“It was really fun spending time with the Forever Girl Scouts and hearing their stories,” said Medford Scout Remi Merkhofer.
It was a special invite the Medford Girl Scouts couldn’t turn down.
They were asked by the Forever Girl Scouts from the Medford Leas retirement home to share flowers, songs and stories in an inter-generational gathering last month.
“I really liked learning from the Forever Girl Scouts,” shared young Scout Arden Mroczkowski. “I thought it was neat to think that they were once Girl Scouts like us and now they’re teaching us. It was a lot of fun and I’d like to do something like that again.”
With patient guidance and plenty of encouragement, each Girl Scout created her own unique flower arrangement in a glass vase, experimenting with color, texture and design. The activity was led by Arlene Hummel of Medford Leas, who provided detail and materials to the youngsters.
“It was really fun creating the arrangements,” young Scout Abby Stockton noted, adding “the older Girl Scouts were so sweet and I had so much fun with my friends.”Â
But the gathering was about more than flowers, it was about connection.
“It was really fun spending time with the Forever Girl Scouts and hearing their stories,” recalled Remi Merkhofer, who added that she “loved” creating her own flower arrangement.
Like her fellow Scouts, Emilie Harrison enjoyed learning from the older women about flower design that might one day turn into a career.
“It was so cool that the Forever Girl Scouts have a troop and have been together for awhile,” she observed.
Throughout their visit, the youngsters and residents sang familiar songs, shared their Scouting experiences, and bonded across generations. Resident Kathy Riley presented every girl with a carefully folded origami crane to tuck into her bouquet, a small symbol of peace, care and the thoughtfulness behind the event.
The gathering marked the second time the Medford Leas residents and the young Scouts have come together, and the partnership continues to grow. Much of that is thanks to Mary Ainsworth, a resident who proudly calls herself a Forever Girl Scout.
She takes the lead in coordinating the inter-generational gatherings, finding creative ways to bring the spirit of Scouting to life for both the women and the girls. Along with Becca Finley, service unit manager of Medford Girl Scouts, Ainsworth quickly discovered shared goals and excitement for building bridges between generations.
Events like the gathering highlight the lasting impact of Scouting, explained Finley, and the joy that comes when a community comes together to learn, share and celebrate.
The young and old Scouts parted ways with flowers in hand and smiles all around.
