If your kid has been asking about Girl Scouts, Penn Lake Library is the place to be tonight. Girl Scouts River Valleys is hosting an open house there on Monday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. It's for children who want to learn about the program before they commit.
Organizers said local Girl Scouts and volunteers will be on hand to walk families through what area troops offer. Families who decide to join will also get a membership discount. The library is at 8800 Penn Ave. S., the same building where you've probably returned an overdue book or 2.
If you're doing the math before you show up: the council says Girl Scouts is open to kids in kindergarten through 12th grade. Membership costs $65 a year, and the membership year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, so early October is a natural time to start. Families who need help can get financial assistance without any documentation, according to the council. That help can cover membership fees, troop dues, uniforms, supplies, events and camp.
Kids can join at any point in the year, so missing tonight doesn't mean waiting until next fall. The council suggests filling out an interest form to hear about troops near you, or going to another try-out event. Kids who don't land in a troop can also take part on their own as a Juliette. All of those options are on the council's Become a Girl Scout page.
Girl Scouts River Valleys runs troops across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its events calendar lists the rest of the fall's programming, including a New Leader Orientation on Oct. 28 for parents who'd rather lead a troop than just drive to one.
