They came to the right place.

Six area girls joined a larger Scouting group from across the state to be part of the Democratic National Convention this week in Denver. The week saw the formal end of Hillary Clinton's campaign, the most successful presidential run ever made by an American woman.

Whitney Smith, a junior at Silverton School, said generations of girls and minorities grew up being told they could be whatever they want, even president. But it wasn't really possible until this year.

"Now we don't have to be lied to anymore, because it really is possible," Smith said.

Despite the girls' enthusiasm for the examples set by Democrats like Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama, the Scouts are a nonpartisan organization, and they're in Denver to study leadership qualities, not the leaders' politics, they said.

Next week, the Scouts will watch the Republican National Convention on TV and meet online to discuss it. The Denver trip is part of a yearlong class that takes place mostly online and will culminate with each girl taking on a project in her community.

Tasha Deschenie of Farmington was already working on an issue important to her. On Wednesday morning, she was outside the Colorado Convention Center handing out fliers advocating for an improved Indian Health Care bill in Congress. As a 17-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, Deschenie said she wasn't too keen on politics until recently. But now she's arguing for her cause like a seasoned pro.

"We need cancer screenings for natives, and pregnancy care," she said. "We want to get it done now. We don't want to see it pushed back again."

On Wednesday, the girls held a mock caucus meeting inside the convention center, where the actual Democratic Caucuses meet in the mornings. Caucuses bring together groups of people with a broad common interest to develop specific plans and positions.

The Scouts were working in groups of four to make posters of their most important issues when one of their leaders walked in.

"Quick, get up and get your shoes on. Michelle Obama is in the Latino Caucus," the leader said.

A cheering pack of Scouts rushed to the door, but the leader held up both arms and said, "One thing about Michelle Obama - she's powerful and graceful, and we are going to mirror that right now. Power and grace."

Instantly, the Scouts were silent and speedwalking down the hall.

The group also includes Durango High School seniors Laura Nass and Claire Carver and sophomores Sarah Ivy and Jordan Junkermann.

Nass and Carver already have some first-hand political knowledge. They helped state Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, write and pass a bill that set up a Youth Advisory Council for the Legislature.

But this week, they didn't look just to the powerbrokers for leadership examples. Whitney Smith made a point to stop and talk to some of the many protesters in the city. And all the girls said they were impressed by the people from the anti-war group Code Pink, who infiltrated a Pelosi speech and rushed in front of the podium to reveal their pink shirts and confront Pelosi, the Speaker of the House.

They also were impressed by Pelosi's reaction.

"She addressed them even though they were shouting at her," Junkermann said. "It didn't slow her down or anything."

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