It's Cookie Time!

Do you see that little bunny on the blanket? That would be me: circa 1969. Girl Scout Day Camp, Side Cut Park, Toledo, Ohio, age 4...

Mom was a leader for my sisters' Girl Scout Troop, and I was the tag along. The picture is the tail end of the "There were ten in the bed and the Little One said: ROLL OVER!" skit of which I was the STAR! Even before I was old enough to join officially, Girl Scouting was providing me opportunities to "do my best."

Since then, I joined a troop and grew up to lead one as an adult. I was able to attend a Wider Opportunity at National Center West in Wyoming. "Cadettes on Horseback" was an adventure for my 13 year old self: first plane ride ever alone and many new experiences and new friends.

We are a scouting family. As well as both my sisters, my mom and my neices were all scouts. (The boys were Boy Scouts, but we don't hold that against them!) One sister also participated in a Wider Opportunity, going on a sport adventure, and my neices have traveled with scouts as well, one to all the way to Our Cabaña in Mexico.

I share this with you because it's that time of year again - it's GIRL SCOUT COOKIE time! All of your favorites are here, as well as some tasty new varieties as well. I encourage you to visit the Girl Scout Cookie website and find a source to purchase them near you. Purchasing cookies supports your local organization financially, as well as helping the girls develop valuable skills they will carry with them throughout life. Oh yes - and you get to enjoy the cookies too!

On each box are the words COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER. These words definitely strike a cord with me, as these are the things I developed through scouting. That and a love of the Out of Doors, S'Mores, and Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts!

Girl Scout Week is the week of March 10th. Celebrate along with them!

Do you have a good scouting story to share?