Girl Scouts prove there's more to them than just cookies

Editor's note: This article was written by the Girls Scouts from Troop 42137.

Tossing aside the cookies, a group of girls let loose on a trip to San Diego recently and learned what the Girl Scouts are really made of.

During a five-day trip to San Diego, Girl Scout Troop 42137 -- made up of eight girls from Kirkland and Redmond -- surfed at Mission Beach, helped to restore an estuary, as well as shopped in Old Towne and hurtled down the water roller coaster "Atlantis."

Though most Girl Scouts sell cookies and do service projects, Girl Scouts is really about creating strong character and building close relationships between troop members, the girls said. The troop leaders consider the relationships of the girls like glue and the girls think they are like “eight peas in a pod."

When they first started their troop in kindergarten, the biggest adventure for Troop 42137 was earning badges. Come first grade, they were anxious for cookie selling, which enabled them to go on many day tripsb including the traditional horseback riding and camping. In sixth grade, they were so proud of becoming Grand Champions of the Outdoor Skills Competition proving how capable they were and how exceptionally they worked together as a team. After that, they were ready for a bigger challenge.

The troop did a lot of a fundraising to make the trip to San Diego possible. They each had to earn about $400. The girls held garage sales and badge workshops for younger Scouts. Of course, they had to sell cookies too -- 60 boxes apiece.

But the trip was more than a vacation. Troop 42137 wanted to see new people and experience new things. Beginning with learning how to go through airport security properly to learning how to read a map, the troop became great travelers and leaders during their exciting adventure.

Their first night in San Diego, the troop stayed at a hostel, where there were people from many different nationalities.

"It was a really good experience to learn about other people's cultures and opinions," said Hannah Campbell.

They shared their s'more making experience with others as well and were excited to introduce others to new things they had never tasted before, said Hayley Fannin.

In keeping with one of the Girl Scout Laws “I will do my best to make the world a better place," the troop participated in a service project during the trip. After learning about the history of the Famosa Slough, they got to work removing invasive plants and planting native plants, hoping to improve the habitat for plants and animals while contributing to the restoration of the slough.

They also tried out surfing and took lessons from the Ocean Experience Surf School, learning to balance, paddle out and ride on a surf board.

“I had a blast! I had never thought I would be able to stand up once, but as it turned out I proved myself wrong," said Emily Gilbert.

Janteane Blyton added, "I was so excited to learn how to surf at Mission Beach. The water was a lot warmer than Puget Sound!”

The troop said they had an "awesome" trip, and want to encourage other girls, whether in the Girl Scouts or not, to explore the world and see new things. Next stop for Troop 42137: Europe.

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