On June 5, Girl Scouts from our council met with Gov. Josh Shapiro at the Capitol to raise awareness of mental health and spotlight recent Highest Award projects.
Meeting the Governor is a tradition for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, said Amy Showers, Special Projects Manager for the council.
The mental health topic was an important one for Girl Scouts to discuss, she added. “Prioritizing mental health in Girl Scouts aligns with the organization’s mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place,” she said. “Girl Scouts can empower girls to thrive personally, contribute to their communities, and become leaders of tomorrow.”
Here are some highlights from the Girl Scouts who attended and the topics they shared with Gov. Shapiro:
- Sophie from Troop 20455, a member of the Gold Award Class of 2024, discussed her project, “Friend to Friend,” which addressed the stigma surrounding mental health and focused on peer-to-peer education and support.
- Makayla from Troop 11018, also a member of the Gold Award Class of 2024, shared how she created a website featuring mental health resources.
- Girl Scouts Siena, Gwen, Palin, Madison, Kiley, Noelani, and Claire from Troop 20472 talked about the sensory garden space they created at Dallastown High School for their Silver Award project.
- Molly, Briar, and Odette from Troop 20343 shared details about creating blessing bags to benefit homeless people and others in need in their community to earn their Bronze Award.
- Girl Scouts Sylvia, Raelynn, Cordelia, Hudson, and Isely represented Troop 10840. Hudson and Sylvia spoke to Gov. Shapiro about a book drive they are holding to help children who cannot afford books.
The Girl Scouts and Gov. Shapiro also spent time talking about everyone’s favorite subject: Girl Scout Cookies! (The Gov. revealed he likes to store Thin Mints in the refrigerator).
During a question-and-answer session with the Governor, the girls were able to ask the Governor questions, including, “Is your job hard?” “How did you know you wanted to be a Governor?” and “Do you get to take vacation?” His answers:
- Yes, the job is hard, but that’s what he signed up for and he enjoys it.
- He always has wanted to help people so public service made sense.
- No, he doesn’t get a vacation, but he enjoys spending a few hours at a time with family.
The Girl Scouts also inquired about the mental health impact of being Governor, asking if Gov. Shapiro can take mental health days off if he needs them. While he said it’s hard to take a full day off, he told the girls he walks every day to manage his mental health.
In March, Gov. Shapiro signed a proclamation recognizing all three Girl Scout councils in Pennsylvania during Girl Scout Week, when the organization celebrated its 112th birthday.
Serving girls throughout a 30-county footprint, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania relies on volunteers to deliver its mission, and we are grateful for the people who have dedicated their time and talent to Girl Scouts. To learn more about volunteering, click here.
Written by Cathy Molitoris, Marketing Coordinator for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.