The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana was recently awarded a grant for this summer’s 2023 Adams County Girl Scout Day Camp. The theme of this year’s camp was “Pirate Adventure.” During the camp, the girls participated in activities such as craft and science projects, archery, hiking, swimming, campfire cooking, and making friends.
Darlene Hebble Juengel, GS Day Camp Director, reported that the 2023 GS day camp was a true success. Darlene noted that they had 17 girls and four leaders participate.
“The girls enjoyed participating in karaoke as well as the regular camp activities. In addition to all of the usual camp activities, the scouts had the opportunity to follow a map to lead to a buried treasure.”
The participating girl scouts developed lifetime skills such as people skills to communicate, opportunities to be creative, and an outlet to be leaders.
Faith Vangilder, Chief Marketing and Development Officer for the Girl Scouts and grant writer, reported that the grant funds allowed the camp fee to be reduced for campers.
Louise Ray, ACCF Board and grants committee member, remarked that the ACCF is happy to provide support to programs for youth to learn about history, nature, and prepare them to become the leaders.
This ACCF grant was made possible through the First Presbyterian Church Charity Fund and the Norman & Elizabeth Koons and Vaughn & Margaret (Kitson) Hilyard Community Enrichment Funds.
The ACCF / First Presbyterian Church Charity Fund was established in 2019 as the 175 year old church was dissolved. This fund was established as an on-going tribute to the many loyal parishioners that sacrificed, donated, bequeathed their savings, and built the beautiful church and to uphold the memories of one of the first four churches in Decatur. Distributions from this fund will be used for not-for-profit agencies that provide food, housing, or youth programs and services in Adams County.
Norman and Elizabeth Koons have been married 63 years (1952) but have been together since first grade (1940). Elizabeth, the children’s librarian for 25+ years, and Norman, a GE employee (designer/foreman) for 36 years, are proud of their four children: John, Cindy, Greg, Jane and 26 great/grandchildren. Establishing this fund, the Koons wanted to give back to the community where they raised their family.
Vaughn & Margaret (Kitson) Hilyard Memorial Community Enrichment Fund
Vaughn was a mechanic and a filling station operator and for more than 25 years, Margaret was a salesperson and then an executive buyer for the Wolf & Dessauer stores. Margaret retired in 1975, at which time Vaughn and Margaret moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where Vaughn died in 1980. Margaret then moved back to Decatur in the fall of 2000.
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