Girl Scouts Celebrate 95th Anniversary

Leslie Segrete as a Girl Scout in Garden City, NY.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County celebrate Girl Scouts' 95th Anniversary by paying special tribute to the women who were past Girl Scouts and continue to support Girl Scouting in their adult lives today. One such woman is Garden City resident and native, Leslie Segrete of TLC's Trading Spaces and While You Were Out.

"Girl Scouting has encouraged me to be creative using a limited budget, something that I use everyday in my career!" says Ms. Segrete. "Being a Girl Scout of Nassau County has helped me learn how to be thrifty by re-using and re-purposing ideas and projects and really understanding how things are put together and created from scratch."

Leslie Segrete joined the Girl Scouts of Nassau County when she became a Brownie. "My mom was always my leader," says Ms. Segrete. "It was great because she worked on the weekends, but during the week we were able to spend lots of time together doing arts and crafts with the Girl Scouts."

Ms. Segrete's favorite activities were the arts and crafts. "I loved anything that had glitter!" says Ms. Segrete. But even more so, she loved all the friends that she made. "Girl Scouts opens the door to meet people you might not otherwise be in contact with," says Ms. Segrete. "There are so many cliques and groups in school, Girl Scouts gives you the opportunity to meet girls from all walks of life with all types of interests and backgrounds."

Not only did Leslie meet lots of friends, but one of her favorite memories was putting together a potluck dinner. "When I was a Brownie I remember I made a rice casserole to bring as my contribution," says Ms. Segrete. "I brought it over to someone's house and had a dinner party with all of my other Girl Scout friends. It was great!"

Another one of Ms. Segrete's favorite Girl Scout activities was selling cookies. "I remember always trying to sell as many as I could," says Ms. Segrete. "I used to fill up my little wagon and walk my neighborhood. I still can't get enough of those Do-si-dos!"

Ms. Segrete continued to be a Girl Scout until she reached her teens. At that time, she was involved in many different sports and decided to pursue other activities. "Even though I wasn't a Girl Scout any longer, I still stayed in touch with all the girls I had met over the years," says Ms. Segrete. "By the time I left my Girl Scout sash was completely covered in badges."

After Ms. Segrete completed college at Hofstra University earning a degree in set design and a minor in anthropology, she decided she wanted to be a Girl Scout again, but this time as a leader. "It's a funny story," said Ms. Segrete. "At 22-years-old my friend and I (another former Girl Scout) were reminiscing about how much fun it was to be a Girl Scout. We thought it would be great to become leaders so we called the New York City office and tried to apply. Little did we know we could not hold meetings in our tiny apartment. That was the end to that idea!"

Now as an adult, Ms. Segrete actively helps the Girls Scouts of Nassau County with various programs. Most recently, Ms. Segrete taught more than 70 Girl Scouts basic sewing skills to help them earn a Sew Simple badge designed to spark an interest to delve deeper into the arts.

"Leslie is a great example of how Girl Scouts positively influences a young girl's life," says Donna Ceravolo, Executive Director of Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

Leslie Segrete said that she hopes girls continue to join Girl Scouts. "I can't thank them enough for helping me become a confident, creative and highly capable person," she said.

If you were a Girl Scout and wish to reconnect with Girl Scouts today, be sure share your stories of the past at the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Alumnae Event on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at Westbury Manor from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm!

Girl Scouts of Nassau County builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. With 22,000 girl and 7,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Nassau County has become the preeminent organization and leading authority for girls. The organization, now in its 95th year, continues to strive to serve Every Girl, Everywhere. For more information on the 95th Anniversary Alumnae Event call Barbara Minutello at 516-741-2250 ext. 240 or visit www.gsnc.org.