CAMAS, Wash. — A team of experts at Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington and Girl Scouts of the USA are rolling out safe, socially distant programming and research-backed virtual resources.
Eleven-year-old Chloe Ward is a local girl scout, through and through.
“I love Girl Scouts because it’s a big community and everyone is always friendly and always nice,” she said.
Right now, the pandemic is keeping her away from her sisterhood, Troop 40129 in Camas, Washington.
“It’s hard not being together,” Ward said.
Fortunately, they have the tools to hold virtual meetings. It’s a way these girls can stay connected, while staying apart.
“It’s hard because you may feel like you’re alone a little bit, but you’re not actually alone because the other girls are still trying to support you as much as they can,” Ward said.
The Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington rolled out a Samoas-smorgasbord of digital programs and resources to keep kids learning, active, and engaged in the program.
Because Girls Scouts is so much more than just cookie season.
“We’re making it work because Girl Scouts is not just something girls do or some place they go. It’s often time who they are. And so we want to make sure that this important part of their identify is still going strong,” Director of Communications for Girls Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington Sarah Shipe said.
From civic engagement to STEM, many of these programs are sharpening skills and opening minds to new things.
“Girls can always do badge work from home, but we’re also opening up a ton of different online experiences,” Shipe said.
The organization has even partnered with the scouts themselves to crate digital content.
Some activities girls can do alone while others bring them all together. This past weekend they even brought a camping trip indoors and online.
“3,000 girls that joined us on our Facebook Live for all sorts of activities; from astronomy to storytelling,” Shipe said of their Camp In Camp Out event. “They made their own campsites in their homes and we camped online.”
Ward was there. She set up her own campsite at home and whipped up a camping culinary staple.
“I love making smores; which I made out of heresy’s chocolate, mini marshmallows and Samoas,’" Ward said.
That is a recipe worth stealing. And you can, because while these programs and resources were created for Girl Scouts, most are open anyone.
Because these are skills and activities anyone can enjoy: entrepreneurship, leadership, and a dash of girl power.
For more on the digital resources and programs available right now though the Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington visit their website and Facebook page.