Girl Scouts wrapped up an exciting spring with outdoor adventures, badgework, and meaningful service—from camping for the first time and learning first aid, to planting kindness and protecting the environment. Check out this month’s Mission Moments.
Mini-camporee teaches traditions
Service Unit 835 from the southwest corner of the council held a mini-camporee in April at Camp Small Valley to show the new troop leaders and their girls one of the council properties while introducing the younger girls to camping skills and Girl Scout traditions. Each level worked on a different badge or patch: CSA Citizen Science journey for Project Squirrel, Junior Simple Meals badge, Brownie Hiker badge, and Tree Promise.
Wrapping up a year of Academic Edge
As the 2025 school year ended, Girl Scouts Academic Edge (GSAE) wrapped us as well. Designed to meet girls where they are—any community, any moment—GSAE delivers the Girl Scout experience to those who may not have access otherwise. Across seven counties, coordinators lead over 11 weekly in-school programs, each serving 15 or more girls. A ceremony was held to mark the girls’ achievements and 1,258 girls received their own uniforms, decorated with their share of 16,008 badges, patches, council IDs and numerals.
Academic Edge participants also had their first experience at camp when they visited Camp Small Valley to hike, create SWAPS and share sisterhood memories. Congratulations, girls!
Finding a small friend at camp
Troop 32919, which features girls of different Girl Scout levels in Montour County, took their first camping trip to Camp Archbald and had a great time even though the weather was a challenge. After finding a salamander on the hike, the girls’ new camping nickname is the Dancing Heritage Salamanders.
Mixing and cooking in Cumberland County
Brownies and Juniors in Troop 10840 love cooking, and they tested their cooking skills in the kitchen. Brownies completed the Snacks badge and made personal pizzas, got creative and crafted their own s’more concoction, slurped a smoothie, and tried a healthy Brownie Smile snack. Juniors completed the Simple meals badge and made French toast, pineapple upside down cake, chicken quesadillas, and a Cobb salad. A retired family and consumer science teacher who taught 7th and 8th grade cooking came to the meeting to teach how to use different tools in the kitchen and about kitchen safety. One thing the girls learned – don’t put water on a grease fire!
Bridging to adulthood
Troop 81597 from McConnellsburg held a bridging ceremony to celebrate three Ambassador Girl Scouts who flew over the rainbow bridge one final time to adulthood. Alison, Raegan, and Maggie have enjoyed many highlights as Girl Scouts. All three earned both the Bronze and Silver Awards together and traveled to Savannah at the end of Juniors. Alison is finishing her Gold Award, earned the Trailblazer pin, and visited the Pax Lodge and Our Chalet. During the ceremony, past and present leaders from their Service Unit 835 shared memories and pearls of wisdom during a Juliette’s pearls ceremony. Leader Kate Carbaugh was also awarded the council’s Volunteer of Excellence award for her service as troop leader.
Celebrating a special leader in Lancaster County
At Cadette Troop 70980’s end-of-year ceremony, troop leader Crystale Sensenig was awarded the Appreciation Pin and Certificate for being an outstanding leader. Thanks for all you do for the girls, Crystale!
Digging in the dirt
In May, members of Daisy Troop 10730 and Brownie Troop 10731 in Dauphin County helped the Garden Club plant flowers at St. Catherine Laboure Church. They also prepped spring bulbs that will be planted in the fall. They did a great job creating beautiful flowerbeds.
Cleaning up in Luzerne County
Daisy Troop 30828 and Brownie Troop 30300 walked the neighborhood by the church where they meet and collected a contractor bag full of garbage! Multiple neighbors came out to thank them for their hard work. They are truly showing the Girl Scout way, leaving the place better than they found it.
Exploring first aid
Troop 32919 Brownies and Juniors in Montour County completed their First Aid badge recently. Dr. Stacey provided the girls with the tools to irrigate tomato wounds (ketchup) and provide first aid treatment (antibiotic cream). It was such a fun activity to learn about an important skill.
