The Girl Scouts' Captain

"The Girl Scouts' Captain" by Edith Lavell is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative follows Marjorie Wilkinson, a college senior who aspires to make a meaningful impact by leading a new Girl Scout troop composed of girls from a less privileged background. As Marjorie navigates the challenges of uplifting her new troop, she grapples with themes of leadership, responsibility, and the pursuit of self-discovery against the societal expectations of her time. At the start of the story, we meet Marjorie and her friends as they discuss their college life and reminiscing about their past Girl Scout experiences. Despite her classmates' excitement for social events like a dance, Marjorie feels compelled to focus on the more significant challenge of mentoring a new group of Girl Scouts. During their first hike together, however, Marjorie's hopes for guiding the girls toward independence and outdoor skills are dashed as they abandon her for a ride with boys. This discouragement sets the stage for Marjorie's internal conflict as she weighs her commitment to the troop against her desire for social acceptance within her college community. The opening chapters establish a foundation for her journey of resilience and the impact of leadership on the lives of young girls.