In Washington, The Kitsap Sun has a story about Girl Scout Troop 41711, a frequently traveling troop led by Tricia Ventresca. Ventresca’s troop has been to New York City, Yellowstone National Park, Washington, D.C., the Oregon Coast and Savannah in the past 10 years, and in a way pioneered the idea of travel among local troops. It has been, in fact, one of the attractions for girls joining the organization and remaining on board.This year’s 25-day trip (!!!) to Europe has been three years in the making. The eight girls and four adults will stop in several cities in Italy and England plus Paris and Barcelona, visiting landmarks, museums and other sites they selected. The girls have to pay $1,500 themselves and the troop is collectively raising money to pay another $1,300 per girl, while adults are self-financing the entire trip. The troop has been coming up with various creative ways to raise money. One of those activities took a life of its own - authentic looking birds made of beads.
It started with one of the girls’ mother, Maggie Cutler, who wanted to do a project with the troop more than two years ago. At Ventresca’s suggestion to do beading, she found some bird patterns and bought kits. The girls learned the facts about each bird and have been doing all the packaging and selling. Ventresca estimates they have sold more than 250 so far, and she likes to keep about 100 on hand. Recently, the group presented at the Kitsap Audubon Society and sold 21 birds. Now, Ventresca, who is a bird watcher, is planning to join the group so she can get the girls involved in bird watching as well.
Enjoy Europe! The picture is from one of my recent travels to Europe - it's Positano, IT, where I'd like to retire... Related: "Roam", by The B-52s.