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The Beacon, September 10, 2000
LYNNHAVEN NEWS
Local Girl Scouts travel to London during the summer
by Staci Dennis, Correspondent
LYNNHAVEN - Flying overseas and visiting foreign countries is
how Girl Scout Troop 183 likes to earn its badges.
Out of the 14 girls in the troop, 13 headed to London for
eight days to visit the Girl Scout World Center and tour the city, accompanied
by seven adults.
The trip had been a dream for Jann Schultz, troop leader, for
several years.
"We ended up merging two troops and I promised them we
would go places if they continued being active Girl Scouts, " Schultz
said. "They stayed and so we go."
Typically, Schultz said most of the membership is lost in
Girl Scouts when the girls reach middle and high school because there is so much
else going on in their lives. That is why Schultz wanted to give extra
incentive to keep the troop together.
"It was really hard to stick with it during this last
year," said Suzi Schultz, referring to her freshman year. "But I
kept thinking of England and how hard I worked to get there."
As troop leader, Schultz first offered a
trip to Savannah, Ga., for the girls who range in age from 12-15. The trip
was a success, and she started planning for England. For about two years,
the girls and their parents met and discussed plans, costs and schedules.
"It seems like we have been planning
forever," said Maggie Guy, 12. "And now we finally get to go."
The trip cost $1,550 per person, which included all expenses,
as well as spending money. In addition to holding several fund-raisers and
selling 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies over the past two years, the group
also wrote letters to a Girl Scout troop in England. While in England, the
girls will earn their travel badges.
"We will have the chance to learn more about England and
its history," said Emily Cline, 15. "It's educational as well as
fun."
The group is already planning for its next big trip. In
two years they hope to visit the Girl Scout World Center in Switzerland.
And the girls have started working on their 10-year reunion.
"We have been together since kindergarten," Schultz
said. "And we will be there for each other forever."
That is even true for Jennifer Traffanstedt, 15, who will
move to Iceland two days after her return from the trip to England. Even
though she is moving out of the country, she is still planning on being an
active member of the troop.
"We will keep in touch through the mail and
e-mail," she said. "I just love everybody too much to leave them
behind."
"Our troop is so great," said Jessica Schudda,
15. "All the girls who used to be in the troop are now wishing they
had stayed in."
Photo by Staci Dennis
Sorry for the poor quality of scanned photo! |
