Girl Scouts offering new virtual troop membership option

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania opened registration for new members this fall with a new virtual troop option, along with troops meeting for in-person activities.

“While in-person adventures and troop meetings continue under current local and CDC guidelines, the addition of a virtual troop option is the final piece to create a Girl Scout experience that is right for every family,” said Stefanie Marshall, GSWPA public relations and marketing manager.

“The virtual troop has become a very popular option,” Marshall added. “We cover 27 counties across Western Pennsylvania, so registration is a mixed bag, depending on what’s going on (with pandemic restrictions) in your area.”

Girl Scouts offers leadership development and skill-building experiences to all girls from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“As we head into a new school year and more unknowns this fall, girls will need to stay connected now more than ever,” said Patricia A. Burkart, CEO of GSWPA. “Our goal is to ensure that Girls Scouts remains available to girls even when so much else is changing, which is the same reason that we have created a virtual troop option for girls in western Pennsylvania.”

While online programs were already offered to Girl Scouts in the region, GSWPA developed more virtual opportunities when stay-at-home orders were issued in March as a result of covid-19 concerns. Since March, GSWPA has offered hundreds of hours of skill-building and educational material to girls, according to a release.

“From online skill-building workshops and campfires on Facebook Live, the same all-girl environment remains available to girls,” Marshall said.

Traditional experiences

Girls in virtual troops will earn badges and patches and participate in the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, which begins in early January, all from their homes. Members also will partake in the traditional Girl Scout Leadership Experience components, including community service and involvement, leadership growth, taking on new challenges and sharing fun activities with other members.

It’s important to note, Marshall said, that virtual troop meetings “include away-from-screen activities for girls to complete, and then coming back together to discuss what they did.”

Scouts and adult troop members also will serve their local communities during the annual GSWPA Service Day on Saturday.

“The idea is that everyone can do one thing to make the world better,” Marshall said.

Service day activities are done both by individual scouts and by troop members working together. Activities include such tasks as food drives, litter pickup and other community cleanups.

Annual Girl Scout membership dues are $25 per girl. To ensure that the program is available to all girls, financial assistance is available. In-person troop meetings and activities follow current CDC and local safety guidelines.

For information, call 800-248-3355 or visit gswpa.org.