*All Mission Moment information is submitted by volunteers/members. Should you have any questions regarding a submission, please email chirko@gshpa.org.

Troops in Dauphin County earned Bronze Awards and turned trash into treasure, while girls across the Heart of Pennsylvania hosted its first in-person Camporee gathering since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read on for more Mission Moments from our girls in Adams, Centre, Cumberland, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lycoming and Schuylkill counties.

Crafting art from natural materials at Dickinson College Farm

Cumberland County girls from Camp Hill Troop 10645 learned how to create art from natural materials. The girls met artists during an Art in Nature program at the Dickinson College Farm in Boiling Springs. The farm is a USDA-certified organic farm and laboratory set on 80 acres. Dickinson College students learn various subjects including complex math, the role of food in global politics, public art projects and more, the Dickinson College website said. The girls met various animals on the farm, too.

Silver Award project completed

Allison Warner, a second-year Cadette Girl Scout member of Centre County Troop 41123 completed her Silver Award project in April. Allison’s project, “Expanding Equity for Social-Emotional Health Opportunities” benefits the Jana Marie Foundation in State College. The foundation provides mindfulness resources to students with limited after-school program options. Allison researched mindfulness techniques and completed badges in video editing and public speaking. She created seven videos for the Jana Marie Foundation virtual calming room. These resources have been shared to benefit youngsters in Allison’s elementary and middle schools in the State College Area School District [SCASD]. She earned her Bronze Award as a junior Girl Scout.

Dauphin County troops combine to benefit animal welfare

Dauphin County Troop 10729 and Troop 10286 pulled some of their recent cookie sale proceeds together to benefit the Harrisburg Humane Society’s furry guests. As the girls created a budget, priced and shopped for items, they learned how to work within their means while helping others.

Turning trash into treasure

Dauphin Troop 14104 Junior Girl Scouts completed their Bronze Award by recycling more than 1,500 plastic bags. The girls created “plarn” or plastic yarn, which was distributed to the community at an Earth Day event, along with a knitting pattern to craft reusable bags.

“Barbie Blast” creates community

Dauphin County Troop 10840 members were part of a “Barbie Blast” recruiting event held at the East Shore Area Library in Harrisburg. From making gratitude stones to sharing their love and enthusiasm for Girl Scouting with potential Girl Scout candidates, the day’s event included a photo booth where girls took turns pretending to be Barbie. At the event, the girls signed on a new Girl Scout recruit.

In-person Camporee returns after pandemic hiatus

GSHPA hosted its first Camporee since 2020, when restrictions and lockdowns aimed at reducing the spread of Covid 19 came into effect. The spring 2023 Camporee was held at Knoebels Campground at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg. While at Camporee, girls enjoyed a SWAPS [Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere] scavenger hunt, crafts, sing-along time and S’mores. A live bugle performance closed the ceremony.

Play and learn at Camp Happy Valley

Adams County Troop 10840 members attended the annual May Blaze at Camp Happy Valley for a day packed with fun and informative events. From unstructured play time to visiting educational booths, the girls learned about recycling, bees and their behaviors, basic car maintenance and enjoyed some parachute play time. Information about Leave No Trace, provided by the nonprofit conservation organization, helped girls understand how to visit natural areas responsibly. Leave No Trace is a philosophy of seven principals to guide visitors in helping protect and preserve natural areas.

Bronze Award completed in time for summer reading

Luzerne County Troop 33265 collected more than 1,000 books to donate to a local elementary school for student summer reading. Maintaining summer reading is important for young learners to gain, retain, and grow memory skills and comprehension, as well as encourage reading as a lifelong habit.

Girls to take to the waters

In May, Lycoming Troop 61238 prepared for a summer white water rafting trip with the help of a special guest from Rich Port Adventure Company in Muncy. The girls learned about water safety, the importance of wearing a life vest, what to do if you fall out of a boat, and how to swim to an eddy. They also learned about the mighty Susquehanna River, and its various access points for summer water recreation.

The great outdoors as a classroom

A Lancaster County Daisy Troop 10840 member enjoyed a memorable Between Earth and Sky event at Foxfire House at Camp Furnace Hills. The Daisy member explored nature, decorated a “feeling” stone, and learned about plant anatomy. She identified seeds and planted flowers, corn and tomatoes in the Foxfire House Garden. Along with a craft to keep, she made a “seed ball” to share, along with her experience of the day.

Lackawanna Troop 50000 member receives Gold Award

Haylee Czyzyk a Troop 50000 Ambassador Girl Scout received the Girl Scout Gold Award, and she graduated in the Class of 2023 from Leadership Lackawanna’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) program on May 18. Leadership Lackawanna’s TLT is a seven-month program, which aims to encourage leadership and managerial skills for high school juniors and runs from October through May. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor available to high school Girl Scouts and Ambassadors.

Daisy girls earn their Outdoor Art Maker badge

Dauphin County Troop 10840 Daisy members earned their Outdoor Art Maker Badge, while Brownie girls earned their Outdoor Art Creator Badge at Wildwood Park “Art in the Wild” outdoor art program. The girls spent time hiking and visiting art exhibits. In addition to visual art, Daisy girls enjoyed playing maracas while the Brownie girls made wind chimes. Daisy members continue to work on their Outdoor Journey Badges.

Schuylkill County Troop 32840 girls earn Bronze Awards

Junior Girl Scouts Calla Nagle, Hailey Strouphauer, Hannah Moyer, Julia Barra and Willow Neidlinger, all members of Schuylkill County Troop 32840, completed their Bronze Award Project. Made in conjunction with the Pine Grove Children’s Aid group, a nonprofit organization serving youth in the community, the girls updated the community’s The Giving Tree Project. So no child is left without, the project was completed with an eye toward retooling the program to create a sustainable, inclusive program.

Submit a Mission Moment today so we can showcase your Girl Scouts’ recent experiences and accomplishments next month! Visit our Mission Moment Recap webpage on the GSHPA Blog to see more Mission Moments from previous months.