Spring Connections 2026

Connections Girl Scout

Achieving Greatness – The 2026 Gold Award Honorees Meet Our New Board Chair Professional Basketball Organizations Invest in Girls

Spring 2026

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“Across Arizona, Girl Scouts gives girls the chance to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and imagine bigger futures for themselves. When you see how powerful those experiences are, how they help girls find their voice and take on challenges, it is impossible not to want to be part of it.”

— Jenny Holsman Tetreault, GSACPC Board Chair

Spring Highlights

2 0 2 6 | VO L U M E 9 | N O . 3

On the Cover

GSACPC Gold Award Class of 2026 (Ceremony Attendees)

In This Issue

Photo by: Courtney Pedroza Hernandez

3 Letter from Co-CEOs ¿Prefiere esta información en español? ¡Contáctenos! preguntas@girlscoutsaz.org o 602-452-7011

5 Feature | Jenny Holsman Tetreault Elected New Board Chair

Editor

Council Highlights

6 Girl Scouts in Action

Felicia Thompson

8 2026 Annual Meeting Highlights: Sisterhood, Success and Service

Managing Editor/Lead Writer

Zuri Torres Darian Cruz

9 Local and National Basketball Organizations Invest in Girls

Digital Marketing

Leading the Way

Design

Gabby Rodriguez

10 Achieving Greatness: The Gold Award Class of 2026 16 Girl Scout Earns National Lifesaving Award

Contact Us info@girlscoutsaz.org stories@girlscoutsaz.org council@girlscoutsaz.org 119 E. Coronado Road Phoenix, AZ 85004 Call 602.452.7030 Text 844.317.9041 602.452.7000 602.452.7030 call reghelp 844.317.9041 text reghelp 800.352.6133 girlscoutsaz.org

Follow Us @GSACPC

16 Meet the Newest 17 Members of the Girl Girl Scout Earns Lifesaving Award

Advisory Board

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Explore the World: 2027-28 Council Travel Opportunities

17 Meet the Newest Members of the GSACPC Girl Advisory Board

Past Adventures 18 The 2025 Fall Product Program 18 The 2026 Girl Scout Cookie Season Program 20 Cookie Spirit Contest Winners

Around the Bend 21 Save the Date: Badge Bash 2026 22 Explore the World: 2027-28 Council Travel Opportunities

Awards and Recognitions 23 Faith-Based Awards 24 Silver Awards 25 Bronze Awards

Letter from the Co-CEOs

Reconnect.

Reflect.

Reinvest.

Our incredible Girl Scout community gathered in Phoenix and virtually during the 2026 Annual Meeting this spring to reconnect, reflect, and reinvest in our mission. We know building girls of courage, confidence, and character is an intentional investment only made possible by dedicated volunteers and staff with hearts to serve. Volunteers have always been the lifeblood of this organization.

As we celebrate how our council continues to soar through service, we recognize Susan Trujillo for her service as board chair for the last three years, and 10 additional years on the governing board. Under Susan’s leadership, our council has strengthened community partnerships, expanded opportunities for girl-led programs, and improved volunteer support systems. In honoring Susan’s leadership, the board recently approved the renaming of Willow Springs Cocopah Art Dorm to SueBee’s Hive.

Last month, Susan and members welcomed Jenny Holsman Tetreault as our new board chair. Jenny has made a deep investment of her time and talents across Arizona’s nonprofit, education, and business sectors, and, as a Girl Scout mom, she answered the call to serve at the highest level of governance within our organization. We look forward to her leadership and impact over the next three years.

Looking ahead, local and national Girl Scout staff leaders are committed to modernizing council programs, so we all serve girls, volunteers, and families better. We are thrilled to share more about these enhancements in the coming months that will ensure our organization is more resilient, inclusive, and ready to meet the needs of the next generation of Girl Scouts.

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Mary Mitchell and Christina Spicer GSACPC Co-CEOs

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

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Social Media Highlight

Social Shout Out! Check out the most liked post from our Instagram page @GSACPC Oct. 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

Then, head to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok to ensure we’re connected!

Today, we honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day – a time to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous communities.

We’re proud to be one of the few Girl Scout councils in the country actively serving Native American communities, thanks to the dedication of our Tribal Affairs Team. Together, we’re building meaningful connections and creating opportunities that honor tradition, community, and girl-led leadership.

654 Likes

#girlscouts #girlscoutsaz #gsacpc

Editor’s Note Welcome to our first digital-only edition of Girl Scout Connections. While we love seeing this magazine in print, delivering it in a digital format allows us to share the amazing girl stories, highlights, and upcoming events faster so you can share them with your family and friends. Whether you led a community clean-up, organized a food drive, or had fun earning new badges, we want to celebrate your impact.

We are also looking to hear about your favorite summer camp memories and travel adventures. Email submissions to stories@girlscoutsaz.org with a preferred photo and a 2–3 sentence caption. Do not forget to include your troop number or tell us if you are an IGM. We can’t wait to showcase your courage, confidence, and sparkle during the remainder of our 2025-26 membership year.

—Your Editorial Team

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Spring 2026

Feature

Jenny Holsman Tetreault Elected New Board Chair

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n April 25, Jenny Holsman Tetreault was elected Board Chair for Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC), bringing a wealth of experience to her new role. In addition to being a Girl Scout in her youth, Jenny has decades of experience in non-profit governance and community leadership.

As a girl, she served three years as a Girl Advisory Member on the Board of Directors for the Oregon & SW Washington Council and is an active member of the GSACPC Trefoil Tradition. Within our council, she serves on the Executive, Property, and Finance Committees, and currently chairs both the Strategy Refresh Task Force and the Development Committee.

