It’s Girl Scout cookie season. For a few weeks a year, one question is unremittingly brought up in the hallway: “Thin Mints or Samoas?” In January, as you walk into your local supermarket, foldable tables are being unfolded, handcrafted posters are being stuck on walls, green tablecloths are being put out, and rows of cookie boxes are being stocked.
Remember joining the Girl Scout troop when you were in primary school, gathering under the oak tree to recite the Girl Scout oath? Believe it or not, Carrollton’s Girl Scout Troop 942 is still standing strong, making big changes in our community.
“Girl Scouts is more than just cookies and camping,” said Isabella Prado ‘28, who is a Senior Girl Scout completing her Gold Award. Sometimes, Girl Scouts are misunderstood and underestimated for what they do. Although the first thing people often think of regarding Girl Scouts is the cookies they sell, that is just one part of the job Girl Scouts have to fulfill.
History of Girl Scouts
This community that has given girls all around the world opportunities to make the world a better place first started with just 18 girls, in 1912, in Georgia. With just one group of girls led by a confident and courageous woman, Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts has evolved to more than 200,000 troops in the U.S.
“A lot of people think Girl Scouts is just about the outdoors, like camping or hiking, and while that can be part of it, there’s also a huge focus on community service and leadership,” said Carolina Grabiel ‘28, who is a Senior Girl Scout from Troop 942. We work on real projects that make a difference, especially at the higher levels like the Silver and Gold Award.”
Working alongside other members of Troop 942, Grabiel completed her Silver Award project, focusing on creating a home-accessible method for building vertical oyster gardens. Throughout the summer of 2024, I worked with Girl Scouts Isabella Prado, Carolina Grabiel, and Natalia Grabiel ‘28 to partner with Watershed Action Lab for their Silver Award. Their goal was to maintain the population of oysters, which are key organisms to improve the water quality in Biscayne Bay.
“We found a way to make oyster gardens out of safer materials, such as towels and cement, making quick-drying and easy-to-make gardens that could easily hang from a dock,” said Natalia Grabiel. This project helped make homes for oysters in an area where the population was decreasing.”
Silver and Gold Award projects
The biggest award any Girl Scout can achieve is the Gold Award. The goal for this achievement is to identify a problem in the community and come up with a sustainable solution that impacts the community. Having earned their Bronze and Silver Awards through collaborative projects, Troop 942 Girl Scouts are now embarking on their Gold Award journey, independently designing and leading impactful projects, while collaborating with community members and organizing support, each requiring at least an 80-hour timeline.
For her Gold Award, Adriana Ferreira de Melo ‘28 has worked to make fencing a varsity high school sport. “Through this project, I plan to raise awareness about the value of fencing and advocate for its inclusion in high school athletic programs,” said Ferreira de Melo. “I will work with schools, fencing clubs, and community organizations to demonstrate how fencing can contribute to the development of well-rounded students, both academically and personally. My aim is to establish fencing as a viable athletic option for girls, providing them with the opportunity to experience the same positive effects that the sport has had on my life.”
Reflecting on the true reach of Girl Scouts, Ferreira de Melo said, “I think many people underestimate the long term impact Girl Scouts can have. Girl Scouts has evolved over time, and not many people understand the number of opportunities it can offer. We are the last line of defense for our country.” With over 10 million Girl Scouts around the world today in 2026, the rising generation of young women has already been stepping forward to make transformative and sustainable impacts.
