Delano Girl Scouts - Early History

The first Girl Scout troop in Delano was organized in the summer of 1931, less than 20 years after Girl Scouting began nationally in 1912. The first Delano leaders were Mrs. Charles Parker and Mrs. Bert Gilmer. In 1934, Mrs. Paul Kruell joined as an assistant leader.

Girl Scouts at Girl Scouts in camp uniforms washing up at Camp Greenwood, Buffalo, Minnesota in 1938. Camp Greenwood is the camp Delano Girl Scouts would attend yearly.

The early Delano troop apparently operated throughout the year. Activities included swimming, canoeing, outdoor cooking in both winter and summer, Christmas caroling, crafts, nature study, and taffy pulls. The girls also raised money locally: they held an Easter sale and sold Easter eggs, and during Delano's Fourth of July celebration they sold ice cream bars.

That original troop eventually became inactive.

Girl Scouts return in 1951

Girl Scouting was reorganized in Delano in 1951, with 29 girls participating. The leaders named in the historical account were:

Mrs. Harold Petersen

Mrs. Mary Trueman

Mrs. Art Russek

Mrs. Charles King

The new troop continued many of the same traditional scouting activities as the 1930s group. As participation increased, Delano developed both Brownie and Intermediate Girl Scout troops. Girls also attended Girl Scout camp at Nest Lake, with cookie sales helping pay many of the camping fees.

Major change in 1965

A particularly important date is 1965. Until then, Delano's Girl Scouts had apparently operated as a "lone troop," rather than as part of a larger Girl Scout council.

In 1965, Delano joined the Greater Minneapolis Girl Scout Council. The local program was reorganized into the Girl Scout age levels then in use: Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors. A Cadette troop was established in Delano in 1966.

The surviving account shows substantial growth after that transition. At the time the history was written, Delano had:

Brownie - 29 - Lead by Mrs. Joe Martin, Mrs. Bill Loomis, Mrs. Arndt, Mrs. Nee

Juniors - 41 - Lead by Mrs. Milton Voltin, Mrs. Dale Barth

Cadette - Seniors — Mrs. Ronald Habstritt

Maria Logsdon — at least 20 years of service

One name especially stands out: Maria Logsdon.

The historical account says Mrs. Logsdon had completed 20 years helping Delano Girl Scouts. She served as a Brownie, Junior and Cadette leader and later represented the Delano-Loretto Service Unit as both a Girl Scout Council delegate and Community Association delegate.

There is also evidence of former Delano Girl Scouts becoming leaders themselves. The history specifically mentions Mary Wandersee (Mrs. Michael DeWitte) and Lynn Rieland (Mrs. Gary McClay) as former scouts who later served as leader and assistant with Cadette troops.

Delano–Loretto Girl Scouts

Eventually the organization became identified as the Delano-Loretto Girl Scouts/Service Unit. This wasn't merely an old name: a Girl Scouts River Valleys service-unit map from 2020 still identifies Delano/Loretto as Service Unit 136.

Delano-Loretto Girl Scouts at Camp Elk River on March 11, 2017. The encampment was hosted by the Cadette Troop. The Cadette Troop planned all the activities, food and entertainment for a Friday night to Sunday afternoon encampment.

Delano-Loretto Girl Scouts have had active membership dating back to when the first Girl Scout Troops started in Delano in 1931.

To learn more about Girl Scout and join a Troop visit. https://www.girlscoutsrv.org/