Girl Scouts - any DUers have experience with them?

[NewJeffCT]

My daughter is getting recruited by the Girl Scouts and I wanted to find out if it was a good experience for any female DUers, or daughters of DUers?

Thanks

[distantearlywarning]

1. I used to be a Girl Scout back in the...*ahem*...1980's (god I'm old)

It was a great experience. I learned a lot, and most of my memories from that time are very positive. I also got to go a lot of places: my troop visited Washington, DC & went to a big camp-out in Wyoming one summer, and I had a lot of great GS camp experiences.

[NewJeffCT]

4. sounds good

I've heard more good from them than the Boy Scouts

[goddess40]

52. Girl Scouts don't have the nasty undertones the boy scouts do.

They don't ban atheists or lesbians. (I know you can pretend you're not and be a boyscout, but isn't honesty one of their biggies?)
Late 60's early 70's, so I must really old
I enjoyed Brownies and Girl Scouts it was a great way to learn how to be a good friend and get experiences you might otherwise miss out on. My family weren't campers so I got to try that and enjoyed it when I was young.

[TZ]

2. I enjoyed it.

It was a long time ago though..I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. And my mother was Brownie troop leader for awhile. I enjoyed the camping trips alot...

[NewJeffCT]

3. thanks

i doubt my wife will ever be a troop leader - I'm more likely to be one than her!

[madinmaryland]

8. ZOMG!! You were a brownie??

How did you end up as teh evul big pharma shill??

:rofl:

[TZ]

13. Somewhere I have a picture of me and my Brownie Troop

At the White House..We listened to a speech from Jimmy Carter....See, I was a democrat even back then..:)

[NewJeffCT]

25. sounds like me

I hated Republicans from an early age because Nixon & the Watergate hearings would interrupt my afternoon cartoons when I would come home from school.

[TZ]

47. I'll brag a bit here....

My aunt worked in the Carter Whitehouse (and gave us a tour), and she actually WAS on one of the Watergate hearing committee..My uncle is a prof of poli sci who worked at Georgetown and Catholic U--studied media and politics..My mother worked in the office of Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio). The Democratic Party is in my blood...:)

[NewJeffCT]

53. I bow to your Democratic-ness

no celebrities in my family, or even close.

[KitchenWitch]

5. I am a co-leader of a Brownie troop.

:hi:

Very good organization. Any girl who wants to join can join. Very inclusive. The experience your daughter will have depends upon the troop. It is not just about the cookies. There are many opportunities to learn leadership skills, outdoor and environmental education, etc.


ETA: the second i in opportunities.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. I was a scout starting in 4th grade and it was great for me.

I had a terrific troop leader and a relatively small troop (circa 10 girls.) There was no Brownie troop in my area and Daisys weren't part of the program then.

My mother was encouraged to form and lead a Brownie troop in our area. After she died we received condolences from two of her former Brownies more than forty years after they were in her troop, so I'd say it was a positive experience for those girls too.

You and your daughter will ultimately be the ones who decide whether it's right for her. Some troop leaders aren't very good, others are really great.

[madinmaryland]

7. My daughter has been in Girl Scout for four years and has really enjoyed it.

My wife has helped the troops alot while my daughter has been in it. I think she was in girl scouts when she was that age also. If you have good troop leaders and parents that are involved, it will be a great experience for your daughter.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. i hear its a great experience from my ex.

[XemaSab]

10. If your daughter becomes a girl scout

make sure the troop does fun things.

I was a member of two troops, one of which did fun things and the other one of which didn't. :(

[qb]

11. It has been a great experience for my daughter.

Unlike the BSA they do not have a "morally straight" requirement. Religion or lack thereof is not an issue, and they have a booth at Pride every year. It's all about empowering and educating girls.

[Midlodemocrat]

12. BabyMidlo is a Girl Scout.

Loves it.

[NewJeffCT]

24. Thanks

Positive feedback from DU's super-mom is always a good sign.

[Dora]

14. It really depends on the troop and its leaders.

My experience was miserable - because I was the poor kid who didn't live in the neighborhood. I know others have wonderful experiences with the Girl Scouts, and I think they're a good organization.

Trust your gut.

[kayakjohnny]

15. yea .....but I cant really talk about it .

