Scouting for Fun

There are 3.6 million Girl Scouts in the United States and more than 236,000 Girl Scout troops worldwide. In Oct. 2006, Children’s Hospital began adding to those totals when Troop #580 formed with five Scouts.

Sarah Collins, CTRS, started the troop last fall as part of the hospital’s Recreation Therapy Department after learning that St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk, Va. also had a troop. Initially, Children’s Hospital’s troop included five residents, ages 8 to 19, of the hospital’s Transitional Care Unit and recently added one outpatient. The troop meets Tuesday evenings from August through April, has already earned five badges and held its first cookie sale in February, selling 305 boxes during the one-day event.

Janice, whose daughter Sarah is a member of the troop, said she was thrilled with the idea of Sarah being a Girl Scout. “Growing up, I always wanted to be a Girl Scout,” recalled Janice. “I have always wanted Sarah to be involved in as many activities as any [little] girl would be, and I wanted to be involved to see what Girl Scouts were all about.”

Every Tuesday, Sarah Collins guides Janice, another parent and three hospital volunteers as they adapt activities to help the girls earn badges. They use assistive technology such as switches with recorded messages to say the Girl Scout pledge and have signs with the pledge written on it. Each badge requires the girls to complete six tasks or activities such as keeping journals for the “Being my Best” badge or being pampered by a local spa for the “Looking your Best” badge. All activities are designed to provide sensory stimulation for the girls.

“The troop gives us a different avenue to see what they can accomplish,” remarked Sarah, who started the troop to provide real life activities and a sense of normalcy for the girls.

While each girl has a sash to display her badges, Janice was so excited about Sarah’s participation that she also bought a Girl Scout shirt and pants for her only child.

“Sarah’s smile during the meetings tells me that she enjoys them,” said Janice, “She loves to be around other kids so her involvement in this troop is perfect for her.”

Because of the success of the Girl Scout troop, plans are being made to start a Boy Scout troop at the hospital this fall.

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