Girl Scouts: Responsible for What I Say and Do
The girls from Troop 13405 and 13456 earned the first two badges of their aMaze journey by traveling to the Museum District in Houston and visiting the Holocaust Museum. This journey covers bullying, stereotypes, conflict resolution, making friends, being yourself. In other words, it focuses on the fifth part of the Girl Scout Law: Responsible for What I say and Do.
The weather offered us a reprieve from the typical cold and rain of February in southern Texas. The partly cloudy, 70 degrees comforted our trek across the parks and streets of the busy city.
We played a game upon arrival to learn a bit about each other. The girls tossed a beach ball prepared with questions attached. The girl who caught the ball had to say her name, then answer one of the questions chosen randomly. They decorated peace journals with fun duct tape and inexpensive notebooks. These were used to record their thoughts and experiences as the event progressed.
We made our way to the picturesque McGovern Centennial Gardens. The girls sat on the admittedly damp grass the blankets did little to combat. Luckily, they’re Girl Scouts and toughed it out. They explored their own relationships to see what kind of friend they are. They had a bit of free time to walk around the beautifully landscaped garden and climb the pyramid.
Next, we journeyed to the Holocaust Museum. I was proud of the girls for asking questions and paying attention and maintaining a serious demeanor through the whole tour. I hope they understood the point of the museum and promise to be an upstander if our world goes crazy again.
We satisfied our hunger with Bodega Taco Shop’s delicious platos. I chose this place because of its reasonable prices and its proximity to the Holocaust Museum. Then I ordered the spicy pork and plantains. Incredible! The portion sizes were generous and the flavors complex. The only disappointment was how many girls ordered chicken nuggets. Sigh. If you find yourself in the museum district, I highly recommend you stop and savor the traditional Mexican meals.
We walked off our lunch on the way to Herman Memorial Park. The girls learned about I-Statements when solving conflicts.
To take a break and learn how to quiet the brain, the girls participated in a yoga session.
Finally, the girls created pieces for the Unite for Understanding diversity art contest. Some of these are quite impressive. I can’t wait to see if any make the calendar.
The scouts received the first two badges of the aMaze journey. The third badge, diplomat, must be earned separately due to the Take Action project the girls must complete.
The girls had to work together to receive their Interact badge. I put together clues to identify different bandannas. Each scout had to find the partner who matched the number on their hint, then figure out which pattern matched the combined description. The badge was stapled to the bandanna. For the Peacemaker badge, the girls received the above message: “The key to peace is you.” The badge was attached to the back allowing the scouts to hang the certificate on their wall.
I hope they see it as they wake in the morning. I hope the message crosses their path as they get home from school. I hope the symbolism strikes home when they’re fighting with their family. I hope the remembrance helps the girls be responsible for what they say and do.
Overall, a successful event. These days are the ones I cling to when the stress beats on me. These girls are the reason I continue to volunteer my time and money. Watching the scouts soar is the best reward!