Fancy fun in Dauphin County
Junior troops in Service Unit 175 recently hosted a tea party. Everyone was dressed in their tea attire while enjoying yummy refreshments and crafts. What a great show of sisterhood, girls!
Making time for monarchs
Seniors from Girl Scout Troop 32295 in Luzerne County recently took their Citizen Science Take Action Project into the community, educating local preschoolers on the plight of the monarch butterfly.
The troop visited Small Wonders Preschool, where they gave a presentation about the threats facing monarchs. Using a colorful, handmade information board, the Scouts explained why monarchs are becoming endangered and what can be done to support their survival.
Earlier this year, the troop raised monarch larvae, nurtured them through metamorphosis, then tagged and released the butterflies as part of a conservation effort. As a final step in their project, the girls helped the preschoolers plant monarch waystations, which is critical to the butterflies’ migration and breeding.
Bridging the Susquehanna River
Girl Scout Troop 10840 bridged the Susquehanna River as part of a council-wide event in May. In the multi-level troop, three Brownies became Juniors as they participated in the celebration.
Current Brownies and Juniors in the troop also participated by cheering the bridging girls on and then presenting them with their new Junior vests after they crossed the river.
Warming up animals with blankets
Catherine and Krista from Troop 33265 in Plains completed their Silver Award by making no-sew fleece blankets for small animals at the Luzerne County SPCA. They learned that the shelter needed blankets while visiting with their troop. The girls collected fabric donations to make blankets of different sizes. They also led a meeting for Brownies in their troop to teach them how to make the blankets and created a flyer that the SPCA will pass out which includes instructions on how to make a no-sew blanket.
Fun and adventure in Lancaster County
Troop 11293 celebrated their successful cookie season with an epic adventure day at Refreshing Mountain Retreat and Adventure Center! They zipped through the trees on a zipline, conquered a ropes course, raced around on pedal carts, and scaled a rock wall like champs. Some were totally fearless, but all were incredibly brave!
Honoring Highest Awards in Dauphin County
Service Unit 175 hosted their Highest Award recognition event in May. The event was an additional way to honor the girls beyond their troop celebrations. Troop 10065 was recognized for their Bronze Award, and Troops 11057 and 10065 for their Silver Awards.
Celebrating the year with a movie
Troop 11293 wrapped up their amazing year with a private movie night featuring “Troop Beverly Hills” — complete with popcorn, giggles, and nonstop laughs!
Planting kindness in Dauphin County
Cadette Troop 11049 from Middletown got their hands dirty by creating planters for the residents at the Middletown Home. Way to make the world a better place, Girl Scouts!
Supporting furry friends
Daisy Troop 30828 and Brownie Troop 30300 found an awesome way to recycle their cookie boxes while helping a local cat shelter. They made scratching posts that were donated to Village Pets in Luzerne.
Protecting the water in Perry County
Girl Scouts from sister troops 10716, 10712, and 10702 earned their Citizen Scientist badge conducting a creek study of the Yellow Breeches watershed at Messiah University. This group of Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes learned about protecting our water from pollution and how scientists determine the health of a creek. The girls also collected samples of macroinvertebrates and recorded data for the Oakes Museum and DCNR.
Pet care and fun in Wyoming County
Troop 50506 focused on learning about pets this spring. They visited the Bunker Hill Veterinary Hospital, where Dr. Zajac showed them the equipment she uses to care for dogs and cats. The girls also had a Pet Show and Tell at a local park. As a community service project, they used peanut butter, bananas, and oats to make treats for dogs waiting for new homes, which they donated to Laura’s Hope Rescue.
Thrills and chills
Brownie Troop 10731 and Daisy Troop 10730 of Dauphin County used some of their hard-earned cookie proceeds for a trip to Knoebels Amusement Resort in May! The girls had a fun day on rides and had an ice cream treat after riding the Phoenix roller coaster.
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.