Girl Scouts sparked my interest in the outdoors. My first weekends away from home as a kid were to an annual Girl Scout camp hosted by Arizona Cactus Pines Council, and later to a Girl Scout summer camp I signed up for to continue the fun. Without Girl Scouts, I would never have learned how to build a fire by myself or have shared in the joys of kayaking, archery, or how to cook things like spaghetti on a fire without a pot. Most importantly, Girl Scouts was a place where I got to experience new things I would never have encountered at home, and to do so by my own volition. Girl Scouts was a place where I felt comfortable in self-discovery as a kid. My wish is that Girl Scouts continues this safe haven of exploration by integrating an intersectional approach to programming and culture for Gen Z and beyond.
