Publications & Sites 
Games, s’mores featured at Girl Scout Tea
Becca Rymsza of La Grange hands a flyer to 4-year-old Megan Ahlm of La Grange with Ellen Sudeikis about the Girl Scout Tea July 14 and 15 at the La Grange Area Historical Society. | Photo courtesy of Kate Rymsza
Updated: July 29, 2012 6:36AM
Casual clothes for games of tag are in order for a Girl Scout Tea July 14 and 15 hosted by the La Grange Area Historical Society.
“It will be a fun way to learn the history of the Girl Scouts, but it also will be interactive,” said organizer Becca Rymsza of La Grange, who will be a senior in the fall at Lyons Township High School.
Rymsza, a descendant of La Grange founder Franklin D. Cossitt, has been active in historical society functions with her mom, Kate Rymsza. The two volunteer at the popular American Girl Teas in February for girls, ages 5 to 11, and their American Girl dolls, which represent an historical era.
“For the American Girls Tea, the girls dress up and wear fancy dresses and hear a talk on history,” Becca Rymsza said. “It’s definitely a more formal tea party.”
“But for this tea, we’re going to play camp games outside like at a Girl Scout camp, and we’ll roast marshmallows for s’mores,” she said.
The historical society, at 444 S. La Grange Road, is featuring an exhibit celebrating 100 years of Girl Scout history, on display throughout the summer.
Rymsza said she and friend Ellen Sudeikis of Brookfield, who also will be a senior at LT, decided to organize the summer tea as a fun activity allowing creativity for a community service project. The two relied on Sudeikis’s experience as a Girl Scout to plan the tea and activities.
Four sessions, each seating 40 girls, will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. July 14 and 15. Participants must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $10, and the deadline to register is July 5.
Reservations may be made by calling Rymsza at (708) 354-4324, or by downloading a form at www.lagrangehistory.org and mailing it or dropping it off at the historical society.
Although tea will be served, mostly to moms and grandmothers attending the teas, other offerings will reflect a casual outdoor scouting experience, Rymsza said.
“We’ll have ants on a log, which is celery sticks with peanut better and raisins, as well as trail mix and fruit kabobs,” she said. “There also will be fruit punch and water.”
To complete the theme, Rymsza said she and Sudeikis have made centerpieces for the tea with balloons in flower pots, each painted with a different type of Girl Scout cookie, such as Thin Mints.
