Alumnae Story
Like Mother Like Daughter

By Kerry (Klosiewski) Vore
USAGSO-NA Ramstein AB, Germany

I was signed up as a Brownie Girl Scout (as were both of my sisters later). We grew up military and were even Girl Guides in Canada for a few years.

I stayed in until my eighth grade year, when I moved from a fun and active troop to a troop who did nothing out-of-doors. The highest thing I earned was my leadership pin and a yellow bar for community service. I believe that was in the mid-80s. My fondest memories of my N.C. troop were making our own uniforms for bridging, going to Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown for a troop trip, and attending a hoedown. I wished that I had not gotten out and finally made up for it when my oldest was born.

Since she joined as a Daisy Girl Scout (I signed on to be her leader), I have been an active parent. When we moved to Iceland, it was time for my youngest to sign up, and my other two were first and second year Juniors. I once again had to step in as a leader, and I was her leader for Daisies and Brownies. The girls and I got to be very involved with the Icelandic scouts (boys and girls together) and attended their scout day, 50th annual camporee and an international jamboree. My fondest memory was taking my youngest daughter on her first camping trip with her sisters' troop our last summer there, where all four of us were able to participate in our very first campfire ash ceremony ever!

We are now in Germany and I am going to be a co-leader for my girls' Cadette troop (first and second year) and my youngest's Brownie troop (third year). My older girls both earned their Bronze Awards (first ever in Iceland!), junior aid and leadership pins. We are looking forward to doing a lot here in Germany (after our first year, it is going to be A LOT!) and planning a leader/daughter trip to Our Chalet in April.

I am proud of my girls for going farther than I did. My oldest is entering the year I quit, and I am looking forward to seeing how far they will go!