Marcia Humason Akers, East Poland

Brownie Girl Scout Troop #293 was based at Sherwood Heights Elementary School in Auburn in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I had the privilege to be the leader for 7 years. I was fortunate to have had some wonderful assistant leaders.

My fondest memories are of the camping trips we took each year. We went from one extreme to the other. We camped in luxury in self contained campers at Point Sebago, thanks to one of our Brownie Dads. We also camped at Girl Scout Camp in the woods. We slept in open tents. We spent many meetings preparing for these events. The girls made their own “sit-a-pons”, their own individual cook stoves, prepared their own bed rolls, planned the meals. I will always remember the taste of our campfire stew and the banana splits we made over the open fire!!! We allowed the leaders’ husbands to join us for the camping events. I don’t know what we would have done without them!

I had the privilege of watching many little girls grow into incredible young women, including my girls, Dawn, Debra and Susan.

Being a Girl Scout Leader enriched my life in many ways! I am thankful that I took the time to become involved in Scouting. I was blessed to have shared this time in the lives of many girls. Hello to all my former Brownies! You left me with memories that will last me a lifetime.

Karen Bate-Pelletier, Lewiston

I was a girl scout for approximately 10 years. I started in Brownies when I was 6 years old and moved up through the ranks. My next door neighbor and I would faithfully sell cookies door to door every year, when this type of soliciting was safe, back in the 70’s. We would take turns collecting orders from our fellow neighbors.

We also attended day and overnight camps every year. During the summer, we went to day camp off route 4, behind the airport. Recently, I drove into that area to see if the camp was still there, but the road did not appear to be accessible. We would have craft sessions, and swimming lessons, while working towards patches.

There was also a camp called Pondicherry, this is where many girl scouts would have overnight camping experiences. We also camped in the woods in heavy green canvas tents that were on platforms. Here, we could utilize some of this things we would make such as mini-burners to cook on that were made out of tuna cans, a strip of card board and wax, and also, sit-a-pons. Sit-a-pons were squares of heavy, water proof material that were stuffed with newspaper and sewn together. They could keep your butt dry when you sat on the ground.

I still have a very vivid memory of my scouting days as they were a wonderful time. I still remember the pledge, and a little song that goes like this:

“Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver, and the other gold.”

Martha Beardsley, Livermore

When I was in Girl Scouts several years ago, my co-leader and I decided we would like to take our troop to Washington, D.C., so with another troop from a neighboring town, in order to raise money for the trip, we planned an after-Christmas rummage and bake sale in January. It was cold and clear when we set up the night before, but when we awoke in the morning it was snowing with about six inches on the ground. But, we went ahead with the sale and even though it snowed all day, people came and we made over $1,000.

We started our trip on Easter Sunday, which was in April that year, and we spent our nights in Rockville Nation at Girl Scout Camp in Maryland.

We had made arrangements to have an Honor Guard from Fort Myers near Arlington Cemetery to escort us to President John F. Kennedy’s grave site, where we laid the cone wreath which the girls had made. We visited many other well-known sites, but that was the highlight of our trip.

Jeanne Benton, Auburn

I was a member of a troop that met at the Park Street Methodist Church in Auburn.

Our leader was Mrs. Sargent. I believe her son is now a contributing writer to the Sun Journal.

We sold cookies, went camping and also did community service projects that were part of our Badge earning criteria .

We had lots of fun, I am in the process of trying to find a troop picture that I know will bring back memories for my fellow Scouts who may still live in the area.

Dorothy Bowyer, Auburn

Being a Girl Scout in the mid 1940’s brought many adventures into my life. Not only did I enjoy my two summer weeks at Camp Wayaka, but I also enjoyed making various items for hospital and nursing home patients. Among these items were tray favors and ditty or trash bags out of newspapers. We folded the paper into bags and they were taped to the bed rails and served as a catchall for tissues, bandages and whatever else that needed to be tossed.

There was one activity that we did that really made an impact on my life. We fashioned dolls from white ankle socks. These dolls were dressed in colorful jumpers and yarn braided into pigtails. Each doll was labeled with the name of the Girl Scout that made it and they were shipped to an orphanage in Greece. A few months passed when I received a letter from a Mr. Charles Schermerhorn of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. This letter thanked me and the rest of the scout troop for the dolls and described how the children enjoyed playing with them and for some this was the first doll they ever had. No other girl in the troop received a letter. My family and I felt honored that my doll was the only one to get a response. However, I do suspect that my doll was picked at random.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund was new to me and evidently to many other people at that time. I was asked repeatedly what UNICEF stood for and the response always was, “Wow, that is a month full.”

I wrote back to Mr. Schermerhorn and we began many years corresponding. Sometimes his letters would be hand written telling me about himself and his family’s experience living in Greece. Other pieces of correspondence consisted of many mimeographed pages explaining the accomplishments of UNICEF but also telling us what the Greek orphanages lacked and the wish for funds to improve conditions.

As I outgrew my clothing my mother and I would pack a box and include bars of soap, tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes and other necessary items. Our boxes were always gratefully received.

The letters between Mr. Schermerhorn and me continued for many years. He sent me a cookbook that had been compiled by volunteers at the orphanage. I tired a few of the recipes but some of the ingredients were not found in our neighborhood store and my substitutions left a lot to be desired.

The time arrived for Mr. Schermerhorn to retire and he passed my name and address over to a young boy who was about my age. I was 16 by then. Andonios Zaharias was his name. I learned Andonios was Greek for Anthony and I called him Tony. When he sent me a picture of himself I immediately fell in love. Was he ever handsome! I had dreams of him knocking at my door. We never did meet in person but through our letters we learned a lot about each other.

