San Angelo Girl Scouts were recently featured on the national Girl Scout Blog for their work with senior citizens. Check out their story below.
In Texas, the San Angelo Standard-Times reports on the mutually beneficial relationship senior citizens can share with youth through storytelling and skill sharing. Area Girl Scouts recognized this decades ago, and created programming around girls visiting senior living facilities.
"They make a connection in their community across generations, which makes a difference in the person's life," said Stacy McGuire, member services-regional lead of San Angelo Girl Scouts' El Camino Service Center.
Different programs have been in place throughout the past few decades. McGuire said that currently, Girl Scouts can earn a "Community Caring" patch, which centers on a positive nursing home experience for the girls. Girls are encouraged to visit nursing homes, retirement homes, and senior centers, and participate in activities such as singing, games or crafts.
"I like to see their faces," said Charlotta Robinson, 15, a Cadette Girl Scout in Troop 5115. "They tell us they're having fun when people come to visit."
Robinson said that she's visited retirement homes four or five times over the past three years, both with Girl Scouts and her church youth group. She said the visits have taught her how important it is for seniors to have family nearby.
"Some of the people there don't have family, and they miss seeing them," she said.
Do Girl Scouts in your area interact with the Senior community?
This was such a good idea to bring to the senior living communities . I'm sure they loved it!
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