Ryleigh Thomas Wants You to be a Mariner

One of our most exciting Special Interest Group that GSSJC offers is our Mariner program. The Mariner program for GSSJC has been around for more than 50 years. We have generations of Mariners in which the tradition has been passed from grandmother to mother, and now to their children and grandchildren. Ryleigh Thomas, a current Mariner, has been a Girl Scout since the age of 5. She has earned her Girl Scout Bronze and Silver awards and is currently working on her application for her Gold Award project. Ryleigh has been with the Mariners for three years. Her interest in sailing started when she first discovered the Mariner program. From there, she attended camp at Casa Mare in 2019.

“During lunchtime, the Mariner girls would be there with us, so I had an opportunity to sit at the same table as them and just talk about the program, which really got me interested” says Ryleigh. That was all Ryleigh needed to hear. By the next fall, she made sure she signed up for Basic Sailing, which is required to jumpstart the Mariner journey. Ryleigh says being a Mariner has given her a place to be comfortable. “Everyone there is always very friendly and encouraging toward each other. So, it’s always just been a happy and comfortable place to go every other weekend,” she said. Once she ages out of the program, she fully plans on returning to the Mariners as a volunteer. “It will always be a hobby for me, and it brings me joy. This is always something I will do on a free weekend.” Being a Mariner has had an impact on Ryleigh as whole. She says that over the past three years she has really become more confident in her abilities and what she can do in other aspects of her life. She draws on this fearlessness when she is faced with something concerning or scary. Ryleigh stated “I always think back, you know sailing a boat isn’t that easy, so being able to do that, what else can you do? Being a Mariner just means being courageous and being fearless at heart” Ryleigh would like everyone to know that even if you have a little bit of interest, do not be afraid to go and ask about the program. When you and your troop are out at Casa Mare, and if you see a Mariner or an adult in the Mariners, ask about the program. Mariners are always willing to talk about sailing and shed a positive light, because they are passionate about it. It’s such a positive activity for them and they want others to share it as well. With these parting words, Ryleigh said, “We hope all girls get into sailing and enjoy and let that be an avenue to whatever they want to do in life. Whether it’s to make friends, make that a career, whatever they choose. I just think it’s a very safe space to discover yourself in certain ways.”

Let's congratulate our Class of 2022 Gold Award Girls Scouts! This year, 111 girls earned the most prestigious award for Girl Scouts. The Senior and Ambassador girls were recognized, along with younger Silver and Bronze Award Girl Scouts, during the annual Gold Award Ceremony on May 22 at Houston Baptist University.

The ceremony was the first in-person Gold Award event since the pandemic, and everyone was thrilled to be a part of the celebration. More than 400 parents, family members, and volunteers filled the Morris Cultural Center to watch the Gold Award Girl Scouts receive their awards. Former Gold Scout Award honorees from 2020 and 2021 also attended the event and were recognized. Sharron Melton, CW39 TV anchor, served as mistress of the ceremony and read highlights about each girl's Gold Award project as they walked across the stage in their uniforms. Mary Vitek, Girl Scout of San Jacinto Council's CEO, and Marguerite Woung-Chapman, GSSJC president and board chair, presented each girl with her award.

Congrats to our 2022 Gold Award Girl Scouts!