By Stephen Leganewseditor@lebanonenterprise.com

In 1912, Juliette “Daisy” Low founded the Girls Scouts in Georgia. The 100th anni-versary of the Girls Scouts is being marked nationally with the posthumous presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Low.

Locally, the Girl Scouts are marking the first century of scouting with a celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, under the pavilion near the aquatic center at Graham Memorial Park. Sunday’s celebration will include cup-cake decorating, a scavenger hunt, historical board, scrap-booking, Girl Scout fashions from the past, and miscella-neous activities to keep every-one entertained, according to Mallie Lanham.

Girls will also have the opportunity to ask questions of Gold Award scouts in atten-dance. The Gold Award has been the highest level in the Girl Scouts since 1980.

Marion County’s most recent Gold Award win-ner is Lauren Buckman, 18, who will be graduating from Marion County High School this weekend. She is planning to attend Western Kentucky University, where she will study to become a dental hygienist.

Buckman has been involved in scouting since kindergar-ten.

“They convinced me with all the fun activities they said they were going to do,” she said.

While she had a lot of fun - going on trips to the zoo, the science museum and Chicago and participating in day camps in the summer - Buckman also learned that scouting is about more than just having a good time.

The Girl Scouts teach good morals, but also encourage leadership, opportunities and helping others.

“It means volunteering, serving your community and giving back,” Buckman said.

While Girls Scouts have been around for 100 years, they have been active in Marion County since 1967, according to Carol Carrico.

Carrico, 79, said Marion County didn’t have Girls Scouts when she was growing up, but as an adult she stayed involved in the organization for 45 years. She recalled that Irene Thompson and Betty Southall helped to organize the local Girl Scouts, and they asked her to help.

Today, Marion County has

14 troops with more than 120 active members.

Over the years, Carrico said she wore a lot of hats, serving on the council committee, as a troop leader, and in other roles.

“It’s a wonderful program for girls,” she said, “and for adults.”

One of the most important things that Girl Scouting offers is self-confidence. Carrico said even as a college graduate she wasn’t aware what opportuni-ties were available for women, but the Girl Scouts help girls see that they can be whatever they want to be.

This includes involving the scouts in making decisions, both as individuals and as a group. Troops decide what activities they will do, and scouts can pursue a variety of interests, earning badges to show what they have learned and done.

Carrico said scout troops can even decide if they want to sell cookies, but Buckman explained that the cookie sales help fund their activities (such as trips and day camps). Half of the proceeds from cookie sales go the national office, and the other half go to the local chapters.

Buckman remembered making decisions with other members of her troop, but the Gold Award project may exemplify what Girl Scouts are about. In order to complete the award, scouts must conceive, create and complete a project in their community. Buckman decided to make a playground for children near the St. Joseph church and community center, just down the road from where she and her family live. She started working on the project in 2010.

“We had to keep a time log. We had to keep an expense report,” she said. “I had to be

very organized to do that.”While figuring out what

materials were needed and how to install them, Buckman

is quick to acknowledge all the help she received along the way. This included volun-teers who leveled the ground and assisted with putting up

the equipment. She appreci-ated all the help she received throughout the project, which she finished in March.

“I think it’s awesome that

I got the Gold Award on the100th year,” Buckman said. “Ittells everybody how commit-ted Girl Scouts are. It’s a goodway to get girls involved.”

A2 NEWS • the lebanon enterprise • wednesday, may 16, 2012

■ SCOUTING

Girl Scouts 100th anniversary is this yearScouts’ honor

Photo by Stephen Lega

Lauren Buckman is Marion County’s most recent Gold Star Award recipient. The Gold Star is the highest level in the Girl Scouts, and she is pictured with her project, a play-ground near the St. Joseph Community Center. The Girl Scouts were founded 100 years ago in Georgia.

Gold Award winners

The Girl Scouts mark their 100th anniversary this year, and sev-eral Marion County scouts have received the Gold Award, the highest level in scouting since 1980.Lauren Buckman, 18, is the most recent Gold Award winner. She is the daughter of Eddie and Mindy Buckman.Other Gold Award winners are:- Brenda Hall, daughter of Barbara and Andy Hall,- Mikki Jo Leathers Bowman, daughter of Dee and Freddie Leathers,- Joy Whitehouse, daughter of Betty Whitehouse - Michelle Clark Mudd, daughter of Kay and Paul Clark,- Elizabeth Netherland Mattingly, daughter of Dorothy Netherland- Julie Nugent, daughter of Ray and Mary Jane Nugent- Jennifer Spalding, daughter of Jane and Gene Spalding- Laura Mattingly, daughter of Paula and Dan Mattingly- Paige Thompson, daughter of Jennifer and Earl Thompson- Scottie Ann O’Daniel Jones, daughter of Bernadette and Mark O’Daniel- Andrea George, daughter of Faye and Elmer George- Kelly Buntain, daughter of Marla Buntain