As we grew older our letters were fewer and farther apart. Little did I realize that making a doll out of a stocking would bring into my life the friendship that existed for many years, and separated by many miles.

While working as a secretary at a high school I became friendly with a teacher of Greek heritage. I gave her the cookbook of Greek recipes and she handed it on to her mother who was so very pleased to bring into her kitchen cooking from her native country.

UNICEF became a household word in time. But I felt privileged to have known of its existence when I was eleven years old.

Elinor Hansen Brockway, Auburn

I was a member of an Auburn local Girl Scout troop which was headed by Florence (Mrs. Kenneth) Connors.

We had many good times, such as sliding parties in their backyard and learning to cook pancakes in the bottom of a big tin can.

A contest was held to name the Girl Scout camp (in Otisfield). I went to the library and got a book that had Indian names. I won the two free weeks at camp for the name “Camp Wayaka,” which meant “See Beauty.” I certainly was excited about winning and had a great time at the camp.

Mrs. Leroy Greenlaw was also involved in Girl Scouts for years.

Ida Camire, Auburn

My name is Ida (McNally) Camire. My sister Annabelle (McNally) Lovering, and I were Girl Scouts from 1949-1954. Our Leader was Marian Tripp. Our meetings were held in Danville Junction at the Library. Our troop number was 17.

I really enjoyed the times we camped out at our leaders house on the lawn. We didn’t have sleeping bags then. We made them out out blankets. We roasted marshmallows over an open fire. If it rained we would sleep in her barn.

We put on a play at the Danville Grange Hall. We learned how to make a book. We dyed the paper ourselves and then put it together.

I remember going to girl scout camp and learned how to swim. How to get along with others and just have lots of fun. It’s nice to know that the Girl Scout Organization is still alive and going strong after all these years.

Frances Carlton, Dixfield

I became a Brownie leader in 1951 when my daughter Eileen joined at age 6. We worked and taught them skills and they earned badges.

I worked with Cora Corrow (a wonderful leader), one of the oldest residents in Dixfield for 10 years.

Eileen went into a Girl Scout troop at age 9, until 1961.

We sold cookies every year. Boxes of cookies were lined up in my front hall and sorted for each girl. Had fun doing that.

Went on hikes in woods and fields and they learned how to build a fire in snow.

All looked forward to going to Camp Kirkwald in Readfield. Had loads of fun and learned to work together.

We cleared and built a campground near Webb River in Carthage. Stayed overnight and earned badges for different chores. Sang songs by campfire.

Had 10 girls to a troop to work with.

I feel we nurtured these girls physically, mentally and spiritually. We had lots of fun at all times. Had a banquet once a year for all troops to get together and present them badges they earned.

Linda Castagna, Turner

Oh, what wonderful memories I have of my Scouting years. I was just nine years old in 1963 when I moved to a new neighborhood in New York City. I signed up to join a troop that held their weekly meetings in my new school, and a whole new world was opened up to me.

Selling cookies for fifty cents a box was easy. I had my little order book and I went door to door selling thin mints, trefoils, do-si-does and samoas. To this day I think of Girl Scout cookies as a rite of spring.

One night, parents were asked to attend a meeting regarding summer camp. My troop was planning to spend two weeks that summer at Camp Henry Kalfman in Upstate New York. Unknown to myself, my mother signed me up for the two week summer adventure. That in itself was the start of my camping career. My dad, a sailor during World War II, helped me pack my duffle bag, Navy style.

I was a little nervous boarding the bus, but I settled in nicely making fast friends with another girl who was also going camping for the first time. Our summer uniform was green shorts, yellow shirt, green knee highs and yellow flashers. The mornings in the mountains were so cold when we were woken up for the flag ceremony. We ate our meals with the other troops at Cookie Hall. Each girl had a chore to do. Setting the table, being the hopper (that meant getting up for anything that was needed during the meal), the dish washer, the post scrubber, the dish dryer. We would all take turns at each job.

During the day there was swimming and boating. At night campfires, sing-a-longs, making s’mores and making new friends. We also got to sign up for different activities after dinner. Volleyball, archery, and wood carving were just some of the choices.

Just as each morning started with the raising of the flag, each evening ended with Taps. I remember cleaning the latrine and using newspaper to clean the soot from the oil lamps. We would make peanut butter sandwiches for the raccoons at night, so that they wouldn’t trash our garbage. Oh, and how could I forget mail call and the canteen?

Scouting was such a wonderful experience for me, that I made sure that my own children had the same opportunity as well. I have three grown sons who are Eagle Scouts. When my daughter was born, I knew that I would start a troop for her and her friends.

I worked with my girls from Brownies to Seniors, a total of eight years. We had great camping adventures, went on field trips and earned merit badges. Together we did community service projects, sold cookies and learned life skills that we would keep forever.

When I look back on my Scouting years, I am thankful for such a wonderful organization. Juliette Low had a vision of nurturing young girls’ physical, mental and spiritual development. Juliette Low’s dream lives on in every girl who’s life was touched by Scouting. May her dream continue to grow.

Kathy Cray, Wiscasset

I was a Girl Scout in the mid-’60s through the early ’70s.

The one thing I remember the most was we had a contest to see who could sell the most cookies and I won. And, since I didn’t have a Girl Scout manual like all the other girls, that was my prize. I was so excited as I could start earning badges so much easier with my own manual.

