MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With students returning to school, the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is stepping up recruitment efforts while offering girls opportunities to develop leadership skills, explore STEM, serve their communities and make new friends.
Sherry Treece, community engagement specialist for Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, said recruitment is an exciting time, particularly for younger girls entering the organization as Daisy Girl Scouts.
“Those little kindergarten, first graders are what we call our Daisy Girl Scouts,” Treece said. “They get so excited about joining Girl Scouts as well as the older kids too.”
Treece serves as a community engagement specialist for Reno County and several surrounding counties. The position is designed to strengthen connections among Girl Scouts, volunteers and the communities they serve. Treece said the organization is also working with groups such as the Boys and Girls Club and United Way to expand opportunities for girls to participate.
Recruitment efforts have recently taken Girl Scouts to community events including Convoy of Hope and Hutchinson’s Third Thursday. Treece said both events generated interest from prospective members. At Third Thursday, participants also made dog toys that will be donated to the Hutchinson Animal Shelter as a community service project. Treece said Girl Scouts provides opportunities for girls to explore STEM, spend time outdoors, learn life skills, develop entrepreneurial abilities, serve their communities and try new activities.
Community service and leadership are important parts of the program, with activities designed to be girl-led.
“We want the girls to take charge,” Treece said. “They find something that they’re passionate about.”
Treece said the organization can also help girls develop confidence and find a place where they feel comfortable interacting with others.
“Some of these girls come in and they’re super shy and just don’t really know where they fit,” Treece said. “They find Girl Scouts, and they find that they can blossom and grow with Girl Scouts.”
Troop schedules vary, with some meeting monthly and others meeting every other week. Membership costs $65, but Treece said financial assistance is available.
STEM education is one area particularly important to Treece. She said her interest in serving others and encouraging girls to pursue STEM helped lead her to the organization.
Girl Scouts also provides girls with early experience in entrepreneurship. In addition to the well-known Girl Scout Cookie program, the organization conducts a fall product program featuring nuts and chocolates. The fall program begins Sept. 4 and is focused primarily on sales to friends and family.
Before participating in product sales, Girl Scouts learn skills ranging from interacting politely with customers to basic sales techniques and interpersonal communication.
The organization will hold its “Make S’more Friends” event Aug. 29, with activities planned in Wichita, Hays and Garden City. Treece said the free event is open to members and non-members and will include arts and crafts, snacks and other activities. It also gives families considering Girl Scouts an opportunity to learn more about the organization.
Treece said Girl Scouts builds on skills as girls progress through the organization, beginning with basic concepts as Daisies and expanding those skills as they move into programs such as Brownies and beyond.
“We build courage, confidence and character,” Treece said. “Those are all things that are just great for girls to learn.”
Families interested in joining can visit the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland website and select the “Join Now” option to search for available troops.