Girl Scouts take field trip to Herrington's

SALISBURY —The Salisbury Girl Scout troop took part in an activity on May 11 that might seem more suited to Boy Scouts: They went to Herrington’s in Lakeville to learn about tools and woodworking.

Parent Caroline Burchfield set up the workshop, specifically because she felt that girls are often not taught these “traditionally masculine� skills. Her feeling: Everyone, regardless of gender, should know the rudiments of carpentry and should be able to find their way around a toolbox.

Bill Clark at Herrington’s agreed, and worked on a variety of projects with the 9- and 10-year-olds.

“He gamely led the neophyte carpenters,� Burchfield reported, “encouraging and cajoling them, until their natural enthusiasm and youthful confidence won over even the most reluctant participant!�

Herrington’s gave each girl her own hammer and carpenter’s tape measure.

“Timber Trading Group supplied the lumber,� Clark said. “And Emery Waterhouse, R.A. Graham Company, and Herrington’s supplied the hammers and tape measures.�

“They were using them with great skill by the end of the project,â€� Burchfield said. “After drilling in the last piece of hardware on her birdhouse, Lauren Segalla said, ‘I can’t believe I made this!’â€�    

And in fact, that was part of the reason Burchfield was keen on organizing the workshop. Studies have shown that girls lose confidence in their abilities at around this age, and they begin to naturally defer to boys.

“I wanted to empower the girls with these important skills and provide them with some confidence-building opportunities.