Summer Programs for Community Troops
Thanks to our amazing Community Troop Team and funders across the region, more than 500 Girl Scouts in underserved areas are enjoying summer programs. The Girl Scout Community Troop Program helps remove barriers like cost and access to meeting locations by offering financial assistance for membership and securing meeting sites and support from schools or recreation centers.
A grant from Newport News Shipbuilding allowed more than 120 girls from the Peninsula to join the program. Girl Scouts are participating at accessible sites in their neighborhoods like Hilton Elementary, Kiln Creek Elementary, McIntosh Elementary, Greater Hampton Roads Boys and Girls Club, Pinedale Boys and Girls Club, and Safehaven Empowerment Center. Partnership from Newport News Parks and Recreation extends this impact by offering facility space. Annual funding from the United Way of Virginia Peninsula also provides operational support for these Peninsula programs.
Programs took place in Suffolk and Franklin as well, thanks to The Suffolk Foundation and Franklin Southampton Charities. Program sites included the Suffolk and Franklin Boys and Girls Clubs.
Girl Scouts had fun doing activities from program modules designed by the Community Troop team, including STEM Exploration, Entrepreneurship Savy, Textile Art, Camp is Calling, Girl Scout Superhero, and Field Day Challenges.
The team also offered mental wellness programs thanks to a partnership with the Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation. The Foundation's mission is “saving lives by providing depression and suicide prevention awareness programs and resources.” Youth programming offered by the Foundation staff was age-appropriate and included information about achieving and maintaining good mental health, self and peer advocacy, the importance of talking to trusted adults, and how to get help for oneself or a friend if warning signs are present.
Interested in volunteering with our Community Troop Team? You can participate at the time and location that works best for you! Email customercare@gsccc.org.