[JVS]

16. You can get the cookies cheaper at the grocery store. Look for the Keebler Fudge-shoppe line

[curse10]

17. I was a Scout for 9 years

I switched troops a few times- some were better than others. I would get involved (you don't necessarily have to be a troop leader- just volunteering) to make sure your daughter is having a good time.

[AlCzervik]

18. i was a troop leader for 5 years and for me it was a good experience, i still see

my girls now and then and they still tell we had a great troop that did things other troops did not do. It was also a wonderful chance to spend time with my daughter learning how to do new things.

[NewJeffCT]

26. well

I don't think they would allow me to be a troop leader, and I doubt my wife would have time with how much she works...

[1gobluedem]

19. I got kicked out of Girl Scouts

Too rowdy. Me (and my whole patrol) not them.

[MrScorpio]

20. They are mighty tasty when baked into cookies

[Giant Robot]

21. I am sorry to say

that girl scout cookies are not made from real girl scouts. I think its very misleading.

[OakCliffDem]

22. Watch out!

When it is cookie selling season, you stand a good chance of gaining three or four pounds.

[blueraven95]

23. I was one, as were both my sisters

I would suggest finding one that actually focuses on the badge activities rather than just the camping trips. You get to do a lot of fun things (if it's still the same from 15-20 years ago) and a lot of it is educational. The camping trips were fun, if you were into that kind of thing, but when they were the troop's focus I found that the overall enjoyment level diminished for me.

Like other have said, a lot can depend on the troop leader. I highly recommend getting involved, either volunteering or running the troop yourself.

:hi:

[NightWatcher]

27. I was thrown out of the Cub Scouts for eating a Brownie

I cant believe no one else had posted that joke yet, shame on yall

[malta blue]

28. little MB loved being a Brownie

We never got much further than that because she got so involved in other things.

[NewJeffCT]

29. My daughter said she would be a daisy first

has that replaced brownie-hood?

[AwakeAtLast]

30. I signed up WMUette yesterday

Even though the website says Brownies are ages 6-8, the ladies signing us up said she would be a Daisy - ages 5-6. I was hoping for Brownie so I only had to buy one outfit and make it last 3 yrs. <soft grumble>

[KitchenWitch]

37. They are changing the program a bit

Daisy Scouts will now be K-1

Brownies will be Grade 2-3

etc.

I think they are making the Daisy program a bit more challenging. (which is a good thing)

[Left Is Write]

50. Daisies will now also be allowed the option of selling cookies.

It used to be that Daisies, when they were strictly kindergarteners, were not allowed to sell cookies. They will now have the option. Jane was a Daisy, and now, in 3rd grade, she is in her third year of Brownies. This year we are half Juniors and half Brownies (we have 3rd and 4th graders).

[NewJeffCT]

57. oddly

I've never really like Girl Scout cookies - maybe I'm un American or something?

[Left Is Write]

59. Yes. You'll be lumped into the "Hates America" category now.

:P

(You're not required to like the cookies, but it is THE major fund raiser for the troops and the council, so it's best to participate. With their cookie funds last year, my daughter's troop were able to take a camping trip AND go to a horse stable to rent horses - my own daughter's cookie bonuses added up to $60 that can go toward her own activities, such as day camp.)

[KitchenWitch]

38. No

Daisys are grade K-1

Brownies are grade 2-3

[blueraven95]

41. a daisy is a newer section of the girl scouts

that is younger than the brownies.

on edit: oops, never mind. question was already answered. that's what I get for not reading all the replies first.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

31. I bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies this year

According to the prevailing DU logic, that qualifies me to be a Leader, perhaps even Vice President!

[Left Is Write]

51. I'm a Girl Scout leader. What high-ranking cabinet position can I expect to be offered?

[bertha katzenengel]

32. Good experience here, back in the early '70s -- despite the outfit:

[Left Is Write]

35. I LOVE the old-school Brownie and Girl Scout uniforms.

I like them better than the ones of today. You looked cute in yours!

[NewJeffCT]

40. I agree on that

she looked cute.

[LisaM]

33. I was a Girl Scout and racked up the most badges in my troop

I found out later that my sister borrowed it when she was a Scout, rather than earn them herself.

I got to carry a flag in parades, and I also learned how to make a sit-upon and a lanyard.

[Left Is Write]

34. My daughter is starting her fourth year in Girl Scouts (tonight!) -

and I am a co-leader.

