Keeping Girl Scouting tradition alive

    Troop No. 1491 Brownies are currently led by co-leaders Cindy Webb and Nicki Lyons with the Daisies being led by co-leader Kim Russell.
    “I joined the troop two years ago with my daughter as an all-Daisy troop,” said Lyons. “Cindy and her daughter have been with the troop for four years. This is Kim’s first year leading and her daughter’s second year as a Daisy. We currently have a Daisy/Brownie troop of 15 girls who serve the Southern Aroostook Community School area.”
    Daisies are the youngest members of Girl Scouts in kindergarten and first grade. Last year, they worked very hard on earning the Daisy petals for their uniforms. They first had to memorize the Girl Scout Promise. Then, they worked on a variety of projects to learn about the Girl Scout Law.
Contributed photograph
BROWNIES — Members of Troop No. 1491 are, from left, front, Jordyn Legassey, Madison Russell, Willow Brooks, Skyla Nelson, Delaney Greenlaw, Laura Lyons and Jennah Brooks; back, Lindsay Derosier, Rose Arnts, Julia Murray, Emily Skinner, Samantha Desrosier, Victoria Belyea and Mia Paquette. Absent from the photograph is Callie Russell.
    This year, some of the girls bridged to Brownies and were divided into separate groups. The Daisies have been working hard learning about animals in their “Three Cheers for Animals” journey book. They have been learning about a different animal every week. Part of earning their badge is to know how to take care of these animals. They have been busy drawing an animal mural. They have also been working on a book about how to be safe around animals.
    The Brownies have been working on their journey, “Brownie Quest, a Leadership Journey.” They have been discovering their own special talents and qualities, as well as the qualities and values of their families. They have been learning to work as a team. They have been encouraged to show leadership with their family and in the community. Currently the group is working on the final step of earning their Brownie Quest badge which involves getting out into the community. The girls have had a lot of great ideas, but they seem to be headed for a gardening project later this spring.
    Troops join together for activities throughout the year, beginning with a birthday celebration for Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts. Since her birthday is on Halloween, they have a great time by dressing up, playing games, hearing the story of how Girl Scouts began and of course eating cake and ice cream.
    At the start of the year, the girls have an idea jar of small ways to help throughout the year. One of their ideas was to save tabs to recycle for donation to the Shriners Hospital for Children, so every week the girls bring in can tabs. Another was to go Christmas caroling this year at Mountain Heights nursing home in Patten. “They did a wonderful job,” said Lyons.
    This year is a special year for Girl Scouts as it is the 100th anniversary. Several of the girls made an assortment of art for a special Girl Scout art show at the Blue Moon Gallery in Visions. They also have the opportunity to work on some special badges throughout the year related to the anniversary.
    An annual celebration is World Thinking Day, which Troop 1491 celebrates with their sister Scouts. Each troop chooses a country to celebrate. The girls learn about Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world and get to enjoy some delicious goodies. For fun to break up the winter months, the troop went ice skating and out for pizza. The girls enjoyed painting ceramic gingerbread men with Florence Hardy. Another visitor was Kristi Brannen from Spring Break Maple and Honey who demonstrated how maple syrup is made and they enjoyed some on sundaes.
    “We participated in the nuts, candy and magazine sale in the fall and are just finishing up with the cookie sale this spring,” said Lyons. “The girls enjoyed their cookie booth sale in Island Falls. They all did a great job getting out into the community and sold a lot of cookies. This year’s goal for the money earned is to go to Girl Scout Camp, which they met and exceeded. We have been talking about it all year and the girls are very excited to go camping.”
    Finally, the girls want to say a big “thank you” to all the parents, families and people in the community.