Girl Scouts looking for new members
By Laura Collins
Published in News on August 29, 2010 1:50 AM
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Michael K. Dakota
The Wayne Service Unit of Goldsboro held its annual "A Taste of Girl Scouting" at Herman Park Saturday. Current Girl Scouts, family, friends and potential Girl Scouts took part in games, crafts and songs. Participants used a parachute to play a game during the picnic.
Nearly 100 people showed up for "A Taste of Girl Scouting" at Herman Park Saturday.
The third annual event gives Wayne County residents a chance to find out more about the Girl Scouts, and gives current members of Wayne County's 35 Girl Scout troops and their parents the chance to socialize.
The event featured crafts, games, face painting, temporary tattoos and s'mores. Lillie Thompson, service unit manager, said the event brought out about 15 girls who showed interest in becoming Girl Scouts.
"We want us to grow. The potential for Girl Scouting is much more than the participation in Wayne County," she said. "There are over 12,000 girls in Wayne County and only 400 girls are traditional Girl Scouts."
Two sisters interested in becoming Girl Scouts, five-year-old Mia Brooks and six-year-old Mecca Brooks, came to the event with their mother Eunique Sanders.
"I want them to start getting into social activities with other girls their age," Sanders said. "I think it's pretty neat here. It's a family gathering; I see moms and dads out here and other Girl Scouts are leading the activities."
With face paint designs on their faces in addition to some evidence of s'mores, both girls agreed making the s'mores was their favorite part. Mecca added that she'd like to be a Girl Scout because she likes making friends and knows two girls who were also at the event.
One girl who can attest to the benefits of being a Girl Scout is Jenny Pate, 12, who's been a Scout for four years.
"It's brought her out, for one thing," said Ms. Thompson. "Her first year here she was very shy."
Her mother Deanna Pate agreed.
"It makes her more independent. She has to do more experiences on her own. And the more you experience the better well-rounded you are," Ms. Pate said. "Having her go to the camp for the first time was wonderful. She never would have done that."
Jenny said she's also had the opportunity to do a lot of things with the Girl Scouts including zip lining, a stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, white-water rafting and kayaking, among other things.
"We get to go so many places and we learn a lot," she said. "Last year we went to Washington, D.C., for a whole week."
Also at the event Saturday was Diamonds in the Ruff. Volunteer Jordan Gaskins said the group was there because the Girl Scouts are supporting Diamonds in the Ruff for their fall service project.
"We're here educating the girls about dogs and proper dog care. We're giving the dogs some exposure to kids and shows the parents what their support will be going to," Ms. Gaskins said.