Silver Sage Girl Scouts blossom with needs-based curriculum

For seven-year-old Rebekah, finding the “bone thief” in one of her troop's favorite games, Doggy Doggy Where's Your Bone?, was a snap.

"I have a good autism brain," she said. Like many children with autism, Rebekah has heightened senses which allow her to easily identify walking patterns and footsteps.

Rebekah is a part of the council’s first all-adaptive troop. Led by Cassandra C. and Renee W., the troop is made up of 1st through 4th grade Treasure Valley girls who have conditions ranging from autism spectrum disorders (include Asperger's), DiGeorge syndrome (a chromosome disorder) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  Despite their various ages, all girls in the troop are working at a 1st grade level.

"I wanted to start this troop because of my daughter, Rebekah,” troop leader, Cassandra, said. Cassandra's older daughter is also a Girl Scout, but Cassandra knew that Rebekah wouldn't be able to function in a traditional troop.

Two years ago, Cassandra worked with Silver Sage council staff member, Martha Snyder, to get her troop up and running. Since then, she has been learning by trial and error to adapt Girl Scout curriculum and activities to fit the needs of her troop.

Like all troops, the girls begin each meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. They are currently finishing the Daisy curriculum, constructing SWAPS for World Thinking Day on Feb. 22 and learning about England. Game time is a favorite among the troop, specifically the snowball fight where the girls throw small foam balls at one another.

"The little things matter to this troop,” Cassandra said.

While the girls are not yet able to work on more in-depth badges, they still earn basic badges and patches through participation in zoo days, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving parades, and other Girl Scout activities and programming. They are also selling cookies for the first time this year.  The girls hope to earn money for new uniforms as they are bridging to become Brownies this spring.

Since the troop began in 2012, Cassandra has witnessed the girls blossom in several ways.

"I've taken pictures each year to document their growth. Look at their expressions. In the first and second photo, you can see their inner growth and maturity over the year,” she said.

For many of the girls in the Adaptive Troop, Girl Scouts is one of the few activities that are specifically tailored for them, allowing them to increase their self-esteem and social skills.

"They've all gotten more confident in themselves and who they are. A lot of people do things for them and they never get a chance to do things on their own. Girl Scouts gives them a chance to try new things,” Cassandra said.

To learn more about the Adaptive Troop or how to become involved, please contact Girl Scouts of Silver Sage at (208) 377-2011.