Girl Scout Camp Elk River helped kick off what will be a yearlong celebration of the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary. More than 200 area scouts from 24 troops took a “Step Back in Time” at the winter encampment in Zimmerman that was designed to bring the girls back to the early days of Girl Scouting.
A Little History on the Girl Scouts:
Juliette Gordon Low spent several years searching for something useful to do with her life. Her search ended in 1911, when she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and became interested in the new youth movement. Afterwards, she channeled all her considerable energies into the fledgling movement.
Less than a year later, she returned to the United States and made her historic telephone call to a friend (a distant cousin), saying, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!" On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. Margaret "Daisy Doots" Gordon, her niece and namesake, was the first registered member. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year.
In developing the Girl Scout movement in the United States, Juliette brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking, but also for possible future roles as professional women—in the arts, sciences and business—and for active citizenship outside the home. Girl Scouting welcomed girls with disabilities at a time when they were excluded from many other activities. This idea seemed quite natural to Juliette, who never let deafness, back problems or cancer keep her from full participation in life.
From the original 18 girls, Girl Scouting has grown to 3.7 million members. Girl Scouts is the largest educational organization for girls in the world and has influenced the more than 50 million girls, women and men who have belonged to it.
Back to the present:
Girl Scout Camp Elk River is one of many hubs of activity. This camp near Zimmerman, but just outside of Elk River is on 1,200 acres, including forests, wetlands, prairies and lakes. (Trust me, I have tried to find a way through it.)
With sleeping space for 300, Camp Elk River is a great destination for single troops or larger groups. It has both modern and rustic facilities. Guests enjoy nature hikes, boating, archery and low ropes in the summer. And when it’s wintertime they enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and ice skating.
It was the perfect backdrop for a 100th anniversary celebration. There will be more this year, as there is Great Girl Gathering at the Mall of America on March 10 and 11, 2012, and there are also plans for a Take Action Project on October 13.th
Girl Scouts and volunteers of all ages will be helping their communities improve water resource conservation and protection. The council-wide environmental service project is designed to reduce phosphorus levels in lakes and rivers.
Together, Girl Scouts across the region will work to prevent the growth of 10 million pounds of algae by removing 20,000 pounds of yard waste before it enters lakes and rivers, saving $6 million in clean-up costs. Their efforts will make for a better world when they go to celebrate their 150th anniversary.
For more on the history of the Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/low_biography/jgl_history.asp.
When you are searching for a home in the Elk River or Zimmerman area or you need to relocate, give Sabinske & Associates a call.