“Girl Scouts played a meaningful role in shaping my confidence and leadership when I was young, so volunteering with Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council feels like a natural way to give back. Watching my daughter have her own Girl Scout experience makes it even more meaningful as I get to see firsthand how these programs help girls discover their strengths, take on new challenges, and grow into leaders in their communities. Supporting that kind of impact, both for her and for girls across Arizona, is incredibly important to me,” said Holsman Tetreault.

Professionally, Jenny is Vice President and Associate General Counsel for TPI Composites, Inc., a global windblade manufacturer. She holds degrees from Arizona State University and Syracuse University. Jenny’s board service across our community is extensive; the YMCA, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Symphony, March of Dimes and United Way all benefit from her involvement. In addition to our council, she currently sits as the Board Chair for the Nature Conservancy and Teach for America. Her leadership

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Award (2024), Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding Woman in Business (2024), Corporate Organization Advocate of the Year (2021), InBusiness Magazine’s Woman of Achievement (2023), and AZ Business Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Business (2020).

Jenny says it would be an honor to help modernize and strengthen the council, so every girl in Arizona can discover her strengths, find her voice, and change the trajectory of what’s possible.

“Across Arizona, Girl Scouts gives girls the chance to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and imagine bigger futures for themselves. When you see how powerful those experiences are, how they help girls find their voice and take on challenges, it is impossible not to want to be part of it.

Through volunteer service, we can ensure that even more girls have access to those opportunities and the support they need to thrive,” said Holsman Tetreault.

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Girl Scouts in Action

Adventures, Innovations, Leadership, Pushing Boundaries, Setting an Example, Taking Charge, Accomplishing Goals.

This is Girl Scouts.

1 Members of Troop 3895 took a trip to the Arizona Capital to learn about leadership, Arizona’s history and how Girl Scouting plays into civic engagement. When visiting the Arizona Senate, the girls were welcomed by Girl Scout Alumna, Senator Kiana Sears, who shared her leadership journey and words of encouragement with the troop on how they can make a big difference in their communities. The girls even got to sing a Girl Scout song on the Senate floor!

2 Bridging ceremonies are a special part of Girl Scout troop traditions, and Troop 2106 took theirs to the next level with a trip to Medieval Times! The girls celebrated their achievements with an immersive experience that took them back in time with knights, jousting and great food.

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3 Girl Scout Media Ambassador, Imara from Troop 2589 took a trip to England during her spring break and visited the WAGGS Pax Lodge in London!

There are five World Associations of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS) centers around the world and because Imara made an in-person visit, she received a special pin. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us, Imara!

4 The Cadettes of Troop 7425 completed their Bronze Award with a project rooted in spreading love and positivity. The girls worked with Dove of the Desert United Methodist Church to upgrade their current rock labyrinth with rocks painted with kind words, uplifting phrases, and joyful colors. They replaced some dim solar lights with new, brighter lights and cleared the area of any wilted plants.

Congratulations, Girl Scouts!

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5 Back in November, Girl Scouts of Troop 4010 celebrated friendship and community by joining the Gilbert Days Parade. They embraced the “out of this world” theme and shared their Girl Scout pride by customizing their pants with their troop number.

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Spring 2026

Girl Scouts in Action

6 Troop 4525 spent an unforgettable night at the Phoenix Zoo during a special overnight camp focused on animal habitats and conservation.

Throughout the experience, the girls participated in hands-on activities led by zoo educators, learned how animals depend on their environments for survival, and how humans can help protect those habitats. Exploring the zoo after hours made learning even more exciting and memorable!

7 Girl Scout IGMs, Honor and Midori hosted a table at this year’s World Thinking Day highlighting the Philippines. Together, the girls researched Filipino culture, traditions, and history to create a meaningful experience for attendees. Their booth featured fun facts, cultural knowledge, and a hands-on craft that invited girls to learn about the Philippines’ rich heritage.

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8 The Techalongs, FIRST Tech Challenge Team #17062, earned the Inspire Award at the Petrified Wood Qualifier held this past January. The Inspire Award honors an all-around “role model” team that excels in robot performance, documentation, and outreach, and recognizes teams that embody passion, gracious professionalism, and technical excellence. In addition to their other outreach events, the Techalongs are deeply committed to outreach within their Girl Scout community, appearing at recruitment events, hosting STEM workshops for younger girls, and organizing an annual day camp for girls in grades 5 and up.

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9 The Juniors and Cadettes of Troop 2589 earned their Bronze Award with a project that gave aid to animal welfare. The girls collaborated on the idea to design an information campaign around pet/dog care for young children. Over the course of a year, they coded and built a website from scratch, researched and authored content and designed marketing collateral to promote the site.

Amazing work, girls! Check out their website at pawfectdogcare.replit.app.

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Share Your Triumphs and Adventures with Us! From service projects to exploring the globe, we know Girl Scouts are always working to create positive change and gaining leadership experiences. Share these moments with us; they could inspire others to begin their Girl Scout journey. Visit girlscoutsaz.org/stories to submit your stories and photos.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

10 Girl Scout Liya from Troop 4280 was selected as the winner of the City of Scottsdale patch design contest and honored during an unveiling ceremony this spring. The new patch encourages Girl Scouts to explore the Scottsdale community by visiting museums and attending live performances, volunteering at a food bank, learning about Scottsdale’s anti-discrimination ordinance, and attending a City Council meeting.

