love to go back to, was the Meadowview Family Resource Center. It was a small center that had a Birth and Beyond in it, and we ran a program for the girls of the mothers that participated at Birth and Beyond. We had about 15 girls and really got to know the girls in the program. Although I was initially intimidated, after about two weeks of working with them, the girls started to connect with me. They wanted to sit next to me and tell me all their stories. They were the sweetest bunch of girls I’ve ever met, each with her own unique personality. They were all very different from each other and I looked forward to seeing them every week.

One girl who just lit up the whole room and we really enjoyed her company. Her name was Amanda and she was really smart, funny and a delight to work with. She helped us a lot by recruiting girls from her school and church to join Girl Scouts. At the end of the program she gave me and my co-leader each a card that said, "I Love You Guys…From your pal Mandy." It was the cutest thing ever and I realized this is why I love this job.  This is what makes it all worth it, the way these girls look up to their leaders and that something I think is so small means the world to them.

Being able to provide the Girl Scout Program to girls of all different backgrounds and spending time with them and being someone positive that they can look up to, is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. This is an absolute dream job! Girl Scouts is a wonderful organization and I feel very lucky to be able to work for them.

For more information about the outreach efforts of Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, click here or call the council office at: (916) 638-4475.
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Lessons Found in Leadership and Parenting
Kristi Cooney, volunteer and mother

I became a Girl Scout troop leader probably the way most of us do: there wasn’t any space in existing troops for my daughter. I wanted my daughter Trina, then in kindergarten, to have the Girl Scout experience as part of her life growing up, just as I did.

My mother was my Girl Scout leader for my first three years of Girl Scouts. Though my mom stopped being a leader when I bridged to Junior Girl Scouts, I loved it so much I continued on through junior high school.
The lessons and skills I learned as a Girl Scout served me well into adulthood. Even today I occasionally find myself thinking, “I learned how to do this as a Girl Scout.” I was honestly shocked to discover that there was a need for leaders. I thought, “Who wouldn’t want to be a leader? Girl Scouts is such a great organization with so much to offer.”  When I was contacted by the council about the lack of troops I said, “Well, if you need a leader, then I’ll volunteer.” Why wouldn’t I? This was the perfect way to give back what I gained in childhood and I knew my daughter would be excited.

I started Girl Scout Troop #1536 as Daisy Girl Scouts in January of 2003. All my happy memories of my own Girl Scouting experience came back to me. I was singing songs I hadn’t sang in years. I was learning again about Juliette Low and early Girl Scouts. I was teaching the Girl Scout Promise to girls whose pins were turned upside-down until their good deed was shared with the troop at the next meeting.

Having never been adult volunteer before, I was amazed to learn all that is available. Anything I needed to learn was offered through council trainings. I even attended Jubilee where I learned skills that have not only helped with my troop, but which I use in my personal life as well. I found that the things I love about being an adult volunteer are the same things I loved about being a Girl Scout: learning new skills and being part of a team.

Our troop has grown from 6 girls to 14. Sisters and friends of the original troop girls have always been welcome with open arms. What has impressed me most about my troop is their acceptance of one another. All these girls are sisters in Girl Scouts and I have never had to break up a squabble or separate girls who were forming cliques. I am very proud of all of them and I can’t wait to be there when they all graduate from high school and become adult Girl Scouts. I hope I can give them all the same great experiences that I had as a Girl Scout.
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