100 years of leadership, character, learning and fun

MINE — Emma Rediker points out her project on display at Blue Moon Gallery during the Girl Scouts 100th anniversary.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    A woman with a progressive mind ahead of her own time, Juliette Gordon-Low set a standard for girls to follow during an era when women were less equal than men. In March 1912, she founded the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Ga. — the program expanded to become one of the largest youth groups in the nation and the world.
    According to Christie Cochran, special to the Pioneer Times, members all belong to a special unit known as WAGGGS which stands for World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
    Gordon-Low shed the “constraints typically put on women of her era,” stated the website of Girl Scouts of Maine. “She eventually decided that she had to do something to leave a lasting impression. Her unusual lifestyle led her to a close friendship with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the British founder of the Boy Scouts and their auxiliary organization, the Girl Guides.”
    “Juliette Low knew that change would only come if girls’ attitudes and expectations changed; and if they would move forward to influence others,” the website added. “She realized that learning how to build a fire wasn’t the most important thing for girls but, once they had done it, it would stay with them forever. And when a girl taught someone else to do it, she would know it on a whole new level. Then it wouldn’t be about the fire anymore. It would be about the certainty within each girl that she could pass her knowledge on, like a spark, and when it catches, she would know anything is possible.”
    The Shiretown had one of Maine’s first councils — the Abnaki formed in May 1962 — and the other was the Kennebec Council established in October 1963.
    The Abnaki Council was developed when four existing councils — Bangor-Brewer, Central Penobscot, Presque Isle and Houlton — combined. Abnaki Council encompassed Aroostook, Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Penobscot, Piscataquis and the eastern part of Somerset counties.
    Working for many years as the Girl Scout membership manager was Penny Kern. She retired before the two councils merged into one — the Girl Scouts of Maine in 2009.
    Now,     Wendy Burchell serves as membership manager for the area, while Kim Keehn of Houlton holds the volunteer position of service unit manager for a geographical area from Sherman to Bridgewater.
    “I basically manage the troop leaders,” Keehn said.
    “When Juliette brought Girl Scouts to us, it ran slightly different than Boy Scouts,” said Keehn. “It was based on diversity and allowing all girls to become Girl Scouts where they didn’t have to fall under church organization like Boy Scouts. Instead, it was all encompassing for every girl.”
SHOWCASED — Blue Moon Gallery at Visions in downtown Houlton held a reception to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. The exhibit called “1 Voice … 100’s of Visions — 100 years of Girl Scouting” will be on display until the end of the month. The display includes artwork from a number of troops, along with a collection of uniforms and other memorabilia. Girl Scout Amelia Ivey brought her family to the exhibit, including her brother Devin.
    The Girl Scouts of Maine are celebrating their 100th anniversary with an array of state and national events. The one closest to home is the art show at Blue Moon Gallery on Main St.
    At the Houlton art show, the theme stays within the “Forever Green” campaign for a green planet. The girls needed to look for ways to recycle for their projects, which are on display, along with vintage outfits and other drawings and paintings.
    In June, two local troops will be participating in “Rock the Mall,” in Washington D.C.
    “It’s a sing-a-long at the National Mall,” Keehn explained. “Five years ago, several troops from the area went to D.C. for the 95th anniversary. There are literally tons of Girl Scouts who will be there. Our girls never saw or experienced [anything like this]. From the base of the Washington Monument up the hill, was a rainbow, as each Girl Scout wore a different color shirt for each level.”
    These are two highlights of the events, but many local troop leaders are still working on plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary closer to home, but they aren’t finalized yet.
    Girl Scouts of Maine underwent a change a few years ago to feature a more educational side to the program, along with establishing pathways for the girls to follow.
    “Girls don’t have to be in a troop anymore,” said Keehn. “They can be on a specific pathway. If a girl wants to be a Girl Scout and only wants to participate in camp, she can choose that path. She can still do everything offered in Girl Scouting, but she may not belong to a troop.”
    Keehn explained that the troop pathway is very strong in Maine.
    “But, as girls get older and busier, they can choose an individual pathway. It does take a minimum number to make a troop. If the number goes below the minimum, the leader can direct girls to individual paths that suit them.
    “There is even an online pathway,” she added. “Girls who are techno-savvy love it.”
    But, Girl Scouts continues to rely strongly on adult  volunteers.
    “Girl Scouts of Maine feels strongly about recognizing adult volunteers and people in the community,” said Keehn. “The volunteer side is a lot of work. But, each leader works a fulltime job. There are 20 ladies who find the time to lead Girl Scouts.”
    Locally, there are 10 troops ranging in levels from Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadets, Seniors and Ambassadors.
    Erin Keehn of Houlton and Courtney Jurson of Hodgdon will be earning their Gold Award, which  is equivalent to the Boy Scouts Eagle Scout.
    In March, the most popular fundraiser is without a doubt, the Girl Scout Cookie Sale. Starting around 1917, Girl Scouts and their mothers baked cookies in their homes and sold them to raise funds.
    “On an average, this community in the last five years has ordered between 12,000-13,000 cookies,” said Keehn. “This year, we had 14,000 boxes of cookies.”
    Keehn explained the cookie campaign is much more than a fundraiser.
    “The campaign teaches the girls marketing, sales techniques to entrepreneurship,” she said.
    In the fall, the Girl Scouts hold a nuts, candy and magazine sale. But, it is not a door-to-door campaign, Keehn explained. “It is a chance for younger Girl Scouts to learn basic skills on friends and family first, preparing them for the cookie sale.”
    In Maine, according to  Cochran, the first recorded Girl Scout troop was listed in Augusta in 1917. Also in Maine, Natarswi Girl Scout Camp was established in 1936 and consisted of 30 acres in Baxter State Park — located on Lower Togue Pond. It is in close proximity to the onset of the Appalachian Trail and very near the base of Mount Katahdin. An early troop was also established in nearby Millinocket in 1931. The Girl Scouts program is for girls, with their pathway decided by the troop of girls, while the leaders are their only to guide. The girls do the work, as intended by Gordon-Low.