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Rain doesn't stop Girl Scouts Family Fun Day in Boardman
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
BOARDMAN
A Girl Scout is always prepared — so a little rain didn’t stop the Family Fun Day event at the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio’s Youngstown Service Center here.
The scouts wore raincoats Saturday, set up tents and welcomed visitors to the center on South Avenue.
“We just moved into the neighborhood a couple months ago,” said Kim Graves, communications manager. “So this is our open house to the community. We wanted to host a family fun day so that we could let people know we’re here, and to introduce some people to Girl Scouts that maybe didn’t know us before.”
The event included free crafts and activities, a rock wall, free cookie samples, music and more. Information about joining also was available.
Sarah Begnaud and her daughter, Audrey Heaton, of Poland, attended to learn more about the program.
Audrey is “really interested in Girl Scouts,” Begnaud said. “I sure would like to get her involved.”
Audrey, 7, said she has friends who are Girl Scouts, and they say it’s fun. At the family fun event, she had her face painted and made a Christmas ornament. Making the ornament was her favorite part, she said.
But the event wasn’t just for those interested in Girl Scouts. Current members were invited as well.
“We have a lot of troops that are in the area, and they’re just coming to have some fun,” said Jackie Ford, chief operating officer.
Troop 80507 from Columbiana was one of those troops.
“There are a lot of activities here,” said Jo Ross, leader. “This is really nice for the girls to come and enjoy.”
They made small sleeping bags to swap with other Scouts, learned about dental hygiene and made edible campfires from miniature marshmallows and pretzel sticks.
Michele Ross, 7, a member of the troop, said it was the first time she made an edible campfire. She planned to eat it as soon as she finished making it.
She said Girl Scouting is fun. “I like to go camping,” she said. “I like to go swimming, too.”
The service center opened in May.