I enjoyed Scouting so much that when my own daughter was old enough I helped in her Girl Scout troop. We took many trips together and also we learned camp survival. And, wouldn’t you know it? As the leaders went to survival camp a hurricane came up that weekend and we survived it!

Frances DeFillip, Mexico

This in in no way a good Scouting experience. I just wanted to share it with someone.

I have never shared my experience while I was a Girl Scout for one year in 1934. Maybe by writing, I can come to closure and put it to rest.

I am 81 years old. Like I said, I was a Girl Scout in 1934. I still have my Scoutbook, emblem and a couple of badges.

Our leader was Ruby Bradgon, a World War I corporal and a good leader and person. She loved Scouting. Our meetings would be held at her home. We did the usual Scouting things. That summer, our troop went to a local pond for a week. We ate out of cans of beans and Franco American spaghetti — I can’t eat those things to this day — needless to say, I was very homesick, too. It was there I first encountered a retarded person. He frightened me so much, my mom had to take me home. In those days, no one explained anything and it was just a “fact of life.”

Then, that fall, a meeting was held at a camper’s home. No one knew that her mother had mental problems. Such things like that and retardation were “hush-hush.” During the evening, Peggy’s mom wanted us to sing religious songs, which we did before we went home. Later that night, she bludgeoned Peggy to death. Said “God wanted her.” A terrible nightmare!

That was the end of Scouting in our town for a long time.

We all try to make sense of these experiences. Mine is acceptance of daily life and all its happenings. I must have learned it at a very early age because I am a survivor.

Many years later, my daughter was a Girl Scout and enjoyed it very much.

I am glad we have come a long way in understanding issues — but, still a long way to go.

Anita and Bob Desjardins, Lewiston

My Husband & I were involved in Girl Scouting for many years, 25 to be precise. We ran troop 310, 317 and 318. We also were service team managers for Dirigo Service Unit. We had troops of wonderful girls, and leaders. We traveled to DC, Amish country, Plymouth Rock, Salem, Stubridge Village, Strawberry Bank, and did camping at Pondicherry, camporees , hike and camp Bar Harbor just to name a few.

We have so many memories that I could be at this for days., The girls gave us faith in the world to come and the wonderful adults that assisted our troops and the service team, were caring , giving, innovative and wonderful.

We had the privilege of accompanying an Auburn Senior troop to Savannah Georgia, the birthplace of Juliet Low for the 90th birthday.

It was fun an quite and adventure at time but one that we would not have miss.

Life has a way of coming full circle, my 318 troop was a cadet and senior troop, my granddaughter Sierra just started brownies and her troop # is 318 her mother and a former sister in scouting are assistant leaders, an the journey begins again.

Want to say thank you to the Sun for putting the light on such a wonderful volunteer run organization who give of there time and many there hearts so that they help the girls see all there potentials.

Diane L. Plourde, no town given

My name is Diane L. Plourde (maiden name Diane M. Landry). I was a Girl Scout from 1963 until 1976. I sold Girl Scout cookies by the hundreds, attended Girl Scout summer camp at Camp Wayaka. That was a 2 week summer program. In fact, this camp was sold off as timeshares before I could become a resident counselor. I was awarded the Marion Award (the highest religious award for Girl Scouts) by my aunt Priscilla Cote. Attended many Jamborees at Sebago State Park. I remember working on badges, cooking, camping, sewing, community service, on and on and on.

Kathie Dolan, New Gloucester

I was a girl scout from 1963-1967, in Portland. My mother was a leader in our troop, # 78, it met on Munjoy Hill. She was the area coordinator for the cookie sales, so every March our living room was FULL of boxes of cookies to be organized and distributed, and I looked forward to my part in helping. I was always eager to start going from door to door (back in the days when it was actually safe to do it), and meet all the people as I tallied up the boxes they were ordering. We did lots of services in the area, like helping at elderly residences and organizing holiday parties for the elderly and underprivileged. Each summer I went to camp, where, again, my mother was a counsellor. we were at Camp K-D-Akinna in Scarborough in the summer of 63 and 64…(it was across from the old Portland Twin Drive In, and although it was a day camp, once every 2-week session we had an overnight, when we would “hike” to the end of the road and watch part of the movie (we could only see the picture, as the speakers were only for the people in cars who paid…but what a thrill it was when I was 9 or 10 years old.) In 1965 we were at Camp Cedar Cove in Litchfield, where we stayed for 8 weeks. The people I met were so much fun (I have many pictures and still remember a lot of the names and faces as I go through them). I really enjoyed the cook-outs, does anyone remember “witches brew and angel stew?”..each girl had to bring a can of soup, and they were all mixed together, along with a can of water for each can used..the witches brew was the broth based soups, and the angel stew was the cream based ones. And ther was “Blushing Bunny”, which was tomato soup with cheddar cheese melted in…as Rachael Ray would say “YUM-O” (oh, and I can’t leave out S’MORES..no cookout was complete until those were served). Another great memory was working on earning the various badges as we learned new skills. Each one that I could sew on my sash filled me with such pride I never wanted to take it off, not even to sleep.

These are just a few of the many great memories I have, and look forward to reading everyone elses(I wonder if they will be from any of my fellow scouts that I have lost track of over the years?)

