By Mary Pritchard, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Carol Swiss joined Girl Scouts when she was 7 years old as a member of the first Brownie troop in Binghamton, N.Y. She remained a Girl Scout through high school, reaching the level of Senior Scouts. She recalls doing many of the things today's Girl Scouts do.
“We went camping, sold cookies, performed community service, marched in parades,” she said. “Cookies were 25 cents a box then. We visited the local orphanage and made gifts; we made little red capes and hoods to wear when we sang at nursing homes. Girl Scouts was a wonderful introduction to community service.”
Carol took some time out of scouting to study sociology at Cornell University. Her career path included social work and working for an airline, but she would make a return to her beloved Girl Scouts.
“I became a professional Girl Scout, which means I was employed by Girl Scouts. I was a field director in Allentown, Penn.? I directed day camps, visited troops, met with troop leaders, taught and supported leaders, and also spent a summer as an assistant director of a resident camp in the Poconos,” she said.
When her husband, Tim, was relocated to Springfield, she continued in her position as a field director in Springfield. Wherever life and work took the young family, Girl Scouts was there, and Carol remained involved.
“We moved to Marlborough and I was a neighborhood chairman,” she said. “When we moved to Shrewsbury, I held the same job. I was also a waterfront director and I directed a family camp at Camp Green Eyrie for eight years.”
Carol was working part-time at the Shrewsbury Public Library and had three school-aged children when she decided to go to Simmons College for a library degree.? Although no longer employed with the Girl Scouts, she remained a member.
“The summer after I retired, I went to the annual meeting and discovered there was a need for assistance with the waterfront of day camp. I jumped in and had five wonderful summers at Camp Laurelwood.”
She now attends annual meetings and special occasions. Her Brownie hat is in the museum at the Gold Star Boulevard council office. This past April at the annual meeting in Sturbridge, Carol was recognized for her years in Girl Scouts.
“I was recognized for 65 years,? Marcia Pereira was honored for 45 years, and Marsha Cramer for 55 years – there were a couple of 70's there too. It makes me proud because I think scouting is so important,” she said. “I believe Girl Scouts enhances a girl's character and development. It's fun, and one makes good friends. There is a wealth of subjects investigated through the badge program – some with an emphasis on future careers. Juliette Low was concerned with widening opportunities for girls. Through Girl Scouts we were introduced to lots of activities that were new for women at that time, like sports. They periodically change the handbook to incorporate new subjects and challenges. I believe new ground has to be broken, but I's glad to know some traditions are still followed. I have great memories and have met so many people. I still keep in touch with friends I'se met through Girl Scouts ?It's a good feeling to have lots of Girl Scouts around and know you'se a part of a great organization.”
Carol said her daughter and granddaughters have had some involvement with Girl Scouts. She noted that, as an adult, she experienced the most memorable thing that happened to her in Girl Scouts.
“When I was about 11 years old, I learned the Chalet song at camp and I thought I's like to go to the Girl Scout Chalet in Switzerland,” she said. “In the early 1990's, I traveled there with group of adult Girl Scouts. We sat around the fire overlooking the valley – it was a very memorable occasion that I had been thinking about for such a long time. It felt good.”