Happy birthday, Girl Scouts

"I will do my best: to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout."

-- The Girl Scout Law

By AMY MENEREY-Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- Girl Scouts throughout the world celebrated Girl Scout Week last week, in conjunction with the birth date of Girl Scouting, March 12. There are nearly 5,000 girl members in Scouts in the Susitna Council -- which covers the area of Alaska from the 63rd parallel down, according to the council's communications director Judy Koskela.

In addition to the girls, there are approximately 1,850 adults involved in Girl Scouts in the region. The Valley office of Girl Scouts is located near the Wasilla Senior Center and is staffed on a part time basis although the Valley boasts more than 80 troops, ranging from Daisies for 5- to 6-year-olds, to Seniors Scouts who are between the ages of 14 and 17.

This week marks the beginning of "cookie time" for the girls. It is the Scouts' biggest fundraiser and the presence of Valley Girl Scouts is well known -- when uniformed girls and boxes of Thin Mints and Samoas appear to be everywhere. Few realize, however, that these girls are quite active year-round, performing community service, experiencing learning activities about themselves, their neighbors and the world, and keeping the Girl Scout promise: "On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law."

Valley Girl Scouts shared one of these learning experiences on March 8, when they attended the 4th Annual Women of Science event at Wasilla Middle School. More than 75 girls, ranging from 1st- to 7th-graders, learned about science and math through demonstrations and hands-on opportunities. Members of the Valley Fiber Arts Guild demonstrated spinning techniques at the event and each girl was given the chance to turn some wool into thread. Girl Scout volunteers at the six-hour event presented a "Science Sampler" workshop, and at the Fish and Game stations girls learned how to make "fish prints" and play "Fishopoly." The event was sponsored by the Susitna Council, meaning any Girl Scout from any unit could attend. There are several more Women of Science events scheduled throughout the council's service area.

The Valley units -- consisting of the Palmer/Wasilla unit and the Little Su unit -- sponsor many local events for girls, most recently was Thinking Day. This year's Thinking Day was held Feb. 22 at Teeland Middle School with approximately 185 girls in attendance. Thinking Day is an annual worldwide event that focuses on learning about Girl Scouts and Girl Guides in other areas of the world. Troops choose a country to learn about and set up a display with information to share about their chosen country. For example, the displays might feature authentic food to sample, photos, or artifacts, or perhaps the girls might wear traditional garb or perform dances.

Mat-Su's population is growing and so are the Girl Scouts. Karen Garrett, membership specialist for the Valley units, said there is currently a waiting list for girl to join because there are not enough troops at to accommodate them. Troop leaders are all volunteers, Garrett said, and each troop size is based upon the leader's comfort level. In other words, she said, they are asked to have a minimum of five girls in their troop, but the maximum is based on several factors, most important being the number of parent volunteers willing to help on a regular basis.

New troop leaders are asked to make a one-year commitment, become a Girl Scout member (a fee of $7 is required), and attend training, which is provided by the council. At least one adult member -- not necessarily the leader, but a volunteer who is present at the meetings -- is required to have CPR and first-aid training for safety purposes, Garrett said. Paperwork must also be filled out that includes requests for references and questions regarding criminal history for screening purposes. Additional training is required for those who want to take their troop camping, for instance.

Either Garrett or a council manager assists new Valley Girl Scout troop leaders with their first meeting. "It kind of sets them on the road," Garrett said. There are no requirements regarding meeting dates or times, it is up to each individual leader, Garret said, since they are all volunteers. Leaders also meet monthly to offer support and ideas to each other or discuss problems they may encounter within their troops. The Valley also boasts the Susitna Council's largest residence camp, Camp Togowoods, at Mile 12.5 Knik-Goose Bay Road. Each year hundreds of Scouts attend the camp for sessions that range from 7 years of age on up. This year there are more than 40 sessions offered to the girls, including wilderness skills camp and the Father's Day Family Camp. Camping begins Memorial Day weekend and continues throughout the summer.

How to get involved

The Valley Girl Scout office of Susitna Council is located at 1301 Century Circle, Suite A, next to Wasilla Senior Center. Leave a message at 376-3822 for more information about Girl Scouts in the Valley, or call the main office in Anchorage at 248-2250, or (800) 478-7448, or e-mail to susitna@gsscak.org. For more about Alaska scouting online go to www.girlscouts.ak.org. To learn about Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide, more information is at http://www.wagggsworld.org. For information about Camp Togowoods, call Laura Petterson at 376-1310, or e-mail to camptogo@alaska.net.

Brief history of the Susitna Council

1926

First Girl Scout troops meet in Anchorage.

1929-1935

Depression -- Girl Scouts become inactive.

1937

Girl Scouts reactivate with 14 troops meeting in the basement of All Saints Episcopal Church on 5th and E.

1941-1946

World War II -- Families move from Anchorage. Troops disband.

1947

BPW (Business and Professional Women's Club) sponsors Girl Scouts. Anchorage Girl Scout Council receives its first charter from GSUSA.

1950

Marjory Bailey becomes the first executive director.

1951

Council name is changed to Susitna Girl Scout Council.

1958

Susitna Girl Scout Council acquires 250 acres of land on Three Mile Lake in Wasilla. Camp Togowoods named after Leonhard Seppala's famous lead dog, Togo.

1962

Council jurisdiction extended to include all Southcentral Alaska south of the 63rd parallel from the Canadian border to the Aleutian Chain.

1967

Susitna acquires 40 acres of land on Edmonds Lake in Eagle River, and establishes Singing Hills troop campsite.

1980

Susitna Girl Scout Council purchases the building located at 3911 Turnagain for its first permanent headquarters. (In 1991 the building is named the Olson Service Center to honor longtime volunteers Kathy and Bob Olson.)

1982

Marjory Bailey retires after 32 years as executive director. Jean King serves as executive director until 1989.

1990

Ginger Miller becomes the council's third executive director.

1992

The council's official name is change to Girl Scouts Susitna Council.

1994

Council reaches girl membership of 5,000.

1999

Ginger Miller leaves Susitna Council after serving 10 years as executive director. Jane Straight becomes dxecutive director

Information courtesy of http://www.girlscouts.ak.org/history.htm.