In the last few months of 2023, troops were busier than ever making memories, having fun and positively impacting their community. Check out these Mission Moments from girls across our council.

Exploring space in Susquehanna County

Cold weather didn’t stop 73 girls ranging from Daisies through Cadettes from exploring space at Camp Archbald. The event, hosted by Troop 51000, featured activities focused on the sun, moon, stars and planets, and girls visited the portable planetarium from Kopernik Observatory. After-dark activities included learning about light pollution and astrophotography, along with stargazing on a beautifully clear night. Girls from troops 50000, 50279, 40139 (NYPENN), 50075, 50170, 58930, 20117, 32295, 50145, 50856, 50280 and 51000 were in attendance..

Checking on creek health in Lancaster County

Senior Girl Scout Troop 71152 volunteered with the Friends of Fishing Creek to complete their creek study. The girls were given instructions and information pertaining to the health of the creek and an explanation of how the water is collected. They then examined the water and kept track of any living organism that they could see. Each item was given a rating on the point scale by the agency running the study. It was a neat morning, even though it was pouring rain!

Honoring veterans in Centre County

Troop 41123 volunteered as hostesses and servers for the local American Legion to provide a meal to veterans on Veterans Day. Each vet was presented a hand-made poppy along with their meal. Girls chatted with each veteran to learn their branch and time of service, along with hearing stories of the funniest thing that happened to them while they served.

Bowling fun in Lycoming County

Brownie/Junior Troop 60271 from Lycoming County recently took a trip to Harvest Moon Bowling Lanes in Linden. The girls learned about bowling safety and how to maintain the lanes. The girls bowled one complete game with bumpers, enjoyed snacks and drinks, and received a fun patch.

Serving soup in Luzerne County

Members of Cadette Troop 30301, Senior Troop 33206 and Ambassadors Troop 30130 recently volunteered at Wyoming Valley Presbyterian Church Soup Luncheon. These Girl Scouts took soup orders, served soup and cleared tables for the church that provides them a home to meet. The girls’ adult volunteers were very proud of their hard work and dedication to service.

Helping horses in Cumberland County

Girl Scouts in Cumberland County completed a multi-phase effort to support a non-profit horse rescue farm. The year-long-plus project covered a variety of tasks, including manual labor to clear a path for the rescue horses to exercise, making a sign to name the new trail “Girl Scout Way” and making treats for the rescue horses. To cap it off, the girls made a video of the effort. The Girl Scouts chose this project because they wanted an effort that involved outdoor activity and helped animals. The horse rescue was the perfect fit. The rescue serves a variety of horses, including retired racers and horses that need rehabilitation. During the project, the girls physically cleared the approximate half-mile horse path with garden sheers and rakes. They also collaborated with other Girl Scout troops for the extra help. Making the “Girl Scout Way” sign involved creating a wood sign that would withstand the outdoors, including selecting outdoor paint and adding a clear coating. The sign required multiple coatings and even included real horseshoes obtained from another horse farm. Making horse treats with carrots, apples and water was just the right choice for the rescue horses, many of which are sensitive to certain ingredients. At the end of the project, the girls learned that perseverance is key and that they can make a difference in the world.

Celebrating Taylor Swift in Schuylkill County

Did you know Taylor Swift was a Girl Scout? Ashland Troop 31154 hosted a “TS Was A GS, Too” event. Troops from Service Unit 324 along with a nearby troop from another Service Unit were invited to participate. A total of 75 girls from Daisy through Cadette levels joined together for an afternoon of fun. Girls dressed in their favorite Era outfit and traded friendship bracelets on arrival. Girls moved through various stations, including Taylor Swift trivia, What Era Are You?, Life Lessons from TS – matching TS lyrics to the GS law, and making friendship bracelets. Members also enjoyed some of Taylor Swift’s favorite snacks – chocolate chip cookies, chocolate milkshakes and sour patch watermelon candy. And, of course, Taylor Swift tunes were played throughout. The event closed with a friendship circle and every girl attending received a special “TS was a GS, Too” patch.

Feeding Families In Luzerne County

Members of Service Unit 331 recently helped pack food boxes for needy families for the Thanksgiving project at the Weinberg Food Bank. The girls enjoyed the work. One Daisy even said, “This is hard work, but very important work.” Their leader could not be more proud of these girls in their efforts to serve their community.

Sharing cheer with soldiers in Centre County

Service Unit 416 participated in Operation Christmas Cards for Soldiers. Several dozens of cards were made with special messages from Girl Scouts to be sent oversees to bring cheer to all branches of our military.

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.