Girl Scout getaway makes good memories
Girl Scout Ava Pfannenstiel of Abilene wanted to go on a Girl Scout trip to Big Bend and Carlsbad Caverns. However, the minimum age for the trip was 12.
Ava is only 11. So she “settled” for a trip into Oklahoma with around 20 other scouts and their adult leaders. Through a lucky break, she was added to the trip after another scout had to cancel.
It sounds like she came home satisfied. She is part Native American (Cherokee) and got to see some Native American items. Plus, one of the stops was the Oklahoma City Zoo – an important personal location, as that was the place where her parents got engaged.
The first two nights of the trip were spent at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area at Sulphur, Oklahoma, camping beside “a giant river” – actually, Lake of the Arbuckles. Then they moved to the Oklahoma City Zoo, where they spent the night in an auditorium. They must have had a late night; before going to bed, they received a nighttime guided tour of the zoo and watched a movie.
A highlight of the trip was a day spent at Riversport OKC. From Ava’s description, it sounds much like Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, with possibly a few extra attractions.
Ava reported that, during the day, she tubed, rafted, surfed and rock climbed. The park’s website also shows opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding, zip lines and a giant slide, among other activities.
The group then enjoyed a pizza meal before settling into a new campsite for the night. (Not sure how they found the time, but she said they “spent the rest of the day relaxing; we were exhausted.”) The final day was spent touring the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City before heading back to Fort Worth, where her parents picked her up.
Asked for a trip highlight, she mentioned the many gift shops at the places they visited. Of course, she had to pick up some souvenirs for parents and siblings.
A sidelight: Ava is home schooled in Abilene and will begin seventh-grade work this fall. Sounds like one “all right” kid.
Deadlines
- Thursday for “Cast the AXE” for Girl Scouts age 12 and older, July 21, Abilene (location TBA upon registration). $15 per girl. Information at gs-top.org under “Events” calendar.
Upcoming events
- Girl Scout solar powered car races, July 16, Pop Art Museum, San Angelo. $35 per entry; out-of-council Girl Scouts welcome. Registration details at gsctx.org under “Events” calendar. Contact: Kayla Robinson, kaylar@gsctx.org.
Closings/cancellations
- Boy Scout office in Abilene closed until July 11.
- Girl Scout facilities in Central Texas Council, including Brownwood office, available by appointment only. Masks required unless otherwise specified. gsctx.org or 800-733-0011.
Check online
- There are many events (a lot of them virtual) you can join. Keep up at gs-top.org or gsctx.org for Girl Scouts; and at texastrailsbsa.com for Cub Scouts/Scouts BSA.
Contact Carl Kieke at 325-673-3552 (voice only); or kiekec@suddenlink.net. Deadline is Monday for publication the following Monday.