Happy Birthday!!

A big "Happy Birthday!" to all the Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Alumnae out there. March 12 is the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in the United States. I definitely wouldn't be the person I am today without my experiences in Girl Scouting. Here is a picture of me and my mom, probably after my very first award ceremony (I only have one little yellow pie piece on my sash here - I probably just got it for completing a year of Brownies in second grade). It was through Girl Scouting that I developed my love of the outdoors, the concept that I could do anything with enough hard work, and organized my first science programs at museums for younger kids. Who would have thought that what most people think of as a fun after-school activity could lead me down such a varied and exciting path?

It wasn't until I worked as a professional Girl Scout that I realized how much the experience also helped my mom. Mom was definitely a determined lady before Girl Scouting, but it gave her a venue to express her creativity, supportive people to encourage her to develop amazing leadership skills and a pool of friends with common interests. Why else would she have an infinite supply of people to go camping with month after month, years after she'd stopped leading troops? The council even inducted her into their Hall of Fame (I believe related to her years of service as a volunteer) a few years before she died. I love that Girl Scouting gave something to both of us as we enjoyed it together. I look forward to building some more Girl Scout memories with Penny when the time comes. Here's to the next 100 years!!