As I welcomed four chatty, beautiful members of Girl Scout Troop 566 into the studio for some shooting time, I couldn’t help but think of my own Girl Scout memory from childhood. There was a father-daughter sleepaway camp and I have vivid memories of going canoeing, learning to tie knots, and spending the evening eating popcorn and watching the starlit sky with my dad. This is one of the only memories I have of father-daughter time, and I can still smile thinking about my dad snoring in our shared cabin as I desperately tried to sleep.
It’s experiences like these that make The Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa such a profound organization. Not only do they provide girls with invaluable skills and a place to cultivate relationships, but they carve a path for memories like mine that will pop up on the most difficult days and bring a smile to your face.
The impact of being a Girl Scout was reaffirmed after chatting with the four troop members: Journey, Emily, Imani, and Hoda. These tweens (ah, remember what a fun time that was?!) shared fond memories of rock climbing, camping, adventuring, and just hanging out with their troop; a troop that has become more like family. Journey, age 12, shared her favorite Girl Scout experience of going rock climbing. She was scared to do it, but her troop helped her make it to the top. Hoda, age 13, told me about going to Camp Sacajawea and building gingerbread houses. She said, “I just loved hanging out.”
That’s the beauty of each troop. They bring together girls that would have no other way of cultivating relationships with one another. Troop leaders Jessie Phillips and Jill Tobin said each of the girls go to different middle schools. The Girl Scouts provide a safe and nurturing atmosphere to foster and grow their relationships with one another. Leader Jessie Phillips said her best memories of the troop are the times when they just hang out, like at their breakfast movie gatherings.
So what’s the story behind the Girl Scouts? I’ll let their words take it from here:
“We're 2.5 million strong—more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world.
Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.”
Join the Ivory House Photography team in supporting the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa and help make a direct impact for thousands of girls in Iowa. We will be holding sixty $100 Headshots, giving away $10 from each of these session fees. In addition to this, we will be giving $5 from every additional extra file purchased from your session.
Get on the waiting list to be the first to know when the sign ups go live on March 18th!
UPDATE: WE WERE SUCCESSFUL!!! 60 people showed up to donate to the Girl Scouts of Iowa. 50 of those fabulous faces are pictured below! Thanks for supporting our community and helping us raise $1200 for girls in our state!