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Council Highlight

2026 Annual Meeting Highlights: Sisterhood, Success and Service GSACPC held its 2026 Annual Meeting this spring, bringing together hundreds of Girl Scouts, board members, volunteers, and staff in celebration of this year’s theme: Soaring Through Service. During the business session, Girl Scouts presented highlights from the 2024-25 membership year, and the board shared updates on the council’s financial position and program progress.

The council recognized Immediate Past Board Chair Susan Trujillo for three years of leadership in her role and thanked departing board members for their service.

Council delegates elected nine new board and girl advisory members, including Jenny Holsman Tetreault who was named Incoming Board Chair. Following the business meeting, Girl Scouts recorded a live episode of GSACPC’s podcast, Dear Sister, featuring an interview with Trujillo and Girl Scout Alum Lauren Click, CEO and founder of Let’s Go Compost. The guests shared inspiring stories from their Girl Scouting experiences and the impact that service has made on their lives.

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Spring 2026

Council Highlight

Local and National Basketball Organizations Invest in Girls

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SACPC has been awarded an $80,000 grant from the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation to build a new half-court, multi-use sports court at Shadow Rim Ranch in Payson.

The new sports court will expand year-round athletic opportunities and create a safe, inclusive space for girls to get active and connect through sports.

“Girl Scouts empowers girls to build confidence, and one important way we do that is through physical activity and spending time outdoors,” said Co-CEO Mary Mitchell. “We are

grateful for the support of partners like the Phoenix Suns/ Phoenix Mercury Foundation which allows us to expand opportunities for girls while reinforcing the values that sports can teach such as sportsmanship, purpose and fair play.”

This commitment will take shape through the 60-foot by 50-foot multi-use court, which will serve approximately 1,500 girls year-round and an additional 500 girls during summer camp.

“This new court gives girls a dedicated place to come together, try sports like basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton, soccer and more, earning patches that recognize their growth as they explore new skills,” said Co-CEO Christina Spicer.

NBA Foundation Arizona Cactus-Pine also received a $250,000 grant from the NBA Foundation to support workforce development programming for girls ages 14–18 across Central and Northern Arizona. The investment will expand access to career exploration, leadership development and hands-on skill building through the modernized Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE).

Support from the NBA Foundation will allow GSACPC to implement an updated, career-aligned curriculum at scale, strengthening workforce-focused programming, providing digital tools and expanding career-aligned experiences for teen girls across the council’s service area, alongside enhancements to GSACPC’s signature career-focused programs.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

These include the Girl Scout High Awards, which empower girls to lead community-based Take Action projects that create sustainable change; the Media Ambassadors program, which provides hands-on experience and exposure to careers in media and marketing; and GSACPC’s innovative Mobile Building Space, which introduces girls to construction trades through engineering, building and design-focused programming.

“Teen girls are often told to ‘plan for the future’ without being shown what that actually looks like,” said Mitchell. “With this investment from the NBA Foundation, girls will explore real career pathways and understand how their skills translate to the workforce, so they can imagine a future they can confidently step into.”

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Leading The Way

Achieving Greatness: The Gold Award Class of 2026 The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn – exemplifying their leadership skills, compassion for their communities, and love of service.

This year, 27 Girl Scouts in our council completed their Gold Award projects targeting a gap or community issue which they tackled with a sustainable solution allowing for positive change to blossom as they move on to the next phase of their lives.

Abby Schroff Glendale

Green Ground Abby noticed that camp lacked a recycling or composting system, and was surprised by how much reusable waste was being thrown away each summer. Inspired by her long-standing interest in composting, Abby created “Green Ground,” a project focused on building a sustainable composting system at Camp Maripai in Prescott. Abby designed and constructed compost bins to collect horse manure and leftover food waste from the lodge, installed educational metal signage explaining how to compost, and encouraged participation through fun compost-themed stickers for younger campers. By the end of summer 2025, the bins were collecting nearly 200 pounds of manure per week, totaling about 1,500 pounds, which is now being reused to fertilize camp fields.

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Abigail Hurst Mesa The Roots of Our Nation: Re-igniting the Girl Scout Journey in Agriculture Growing up around agriculture, Abigail was surprised by how little many people understood where their food came from.

In her efforts to reduce food waste and reconnect youth to agriculture, Abigail created a Girl Scout Junior badge program centered on agricultural education. Through multiple “Agriculture Days” hosted at Dobson High School in Mesa in partnership with FFA students, more than 30 Juniors at each event learned firsthand about farming’s role in society. Abigail developed a booklet modeled after official badge pamphlets and designed an approved patch now sold at the council shop, with plans to pursue national recognition.

Spring 2026

Leading The Way

Alexis Gefroh

Amy Fleming

Gilbert Understanding POTS: A Guide for Everyday Awareness and Support

Scottsdale Self Defense Go!

Diagnosed with POTS at age 12, Alexis experienced firsthand how difficult it was to explain an “invisible illness” to others.

Frustrated by the lack of clear, accessible information, she created a simple tri-fold pamphlet explaining POTS symptoms and ways to support someone living with the condition.

She translated the resource into Spanish and distributed it through Facebook groups, school nurses across the Chandler Unified School District and local medical offices. She also adapted the material into a blog post for Dysautonomia International. Her outreach generated more than 500 online interactions and led to the distribution of more than 400 printed pamphlets and 48 digital copies.

Amy worked with women at her taekwondo studio to develop simple, beginner-friendly techniques that girls of any age could practice. She filmed instructional tutorials demonstrating the moves and shared them through her YouTube channel, Self Defense Go. Amy also hosted three in-person events where she taught the same techniques to Girl Scout troops and community participants. The workshops drew positive participation, with girls eager to learn the skills and discuss the importance of self-defense. Her videos have continued reaching viewers online, generating more than 600 views and expanding the project’s impact.

