Girls and volunteers from various troops celebrated Earth Day at Camp Skymeadow this past weekend.
Girls learned to reduce, reuse, and recycle. They visited various booths focused on our planet and ways that we can protect it. They celebrated our Earth with fun crafts and activities.
The girls made an art project from recycled items and learned about identifying animal tracks. They explored camp and found different colors and animals in nature and discovered some little critters and cool rocks in the creek.
Looking for more like this? Girls can enjoy the outdoors at anytime with our:
When it comes to recognizing the ongoing commitments of GSWPA’s volunteers, we asked our staff who know best—the Volunteer Support Specialists at our council. These staff are in the front row watching our volunteers plan events, offering help whenever it’s needed, and cheering them on. During National Volunteer Month, we will feature highlights from our Volunteer Support Specialists that celebrate volunteers throughout GSWPA.
Troop 16412 – Service Unit 2606 Norwin
Westmoreland County
Denise, who is a teacher, has gone above and beyond to keep her girls engaged throughout the pandemic on Zoom. She found both inspiration and partnership with the Norwin Public Library. The community partner was doing all kinds of fun and engaging virtual programs for youth last summer. Denise got inspiration from those and recreated them as part of her troop meetings—including introducing the girls to a dogsled musher! The girls also worked on the My Family Story badge with some help from the librarian who met with the girls virtually. The troop’s Zoom meetings have been very well attended and the 18 girls never want to miss one!
Service Unit 3642 Grove City
Mercer County
The service unit partnered with their neighboring Girl Scouts in Service Units 1601 (Wilmington) and 3657 (Commodore Perry) to work together to create a holiday video to send to all of the senior living facilities in their areas.
Troop 16292 – Service Unit 5804 West Jefferson Hills
Allegheny County
Junior Troop 16292 has been meeting virtually–they even had a virtual cupcake war! The leaders kept the troop moving through the pandemic by celebrating World Thinking Day, working on badges, and selling cookies. The girls voted to use their cookie proceeds for a troop camp, which all of the members are looking forward to!
Service Unit 3616 Millcreek
Erie County
Service Unit Manager Amy provided a virtual opportunity for the Girl Scouts in her service unit to learn them how to make bread. The session was two parts. First, the girls learned about ingredients and how to make the bread. Once it was in the oven, they took a break. The group then came back together when it was time to take it out of the oven. Amy also provided a recipe for soup to go with their freshly baked bread!
Service Unit 1603 Scrimshaw
Beaver County
Michelle Gould and Teresa Sullivan are troop leaders for Girl Scout Troop 50551 in Hopewell. These leaders have done a great job keeping their troop busy this past year with virtual and in-person meetings. They recently accepted a new girl to the troop and she was so excited to go on her first outing to Artsy Doodle in Beaver with the other girls. They have done booth sales, they work on badges, and they take trips when possible. “We just want to give them a big shout out for all they do!” said Paula Cribbs, GSWPA Volunteer Support Specialist.
Service Unit 2632 Petroleum Valley
Butler County
“This service unit has continued to keep the girls meeting and offered other outside activities—you can’t stop Girl Scouts! Their Facebook page is consistently loaded with activities that the girls have been enjoying. It’s great to see the girls having fun amid the pandemic.”—Beth Ostrosky, GSWPA Volunteer Support Specialist
Happy National Volunteer Month!
Check out this video message from the staff at GSWPA.
As part of earning their Bronze Award, Girl Scouts Lyla, Gabriella, Natalie, and Ella from GSWPA Troop 52544 made no-sew fleece blankets for dogs at a local animal shelter, South Hills Pet Rescue.
The girls began their project by inviting the owner of the animal shelter to join one of their meetings. They asked questions and learned that South Hills Pet Rescue is always in need of dog blankets, so they chose to fill the need by making and donating no-sew fleece blankets to help the shelter.
In addition to providing the shelter with blankets, the girls organized a neighborhood pet supply drive for the shelter. The fliers for their drive also included information about the animal shelter as a community resource and instructions on making the no-sew blankets. This way, the community could continue to support the shelter and other animals in need. The troop distributed the flyers in their neighborhoods and on social media.
