Girl Scout recruiting night draws standing-room-only crowd

Maricopa’s Girl Scout program was the focus for an informational and recruiting meeting held Thursday night at Pima Butte Elementary School. Current local troop leader Lisa Lewis conducted the meeting. Many interested girls were present, evidenced by the number of parents and their children lined up outside the library doors.

Potential Girl Scouts and their families gathered in the Pima Butte library well before the informational meeting began and more attendees arrived..

This display showed the various activities and outings associated with Girl Scouting.

Lewis explained the four different Girl Scout levels: Daisy Girl Scouts (ages 5-6), Brownie Girl Scouts (ages 6-8), Junior Girl Scouts (ages 8-11) and Girl Scouting for girls ages 11-17. Each group learns about the core values of Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Promise and Law, in a way that is age appropriate.

The goals of Girl Scouting are “to help girls develop to their full potential, relate to others with increasing understanding, skill and respect, develop a meaningful set of values to guide their actions and to provide for sound decision-making and contribute to the improvement of society.”

Lisa Lewis explained the various Girl Scout age levels.

The petals on this Daisy Scout pinafore are like badges; they have to be earned by the girls (ages 5-6).

As well as recruiting future Girl Scouts, the meeting was also held to recruit leaders for potential troops. In order for a troop to form, it needs at least ten girls, a leader and a co-leader. To become a leader or a co-leader, you must take training classes offered by the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council. These classes include a First Aid and CPR course, as well as a Girl Scouts Safety Wise course, a basic introduction to Girl Scouting course and an age level training course.

“I’m happy Maricopa residents want to support Girl Scouts,” states Lewis. And Maricopa, evident by the turnout at Thursday’s meeting, is happy that the Girl Scout Program is available.

For those who were unable to attend the meeting, or to find out more information about either joining Girl Scouts or becoming a leader, contact Lewis at (520) 568-1572 or by email.