Anna Santiago Alyssa Hernandez Tempe Calmly Crocheting Recognizing the stress many students experience in high school, Alyssa wanted to create a creative outlet that could help her peers relax. Through her project, “Calmly Crocheting,” she founded a crochet club at Marcos De Niza High School in Tempe and taught crochet classes for fellow Girl Scouts, demonstrating how the craft can reduce stress and promote focus. Students completed surveys before and after club meetings that showed an average three-point drop in stress levels after participating. The club ran for two school years and regularly served eight to 10 students, creating a welcoming environment for creativity and relaxation.

Phoenix Papa’s Extended Wing Anna wanted to help families better understand the condition and support those undergoing dialysis treatment following the loss of her grandfather to kidney disease. Her Gold Award project, “Papa’s Extended Wing,” was created in his honor and focuses on raising awareness about diabetic kidney disease while providing comfort to patients receiving dialysis care. Anna developed educational presentations, fliers and an informational website to explain kidney disease in simple, accessible terms. Anna also organized volunteers to assemble care packages for dialysis patients that included essentials such as gloves, tissues, socks, hand sanitizer and healthy snacks. In addition, volunteers and quilting groups helped create and donate more than 50 lap blankets for patients receiving treatment. Blankets and care packages are now distributed through the Fresenius Kidney Care Clinic.

Bella Rao Amiya Aggarwal Scottsdale

Pages of Hope A lifelong reader who credits books with shaping her academic and personal growth, Amiya wanted to expand access to literature for underserved communities. Through her Gold Award project, “Pages of Hope,” Amiya organized a large-scale book drive that collected 2,738 books from schools, neighbors and community members. She sorted the donations by age and genre and partnered with low-income schools, domestic violence shelters, food banks and women’s shelters to distribute them. Each book included a personalized bookmark featuring inspirational quotes and links to mental health and community resources. Based on partner data, her donations reached more than 20,000 individuals across several sites.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Scottsdale Feed, Clothe, House, Heal Volunteering alongside her father at St. Vincent de Paul for years, Bella wanted to create a Gold Award project that would bring hope to people experiencing homelessness. Her project, “Feed, Clothe, House, Heal,” focused on transforming a large wall at the St. Vincent de Paul homeless shelter through a community mural. Bella organized and led a team of more than 35 volunteers to design and paint a 60-foot mural at the shelter. The artwork was created to brighten the space and provide encouragement to the individuals and families who visit the facility each day. The completed mural now greets shelter residents and visitors, providing a visual reminder of support and resilience.

Bella says the project helped her develop patience and stronger communication skills while leading a large volunteer team.

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Leading The Way

Bethany Carlson

Ella Southworth

Chandler Engineering Safety: 3D-Printed WalkieTalkie Holders for Aquatic Facilities

Chandler Note-Worthy Education

While working as a lifeguard, Bethany noticed that walkie-talkies were often placed on the ground or stored in inconvenient locations, creating safety concerns and communication challenges during emergencies. Wanting to solve a real-world problem, she created “Engineering Safety,” a project that designs and distributes custom 3D-printed walkie-talkie holders for aquatic facilities. Bethany engineered durable holders designed to attach securely to lifeguard chairs and pool structures, using heat-resistant filament, stainless steel clamps and drainage features suitable for outdoor environments. She has produced more than 50 holders, which are now used at 11 aquatic facilities across the United States.

Lifeguards report improved access to radios, better organization and increased communication efficiency while on duty. Bethany also created a website to allow aquatic centers to learn about and purchase the holders, helping the project expand nationally.

Ciera Colburn Gilbert For Your Future Ciera realized many young people feel the same anxiety about navigating life after high school and uncertain about the challenges of adulthood. Her Gold Award project, “For Your Future,” was created to provide an accessible online resource answering common questions about adulthood. For the project, Ciera developed a website featuring 29 articles organized into three key categories: career, education and health. The site offers practical guidance on topics many young adults encounter for the first time, helping readers feel more prepared and confident about their futures. Since launching, the website has reached nearly 200 users, including Girl Scouts and high school students seeking reliable information about life skills and independence.

Music shaped Ella’s childhood and she wanted more children to have access to the same opportunities, regardless of resources at home or school. Her Gold Award project, “Note-Worthy Education,” created a free, accessible music education website featuring classroom videos, a student-made instrument gallery, virtual instruments and a music theory activity available to anyone with an internet connection. Ella also assembled shaker-instrument kits and delivered them to a local library to support hands-on learning beyond the screen. The results were positive as children who used the website showed an 80% increase in understanding of music theory and its application after exploring the resources. Ella says the project reinforced how important equity is in education and how access can change outcomes.

Elsie Chase Mesa Musical Enrichment Through Assisted Living Facilities Elsie has long loved playing instruments, especially the violin, and found out while progressing in her orchestra classes how intimidating it can feel as a musician to perform in unfamiliar settings. She also recognized that assisted living and memory care facilities often have limited activity options. Elsie combined these needs to create a Gold Award project that brought student musicians into assisted living spaces while helping performers build confidence. She contacted activity directors, coordinated dates and coached students on preparation, then organized performances that typically lasted about an hour. Each event began with student introductions, followed by live music and time afterward for conversations with residents. The impact reached both audiences with students gaining confidence performing in public spaces and residents enjoying live music and interaction.

