Girl Scouts, Start Your Engines!

by Lori Johnson
Since I started my business, I’ve had to do very little advertising. Once the word was out that I was teaching an automotive class for women, I was getting contacted at least once a week from people inquiring about the class. I’ve taught for dealerships, independent shops, adult education centers and even private businesses, but the call from the Girl Scouts has been the most interesting.

In March of 2007 I received an e-mail from Bev Redd from the Girl Scouts of Freedom Valley, just outside of Philadelphia.

She explained to me that the Girl Scouts now offered a Car Care badge. In the past they had asked one of the fathers to come and teach the girls about car maintenance, and then she read an article about my business of teaching women automotive maintenance and thought about what a great opportunity it would be for a female to teach this badge. I was intrigued to say the least. I sure don’t remember working on cars when I was in the girl scouts! Bev felt that having a female technician would also show the girls the career opportunities available for women in the automotive field.

Bev sent me the tasks that the girls needed to accomplish in order to earn their badge. She has a group of juniors that range from 4^th-6^th grade. I was excited to see that it required them to check fluid levels, learn how to use an owners manual, check tire pressure, learn about career opportunities in the automotive field, learn what needed to be recycled and ways automobiles could help save the environment.

Let me just tell you that teaching 10 and 11 year old girls is a lot different than adults! I created a handout with many things for the girls to check on the vehicle and look up in their owner’s manual. The adults helped keep the girls focused on their task and everyone learned a lot about automotive maintenance. Many of the girls had good questions about things they’d seen their parents do on their cars. So if you think your kids aren’t paying attention, think again!

This was a great opportunity for me to teach girls about automobile maintenance and also expose them to different career opportunities in the field. Hmmm, I wonder if I’ll get my honorary Girl Scout Car Care badge now.

Let me just tell you that teaching 10 and 11 year old girls is a lot different than adults! I created a handout with many things for the girls to check on the vehicle and look up in their owner’s manual. The adults helped keep the girls focused on their task and everyone learned a lot about automotive maintenance. Many of the girls had good questions about things they’d seen their parents do on their cars. So if you think your kids aren’t paying attention, think again!

This was a great opportunity for me to teach girls about automobile maintenance and also expose them to different career opportunities in the field. Hmmm, I wonder if I’ll get my honorary Girl Scout Car Care badge now.

Comments

[Juno888]

Thats very nice that girl would take experience to know how to care of engine or how to manage it, an to fix when that engine would take a troubleshot.

[Maria Fazzolari]

when i was in high school,we received 1 grade for the year and it all counted on 1 project.
I took the entire class out to my car and taught them how to change a tire, especially the girls. The instructor thought it was such a good idea for the girls to know he gave me an A for the year!It came in handy because later in life when I raced cars as an amatuer, a sale3sman tried that " why don't you bring your
Mustang he was selling so I went up the street and boughht a Chery Camaro from the salesman! The next day,the salesman that had the Mustang called and I told him I already bought the Camaro convertible and the was begging me to take it back and get the Mustang. I told him No that he insulted my intelligence thinking I knew nothing about cars.Little did he know I knew more than he did!!!!!!!!!!!!!