Community Troop Spotlight: Art-rageous Adventures
More than seventy Girl Scouts in grades K-5 from several different troops led by GSCCC’s Community Troop Team had fun at their first ever Girl Scout summer camp experience, “Art-rageous Adventures,” at Camp Apasus in Norfolk. Among them were 26 Girl Scouts from Troop 5454, a multi-level troop that meets at For Kids Inc., a nonprofit in Suffolk. During the day-long camp, Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors from Troop 5454 were able to have new outdoor experiences that included canoeing, archery, fire safety, and learning other outdoor skills. The girls also had fun doing some traditional activities every girl finds at camp through arts and crafts that included making tie-dyed T-shirts, sand art, and creating lanyards.
“I honestly surprised myself by getting in the boat,” said Virginia Holman, a volunteer with Troop 5454. “Once the girls were smiling and ready to go, I knew I wanted to go, too. I love that they have opportunities like this for the girls and the adults.”
Community troops are led by Girl Scout-trained school educators who guide girls through Girl Scout activities while earning badges along the way. Funding to support community troops comes from various sources; the Suffolk Foundation supports Troop 5454’s programming.
The Community Troop Program operates in various schools, churches and community centers throughout our council’s geographic area and provides most or full financial support to the troops involved. Girls take part in engaging, challenging, and fun activities like earning badges, traveling, selling cookies, exploring science, getting outdoors, and doing community service projects — all part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
For more than 100 years, girls have discovered, explored, and strengthened their outdoor skills and commitment to environmental stewardship through Girl Scouting. Guided by supportive adults and peers, Girl Scouts discover the wonders of nature, experience the thrill of adventure, and challenge themselves and one another to reach new heights! Girl Scouts’ national outdoor programming features a variety of fun, challenging, and experiential activities that empower girls as they develop attitudes, skills, and behaviors essential to effective leadership in the outdoors: competence, confidence, an interest in nature, and environmental stewardship.
