Giris Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
Posted
on Dec 02, 2015
Girls Scouts make a difference in their lives, communityThere's more to Girl Scouts than great cookies, as we learned during our meeting on Dec. 2. According to Rosanne McGuire, from Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, Girl Scouts is a leadership organization. McGuire, shown here with club president Shawn Schnabl, says the girls learn by doing.
Girl Scouts "discover a little bit about themselves," McGuire says. "They take action and make the world a better place." A food drive is the genesis for a presentation on hunger in their community. Scouts in Tess Corners, Wis., created an outdoors classroom for their grade school. Another troop devised a water filtration unit for a community in Tanzania.
Wauwatosa Girl Scouts developed a plan to convince the Canadian Pacific railroad to make their community a stop for the Holiday Train. Considered a "huge community event," this stop will allow Scouts and others to donate goods for needy families. A Wauwatosa stop will now be a part of the Holiday Train's schedule. "They [the Scouts] made it happen, [and] it'll be sustainable," McGuire says.
Girl Scouts serves students in grades K-12. This chapter has more than 28,000 members in six counties, with about 700 Scouts in New Berlin.
The seemingly simple cookie sales event is actually a financial literacy program. Scouts set goals, call on prospects, and handle cash transactions. "All of those life skills," McGuire says. Girl Scouts have gone on to become astronauts, CEOs and members of Congress.
Scouting spans generations, too. Mothers who were once Girl Scouts see their daughters join this venerable organization.
Travel is another big part of scouting. Girls have been to London, Costa Rica, Europe, and other destinations. "Anywhere their hearts desire," McGuire says.
Men have a place in Girl Scouts, too. In fact, the southeast Wisconsin chapter is holding its annual Men Behind the Mission luncheon on Dec. 9. The event is open to the public.
For more on Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, visit their website, or call 800-565-4475.