New Girl Scout troop builds bonds and character
The blue beads stand for honesty and fairness. The red ones remind girls to be courageous and strong.
On a recent Saturday, about 30 girls age 5 to 17 prepared to assemble the brightly colored beads into jewelry.
Working in a neighborhood community center in a low-income section of south Sacramento, the young girls are part of a newly formed Girl Scout troop in a neighborhood that hadn't had such a group in decades.
Started by a local mother whose daughters are grown, Troop 107 offers girls in the Phoenix Park neighborhood a chance to develop character while building strong bonds with each other and troop leaders.
"Girl Scouts is a positive venue for the girls to learn and grow," said Renessa Armstrong, who organized the troop about a year ago.
Shannon Cheyne, director of marketing and communications for Girl Scouts of Tierra del Oro, said the troop "grew like wildfire" in the Phoenix Park area once parents and girls learned about it. She credits Armstrong for having the vision to start the troop.
"She saw the need and really wanted to provide the services to these girls," Cheyne said.
William Thames, father of a 6-year-old girl, came to a recent troop meeting to sign up his daughter.
"They teach respect for each other as well as for themselves," Thames said.
Lakaylyn Thomas, 6, said she likes Girl Scouts because it's fun.
"And you get to learn stuff you never learned yet," Lakaylyn said, "like to treat people nice and be nice to yourself."
Many families whose daughters are participating in the troop do not have the money to buy required Girl Scout vests, buttons and handbooks.
Leaders also need other Girl Scout resource items. They have asked Book of Dreams readers to donate money to purchase those items.