Trudy Duval, Lisbon

I recently saw the notice in the SunJournal concerning the 95th anniversary of Girl Scouts and how you were looking for people to share their memories. While never a girl scout as a child, I spent 16 years being a girl scout leader from 1987 to 2004. My leadership begin as a leader to my daughter’s Brownie troop, but over the years I was leader to every age group, from Daisy’s to Seniors. I also held several positions on the the Dirigo Service Unit and organized many events in my home town of Lisbon. I also volunteered at Girl Scout Day camp for several years. Hundreds of girls were scouts under my leadership. Every new troop led to new experiences and new faces. One girl, who I remember fondly, started in my first Brownie troop and stayed with me through out her years in Senior scouts. She brought tears to my eyes, when she attended my husband’s memorial service, after not having seen her for several years. Another young lady I had in my unit at Day camp, has graduated from college, moved to MD, married and became a mom a year ago. How thrilled I was to receive pictures of this adorable little boy.And of course, when my daughter received her Girl Scout Gold Award, a prouder mom could not be found in the room. She was the first girl in the town of Lisbon to ever earn that award. She has been an inspiration to several other girls in Lisbon, who have since earned it. The 16 years are filled with memories that will stay will me for a life time; but one comical one was the year that my Brownie troop wanted to go camping. I had 30 girls in this troop and none of them had ever been camping before. So we decided to do a back yard camp-out. I lived in a rural area, which provided the setting of camping in the “real outdoors.” I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of 30 6-9 year olds, running in and out every time they needed to go to the bathroom. So we decided to dig a latrine (after explaining what it was). After a few “yucks” everyone pitched in and couldn’t wait to get their turn making the hole deeper. After the digging was complete, we installed a nice seat and curtain for privacy! There was always a waiting line to use the latrine!! Scouting was a wonderful experience for me.

My mom was an assistant leader for many of my troops and was always there when an extra hand was needed. My dad was another huge supporter helping to make floats, plant trees, and driving on field trips. His most memorable trip was a 5 day trip to PA with my Cadette troop. The girls in the troop (4 at the time) decided they wanted to go to Hershey Park and Gettysburg. Being a Civil war buff, when dad heard this he volunteered to drive and we gladly accepted his offer. Now, my father was almost 70 years old and did not do fast food! The girls were 14 years old and loved fast food, but we always found someplace else to eat other than a fast food restaurant that everyone was happy with. On Friday, after a wonderful week that included sleepless nights and constant walking, it was time to head home. One young lady, who was very small, had a duffel bag that was so large she could almost fit into it. My father says he will always remember her dragging that duffel bag across the parking lot, looking exhausted. There just so happened to be a McDonald’s right next to the hotel. While Dad was loading up the car with her gear, he noticed how she kept looking over toward the golden arches. After a couple of minutes, he asked her if she would like to go to McDonald’s and she came to life again! She was so excited, I’m sure everyone in the parking lot heard her, “We’re going to McDonald’s!””

Erica Duval, Lisbon

I was a Girl Scout for 18 years and as soon as I saw the request for stories in the paper, I knew I had to contribute! Some of my favorite memories include trips to Washington DC, Gettysburg, PA, Montreal, Canada, and the Boston Science Museum. I also have great memories of being in the Maine State Parade, going to So-Ca-Me Day Camp, visiting our State House in Augusta, and selling boxes upon boxes of Girl Scout cookies!!

I also received both my Silver Award and my Gold Award, which are the two highest awards a Scout can earn. I was actually the first girl in my hometown of Lisbon to earn her Gold Award. It was a very proud accomplishment of mine.

I would LOVE to write about each one of these, but I’d probably end writing a book, which I know is not what the newspaper is looking for.

So I’ll tell you about my favorite trip that I took, and that was my trip to Washington DC. I was 16 and a junior in high school. The trip was pretty much a mother/daughter trip with probably 2 dozen mother and daughter combinations going. We took a Maine Line bus down and made our first stop in Maryland to visit the Omni Theatre and the Baltimore Aquarium. We had left Maine around dinnertime, with hopes of sleeping on the bus the night, so we would save money on the expense of a hotel. Needless to say, I didn’t get too much sleep and I was finally able to fall asleep once we reached the Omni Theatre. The movie that we had to watch was about the creation of the solar system, so while the sound system pounded with loud bangs of the planets being created, I was sound asleep……

From there we made our way to D.C. We were staying on military bases, sleeping on cots and air mattresses. It was pretty much a giant slumber party for the next week. We’d have breakfast in the mess hall with the soldiers and then our bus would drop us off at the mall in DC and we’d have the day to do what we wanted. Visit different museums, shops, ect. We were always told to meet back at a certain spot at a particular time and that because there were so many other busses and tour groups down there, the bus couldn’t wait for us. My mom and I were always punctual in being the first team back to the bus. However not everyone was. After circling the National Mall for at least an hour we were still missing one mother and daughter team. We knew we had to get back to base for dinner, but we knew we couldn’t leave a woman and her daughter on the streets of DC. A decision was made that three of the mothers and myself would stay behind and look for this woman and her daughter. Needless to say we found ourselves on the “not so nice side of DC” looking for this pair. We decided to find the nearest police station and file a missing persons report. As we approached what we though was the police station (due to the number of polices cars parked in the parking garage) a huge black man jumped from a first story window and yelled at us to get out of the neighborhood because as he put it “it was no place for a bunch of white girls”. He explained that it was not the police station, but rather the police garage, which explained the many bullet holes and shattered glass we saw in the cars. We eventually found the police station and was told because it had not been 24 hours, we could not fill out a missing persons report. By this time it was late at night, and we were tired and hungry, since we had missed dinner back at the base. We headed back to base feeling defeated and worried where this mother and child were. When we got back to base though, we were greeted with the missing woman and her child!! She explained that she didn’t think the bus driver was serious about needing to be prompt about catching the bus at the end of the day, so decided to take a cab back to base, after she missed the bus. We had spent a good 6 hours in the downtown district of DC looking for them, needless to say we were NOT impressed!!! I still do not know why to this day I was one of the lucky ones picked to go look for her, except for the fact that my mother was also chosen. The story however doesn’t end there……the last day before we were scheduled to head back to Maine, we went to the National Air and Space museum. The short of the story, one of the mothers in our group was arrested for shoplifting! Yup! They dragged her away in handcuffs and everything. She was arrested for the attempt at shoplifting several hundred dollars worth of kites! She claimed, “they just fell into her bag, and she didn’t know how they got there!” At least I didn’t have to go to the police station with this one!!

