Local Girl Scouts Look to Banish Bullying With Pen Pal Program

Birmingham girl scouts spent Thursday evening at Quarton Elementary getting to know one another, drumming out some rhythms and — hopefully — finding ways to cut down on bullying in Birmingham's middle schools.

Young scouts from the 5th grade girl scout troop at Harlan Elementary spent Thursday afternoon with scouts from Derby Middle School, getting to know the "pen pals" the girls have been corresponding with all year now.

The girls created "Lummi sticks" during their meeting — hardwood, cylinder sticks used as percussive musical instruments — but even more importantly, Harlan troop leader Dawn Burdick said talking with the older scouts help the elementary-age girls as they prepare to attend Derby Middle School next year.

"The purpose is to help alleviate bullying at the middle school level, where they will all be heading next year," Burdick said in an email to Patch.

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