GSWPA Girl Scout prepares for trip of a lifetime

Lizzie Foster of Harrisville has been selected to represent Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania on the upcoming Student Conservation all-Girl Scout project crew in the Olympic National Forest in Washington State.

We are excited to announce that GSWPA Ambassador Lizzie Foster, 16, has been selected to participate in the all-Girl Scout crew with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) in the Olympic National Forest in Washington State.

Lizzie attends Slippery Rock Area High School, and she is currently in her thirteenth year of Girl Scouting. Lizzie is a member of GSWPA Troop 20462, which serves the Slippery Rock and Harrisville areas.

“As soon as I heard about the opportunity, I said yes,” said Lizzie. “I knew I wanted to do it right away.”

The project crew will be made up of eight girls who will travel to the Olympic National Forest for two weeks from July 29-August 11, during which they will complete environmental service projects and learn about ecology and preserving habitats. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Girl Scouts from these councils to expand leadership skills and practical knowledge of the environment.

“With my history as a Girl Scout,” said Virginia Foster, Lizzie’s mother and troop leader, “and living so close to resources like Jennings Environmental Education Center, Moraine State Park, and McConnell’s Mill State Park, our troop has worked on many service projects focused on environmental science and conservation.” 

Entering her junior year at Slippery Rock Area High School, Lizzie enjoys backpacking and camping with her Girl Scout troop and her family, which she has been doing since she was a small child. She is passionate about environmental stewardship and conservation and has participated in several local camps and projects that focused on these topics. After graduating high school, Lizzie plans on attending college to earn her Master of Science in parks and resource management.

Both Lizzie and Virginia are getting excited for the trip and working on packing lists and paperwork. GSWPA will stay in touch with Lizzie on her upcoming adventure, so we can continue to support our sister Girl Scout as she takes off on the awesome opportunity!

This crew and Lizzie’s participation have been made possible by a generous grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Get the chocolate! National S'mores Day celebrations happening Aug. 9 & 10

Few sweet treats are as beloved as the campfire staple, the s'more. And no one knows s'mores like Girl Scouts! Not only have these gooey, chocolaty creations been enjoyed at Girl Scout camps for generations, but the first recorded version of the recipe can be found in an official Girl Scouts publication from 1927.

All K-12 girls and their families are invited to these celebrations throughout Western Pennsylvania. At these events, attendees can make tasty s’mores, enjoy fun activities, and learn more about Girl Scouts and our mission of building courage, confidence, and character in girls.

Girls who participate will get a free National S'mores Day patch if they're registered for the 2018-19 Girl Scout year or if they register to join Girl Scouts at the event! Council staff or members of local Service Units will be on hand at the National S’mores Day events to help girls renew or sign up. Those interested in becoming a volunteer are also invited to attend.

Know someone who is interested in joining Girl Scouts? Girls can bring a friend to a National S’mores Day celebration to show her all the fun she can have as a Girl Scout. Your Girl Scout will receive a special Make S’more Friends patch if her friend signs up at the event.

Check out these GSWPA National S'mores Day celebrations that are being held council-wide!

• National S'mores Day - Peters Township 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Deer Lakes/AV 08-09-18 
• National S'mores Day - NA East 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Clarion 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Altoona 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Edinboro 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Clearfield Curwensville 08-10-18
• National S'mores Day - South Allegheny Mckeesport 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Forest Hills 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Mercer 08-09-18
• National S'mores Day - Firefly 08-10-18
• National S'mores Day - Somerset 08-10-18
• National S'mores Day - Penn Wood Hills 08-10-18
• National S'mores Day - Wilmington 08-10-18