Ossining Girl Scouts Celebrates G.I.R.L. Power!

The walls outside the Budarz Theater on the lower level of the Ossining Public Library are filled with color, thanks to Girl Scouts whose artistic creations are being shown there each week in March. This year marks the ninth time that Ossining Girl Scouts has mounted its annual display.

Girl Scout leaders try to keep the theme of the annual exhibit relevant to what is happening in the community, the country, the world, and Girl Scouting, and they vote on a theme. This year's theme aligns with the current campaign of the local Council, Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson: G.I.R.L. Power, which stands for "Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader."

Girls were asked to think about what G.I.R.L. Power means to them, and to express it via pictures or words.

Giving Girls a Voice through Art

Art can be created at troop meetings or by the girls in their homes. Pieces range from simple, uncomplicated creations by younger scouts to more complex and insightful works by older Girl Scouts. "Each year, the girls look forward to creating the art and then having their families come see their work," says Rose Marie Jost, who co-leads Ossining Girl Scouts as well as an 8th grade troop. The exhibit, which is coordinated by troop leader Jessica Salo, changes each Friday so new troops can showcase their work during the following week.

"It's a delight to see what the girls come up with," adds Rosie Foster, who co-leads the Ossining Girl Scout community with Ms. Jost. "The artwork is always thoughtful and imaginative."

Tying in with History

The annual exhibit stems back to 2010, when a troop leader whose girls loved making art asked about having it displayed. Janice Paganelli, who led Ossining Girl Scouts at that time and continues as a troop leader today, reached out to James Trapasso, the library's Programming and Events Coordinator, to inquire about space…and the exhibit took hold. The Art Exhibit has been very well received by library patrons ever since and is a favorite of the library staff.

March also marks the month when Juliette Gordon Low founded the national Girl Scouts organization, in 1912; Ossining Girl Scouts was established just five years later, starting with just eight girls and growing to nearly 500 today.

To learn more about Ossining Girl Scouts, visit ossininggirlscouts.org or the Ossining Girl Scouts Facebook page. Interested in joining or becoming a troop leader? Email join@ossininggirlscouts.org.

The Ossining Public Library is located at 53 Croton Avenue.

Troop leader Jenelle Umar contributed to this article.