ABOVE: Alongside more serious and challenging opportunities, Martin County Girl Scouts always make sure to put together some fun times, like they did here at Kato Escape Room. From left: Clara Harri-Moenkedick, Leader Nicole Mercier, Marcy Meyer, Mackenzie Williams, Delila Tino, Leader Betsy Tino and Zayda Lindsay. Submitted photo.

FAIRMONT – With 67 members in grades K-12, Martin County Girl Scouts is continuing to act on its mission statement of building girls of courage, confidence and character.

The scouts are separated into 12 troops, based on grade level. Martin County Girl Scouts Community Recruiter and Treasurer Nancy Klemek said a big part of what they do revolves around leadership opportunities.

“We offer a lot of badges,” she said. “Within the community here, we do a lot of activities they can participate in as a larger group. They do individual things in their troops. The girls choose what they want to do within their troop. They can choose which badge they want to do. They can choose which activities they want to do.”

Klemek has been involved with Martin County Girl Scouts since 1990, and was a scout herself as a child. Across her decades of experience, she said the change in opportunities available is the biggest difference.

“We stay current with the times,” Klemek said. “We also offer the basics. We have outdoor badges, a variety of them, camping, primitive camping, hiking, snow type stuff. We do arts and crafts, cyber security, mechanics, car care. There’s something for everybody, and it varies depending on what age they are at.”

In seeing countless girls come and go through Girl Scouts and take advantage of these opportunities, she said the impact has been major in several areas.

“They learn to be independent,” Klemek said. “They’ve learned to speak up for themselves. They’ve tried things they would not necessarily have tried otherwise. It’s a really nice opportunity for girls to branch out, meet other people and potentially even go places where they wouldn’t have gone before.”

One of the most recent changes to Girl Scouts is the replacement of Journeys, which Klemek said were more comprehensive leadership programs. While the previous way had served them in their goals, Klemek said being able to shift is necessary for the future.

“We’re shifting into a different type of leadership awards for girls,” she said. “It’s shifting the form in which we are going to be providing those opportunities to the girls, and we try to adapt to what the girls are used to. Girl Scouts is always adapting to the changing times.”

One thing that certainly has not changed is the sale of Girl Scout cookies, which runs until early spring. Klemek said the program features pricing determined by the Martin County Girl Scout Council, and girls approach sales however they choose, although they do receive some assistance.

“We have a cookie rally every year that teaches them all the ins and outs of the cookies,” she said. “What are the cookie varieties? What do they taste like? Hw do you approach customers? What do you say if somebody says no? How do you run a cookie booth? How do you count money? And now everything is digital, so parents have to learn how to take online payments.”

By selling cookies, Klemek said it helps the girls learn leadership skills from a business state of mind.

ABOVE: Members of the Martin County Girl Scouts learn archery skills, with the help of Fairmont Phy Ed Teacher Chris Engleby. From left: Melenie Gonzalez, Ashlynn Willner, Instructor Chris Engleby, Student Assistant Leader Madison Sokoloski, Emma Byers, Nevaeh Curry and Amelia Spicer. Submitted photo.

“Think entrepreneurship,” she said. Think, if you’re a retail person, they start by making their own personal goals, and that’s up to them. They try and develop a troop goal. They keep track of this as they sell. They’re learning to speak up for themselves, be polite and be able to present their case. The public speaking part of it is really important.”

On top of this, Martin County Girl Scouts also has National Girl Scout Week on the brain. The week runs from March 9-15, but Klemek said they started early with an event they did two weeks ago.

“It’s called Thinking Day,” she said. “We have an event that we’re thinking about Girl Scouts all around the world. This year, we had a foreign exchange student from Slovakia who came and talked to the girls, so they found out about a different country.”

If they choose to, Klemek said Girl Scout troops can have a proclamation signed by city council, or bring a basket of items for the first baby girl born during National Girl Scout Week.

Overall, Klemek said Martin County Girl Scouts is trending in a positive direction.

“We’ve been doing really well since COVID in trying to build up our numbers,” she said. “We see ourselves growing, doing more and getting out in the community more. It relies on the girls and the girls bringing their friends. It also relies on leaders. If you don’t have leaders, you don’t have troops, and we really appreciate the strong leaders that we have.”

Their biggest goal moving forward is to continue finding more members. While this is applicable across all age ranges, Klemek said they are looking to add to their 9-12 grade troop numbers.

“As long as we can grow our membership and keep our good leaders, we’re in good shape,” she said.

For more information or to inquire about participating or volunteering, call Klemek at 507-399-9687. To ask about Girl Scout cookies, you can call Klemek or Judy Botzet at 507-236-2540.

Girl Scout cookies are currently being sold at Hy-Vee Friday nights and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fareway on Saturdays, and occasionally at Bomgaars. DaVinci’s Barber Shop also has Girl Scouts selling cookies Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.