Girl Scout Event

An Overwhelming Success

To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those individuals that made the recent Girl Scout Camperee “Making Choices” such an overwhelming success. Many of the activities and planning were the hard work of high school-aged girls.

I would like to first thank Rebecca Gellis and Nicole Kaza of Girl Scout Troop 478 and Nick Paproski for all their help in organizing the craft activities, making the organizational lists, running the headquarters station at the camperee, doing all the scheduling of troops and activities, and taking care of the financial matters. They also were liaisons between headquarters and the troops as leaders or girls needed to be contacted. Later in the day Nicole and Nick ran the handicapped awareness station. Another student that needs recognition is Tom Monckton, who organized the wood safety area. He made all the behind-the-scenes decisions that allowed the event to run so smoothly. The girls of Girl Scout Troop 382, Sasha Mastrocinque, Sarah Kaechele, Floren Schertzer, and Christina Kolonaris, planned the cooking event. They had to work on menus, shopping lists, and preparations.

The camperee could not have been possible without the cooperation of George Lockwood, Sr. When George heard that the girls needed a location he immediately made it possible for the neighborhood to use the SAC field. Without this immediate response, the camperee may not have been able to take place.

Outside volunteers made many activities possible. Mr Donald Monckton, Troop leader of BSA Troop 770, utilized his expertise with children and his background with the outdoors to provide a wonderful activity stressing safety with various tools: jackknife, bow saw, sledge, and wedge. Mrs Kathy Cunningham volunteered to run the handicapped awareness station. Mrs Tracy Van Buskirk willingly took on the lashing activity running the fishing for Red Snapper event. We appreciate Denise Ewer providing on-site nursing care. The Newtown Academy of Karate provided a wonderful all-woman demonstration of their expertise. The Algonquin Archers of Woodbury gave a wonderfully inclusive lesson for the Cadette and Senior Girls. The troop leaders of Troop 382, Karen Kaechele, Janis Schertzer, and Adell Mastrocinque kept the food cooking throughout the day. They also made certain that my turkey was cooking and not burning. A special thanks goes to the Medicine Wheel Dancers of Bethel. They are a Venture Crew sponsored by the Boy Scouts, which learns native dances and then provides demonstrations to interested groups. A wonderful woman from Monroe came and told native stories. She had the girls up and dancing to a strong beat of the drum. Meanwhile, a turkey vulture came and circled above her as she played. DARE officer Dana Schubert came to talk to the scouts about issues relating to making choices and the outcomes that can occur. He made the talk very personal to the girls and took time to answer the questions as they arose. Girl Scouting offers an opportunity for the girls to learn to live to their fullest potential. Thank you to all that made this event possible.

This camperee would not have been successful without the cooperation and enthusiasm of every leader and adult present. Certainly a very special thank you needs to go to Toni Baranowski for volunteering to co-chair this event. Her personal views and philosophy blended with my goals and the results were spectacular.

Debra Kaza

Camperee Co-Chairman, Newtown Recognition Chairman

4 Clearview Drive, Sandy Hook                                   October 16, 2001