A Partnership Between AAUW and the Girl Scouts
Contact: Peggy Kelland, Chair initiative.aauw.poughkeepsie@gmail.com
Extending Girls’ Horizons meets throughout the school year and although offerings vary from year to year, typical programs include relationship skills, crafts, cooking, international connections, forensic science, public speaking, map and compass skills, and astronomy.
We welcome all AAUW members and friends to suggest topics, serve on the planning committee, and help with programs – a perfect one time volunteer opportunity!
Extending Girls’ Horizons offers a variety of stand-alone monthly events and short event series in leadership development and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) to girls in grades 6-12 throughout Dutchess County and surrounding area. Extending Girls’ Horizons is a collaboration between AAUW and the Girl Scouts. AAUW provides the programming and venues, while the Girl Scouts provide girls, chaperones, transportation, and insurance. The Girl Scouts’ mission statement, “To build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place” made them a natural partner with AAUW in this initiative.
Events for 2023-24
We have had a busy year in our collaboration with the Girl Scouts.
On November 3, new AAUW member Kathy Prisco taught the Woodworking badge to 23 girls from 5 different troops. Assisted by AAUW members Lynda Bryne, Kathy Friedman, Sue Kinney, Gwen Higgins and Peggy Kelland, the girls learned to saw, sand, stain, and nail to create a plaque.
On December 20, Gwen’s daughter, Ginnia Hargins, gave a demonstration and lesson in samba dance. Several AAUW members joined 7 girls from 3 troops and their leaders in participating.
New AAUW member (and 60-year Girl Scout member) Pam Terwilliger taught First Aid to 19 girls from 7 troops. Peggy and Gwen helped organize this February 23 event.
March 8 had the annual repeat of the ever-popular New Cuisines badge workshop. Girl Scout Leaders Jenn Weisel and Amy Caba, together with AAUW members Norma Vasquez, Gwen Higgins, Kathy Friedman, Lynda Byrne, Ann Pinna, and Peggy Kelland planned, shopped, and taught four stations, making 12 different recipes for a five-course menu, prepared and enjoyed by 22 girls from 4 troops.
Although most troops come from Poughkeepsie, Wappingers, and Fishkill, we also had girls from Hyde Park, Pleasant Valley, East Fishkill, Highland, Newburgh, Carmel, Putnam Valley, Cold Spring, and New Rochelle. All events were held on Friday evenings at Zion Episcopal Church in Wappingers Falls.
Events held in 2022-2023
“Map and compass workshop” at Bowdoin Park led by Dave Beck.
“International Games” at Zion Episcopal Church in Wappingers Falls. Gwen Higgins and Peggy Kelland led group and cooperative games as well as and sharing math and word board and card games.
“Woodworking” at Episcopal Church in Wappingers Falls. The project was making string art plaques.
The Girl Scout Journey “A-Maze”. Gwen Higgins and Peggy Kelland welcomed 32 Girl Scouts in grades 6-8 and 7 adult leaders to an all-day exploration of social relationships: first impressions, stereotyping, friendship circles, cliques, bullying, etc. through large group games, small group discussions, and journaling.
“New Cuisines” at Zion Episcopal Church. Twenty-three girls from Wappingers, Poughkeepsie, and Millbrook prepared historical, regional, and international dishes. They also learned table etiquette and decorated their places. After the preparation, we enjoyed a buffet of 14 different recipes.
“Animal Helpers” at Zion Episcopal Church. We presented a badge workshop, “Animal Helpers”, to over 40 Cadette Girl Scouts from Poughkeepsie, Wappingers, and Fishkill. Marilyn Hill, a trainer of therapy dogs for over 25 years, and the lieutenant training K-9 Unit dogs for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department, both came with their dogs and spoke to the girls. Gwen Higgins told them about Rosie, the Childrens Home dog who appears in court with victims of abuse, and has a law named for her. Peggy Kelland told of Princess, a guiding eye dog who accompanied a Peace Corps Volunteer to Honduras. Kathy Friedman assisted.
“Special Agent” at Zion Episcopal Church. A badge workshop entitled “Special Agent” about forensic science was held for 23 Girl Scouts from 3 Cadette troops. The four stations, featuring hands-on experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology, were taught by Lynda Byrne, Kathy Friedman, Norma Vazquez, and Peggy Kelland.
Scenes from “New Cuisines” at Zion Episcopal Church
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- Table set for feast
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- The banquet
A-Maze Workshops
“A-Maze,” a full day event offered twice each winter since 2015, is a Girl Scout Journey in a Day for middle school girls on social relationships. First impressions, friendships, peer pressure, cliques vs. circles of belonging, and bullying are explored through games, small group discussions, and journaling.
Scenes from the A-Maze workshops:
Scenes from a Beading Workshop, where the participants made an item for themselves and a like one for a resident at Grace Smith House, a shelter for abused women.
