Boyce Girl Scouts earn Bronze Award

June 2, 2023

Boyce Middle School Girl Scout Troop 40921 recently earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award— the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. More importantly, their efforts have made a big impact on the lives of others.

Members of Troop 40921 include fifth graders Sydney Hokanson, Lydia Jack, Jessica Lesogor, Mileidi Miles, Lillian Paske, Rowan Pollock, Brooklyn Pope, Addie Smirniw, Avery Stupar and Elsie Yuyi. The troop is led by troop leaders Leslie Pope and Leslie Smirniw.

Earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award involves completing a Girl Scout Journey, which includes learning more about an issue and committing a minimum of 20 hours working as a team to make a difference in the community.

“It is a way to use all the skills they've learned including, problem-solving, teamwork and volunteering,” Mrs. Smirniw said.

Troop 40921 chose to learn about Project Linus, an organization that provides handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. Volunteers – known as “blanketeers” – provide new handmade blankets.

“The troop spent time this year researching and learning about the Project Linus organization,” Mrs. Smirniw said. “They decided that their ‘action’ would be to host a blanket-making event for all girls in the Upper St. Clair Girl Scout Service Unit.”

Members of Troop 40921 planned activities for the event, researched materials and items needed, and learned how to create and follow a budget for the event. The Project Linus blanket-making event was held on Thursday, March 30.

“Fifty-two local girl scouts and their parents/troop leaders joined together for an evening of service and fun,” Mrs. Smirniw said. “Each Girl Scout made a blanket to donate to Project Linus and enjoyed crafts, activities and snacks.”

In May, Troop 40921 donated 60 blankets to Project Linus. The troop also asked participants to bring donations for local pet adoption organizations.