For girls in Wayne County, the Community Troop experience is vital, providing supportive opportunities, positive adult role models and enrichment experiences that girls may not have access to at home, in their normal classroom environment or in their community. United Way of Wayne County has been providing critical support to these Community Troops for the past two years providing them with experiences they could not get anywhere else.

Through the Community Troop model, girls follow the Girl Scout Leadership Experience – a collection of activities and experiences where girls are able to earn badges, sell cookies, go on exciting trips, explore the outdoors, create “Take Action” projects that make a difference, and more.  The Community Troops are hosted at housing authority sites in Wayne County, allowing girls with limited access to youth development programming as a result of financial hardship or other barriers to participate at no cost.

Terrica Hay, Girl Scout Membership Director in Wayne County, describes the program as a way to provide girls with experiences where they can freely be themselves while learning the importance of respect, responsibility, healthy living, and fun. She has witnessed many girls grow throughout the program, especially one Girl Scout from a large family who didn’t feel like she had a chance to shine. By participating in a Community Troop, she feels like she has been given a voice and a chance to be herself.

Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines appreciates the support of the United Way of Wayne County and all the donors who make these Community Troops possible! Research has proven that participation in Girl Scouting improves life outcomes both in the short and long-term. By participating in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls will become more resilient and more likely to make positive choices in today’s complex world.