Girl Scouts hold week’s worth of celebration

In case you didn’t know, Sunday is the last day to get Tagalongs or Thin Mints during the cookie season. That’s because its Girl Scout Week, not only an important event for the 33,000 scouts and 10,000 adult members in the 32 county area of the Western Ohio chapter, but the time of year that traditionally marks the end of cookie sales.

According to KayAnn Taylor Rutter, director of marketing and communications for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, the celebration always falls on the week of March 12. This year will recognize 109 years after the organization’s founding in 1912.

According to Rutter, the first troop meeting, held in Savannah, Georgia, had 18 girls present.

“For these girls, Juliette Gordon Low organized enrichment programs, service projects and outdoor activities and adventures,” Rutter said via email.

And while everyone knows they sell cookies, the scouts do a lot more.

“Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place,” Rutter said.

Not even the pandemic could stop the celebration.

During the week, the council in Western Ohio issued challenges, starting with Girl Scout Sunday, where girls were encouraged to participate in church services.

According to Theresa Huebner, a local troop leader for Unit 209, 11 girls participated and earned a badge. They also met at the Family Life Center and held a baby shower, where they gathered items for pregnant mothers and children ages five and under.

Monday’s theme was Girl Scout Traditions. The troop met at the chamber of commerce and talked

with Executive Director Jackie Martell. Huebner said they played hopscotch.

Tuesday’s theme was Acts of Service. The troop met with Judy DuBois, owner of Auglaize Embroidery and Scoops. They read about Girl Scout Founder Low and learned how she became deaf.

Wednesday’s theme was Outdoor Adventures. The girls had several options that day. They could wear their uniforms to school, make brownies for the female teachers that inspired them, perform acts of kindness or write thank-you cards.

Thursday’s theme was Girl Scout History. Rhinestone Lipgloss hosted the girls from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

And today is the 109th birthday of American Girl Scouts.

Today is also Jummah. According to Rutter, Jummah celebrates the connection between girl scouting and faith. It’s on Jummah where scouts pledge to serve God and others.

The troop will be at Braylin’s Hair Studio. The week ends with the Girl Scout Sabbath Saturday, which features activities that allow girls to celebrate their faith.

That’s not to say things were normal this year either.

“The pandemic has of course impacted how we go about our programming,” Rutter said.

“We have done much more virtual programming.”

To communicate with troops and scouts, the organization posted daily YouTube videos last year from midMarch to Memorial Day. Rutter said their summer camp was virtual last year. And to accommodate scouts, the developed ‘camp-ina-box.’

“We delivered outdoor experiences to girls right on their doorstep,” she said.

During the year, girls found ways to get together and have troop activities in safe and socially-distanced ways, with a lot revolving around outdoor events.

“Troops had held their meetings while hiking instead of gathering,” she said. “… They really got creative with how they were doing things.”

And restrictions forced girls to get creative with marketing tools in order to reach customers for cookie sales.

“Instead of hosting booths in a grocery store, they’re having drive-thru booths so people can purchase their cookies without ever even leaving their car,” she said.

And for anyone still planning to order Thin Mints, you may want to hurry up. Sales end this Sunday. You can order online at GSWO.org/ findcookies.