https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Girl-Scouts-leaders-needed-in-Danbury-12873396.php
Girl Scouts leaders needed in Danbury
Published 6:17 pm, Sunday, April 29, 2018
DANBURY — When Janine Brennan was a leader for her oldest daughter’s Girl Scout troop 10 years ago, she said the city had plenty of volunteers to lead groups.
But now Brennan, a leader for her youngest daughter’s troop, said Danbury is struggling to find adults to start troops for the many girls who want to join scouting.
“I was shocked that we had so few leaders because I remember there being so many more,” said Brennan, who is also responsible for all the troops in the city. “It hasn’t always been this way in Danbury. I’m not sure why that is now, but we definitely want to bring it back.”
She estimates the city has about 50 leaders for the 36 troops and 350 girls in scouts. While she does not know exactly how many girls want to be in a troop, she said many families have contacted Girl Scouts about joining.
“We know there is tremendous need out there,” Brennan said. “If we ask [girls to sign up] and then we don’t have a troop for them to go into, it’s heartbreaking.”
Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut, said this is a problem not just in Danbury, but across the state and country, especially in urban areas.
She said parents might not have time to volunteer, especially in cities where families have fewer resources and might need to work two jobs to make ends meet.
In Connecticut, 10,000 adults are leaders of the 2,500 troops and 27,000 girls in scouting. But Barneby said she would love to have another 10,000 leaders. At one point, as many as 200 to 300 girls across the state were on the waiting list to join a troop, she said.
In some cases, the organization has needed to place girls in different levels of scouting in one troop. A new Danbury troop has girls from kindergarten through fifth grade, while another has girls from first through 10th grade, Brennan said.
Organizing activities for such troops is a challenge, she added.
“My leaders are always exhausted, and I don’t blame them,” she said. “It must be so tiring to try to plan like that. That’s a lot to plan, but they’re so wonderful. These women do not want to turn anybody away.”
The Boy Scouts also have seen a drop in leaders. The Connecticut Yankee Council, which covers 37 towns in Fairfield, New Haven and parts of Hartford counties, has 3,200 volunteers, but 10 years ago had 5,000, Scout Executive Charles Flowers said. There are more than 10,000 scouts in the council.
He said parents’ busy schedules might be preventing them from volunteering.
“There are a number of organizations and other worthy causes out there that pull on people’s time,” Flowers said. “We all only have 24 hours to give. It’s tough on people today, more so than in years past.”
But the council is generally able to find volunteers to lead troops for the kids who want to join.
“We’re working hard as an agency to make sure scouting is available at every community,” Flowers said. “We want to make sure that every young person that wants to be a part of scouting has that opportunity.”
In Boy and Girl Scouts, parents are typically the leaders.
But in light of the shortage, Girl Scouts are trying to recruit nontraditional leaders, such as college students, professionals and retired women, Barneby said.
The Girl Scouts are using social media and have visited women’s networks and businesses to encourage adults to volunteer. Meanwhile, the Boy Scouts are reaching out to alumni, trying to attract young and retired men to be leaders.
Barneby said many women are looking to make a difference in light of nationwide discussions about sexual harassment and gender inequity.
“If you really want to do something toward the advancement of girls and women, then come and volunteer at Girl Scouts,” Barneby said. “There is really no better way to make a difference in the life of a girl.”
In Danbury, Brennan hopes to recruit more Latina women, since many Latina girls want to join scouts. The organization offers training materials in Spanish, and Danbury leaders who speak Spanish and Portuguese could help the newcomers, Brennan said.
She said Girl Scouts has simplified its training process in recent years. Potential leaders need to fill out an online application, pass a background check, and complete online and in-person training sessions.
Most troops have two leaders, but other parents often help. Girl Scouts also offer materials to guide leaders through planning activities and experienced leaders are willing to mentor new ones, Barneby said.
“We’re a sisterhood and we all try to help and support each other,” she said. “No one should be afraid to be a leader because we’re going to be there to hold your hand all the way.”
Brennan recently celebrated 30 years in scouting and earned her Gold Award. She was leader of her oldest daughter, Kate’s, troop for nine of the girl’s 13 years in scouts. And she has led her youngest daughter, Julia’s, troop for six of the girl’s nine years in scouts.
“The girls are such a joy to be with,” Brennan said. “It’s just great to see them growing up and turning into young women. Knowing you had a part to play in that is really rewarding.”
“What you get back as a leader is so much more than the time you’re putting in,” she added.
Those interested in becoming a leader should visit Girls Scouts of Connecticut’s website or email Michele Breen at MBreen@gsofct.org.
