Club Corner: Campus Girl Scouts, more than just cookies

Most people wouldn't connect the Girl Scouts who can be found selling cookies around town with a college campus, but for the Girl Scouts of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan students are crucial to their success. In fact, OWU has its own chapter of Campus Girl Scouts.

The Campus Girl Scouts is a part of the Girl Scouts of the USA, whose mission, according to their official website (www.girlscouts.org), is to build "girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place."

Senior, Kristen Lear, one of the clubs co-presidents, Campus Girl Scouts is "a group for young women to participate in Girl Scouts and be role models for younger Girl Scouts in the community."

According to sophomore, Jennifer Federer, the Campus Girl Scouts treasurer, most of the clubs members were Girl Scouts themselves at some other point in their lives, but having been so is not a requirement.

In fact there are no requirements to join the group, "so we have members who are lifetime members of Girl Scouts and those who have never been a Girl Scout. We welcome everyone," said Lear.

The group's main function it to plan activities and events that "reach out to the Girl Scout community we have all become so fond of," said Federer.

Last year the group ran two Girl Scout troops at Woodward Elementary School. This spring they are hosting an event focused on healthy living.

Fender said that it is possible to start a campus Girl Scout troop on any campus, but each troop's community involvement varies.

Although, Lear said, Campus Girl Scouts groups are rare on college campuses.

"We are one of the few in the country, but we'd love to see more," she said.

The official website said, "Whatever you do and however you contribute, you help girls grow strong.. You decide on a level of involvement that works for you."

"I have been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, so being a member of Ohio Wesleyan's Campus Girl Scouts has allowed me to continue my participation in this great organization," she said.

"I have been able to expand upon the life skills that I learned through Girl Scouts to give back to my community and encourage younger girls to become their best," said Lear.

This organization can benefit its members in many different ways, Federer explained.

"As a future teacher, this gave me experience planning lesson plans and working with children of many ages," she said.

Campus Girl Scouts meet in the Smith Date Study on the first Thursday of every month at 9 p.m. For more information, interested individuals may contact campus organization leaders.