Fort Belvoir, Va. (Sept. 11, 2014) - Fort Belvoir Girl Scouts Service Unit 53-5 met with new Families to the installation and current troop members during the Welcome Back Campfire at the Scout Hut, Friday.
New and current Scouts made crafts, built a fire to make S'mores and watched the "Homestead Ernie" skit. The goal was to recruit new members to the Girl Scouts.
"It was great," said Jill Shannon, SU 53-5, manager. "The turnout was lighter than I had hoped. We had 22 Scouts show up, so it wasn't bad."
Of the 22 Girl Scouts who participated in the event, 10 are new recruits. Shiela Devlin, Fairfax Village resident came with her daughter Beatrice, 8. Beatrice Devlin is a brownie, and Shiela Devlin signed her up because the Family is new to the installation.
"It's an opportunity to meet friends and be more involved in the community," said Shiela Devlin. "Beatrice has good heart and I see she has skills. She just needs to build on them."
Michelle Lewis, River Village resident, came to the event with her daughter, Hannah, 10. Hannah has been involved in Girl Scouts since kindergarten and Michelle wants to continue the personal growth she has seen in her daughter since she has been in Scouts.
"You get to go camping and learn different things like leadership skills and interacting with others," said Michelle. "It's a way to get away from school and studying, (something) children need from time to time."
The Boy Scouts put on the "Homestead Ernie" skit which is a parody on what Scouts should not do while camping, like not brushing their teeth, shaving and performing other aspects of hygiene and physical fitness.
Mark Funk, Troop 118 Scout Master, likes to help the Girl Scout troop when possible.
"We come out to support them and see if anyone wants to join the troop or has questions about Scouting and stuff like that," said Funk. "We support one another since we are trying to accomplish the same goal."
Meeting new Families and providing her children with an opportunity for personal growth is why Jessica Flinn, Woodlawn Village resident has her daughter involved in Scouts.
"When we first got here she was very shy and kind of a loner," said Flinn. "Since she's been part of the Scouts, she's more outgoing and not as close to me, which is nice. She's more willing to try the different things the troop is doing instead of asking me if I think she should get involved."
Flinn urges Families new to the installation to sign their children up for Scouts.
"I talked to some of my daughter's friends and their friends before tonight to get them out here and more involved," said Flinn. "It's definitely a good thing for new Families to get involved in."
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