Celebration Of Sisterhood Fourth Sister Earns Girl Scouts’ Highest Honor As Organization Observes Its 85th Anniversary
“I was at Camp Four Echoes when I turned sweet 16. We had stayed up late that night at a campfire. Then we hiked to the meadow and slept out in sleeping bags under the stars. I woke up when the sun came up on the morning of my 16th birthday. My very favorite counselor was there and she was awake next to me. I was laying in my sleeping bag talking to her with 20 of my favorite friends around me. It was a big moment for me when I realized I was 16 years old, there, with this sisterhood of friends.”
Kirsten Simonson
Sisterhood is the reason Kirsten Simonson, age 25, has remained a Girl Scout for 19 years.
Now celebrating its 85th year, Girl Scouts creates a sisterhood of young women from all walks of life, regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic or religious background. The girls experience the three goals of Girl Scouting - leadership, diversity and values - with a troop of friends who are committed to each other.
Kirsten’s sisters - Alia, 22, Melissa, 19, and Brita, 16 - are also Girl Scouts. Together, the Simonson sisters of the Spokane Valley have been with the organization for a total of 59 years.
Girl Scouting is a blast, the sisters say. There are trips, campfires, projects, awards, day camps and activities - all woven together with the bonds of friendship.
The four sisters are busy and do not see each other often; however, the family was together (minus Alia, who was finishing studies at Central Washington University) for an important occasion in Melissa’s Girl Scouting career. Melissa had earned the Gold Award.
In a solemn ceremony with flags and candlelight, the Gold Award is given each year to a handful of Senior Girl Scouts based on merit. It is a coveted award - the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive - and it takes tremendous effort to achieve.
Kirsten, Alia, and Brita had already received their Gold Awards. Now it was Melissa’s turn.
To be eligible, a girl must first complete the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, the Career Exploration pin and four Interest Project patches. The girl must also accomplish the Senior Girl Scout Challenge, a situational test of her decision-making skills. Finally, she must complete the Gold Award Project requiring at least 50 hours of volunteer work in a project which enhances a program or meets an expressed need in the community.
Some of these projects have been to provide needy children with school supplies, build donation boxes for charity groups, or help various schools improve their computer technology.
Though the Simonson girls are understated about their fourfold Gold Award accomplishments, it is not only admirable, but remarkable.
And their parents are proud.
“I’ve been on many Girl Scout camp-outs,” said Frank Simonson, at his daughter Melissa’s ceremony. “In fact, I’ve been a Girl Scout longer than I’ve been a Boy Scout.”
His joking turned genuine as he spoke about an organization that has served his daughters well over the years and has played an important role in their upbringing.
“Girl Scouts is a worthwhile organization,” Frank said. “It provides people skills, leadership skills and really, vocational skills.”
As Frank stood with his wife Noreen at Melissa’s reception, Kirsten and Brita looked on with admiration.
“Watching my sisters go through Girl Scouts and seeing them get their Gold Awards has been a major highlight for me,” said Kirsten. “This is a big commitment to stay in Girl Scouts long enough to get the Gold.”
Kirsten became interested in Girl Scouting because of a flyer posted on the wall of her elementary school. Noreen helped out in her daughter’s first troop and eventually became its leader. This year marks her 20th year as a Girl Scout leader.
The three younger sisters followed in Kirsten’s footsteps, joining the organization and moving up from Daisy Girl Scouts, to Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts.
The Simonsons are among 50 million girls worldwide who have become Girl Scouts since Juliette Gordon Low founded the organization in 1912 from her hometown of Savannah, Ga.
Each year, 3 million girls memorize the Girl Scout Promise “…to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” These oral traditions provide the framework for developing character, encouraging sound decisions and fostering strength of conviction in the young women.
More than 4,200 Inland Northwest girls participate in Girl Scouting. Since 1933, the Inland Empire Council has followed the traditions of the national organization while also seeking to address contemporary issues facing girls who live here.
Girls ages 5 through 17 join Girl Scouts to make friends and be part of a group. Throughout the year-long program, they are introduced to science, arts and the outdoors. They are given opportunities to learn vocational skills. They take part in service projects and ceremonies, earn merit badges and awards, enjoy campfires and cookouts, attend field trips and summer camp.
For Kirsten, the highlight of Girl Scouting was a trip to Norway.
“At age 14, I was one of 14 girls in our country sent to the International Scouting Camp as a U.S. representative,” she said. “I remember how fun it was when we found out there were boys there, too.”
Kirsten, now married, remembers that as an older teen it was a challenge to remain in Girl Scouting.
“It’s difficult to stay in when it’s not the cool thing to do,” she said. “At times, I was covert about my involvement. But it’s something to be proud of.”
Brita, 16, has fond memories of a Girl Scout trip to British Columbia and recognizes the value of the leadership skills she has acquired through Girl Scouts. Mostly, she said, “I’ve made so many long-term friends.”
Melissa, a recent graduate of University High, recalls that over the years she has always been the one chosen to lead the flag salute. This, she admitted, helped her overcome a tendency toward shyness.
Melissa worked several summers at Camp Karo Day Camp, both as an aide and counselor. The opportunities with children, she said, have inspired her to work with special-education kids in the future. Melissa will attend college in the fall studying Education and Early Childhood Development.
Alia is also using camp counselor skills she acquired through Girl Scouts. She is in Italy for the summer where she is the director at a day camp.
Brita recalls that when she was a Brownie, her older sisters took her cookie selling. “They’d make me be the one at the door who asked, ‘Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?’ “
With 11 years of Girl Scouting behind her, Brita recognizes the value of those early ventures. “Selling cookies has given us customer service skills, public relations skills and confidence.”
Brita has just completed her sophomore year at University High. Her long-term goal is to study veterinary medicine at Washington State University, but for now she is focused on getting her driver’s license. She cites many benefits of Girl Scouts for the future.
“Girl Scouts impacts everything else in life,” said Brita. “The bonds I have created with girls, the leadership skills, the speaking skills … all those will be useful in the future.”
Girl Scouts helps young women focus on a career. It looks good on a resume. It gives girls travel opportunities both in America and abroad. And it teaches self respect and encourages high standards of conduct, the young women said.
“You live up to what is expected of you,” said Brita. “We’re teaching a value, to accept every Girl Scout as your sister.”
Perhaps this was the founder’s hope 85 years ago when she made the historic phone call to a friend one night which launched the Girl Scout sisterhood.
“Come right over,” said Juliette Gordon Low to her friend. “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all America, and all the world, and we’re going to start it tonight.”
The Inland Northwest offers 411 Girl Scout troops throughout 18 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Membership for one year is $7, plus nominal monthly dues. For information on a Girl Scout troop in your neighborhood, call 747-8091 or (800) 827-9478.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SCOUTS REUNION Girl Scouts of America turns 85 this year. To celebrate, the Girl Scouts Inland Empire Council invites former and current Girl Scouts, families, and leaders to an 85th anniversary reunion on Aug. 16. The event will be held at Camp Four Echoes on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Festivities will begin at 1 p.m. with swimming, boating, and outdoor recreation. A barbecue dinner will be served for $3 per person. The evening will end at 8 p.m. with a traditional Girl Scout campfire program. “The reunion is a great opportunity to not only celebrate the achievements of the past, but to reconnect and support projects that help girls today,” says Elaine Linscott, president of Girl Scouts Inland Empire Council. For anniversary reunion reservations, call (800) 827-9478.