Teens in Girls Scouts introduce kindergartners to camping at Huntsville Botanical Garden
MADISON – Teenagers in Girl Scout Troop 10708 introduced kindergartners to the camping experience at Huntsville Botanical Garden.
For about two years, Beth Crocker has worked with Huntsville Botanical Garden to arrange a Girl Scout campout in the fall and spring. “Huntsville Botanical Garden is incredibly supportive to Girl Scouts in North Alabama and offers several programs over the school year,” Crocker said. Crocker and Heather Mackrell are Co-Leaders of Girl Scout Troop 10708.
Troop 10708’s teenagers, who are freshmen and sophomores, accompanied eight kindergarteners and their mothers from across Madison in Daisy Troop 21230 to the adventure.
“The botanical garden set up the whole event. We wanted to give the kindergartners an easy campout to start out. Most of the girls had never slept in a tent nor had eaten a s’more. So excited we could be there for those happy moments,” Crocker said.
In addition, some of the girls had never met. “The big girls stayed with the kindergartners during the badgework, and I encouraged the moms to get to know each other,” Crocker said. Soon afterward, the mothers were playing card games.
“For a troop to be really successful, the moms/ families have to buy in, as well. This was one way I could give them that opportunity. Hopefully, these moms will be together for the next 12 years. It’s a lot more fun if you like each other,” Crocker said.
“Each of the ‘littles’ (kindergartners) brought her mom, and they slept in tents with them. We would not have tried to do a campout without mom this early in the year,” Crocker said. “Scout moms wouldn’t have let their Daisies attend without them. Moms will accompany littles to all the events that they do together with older Scouts.”
The camp experience was an approved Girl Scout event. “Special training has to happen before you can camp in a remote place. For this age, it needed to be as close to ‘glamping’ as possible . . . Baby steps,” Crocker said.
During their campout, the Daisies worked on three badges: Math in Art 1, Math in Art 2 and Outdoor Art Expert.
Huntsville Botanical Garden’s staff grilled hot dogs for the Scouts’ dinner. Then, they built small fires in pits for the girls to roast marshmallows.
“After our hotdog dinner, the staff took the kids on a night hike around the garden. We got back and then everyone got to make s’mores,” Crocker said. “Everyone was exhausted, and it was very hot. Most of us passed out quickly.”
The young Scouts were brave and defied fear at the nighttime campsite… just a couple of screams at unwanted bugs. “I imagine the fear will come when moms aren’t with them,” Crocker said.
Also, the teenagers in Girl Scout Troop 10708 tackled a different event on Sept. 26. The Scouts decorated for Halloween at a retirement facility.
“We had 20 Girl Scouts in grade 7 and older to join us at The Neighborhood at Madison assisted living at 49 Hughes Road. We had three troops represented,” Crocker said.
Each Scout brought decorating supplies. The Neighborhood at Madison had several bins of fall and Halloween decor for the Scouts to spread throughout the building.
“The girls genuinely enjoyed it. It was also an opportunity for the older girls to be together in a place where they didn’t have to be mentors. It was just for them,” she said.