All in all it was an awesome trip, one which I will never forget. I met both Senators Snowe and Collins and at the time Rep. Baldacci. I was also able to see the Vietnam Wall, which was absolutely breathtaking along with the newly constructed Woman’s Vietnam memorial. I was also able to see the Holocaust Museum, which was amazing.

I made some wonderful friends through my 18 years of scouting, some of which I still keep in contact with. Girl Scouting and the people involved with Girl Scouting definitely helped me become the person I am today.

Karen McComas Ellis, South Paris

I thought that you might be interested to learn that not all Girl Scouts sold cookies!

I now in South Paris. My Scouting days, however, were in Auburn, Indiana, where we sold “Jell-O” in order to earn our way to camp each year!

I grew up in the Limberlost Council (named after Gene Straton Porter’s Girl of the Limberlost) Troop #518. My family did not have the resources to afford to send me to camp. However, the top salesperson was always granted full scholarship to summer camp. Our family worked together to see that it happened that my older sister was top salesperson, and I followed in her footsteps several years later. I don’t remember the exact cost of the Jell-O, but there was so many boxes for a dollar. That was our selling point! I remember sorting hundreds of boxes of Jell-O into customers’ orders and our home smelling like “tuti-fruiti” for months go come, but it was a sweet smell of success when I was able to spend a week on the shores of Lake Webster at Girl Scout Camp.

I also remember that I was a Scout well into my junior high school years and we had the largest group ever to earn their curvebar award. In order to do this, we had the support of our moms. They took Juliette Low’s vision to a new level. Since there were so many of us, the cost of sending us to camp became overwhelming. It was at that point the moms organized themselves and decided to run their own camp. Two of our moms were already our leaders. They organized the badgework. Another mom became the camp nurse, another was the waterfront director, and my mom was the chief cook. It was amazing to see how smoothly it worked! I have such fond memories of the camps led by our moms. Truly, they nurtered our physical, mental and spiritual development. They taught us to be creative when faced with barriers. They also taught us to serve our community and to make our world better in little ways daily.

My Scouting days were a very important part of my childhood and youth. I was able to be a Cub Scout leader for my sons, but it was never the same.

So, I never hesitate to buy Girl Scout cookies. Somehow, they bring back memories of “tuti-fruiti” to me!

Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout.

Ellen Greeke, Tenants Harbor

I began as a Brownie in (I believe) 1960 and continued through to Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and then a leader. I still have my Brownie card, all my handbooks, uniforms, and lots of scout “stuff.”. I received the Marion Award (the highest award for Catholics Girl Scouts) in 1967. In 1969, I was one of 100 Girl Scouts nationwide chosen to attend an Apollo Blastoff at Cape Kennedy, an event attended by President Nixon and Astronaut John Glenn. In 1980, I was chosen as leader from the Kennebec Girl Scout Council to take 10 Girl Scouts to a Special program at Girl Scout National Center West in Ten Sleep Wyoming, primitive camping while we were there. I returned the next year as a staff person for one of the summer programs.

When I was in 4th grade, I attended Girl Scout Camp for the 1st time. I was scared and did not want to go, but at the end of the first day, I could not wait to go back. I continued for the next 8 years, first as a camper, then a program aide and finally a camp counselor, earning $90.00 for the whole summer the year I graduted from high school, exactly what it cost to pay for driving school!

I have been a leader trainer, taught camping skills to leaders, presented Girl Scout song workshops and presented programs on scouting and still do when the opportunity arrives.

I remember being the top seller of cookies in my troop, selling more than 600 boxes one year (and no, my mother did not sell them at her work for me). Another year, my friend and I loaded 250 Girl Scout calendars in her red wagon, put on our uniforms and made a vow we would sell them all in one day… and we did! Of course, that was when you could go door-to-door.

When I was a Senior Scout, we were Mariner Scouts and spent a lot of time on the water sailing and working with a Sea Scout Troop. We marched in parades and won several trophies for the best non-musical marching group.

One of my most memorable moments was a community service project when I was in high school. We made fruit baskets and went to the Old Soldiers Home in Chelsea, MA where we visited the soldiers. We were nervous and did not know what to expect. I remember that the soldier I ended up visiting had been in the Spanish-American War. If I remember correctly, he was only 16 years when he went to war, was seriously wounded and could not walk, and had spent his entire life in a hospital. That day, our troop decided that we would go back and visit them as often as we could.

Scouts had a profound impact on my life.

Lisa A. (Giamperoli) Haines, Phillips

I haven’t thought of Juliette Low’s name in years and it brought back so many great memories for me.

Back in the 50’s and 60’s I was a member of Troop 11, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. We called ourselves the Forget Me Nots!! Our leader was Alma Waselewski from Bridgewater and never a kinder or more involved woman was ever born. Most of the girls in the group started in kindergarten and we went thru to eighth grade. I still have my last uniform and sash with all my badges. A few of us even received the curved bar, which at that time was the highest award given in Girl Scouting.

