Girl Scouts spring into action for the community

Gretchen CrawleyNorth Knoxville, Our Town Youth

As gardens burst into full bloom this spring, so is a lively group of Girl Scouts in Troop 29220. The group, a mix of 10 Daisies (kindergarten to first grade) and Brownies (second and third graders), is blossoming on a shared journey of friendship, learning and community service.

Ruby Wood, a former Brownie and Junior Girl Scout, leads the Daisies in the troop.

“It’s my first year as a leader, and it’s all really new to me,” Wood said. “The girls in our troop are super caring and sweet. They love doing things for their community, giving back and trying new things.”

Troop 29220’s Aaleya Hawley, Nina Hess, Riker Burns (top); Gretchen Hess, Amanda Dunn (middle); Brooklyn Hawley and Addesyn Wood (bottom) recite the Girl Scout Promise.

Troop 29220’s Aaleya Hawley, Nina Hess, Riker Burns (top); Gretchen Hess, Amanda Dunn (middle); Brooklyn Hawley and Addesyn Wood (bottom) recite the Girl Scout Promise.

Wood’s daughter, Addesyn, is a Daisy in the troop, which has members from four schools with most of the girls attending Inskip Elementary School.

“This is her first year but she’s having a great time and has made new friends,” Wood said. “They make sure to hug each other when they see each other in school. It’s super cute.”

A cornerstone of the Daisy experience is earning petals, the special Daisy version of badges that are earned by older Girl Scouts. This set of badges introduces Girl Scout values through hands-on activities, with each petal focusing on a different line of the Girl Scout Law.

“At each meeting we learn about the petal’s theme, engage in a craft and have a discussion with the girls sharing their thoughts and examples,” Wood said.

The girls have participated in several community-focused projects to earn their petals. As winter approached, the Daisies filled stockings and delivered them to a nursing home. They also hosted a clothing drive, encouraging people to sift through their belongings and donate to those in need.

The Daisies made cards for cafeteria workers and bus drivers to show appreciation for them and also have been learning about essential services workers.

“We had an ambulance come so that the girls could learn about important members of the community,” Wood said. “We visited a fire station, but they got a call as soon as we arrived, so they got to see the importance of firefighters because they were needed right away.”

The final petal that the Daisies are exploring this year is the “Rosie,” which is focused on making the world a better place. For that petal, they will go hiking and pick up trash on the trail. Other upcoming activities include an indoor climbing adventure and a summer camping trip.

Several activities undertaken by the Daisy troop coincide with those of the Brownies, led by Carol Hess. Much like the Daisies, the Brownies exhibit dedication in badge-earning pursuits.

Recently, the Brownies achieved the cooking badge by crafting “fruit sushi,” which they shared with the Daisies. For the First Aid badge, they assembled a troop first-aid kit, which aided the Daisies during a skinned knee incident. Each meeting concludes with a friendly tag game between the Daisies and Brownies on the lawn of Cedar Lane United Methodist Church where the troops meet.

“The girls enjoy coming together and having that interaction,” said Wood, who cherishes the opportunity to work with them. “I’m happy to be a part of it because my parents died when I was a kid, so I love to create these experiences and share them with my daughter.”

Learn about volunteering with Girl Scouts at girlscoutcsa.org/volunteer. If you know a girl who would love to sink her roots into the Girl Scout experience, find a nearby troop at girlscoutcsa.org, by texting “JOIN” to 59618 or sending an email to info@girlscoutcsa.org. You may register your girl or become a volunteer anytime during the calendar year!

Gretchen Crawley is VP of communications for Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians. 

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