Nov 2008

What do you get when 17 girls run through the woods on an early spring night with nets, buckets, and flashlights? Need another clue? What would you call a gang of girls scrambling up rocks, while hiking a trail, yelling loudly, and carrying on like crazed monkeys? Are you getting closer to an answer? Ok, last hint: What would you say if you saw a group of girls rolling old tires out of a field, while others drag heavy stuffed trash bags across the frozen ground on a grey bitterly cold winter day, while laughing, chatting, and of course, running whenever possible?

If you answered a school field trip gone seriously awry, you’d be wrong. If you answered a yet unknown but locally produced reality TV series, “Survivor – South Shore- The Preteen Challenge”, you’d also be wrong. You may think you’ve stumbled across the latest fad in girls’ birthday parties, “The Out Door Bash” party, but that’s not it either. However, if you guessed a Girl Scout Troop, you are right! And for your astute observation, you’ve won a free Girl Scout cookie pitch delivered right to your front door!

I’ve been solidly in the middle of all the above mentioned action because I am a Girl Scout leader of this adventuresome bunch of fifth graders. This is my sixth year of being a leader which is five more years than I thought I’d be doing. I remember back to our first year as a Daisy troop. We would meet once a month for an hour after kindergarten. Some of them would be choking back sobs, wondering when their mothers would be coming. Now they want to know when we’re going to London. Our last meeting, the one that involves the crazed monkey reference, was a hike to the weather observatory at the top of the Great Blue Hill. There were no questions about mothers coming, but there were questions about what do you have to do to become a meteorologist, and how hard is calculus. Being a Girl Scout leader is work, but it’s been wonderful to see these girls grow into confident, energetic, and curious young women.

Girl Scouting is full of fun activities and field trips, but it’s also an exposure to new ideas and hands –on learning that schools don’t have time for. All of the badges that scouts can earn relate to learning to be a good friend, community service and involvement, science, leadership, art and music, and appreciation for the outdoors.

When I first became involved in AAUW, I felt a link to Girl Scouts, although I couldn’t articulate what it was. It’s become clearer over time that both organizations promote personal growth, advocate for girls / woman, and provide to their communities. Girl Scouts provides the base, while AAUW follows young women into adulthood and career. I feel privileged to be a member of both organizations. And while I’m at it, I’ll make the shameless pitch to encourage you to support these organizations through your membership, or donation. (AAUW doesn’t sell cookies, because let’s face it, a bunch of women coming to your door selling Thin Mints just doesn’t have the charm of cute little Girl Scout Brownies standing at your threshold.)

Although I do feel strong similarities between the two organizations, I’ve yet to hear of an AAUW camping trip, complete with s’mores, and campfire songs. Perhaps I’ll suggest it.

As a mother of a fifth grader, and Girl Scout, excellence in public education is a priority. This month in keeping with the theme of youth, the Hingham Area Branch of AAUW is sponsoring Michele Norman, Director of Strategic Planning and Collaboration from the Massachusetts Office of Education, on November 18 at 7 PM at Hingham High School. She will present the Commonwealth’s Readiness Project, the Patrick Administration Plan for the future of education in Massachusetts. This plan is the result of nine months of study by a group of educators, experts and stakeholders in Massachusetts education. Ms Norman will give an overview of the plan and then open up the meeting to questions from the audience. This meeting is free and open to the public.

Like all organizations that have a primary volunteer base, becoming involved either as a Girl Scout volunteer or a member of AAUW, is the way to keep these organizations alive and giving back to the community. I invite you to join us!

Holders of associate’s or bachelor’s degrees who live in the South Shore towns from Plymouth to Quincy are welcome to join the Hingham Area Branch. To learn more about AAUW, call Patricia McKay at 781-337-3375, or email :hollie@gallivan.org. Visit the branch web site at aauw-ma.org and follow the links to the Hingham Branch.

Gwen Sayian is a Hingham resident and member of AAUW.