Congratulations to these Girl Scouts for earning their Bronze Award and making their corner of the world a better place!
Troop 52544 is a Junior troop with 9 girl members and 3 troop volunteers in McMurray, PA.
For more about the Girl Scout Bronze Award and getting started on earning it visit our Bronze Award page.
All GSWPA troops can submit their activities and adventures to be featured on the GSWPA Blog!
Fact: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is time-tested and backed up by data. The longer she’s in Girl Scouts, the more likely she is to enjoy life satisfaction later on. 📊 Read more about the long term benefits of being a Girl Scout.
So, we have the facts, but what we’re wondering is this: What has been the #GSdifference in YOUR Girl Scout’s life?
#GSdifference Contest
From April 15-May 31, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania is running a social media contest for GSWPA Girl Scouts who joined/renewed for the 2021-2022 Girl Scout year.
Prize: Three participating GSWPA Girl Scouts will be chosen at random to win a prize pack. 😲 And winners will be featured with GSWPA—our blog, our Facebook, and more!
It’s easy to play!
Renew or join for the 2021-2022 Girl Scout year.
Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) and keep an eye out for ANY post that contains #GSdifference.
Comment on the post.
Let us know that you (or your girl) is renewed/joined and ready to go for the next year of adventures.
Share the #GSdifference in her life. Courage? New hobby? Set her on a career path? We all have a reason for being a Girl Scout—what’s her’s? Add a photo if you can!!
Tag a friend who should participate too!
Share the post from your account.
An example:
“Julia is renewed for next year! The opportunities she has had as a Girl Scout have pushed her out of her comfort zone and taught her to always try. She went from a shy girl at a cookie booth to charging the climbing tower at camp!
@Stacey Parker comment to win!”
Other rules:
A comment on a post that includes #GSdifference qualifies as an entry.
Entries must include a statement that the Girl Scout is a member for the upcoming Girl Scout year, one difference that Girl Scouts has made in her life (or why she joined if you’re a new member), and a tag of someone else.
Want to enter more than once? Yes, please! You may comment as many times on as many posts as you’d like—we would love to hear ALL the ways that Girl Scouts has impacted your life! Just make sure your one difference and tag of someone else are always different.
When it comes to recognizing the ongoing commitments of GSWPA’s volunteers, we asked our staff who know best—the Volunteer Support Specialists at our council. These staff are in the front row watching our volunteers plan events, offering help whenever it’s needed, and cheering them on. During National Volunteer Month, we will feature highlights from our Volunteer Support Specialists that celebrate volunteers throughout GSWPA.
Service Unit 3655 Jamestown
Mercer County
Service Unit 3655 Jamestown hosted a live Zoom Cookie Rally, inviting GSWPA staff to conduct an activity: Flower Crowns. Troop leader Jessica Brocklehurst facilitated a horse and stable activity to match the theme of the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program. The rally wrapped up with service unit manager Heather Balas instructing girls to craft a paper owl puppet. All the girls showed off their projects and had a really good time virtually! What an awesome way to stay connected and kickoff cookie season with excitement!
Service Unit 2606 Norwin
Westmoreland County
Service Unit 2606 had creative ideas to make the best of the virtual platform for their girls, including playing Pictionary using the Zoom Whiteboard feature, doing scavenger hunts around their homes for badge programs, and taking virtual field trips to the zoo and other places. The leaders took turns hosting virtual meetings and planning activities. One of the girls’ favorites was working on a badge about senses. The girls had to describe the different items in their bags, which combined two Girl Scout program pillars—the life skill of public speaking and the STEM aspect of our senses!
Troop 38021 – Service Unit 3610 Shenango Valley
Butler County
Troop 38021 volunteered at the Greenville Salvation Army during the annual toy/food drive in December 2020. Girl Scouts provided community service and the project was girl-led. The girls were happy to volunteer and help during the day.
Troops 26831 & 27038 – Service Unit 2664 Central Westmoreland
Westmoreland County
Girl Scouts from Troops 26831 and 27038 bundled up and took action to bring some cheer to residents at Westmoreland Manor and in the process, brought a smile (and tears) to more than just the residents. The girls got together to build snowmen outside the windows of the Manor for all the residents and staff to enjoy. (One of the snowmen was even sporting a mask!) While they were building the snowmen, a nurse on staff came out on her break and was in tears. She told the girls that the Manor has been in lockdown for nearly one year–no visitors (including family). She knew that seeing the snowmen was going to be such a treat for the residents.
