Even if you never were a Girl Scout or Boy Scout, you may be aware of the benefits of Scouting for your child: learning new skills, developing leadership qualities, access to ridiculously addictive cookies. But have you considered that scouting also could help your child get into college?
“Sticking with scouting: it shows that you’ve got just what schools are looking for: determination, grit, and commitment,” said Amy Feins, a local college prep consultant. “You have to do projects and work as a team – these qualities are what get you noticed.”
Feins noted that sports may not make applicants stand out to admissions officers as much as scouting does. “Injuries or the cost of private training and club sports may not take you across that finish line, despite years of playing on a team,” she explained.
“If you are in scouting, stay there,” Feins advised. “You’ll gain great skills and I’m telling you, having that Eagle Scout [or Girl Scout Gold Award] designation on your resume (and activities list) will take you much farther than varsity/club soccer ever could.”
Still, if you are considering having your child join a troop this fall, college likely is many years away, and you have more immediate concerns about selecting your child’s activities. We spoke with representatives from both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in Collier County to help you decide if scouting is right for your family.
Boy Scouts of Southwest Florida
James Giles is Southwest Florida’s district executive for the Boy Scouts of America and oversees the area’s Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Soon, the organization will experience a name change (Scouts BSA) and form single gender troops, providing opportunities for boys and girls to reap the benefits of scouting.
Cub Scouts packs are for youth in Collier County in kindergarten through fifth grade, and Boy Scouts troops are for boys in grades 6-12. Venturing – also through Boy Scouts of America – is a high adventure co-ed program for students 14-20 years of age.
“Participants engage in fun outdoor activities, and they learn so many skills,” Giles explained. “Students build relationships and make lifelong friends as they engage in all sorts of activities and sports.” He added that children join Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts “for the fun! That’s why they stay, too. Parents love that their children build character and develop an ethical and moral framework for making decisions.”
Families starting out in Cub Scouts can expect meetings once a week for an hour and optional camping trips four to five times per year. As students continue on in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, they may work towards more advanced badges and ranks.
“The whole family is welcome to attend meetings,” Giles said. “We’ve been offering family camping opportunities in Collier County for over 30 years, and our organization seeks to accommodate older and younger siblings as well – both in meetings and on trips.”
Julian Vallejo is a local example of a Boy Scout success story. An Eagle Scout from Immokalee, this 22-year-old studied culinary arts and currently is a sous chef for a catering company in Naples. “I first joined Boy Scouts in 2012 at the age of 14,” Vallejo said. “Over the next four years, I moved up in rank and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in Boy Scouts. I grew so much personally, and I developed the characteristics put forth in Boy Scouts – to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”
Scouting helped Vallejo get on and stay on the right path. “When I was younger, I used to get into a lot of trouble. I didn’t have the best examples,” he explained. “But after joining the Boy Scouts, that all changed. I learned to treat others with kindness and respect, to stay calm, and to think rationally. I also learned to overcome my shyness, and now I am able to speak in front of large crowds without any issue.”
Even years after becoming an Eagle Scout, his experiences as a scout continue to have a positive impact on his life. “It opened so many doors for me,” he said. “Because I am an Eagle Scout, people know they can trust me and rely on me. Getting a job has been easy for me because employers know the character of a Boy Scout. I have been able to move up in my career thanks to the teachings of the Boy Scouts.”
To learn more about Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, attend one of the community-wide recruitment nights at all public elementary schools in Collier County on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m., or visit beascout.scouting.org.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
Since the first troop met in Everglades City in 1927, girls in Collier County in kindergarten through 12th grade have had the opportunity to experience all that Girl Scouts offers. Girls earn badges, learn skills, and make friends during troop meetings that take place every one-to-two weeks for about an hour. Girls also are encouraged to participate in travel and adventure opportunities, along with special events regularly offered throughout the region.
Why choose Girl Scouts for your daughters? “Quite simply, Girl Scouts is the best leadership experience for girls in the world. Camping, adventure seeking, and exploring the outdoors are all cornerstone experiences girls have in Girl Scouting,” said Mary Anne Servian, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF).
“Girls can participate in STEAM activities, earning badges in robotics, cybersecurity, and space science,” she added. “They can take on a one-hundred-foot climbing wall. They can go on urban backpacking expeditions. And they still enjoy the cherished traditions, such as friendship circles, campfire songs, earning legacy badges, and learning entrepreneurial skills through the iconic Cookie Program.”
The benefits of Girl Scouts extend beyond the years a girl spends in the program. “We know that Girl Scouting works,” said Dawn Pike, community specialist with GSGCF. “Years of research shows how Girl Scouts outperform non-Girl Scouts in key areas like positive relationship development, seeking healthy challenges, community problem solving, and developing a strong sense of self. Girls today are facing a whole new set of challenges in life, and we’re helping them to empower themselves. It’s still about fun, friendship, sisterhood, and supporting one another – in an all-girl, girl-led environment.”
A key component of the Girl Scouts program is serving the community. “At its core, Girl Scouting is about preparing girls to be leaders,” Pike said. “We believe that encouraging a sense of responsibility for the greater good is one of the most important facets of effective leadership.”
Girl Scouts’ achievement culminates with the Girl Scout Gold Award, open only to high school participants. “It encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. Gold Award Girl Scouts are an elite group of women who embody community leadership and leave behind a sustainable legacy,” Servian said.
This year in Collier County, four Girl Scouts – who grew up together in the same troop – received the Gold Award. The four young women who put in an enormous amount of effort to achieve this designation are Valentina Zuluaga, Madison Weeks, Emily Hugan, and Erika Miller.
Zuluaga recently graduated from Mason Classical Academy and is attending the University of Richmond in the fall. “I joined Girl Scouts in sixth grade and participated throughout my high school career. During these years, my troop raised money through cookie sales, completed community projects, and earned a variety of badges. We went on group trips and ultimately supported each other in the completion of our Gold Awards this past school year.”
Working on badges and special events together with her troop is Zuluaga’s favorite part of being a Girl Scout. “One of my favorite events was Thinking Day, where each troop would pick a country and make a presentation of the country and its culture. We took turns presenting our troop’s country, and we learned about the other countries.”
Zuluaga encourages girls thinking about joining a troop to consider all of the benefits that come from being a Girl Scout. “Girl Scouts is a great opportunity to put your mind and efforts toward something outside of yourself while spending time with great friends,” she said. “It’s a confidence builder, especially when you get to see and experience all your efforts come together toward your final goal. I loved my time in Girl Scouts – all the memories I made and lessons I learned through the program!”
To learn more about Girl Scouts, visit www.gsgcf.org. There will be recruiting events at elementary schools in Collier County starting this month. Check out Neapolitan Family’s calendar starting on page 26 for locations and dates.
To contact Amy Feins, visit www.amfcollegeconsulting.com or call 239-776-0450.