Girl Scouts ‘travel’ to various countries to celebrate diversity

Feb. 22 is the day Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 150 countries celebrate World Thinking Day.

Promoted by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) along with Girl Scouts of the USA, World Thinking Day originated in 1926.

That’s when delegates from around the globe met at Camp Edith Macy, now called Edith Macy Conference Center, in New York State and agreed that Feb. 22 would henceforth be known as a special day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide.

Every year since, World Thinking Day has called for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to join together and take part in activities that promote changing the world for the better.

The Boyertown Service Unit gathered on this day at St. Columbkill Roman Catholic Church to engage in activities that celebrate diversity.

Getting to know about people in different countries can lead to building diverse communities that are powerful enough to make the world a better place. Learning about other people can lead to creating connections with each other; a foundation for change.

Each Girl Scout troop chose a country to research and then created a display table that would teach others what they have learned.

The girls, ranging in age from 5 to 18, “traveled” to the various countries to discover similarities and differences with people around the world. There were pictures, facts, history, foods and games at each table.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Cadette Troop #1628 members Bella Cressman and Emma Webster, both of Gilbertsville, along with Boyertown resident Caroline Pengelly representing Iceland.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Kelsea Gibson, Jocelyn Strachko and Averi Maurer, all members of Brownie Troop #1759, trying out some new foods.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Serving up blynai (Lithuanian pancakes) are Cadette Girl Scouts Anna Hartman of Bechtellsville and Gracie Heffner of Gilbertsville.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Senior Girl Scout Catherine Sarte represented Sweden; the highlight of her table was the Swedish meatballs.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Junior Girl Scout, Brianna Reyes of Boyertown playing a South African stretch Game

SUBMITTED PHOTO Daisy Girl Scout McKenzie Treichler playing the Brazilian game, Catch the Rooster.