Avon Lake Girl Scouts celebrate a 10-year anniversary with a first time Winter Wonderland for kids

Avon Lake Girl Scouts celebrate a 10-year anniversary with a first time Winter Wonderland for kids

AVON LAKE, Ohio - Avon Lake Girl Scouts from Troop #50106 took younger children under their wings for a fun and instructional fundraising event on December 9. The event was called Winter Wonderland and offered games and crafts for kids from pre-school through fourth grade at the city's old firehouse community room.

Margie Steele and Pattie Ferrari are the troop leaders. Steele founded the troop when the girls were in the first grade. Originally there were 21 girls. Now there are only 12. But Steele said the 12 are working just as hard as they ever did to earn their badges. In addition, they are raising funds for another "Big Trip"--the last one before the girls' graduation.

Previous big trips, according to Steele, have included rafting in West Virginia, a zero-gravity experience at NASA, zip lining, camping and many others. Plans in the making include even the possibilities of Hawaii or Iceland.

"We hosted about 70 children (at Winter Wonderland), ages 2-10, at 10 different stations," said Steele. "The children really made an impact on the girls. The kids all laughed because they got their feet tickled as their feet were painted to make mistletoe pictures; there was googly eyes everywhere as they made candy cane reindeers at Eva's station; Marguerite and Caroline had jingle bells tossed at them at the jingle bell toss; and poor Maddie had icing and sprinkles spilled at her cookie decorating station."

Steele said what touched her heart, though, was when Santa Skyped into the event to wish the kids Merry Christmas. When his face appeared on the giant screen, Steele said, the kids got so excited. He called the kids by name and asked them if they were good and asked what they wanted for Christmas. One little boy kept saying that's not a real Santa, but when Santa said, "Is there a Daniel there?" the boy danced around and said, "That's Santa and he's talking to me!"

Ali Steele, 16, a sophomore, reflected on all that Girl Scouts has meant to her. "...I wouldn't trade the memories I have made with my Troop for the world. Some people believe Girl Scouts is just selling cookies...but our Troop consists of my closest friends. Through Girl Scouts I have made friends with girls I never would have met otherwise, as we all come from different interests and activities. I absolutely love being a Girl Scout..."

At the Winter Wonderland lunch break, the girls reflected on the morning session and talked about their experiences. They came up with ideas to make the afternoon session even better.

"That was when it dawned on me," said Margie Steele, "that these girls are becoming young adults, solving problems and sharing ideas. They were each responsible for their own station, but the teamwork they displayed to make the event successful was remarkable."

Steele said she hopes they can bring Winter Wonderland back again next year. In the meantime, those ever-popular fundraising cookies will arrive again in January.