The girls had so much fun that they’ve already planned a trip back to the manor in the warmer weather to chalk the sidewalks!
Troop 16337 – Service Unit 4674 Forest Hills Portage
Cambria County
Troop 16337 has taken the lead to continue to provide story time at their library to local families. Prior to the pandemic, the Girl Scouts presented story time in-person at the library, and now they are presenting story time via Facebook while restrictions are in place. The girls choose a story, learn it, then decide if it will just be read or, in the most recent case, acted out on camera as the story is read by another Girl Scout. Thanks to their troop leaders, the Girl Scouts have the opportunity to practice reading and public speaking while providing a service to the families in their community.
Happy National Volunteer Month!
Check out this video message from the staff at GSWPA.
With many long-term living facilities adjusting visiting protocols during the pandemic, Girl Scout Troop 27104 thought creatively about how they could support these members of their community.
As springtime approached—a time of newness and excitement—the girls in Troop 27104 wanted to bring that fun feeling of spring indoors for residents of a local care home. The Girl Scouts crafted floral wreaths to donate to the care home as their spring service project.
We’re so proud of these girls for being considerate and caring of others. Great job, Girl Scouts!
Troop 27104 is a multi-level troop with 10 girl members and 4 troop volunteers in Philipsburg, PA.
For ways to support senior citizens in your community, check out:
April is National Volunteer Month, and I am thrilled to celebrate our amazing volunteers and recognize all that you do for your Girl Scouts. This past year has brought hurdles no one could have imagined. All our staff here at GSWPA are inspired by the ways our volunteers—YOU—have persevered to show girls what it means to be Girl Scout strong.
We see you delivering activity supplies to your girls so they can participate in virtual troop meetings from home.
We see you sorting a mountain of cookie cases because you helped your girls exceed their cookie goals this year.
We see you making in-person gatherings safe for your girls to connect with each other when their world has gone virtual.
We see you building up a girl who is less sure of her abilities and helping her build her confidence.
We see you giving girls space to their ideas, use their voices, and express their feelings about our increasingly complicated world.
We see you opening girls’ eyes to a world of possibility.
Because of your motivation and support, your Girl Scouts find the confidence to set big goals AND achieve them. It’s because of you-your time and commitment—our girls have community and resilience.
Because of you, girls are building life-long friendships.
Because of you, girls are achieving big goals.
Because of you, girls are exploring new interests and developing new skills.
Because of you, girls are learning they can accomplish anything.
Because of you, girls are changing their communities for the better.
Because of you, we have Girl Scouts.
We’re in awe of you. Thank you, from all of us at GSWPA, for all you do as a Girl Scout volunteer. For the hours, the energy, and the heart you put into leading this generation of girls to help them build their voices and prepare for lifetimes of leadership.
You are Girl Scout Strong. You are the heart of Girl Scouting. And we’re grateful for you.
Thank you and happy National Volunteer Month!
from all of us at Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania
When it comes to recognizing the ongoing commitments of GSWPA’s volunteers, we asked our staff who know best—the Volunteer Support Specialists at our council. These staff are in the front row watching our volunteers plan events, offering help whenever it’s needed, and cheering them on. During National Volunteer Month, we will feature highlights from our Volunteer Support Specialists that celebrate volunteers throughout GSWPA.
Service Unit 2630 Glacier’s End
Butler County
Service Unit 2630 Glacier’s End had a virtual troop meeting and conducted a ‘cake-cookie-war’ contest for the girls to kick off the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program. Each girl was given a cake mix, frosting, and Girl Scout Cookies to decorate their cakes! The girls could decorate their cakes anyway they liked, and they had a blast making and showing their cakes.