Emma Smith Courtney Hartle Gilbert Kids Corner When the food bank itself did not have a need that fit the Gold Award, Courtney met with social workers and a site director at a supported school resource center in her district. They identified a clear gap: families needed a dedicated space where children could play safely while parents received assistance such as food, toiletries and clothing. Courtney launched “Kids Corner” by distributing donation flyers through the Girl Scout community, then organized volunteer teams to clean, sort and set up the new play area. She also assembled 50 goodie bags with stuffed animals for children visiting the center. To extend the impact, Courtney created recipe cards and shared samples to help families use common food bank ingredients and reduce waste.

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Phoenix The Sensory Garden Emma noticed that students with intellectual disabilities were often separated from peers and had fewer opportunities for hands-on learning at Camelback High School. She created “The Sensory Garden” to provide a therapeutic space that supports cognitive growth, fine motor development and meaningful connection across campus. Emma designed the garden and organized two monthly activities with volunteers, including painting rocks, creating stained-glass decorations, designing stepping stones and painting birdhouses. She also developed more than 20 sensory experiences, including 12 mini sensory boxes, sand shakers, a mini dig site, a zen garden and a garden-themed hallway with textured walls.

Over the course of the year, the garden improved students’ moods and social skills while strengthening relationships between the program and the wider school community.

Spring 2026

Leading The Way

Hayden McCauley Phoenix Signage for the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary Visitors to the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary often have questions about where to go and what they are seeing during tours. To improve the experience for guests while supporting the sanctuary’s conservation work, Hayden created new signage as her Gold Award project. Working with a volunteer team, Hayden designed, produced and installed durable metal enclosure signs that provide educational information about the reptiles at the sanctuary, along with wooden directional signs to help visitors easily locate key areas such as exits and restrooms. The additions help staff spend less time answering logistical questions and more time focusing on animal care and conservation education. Sanctuary staff noted that the signs have made tours clearer and more informative for visitors.

Kara Bush Tempe Pixie Patch Garden Kara had seen how stress from academics and family pressure affected her peers and believed a welcoming garden could support students’ emotional and psychological well-being by providing a calming outdoor space where students could step away, breathe and reset. For her Gold Award project, “Pixie Patch Garden,” Kara planned and installed four large garden beds at her high school, working with administrators and staff on the design and coordinating volunteers for painting and construction. She improved the space with shade coverings to make it usable during the day, added a walkable pathway, built a storage cabinet and refreshed seating by painting benches, tables and chairs. Kara also organized art-based activities in two classrooms to give students additional ways to relieve stress. The garden continues to grow as a lasting resource, with a science

Katie Burks Kingman The Next Act: An Educational Workshop for Professional Theater Development Katie Burkes has a lifelong passion for theater and wanted to make the performing arts more accessible to young people in her community.

Through her Gold Award project, “The Next Act: An Educational Workshop for Professional Theater Development,” Katie addressed the high costs of participating in school and community productions, from costumes to set donations, which can prevent students from getting involved. She organized a two-day workshop where youth worked with experienced community theater performers and technicians to learn acting, choreography, musical theater and improv skills. The program finished with a showcase performance for friends and family, giving participants the opportunity to share what they learned on stage. The workshop introduced 15 young people to theater training, and five participants later joined the local community theater, where they continue to volunteer and perform in productions.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Earn the Most Prestigious Award in Girl Scouting – Go for Gold!

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he Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouting that places service at the forefront.

The Gold Award is an opportunity for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors to take the tools they’ve gained throughout their Girl Scouting experience and put them to action in a service project that offers a sustainable solution to an issue being faced locally or globally. A stellar addition to any college or scholarship application, Gold Awardees can use their projects to demonstrate professional capabilities when planning their future whether it be in higher education or the workforce.

From conception to execution, a dedicated committee of knowledgeable volunteers will guide you in your journey to gold and work alongside you to ensure your project goals and objectives are met.

Attend a Gold Award training to learn more - visit the Activities Calendar at girlscoutsaz.org/calendar to learn more and reserve your slot.

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Leading The Way

Laney Thompson

Savannah Luckie

Scottsdale Courage to Fly

Phoenix Sensory Sanctuary

After experiencing an abusive relationship in high school and learning about the signs through a teacher, she realized many students might be facing similar situations without knowing where to turn for help. This realization inspired her Gold Award project, “Courage to Fly,” which focuses on raising awareness about teen dating violence. Laney organized outreach during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, setting up informational tables during lunch and distributing brochures that explained different types of abuse and resources for support. She also hosted a workshop for teachers on how to recognize warning signs and support students who may be experiencing relationship abuse. Educators who attended the session placed awareness posters throughout the school, helping keep the message visible for students year-round. Seeing classmates wear the awareness wristbands she distributed showed Laney how powerful one conversation can be in starting change.

Lilly McAnerney Glendale LEGO Lap Tables While spending time in a hospital herself, Lilly noticed that some of the activities available to pediatric patients were difficult to use from a hospital bed. She focused on one familiar favorite, LEGOs, and designed a solution that would make building more accessible for kids who cannot easily sit up or move around. Lilly created LEGO lap tables made of acrylic with foldable legs for easy storage for her Gold Award project. Each table includes LEGO borders on three sides and two LEGO plates in the center, creating space for loose pieces and a stable area for building. Lilly donated the tables to the pediatric unit of a local hospital, supporting children’s mental health by providing an engaging activity they can use in bed. Nurses confirmed the impact through questionnaires and shared positive feedback about how well the tables worked for patients.

Natalia Franco Goodyear Eagle’s Nest Library An avid reader, Natalia was frustrated that her school did not have a true library students could access throughout the day. Classroom collections were limited, could not be checked out and often required students to wait until work was finished.

