Troop #5578 is solid gold

by Elvira Olivarez

Senior Troop #5578 has become a solid gold troop! All five girls in the troop earned the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts. The girls, Dana S., Laura M., Erica T., Monica L., and Elisa O. were recognized as Gold Award recipients at the Western Horizons Service Unit bridging ceremony. The troop was welcomed to the adult level by their troop leaders Polly Spinnler, Patty MacDermaid, and Elvira Olivarez, Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council, the service unit troop leaders, families, and friends.

These remarkable young ladies have improved their community and the lives of children and families by their leadership and service through Girl Scouts. Laura led volunteers and collected loads and loads of nonperishable food for needy families through her church; Dana organized and got the community involved in painting beautiful spiritual murals in the children’s rooms at St. Edith Stein Catholic Community; Erica gathered and led volunteers from her church and community to renovate the church teen rooms and kitchen; Elisa led teens and friends in sharing fellowship, arts/crafts, and games with orphans in Piedras Negras, Mexico; and, Monica organized and mustered supplies, book donations, and volunteers to make huge comfort pillows with a big book pocket, to promote reading and comfort the children and teens at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Because Girl Scouts promote leadership and service in the community, the girls in Troop #5578 were well prepared to make a positive difference in the community. They were able to use the skills and experience they acquired from 11-12 wonderful years of Girl Scouting. The troop had lots of fun together growing up as Girl Scouts and turning their troop into a Gold Award troop!

Troop travels to camporee

by Elizabeth Hern

After nearly two years of planning, four Cadette Girl Scouts and three adults from Troop #12466 attended the International Girl Scout Oregon Camporee in Corvalis, Oregon this past summer.  There were around 500 teen Girl Scouts from 26 states, Canada and the United Kingdom. Highlights of the camporee included sporting activities, science and art classes, an opportunity to explore Oregon, service projects and attendance at the local community festival, Da Vinci Days.

When the Girl Scouts arrived with their troops, each troop was assigned one of five unit camping areas. The units all had 12 to 14 troops from different places. Each troop was required to make a troop flag to identify its camping site. Every girl was assigned a “secret swap” upon their arrival at the camp. This was another girl in the camp who had their name and they had to find them and then exchange a gift that represented their home. 

Every Girl Scout got to choose a service project, a workshop, and an expedition from the list of 147 options to participate in during the week. The outdoor activities took advantage of the Oregon setting and the girls were offered opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, beach exploration, white water rafting, and more. Service projects included: creating art murals for the Habitat for Humanity store in Corvallis, making tie quilts for Quilts from Caring Hands, making blankets for Project Linus, and building bird houses for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Camporee was an opportunity for Girl Scouts worldwide to travel to meet other Girl Scouts and Girl Guides.

Girl Scout Day with the Houston Astros a Hit!

More than 350 Girl Scout family members attended the August 14 Astros vs. Pirates game at MinuteMaid Park. Although the Astros lost 8-0, the day was still fun for everyone. Many Girl Scouts elected to join in the pre-game parade around the playing field. Families strolled around the field perimeter with their cameras, seeing parts of the stadium from a perspective few get to experience. Then, minutes before the first pitch, the Astros recognized the 2004-2005 Gold Award recipients on the field between third base and home plate. Legendary Milo Hamilton read a brief speech that paid homage to the hard work and commitment these young women have demonstrated. Seventeen past recipients participated and were thrilled to be honored and bring further recognition to the Girl Scout Gold Award program. Throughout the game, Girl Scouts of all ages were seen munching hotdogs and begging their parents for cotton candy. A few were even spotted cheering for the Pirates! Special thanks go to the Houston Astros who returned a portion of the Girl Scout ticket sales for this game to the San Jacinto Council.