Baton Rouge Girl Scouts Krysten Seymore and Rachael McDonald had fun during the Explorer camp session at Camp Marydale this past summer.
Baton Rouge — As families prepare for the new school year and the array of activities from which to choose, they’ll find that joining and volunteering for the local Girl Scout organization a much easier and faster process, thanks to new technology which includes a digital platform for volunteers.
The volunteer toolkit, along with the recent launch of 23 new badges in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and the outdoors, areas that girls are not typically encouraged to explore outside of Girl Scouting, are just two of the offerings Girl Scouts has available to families today.
Girl Scouts Louisiana East, which serves girls, grades K – 12, and adults in 23 parishes of southeast Louisiana, will be holding information nights throughout August and September, for families who may not be familiar with the Girl Scouts.
“While some people still think of Girl Scouts as just cookies, campfires, and friendship bracelets, Girl Scouts is about so much more,” said Debbie McDowell-Tate, Director of Membership. “Participating in Girl Scouts helps girls develop key leadership skills they need to be successful in life.”
According to McDowell-Tate, Girl Scouts practice four key leadership skills through a variety of girl-led activities and experiences grounded in Girl Scouts’ program pillars of STEM, the outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship. These skills are: Goal setting and grit (Go-getter); Problem solving (Innovator); Trying new things and decision making (Risk-taker); Leading others with empathy (Leader), which spell out G.I.R.L.
The digital Volunteer Toolkit simplifies troop management, meeting planning and program experiences, with a link to program resources, and a parent portal that allows families to communicate with troop leaders, manage their daughter’s schedule, and stay involved in her Girl Scout experience.
Girl Scout membership is $25 per year for girls and adults, making it a positive and affordable option for today’s busy families. More information about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is available at www.gsle.org or by calling the council office at (225) 927-8946.
The Livingston Parish schedule so far includes the following dates:
Watson
Tuesday, August 22, at 6:30 p.m.
Live Oak United Methodist Church (Admin Building), 34890 LA-16
Denham Springs
Thursday, August 24, at 6:30 p.m.
Live Oak Baptist Church, 35603 Coxe Ave.
Denham Springs
Saturday, August 26, at 10 a.m.
Hebron Baptist Church, CAC Dining Hall, 24063 LA-16
Walker
Tuesday, August 29, at 6:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 30167 Stump St.
Denham Springs
Thursday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Northside Baptist Church, 200 Cockerham Rd.
Denham Springs
Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m.
The Way Church, 9270 Cockerham Rd.
Walker
Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m.
Walker High School, Rm 112 (Admin Bldg), 12646 Burgess Ave.
Denham Springs
Saturday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Admin Bldg, 865 Hatchell Ln.
