Dads and Daughters and Girl Scouting

June 10, 2003

By Torri Francesca Eubanks and Ellen Christie, staff writers

	For fathers, volunteering with the Girl Scouts is a great opportunity for quality father/daughter time.
	In Pennsylvania, Girl Scouts learn golf skills and spend time with their dads.

In honor of Father's Day, Girl Scouts around the country are honoring the male role models in their lives. Whether it's teeing up together on the golf course or mastering the latest dance steps, girls are teaming up with their fathers for fun, education, and community services.

Girl Scouts Have a Date with Their Guys

In Michigan, Girl Scouts of all ages recently joined their fathers and male role models for a fun-filled afternoon called A Date with My Guy. Local teenage Girl Scouts orchestrated the day's events and father/daughter teams spent their day fishing, kite building, and water balloon tossing. Every girl who participated in the day's events received a special A Date with My Guy patch, for sharing the Girl Scouting experience with their fathers.

Both fathers and daughters enjoyed the experience. One father said he had a great time and enjoyed any activities that brought him and his daughter closer together. Caroline Feather, the Michigan Girl Scouts Program Director, said these events are constantly in demand. "These father/daughter events are very popular. We had over 165 participants," said Feather. "We hope these activities encourage more fathers to volunteer."

In Pennsylvania, some Girl Scouts and their fathers will brush up on their golf skills with the LPGA and USGA Girls Golf Club. This Father's Day weekend, girls (ages 7-17) and their dads will pair up and learn the fundamentals of driving, chipping, putting, fitness, and golf etiquette. Other Girl Scouts from the area recently joined their fathers at a dance to support the Baby Bundles community service project. They hit the dance floor not only to show off their latest dance moves but also to help their community. The Baby Bundles project encourages local Girl Scouts to collect items for new mothers of underprivileged families.

Many Girl Scout activities can create opportunities for fathers and daughters to spend more time together. This year, one teen Girl Scout has made it her priority to involve more dads in Girl Scouting. Judy, from Indianapolis, has devoted her Girl Scout Gold Award community service project to encouraging fathers to be involved in Girl Scouts. Judy, with the help of other Girl Scouts, teaches dads how to be "Do-Dads" by sharing with them the fundamentals of traditional Girl Scouting such as first-aid tips and pocket knife expertise. These are just a few examples of how Girl Scouts nationwide have created fun and educational ways to spend more time with the important men in their lives.

Girl Scouts of the USA is an organization that is in constant need of different types of volunteers to serve our 2.8 million girl members. Girl Scouting invites all interested women and men to volunteer a day, a weekend, or more—and help girls find fun, friendship, and confidence. If you are interested in volunteering or helping out in your area, call your local Girl Scout council or (800) GSUSA 4 U.