MADISON – Aspiring newbies got a taste (literally) of one of Madison’s most popular youth organizations as prospective and current Girl Scouts and their leaders gathered for the annual recruitment session.

“We had a great recruitment event at Asbury Church on August 11. So far, 70 girls have applied to join the groups,” said Beth Crocker, troop leader of Girl Scout Troop 10708 and spokesperson for the Madison group.

“Since recruitment season began, we have had over 75 girls ask to join one of our MadCity (city of Madison) troops,” Crocker said. “To accommodate that number, we will end up starting six or seven new troops.”

While numbers have increased since then, as of May 2024, there were 36 Girl Scout groups with 413 Girl Scouts in the City of Madison.

“At our event, the girls got to roast marshmallows and make s’mores, a Girl Scout invention. They also tried Girl Scout cookies,” Crocker said.

“The girls did a ‘SWAP,’ a ‘Special Whatchamacallit Affectionately Pinned.’ The SWAP is an old Girl Scout tradition that we still participate in today,” Crocker said. “They also played outdoor games.”

Other sessions included “signing thank you cards for each elementary school to thank them for allowing us to participate in their open house, and we had several stations with STEM activities,” Crocker said.

Those attending the recruitment event immediately rekindled existing friendships and began meeting new ones. The girls excited to attend the event included sixth-graders Emma Balch and Annie Balch, fifth-graders Sylvia Boyd, Barrett Mayer and Ellie Turner, and third-grader Roisin Mayer.

Her leader is Colleen Turner, who also serves as the service unit manager “or ‘leader of all leaders’ in Madison. Colleen Turner is a young leader in a ‘flex troop,’ meaning there is more than one level in her troop,” Crocker said.

Older Girl Scouts led groups of girls to each station of the event. “Colleen and I took the parents into the hall to explain what Girl Scouts are and answer any questions,” Crocker said.

Crocker plans to continue sending girls into troops as long as she receives requests.

The first city event for Madison is ICE, Indoor Camping Experience, which introduces younger Scouts to camping. This fall, older Scouts will head to Butter and Egg Adventures in Troy for a “High Adventure,” named after a wilderness training activity.

“Younger Girl Scouts will head to our Girl Scout camp at Lake Guntersville in the spring to set up their own camp,” Crocker said.

For more information, email Crocker at [email protected] or visit girlscoutsnca.org.