When Katie Penvose, Katy Neislar, Rachel Glomski, and Chelsea Hemingsen met in junior high and formed Girl Scout Troop 727, little did they know the memories and friendships they would make over the next five years.
Now, juniors and seniors in high school, the four girls are going for their Gold Award, the highest award given in Girl Scouts.
‘We’re clearing out the entire garden area in front of the Clarkston Village Player’s theater to make it more noticeable and we’re going to make a whole new patio to make it more inviting to people. We’ll come out during intermission or while they’re waiting to get inside to the theater because it’s so jam-packed in there ? it’s not a very big space,? said Neislar. ‘We’re going to put tables down, benches, chairs, just an area for people to come sit outside.?
As a fundraiser, the girls had a garage sale at the CVP Theater on Aug. 8 and 15, which brought in $700 for the troop for their project.
‘We told people we were going to have a garage sale, and to feel free to donate anything they had,? Neislar said.
‘Some of the items are from our own houses,? added Glomski.
When asked why each one had stayed in scouts for so long, each had a little different answer.
‘Someone who was really close to me passed away her senior year in high school and she got her Gold Award in Girl Scouts,? Neislar said.
‘She was like a sister to me, so I promised myself for her that I would get my Gold Award.?
Glomski said she just enjoys ‘hanging out with Katy, Katie, and Chelsea.?
‘They’re just a good group of people and it’s fun to do stuff together,? she said.
Penvose agreed, but also said she likes that people look up to her.
‘Everybody says ‘you’re a Girl Scout, that’s so cool? and I feel special.?
The most memorable moment for the girls so far was getting their Silver Award.
‘That was probably our biggest accomplishment,? Neislar said.
For the Silver Award project, the girls held a lock-in at a local church along with a couple Brownie troops, which included a night of games, crafts, and fun.
‘There were four of us and 45 Brownies,? Neislar said with a laugh. ‘We made our own Girl Scout cookies that were the original Girl Scout cookie recipe and we let the girls make their own and decorate their own.?
They also made little dolls that they gave to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and had a pajama fashion show.
‘It was just nice to see the reactions on the girls? faces when we did the lock-in and it was just fun to see how much fun they had, to be able to spend time with younger Girl Scouts and show them that you’re never too old to be a Girl Scout,? Hemingsen said.
As the girls look to their futures, they hold onto the skills that being a Girl Scout helped develop in them. Glomski, said she enjoyed all the volunteer work they did.
‘I feel it’s helped me,? she said. ‘I’m more open to the community and like what we can do to help around town.?
Neislar said she has learned what it means to be committed to something.
‘I’ve been in scouts for 12 years now and I’ve never been so committed to anything before,? she said. ‘It kind of helps show me that even if I don’t like some of the things we do, you still need to stay committed.?
Penvose said the leadership exercises have helped her the most, because she does not consider herself a ‘natural leader.?
‘If it was me, I would be like ‘OK, I’m going to follow you,? but it’s help me a lot to say ‘I don’t like this, let’s do this,? instead of just going ‘OK, I’ll do that, even if I didn’t like it.??
Hemingsen agreed.
‘Being able to take charge in a situation, knowing what I’m going to do and how I’m going to do it,? she said. ‘Earning our Silver Award going into our Gold Award, we’ve had to take charge in some situations and know what we want to do and when we want to get it done.?
Penvose’s mom, Nancy Penvose, who is on the board of directors for CVP, said the timing for the girls project was ‘just right? because the Players have wanted to do something with the garden area out front for quite some time.
‘Not this (upcoming) season, but our season after will be our 50th anniversary, so we’re kind of remodeling and doing renovations in preparation to that season. This was something they could do for their Gold Award and achieve that, but at the same time it really helps the theater group and the members are very excited and very supportive of it,? she said. ‘I think it’s very positive all the way around, both for CVP and the Girl Scouts.?