Girl Scouts Spend Enchanted Evening at Chesapeake Academy

It's true that most fathers think of their daughters as little princesses, but on Friday, the fairytale became a reality at the father/daughter dance.

The tradition began over 10 years ago as a way provide quality time for busy dads to bond with their daughters. Over time, the theme shifted and the dance was titled "Enchanted Evening"  to accommodate different types of families.

"Sometimes moms will accompany their daughters if the dad isn't around or can't make it for some reason," said Karen Bennett, fourth grade teacher and manager of the event. "It's such a popular and special event for families that we announce it a year in advance so even the busiest dads make sure they have time off for it."

The Enchanted Evening almost seems like a mini-prom, as the girls don their fanciest dresses, dads are in suits or tuxedos and they even wait in line to have their pictures taken. Each girl also gets a corsage.

"I especially love this event because normally the kids are in uniforms and when they put on their dresses, you get to see their little personalities pop out. It's really great," said Bennett.

Some families go all out and make a special evening for their girls. It's not uncommon for families to get together in groups and have a nice dinner before attending the dance.

Since the Chesapeake Academy caters to students ranging from preschool to fifth  grade, it's important to create an evening that appeals to all ages. DJ Jason Tillman knows this all too well and does his best to mix in fun things like hula hoop activities and games for the younger girls while still maintaining a "dance" atmosphere.

The dads are all good sports and seem to have fun participating in even the silliest of games. More memorable though is the chance for dads to slow dance with their daughters.

For those dads with older girls, the dance can be a little bittersweet since many have been attending since their daughters were just preschoolers.

"It's not uncommon to see parents tear up," said Bennett. "The last song is always 'Butterfly Kisses' by Bob Carlisle and hearing it can get a little emotional for parents who have kids moving on to sixth grade, since it really signifies the last time they will attend the dance."

The event is run by the Girl Scouts, and the volunteers are generally scout moms. The busy volunteers worked the check-in table, the refreshment tables and decorated the gym, all while maintaining order throughout the evening.

"The boys started to get a little jealous since the girls had this dance exclusively for them so last year we let them have a camp-out on the playground," said Bennett.

The Chesapeake Academy believes in providing memorable events and activities for their students in addition to a top-notch education. Based on the reactions of the girls and their obvious delight to be in attendance, it's safe to say that this year's Enchanted Evening was a magical experience for everyone.