Mcallen Daily Monitor

Girl Scout Work
Explained By
Director

Girl Scouting in the upper end of the Rio Grande Valley received a new impetus today with the arrival here of Miss Mary White, director of the Cactus region which includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.

Miss White, a charming intelligent person, is stopping at the Casa de Palmas hotel for several days while she confers with leaders of this section.

"Our principle interest," said Miss White, "is to give leadership training and interest women in girl scout activities. The lower end of the Rio Grande Valley has many groups but the work here is yet in its infancy."

The ideal age for girl scouts, according to this director, is between the ages of ten and thirteen though a new feature of scouting is the Mariner Scouts which is composed of girls fourteen to eighteen. However, they must have been through the regular girl scout program prior to becoming a Mariner. Harlingen expects to organize girls into this sort of group in the near future.

Mrs. Roy P. Conway of Mission, active in Girl Scout activities from that city, conferred with Miss White this morning on plans for the Mission scout troops.

It is planned to hold a meeting for leaders and prospective leaders at the McAllen chamber of commerce, Tuesday from 4:30 to 9 p. m. At that time it is hoped that all who are interested in this phase of girl life and activity will attend.

Wednesday from 9:30 until 11:30 in the morning a meeting of committee women will be held. This meeting likewise is open to the public and the Scout leaders want your presence there. No obligation to take on a troop, to make financial assistance or any obligation will be forced upon you.

Question of a summer camp frequently arises. It is Miss White who was instrumental in the establishment of the Mary White Camp in New Mexico. Near Cloudcroft, this is one of the five national scout training centers as well as being a summer camp. It was during her active work in Rowell in 1926 that Miss White proposed the building of this camp and her father succeeded in having the state deed 200 acres for this purpose. Girls from all over the world are welcome to this camp and last summer 18 states and 168 troops were represented there.

The regional director will be in McAllen until Thursday noon and she will be more than glad to discuss with any one interested any questions of Girl Scout activity.

McAllen has several troops but there are, to date, no "Brownie" (girls of 7 to 10) groups or Mariner troops.