We went camping, hiking, had horse back riding lessons, cooking lessons, put on skits and shows, sang at nursing homes, and had just good plain fun. We were always making something out of nothing. Mrs. Waselewski had infinite knowledge about everything and we were usually awed just listening to her. Of course, she had her hands full with the group of us, myself being one of the wildest ones.

I can remember camping in the Plymouth region, can’t remember the name of the campground. Well, the boys camp was just across the pond so of course we had to sneak out at night and row some canoes across to the other side and untie their canoes. That way, in the morning, the boys had to walk around the pond and come to our side to retrieve the canoes that had floated away. We talked the counselors into having a dance that night and had a grand old time and met some new friends.

That was the idea of scouting, meeting new friends. The girls that were in my group are still fast friends and we are thankful to the computers that keep us in frequent touch with each other.

I’m now trying to find out what happened to Alma Waselewski because my Christmas card was returned. It’s been a couple of years since my last visit to her house. She was one of the most valuable teachers in my life.

Thank you for letting me share this with you.

Andrea Harmon, South Paris

My name is Andrea Harmon and I am 46 years old. I was a Browine, Junior and Cadet scout in my younger years. Both of my daughters were also involved in Girl Scouts when they were younger. I still have all of my badges as well as my youngest daughters badges.Many of my friends think I am crazy when I tell them I can cook a cake in a cardboard box using tin foil and charcoal or heat water using a large coffee can and tuna can (and a few other supplies to go with it). I used to love the camping the best and still go nearly every weekend. Even though I now use a motor home I refuse to give up the tents. Yes, I still use the tents as well (and an air matress these bones are begining to get to old for the bare ground) HA HA

Chris Heckman, no town given

I have been a Girl Scout, girl and adult, for more than twenty-five years.

I was a Girl Scout in the fifties (those ugly uniforms! but at least I learned to tie a square knot – you had to, to get the scarf right) and an adult Girl Scout beginning I guess in the late seventies or early eighties.

I have done many duties as a Girl Scout adult, beginning as a troop leader, then a TOC (Troop Organizer and Consultant; it’s called something else now), and presently as a volunteer trainer. I have also been a day camp counselor and a program advisor for Theater in the Woods, a resident program at Camp Kirkwold. I can go on and on about my Girl Scouting experiences, and about how important I think Girl Scouting is for girls. I feel that many of my core values as an adult have been derived from the Girl Scout experience.

Debra L. Humason, Auburn

I have many wonderful memories during my six years of girl scouts that began even before I was old enough to be a girl scout. My older sister was a girl scout and my mother was the troop leader of Troop 293 and my dad was the troop “dad” who did all of the heavy lifting for us. But it was more than just going door to door selling cookies or earning badges. Girl Scouts, to me, was more about building relationships that I still have to this day, and learning the power of what it means to be a woman and to not be afraid of being powerful and independent. Girl Scouts taught me about who I wanted to be and helped me realize how to be that person.

Don’t get me wrong, selling cookies and coming home to a house full of girl scout cookies because my parents were responsible for handing out the cookies to all of my troop members are memories that I cherish but it was about the people and the values learned.

I still to this day have my slash that proudly displays the badges that I earned and I can only hope that when my daughter is old enough to join there will still be a troop for her to join so the tradition of girl scouts can live strong in another generation.

Barbara Jabaut, Durham

Wow, Girl Scouts was a big part of my life. I started as a Brownie when I was in 1st grade and continued through Senior Scouts in grade 12, earning 33 badges, (thus learning many new skills) as well as God and Country award as a Senior Scout (and I still have my sash with all my badges). Through Scouts I (and my family) was introduced to camping. Mom was a Scout leader, and we went on numerous weekend camping trips with the troop at Camp Inawendiwin in NJ (I remember how to spell the camp’s name still by singing the song I learned at summer camp there!). I attended summer camp for 2 weeks for 5 summers, progressing in my water and boating safety skills (eventually I became a lifeguard and Red Cross Water safety instructor), learning knots and campcrafts, learning LOTS of songs (many of which I still remember), and having fun while making new friends. I loved camp! My Mom convinced my Dad that camping was a way we could inexpensively travel (both Mom and Dad were raised in Philadelphia with NO exposure to camping), so they bought a tent trailer and for 2 weeks each summer we traveled somewhere on the East coast and in Canada (Dad never really enjoyed camping but did it for Mom, sis, and I). I also learned about conservation (I still remember the conservation pledge) and preventing trail erosion, plant and tree identification, building fires, and cooking outdoors over a fire. I looked forward to going to the National Girl Scout Roundup when I was a senior, but I only made alternate from my county, so was disappointed at not attending this Roundup which turned out to be the last one held. As a Scout troop, our cookie money helped our local troop pay for the weekend camp trips as well as a trip or two to Washington DC and the Scout camp in VA. I even made the local paper at the time with a photo of me trying to sell cookies to neighbor fixing his car. So, Scouting helped shape my life and love of nature, thus this suburban NJ girl now lives in Maine, in the country surrounded by our woods, with access to beautiful lakes, mountains, and oceans. I still prefer vacations to visit and be in nature rather than cities and Scouting activities were a big influence.

Sue Kaplan, Wilton

I have been involved with Girl Scouts since I was a child. I am a “lifer” in Girl Scouting as were my mother and grandmother before me. My grandmother Marian Vance Sewall started the first Girl Scout Troop in Wilton in 1918, six years after Juliette Low started Girl Scouting and six years before my Mom was born! My daughter was a Girl Scout until the 7th grade but as a high school freshman she is involved in too many other activities at present.

