Girl Scouts wield power with science, imagination at WVU-P
Emma Joy, 7, paints her wand in transfigurations class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Dalila Dennis, 11, makes a goblet in transfigurations class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Keona Hibbard, 17, one of the event volunteers, dressed as Bellatrix Lestrange, a character from the Harry Potter Wizarding World. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
From left, Cordelia Wolfe, 9, and Emma More, 9, stir and drink “potions” in potions class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Scouts learn to read palms in divinations class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Scouts paint kindness rocks in herbology. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Bekki Rollins, dressed as Professor Grubbly-Plank, teaches slime potions. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Scouts learned about the history of the Olympics, very similar to the tri-wizard tournaments, in muggle studies. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Maddie Tingler, 11, tries her luck with favology, where you use beans to answer questions. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Decorations were set up throughout West Virginia University at Parkersburg for the event. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
At the beginning of the day, Scouts were sorted into four houses with surprise filled cupcakes sat at their seats in the “great hall” of West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
At the end of the day the Scouts collected goody bags from Honeydukes before returning to the muggle world (heading home). (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Emma Joy, 7, paints her wand in transfigurations class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Dalila Dennis, 11, makes a goblet in transfigurations class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Keona Hibbard, 17, one of the event volunteers, dressed as Bellatrix Lestrange, a character from the Harry Potter Wizarding World. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
From left, Cordelia Wolfe, 9, and Emma More, 9, stir and drink “potions” in potions class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Scouts learn to read palms in divinations class. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Scouts paint kindness rocks in herbology. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Bekki Rollins, dressed as Professor Grubbly-Plank, teaches slime potions. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Scouts learned about the history of the Olympics, very similar to the tri-wizard tournaments, in muggle studies. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Maddie Tingler, 11, tries her luck with favology, where you use beans to answer questions. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Decorations were set up throughout West Virginia University at Parkersburg for the event. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
At the beginning of the day, Scouts were sorted into four houses with surprise filled cupcakes sat at their seats in the “great hall” of West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
At the end of the day the Scouts collected goody bags from Honeydukes before returning to the muggle world (heading home). (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- The Girl Scouts of the Black Diamond Council enjoyed a magical Saturday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg by embracing the Wizarding World of Girl Scouts magical arts and sciences.
Participants, who came from 45 counties in West Virginia, nine in Ohio, three in Virginia and one in Maryland that make up Black Diamond Council, dressed in wizarding robes and brought stuffed animals such as owls, toads, cats and rats to the event to play the part of wizarding students.
All together there were more than 100 registered participants in the Harry Potter-inspired program.
The Scouts, who are in grades second to eighth, spent the day going from classroom to classroom learning, participating in different activities and avoiding citations from Professor Umbridge.
The classes included potions, transfigurations, care of magical creatures, divination, herbology and muggle studies. Classes involved activities, many of which incorporated a range of STEM activities.
"We try to keep it fun as well as educational," said Deb Dowler, one of the event founders and a member of the event development team.
In muggle studies, Lori Hibbard, who was dressed as Professor McGonagal, talked about women in the Olympics, and the history behind many of its sports before quizzing the girls on their new knowledge.
"The muggle Olympics is very similar to our Tri-Wizard Cup," said Hibbard to the class.
Other classes took part in educational activities such as palm reading, numerology, and fizzing volcano slime as well as playful activities such as crafts, word searches and guessing games.
"I had a lot of fun but I got detention from Umbridge for not having a proper uniform," said Thea Henson, 8.
The kids all found messing with Professor Umbridge to be a hoot and were trying to get her to give them "detention."
At the end of the day the Scouts completed O.W.L.S. to gain a graduation certificate, which had writing prompts, questions on what the girls learned and how they enjoyed the event.
"Some events are bigger than other but we strive to keep each of our counties connected with each other," said Cathy Storage, program manager of Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council.
Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com