Natalia knew these barriers impacted younger students and peers who wanted to read more regularly, so she created “Eagle’s Nest Library” to make books consistently available to the entire K-12 campus. Natalia established a permanent library space with a working checkout system so students could borrow books without relying on teachers or parents to visit public libraries. She built grade-specific systems, including sign-out sheets for primary and middle school students and a QR code checkout form for high school students. The middle school averaged about 20 signed-out books per week, with high school averaging about 15. The collection also included SAT and ACT prep books.

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Savannah created “Sensory Sanctuary” to reduce stress and sensory overload for students in the Next S.T.E.P. program, a fifth year of high school that supports disabled students as they build skills for adulthood. Savannah wanted to offer a calming space where students could go when they felt overwhelmed and was inspired by her own experiences with anxiety.

She developed a dedicated sensory area stocked with items such as fidgets, coloring books and other tools designed to help students regulate emotions and refocus. Savannah received information that students were actively using the Sensory Sanctuary and benefiting from the space. She tackled challenges by securing donated replacement lights and continued building the space as intended.

Simone Zurawski Phoenix Fur Real Safety: A Guide to Babysitting with Pets A babysitting job that took an unexpected turn sparked Simone’s Gold Award project.

When she was attacked by a family’s dog while babysitting, Simone realized that many young caregivers are taught how to care for children but receive little guidance about handling pets in the home. Simone created “Fur Real Safety: Babysitting Safety in Homes with Pets,” to help fill that gap – a practical guide designed for preteen and teen babysitters.

The resource outlines common warning signs of stress or aggression in animals, questions babysitters should ask parents before a job and steps to take if a pet-related emergency occurs. Simone worked with an animal behaviorist, parents and other babysitters to ensure the information was both accurate and useful in real situations for her project. The guide is now shared online through Safe Sitter®, a national babysitting certification program, allowing babysitters across the country to access the resource.

Sophia Tew Goodyear Confidence, Strength, and Empowerment through Taekwondo Throughout her taekwondo training, Sophia noticed that many girls did not stay in the program and that she rarely saw female role models in martial arts. Sophia was determined to change this by creating “Confidence, Strength, and Empowerment through Taekwondo” to encourage girls to try martial arts and build confidence through taekwondo. For her Gold Award project, Sophia planned three two-hour classes where she taught beginner techniques including punches, kicks and nunchuck skills, then guided participants through board breaking, a transformative experience for building confidence. Sophia also produced videos and shared them on her YouTube channel so girls could revisit the lessons as needed. Participants left classes feeling empowered, and Sophia saw their skills and confidence grow each session, welcoming almost 30 girls.

Spring 2026

Leading The Way

Tara Ghafouri

Taylor MacDonald

Paradise Valley Embracing Cultural Differences

Gilbert Feral Cat Awareness

Tara wanted to help young children learn empathy and appreciation for differences at an early age after facing hurtful comments about her heritage. Recognizing how quickly children begin noticing differences in one another, Tara created a Gold Award project designed to encourage understanding before negative behaviors start, writing and illustrating a children’s book, “What’s in Your Lunchbox?” which invites young readers to celebrate cultural differences through food, appearance and shared experiences. She published more than 150 copies and placed them in schools, libraries and the Persian Cultural Center, while also donating books to CASA Academy and St. Vincent de Paul. Tara hosted live readings at each location, encouraging children to share their own cultural experiences and perspectives. She also created a YouTube read-aloud and made the book available on Amazon, donating all proceeds to the Arizona Persian Cultural Center.

Taking in a stray cat opened Taylor’s eyes to how many feral and stray cats were living in her community. With encouragement from her counselor, Taylor connected with the Trap Neuter Release (TNR) program and built a Gold Award project centered around raising awareness and support for a solution. Through presentations and flyers, Taylor educated students and adults about what TNR is, what it does and how people can contribute, including teaching how to make a cage cover. She also organized donation-based supply efforts so the program could continue assisting feral cat populations in Gilbert and surrounding areas. When school posting restrictions limited her outreach, Taylor expanded into the broader community, sharing information through local libraries, coffee shops and thrift stores.

Tayeba Tashbiba Waliza

Tessa Langbecker

Bogura, Bangladesh Learn, Plant, Grow

Scottsdale Education on Native Plants in Arizona

Driven by a lifelong love of the outdoors and shaped by growing up in a disaster-prone country affected by flooding and climate extremes, Tayeba created her Gold Award project to make environmental education hands-on and accessible for young people. Her project, “Learn, Plant, Grow,” brought interactive learning to audiences across Arizona and Bangladesh through workshops, garden building and community partnerships. Tayeba hosted two Native Plants of Arizona workshops at the Parsons Leadership Center that engaged about 140 girls and included planting activities and nature-based art. She also donated five informative plant signs to the center. At Leading Edge Academy, she taught about global landscapes and climate action to about 120 students. Partnering with Garden Social, she helped launch a nonprofit garden, planting more than 70 square feet of beds and producing more than 55 pounds of vegetables donated to Hope Women’s Center. She also led a landscape-focused workshop with the Arizona chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and organized a climate camp for 30 girls in Bogura, Bangladesh.

Tessa believes that environmental stewardship starts early and she wanted younger students to better understand Arizona’s native plant ecosystem and why it matters. This inspired the creation of her project to provide hands-on learning and accessible resources. Tessa built a garden for Archways Academy and developed video lessons about each plant, linking the content through a YouTube channel and additional information on a Facebook page. She also taught Girl Scouts directly through nature walks focused on native plant life. This impact reached both in-person participants and online learners with Tessa teaching more than 90 girls at a Parsons camp through her trails and reporting more than 2,000 views on her YouTube channel. Tessa says this project showed her she could take research and turn it into education that reaches far beyond what she expected.

