Local Girl Scouts celebrate Girl Scout Week

Girl Scouts isn’t just about the cookies.

“Nationally, the Girl Scout brand has been tied up in cookies,” said Dr. Liz Brent, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama CEO, which includes 30 counties in the bottom half of Alabama. “We want to focus more on girls.”

She said Girl Scouts have gotten some interesting new programs, and camping isn’t what it was a few years ago.

“There is one that focuses on math and science trying to get girls into those professions like engineering and those kinds of things. There is another on financial literacy. They are trying to broaden the curriculum so that girls can follow things they are interested in.

“This is a good thing, but they still know how to pitch a tent, start a fire and cook over a fire,” she said. “But that is not attractive to all girls. For resident camp this summer, one session this summer will be a spa session with manicures and pedicures and things on fashion.

“I think what Girl Scouts does is that it provides an opportunity for kids to have a hands-on experiential,” Brent said. “Today’s kids are much more hands on and
experiential.”

Brent was in Auburn as the local Girl Scout leaders welcomed city officials, business and civic leaders to the Girl Scout Hut on Drake Avenue for the Auburn Girl Scout Open House held in recognition of Girl Scout Week.

After cutting a ribbon, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham said a lot of hours and effort had been put into restoring the Girl Scout Hut to the condition it is in today, “Thank you as volunteers,” Ham said. “This is what makes this community great. People willing to spend their time to help others and help them help themselves.”

The Auburn Lions Club Chairman of Youth, Ralph Teague, was on hand to present a check to the Girl Scouts. The Lions Club also pays the utility bills for the hut once a year.

At another Girl Scout function Wednesday evening in Montgomery, the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Inc. recognized Cheryl Miller of Auburn as its Volunteer of the Year 2007. She received the award at the “Women of Distinction Recognition Dinner.”

Miller said she was nominated by the council for the award.

“I had put in a lot of hours over the past year with quite a few big projects,” Miller said. “For example, the council realignment which was a huge undertaking that basically pulled together five councils into one.”

Anyone interested in getting involved in Girl Scouts should contact Miller at 887-5518.