Service Unit 5802 Brentwood
Allegheny County
Mary Ann and the service unit team members of Service Unit 5802 Brentwood held a Virtual Sweetheart Dance for their Girl Scouts. The girls and volunteers were excited to participate. The volunteers coordinated catered meals that were picked up via a drive through service. Included in the meal pick up was a bag with details on connecting to the virtual DJ for the dance , a fun patch, and a small gift.
“I think this is super creative and a great way to continue a tradition in the community,” said Janelle Upole, GSWPA Volunteer Support Specialist. “They have done great things to adapt their service unit events and keep Girl Scouting alive in their community – pandemic or not!”
Troop 17007 – Service Unit 4624 Bellwood Tyrone
Somerset County
Troop leader Allison diligently coordinated gathering her Girl Scouts in February 2021. Since their last in-person meeting in September 2020, the girls were able to stay connected, but Allison had to search for a new meeting location while navigating the ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines and the varying comfort levels of her Girl Scouts and their families. Once Allison secured a new meeting location and everyone was ready to gather, seeing each other again was a small thing with a big meaning to her and the girls.
Service Unit 2642 Freeport Area
Armstrong County
Lori Kibler put together a dog sled event over the winter for the service unit in partnership with local sled dog teams. Girl Scouts learned about sledding, met the dogs, took pictures, explored sleds and carts, and watched live demonstrations.
Troop 28008 – Service Unit 5104 NA East
Allegheny County
“Sarah Mount Elewononi is the biggest champion for Girl Scouts that I have had the pleasure of working with since starting this position in October. She is always forward-thinking about what she can do as a leader and as a service unit manager (a role that she has yet to fully step into) to make each experience for girls the best that it can be. Sarah leads her troop with confidence and with grace, being a fantastic role model for her troop to look up to. She ensures that in her multi-level troop, each girl is challenged and enjoys their Girl Scouting experience.”—Paige Devlin, GSWPA Volunteer Support Specialist
Happy National Volunteer Month!
Check out this video message from the staff at GSWPA.
Spring has sprung for Beaver County Girl Scout Troop 16206! At the end of March, the troop got together to enjoy the warm weather and build birdhouses.
According to audubon.org, birdhouses are an important way to help birds. The structures provide homes to many different kinds of birds that would otherwise have to find tree cavities or other enclosed areas that could still be vulnerable to predators, weather, or other disturbances. The perfect nesting place can be even harder to find for birds in suburbs and cities.
Helping nature, learning new skills, spending time together, and making memories?? Wish we could have been there too! Great work, Girl Scouts!
Troop 16206 is a multi-level troop with 34 girl members and 7 troop volunteers in Rochester, PA.
Ready for more about birds? Check out:
Bird-centered activities on the spring/summer Get Outdoors Challenge checklist (self-paced, spring/summer challenge ends Sept. 15, 2021)
The Girl Scouts Voices Count survey means YOU—your voice—counts. This survey is conducted annually by the Girl Scout Research Institute to find out what’s working and what’s not and to improve the Girl Scout experience for all families and volunteers.
GSWPA receives the anonymous results, reviews them at our highest levels of leadership, and plans strategic changes that will improve the Girl Scout experience for you, your co-volunteers, and your Girl Scout.
We Heard You:
Here are some changes that GSWPA has made based on results from recent Girl Scout Voices Count surveys.
What we heard: New troop leaders feel overwhelmed and unsure in starting up troop activities. How we improved: We created a new staff position to support new troops and focused on creating opportunities for service units to mentor newer leaders.
What we heard: Girl Scout programming feels complicated and hard to navigate. How we improved: We updated our website to improve access to resources and developed webinars to walk volunteers through the new Volunteer Toolkit.
What we heard: Access to and comfort with technology is a barrier to Girl Scout programming. How we improved: We increased access to Zoom licenses and trained troop leaders on leading virtual meetings. While troops were getting used to their virtual setting, GSWPA offered free, live patch programs to continue to support girls.
How to Participate:
The Girl Scouts Voices Count survey will be available to girls, parents or caregivers, and troop leaders beginning on April 5. The survey will close on April 30. (Service unit volunteers will be surveyed in May.) Your feedback lets us know what’s working and what’s not to improve our services and programs.
Check your email for the invitation to participate. As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey will have a chance to win one of 20 $50 gift cards!
GSWPA 