When the St. John the Evangelist Daisies were first presented the task of researching any country in the world, they zeroed right in on two choices: Bhutan and Egypt. Those sophisticated choices exemplify the spirit of these 1st grade girls. They are up for any challenge. 

The Daisies delight in an autumn afternoon.

Guided by Kate Leonard, their intrepid Daisy Girl Scout leader, the girls have taken on a number of challenges this year as they began their scouting experience. Whether it was researching a country for World Thinking Day, tackling trash along a wintry Sligo Creek, learning to ice skate, or reaching out to friends and families in need, the Daisies have cultivated many of the qualities that Girl Scouting aims to teach. Along the way, they have experienced the joys of trying new things and of being together in community.

“When I offered to create the first Daisy Girl Scout Troop in the history of St. John the Evangelist, I approached the job with some very simple goals,” explained Leonard. “The primary goal was to provide an opportunity for our 1st grade girls to spend time growing, learning, and having lots of fun together. The secondary goal was to provide a loving atmosphere for the girls' character development. I have always been attracted to educational programs that focus on the human virtues.” 

Those virtues which receive the most intense focus are included in the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law. The Girl Scout Promise is the way Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward one another and other people, and the Law outlines a way to act towards one another and the world: 

The Girl Scout Promise

At World Thinking Day, the Daisies stop by the Brownies’ French bistro.

On my honor, I will try:
     To serve God and my country,
     To help people at all times,
     And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
     honest and fair,
     friendly and helpful,
     considerate and caring,
     courageous and strong, and
     responsible for what I say
and do, and to
     respect myself and others,
     respect authority,
     use resources wisely,
     make the world a better place, and
     be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Over the course of the year, the girls earned “learning petals” that eventually formed—what else?—a Daisy on their uniform. Each petal represents one of the virtues cited in the Girl Scout Law. 

Making the World a Better Place
In February, World Thinking Day provided a great opportunity for learning to “make the world a better place” and to “be a sister to every Girl Scout.” The event, hosted by SJE, brought together several SJE Girl Scout troops as well as troops from St. Andrew the Apostle, Arcola Elementary, and Georgian Forest Elementary schools. For the Daisies, World Thinking Day meant a chance to broaden their knowledge of the world and to learn from the older girls.

Deciding to focus on the Arab Republic of Egypt for their booth, the Daisies learned about the country’s people, culture, religions, and natural features (e.g., the Nile, which is the longest river in the world). The Daisies even learned how to draw their names in hieroglyphs. At the booth, the troop had tasty dates on hand for sampling and gave a “shrinky dink” ankh to each visitor of their booth. The ankh, or “handled cross,” is the ancient Egyptian symbol of life. The exhibit’s crowning touch was a Lego pyramid built by Audrey Leonard and her dad, George.

The Girls Scouts send a “friendship squeeze” around their closing circle.

Traveling from booth to booth to get their “passports” stamped, the girls also learned about France, Mexico, and Germany. SJE Brownie Troop #2936 discussed French culture and cuisine at their bistro and captured everyone’s attention when they presented a dance to the traditional French song, “Sur le pont D’Avignon.” The Daisies loved pairing up with the Brownies to learn all of the verses and moves of the dance.

Along with fun and fellowship, the older girl scouts shared their knowledge about global humanitarian concerns. In keeping with the 2009 World Thinking Day focus on stopping the spread of global diseases, the SJE Juniors and the girls from St. Andrew the Apostle presented booths on malaria and tuberculosis, or TB. The scouts taught the younger girls about these diseases, including their devastating effects on women and children and how the diseases can be prevented and treated.

Joy in Simplicity
World Thinking Day introduced the Daisies to the larger world of Girl Scouting in a fun and engaging way. And thanks to the leadership of “Miss Kate,” the girls had fun all year as they learned to work together and put their virtues into action.

Over the winter, the girls became very concerned about litter and rallied their classmates during recess to scour the playground for trash on more than one occasion. Then, as the brave mom volunteers will tell you, it was a bitterly cold day in January when the Daisies’ determination to clean up their environment led them pick up dozens of used cigarettes and other trash at Sligo Creek. Hot cocoa helped keep the cold at bay.

Another troop meeting found the girls outdoors again, raking leaves, drawing with sidewalk chalk, devising a swing using nothing but a rope and two trees, and merrily climbing those trees. If there is anything the Daisies like more than being together, it is being out in nature together.

“Fortunately, the Daisies get along really well together. St. John the Evangelist School has already provided them with ample opportunities to practice their virtues,” reflected Leonard. “On those rare occasions when we have a conflict or a tired, cranky Daisy, I try to remind them of the virtuous way a Girl Scout is supposed to behave. Speaking the language of virtues to children has proven to be a powerful way to encourage their best behavior.” 

“They are the most loving, fun group of children with whom I've had the pleasure to play and learn. By keeping the Daisy program simple and fun, I've had one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Leonard said. 

As the mom of one of Miss Kate’s Daisies, I can attest to the rewards of witnessing the girls’ simple but profound joie de vivre as they enjoyed each others’ company and followed their curiosity about the world. Many thanks to Kate for leading the way with such cheerfulness and grace. To all of the Daisies—Anna, Audrey, Cecilia, Chantal, Emma, Kathryn, Ryann, Sophia, and Teresa—your energy and enthusiasm will serve you well as you become Brownies!

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To learn more about Girl Scouting opportunities at St. John the Evangelist, please contact Marie Schech at mbcsmks@earthlink.net.