Striving for the Summit

Six years ago, Girl Scout mom Rhonda registered Veronica as a Daisy and volunteered as Troop 30049’s leader. She knew Girl Scouts would provide friendship and adventure, but she found that it also instilled ambition, leadership, and confi dence for the troop members.

Since its formation, Troop 30049 has completed three Journeys each year, earning three Summit Awards – the highest award a Daisy and Brownie can earn!

“When the troop started, we told the girls they had three options for Journeys. They asked us, ‘what’s stopping us from doing them all?’ They wanted to earn the Summit Award Pin,” said Rhonda.

During Journeys, Girl Scouts do hands-on activities, connect with experts, and take the lead on a Take Action project. Journeys encourage Girl Scouts to think critically, boost their problem-solving skills, and make an impact.

Troop 30049 has created winter shelters for feral cats, hosted food drives, and distributed homemade meals to teachers. Each year, the troop maps out their Journeys and leads brainstorms, where they promise to offer only constructive feedback and build off each other’s ideas. “They have strong opinions, but they’re respectful of each other. They work with personalities they might not normally work with and honor them as people, recognizing their feelings,” reflected Rhonda. “It’s helped the girls express themselves, come up with creative ideas, and feel heard. It gives them a chance in a small setting, which they don’t have in a classroom.”

Read more stories featured in the 2023 Summer Discover.