The story of our Mascots……. Camp Wind-A-Mere (wind over the meadow): A Girl Scout camp located just outside of Alvin, Texas in Galveston county. A beautiful 94-acre camp with a rustic lodge, platform tents, teepee tents and ample space for troops that wish to use their own tents and the Dickinson Bayou lazily weaving throughout the Girl Scouts of South Texas property. It is frequently used by troops for day outings and overnight camping, by Service Units for Mother/Daughter Camp-out, Unit Camp-out, Day and Twilight Camp, and by Council for Outdoor Training Programs, and Council Events. Mikki, McKayla, and Maria are monkeys who were born and live at Camp Wind-A-Mere. They love living at the Girl Scout Camp and have made friends with the birds, snakes, squirrels, and all of the animals that live at the camp. Almost every weekend Girl Scouts, from individual troops to council events use Camp Wind-A-Mere. The monkeys loved to watch the Girl Scouts as they played games sang songs, made smores and all of the other fun things that Girl Scouts do. Over the years the monkeys began to look forward to the weekends just so they could watch the Girl Scouts. They began to feel very lonely after the Girl Scouts left on Sundays. Sometimes Mikki, McKayla and Maria would sneak up to just outside the light of the campfire and softly sing the Girl Scout songs they had come to love. Mikki, McKayla and Maria especially loved the large Service Unit Events like Mother/Daughter Camp-out because there were Girl Scouts and their Moms everywhere laughing, singing and having loads of fun. It was always so sad to see everyone leave. Early March, 2000: Junior Troop #198 of Alvin, TX decided to go to Camp Wind-A-Mere and work on outdoor skills and prepare for their Service Unit Camp-out scheduled for later that month. Service Unit Camp-out is an event where an older Junior Troop will sponsor a younger Brownie Troop at Camp. The Juniors help the Brownies with their outdoor skills. Junior Troop #198 wanted to be sure they were well prepared to help the Brownies. The girls and their leaders went on a hike, learned and practiced cooking over a campfire and in a scotch box. They played games, practiced flag ceremonies and sang lots of songs. Mikki, McKayla and Maria had just came out of the woods to sneak up to the campfire when the leader, Miss Debbie, announced that it was time for a special surprise. Each girl was given a paper bag while Miss Debbie explained about “Snypes” and how to catch them. The monkeys had never heard of a Snype and decided to stay and learn what they looked like. All of a sudden the leaders ran to the edge of the woods “whooping and hollering” to herd the Snypes towards the girls. After Miss Debbie explained the “surprise” to the girls Mikki, McKayla and Maria just laughed and laughed. The monkeys were especially sad to see Junior Troop #198 leave the next morning. 3 weeks later:  Mikki, McKayla and Maria were taking a Friday afternoon nap when they were awakened suddenly by the sound of lots and lots of Girl Scouts. The monkeys squealed with delight when they saw Junior Troop #198 and decided to follow them. The troop was very, very busy on Friday night setting up their camp area. Their Brownie sister troop would arrive Saturday morning and everything must be in its place by then. As Texas weather would have it, a severe thunderstorm and tornado warning was issued about 12:00 A.M. The leaders of all of the troops all over Camp Wind-A-Mere woke up any girls who had drifted to sleep during the storm and they all had a midnight hike to the lodge where they were more protected from the storm. The monkeys were terrified and it was a very long night for all. Saturday morning showed it was going to be a beautiful day. The Brownies arrived right on time and everyone had a wonderful weekend. They cooked over a campfire, learned to cook over a buddy burner, had a scavenger hunt, played games, made crafts, sang songs and performed skits at campfire. The monkeys laughed and laughed at the skits. The monkeys were up in the tree getting ready for bed and Mikki was already thinking how lonely it would be tomorrow when everyone left. The leaders were sitting by the campfire talking while the girls were settling down for the night when Mikki overheard the word “Mascot”.  Mikki thought, “What is a Mascot” and decided to listen more closely. The Junior Leaders, Miss Debbie and Miss Denise, were explaining the Mascot program to the Brownie Leader, Miss Cathleen. Miss Debbie said her troop had just decided to adopt a Troop Mascot and send it to visit other Girl Scout Troops around the world. Mikki wished she could do something like that but she was afraid to fly. The next day all of the troops packed up and left and the Monkeys were very, very sad. Suddenly Mikki saw Miss Debbie, the Junior Leader, walking back to camp looking around like she lost something. Mikki decided to take a chance so she ran up to Miss Debbie and said “Hi”.  Miss Debbie jumped a mile and Mikki laughed and laughed. Miss Debbie regained her composure and said “Hi, Who are you?”  Mikki introduced herself and talked to Miss Debbie about how much the monkeys enjoyed Girl Scouts and how lonely they were. Miss Debbie felt so sad for them that she invited them to join the troop and live with her. Mikki said, “Yes, Yes, Yes” but McKayla and Maria said “We would rather be your Girl Scout Troops Mascot and travel the world!”  Miss Debbie said she would have to ask the troop but the monkeys could come home with her in the meantime and the monkeys thought that was a great idea.  So Miss Debbie took the monkeys to the very next meeting. Can’t you just imagine how surprised the girls of Troop 198 were when Miss Debbie pulled the monkeys out of their hiding places?  Miss Debbie explained how Mikki would like to become the troops home Mascot due to her fear of flying. She also explained that McKayla and Maria would like to become the troops Traveling Mascots. The decision was put to a vote, which is how Junior Troop #198 always makes decisions, and it was a unanimous decision that McKaya and Maria would become the Traveling Mascots in September and spend time with the troop until then. Thus began the Mascots adventures with Girl Scout and Troop #198                                                                                   Return to Home Page