Indiana has been getting some bad press, recently, some of it well deserved. Republican State Representative, Bob Morris, of Fort Wayne, Indiana made national news, when he recently trash talked the Girl Scouts of America and refused to sign a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scout organization.
I grew up in Girl Scouts. From second grade through my junior year in high school, I was a Girl Scout. I was a First Class Girl Scout, which in my day was something akin to being an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. My mother was my leader for about the first five years and everyone thought she was easy on me, but she made everything I did twice as hard for me because she figured everyone would think she was easy on me.
This was our pledge:
This is the bag you carry the mess kit in:
I went to Camp Wonderland, a day camp in my home town. We would sometimes have over-night camp outs. In the fifth grade, I started going to established camp at Camp Windigo, in Upland, Indiana. Each summer I would go to Camp Windigo for two weeks. The summer after my freshman year in college, I served as a counselor at Camp Windigo. It wasn't necessarily cool to be a Girl Scout, but I was never one to let other's opinions dictate my actions. We were a small group, and in many ways, that afforded us more trips and opportunities.
Much of who I am today was instilled in me by being a Girl Scout. Knowing how to build a camp fire is a skill I still exercise, today. I still love camping and hiking.
Our local county Girl Scouts celebrated the 100th birthday of Girl Scouts by doing community service. In 614 hours they created 121 hand tied fleece blankets for children. They colored 510 lunch bags to be used for aging seniors nutrition program. They created 543 braided puppy toys and 188 cat nip toys for our local Animal Shelter and knitted three caps which were donated.
Sounds like an awful group of girls, doesn't it? Representative Morris, I know you've apologized, but you made our state look bad and showed your ignorance by your statements. You'll be remembered for this- your claim to fame.
This (old) Indiana Girl Scout is proud. I'm thankful for my years in Girl Scouts and the lasting impression that the organization left upon my life.
15 comments:
well that's a shame...we love the Girl Scouts in our home too. my girls both did it for awhile. booo hiss;)
I agree with you....the crack about the Girl Scouts was WAY off base.
I have my pin but got rid of everything else...I'm SO impressed that you kept all of your stuff! Getting a badge was THE best experience and I worked hard at it ~ like you.
Camping is still on my list of all time favorite things to do....and I'm not a Girl Scout anymore.
Great post. Brought back some wonderful memories!
That guy is an idiot. I couldn't believe the things he said when I saw them on our news. I was a Girl Scout too and loved every minute of it. Camp Wapikamigi was some of the best summer days from my childhood.
what?!? why? i swear politicians just...(holding tongue here)...was never a girls scout...was a cub scout for a bit...did learn a lot just from living out in the wild...and know a lot of kids that got much from the scouts...
You belonged to an awesome troop. Mine never did anything cool like camping or learning anything useful. I just remember endless rituals and props, and the only thing I ever carried in my little uniform bag were the weekly fees. I was pretty disappointed, but ah well - I'm growed up and can do all that fun stuff now!
I, too was a Girl Scout. Both of my daughters were Girl Scouts. I sewed so many badges on those sashes my fingers got numb. I think Mr.Politician owes much more than an apology. Shame on him.
Just last week I listened to a hour on npr about a book that just came out about the founder of the Girl Scouts...of course can't remember the title but it sounded interesting...GS has and still is helping lots of girls become young women.
I was a scout too, and I loved it! I learned SO much!!!!
I think this the a great organization and I love the cookies. lol sandie
Did you have a brown beanie cap? Oh how I wanted one of those! Christy Sweeney was always dressed to the nines in her brown dress and beanie on Mondays and the girls met in the cafeteria to do crafts after school that day (and other important Scouting business, I'm sure.) I envied them! Back in those days, my parents didn't encourage a lot of "participation" in things that were away from the farm. Seems so different from today when parents want their kids to do it all. They were old-school farmers and that's how it was. It took gas and was inconvenient to deliver me to and from all of the things I wanted to do. No dance class. No Scouts. I could pick one activity and I chose 4-H and stuck with that for 10 years. But I always wanted to be a Brownie ... glad you had that experience. It no doubt shaped you and your hobbies because you know HOW to do many different things you wouldn't otherwise; you can get around in the woods and can cook a bang-up meal on a campfire. Thanks for sharing. The world has a lot of problems but Girl Scouts are certainly NOT one of them.
I have great memories of Girl Scouts too. Shame on anyone who says anything bad about the Girl Scout organization. It has been a constant for many years and something many girls feel proud to have been a part of.
I still have my pin...just like that one...it was a lot of fun and I really didn't meet other girls much, so it was fun. No sisters. Wish I had my badges!
Well who knew! Did you remember Thinking Day on Feb.22? That's what my post was about. Like you I learned stuff that I still use today. And the camp experiences were the highlight of my summer since we were not able to afford big family vacations.
Hello. I'm a hoosier too, from sw Indiana, but am now living in Illinois. I also was a Brownie and a GS and love the photos of your pins and badges. I went to Brownie camp when I was 7 and was so homesick that I never tried again. We went to camp at the state park at McCormick's Creek.
Susan Gwin. I attended Camp Windigo from the Summer of 1970 to the Summer of 1973. One year I stayed two 2 week camp sessions. I loved it. My favorite camp counselor's name was Ringo. I lived in Jonesboro, IN. I am now a teacher in Waverly, TN and think back on the good memories of Camp Windigo!
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