Fathers engaged in service of troops
Originally founded in 1912 and termed Girl Scouts, the name doesn't provide a limit between the interaction of the troops, their fathers and even male volunteers.
Local troops have found the opportunity to engage daughters and their fathers or male figures in meetings, service events and annual events every year, such as the annual father-daughter bowling event, one of the biggest service events of the year.
Unfortunately, unable to be held this year because of the pandemic, troops rallied to find more ways to bring their units together.
Outside hikes
Celina Karnes, a leader of Troop 52938, has two daughters in her group of Brownies and Juniors. Although mainly focused at the beginning of the year on virtual events and meetings, as society started to calm down during the summer, she started taking her troop on outside hikes and other socially distanced events, occasionally with her husband, Rusty, a cleared and registered volunteer.
“It's good that the fathers can be involved in things and be supportive in all the processes, not just at home...to just be present,” Rusty said.
Along with being a husband to Celina and a father to Rylee and Sydney, Karnes helps set up and organize a lot of events, including setting up cookie tables during the awaited time of cookie sales.
“It's fun to be a part of,” Rusty said. “It's fun for me to try to get the certifications to be part of the educational process as well. I have experience with that, and (it's great) for me to get to relay some of the experience with the kids.”
Although Rusty is a certified volunteer with his daughter's troop, other fathers and family members are welcome and invited to help their daughters with service projects such as Wreath Across America.Sell cookiesSimilarly to fathers and male figures that Karnes noticed, Caitlin Painter, another local troop leader, said that girl's fathers would help out at the cookie booths, organize pickups and walk around with their daughter or daughters to sell cookies in neighborhoods.However, with a slightly different position, Bill Painter, Caitlin's husband, is a co-leader of Troop 16417.When the pandemic hit, Painter had a baby in March. Prior to that, she had to find another leader to help with her scouts.“My husband went through the training to become a leader in the troop,” Painter said. “We use him as an auxiliary leader. Last year, prior to everyone shutting down, Bill co-led the meeting.”Family eventsAside from positions and events within troops, Girl Scout Council has family events that fathers can participate in and register for.“There will be guys who lead their daughters' troops,” Painter said.Noticing a change with male presence in some of the troops with leadership positions, Stephanie Marshall, the public relations and marketing manager for Girl Scouts Western PA said that there are even shirts with the quote “man enough to be a Girl Scout.”The council noted there is also a Man Enough to be A Girl Scout campaign, recognizing men who are involved in Girl Scouts.
