Manlius — About 150 girls of all ages from 17 different Fayetteville-Manlius area Girl Scout troops gathered on Feb. 27 to celebrate the annual World Thinking Day by “traveling” around the world visiting booths to represent countries to learn about cultures where Girl Scouts are active.
“We want there to be a broader understanding for cultures around the world,” said Julia Macreery, service unit manager for the FM Area Girl Scouts. “Girl Scouts are welcoming to all girls from all backgrounds and we want to encourage that idea.”
This year’s theme for World Thinking Day was “connect,” which encourages scouts throughout the world to learn more about other scouts and how their experiences can be very similar in a global community.
The FM area Girl Scout troops gathered at the Manlius Village Centre last Saturday and each created a booth with information about a country where Girl Scouts are active, with facts about culture, cuisine and traditions. Each participant in the event was given a “boarding pass” to get stamped at each booth, where girls could sample food and participate in crafts. Countries included Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Ghana, Taiwan, Egypt and many others.
“This event helps teach that girls all over the world are having similar experiences and are learning the same values,” said Nell Bartkowiak, a co-leader of Troop 10323 and an organizer of the event.
To further promote the values of Girl Scouts, participants at the event also donated school supplies to InterFaith Works of Syracuse for refugee families. Participants were also able to write a letter to a girl whose families recently came to Syracuse as refugees.
“There’s a lot of anxiety for girls who leave their home as refugees and move to a new area,” said Bartkowiak. “Writing a letter is a good way to let these girls feel welcome and teach the importance of recognizing a global community.”
continued — World Thinking Day began in 1926 as a way for Girl Scouts around the world to think, learn about and celebrate each other. According to the Girl Scouts website, this event is celebrated by Girl Scout Troops in 146 countries. World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 22 to celebrate the birthday of Scouting and Guide founder Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, his wife, who was a Chief Guide and a contributor to the development of Girl Scouts. Although the official day celebrated is Feb. 22, many Girl Scout troops around the world celebrate the event on different dates, as the FM Area Girl Scouts did.
Girls from Troop 11014 presented a booth with facts about Egypt, and said they spent many hours drawing two sarcophaguses and were able to teach visitors to their booth hieroglyphics and the history behind the pyramids.
“I love being a Girl Scout, it’s awesome” said Rachel O’Connor, a member of Troop 11014. “I learned a lot from being here today that girls all over the world are similar to me.”
To learn more about the Girl Scouts, go to girlscouts.org.
