MADISON – Girl Scout troops in Madison currently are recruiting members for a year of fun-filled and educational sessions.

“Just because it’s 2020 doesn’t mean your daughter can’t still be part of an all-girl community offering her stability and amazing opportunities,” Troop 708 Leader Beth Crocker said. “Our Girl Scout year officially started Oct. 1.”

With current constraints, “I bet you can guess … our numbers are lower compared to last year. Usually, we conduct a special event for the little pre-kindergarten girls in spring to get them excited for possibly joining Daisies as they enter kindergarten,” Crocker said. “That didn’t happen.”

School liaisons for Scouts attend all elementary open houses to share with families about benefits of joining Scouts. “That didn’t happen,” Crocker said. “Then, at the beginning of the school year, most Madison City elementary PTAs have graciously let us put flyers in folders to send home to parents. For some reason, the district isn’t allowing that to happen this year.”

Since March, Crocker’s troop has met with Zoom on most Wednesdays to keep a normal-as-possible routine. When school started, they switched to twice monthly. “Most weeks, I drove all around Madison delivering kits to my girls so we could do activities together. My troop parents were so appreciative,” Crocker said.

Madison has about 40 Girl Scout troops with almost 400 Scouts. “As guidelines have loosened a little, we are meeting now in person at Asbury United Methodist Church. Girl Scouts USA has COVID guidelines we follow for every meeting/event,” Crocker said.

“Don’t think we just do crafts and gardening,” she said. Crocker’s troop will visit Huntsville Botanical Garden to earn the Junior Gardening Badge (grades 4/5) for “an all-outdoor event we’re really looking forward to.” In September, they helped with food distribution and painted rocks for the River of Hope.

Several Scouts in Crocker’s troop are completing their Bronze Awards. They have installed hopscotch games at Rainbow, West Madison and Columbia elementary schools and at Asbury in appreciation for sponsoring Girl Scouts.

This year in all levels of grades K-12, Girl Scouts USA released new badges, including automotive design; engineering and mechanics; and democracy. Madison Councilwomen Connie Spears and Ranae Bartlett will teach “Democracy for Juniors” and “Inside Government” to Troop 708 in November.

Troops will have a bring-a-friend party for a Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts.

“One great addition to our programming is Trefoil Trunk, a monthly subscription for a box full of activities and badges to earn,” Crocker said. “Madison City and Triana (can) have a virtual troop during this crazy time.”

For more information, email Crocker at betty82402@gmail.com or visit su212madisonal.wordpress.com or girlscoutsnca.org.