Getting involved

0

Six Girl Scout troops — five in Seymour and one in Crothersville — exist in Jackson County.

That includes 75 girls and several adult volunteers.

While local troop leaders would like to see more girls involved in the organization, that would require more adults to step up and serve as leaders and volunteers.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Troop 1239 in Seymour is sponsoring a new event in hopes of drawing girls and adults to get involved. A pool party and recruitment event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Brownstown Pool, 715 W. Bridge St.

Each registered Jackson County Girl Scout can bring three to five guests. The guests should be interested in becoming a Girl Scout, a troop leader or a co-troop leader.

“My troop decided that they wanted to do this as a service to other girls in the community. It’s part of a service project they are working on,” said Missy Casner, Troop 1239 leader. “We want it to be reaching out to the community because the girls only know so many people, and we’re hoping this will reach another set of people.”

Sunday’s event is free, but people may bring money to purchase items from the pool’s concession stand.

“Just because you come doesn’t mean that you have to join,” Casner said. “It’s just to come check it out and meet people, but we would like them to be interested a little.”

Girl Scouts is for girls in kindergarten through high school, and at least five girls are required to start a troop.

“I want the younger girls to get in it and start at the beginning and work their way up,” said Jennifer Phillips, Troop 1242 leader and service unit manager and program coordinator for Jackson County Girl Scouts.

Phillips said her goal is to get a troop started in Brownstown, and that would take girls and adults interested in getting involved.

Each troop has to have at least two adult volunteers. They have to be age 18 or older, fill out an application and go through a background check. Once approved, that person also has to have CPR and first aid training.

Troop leaders can be men or women, and they don’t have to have a child in Girl Scouts to be involved. The leader determines how many girls are in his or her troop and the troop’s meeting and activities schedule.

“Any amount of time that they can give or if they want to do one just in the summer, it’s really flexible. It’s whatever schedule that works for them. You want people that work hard,” Casner said.

“Girl Scouts has a really good curriculum we try to follow, but you can think outside the box,” she said. “It gives you ideas, but you can be creative and create things yourself as long as it fits the curriculum and gets the point across that you need to.”

Phillips said she has enjoyed her five years of being the leader of Troop 1242, which currently has 11 members.

“Being a leader, I’ve enjoyed it because I’m watching my girls grow. It is rewarding,” she said. “I enjoy it because I feel like I am helping a child. I feel like when they come to Girl Scouts, they feel safe, they feel like ‘I am going to get some attention.’ You’re teaching them, and the girls remind you that you can have fun.”

Casner also has been a troop leader for five years. She has 20 members.

Her favorite part has been watching the girls come out of their shell, as some start out shy and gradually work their way up to feeling comfortable speaking in front of others.

“It’s a very good comfort zone for trying things like speaking,” she said. “It’s just the opportunity to see these girls grow, and we’re so involved in the community and giving back.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

What: Jackson County Girl Scouts pool party and recruitment event

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday

Where: Brownstown Pool, 715 W. Bridge St., Brownstown

Who: Registered Jackson County Girl Scouts can bring three to five guests, who should be interested in becoming a Girl Scout or a troop leader

Cost: Free; concession stand will be open to purchase items

Information about event: Missy Casner at 812-522-2936 or [email protected]

Information about Girl Scouts: Jennifer Phillips at 812-521-1704 or Ann Baumgartle at 502-276-9732 or [email protected]

[sc:pullout-text-end]

No posts to display