By Cathy Molitoris
Girl Scout Troops all over GSHPA were busy in the past few months, earning Highest Awards and serving their community. Read on to learn more!
Wading into the Water in Carbon County
Girls in Troops 61238 and 60036 challenged themselves to try new things and take risks when they spent a day at Lehigh Valley Gorge. They braved the water and enjoyed a day outdoors with Whitewater Challengers. Way to go, girls!
Dauphin County Girl Scout enjoys Mom and Me Camp
Sylvia, a Daisy from Troop 10840 experienced her first taste of Girl Scout camp when she visited Camp Happy Valley with her mom. She enjoyed tie dying, slime making, participating in a trash bag fashion show, learning to shoot a slingshot and working with older Girl Scouts to do a low ropes course and practice making an outdoor shelter. Nights were filled with night hikes, campfires, s’mores, songs and games. She learned firsthand what it means to be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Flag ceremony honors tradition in York County
Flag ceremonies are a longtime tradition in Girl Scouts, and members of Troop 20387 in Wellsville participated in that tradition when they presented the colors for staff and teachers at their in-service assembly for the Northern York School District. Gabbie from their sister troop in Dillsburg showed the girls what to do.
Making memories in Iceland
After three years of planning, fundraising and saving money, Greta, Molly, Nadalie and Rebekah from Troop 80114 in East Berlin spent seven days in Iceland this summer. Highlights of their trip included swimming in the Blue Lagoon, climbing craters and lava flows, walking on black sand beaches, learning about Nordic culture (lots of trolls and elves), and discovering earthen houses, waterfalls, geysers, boiling mud pots and nature baths. They had so much fun, they’re now planning their next trip!
Giving back in Cumberland County
Troop 11473 wrapped up their year by purchasing household goods with funds raised by cookie sales for the local Earl Besch Fund. The Earl Besch Fund helps economically disadvantaged students and families within the local Camp Hill School District. The troop was able to provide for 40 families. Great job, girls!
Encouraging a love of reading in Wayne County
For their Bronze Award, Troop 50143 built, decorated and supplied a Little Lending Library for their former elementary school. It will be housed in a memorial storybook garden outside the school, providing the perfect place to get lost in a book.
Luzerne County Troop earns Bronze Award
Noticing a problem with trash in their area, the girls in Junior Girl Scout Troop 32109 took action. They earned their Bronze Award for the project “Litter Free,” making posters about the dangers of litter to our environment, wildlife and drinking water. They also raised money to buy compostable and reusable items, including trash bags and straws, which they handed out at a local grocery store to raise awareness of how we all need to do our part to make the world a better place. Congratulations, Ava, Brynn, Hope, Harper, Caitlyn and Maggie!
Gratitude abounds in Lancaster County
When girls in Troop 70070 learned about gratitude and being thankful, they put their knowledge into action. They made thank-you cards for the church where they meet. The church then put it in their church bulletin.
Caring for cats in Dauphin County
Girls in Troop 10840 collected donations for Loving Care Cat Rescue, including food, litter and cleaning supplies. They also made homemade cat toys for the rescue. A volunteer from Loving Care Cat Rescue came to a troop meeting to speak to the Girl Scouts about what they do and how they help cats in the community, telling the girls that last year, they helped to find homes for more than 700 cats through their all-volunteer rescue.
A helping hand for the homeless in Schuylkill County
Abigail and Claire of Junior Troop 31128 earned their Bronze Award with a project to help the homeless in their community. They made posters and set up donation boxes at their schools and church to collect food and personal hygiene items. They sorted the items and created Blessing Bags filled with food, hygiene items and medical supplies which they distributed at a local homeless shelter. They also designed and built a Blessing Box for a local soup kitchen, encouraging the community to contribute to it.
Camporee fun in Centre County
Troops 40049, 40170, 40171, 40219, 41162 and 41184 from Service Unit 416 enjoyed a fun-filled weekend at Camp Conshatawba. Girls tried archery and hatchet throwing, played field games and completed badge work.
Spending the night at a Luzerne County drive-in
Girl Scout troops from Service Unit 331 led by Kathy Lockman held an overnight campout at Moonlight Drive-In in Wyoming. Nina Grymko organized the event, which included members of three service units attending this awesome event. The troops also used the event as an opportunity to recruit more girls to join Girl Scouts.
Achieving Silver in Lackawanna County
Giada and Gwen from Troop 50075 recently completed their Silver Award project by planning, designing and building a free library as well as restoring the Quiet Place at Camp Archbald. The girls power washed, rehabilitated and stained the pre-existing structures, created a Quiet Place sign and learned how to properly install the post below the frost line using concrete. They completed their project to encourage other Girl Scouts to unplug and enjoy the beauty and nature the Quiet Place has to offer.
Going gaga for Bronze in Wyoming County
Five girls from Troop 51000 – Emma, Ella, Lillian, Zeva and Rochelle – wanted to create something for older kids to use at Creek Junction Park in Forkston. They built a gaga ball pit and also painted a mural as part of their Bronze Award project. Congratulations, girls!
Service Unit volunteers honored in Luzerne County
Members of Penn’s Woods Service Unit 331 were honored for their dedication for the past year at an event coordinated by Service Unit treasurer Paula Weihbrecht and Service Unit lead Kathy Lockman. Volunteers were treated to a catered meal by Cosensza’s of Bear Creek. They had a great time making a craft and enjoyed sharing troop stories with one another.
Camp reunion in Columbia County
Kylie, Cass, Brooke, Jordyn, Em, Ruby and Mia from Troops 32452, 32907 and 30130 serve as junior board members committed to serving at Camp Louise in Berwick. They recently helped run an alumnae weekend for people who attended Camp Louise.
Earning Bronze in Centre County
The Juniors from Troop 40170 earned their Bronze Award working with Pets Come First, a local animal shelter. To complete their project, they brainstormed community organizations and needs and learned that Pets Come First could use catnip toys and dog agility jumps. They collected donations and learned sewing skills to make 64 catnip toys. They also utilized their engineering skills by building the dog agility jumps. The girls created a flyer for Pets Come First that it can provide to the public or distribute in the community. To inform others about their project, the girls created a presentation for their multi-level troop and the parents. With money left over from donations, the girls purchased two cat scratchers, two bags of shavings and two cat toys for the rescue.
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.
All Mission Moment information is submitted by volunteers/members. Should you have any questions regarding a submission, please email cmolitoris@gshpa.org.