Girl Scout registration opens

These Girl Scouts in Troop 631 attended a fall festival at a camp on Lake Guntersville. Girls can register for Scouting on Aug. 25 at Asbury United Methodist Church. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – For memory-making experiences and friendships, girls can register for Girl Scouts on Aug. 25.

Asbury United Methodist Church will host registration in the Hope Building, Room 215. Scouting is open to all girls in grades K-12. Kindergartners and first-graders can visit at 6 p.m., followed by second-graders and older at 7 p.m.

“Girl Scouts strive to instill the qualities of ‘Courage, Confidence and Character,'” spokesperson Staci Krupp said. Krupp enrolled her daughters “to sample everything, including the outdoor experience.”

Compared to a single sport, Scouting gives girls “a wide range of experiences that extend beyond classrooms, church and playing fields,” Krupp said. Krupp liked changes she saw in her daughters after joining Scouts.

“Girl Scouts develop young women as community leaders by encouraging them to take action and be a force of change in the world,” Krupp said.

Krupp and Donna Elegante led Troop 10631 until the girls graduated last year. Krupp now leads another troop. Most troops met every other week.

Madison has 30-plus troops with approximately 300 girls, but that total will grow after registration and recruitment. “A troop meets just about every day of the week somewhere in this city,” Krupp said.

During troop meetings, possible activities are limitless. Most leaders tailor the agenda to the girls’ personalities and preferences or incorporate talents and hobbies that individuals bring to the troop.

Traditional practices include ceremonies, songs, crafts and learning leadership skills. For added bonuses, girls can pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills, environmental studies, business skills and interpersonal communication.

Girls Scouts go camping. “It’s highly encouraged. We’re fortunate to have a camp within 45 minutes of Madison available for overnight and day trips,” Krupp said. Girls learn to build and cook over a fire, archery, canoeing and hiking.

Scouts also visit zoos, hikes, science centers, retirement homes and fire stations … to longer trips like Savannah, Ga. to view the home of Juliette Gordon Lowe, founder of Girls Scouts.

For more information, email to Wyndi Turner with Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama at wturner@girlscoutsnca.org or visit girlscoutsnca.org.