Douglass Park Elementary Community Troop
Douglass Park Elementary School’s Girl Scout troop meets weekly to earn badges and discover new interests in the school library as part of a partnership with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s (GSCCC) Community Troop program. The troop is made up of around 75 girls in grades 3 through 6, and is funded by the South East Virginia Community Foundation. Together, they have fun throughout the school year! One of their latest meetings involved completing activities towards earning their Flowers Badge, a discovery of the journey of seed to flower, and how flowers can help humanity through science. After decorating compostable flower pots, they each shared their creations and were given the soil and seeds necessary to grow chamomile flowers. The troop discussed the ways that flowers, like chamomile, are used by scientists, agriculturists, and everyday people.
Through GSCCC’s Community Troop program, girls who may not have easy access to Girl Scouts otherwise, are given opportunities to grow within the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through a delivery that meets them directly where they are. Girl Scouts in community troops come from under-served areas in our geographic area, and the troops are led by trained Girl Scout staff members or supported volunteers, called Community Troop Specialists who guide girls through activities in various schools, churches, and community centers, as well as virtually.
Corey Bolton, a site coordinator for Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads, helped to form the troop by organizing a partnership between Douglass Park Elementary School and GSCCC. He believes that the community troop program provides valuable support and skills for students outside of the resources offered by the school system.
Bolton said, “It’s important our girls have access to the Girl Scout program because it gives them tools and knowledge on resourcefulness, entrepreneurship, team building, community support, and an overall sense of togetherness. Our girls are given an opportunity to see and think outside of the normal curriculum, which I believe prepares their minds for continued outreach and growth towards success.”
Girl Scouts in community troops take part in engaging, challenging, and fun activities like earning badges, selling cookies, exploring STEM, getting outdoors, going on field trips, and doing community service projects — all part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The Community Troop program serves girls in grades K-12. Approximately 900 girls participate annually and all girls in the program come from communities within our Council.
Every girl. Everywhere. That’s our goal! Learn more about our Community Troop Programs.