Rebekah Sarah Karkos, East Dixfield

I first joined a Brownie Girl Scout troop when I was 7 years old and in second grade in the fall of 1965. We met at Winthrop Street Baptist Church in Taunton, Massachusetts. I made many new friends, among them, Debbie and Carol Wall and Carol Vieira. I remember that one of my leaders was Mrs. Crapo. I was a Brownie for 2 years and “flew up” to being a Junior Girl Scout in 1967.

Debbie had become a Junior the year before and Carol Vieira “flew up” with me. Carol Wall was a year behind us, so was still a Brownie. Debbie and Carol’s mom was the Assistant Junior Leader and the Leader was Mrs. Turner.

We did many activities and had a lot of fun. I earned many Junior badges, among them “Collectors” (postcards), Cooking and Home Health.

Even though my mother allowed me to be a Girl Scout, I came from a very abusive home. My dad had died when I was only 5 and she would beat my sister and me with a paddle, belt or whatever she could get her hands on. This went on for many years until I was about 10 years old when my uncle Mickey (her brother) found out that that she and my then 16 year old sister had knock-down fights. He got my mother to let my sister come live with him in New York and Puerto Rico (where he spent the winters.) Why he didn’t take me, I don’t know. Maybe he figured that I was safer since I was “the baby.” But in my opinion what he did for me was just as good, if not better than taking me with him.

Starting the summer of 1968 my uncle paid for me to spend the summers at Girl Scout Camp Tattapanum in Dighton, Massachusetts.

Looking back now at the pictures of my first day I laugh. There is a picture of me on the steps of my tent wearing my camp uniform. The shorts are very long on me and you can tell just by looking at me that this is all new to me.

I remember the first time I went in the swimming pool at camp. We were being tested to see what level swim group we would be placed in. The levels were: Red cap-beginner, Yellow cap-advanced beginner, Green cap-intermediate, Blue cap-Advanced and White cap-very advanced. Of course we were tested in the low end of the pool where the water was only about 3 feet deep (up to my chest). But I had never been allowed to go any deeper than my stomach when we went to the beach and had never been taught how to swim. I was terrified and clung to the ladder. No matter what the swim instructor asked me if I could do I said “no, no” and wouldn’t let go of the ladder. I was finally told I could get out and of course was a “red cap.” I quickly overcame my fears of the water, though it took me 3 years to advance to a “yellow cap.”

I loved Girl Scout camp and never once became homesick. The first summer the second session was filled and I had to leave for 2 weeks and then come back for the last 2 sessions. I couldn’t wait to go back.

My favorite activities were swimming, the campfires, archery and making friends. I learned many camp songs which I remember to this day. We sang a lot of Peter, Paul and Mary songs and even John Denver. There were moonlit nights and rainy days. But there was something good to be found in all of them.

My joy at being at camp made me want to share the fun with my best friends. As a Girl Scout I sold cookies each year and was usually one of the top sellers in my troop. We used to receive credit for camp for our cookie sales. But since my uncle paid for me to go, I didn’t need to use mine. So, in either 1969 or 1970 both Debbie and Carol Wall were able to go to camp using the credits that I earned (along with their own, of course.)

Camp was my salvation. The second year I went there were all new counselors. But that was fine; it was just new friends to make. Again I was a “red cap” but this time the camp had a horseback riding unit and I was in it!! There were two units that had horseback riding. A girl from each unit shared a horse. I was in Tupelo and the other unit was Sherwood. One unit took care of the horse in the morning and the other in the afternoon. My “partner’s” name was Laurie and we shared a horse named “Appy,” a beautiful Appaloosa. The second session I had a Pinto named “Pepper” and he was really pretty. I don’t remember who my partner was with him.

The last two sessions I went into the regular unit because I didn’t really like the counselor who was in charge of the horses. But that was ok with me. It just meant more time for swimming and arts and crafts and other things.

The third year I went back many of the same staff members were there and when my mother was turning into the driveway, several were sitting nearby. They were all happy to see me and it made me feel special and “wanted” (which I didn’t feel like at home.) My favorite counselors from those two years were “Courage,” “Liz,” and “Pixie.” Courage and Liz got together and decided that it was time to treat me like a young lady. They bought me a bottle of perfume and some shampoo and cream rinse. They all acted like they really cared what happened to me.

That was the year that I finally graduated to “yellow cap.” At the final banquet of the first session I received my award for passing my swimming test. Everyone cheered and hollered and was very proud of me and very happy. At the second session banquet I was promoted to “green cap” and the staff was so happy for me. I spent the rest of that summer as a “green cap” and was finally able to swim in the deep end of the pool.

The staff used to think it was funny the way I hid when I saw my mother coming to pick me up. They didn’t realize (at least I didn’t think they did) why I did that. I was told many years later by Pixie (whom I am STILL in contact with 38 years later) that she at least suspected that something was wrong but at that time, child abuse wasn’t as pervasive and people in her position weren’t mandated to report it. She used to call me during the year to say hello and again, it made me feel very special. For many years I had a quahog shell that she had painted a picture of a horse inside, but if fell and broke.

My last year at camp was two years later and I only went for two weeks. There was no staff there that I knew and it didn’t seem the same. The magic wasn’t the same, though I still had fun.

The next summer I did go back to camp but not as a camper. I was a kitchen aid at Camp Ne-kon in Plymouth, MA. Now this was something. Going to camp and getting paid for it. Unfortunately, I didn’t stay the whole summer as the director and I had a difference of opinion and it was decided that I would go home.