Gold Award Committee

Alanna Iannone

Katie Holm

Angela Lian

Laura Baughman

A round of applause for the members of our council’s Gold Award Committee who guide Girl Scouts as they create change within their communities. These dedicated volunteers ensure that girls see their projects come to life.

We want to thank you for making our Girl Scouts and their futures a priority – your commitment to the Girl Scout Mission ensures girls in our jurisdiction become stronger leaders with each experience they take on. Thank you!

Ariana Schein

Lee Kline

Brianna Iannone

Polly Thomas

Carissa Decicco

Sally Nelsen

Diana Laulainen-Schein

Samantha Janssen

Gail Smith

Serena Schein

Grazia Caramucci

Terri Himing

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Joanne Hartley

Girl Scout

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Leading The Way

Creating Lasting Impact: The 2026 Gold Award Ceremony This spring, our council honored the accomplishments of this year’s 27 Gold Awardees with a dinner and ceremony at The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain. It was incredible seeing projects whose focus ranged from music education, cultural awareness, engineering, and more. Each project was fueled by the passion and leadership of these Girl Scouts who used their years of gained skills to ensure sustainable development in each field.

We know that this class will carry the Gold Award experience with them into the classroom, boardroom, and beyond. Learn more about this year’s Gold Award cohort by visiting girlscoutsaz.org/goldpress2026.

16 Connections Girl Scout

Girl Scout Earns National Lifesaving Award

G

irl Scout Junior Charlotte Rich has been awarded the GSUSA Lifesaving Award for quick thinking, calm leadership, and decisive action during a recent medical emergency at home.

When Charlotte’s father experienced a dangerously high blood glucose reading and became unable to manage his medications, Charlotte acted immediately. She called 911 and her mother, kept her toddler sibling safe, and stayed with her father until emergency responders arrived. Because of her presence of mind and steady response, her father received urgent medical care that likely prevented a far worse outcome.

“Once Charlotte realized she couldn’t physically mix the medications together and inject it, she called 911. Without her help, I could have died,” said Bryan Rich.

This recognition honors Charlotte’s courage, responsibility, and selfless leadership. Her actions exemplify what it means to act with compassion under pressure and to protect others when every minute counts.

Congratulations to Charlotte for her bravery and example of leadership at a critical moment.

Spring 2026

Leading The Way

Meet the Newest Members of the GSACPC Girl Advisory Board

G

irl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council’s Board is comprised of dedicated business and community leaders who believe in the power of girls and the Girl Scout Mission. Together, they help navigate the organization to ensure the wellbeing of all girls within our council’s jurisdiction.

In alignment with the Girl Scout values, girls (ages 14-18) can play a key role in board deliberations and decisions by serving on the Girl Advisory Board. In sharing their voices and experiences, Girl Advisory Board members contribute to maintaining a high-quality girl experience for their fellow Girl Scout Sisters.

This year, three new members were elected by council delegates to these leadership positions. We connected with each Girl Scout and asked them what they hope to accomplish during their one-year term.

This is what they shared.

Kayleigh Mauk “I hope to advocate for my Girl Scout Sisters and make a long-lasting change. I want to empower girls for their future Girl Scouting adventures.”

Madalyn Paltzik “I hope to use my term to amplify the voices of girls and ensure their ideas are reflected in meaningful initiatives impacting both the council and our state. I also want to help set clear, actionable goals, especially around expanding financial literacy programming, that create lasting opportunities for girls to build confidence and realworld skills.”

Reese O’Malley “During my time on the board I would like to help increase retention rates for rising high schoolers.”

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Girl Scout

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Past Adventures

Girl Scouts Step Into Entrepreneurship with the Fall Product Program From peanut butter bears to a roasted honey nut mix, the Fall Product Program offers a catalog of both sweet and savory treats for customers to enjoy, all while supporting Girl Scouts in their entrepreneurial journeys.

Smaller in scale compared to the Girl Scout Cookie Program, the Fall Product Program offers Girl Scouts the opportunity to ease into an entrepreneurial role by having their customers be their family and friends. They can work individually or collaboratively with their Girl Scout Sisters to reach their monetary goals and expand their skills.

Lemon-Ups, Thin Mints and Exploremores! Oh, My!

D

uring six weeks in January and February, over 6,800 Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona participated in the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world – the Girl Scout Cookie Program!

From learning how to set realistic goals, managing funds, marketing products, and communicating with customers, girls were able to simulate a small business and grow as professionals. Collectively, girls sold 2,303,774 packages of cookies with Thin Mints being the most popular flavor. Girls’ innovation took center stage with their creatively decorated booths and impressive leadership skills as they collaborated to reach their goals.

Amazing work, Girl Scouts!

GSACPC would like to acknowledge the volunteers and parents who dedicated their time to supporting the Girl Scouts in their lives throughout this cookie season. Your belief and investment in Girl Scouting is instrumental in our mission of uplifting girls.

We would like to share our gratitude with our council booth partners who hosted Girl Scouts at various locations across our jurisdiction!

We also acknowledge the organizations and small businesses who welcomed Girl Scouts to host self-scheduled booths.

2,488 Girl Scouts participated in the 2025 Fall Product Program and collectively raised $912,545.85.

Congratulations to all the girls who participated!

