National Girl Scout Day is being recognized in Bakersfield with a look at the organization’s history, its local programs and the annual cookie sale that helps fund opportunities for girls across Kern County.
At the Girl Scouts’ Innovation Center in Bakersfield, displays highlight more than a century of Girl Scouting, including early cookie recipes and how uniforms and programs have evolved over the decades, from Brownies to Juniors and beyond.
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Shannon Pamiza, vice president of Philanthropy and Community Partnerships with the Girl Scouts of Central California South, said local businesses can support girls through the cookie donor buyout program. Through the program, businesses purchase cookies and can donate them to a local organization of their choice or to “local heroes, first responders, teachers,” while also supporting Girl Scouts’ goals.
The Innovation Center is nearing its second year in operation and is designed as a place for girls to gather, learn and build skills. Pamiza described it as “a really fun, beautiful space for the girls to come and be safe and have a good time and meet other girls and learn skills along the way.”
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One area inside the center, the Girl Lounge, was designed by Girl Scouts themselves. Pamiza said girls chose the furniture, the colors on the wall and the ceiling panels.
The “Girl Lounge” room located at Girl Scouts Innovation Center. This is the room many of the girls meet, hangout, and allow their creativity to come alive
Girl Scouts have expanded access through partnerships with organizations throughout Kern County and beyond, including Bakersfield Angels’ Daughters Project, the Chowchilla Women’s Correctional Facility and after-school partnerships with certain school districts. The goal Pamiza says, is to bring Girl Scouting to girls who “normally wouldn’t have access.”
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As part of the National Girl Scout Day celebration, Girl Scout Cadet Millie spoke about what she has learned from selling cookies. “I’ve learned how to respond to saying no, and to be an entrepreneur and to be a good sales person and giving good sales pitch,” she said. When asked which cookie is her top seller, she had no hesitation to say “Thin Mints hands down,” she said. “Thin Mints are the best seller and the most popular.”
Mille herself is already on the road to excellence, she has over 10 badges , is currently studying Japanese, and has plans on visiting planet Mars. She started her Girl Scout journey as a daisy and picking up new skills, building up confidence, and making new friends.
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Millie also encouraged girls considering joining to embrace creativity and explore careers where women are underrepresented. “I would just say, have fun and be creative,” she said, adding that girls should “try to venture where female jobs aren’t that popular, like, let’s say, for example, a pilot or an artist.”
Memorabilia on the walls displaying some of the history of Girl Scouts PHOTO: KBAK
Girl Scouts is open to students from kindergarten through high school seniors. For those interested in joining or learning more about the Innovation Center here in Bakersfield, You can visit www.girlscoutsccs.org, and community members can also call the Innovation Center for help.