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Obamas host White House lawn campout for Girl Scouts

By Tomas Monzon
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama host a group of Girl Scouts from across the country for a campout on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
1 of 12 | President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama host a group of Girl Scouts from across the country for a campout on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted 50 fourth-grade Girl Scouts on the south lawn of the White House on Tuesday evening.

A part of the first lady's Let's Move Outside campaign -- an offshoot of her Let's Move initiative to combat childhood obesity -- the Girl Scouts sang campfire songs and joked with the first couple around a makeshift campfire with electric lanterns.

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Michelle Obama addressed the group prior to the kids engaging in scouting activities like knot tying, tent pitching and rock climbing.

She was joined by the president at the event 8:29 p.m.

Upon seeing the girls on the White House lawn – officially a part of the national park system -- the president asked them, "What are you doing in my yard?" as the girls giggled.

The first lady told the Girl Scouts that they were making history by being a part of the first ever White House campout. Michelle Obama is the honorary national Girl Scout president and supports an effort to encourage every fourth-grader to visit national parks with their families for free.

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The president's objective with the event was to help young kids understand that being outside in nature was of higher priority than watching television indoors.

As the group prepared for their evening activities the president said he couldn't stay long: "I've got to work. I'm not allowed to have fun."

The Scouts' campout was ultimately cut short by rain and thunder late Tuesday night and forced the girls inside a conference room in a building near the White House.

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