Girl Scouts today are more than cookies and camping: They can do anything they set their minds to, even learning how to maintain a vehicle.
Area girl scouts and other young ladies will be learning basic car care with the help of Christian Brothers Automotive today from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Girls Scout Troop 4016 will be hosting a free car clinic for girls ages 15-18 to promote tire safety during National Teen Drivers Safety Week.
“First of all, they are going to learn tire prevention because that is the first and most important thing," said Girls Scout Troop 4016 Leader Evelyn Farias. "Then after that, they are going to have some hands-on skills on learning how to change a tire.”
Raquel Gonzales, of Veterans Memorial High School, will be among many girl scouts from Troop 4016 participating in the hour-long class focusing on basic car maintenance, safe-driving practices, vehicle safety and energy-efficient/environmentally-friendly driving.
“We wanted to have a clinic so that girls who are getting at the age of driving or near driving age know how to prevent tire wear, but also know how to change a tire in case they are ever in that situation,” Gonzales said.
The girls will also check a car's oil, tire pressure, transmission fluid and wiper blades.
“It is kind of a lost art you know, it is really not taught in high school anymore, shop and things like that," said Christian Brothers Automotive General Manager David Hefner. "So I feel like it is that much more important to teach people because even the teens, especially the teens, every year as the statistics show, 300,000 accidents are caused by tire-related issues for teens.”
This take-action project will help the troop members get their gold award and also help them earn their car-care badge. For others, it will be a good opportunity to learn safe-driving tips, or the basics of car care.
“They have to register through Event Brite Teens and Tires, and there is no cost, and if anything, they will receive a free T-shirt from Christian Brothers Automotive and receive a digital tire gauge to check the tire pressure,” said Farias.
For more information visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girl-scout-troop-4016-from-vmhs-teens-tires-car-clinic-girls-only-10th-grade-seniors-tickets-75483664673
