Sorority, Girl Scouts team up for learning, fun

Local Girl Scouts spent Saturday afternoon at Kappa Delta sorority, 1005 N. Jordan Avenue, earning badges. The 70 girls worked to earn the "Manners" badge, the "Dancercise" badge and the Kappa Delta/Girl Scout badge "Lending Hearts and Hands."\nSenior Kristen Martin, the Girl Scout chairman for Kappa Delta, said she was pleased by the first-time event, which she has been working on since last March.\n"The event went really well," Martin said. "The turnout was great and the girls were very enthusiastic."\nTo earn the "Manner" badge, the Girl Scouts learned how to introduce themselves, learned about customs around the world and table manners. The girls learned some ballet moves, a short jazz dance and performed a dance they created in small groups to receive the "Dancercise" badge. The Kappa Delta/Girl Scout badge "Lending Hearts and Hands," which requires the girl scouts to come to the sorority and do an activity, was earned through the completion of the other two badges. \nSenior Kate Knecht, president of Kappa Delta and participant in the teaching for the "Dancercise" badge, said that the dancing provided fun for the both the Girl Scouts and the members of Kappa Delta. \n"Everyone participated and they were not afraid to try anything," Knecht said. \nBecause the event was successful, Martin said she is looking to plan more events in the future with the organization.\n"We are working with the Tulip Trace Council of Girl Scouts to make this a semi-annual event," Martin said.\nThe Girl Scouts, one of Kappa Delta's national philanthropies, also participate with Kappa Delta in a pen pal writing exchange. Martin said girl scouts are paired up with a Kappa Delta member in which they exchange letters through the mail, eventually meeting at the end. \n"Our goal is for when these girls grow up, they will keep in touch to with their pen pals," Martin said. "We are trying to be good role models for them so that they can be someone else's role model one day"