For Girl Scouts, More Than Cookies

Near Khan's table, which showed how girls could pursue faith-oriented badges, a group of girls tossed lacrosse balls back and forth.

This generation is not only more diverse but more fitness-minded, Layton said. "So many girls are involved in athletics now," she said. "That wasn't the case a generation ago."

Players from the Washington Freedom women's soccer team came to sign autographs. There was also a table for the Washington Mystics women's basketball team, where one player raffled off an autographed jersey.

For Kathryn Ivie, 16, of Nokesville, that table was a favorite. She pointed to a Mystics badge on her vest, near another badge she earned for jewelry-making after she crafted her own earrings, she said.

Her mother said eight years of scouting have helped Ivie, who is autistic, develop social and communication skills. "Scouting has made all the difference," Mary Ivie said.

Denise Troeschel, who chairs the regional council's inclusion task force, said Girl Scouts seek to reach out to parents with daughters who have disabilities. Troeschel volunteered yesterday at a table with a sign language demonstration and with pages of Braille, which girls stopped to run their fingers across.

Troeschel is a leader of a Brownie troop and a Junior Girl Scout troop for girls with disabilities in Prince George's County. She said the council will be training volunteers to work with disabled scouts in other troops.

"We are for all girls," she said.