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48 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, November 28, 2003 --> Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 2, 2003 Heather Vincent, 13, and Loni Radmall, 12, find their own form of entertainment during Studio 2B, a self-esteem building event sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Winema Council Saturday at the Reston Hotel in Medford. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli ‘It’s by girls, for girls’ Scouting gets a makeover as ‘Studio 2B’ tries to attract older members By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Your mother’s Girl Scout meeting, this was not. There were no uniforms and no badges, no pledges and no pine-cone crafts for the 135 girls gathered Saturday afternoon at Medford’s Reston Hotel. Instead, there were manicures and makeovers, hula lessons and hanging out, all accompanied by swirling disco lights and the strains of Britney Spears. Welcome to Studio 2B, a national effort aimed at boosting membership among girls ages 11 to 17 in a whole new way. Advertisement "It’s a renewed vision of Girl Scouts," said Natalie Kather, 34, a Medford family practice doctor who helped organize the event. Instead of traditional leader-oriented meetings, the Studio 2B effort begun last spring focuses on letting young women run the show, said Kather. "It’s by girls, for girls," she said. Local girls, for instance, chose a Hawaiian theme for Saturday’s party and planned activities that included indoor volleyball, hula hoops and a visit from Miss Teen USA Tami Farrell. Moms were present in abundance, but for the most part, they let the girls lead the way, said Cindy Wolff, program manager for the local Winema Girl Scout Council. "This is basically a girl party, not an adult party," she said. The new emphasis is part of a push to attract — and retain — older girls in the 91-year-old agency. Of the 2.8 million members ages 5 to 17 involved in Girl Scouts, 88 percent are younger than 11, CNN reported. Hoping to reverse that trend, Girl Scout councils are using "teen-savvy" mentors and a curriculum that focuses heavily on individuality and choice. "Our young women don’t want middle-aged women telling them, ‘Here’s your project,’ " Kather said. Indeed, many of the young attendees said they preferred Studio 2B to a traditional Girl Scout meeting. "It’s a lot different," said 11-year-old Jordyn Clausen of Central Point. "Usually you’d work on badges, but here you can do whatever you want to do." Hillary Haslip, 16, said she enjoyed the new format. "I like the music and the makeovers," she said. At least one mother said she hopes that the new approach retains a traditional focus on leadership. Aleesa Ogden, 37, of Grants Pass, fretted a little as her daughter, Lilli, 10, waited in line for a makeover. "I tell her looks will only get you so far," Ogden said. But she said offering girls a chance to fuss with makeup and manicures also opens the door for more serious pursuits. "I think anything that keeps them in Girl Scouts is a good idea," she said. For information about Studio 2B or the local Winema Girl Scout Council, call 773-8423 or 800-433-9288. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times