Girl Scouts troops recruiting now

By LYNETTE SOWELL

 

Last Thursday evening, at least a dozen parents attended Parent Night, an information session for starting and joining Girl Scouts troops in Copperas Cove. The session was held at the Copperas Cove Public Library, and led by Karie Wheadon, who is a local troop leader. “We are starting recruiting now for the 2015-2016 school year,” Wheadon said. In October, the fall product sales for Girl Scouts are beginning and new troops could use that sales time to begin earning some funds, she added. While some parents said it’s been difficult to find a troop that has room for them, others said it’s another thing to get a troop started. Sometimes, a troop will be up and running, and then when the leader—a parent volunteer—moves, the group will fizzle out. Wheadon said the date, time and place of Girl Socuts meetings is up to each troop leader. Also, she told the group about Juliet membership. This is an individual membership in which a girl can earn badges and complete work, as well as participate in fund raising, just like regular troop membership. “There is never a bad time to join Girl Scouts. They can join any time during the year,” Wheadon said. “We haven’t had the presence (in Copperas Cove) in a couple of years, and we are trying to change that.” At the meeting, Wheadon showed off several vests covered with patches the scouts are able to earn at each age level. As a result of Thursday’s meeting, Wheadon said there are two new Daisy troops starting soon, one made up of kindergarten and the other made up of first grade girls. For those who may have missed the Parent Night, Wheadon said they can access more information at the Girl Scouts of Central Texas website, gsctx.org, or call the local Girl Scouts program center in Killeen at (254) 634-0683.