/Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
/Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
This Wednesday, the Girl Scouts of Michigan will meet at the Goei Center for the very first Badge Bash. The event offers adults the opportunity to participate in activities to earn traditional Girl Scout badges. The event is open to men and women over the age of 21.
The Badge Bash is the first of its kind in Michigan. While the Girl Scouts hosts traditional fundraising luncheons and dinners, the Badge Bash was created for young professionals and the young at heart.
"It is based off of a couple of events our fellow Girl Scout councils provide in Arizona and California. They do an outdoor, western-themed party and we took their success and put our razzle dazzle to the concept and Badge Bash evolved," says Jennifer Wilson, director of fund development and communications with Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore.
Over 20 badges will be available to earn from different categories. Among those, a cooking badge will be earned by those who prepare s'mores bruschette. A publishing badge will be awarded to those who can pose as a potential Women's Lifestyle cover model. The West Michigan Whitecaps will present a sports badge to those who learn how to pitch.
"It’s a way for [former Girl Scouts] to relive their experience they had as a child in an adult environment," says Wilson. In addition to welcoming alumnae, the Badge Bash is open to guests of all genders. "For those who did not have the fortune to be a Girl Scout, it provides the opportunity to understand more completely how we build girls' courage, confidence and character – basically instilling them with life and leadership skills to be the next generation of community advocates."
Girl Scouts events today offer a broad range of programs. From science and technology training, anti-bullying programs and even media and television training, donations from the Badge Bash sponsor a wide variety of programs to train and help empower girls in the Grand Rapids area.
"We are not your mother’s Girls Scout council, that is for certain. Sure, we still earn badges, be crafty and attend camp," says Wilson. "We are so much more. Our programming includes a focus on topics like STEM, since those industries are in desperate need of more people – not to mention significantly more women."
"We try to expand the boundaries in which girls think is possible. It’s okay to dream big. And, we provide a safe environment for them to succeed and fail. It’s all part of our mission to instill values and skills into our future leaders," says Wilson.
"We hope Badge Bash will highlight some of the skills and values we instill in the girls as well as fund some of the unique, valuable and innovative programming we provide," says Wilson. "We are a nonprofit organization that relies on the support of the communities we serve. We hope this a fun night out that beats the winter blues and helps build those girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place."
The Badge Bash will take place at the Goei Center from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday February 26. Tickets start at $30. RSVP here.
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