Digging Up a Time Capsule, Girl Scouts Celebrate 100 Years

Some had waited 10 years for this moment. Others in the crowd weren't even born yet when the Jersey Shore Council of the Girl Scouts dug a hole on its Old Freehold Road property and dropped a time capsule into the ground in 2002.

But scouts young and old, as well as Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, came to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Girl Scouts Monday in , and unearth the time capsule in a special ceremony.

As the top was pulled off the bucket, young girls started to lean in, trying to get a peek at the past that was stored inside.

The capsule itself contained many Scout items, including sashes and photo albums of then-current troops. Ten years later, the scouts were amazed to see the photographs and remember their times as Daisies and Brownies.

"The girls were excited, I was excited too. I was curious to see what was inside the capsule. You think 10 years, to me it doesnt seem that long, but I'm sure for them it seems ages ago," said Danielle Bagdzinski, public relations coordinator for the Girl Scouts.

Ten years may not seem like a long time, but according to council President Grace Hickey, here are a few things that were going on at the time: "In 2002, the price of gas was $1.62 a gallon. It was the first year that 'American Idol' started. Two former girl scouts competed for the Wimbeldon Championship: Serena [Williams] beat her sister Venus [Williams] that day."

Guadagno came to celebrate the 100th birthday of an organization she herself was a part of as a young girl.

"I was a Brownie. Because of something that happened with one person and 12 girls 100 years ago, I got to be where I am today, plus a good education and a really tough mom," Guadagno said. "I'm looking around for that next special person here, who can stand up 50 or 100 years from now and say they are the first of something, and they were a Scout."

Emma Gaglione, a local girl Scout, was particularly excited Monday. It was her birthday, too. She turned 11. 

"It's really cool knowing that i'm celebrating my 11th birthday and the Girl Scouts are celebrating their 100th," Gaglione said.

Bagdzinski also said the Girl Scouts will host their next event in the summer. The B.I.G. (Believe in Girls) event, June 23 in Liberty State Park, will bring together the four councils in New Jersey. There will be fireworks, programs for the girls, even a concert with Joe Jonas, Sarah Berrillis and Rachel Crowe from X Factor.

The 100th birthday celebration has been ongoing with additonal events planned. For more information or to register, visit www.girlscouts100nj.com. 

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