CAROL ORME IS making up for lost time. As a child, her four-year stint as a Girl Scout ended abruptly when the family moved. But those memories never left.
"I always knew I would be involved in Girl Scouts," she said. "When my first daughter was born, I was already excited about getting into Scouts."
As the mother of five girls, Orme has had plenty of opportunities for involvement in the organization. She has volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for 11 years, often juggling leadership of two troops at the same time.
This year, she's gotten off easy, as a co-leader for Brownies. But her volunteer work doesn't end there. She is coordinator for all troops at Messiah United Methodist Church on Furnace Branch Road and for all 15 troops in Girl Scout Community 32.
She trains new adult leaders and Cadette program aides, and for the past six years she has directed the Girl Scout summer day camp at Camp Whipporwill in Pasadena.
Her good deeds have not gone unnoticed. Orme has received three high-level Scouting awards during her tenure: Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Leader and the Daisy Award.
Orme's enthusiasm has spread to the rest of her family. There are Orme representatives in all five levels of Girl Scouts. Four-year-old Emily is a Daisy, 7-year-old Jessi is a Brownie, 9-year-old Mindy is a Junior, 13-year-old Rebecca is a Cadette, and 15-year-old Lynne is a Senior.
Even her husband, Randy, has caught the fever. He spent a year as a Cadette leader. "But basically, he's behind-the-scenes help," said Orme, who lives in Glen Burnie's Point Pleasant/Shoreland community. "He goes on a lot of the trips as a chaperone."
One of Orme's goals is to bring more leaders to Scouting. "We have the potential for so many more troops. The girls are there, but the leaders are not."
Orme thinks many adults are reluctant to volunteer because they fear handling the details alone. "It should be a shared job," she said, "where everybody has a little piece of work so it's not overwhelming for any one person."
Girl Scouting provides a wide range of opportunities for girls, she says. "There are all kinds of programs that they can get involved in to try something new and different. It's not just selling cookies or camping."
Troops from Messiah have tried horseback riding, puppeteering, wall climbing, canoeing and whitewater rafting. The girls have spent the night at Port Discovery and the Maryland Science Center. And this year, 10 girls and eight adults traveled to Savannah, Ga., birthplace of U.S. Girl Scout founder Juliet Low.
Although her daughters will ensure her tie to Scouting for many years, Orme envisions an even longer involvement in the organization. "I will continue to work with the troops that my girls are in, but I see the opportunity to continue to work as an adult in Girl Scouting."
Halloween haunts
Looking for some Halloween-theme fun? Here are a few possibilities around Glen Burnie:
The Glendale Elementary PTA's Halloween Fun Fair from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, including games, a "haunted hallway" and a costume contest. Hot dogs and baked good will be sold.
The school is at 105 Carroll Road. Information: 410-222-6404.
Arthur Slade Regional Catholic School's Halloween Trail, open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
The 1,000-foot outdoor trail will feature special lighting and sound effects, sets and actors. The playground area will be open for younger children.
Admission to the trail is $6. The school is at 120 Dorsey Road. Information: 410-766-7130.
Marley Station Mall's Halloween Hoedown from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. A musical rodeo review with Cowboy Ellis will entertain children in the Center Court, and trick-or-treaters will be welcomed with candy by the more than 100 mall merchants.
Last year, more than 4,000 children participated in the free event. Information: 410-766-2033.
Alternative festival
Abundant Life Church will offer a Halloween alternative from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, a Fall Fun Festival for children age 3 through grade six. The free event will include crafts, games, costume contests and candy.
The church is at 7305 E. Furnace Branch Road. Information: 410-761-9075.
