girl scouting opportunities...

A couple of weeks ago, when I had was involved with that proverbial Barrel of Monkeys, during my week of amusement at Girl Scout Day Camp, I learned about a wonderful travel opportunity from a fellow volunteer. She went on a trip to the Galopagos  Islands with a group of scouts. I am so jealous. I would have loved to do that. The story had some hairy moments, involving being held up in customs, and passport problems... but the idea of traveling and going with young excited, enthusiastic girls to see places they have never been sounds like such good fun.

This fellow-adult-scout told me about looking for travel opportunities on the GSUSA website, and I did.Oddly, my P. went on one of this trips when she was in high school, and it somehow never occurred to me to think that they would need adults to go with the scouts. I coulda been having fun all this time, and didn't know!

So I went to the national website and looked for 'destinations' (that used to be 'wider ops' when I had people of scouting age.) Found a really interesting trip in North GA that happens in July, involving riding horses. Right up my alley!  The requirements include being 'comfortable around horses', being able to walk 1-3 miles a day, and being able to stay with girls (which includes, I suspect, being a referee - something I have plenty of experience with...) and having a current driver's license. Hot dog! I can do all that!

Sadly they don't need any more adults.  Dang. I requested/offered to be considered  part of 'plan B'/backup in case someone drops out, or falls off the face of the earth between now and the end of July...

I was told I should fill out an app. as a volunteer with the Atlanta Scout council in order to get myself in their system. Something I would have to do to participate in anything that was planned/sponsored by that council.

I just went to the www.atlgs.org site and started to fill out the info. I could not 'submit' because I did not list a county of preference as my choice of location to volunteer, then they wanted to know which school I would be going to when assisting with scouting events. Sadly - I was not in a position to be 100% truthful. When I looked at my choices and had to pick from a county in north central Georgia, the most likely was obviously Dekalb, so whatever: ...you might as well go ahead and agree to donate yourself to Decatur Elementary School. 

The dang thing would not accept my app. unless I provided a county and a school. I'm sure it has to do with funding/head count/statistical analysis - but it's sort of problematic for me, not living in that area, and obviously not actually donating my time to a particular school as a volunteer. I wish I had not been compelled to make stuff up.When 'Dekalb' and 'Decatur Elementary School' became my preferences, I knew it wasn't precisely above board.

I hope lying/a slight prevarication on the app. does not mean that I don't pass the background check. I'm already a bit paranoid, and probably not getting off to a very illustrious start here...