Last month Amara went on a very special Girl Scout adventure. Amara, along with 7,000 scouts, from all over the country (including Mikaiya from our troop) bridged from Junior to Cadet via walking over the famously beautiful and inspiring, Golden Gate Bridge.
This particular event is a biggie in the world of Girl Scouts. I did not realize when we started 6 years ago, that Girl Scouts from all over the USA work hard to earn money to come to the city by the Bay for their Cadet bridging (and I have learned since that there are similar bridging events all over the US and world). When I learned about this back as a new leader and shared with it Amara we knew that one day she would bridge too. So we both had been looking forward to the GG Bridging for a long time. And it did not disappoint. This may have been one of the best Nor Cal events so far.
What made it so special?
First, we were very fortunate on the morning we got up early and headed out. The typical San Franscisco cold, wind and/or fog were absent. In their place was sun and warm but not hot, temperatures. A perfect day for making the 2 mile walk across the bridge and another several to Crissy Fields where the Scouts were met by booths with games, education informaton and tons of girls with whom they could S.W.A.P.
What is a S.W.A. P. It's a Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Each Scout makes up to a hundred S.W.A.P.S that they exchange with other girls. Amara made safety pins with stones like jade and lapis and thanks to Mikaiya's mom, we attached a piece of paper with a saying, something about dreaming big, and our troop number. Along the bridge and the entire route, girls would stop each other and make a swap.
I was unpreparred for was the amazing creativity from other troops with their S.W.A. P. Rainbows, shrinkydinks with the GGB on them (that was Mikaiya's), directors clapboards from a Burbank troop, pompoms, unicorns and so much more. Each had the troop number and location their troop. Each small enough to attach to safety pins so the girls could attach them to their vests. The best part though was meeting all those girls.
From Washing State to North Carolina; From Indiana to Colorado, Texas, So Cal, Nor Cal and everwhere in between, the girls go to meet other Scouts who made the trek for this most memorable event. All the girls were thoughtful, friendly, considerate and amazing. As a seasoned traveler, it made my heart happy that thousands of young Girl Scout were experiencing travel. There is nothing that can bridge hearts and minds or break down fears and false beliefs like traveling. So not only did the event afford actual bridging up to Cadet but it symbolically it was much, much more.
It really is true, that girls can do anything. It is also true that the Girl Scouts helps the girls to make a positive difference in our world. The amount of energy, excitement, effort and commitment getting to this event and all the fun and learning we had are seeds that were planted and will grow for a lifetime.
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| And, their off! |
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| Local folks knew how lucky we were to have such a clear day in the Bay! The Universe must have been smiling down on all those girls! |
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Mikaiya and Amara mid-span! |
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| S.W.A.P Time! |
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| All along the route, volunters cheered the girls on with signs, bells and more. It was quite heart warming. |
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| The Coast Guard was out teaching water safety |
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| One of the many booths |
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| At the other end!! They did it with smiles non-stop! |
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