On March 7, more than 300 Girl Scouts from troops in Rockaway Township and Borough commemorated Girl Scout Day with the seventh annual International Night.

According to Debra Warner, who chaired the program along with MaryBeth Ramsay, “International Night is a night for our Girl Scouts of all ages to get together as one group and celebrate our sister Girl Scouts around the world. Troops volunteer to host a country and make a display with all information about that country. This year we had 16 countries represented.”

International awareness is a long-standing tradition with the Girl Scouts, dating back to its founder, Juliette Gordon Low, who is quoted with saying, “Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding can be the magic thread which links the youth of the world together.”

A day was even established for Girl Scouts to reflect upon their role on this planet - World Thinking Day, which has taken place every year on February 22, since 1926. The Girl Scouts also have a connection with the United Nations; in 2003, the Girl Scouts of the USA was granted Special Consultive Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and in 2005, GSUSA, was active in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. On the Girl Scout Web site, information can be accessed in a variety of languages including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Back in Rockaway, the girls kicked off their International Night with an opening ceremony, in which the hosting troops, wearing clothing or symbols to represent their country, paraded into the gym. Afterwards, it was time to travel. Older Girl Scouts played “flight attendants” for the night, assisting the younger girls with their “flight plan” which plotted the order of the countries to be visited.

In addition, each girl spent some time in the “Low Layover Lounge” which was actually the cafeteria where international dishes were being served, such as Spanish Churros, Hungarian Rugala, French Palmiers, Chinese dumplings, Brazilian Pacoca, and Australian Anzac biscuits.

Adding to the worldwide celebration were craft projects where the girls colored and made the flags for all of the different countries. The night also included another Girl Scout tradition, SWAPS - “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere” made to represent the various countries and exchanged among the girls.

This, in fact, was the favorite part for at least one little Girl Scout, Jenna Warner, a second grader in Troop 28. Meanwhile, big sister Alaina, who is in fourth grade and in Troop 1079, said, “I really enjoyed going around to the different displays and learning all about the different traditions.”

Alaina’s troop presented Mexico, requiring research into the country’s traditions, games, and holidays. The girls made Mexican SWAPS that resembled little tacos. The food for tasting was nachos with salsa.

 Warner said, “The most fascinating information the girls found was about Day of the Dead Celebration where Mexicans come out and celebrate all their friends and relatives that have passed on.”

 For some troops, the reason for selecting to research a particular country was due to a special connection. Ann Stocknoff, the mother of Troop member Danielle, explained that one of the Troop’s leaders is Chinese. In order for the girls to earn an at-home badge, each had to prepare, with the help of their parents, a traditional Chinese recipe. The second graders also went on the Internet to research the architecture and facts of China.

“They learned about Chinese New Year. It was very hands on,” said Stocknoff.

Doreen Pickett said that her third-grade daughter’s troop hosted Brazil because one of the girls has an au pair who is from that country. The girls of this troop not only learned about another nation, but also about organization, breaking off into several committees.

No matter the age, International Night meant something special to all the girls. Pickett’s older daughter, who is now a Cadet and served as a “flight attendant,” has, along with her troop, participated in the event for several years. Said Pickett, “It is the one thing they are always into.”

Then there was first-grader Victoria Ramsay of Troop 320, who loved the chocolate-covered fortune cookies as well as getting a passport, which she is keeping as a souvenir.

 On this night the travel may have only been pretend, but hopefully it will inspire many to someday go out and see the real places. At the very least, it will help promote better international understanding, which is no small matter.

Lisa Kintish can be contacted at kintish@northjersey.com.

Photos/Bill Clare

Photo 1: An excited group of girls is lined up to go into the world tour section of International Night on Friday, March 7. The event was hosted by the Girl Scout Troops of Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township.

Photo 2: Little Daisy Scout Brielle Gavito, 6, holds an American flag she made during International Night.

Photo 3: Looking over some of the food are Kelly Walls, 6, and Madelyn Rich, 6, of Troop 8320 in Rockaway Borough.