Why should Boy Scouts have all the fun? Today, I’m inspired by a list of Things I Did Because I Was a Boy Scout.

Here is my story.

Things I Did Because I Was a Girl Scout

• Camped through a tornado.
• Wrote about that tornado camping trip and won a writing contest for Woman’s Day magazine in the 5th grade.
• Learned about respecting the flag and how to retire it.
• Camped in rain, sleet and snow. Still most memorable part of my junior high years.
• Was a camp counselor.
• Went to the Final Four.
• Performed in synchronized swimming shows.
• Learned owl calls well enough that a barred owl came for me! (Yikes!)
• Helped girls raise money to support two girls in Haiti through school for the entire year.
• Climbed a rock wall for the first time at age 40. Even got off the ground.
• Canoed. A lot. And passed that love on to my girls.
• Tried archery. Found I loved it though I am a terrible shot.
• Earned my Gold Award.
• Slept in a cave.
• Messed up my rotator cuff in said cave.
• Learned I was claustrophobic inside the cave. But proud I attempted the wild cave tour.
• Made awesome friends I can lean on at any time.
• Learned how to cook in a clay flower pot.
• Learned that tampons and Doritos both work as emergency fire starters.
• Hiked in a dozen state parks.
• Helped make shoes for kids in Uganda.
• Collected shoes for kids after a tornado ripped through a community south of us.
• Played with worms.
• Helped make 200 bedtime bags for homeless kids in our county.
• Learned about how children struggle to survive in other countries.
• Learned knots well enough to teach the Boy Scouts.
• Learned to leave no trace.
• Camped in 3 Girl Scout camps in 3 months.
• Planted trees and a garden to save the bees.
• Played water balloon baseball with light sabers.
• Went to Juliette Lowe birthplace.
• Learned to care for an ankle break first hand. Because sometimes the signs aren’t textbook.
• Helped girls come up with a plan for rope bridge safety after my daughter broke her ankle. Watched as they shared it with the ranger, and proud that some will take it to Bronze.
• Helped kids through heat and diabetic emergencies.
• Wiped tears. Gave hugs. Was there.

What things have you done because you were a Girl Scout? Share your story!