Family

Photo Gallery: Girl Scouts B.I.G. Expo

More than 4,000 kids and their families, as well as several Nickelodeon stars converged on the Ontario Convention Center Saturday for the first-ever Believe In Girls Expo, presented by the Girl Scouts of the San Gorgonio Council.

The day's activities included more than 150 exhibitors displaying information and resources about anything from wild animals to minor league baseball.

Keynote speakers were Jess Wiener, a monthly body image columnist for "Seventeen" magazine; Ben Barry, owner of a modeling agency that represents people of all sizes, ages and abilities; and Parry Aftab, who runs the world's largest cyber safety and help group, WiredSafety.org.

What did the scouts like about Saturday's event? Several girls from the 875 troop said they were most excited to see "True Jackson VP" star Ashley Argota. But they also enjoyed hanging out with friends and learning about new things.

"We love 'True Jackson,'" said 11-year-old Jessica Navarro of Colton.

The B.I.G. Expo was big fun for the girls, but they also just like being part of the Girl Scout's organization.

"We get to help people," said 11-year-old Summer Burton of Colton. The troop makes cards for sick people, senior citizens and U.S. troops.

"We also make 'happy socks' with catnip and stuffing and give them to cats in shelters," said Lyndi Johnson of Riverside.

Argota stepped on stage to the sound of hundreds of screaming girls and sang the songs, "Hot Topic," "Everything Changes" and "Dreams Come True."

Backstage friends from other popular teen shows hung out and watched the action, including Carlos Pena of "Big Time Rush," Nick Purcell of "The Troop" and Brittany Curran of "The Suite Life on Deck," who also plays the daughter of Ray Romano on TNT's "Men of a Certain Age."

"They shoot right next to us," Pena said of the cast of "True Jackson VP." The group has become good friends.

When asked if he'd like to perform for the Girl Scouts Pena said, "Hopefully they'll bring us back to perform next time too. We'd love that."

Reach Jennifer Dean at 095-368-9336, jdean@PE.com or http://blogs.pe.com/moms.