When the pandemic changed how Girl Scouts were meeting, from in person to virtual, Julie Hofman knew she was going to have to spend time pivoting and altering her troop plans as she was doing for her family and her work as a school teacher. There were tough decisions to cancel upcoming troop meetings, cookie booth sales and troop trips. But maintaining a sense of normalcy during a time that was very stressful to the girls, was her top priority.
“I wanted the girls to know that they still had Girl Scouts,” Julie said. “A place where they could be supported and share honest conversations about what they’re feeling.”
Julie, with the help of other parent volunteers, eventually figured things out and kept up-to-date on the guidelines set by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast when it came to meetings and gatherings.
“In the beginning of the stay at home period, we were just meeting virtually,” she said. “Then, in June, we were able to have outdoor gatherings with limited numbers of girls while following safety guidelines like wearing masks and social distancing. The girls were so happy when we participated in the summer’s Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day and were able to go to York State Park and interact with the rangers on activities.”
Organizing the trip to York State Park was relatively easy for Julie, since her oldest daughter, Ariel, worked with park staff while earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, a project where she built Mason bee shelters.
“Getting girls outdoors and helping them learn about nature and the environment has always been a goal for me as a Girl Scout volunteer,” Julie said. “I was thrilled when my own daughter, Ariel, did a Gold Award project that focused on bees and issues around their survival. My younger daughter, Audrey, and the other girls in my current troop look up to her as a role model. While she’s in college now, she still has been able to help with the troop on occasion.”
Julie’s daughter, Audrey who is in middle school, likes having her mom as her Girl Scout leader and a big sister as a Girl Scout alum. She, too, has been involved in community service projects to earn Girl Scout awards. Two years ago, she earned the Girl Scout Junior Bronze Award, for making shelters for a nonprofit, Community Cats, and teaching the community about their Trap-neuter-release program. This year, Audrey is starting work on her Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award in Girl Scouting. And is leading a project for the youth in her community. They are creating kindness rocks and spreading positive messaging throughout the area.
Audrey also joined her troop during the past year to help out during the pandemic, the girls made greeting cards and flowers for shut ins and the elderly, and they have collected food for area food pantries. Now, the girls are selling Girl Scout Cookies and asking customers to buy boxes that can be donated to the USO.
“I think volunteering is very important and important for our kids to learn,” Julie said. “I know that steady volunteering, even at a minimum, raises self-confidence and reduces negative behaviors. It's never too early to get kids involved in volunteering!”
Thanks to volunteers like Julie who are taking time to change their way of work and become familiar with new ways, girls are continuing to have the Girl Scout experience. There's comfort in what’s familiar, and by continuing troop traditions—whatever they may be—volunteers are reminding girls that they’re still on solid ground, no matter what headlines they’re reading.
“As adults involved in our communities, we need to encourage children to look for the wonder and excitement in the world around them, even if it might seem a bit scary right now,” Julie emphasizes. “Mix it up. Help kids organize a “field trip,” and take them to places they might not see in person. There are plenty of free virtual tours and livestreaming performances. Get other adult volunteers from the community to share their talent. A yoga teacher, a musician, storyteller or artist. For me, the important thing as a volunteer is to keep the Girl Scout spirit strong.”
Learn more about Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast here.
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