The Girl Scouts of St. Peter: Empowered for Service

Imagine a world where, from a young age, girls were empowered with confidence, courage, and character. Imagine the difference these young women could make, using their unique and God-given talents to serve their parishes, their communities, and the world. Here at St. Peter, we hope that our Girl Scout Troops will be a place where our girls can begin to discover and nurture the gifts that God has given them, making the world a better place.

“I hope that my daughters will learn more about themselves and how they can make the world a better place, no matter their age, by being good stewards of their community,” says parishioner Jessica Foster, who serves as ministry leader for Girl Scouts at St. Peter’s and as leader of St. Peter Troop 5694.

As a child, Jessica was a Girl Scout and is glad that her daughters have the same opportunity through troops at St. Peter.

“I was able to experience new things that I probably wouldn’t have experienced if I wasn’t in Girl Scouts,” Jessica says. “I volunteer with the organization because I have seen how girls can grow their leadership skills and become active members in their community.”

Developing leadership skills is one of the primary purposes of Girl Scouts, and the girls are given opportunities to discover and utilize their strengths in a variety of different ways. From STEM badges and outdoor education to art and financial literacy, girls have the chance to learn and grow in many areas. Service is an important aspect of many troops’ activities, with girls choosing to give back to the community in different ways — collecting food, clothing, and personal hygiene items for those in need, making cards for the residents of a nursing home, ringing bells for Salvation Army, and more.

At St. Peter, girls are encouraged to grow in their faith and relationship with the broader community. At the girls’ initiative, Troop 5095 — one of the troops hosted at St. Peter — hosted a fundraiser to raise money for our sister parish in Haiti. The same troop is currently working on earning their Silver Award and is planning to create a butterfly garden, where people can pray, behind the school.

“The Girl Scout promise and law share similar values with the Catholic faith,” Jessica says. “Girls learn how to be honest, fair, considerate, caring, courageous, strong, responsible citizens, to respect others and authority, use our resources wisely and make the world a better place.”

Girl Scouts also provides young women with opportunities to build strong friendships with other girls, working together towards a common goal.

“By participating in Girl Scouts, girls develop relationships with other girls who share the same Catholic values,” Jessica says. “I love seeing the sisterhood and friendships that come from the members of the troops.”

Girl Scouts is open to all girls, beginning in kindergarten, all the way through high school. Jessica hopes parents will encourage their daughters to become involved, and parents and other members of the community will consider serving to mentor and guide the girls of our parish in Girl Scouts. She reminds parents that if there is not currently a troop serving their daughters’ age group, there is help available to get started.

At the end of the day, Jessica’s goal is to help the girls leave her troop ready to change the world and make a positive impact on those around them.

“The girls learn to put others first and to love others, no matter what they believe in,” Jessica says. “They become respectful and honest citizens, who love God’s people.”

For more information on the Girl Scout troops that meet at St. Peter, or to start your own troop, please contact council representative Jill Butterfield at 217-494-1884 or jbutterfield@girlscouts-gsci.org.

The various Girl Scout Troops at St. Peter, like Troop 5619 (pictured), give girls the opportunity to learn leadership skills, participate in service projects, and make new friends.