With the school year begun in Dell Rapids, Girl Scout sign-up has started. Parents attended an informational meeting about local troops and activities Aug. 25 at the elementary school.
Michelle Heiberger is a fourth-year Girl Scout troop leader. She is the president of the Quarry Service Unit here in Dell Rapids, which serves scouts from kindergarten to eighth grade.

“I love interacting with the girls,” said Heiberger, who has seen six of the scouts grow from first graders in her time as a leader. “It’s just fun seeing them grow and change.”

Sign-up is still in progress for this year, but last year’s total participation was 85 girls. Scouts are classified by school grade in one of the following: Daisies (K-1st), Brownies (2nd-3rd), Juniors (4th-5th) or Cadets (6th-8th).

Troop leaders had their first meeting two weeks ago, and Heiberger said that they are planning on taking on additional projects this year.

“We’re looking to do more this year,” she said.

The scouts meet about twice a month. Participants are encouraged to earn badges through experiences in crafts, cooking, finances and behavior, among others.

“It’s all about activities where they can learn more about different professions,” Heiberger said. “You don’t always think about things like that. It makes them better people – exposing them to new things and interests.”

Scout Erin Larson, 10, said that her favorite part of Girl Scouts is “all of it.” She has achieved all 57 badges available to Dells Girl Scouts.

“It’s really interesting how much fun it is,” Larson said. “Some people think of it as a chore to do, but it’s so fun.”

Larson’s favorite badge was the endangered species badge, in which scouts are encouraged to research a particular endangered species to learn more about it.

Yearly events for the local troops include day camps and overnights, as well as community projects including decorating a tree for Christmas in the Dells and caroling.

Last year’s community service roster included gathering and donating books, tying blankets for the Children’s Inn in Sioux Falls, gathering food for the Dell Rapids food pantry and raising funds for the Carnegie Library.

Heiberger said that one new project the girls will be taking on this year is weeding gardens at the library.

“We’re going to be their gardeners,” she said. “Our plans are to continue that ongoing throughout the year.”

Troop leaders have also taken scouts on tours of offices such as radio and TV stations and Stewart School of Hairstyling in Sioux Falls to show them what having a career is like.

“We try to give the girls the opportunity to learn through experience,” Heiberger said.