Most teenagers dream about the day they receive their license, but they may not think about the responsibility that comes with operating a vehicle. As a way to prepare local Girl Scout teens, GEICO partnered up with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast to hold the second Car Care Clinic at Motor World in Virginia Beach on Oct. 1.

Nearly 30 Girl Scouts participated in interactive workshops and hands-on activities to learn about car maintenance and safety. They checked tire air pressure, learned about the depth of tire treads and actually changed a tire. They also looked under the hood, where they checked oil levels and air filters and learned how to connect jumper cables to restart a car battery.

Girl Scouts enjoyed the interactive games to learn about the dangers of distracted driving, which included having to walk in a straight line while wearing simulator goggles that created the distortion of a distracted driver. Along with safety and maintenance instructions, the Girl Scouts also got a quick lesson on insurance and the different types of coverage.

“My favorite activity was the distracted driving simulator, because it really opened my eyes to the dangers [of not paying attention].” Nicole Monroe of Troop 629 in Chesapeake said. “It was fun that we got to learn how to do different things to care for cars. Today made me feel comfortable with becoming a driver one day soon.”

Each Girl Scout received a GEICO Car Care Program patch and older Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors earned the Girl Scout Road Safety badge, which is designed to help prepare teens to become safe drivers. This was the second time this year that GSCCC and GEICO held the Car Care Clinic at Motor World for teen girls within the council.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, a United Way agency, serves nearly 12,000 girls in kindergarten through 12th grades with the help of more than 6,000 adult volunteers in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit www.gsccc.org or call 1-800-77SCOUT.