Girl Scouts: Teen girls invited to Wrangler and Spur Program

NEW ORLEANS — For girls who dream of owning their very own horse, it’s usually just a dream. Girl Scouts Louisiana East offers a horse program for girls, age 12 and older, at their equestrian center in St. Francisville, that offers teen girls the opportunity to work with horses without the expenses incurred from owning one.
“The girls in our Wrangler and Spur program get to learn how to do things that vet students are taught,” said Lauren Hill, Outdoor Program & Resident Camp director and equestrian, at the council’s Camp Marydale. “They learn how to take care of the horses from head to hoof!”
Participants are expected to attend a one-day orientation where they will learn policies and procedures necessary in the program and meet current Wranglers, Spurs, adults and the horses. The orientations are set for Sept. 10, and Dec. 3 and March 4, 2017, for $5 a person which includes lunch.
Information on the Wrangler and Spur Program, including registration, can be found at www.gsle.org/wrangler. Girls who join the program will become Girl Scouts.
The program is designed to be a learning and networking experience. According to Hill, the program is “For Girls by Girls” which means that the Wranglers teach and pass on knowledge to the younger Girl Scouts.
Wranglers, girls 14 and up, are paired with adult mentors to teach Western horseback riding workshops at Camp Marydale to Girl Scout troops, community teams and aid in horse events.
Spurs are girls, ages 12 and up, who shadow the Wranglers to learn what it takes to be a Wrangler, and help, as well.
“This program is the only one that I know of where you can learn all of these skills, which really develops a girl’s leadership, and then get to ride for free,” said Hill.
Girl Scouting’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts Louisiana East, serves girls in grades K-12 in the parishes of St. Mary, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.
For more information, call the council office at 800-644-7571, or visit its website at www.gsle.org.