But two mediocre summers didn’t change my love for camping or Girl Scouting and I stayed with Scouts all through High School. I went from Junior Scouts to Cadettes, and then Seniors. Debbie, Carol and Carol and I stayed together and in the same troop all the way.

In fact, 42 years later Debbie and I are still friends and Terry and I received a Christmas card from her this past year. Carol (her sister) and I are still friends but are not in contact as often. Carol Vieira and I are still friends though I haven’t seen her for a few years.

The year I got married I spent part of the summer as a Unit Leader at Camp Dorothy Carlton, but left early to prepare for my wedding in October. That summer I became fond of one of the girls that was in my unit and got to know her parents. I invited them to my wedding and am even now still friends with Lisa. She now has 3 children of her own and still remembers the fun we had at camp.

As an adult with a daughter (and son) of my own I stayed involved with Scouting. I’ve been both an assistant and a leader for her Brownie troops and she enjoyed Scouts as much as I did.

So, what has Scouting done for me? It gave me several life-long friends, lots of fun and a lifetimes worth of memories.

Barbara McDonough Kenniston, Pittsfield

Madelyn K. Given, Poland

Heather Given Bell, Newton, N.H.

Barbara McDonough Kenniston was born May 23, 1918 and began Girl Scouting at age nine as a junior Girl Scout in Troop 1 in Lewiston. Brownies had not yet been introduced to the organization at that time. The girls had a very active troop and one of the fund-raisers was to sell cookies door-to-door but not like we think of it today. The girls’ mothers made the cookies and each girl sold the cookies to their neighbors. This was the beginning of the cookie sales. She was in the early years of Girl Scouting in the United States.

During the Great Flood in Lewiston-Auburn, Barbara’s troop helped with first aid, wrapping bandages and helping at the makeshift medical centers. Barbara was asked to accompany a doctor from Lewiston to Auburn to pick up more supplies. The raising floodwater made crossing the bridge a dangerous situation. On the return trip from Auburn to Lewiston, the water was splashing across the bridge and it was one of the last vehicles to be allowed to cross before the bridge was closed to traffic.

After Barbara grew up, she married and moved to Pittsfield, Maine. Here, she became a leader of several troops and president of her area council. She traveled to Our Cabana in Mexico, where she created a poem used in opening ceremonies. To Our Chalet in Switzerland, bringing along several of her Girl Scouts and to the Girl Scout Center in London. She is a lifetime member and, for Barbara, Girl Scouting has been a way of life, deeply influencing her character, ideals and leadership skills.

Madelyn Kenniston Given, daughter of Barbara, began Girl Scouting at age 7 as a Brownie Scout and worked through the ranks to become a Senior Scout with the rank of Curved Bar, at that time the highest award in Girl Scouting. Growing up in Pittsfield, Maine, the Girl Scout Winter Carnival was one of the largest winter events in that community, of which her mother was the carnival chairman. There was a poster contest for every Scout to participate and, on the day of the event, many of the businesses took part and town facilities were used. There were ice skating events, snowshoe races, foot races and downhill ski races. There were troop displays and entertainment. At the end of the event a queen and her court and a princess and her court were selected from the scores of all the points from the events.

Madelyn fondly remembers going to Camp Kirkwald each summer where she learned to swim, canoe and row a boat. After Madelyn married, she moved to Lewiston and later became an assistant leader and volunteer. Madelyn and her family became a host family for other Girl Scouts who participated in Wider Opportunities from other areas of the United States. Girl Scouting was a motivating part of her childhood and an integral part of her adult life and she feels fortunate to be a lifetime member.

Heather Given Bell, granddaughter of Barbara M. Kenniston and daughter of Madelyn K. Given, began Girl Scouting in Lewiston as a Brownie and worked her way up through the ranks to earning the Silver and then Gold Award as a Senior Girl Scout. She was the senior representative to the Kennebec Girl Scout Council. At that time the board meetings were held in the Key Bank boardroom in Portland. There was much to study before attending each meeting and Heather had to be up on the issues and adjust to the group. It was a great leadership experience. She remembers one issue regarding the sale of GS cookies. A member of the GS board was the head of a major food chain and was willing to sell the cookies in all of the supermarkets. Heather stood up and proposed that it continue to be the responsibility of the girls to sell the cookies and not to take away from the girls’ obligation. The board voted with Heather to keep it as it remained.

One summer, Heather went to a Wider Opportunity program on a ranch in Wyoming and another summer she went to England for another leadership opportunity experience. Each summer, from age 9 until 16, Heather went to Camp Pondicherry and during the last three summers earned her Junior Maine Guide Certification. She learned many lifelong skills through the years in Girl Scouting.

We, as a family, are proud to say we are Girl Scouts.

Barbara Kern, Auburn

I was a brownie, then a Girl Scout, Troop 274, meeting at Court Street Baptist and Park Avenue Methodist churches, respectively, when Girl Scout cookies were 50 cents a box.

For my first cookie sale, I mistakenly rang the garage door bell, ran home and was called back by the neighborhood stockbroker who bought 12 boxes and offered me my first paying job — feeding his caged dogs.

I won first prize for selling the most cookies that year. Cookie mints reigned, although my personal favorite were fudge-filled vanilla cookies, an inverted Oreo, by the Educator Cookie Co.

The next year, against my better judgment, with a bad cold, my sales yielded a mere 27 boxes.

I reminisce about the cookie song that year: “They’re mixed and they’re baked by Burry’s, so they’re Burry Burry good.” They were a product of the Burry Baking Co. that year.

Cookies have evolved into computer terminology and I know four people nicknamed Cookie.

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