MADISON, Wis. — Dozens of Girl Scouts took over the state capitol Saturday for the organization’s 110th anniversary.
Governor Tony Evers declared Saturday Girl Scout Day throughout the state of Wisconsin. That brought troops, volunteers and staff to the capitol.
Daisies, Brownies and Juniors worked together to solve scavenger hunts in the building.
When asked what the organization has given her throughout her life, Deb Biechler from Necedah got a big smile on her face.
“Oh my gosh,” the volunteer said. “Well I was a Girl Scout as a child, and it’s given me purpose, direction, thoughtfulness.”
She encouraged others to volunteer their time. She said there are tons of ways to help that don’t even involve direct interaction with the kids.
Biechler has seen the impact the organization has had on young girls.
“Girl Scouts can go on to do such great things,” she said. “Two of the girls from my troop ended up working for Girl Scouts as adults. One runs all the Girl Scout camps in Alaska.”
This was one of the only times over the last two years that so many girls from different troops across the state could gather and hang out together.
“After the last two years, it is an absolute joy to see the girls in person,” said Girl Scout Badgerland CEO Marci Henderson. “Oh my gosh, my heart is full.”
While the girls celebrated, all the adults did too.
“When I was growing up, I was a military child. And so I moved from community to community to community every year,” said Girl Scouts Manitou CEO Denise Schemenauer.
“Every year I had a new school, and I had new friends, and I had new houses, and new teachers,” Schemenauer added. “But every place I went I had the Girl Scouts. I had the same uniform, I had the same program I had the sisterhood that I was building. And so for me, Girl Scouting was a constant, the constant in my life.”
Madalynn Mrotek, who is 8-years-old, liked showing off her badges. She loves camping with her troop.
“I like that there’s so much fun that you can have, all the adventures,” Mrotek said.