Registration for the Girl Scouts of America program is now open for girls in the North-Central Alabama region for the 2009-10 year. Demopolis will welcome the addition of a Daisy troop for girls in kindergarten and first grade to the list of six existing troops in the area.

“Tiffany Cannon will be the troop leader for the new Daisy troop, and she has already been through orientation,” said Joyce Weiss, community development manager for North-Central Alabama Girl Scouts. “We will be advertising for registration primarily at Westside, and we will accept those girls who are interested in joining. At that age, we also ask mothers to join with their daughters as well.”

Weiss is beginning the process of choosing a co-leader for the new Daisy troop.

“Any parent who volunteers can serve as a co-leader,” Weiss said. “These volunteers can become part of committees that plan the different activities of the troop.”

Demopolis also has Brownie troops for second and third grades; Junior troops for fourth and fifth grades; Cadette troops for girls in sixth, seventh and eighth grades; a Senior troop for ninth and 10th grades; and an Ambassador troop for 11th and 12th grades.

“We have troops for all grade levels in Demopolis, and we have one Senior troop getting ready to go into Ambassadors,” said Weiss. “We have had Daisy troops before, but it depends on the interest you get each year. You have to look at the volunteer base and the age levels of the volunteers’ daughters.”

Girl Scouts offers a unique way for girls of all ages to learn healthy living skills, develop financial proficiency and practice leadership.

“The girls have an opportunity to sell Girl Scout cookies, and this is done to help girls learn financial literacy as well as to earn money for the troop,” Weiss said.

Girl Scout programs emphasize science, technology, engineering and math with the “S.T.E.M.” format. In order to promote leadership, Girl Scouts also offers different “Journeys” learning programs for each troop level, with the theme of “It’s Your World — Change It!”

“We are really in need of adult volunteers,” Weiss said. “They don’t have to be women; they can be fathers who are interested in helping their daughters with Girl Scouts.

“Girl Scouts is for every girl. It’s only a $12 registration fee a year, and we have scholarships we can offer girls who may not be able to afford this.”

Registration is ongoing for the 2009-10 program year. Those interested in joining or learning more about Girl Scouts may contact Joyce Weiss at 289-2899 or visit www.girlscoutsnca.org.