Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003092006
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRISTINA MOTLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: B LENGTH: Medium
"After the sixth grade, many girls don't seem to be aware of scouting events," said Margaret McQuain, leader of Blacksburg Senior Girl Scout Troop 209. Yet there are a variety of programs in the Girl Scouts especially aimed toward the older girls, 14 and up.
Co-ed Campus Scouts, a Virginia Tech organization, sponsors activities for the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, including outdoor games, Dutch oven cooking and primitive overnight camping, McQuain said.
The Adventurers, a program designed to hold the interest of older scouts, offers rock climbing, rappelling, overnight canoe and kayak trips, wind sports, sailing, hiking, caving, downhill skiing, camping and backpacking. The program is sponsored by the Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council of Salem.
An example of the local events for the older Scouts is a Masked Ball this afternoon by Troop 209 to kick off Girl Scout Week and honor the organization's founder, Juliette Low. The Scouts, in fancy costumes and masks, will dance as women did in the early 1900s, said Scout Nancy Volger, who helped plan the event.
Another program, Wider Opportunity, allows girls 16 or older to travel to other states and countries.
For Volger, the program meant a chance to spend three weeks in Washington last summer, including a career day at The Washington Post and a sightseeing visit with Barbara Bush, who is an honorary chairwoman for the Girl Scouts.
There also is a demanding awards program, similar to the Eagle Scout designation for boys. The Gold Award, the highest possible for a Girl Scout, requires a minimum of 30 service hours to the Scout's community.
Anne Snider and Eliza Richardson of Troop 209 are working together on a recycling program for their project.
The older Scouts will plant trees to show appreciation for their leaders April 22, in conjunction with Earth Day, McQuain said.
Other recent service projects include adopt-a-grandparent at Heritage Hall Nursing Home, Blacksburg's adopt-a-highway program to keep road shoulders and medians free of trash, making baby baskets for unwed pregnant teens and helping with Christiansburg's plans for a new home for the homeless, McQuain said.
Leadership and counselor-in-training programs are aimed at encouraging girls 14 and older to become assistant troop leaders or camp counselors, McQuain said.
"I think Girl Scouts allows girls to take on leadership roles at a young age," she said.
by CNB