Area Girl and Boy Scouts are joining forces to help make Meridian – and the Earth – greener, and increase their memberships.
On Saturday, Girl Scouts of Gulf Pines Council and Boy Scouts of the Choctaw Area Council will host GO GREEN Meridian, a recruitment event at Bonita Lakes, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event is open to girls age 5-17 and boys ages 6-17 interested in becoming a Girl Scout or Boy Scout, and their families.
According to Linda Lauderdale, membership and marketing director, Girl Scouts of the Gulf Pines Council, the joint recruitment event is a first-time endeavor for the local Scouting councils.
"I believe this is the first time that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have joined together to introduce families to Scouting in our area," Lauderdale said.
"For families who aren’t yet involved in Scouting, this event will give them an opportunity to see what it’s all about. Parents can register their daughters for Girl Scouts and their sons for Boy Scouts. For families who are already in Scouting, this will also be a fun day for them to spend time together learning how to protect our environment. It’s a great start to the new Scout year.”
The event will be held in the grove area at Bonita Lakes and will feature information and activity booths for children and their parents. Activity booths, which will be hosted by local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, will give potential Scouts and their parents an opportunity to sample some of the activities and experiences available in Scouting.
Each activity booth will focus on the Go Green theme and will aim to increase environmental awareness and encourage children and their parents to help preserve the planet – in fun, creative ways, Lauderdale said.
"For example, one troop has been working on things involving the water cycle and recently went out and tested a water site near their meeting place. So they are doing a booth that's all about the water cycle and they are doing a craft project where the kids can make a bracelet based on the water cycle," she said.
"Families can discover new ways to look at junk by making art from recyclable materials, explore how water purification works, find out what makes our rain forests so valuable and much more."
There is no charge to participate in the activities, however registration is required for either Girl or Boy Scouts. A rock climbing wall will also be available for the adventurous. The cost is $5. You can save $1 off the climbing wall fee by bringing an ink cartridge to recycle.
Representatives from the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts will be on hand to register Scouts, provide information and answer any questions about the programs.
“Scouting has learned new ways to 'Go Green,' such as promoting low-impact camping and 'Leave No Trace' methods," said Ken Kercheval, Scout executive/CEO of the Choctaw Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.
"It is a whole new way to take in this beautiful country of ours and, at the same time, preserve it for future generations,” Kercheval said.
The event is free to Scouts registered for the 2008-09 membership year. To join Girl Scouts there is a $10 yearly membership fee. The membership fee for Boy Scouts is $15. Families may also bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the park.
For more information on this event, call Girl Scouts of Gulf Pines Council at (601) 693-2903 or the Choctaw Area Council of Boy Scouts of America at (601) 693-6757.
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Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to host joint event at Bonita Lakes
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