The Girl Scouts is a good organization that strives to teach girls self-esteem, self-reliance, and how to make lasting friendships. There are lots of fun activities and badges to earn along the way. ;)

That said, you really need to get into the right troop. Girl Scouts, like any other organization, can have its Queen Bees and cliques (yes, I said that word!), but if you have a good group with an involved group of parents who are more concerned about the welfare of the troop than their own Perfect Parent Points, it's such a wonderful and worthwhile experience.

[pitohui]

36. i was a girl scout, great experience

don't confuse it w. boy scouts, the girl scouts are really forward looking and they are about teaching girls to do it for themselves, it's just a great experience to get outdoors w. lots of girls and older women

and of course i have many fond memories of listening to the ghost stories when we were supposed to be sleeping, heh!

[Haole Girl]

39. Loved Girl Scouts when I was a kid...

learned to camp, canoe, life saving skills, etc.

I highly recommend it! :hi:

[NewJeffCT]

48. thanks

i think she would like it, too.

[Rabrrrrrr]

42. Mine break down constantly. The old ones used to be better. These new ones are crap.

I had a '38 girl scout lasted me almost 65 years with just regular maintenance. Good, solid, hard working - nothing fancy, sure, but dependable and constant.

But everything since the late '90s has been nothing but constant repairs and time in the shop. I'm seriously considering not even having any girl scouts at home any more.

[wickerwoman]

43. I was a Brownie in the mid-80s

It really sucked. I joined because I thought we were going to learn how to tie ropes, do first aid and fight off bears with sticks. I wanted to do all the stuff that my younger brother got to do in Cub Scouts. Instead we sat around making macaroni art and string art and useless things out of milk cartons. I think a lot of it depends on who is running the Brownie troup but based on the handbook, we weren't going to learn any of the things I wanted to learn.

I'd try Earth Scouts, Adventure Guides or Camp Fire USA. They're all secular, co-ed and give kids a chance to go camping and meet other kids in a less oppressively sexist and retro organization.

[GreenPartyVoter]

44. I was one in the 70s and 80s. It was great fun!

[grannylib]

45. I loved it; I was a Brownie all the way through Senior.

I would hope it's better now; the one thing that really bugged me was that the GS handbook had shit about how to clean and arrange your room, and the BS handbook had stuff about wilderness camping, which was WAY cooler! I bet times have changed the handbook (I hope) -

[tigereye]

46. loved it - from Brownies at age 6 to Seniors at age 16-17

it was a great experience. I can't say enough good things about it.... Loved getting the badges and all the activities.


Very positive, very pro-female, and I think it's even more that way now from what I have heard!

[tismyself]

49. great stuff

I was in during the late 60's, early 70's. Loved it, still use the skills today.

[SeattleGirl]

54. I was a Brownie AND a Girl Scout.

Had a good time in both.

[Heidi]

55. I would have liked Girl Scouts more if the snacks had been better.

As it was, warm grape Kool-Aid signaled the demise of my Girl Scout experience.

[dropkickpa]

56. When I tried to join

Somehow, the local troop "couldn't find a troop leader" until after I said fuck it and decided to forgoe girl scouts (at which point one magically appeared). Fuck them assholes, I hated conformity any how, so it would have been a bad fit.

[chemenger]

58. No ... That's Illegal.

n/t

[noonwitch]

60. I was a Girl Scout in the 70s, and my neices are in Brownies

It's still a good organization. They don't discriminate against anyone, unlike Boy Scouts, and the girls learn some valuable outdoor skills. I had a lot of fun at GS camp as a kid, and it was a camp that was affordable (in 1974 or 75, two weeks cost $80 and my cookie sales paid for part of it).

We did a lot of things for seniors in the nursing home near the church we met at. We made cards for the holidays, sang Christmas Carols to them and sometimes just went to visit them (more when we were cadets than juniors for visiting only-little kids are too hyper).


I wasn't a Brownie, though. I started out as a Bluebird, in CFG. After 3rd grade, there wasn't a CFG troop in my area, so I switched to Girl Scouts. I still have the few beads I earned there, and all my GS badges, pins and such. I just don't have a sash anymore-I cut them all off in anticipation of buying a cadet uniform and sewing them on a green felt vest, but my cadet troop never wore uniforms, even on GS Sunday. The leader said she didn't expect us to spend money on uniforms.

[NewJeffCT]

61. Thanks

I've been on DU for almost five years now and this is one of the longer threads I've started, believe it or not.