The Badge Archive

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A Scout of the Everglades

Mariner Girl Scout, Coconut Grove FL • 1930s–1940s

“They did such an amazing job that they were invited to the celebration when the Everglades were set aside as a national park.” – Marilyn W.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Marilyn’s mother was part of a Mariner Scout troop in Coconut Grove, Florida. Their experiences combined outdoor adventure, early environmental stewardship, and skill-building that would carry her into national service.

Scouting in the Everglades

Under the guidance of a passionate local woman whose name Marilyn W. could not remember, her mother’s troop:

• Cataloged native orchids in the Everglades
• Were invited to attend the celebration when the area was officially designated a national park
• Became known as early environmentalists in their region

They swam from key to key in the Florida Keys and made regular visits to the Cottrell Key lighthouse family, bringing fresh-baked bread in rowboats. The keeper’s wife would invite them in for soup, and recipes were exchanged between scout and sailor families.

Skunk Lesson in the Sand

One summer night at camp on Miami Beach, her troop learned the hard way why food should never be stored in tents. A skunk wandered in and rummaged through the girls’ secret candy stash. Terrified of getting sprayed, the girls lay perfectly still in the Florida heat until the skunk was satisfied and left. That story became one of her lasting lessons for future campers. Never store food in the tent!

Morse Code and Wartime Service

Her passion for signals and precision earned her the Morse code badge. This skill later led her to work as a radio operator during WWII. It was through that training that she met Marilyn’s father, also serving as a radio operator.

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