If you encounter a lot of girls in green uniforms and even younger girls garbed in brown involved in all sorts of activities around St. Thomas in the next few days, don't be surprised. This is Girl Scouts Week.
A parade that led to a rally in Emancipation Garden on Saturday kicked the week's events off. Featured speaker Jeanette Smith-Barry, principal of Charlotte Amalie High School, told those gathered that they had "made a good choice" in taking up scouting, the V.I. Independent reported. Continued involvement in scouting programs, Smith-Barry said, will help the young women "make decisions that will affect the rest of your life, such as whether or not to finish high school or to have a baby before you are ready."
Sisters Kareema and Thalia Smith, who were among those participating in Saturday's program, said scouting is a positive activity that provides them opportunities to meet new people and do things they would not otherwise get to do. Thalia, who's 13 and has been in scouting for five years, said, "We earn badges for doing different projects." Hers to date are for camping, church involvement and a trip to Puerto Rico, among other things.
And, of course, as anyone with a sweet tooth knows, the Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout Cookies as a national fund-raising effort. It's too late to place orders for cookies this year, but any extra supplies that haven't already been sold are available for purchase. Call Alecia Wells in the V.I. Girl Scout Council office at 774-1054 for details.
