OSWEGO – Girl Scout leader Kim Westcott gathered Girl Scout Cadettes and Seniors from several Central New York troops on a recent evening on Oswego’s West Pier for lessons about event planning, budgeting, organization and leadership.
Their classroom was the H. Lee White Maritime Museum.
Together, these girls helped to shape one of the museum’s signature summer events, Kids Pirate Day.
Westcott said she crossed paths with museum executive director Mercedes Niess a number of times over the last few years.
Niess, herself a former scout leader, suggested Westcott use the museum as a resource for the troops.
That suggestion led to the involvement of Westcott’s girl scouts to assist with several of the museum’s programs.
“We are very focused on serving the community,” said Westcott, who counsels her Girl Scouts to always watch and listen for ways they can serve. “I ask them to identify the needs of their community and then discuss how we can respond. That advice led to her troops marching with the museum’s Oswego Lighthouse float in Oswego’s annual Independence Day Parade, helping to plant flowers in advance of the summer opening, and hosting the museum’s Christmas at Sea program.”
A year ago, the girls took on a larger task, the planning and execution of the museum’s summer Kids’ Pirate Day.
Westcott said her troop learned so much from that experience that she opened the project up to a coalition of Girl Scouts from several Central New York troops.
These girls are now working on shaping this summer’s Pirate Day event and they are earning their Service to Community Bar in the process.
Two of the Oswego Girl Scouts, Aurora Lawton and Celeste Mulcahey, are leading their fellow Girl Scout sisters, and working toward the Silver Torch Award for Leadership.
Niess said this project is particularly satisfying to her, not just as a former scout and scout leader herself, but more importantly because it demonstrates the power of the museum to provide a unique educational experience for members of the community.
The event utilizes the entire pier with activity stations throughout from the boating center to the vessels and the main building.
“These girls are now assuming the responsibility for leading and organizing the event,” said Niess. “They are analyzing last year’s event to determine how best to shape the event for the coming year. They are learning how to do budgeting, event organizing and promotion. We are providing a living classroom and hands-on learning for these girls who will likely grow up to be the future leaders of our community.”
Located on the West First Street Pier in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District, winter hours for the Maritime Museum and Treasure Chest Gift Shop are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., weekends by appointment.
For more information on ways local youth leaders and educators can work with the H. Lee White Maritime Museum on learning experiences, contact the museum at (315) 342-0480, or visit www.hlwmm.org
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