Dedication of Oma's Daisies' Boathouse at Camp Skimin

On Sunday, December 8 Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast hosted a dedication ceremony of Oma’s Daisies’ Boathouse at Camp Skimino in Williamsburg. This facility was constructed during the fall thanks to a generous donation of $25,000 from Marion Kaurup. This much-needed boathouse will help to ensure that generations of girls can enjoy canoeing on the camp’s pond.

Marion Kaurup and GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller in the boathouse.

During the ceremony, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller spoke about the many skills girls gain through program activities such as canoeing and how this gift will enhance the waterfront activities at Camp Skimino. Chair of the Board Melissa Burroughs also spoke and took part in commemorating Kaurup's generous donation with the presentation of the boathouse tribute plaque. Two benches, located next to the boathouse, were also presented to honor Marion and pay tribute to her late husband Arthur.

Marion was asked to speak during the dedication ceremony. She recalled how she was recruited to lead her daughter's Girl Scout Junior troop in the 1950's when the family lived in Brooklyn, New York. She later volunteered to be a Girl Scout Daisy leader when the program was launched in 1984 by GSUSA.

During the dedication program, Marion and her daughter Carol, along with other family members, took part in a sing along led by Girl Scout Alumna Jo Bazar. Kaurup was proud that she still remembered many of the songs from her early Girl Scout years and beamed with a big smile when she taught guests an extra verse to the song Make New Friends!

 Marion shared with guests that camping, canoeing and doing community service projects to support the church where the troop met were some of her favorite memories.She added that she was making new memories in Girl Scouts, thanks to her grandson, Jody Kaurup, who serves as GSCCC's Property Manager. He keeps her up to date with national Girl Scout news and sends her photos of the happenings at GSCCC.

The dedication ceremony was followed by refreshments and a tour of the camp.