Helen Barnard was recently honored with a proclamation by the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council on her 100th birthday, the first of its kind ever presented by the Council.

“Mrs. Barnard is what we consider a pioneer of Girl Scout travel,” says Mary Vitek, chief executive officer for GSSJC. “Through her example, she paved the way for our current and future Girl Scouts to travel abroad, meet with other Girl Scouts from around the world and learn about different cultures. As we approach the centennial of the Girl Scout Movement in 2012, it is so touching to hear the stories and meet the women – like Mrs. Barnard – who have contributed so significantly to Girl Scouting over the years.”

Barnard was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years before taking her troop on a historic trip to Our Chalet in Switzerland, one of the world centers of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, in 1957. As part of the trip, Barnard and Troop #328 traveled first by plane to Montreal, Canada, before sailing to Europe. Mementos from the trip were recently donated to GSSJC to be displayed at the Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History, one of the few Girl Scout museums in the U.S., located in the Greenway Plaza area.

Barnard’s niece, Michel Hinton, a Girl Scout alumna and troop leader, and Hinton’s daughter, Elizabeth, also a Girl Scout Brownie, presented the proclamation to Barnard during the recent celebration. Being active in Girl Scouts is a family tradition that has now been passed down to three generations. Members of Barnard’s troop who took that memorable trip to Our Chalet were also witnesses to the presentation.