More than 40 girls, ages five through 15, from six local Girl Scout troops made and decorated their own hoola hoops last week during a troop gathering at the Waterman Elementary cafeteria. The scouts, assisted by parent volunteers, used flex pipe for the hoops and colored duct tape for decoration. Some girls put beads in the hoops for the audible effect.

Then, when the hoops were done, the girls all received a one-hour hoola hoop lesson from hoola class teacher (and member of the Skaneateles Board of Education) Susan Benjamin. Benjamin taught the girls not only the basic hooping moves, but also some more advanced maneuvers such as bringing the hoop up over their heads, or using two hoops at once.

Benjamin teaches hoola hoop classes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and the Skaneateles YMCA and Community Center.

For more photos of the Girls Scouts’ hoola hoop-making event, visit the Skaneateles Press Facebook page.