CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea -- In 2008, only seven girls from here were involved with the Girl Scout program, and they were attached to a troop at Osan Air Base. Today, Camp Humphreys has its own troop and the number of girls involved has mushroomed to more than 100.
Not coincidentally, 2008 is also when Andrea Billy Black became part of the Humphreys Girl Scouts. Today, she still serves as a volunteer and is also co-overseas chair of the Humphreys chapter. She had already been involved in Girl Scouts for 17 years when she arrived at Humphreys.
"I was really excited during my first year, but I soon realized that there was really no content related to the Girl Scouts program," she said.
Black, who came here with husband, Dathan, and daughters Kaya, Kara and Annie, has been running the Humphreys program for three years, said "I grew up with Girl Scouts."
"The Humphreys Girl Scouts program sets the foundation for girls to be leaders of tomorrow," she said. "We teach them 3 C's, which are courage, confidence and character. Girl Scout programs teach them that anything is possible. However, we never forget to get loud and silly, as well."
Black finds her involvement rewarding.
"I love working with girls who are passive and won't try anything without their parents," she said. "They come in, spend a few months with the program and realize that they can achieve anything on their own. It is about developing themselves as individuals. It is such a rewarding experience to watch them come up with ideas on how they can achieve things and figure out who they are."
According to Black, the Humphreys Girl Scouts program is a continuous, open-ended program that is constantly growing and changing.
"Watching girls grow and become who they are is an inspiring thing to see," she said.
Jessica Dunn, an overseas committee chair for the program, vouched for Black's contributions.
"She is very dedicated. She has been in the Girl Scouts program for over 20 years, and Camp Humphreys wouldn't have the Girl Scouts program without her," Dunn said. "When you think of Girl Scouts, you automatically think of Billy Black."
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