Girl Scouts recognized for work with handi-capable adults

May 5th, 2004

Three local high school students earned top honors from Girl Scouts of the Deep South Council for their work with handi-capable adults.

Senior Girl Scouts Robin and Melanie Cain, seniors at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, and Tiffany Williams, a senior at Murphy High School, organized the day camp program "Camp Capable." The Cains, daughters of Tommy and Kim Cain, have been involved in Girl Scouts for 13 years. Williams, daughter of Robert and Kay Williams, has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.

The girls, members of Troop 15, organized the project to fulfill requirements of earning the Gold Award, the highest award given to a Senior Girl Scout. Each Gold Award project encourages leadership, service and development and must include at least 50 hours of work.

They were presented their Gold Award pins and certificates at the Young Women of Excellence luncheon held April 28 at the International Trade Club downtown. Mobile City Councilwoman Connie Hudson was on hand to congratulate the girls for their achievement.

Camp Capable, held Saturday, March 20 at Camp Sid Edmonds in Bay Minette, gave 37 adults from private homes, the Mulherin Home and Volunteers of America the opportunity to experience making crafts, singing songs, hiking and playing games.

Volunteers from the Key Club and Friends of Exceptional Children from the Girl Scouts' high schools also helped at the camp.

The seniors were so touched by the campers' reaction to their project that they hope to make it an annual event for other Girl Scout troops to take on. "It made their day, their life," said Robin Cain. "It was an amazing experience just to see their facial expressions."

Williams' aunt is a member of the Square Dealers, a square dancing organization for handi-capable adults. The group made a presentation at the troop's fall camporee. That weekend, the girls were inspired to plan Camp Capable.

"They gave back to adults instead of children," said Kim Cain, adding that adults are often overlooked. "That's what touched me the most."

Camp Capable sponsors included Electric Sign Service, Cain's Mobility, Cain Electric, Gibbons Company, Service Master, Larry Gates, General Insulations, Gulf Breeze Motel and Frame Shop & Gallery.

Some colleges offer scholarships to Gold Award winners. In-state schools participating include Birmingham-Southern College and Jacksonville State University. Organizations such as the Elks Foundation provide $6,000 each year for eight young women to attend the college of their choice.

All branches of the U.S. military offer Girl Scout Gold Award recipients the opportunity to enter the military at a higher pay-scale rank.

The earliest forerunner to the Gold Award was the Golden Eaglet, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1918 to 1939. To earn this award, a girl had to earn a required number of proficiency badges and be judged by the National Standards Committee on her service and character. Since 1939, two other awards were designated as the highest honor in Girl Scouting before the Gold Award was established after 1980.