Last year, Girl Scout Evelyn “Evie” Mathie attended two Girl Scout Destinations—one to Oahu, Hawaii, and one to England, Ireland, and Wales. She was a recipient of D-Pass funding granted to Girl Scouts from our council.
Destination: Oahu, Hawaii
My Girl Scout Destination was Hawaii in June of 2023. The Hawaiian people and culture were a source of inspiration to me as I learned how they placed great value on the Earth and land around them. This Pacific Exploration program allowed me to see this amazing, beautiful area from a different point of view.
Nature on this island offers a multitude of plants and vegetation that went unwasted. While on a tour in Kualoa Ranch, we learned how a fruit picked from a tree was used by the ancient Hawaiians. The oil from the fruit helps heal bites and scars, the flesh of the fruit when ingested acts as a natural laxative, and the flower eaten from the tree would act as a counter-laxative. There were many other plants that had many uses, too.
Having an opportunity to surf in the massive Pacific Ocean was an eye-opening experience. I always had respect for water but I also feared water, deep water. I was not exactly excited about learning to surf. The instructor taught us the basics of board safety and water safety. So I got in the water fearing the worst. As I got farther away from the shore, I suddenly felt at peace. I felt safe on the board and was confident that the ocean was going to help me. I enjoyed my time in the water and my worries and fears washed away quite quickly.
The recent impact of the fires and other natural disasters have scarred the natural beauty of this island paradise. It is devastating knowing about this knowing how much the native Hawaiians care about their land. Our visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center fascinated and moved me. I am hoping they get the support they need in order to rebuild and regrow their tropical island.
I truly believe that I have learned the valuable connections the natives have with nature. I feel now that I want to do my part to promote caring for our Earth and not waste resources foolishly. I truly am grateful for the opportunity to be able to take part in this Destination.
Destination: England, Ireland, and Wales
My Girl Scout Destination to England, Ireland, and Wales in the summer of 2023 inspired and changed me in so many ways. My last year was a challenging one. After the COVID pandemic, and given some personal experiences from 2021-22, I was questioning the good in the world. We started our amazing journey in the Killarney Region (the Kerry Bog Village Museum with an amazing sheepdog demonstration, visited Blarney Castle, prior to going to Dublin with Georgian squares, O’Connell Street, St. Stephen’s Green, Phoenix Park, and most significant to me, St. Patrick’s Cathedral). These countries were full of rich histories and cultures. The people were
lovely and really cared about what they do, and how they do it.
I was in awe witnessing the history of these three beautiful countries. We left Dublin by ferry to Holyhead. We traveled to Coventry, visited a Welsh castle, and went onto the Birmingham region/Stratford-upon-Avon/London. I love history and old architecture, and it was so wonderful to see the vast amount of historic buildings and landmarks that still exist today! I had the opportunity to visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage (the house Shakespeare’s wife grew up in). I also visited Shakespeare’s birthplace, where two actors performed Romeo and Juliet. I was chosen to participate in this performance, and it felt exhilarating! One of our final stops in Dublin that struck me was Trinity College in Dublin, for not only its history, but its architecture.
I felt the architecture in England, Ireland, and Wales was astounding. Many of the buildings had a lot of detail and were made of stone. One of the most impactful buildings for me was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. When I was in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, I had a feeling that I have never had before. I had never been there before, but it felt like I had. I felt my Nana’s presence there. She passed away when I was in the second grade. Now, about to go into ninth grade, I wrote her a message on a tree they had there in St. Patrick’s. I bought two dove pins—one for me, and one for my mom, to mark this feeling I had. I had last visited my Nana in the hospital step-down unit to celebrate my PapPap’s birthday in 2017. I fast forward to entering ninth grade, and we visited Trinity College.
The cultures in England, Ireland, and Wales had similarities that intrigued me. For example, they drive on the opposite side of the road (from the United States). I really enjoyed listening to the accents of the citizens we visited. Especially in Ireland, my experience exemplified to me how genuinely kind and wonderful the people were.
In conclusion, the Girl Scout Destination to England, Ireland, and Wales made me reflect on the culture in which I live. I don’t sense the same pride in historical buildings and history consistently in the area I live. My sense is that American culture could learn from the cultures of places I visited. I will need to learn about what efforts are made at my local, regional, state, and federal level to protect historical sites.
Are you ready for the ultimate adventure of a Girl Scout Destination? Learn more and apply today!
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