The trip to JWTC, the only jungle warfare training center in the Department of Defense, was part of a week-long spring camp where the “junior” and “cadet” adventurers received hands-on survival training in a jungle environment.

“I wanted my girls to be able to do some ‘boy things’ while learning about the environment,” said Tiffany Carritt, a co-troop leader.

Marines from JWTC gave classes on compass reading, land navigation, fire craft, tools, weapons for survival, traps, snares, first aid, animals of the jungle and survival gear, said Lance Cpl. John Pratt, survival skills instructor, JWTC, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

This was a different experience for the Girl Scouts. Normal meetings involve activities and discussions about that year's journey, Mallory Sheldon, a Girl Scout co-leader commented.

“Every year, the Girl Scouts have a different themed ‘journey’ they work on,” Sheldon said. “This year’s journey was focused on the environment, so it was good to get the girls out here for some hands-on learning.”

The experience at JWTC taught some of the girls they have a wide variety of options in life.

“We’re always looking to get involved with as many out of the ordinary professions as possible, especially if females are a minority,” Sheldon said. “That shows our girls they can do anything in life.”

Teaching modified Marine training to Girl Scouts was a new experience for the JWTC instructors as well.

“It was an interesting experience working with children up here,” said Lance Cpl. John Chen, land navigation instructor. “We taught them what they wanted to learn and hopefully things they’ve never heard before.”

“I liked it all,” said Kelsey Carritt, 9, a Girl Scout. “This is fun because my dad is a Marine, and we’re doing stuff like him.”

The Girl Scouts also prepared a short play for the last campfire to showcase to their parents all they did at JWTC, Sheldon said.

“We are very grateful to Maj. Kisha M. Flagg, JWTC commander, and her staff for allowing us to come here and train,” she added.

“It was fun to have the Girl Scouts here, because we don’t normally work with children,” Chen commented. “I think it was good for them to be able to see that although we’re Marines, we’re still human.”