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Girl Scout Destinations: Postcard from Europe
By Sarah Peterson, Council Partnerships & Events Manager
The European Quartet 2026 was a Girl Scout Destinations trip of a lifetime! 32 high school Girl Scouts from 18 councils across 16 states gathered in Norfolk, Virginia, to join their five awesome GSCCC chaperones and head off for Europe!
After a day of long flights and layovers, the trip began in Amsterdam. This capital city of the Netherlands introduced us to so much gouda cheese, wooden clogs, canals, and windmills! Learning to respectfully dodge the bicycle traffic was an adventure in itself. Girl Scouts learned about art and history through a Van Gogh/Rembrandt experience and a visit to the Anne Frank House. The Netherlands was also the home country of our knowledgeable and friendly tour director, Daniel, who stayed with us the entire trip and helped to make it as seamless as possible.
Two days later, we headed off for Brussels, Belgium. We saw sights such as the Atomium, an amazing molecule-shaped building from the 1958 World’s Fair, and the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. Of course, the specialty food items for the day were waffles and chocolate, but also French fries, which were invented in Belgium. We made our own chocolates at a workshop, but I’m not sure any made it home due to either melting from the heat or being immediately eaten.
Our next stop was beautiful Paris, France. Despite some changes to our schedule thanks to the record-breaking heatwave, our Girl Scouts remained flexible and were able to enjoy viewing the old architecture, taking in the history of Napoleon’s tomb, and, of course, striking a pose in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower. On the second day in France, we visited Notre-Dame Cathedral and continued our bus tour of all the monuments, such as the Arc de Triomphe. We did a macaron cooking class and had plenty to taste and take with us. There was time for shopping, a visit to the Fragonard perfume museum, and a Seine River cruise to see all the sights from a new angle.
Next, we took the Eurostar train to London, England. We visited the Borough Market, then walked across the Tower Bridge to our Thames River cruise, where we took in the scenery from the water. Then we boarded the London Eye Ferris wheel to get a bird’s-eye view! This was also the first day of the trip that was under 90 degrees, for which everyone was thankful. The second day in England started outside the city with a visit to Windsor Castle. We were able to tour the royal apartments and St. George’s Chapel (where Queen Elizabeth II is buried). We then drove back to London and took the bus to see all the sights, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, ending at Piccadilly Circus. Some of the Girl Scouts used The Tube (the underground train) to get to their Jack the Ripper walking tour with our dramatic and engaging guide.
The third day in England was also outside of London, visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We learned about the history and archeology of the prehistoric megalithic structure at Stonehenge and about the hot springs turned Roman baths in the aptly-named city of Bath. Our last stop was at the Royal Crescent, a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent built over 250 years ago.
For our last day, we visited Pax Lodge in London, one of five World Centers for WAGGGS (the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). We participated in a special pinning ceremony and then learned about the history and purpose of the center. We toured, played games, and shopped for exclusive Pax Lodge merchandise. Next, we made a quick stop at the Harry Potter shop at King’s Cross Station. The afternoon was spent exploring the area around the Victoria and Albert art museum and the Harrods department store, getting in our last selfies and souvenirs.
Our group of Girl Scouts for this trip were resilient despite changes caused by the weather, kind to each other and the people they met, and engaged with the history and culture they encountered. We are proud of them for pushing their boundaries and carrying the Girl Scout spirit with them around the world!
Girl Scout Destinations are the ultimate adventure for individual Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Learn more and apply to go on your own amazing adventure at girlscouts.org/destinations.
