I began as a Brownie in first grade in 1987 and later on a Girl Scout, but although years have passed, I think the valuable morales and principles really formed all of us young ladies into responsible, honest and friendly adults. 

We were a mixed group of girls, both racially and financially, but we all had a wonderful goal in common. Below are the laws and  promises we used to chant and uphold per the current Girl Scout website. : 

 Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try:
    To serve God and my country,
    To help people at all times,
    And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be honest and fair,
    friendly and helpful,
    considerate and caring,
    courageous and strong, and
    responsible for what I say and do,
and to respect myself and others,
    respect authority,
    use resources wisely,
    make the world a better place, and
    be a sister to every Girl Scout.

What phenominal promises to make! I feel that this group was more than just going camping, making crafts, selling cookies, playing team building games, and visiting local museums, post offices and parks.

We were learning about teamwork, helping others, performing in public, and learning how to make a difference in our own community!  

My mom was the Troop Leader and I remember her planning out these awesome activities for us to do every Friday after school! If we weren't earning patches or on field trips we were volunteering, recycling, planting, skating, swimming and learning together as a team. Most importantly, we learned how to say thank you and even took pictures holding thank you signs to send to the local organization, greenhouse, fire department or library that we visited. 

I had always gone camping as a kid, but for some girls this was their first night away from home out in the woods, under the stars. Getting dirty, stung by mosquitoes, roasting marshmallows over an open camp fire, and listening to the wilderness was brand new for many of these city dwellers! 

We made tye-dyed shirts and bandanas, braided plastic lanyards, bird feeders out of peanut butter and pine cones, and went on bird watching hikes all over Camp Singing Pines! 

Soon, we began to collect patches for these new adventures and gain a sense of accomplishment and honor with each hard earned one. We outgrew our small brown sash and all got patch jackets where we could proudly display them in any weather. The sky was the limit! 

I remember one December bringing all of our recyclable cans to school, crushing them on the blacktop and earring $25 with all of our donations and hard work. We used the money to pick out gifts for Foster Children which we donated at the Santa Anita Mall. Learning that there are those less fortunate than you really makes you grateful and compassionate towards others.

One of the proudest moments I remember as a little girl was marching in the Camellia Festival Parade in February. So incredible to be involved in a recognized organization as just little 7 and 8 year olds! (We felt so important waving away and proudly displaying our felt banner!)

The following year we got fancy and made Camellia head wreaths and years later in 5th grade, our Girl Scout Troop even made a teddy bear picnicking float and won "Best Use Of Camellias"!  

Selling Girl Scout Cookies was one of the biggest fundraisers we had for our school year long program. I remember going door-to-door with a parent and asking "would you like to buy some cookies?" I mean, come on - who could resist these little faces?!

We even stood outside the local Kmart and sold the extra cookies our Troop would buy after the pre-ordering season was over. I know these days are likely over or at least more protected, but I had such a ball selling these cookies each year! 

All in all we learned to be sisters. We went to eachothers birthday and pool parties, we went skating, backyard camping, and trick or treating together. These were my girls! I cherish these times and often remember how important it was to be a Brownie and Girl Scout.  

Support your local troops of both Boy and Girl Scouts as best you can. Buy some cookies, go to the parades and flag ceremonies or get involved and volunteer yourself! These are rights of passage that keep these kids on the straight and narrow with a desire to learn, bond, grow and thrive within their communities.  

On my honor, I will still try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout Law! 

-Crystal Olguin

September 5, 2017