When Girl Scouts recite their Promise, they commit to living by the Girl Scout Law. Two Lycoming County troops recently brought that commitment to life, demonstrating what it truly means to “be a sister to every Girl Scout.”
Girls in Troops 62015 and 62070, multi-level troops ranging from Daisies through Cadettes, donated proceeds from their cookie sales to provide uniforms for girls who participate in the Academic Edge program.
Held on school property either during or after the school day, Academic Edge is a program that brings Girl Scouts to girls who may face barriers to joining a traditional troop, whether that’s lack of transportation, financial concerns, or other issues.
The program allows girls to earn badges, sell cookies, and go on field trips, just like any other troop. But for many families in Academic Edge, purchasing uniforms simply isn’t an option.
That’s where Troop Leader Siobhan Shadle saw a chance to make a difference.
After a conversation with Girl Scout staff member Sheila Dupont, Shadle offered to help. When Dupont mentioned the need for uniforms, Shadle took the idea straight to her troop.
It struck a chord.
“I quickly learned that a lot of the young ladies had friends in the Academic Edge programs, and they loved the idea of helping their friends,” she said.
Discussing the idea of providing uniform components for the Academic Edge girls, the troop enthusiastically agreed to help.
“Our troop has been incredibly lucky with cookie sales the past few years, so we as a troop decided to donate funds to help cover the sashes,” Shadle said. In all, they provided sashes for 66 girls who attend primary, elementary, and intermediate schools in the region.
The timing couldn’t have been better. The sashes arrived just in time for the Academic Edge girls to celebrate the end of the Girl Scout year, complete with a way to proudly display their hard-earned badges and patches.
“We got a thank you poster signed by all the girls in the program,” Shadle said. “It was very moving.”
Inspired by this experience, Shadle’s troops are now working on ways to connect even more with Academic Edge participants, including joint activities with their local service unit. They’re also encouraging other troops to lend their support to similar programs in their own communities.
“It helps build a community and a sisterhood for all the girls in the Girl Scout program,” she said. “This is just a small start but if we all helped build each other up, imagine what the future could be like for these young ladies and the world they will help bring about as they grow older.”
To learn more about how to support an Academic Edge troop, volunteers may reach out to their Volunteer Support Coordinator.
“Sponsoring a school or a few girls would be an amazing thing and truly bring about being a sister to every Girl Scout,” Shadle said. “A Girl Scout is a Girl Scout. We are all a sisterhood, and we are all in this world together. We need to work together to build a better future and to make sure the young ladies in our area get the opportunities that they deserve.”