Ahipoki

Caramba Mexican Food

Sonic

Aj’s

Chicken N’ Pickle

sugaringLA

Albertsons

Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers

The Delicatessen

Amadio Ranch

Duiles Sports Piano Bar

As You Wish

Food City

The Palms on Scottsdale Apartments

Arizona State University

Fry’s

Bashas’

Grand Canyon University

Eddie Country Shop

JRP Tax

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Macerich Malls

Walmart Supercenter/ Walmart Neighborhood Market

Buffalo Wild Wings

Safeway

Wendy’s

Phoenix Suns Tropical Sno

Zzeeks

18 Connections Girl Scout

Spring 2026

Past Adventures

Top Cookie Sellers

Mighty Mint Club

Girls who sold 5,000+ packages

Girls who sold 2,000+ packages

Avery Bantau

8,818

Hailey Aldaz

7,400

Lilly Delehoy

6,414

Savannah Scott

6,050

Hailey Potts

5,070

Shelby Tanner

5,047

Jadyn Head

5,000

Top Selling Troops 558: Cactus Bloom

31,408

203: Hayden’s Ferry

27,342

3396: Cactus Bloom

25,901

3990: East Kyrene

19,485

4997: Cactus Bloom

16,360

Council Cookie Facts 2,303,774 2026

Packages Sold

6,805

Samantha Stajner Lillian Standerfer Sophia Harmon Madelynne Hickel Lydia Rozen Eliza Ohlson Ella Lusson Kiana Jeskewitz Lilly Cottrell Ella Haberlin Emmalin Pryor Calia Ransom Valentina Hardison Katlynn Anthes Brynn Sheldon Shante Summers Sabrina Padberg Scarlett Chenier Kyree Nelson-Turner Ava Himler Avery Vo Zoey Glynn Hayden Nemecek Sophiamarie Bowers Olivia Jackson Kaydence Behrendt Nyna Kingsley Ali Richards Clementine Anderson Amy Wilson Jillian Korn Taylor Aldrich Lillian Walker

4,197 4,093 4,057 4,021 4,016 4,012 4,011 4,004 4,000 3,422 3,211 3,048 3,013 3,008 3,006 3,003 3,001 3,001 3,000 3,000 2,560 2,500 2,454 2,360 2,310 2,288 2,188 2,158 2,145 2,129 2,086 2,076 2,045

Torynn Hammond Kate Daniels Ava Gillane Kennadi Gramlich Odessa Nunez Taralynn Allen Maleahna Etue Kinsley Torrence Ella Rivera Liliana Ranes Zuria Kosaka Jane Werley Aria-Sophia Sullivan Samara Bowdon Gabrielle Padia Charlotte Mower Delaney McDaniel Nicole Erickson Chloe Adame Starr Lester Nuala Morales Samantha Sherouse Molly Utter Payton Bodine Jade Figueroa Avery Kirkeeng Berenice Gonzalez Stellah Craig Claire Way Luna Guerra Kai Bennett Riley Stevenson

2044 2032 2031 2028 2027 2026 2015 2015 2013 2010 2005 2003 2002 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000

Girls Participated

339 Per Girl Average

Thin Mints Most Popular Cookie

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Girl Scout

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Past Adventures

The 2026 Girl Scout Cookie Spirit Contest Winners Creativity reached new heights during this year’s Cookie Spirit Contest! Girl Scouts of all ages submitted the contest sharing their zest for the Girl Scout Cookie Program with colorful photos, funny handmade signage, and outstanding videos.

This year, we had 303 entries and 24 winners. Congratulations to the 2026 Cookie Spirit Contest winners!

Week One

Week Three

Week Five

Alyson, Tempe

Amora, Goodyear

Jacqueline, Buckeye

Madeline, Payson

Emmeline, Phoenix

Harmony, Scottsdale

Ruth, Kingman

Sienna, Phoenix

Miracle, Peoria

Vivian, Chandler

Hope, Tempe

Scout, Phoenix

Week Two

Week Four

Week Six

Averie, Buckeye

Coraline, Phoenix

Eleanor, Phoenix

Eliana, Maricopa

Avital, Scottsdale

Caroline, Chandler

Isabella, Phoenix

Isabelle, Phoenix

Jadyn, Chinle

Valerie, Glendale

Mya, Phoenix

Talia, Chandler

20 Connections Girl Scout

Spring 2026

Around the Bend

Save the Date

Badge Bash G

SACPC’s annual fundraiser, Badge Bash is back on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Parsons Leadership Center in South Phoenix!

Badge Bash is Girl Scouts—built for adults: an upbeat, after-hours experience where community leaders trade the usual gala routine for a little friendly competition, a lot of laughter, and real purpose. Guests move through interactive, outdoor-inspired “badge” activities (no experience required), connect with business and community supporters from across northern and central Arizona, and rally behind a mission that helps Arizona girls grow into confident leaders. It’s high-energy, welcoming, and unforgettable.

Last fall, we raised $321,000! Let’s go beyond this year to ensure that Girl Scouting in our Arizona communities continues to thrive.

Thank you to our 2025 Badge Bash Ambassador sponsor, Jaque Bethke Design!

Purchase your individual or group tickets at girlscoutsaz.org/badgebash.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Girl Scout

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Around the Bend

Explore the World: 2027-28 Council Travel Opportunities

T

hrough global travel, Girl Scouts connect with the wider world, explore international issues, and grow as global citizens and leaders. These opportunities inspire curiosity about other cultures, encourage service beyond borders, and develop skills that empower girls to make a difference both locally and globally.

Check out these upcoming international council tours! If interested, visit girlscoutsaz.org/travel for more information.

You and Me Tour - England and Ireland | June 8 - June 19, 2027 Explore England and Ireland on a “You and Me” tour with The Global Citizen Program. From visiting the Titanic Museum to visiting the Peace Wall and other historical landmarks, this inspiring travel experience is bound to leave you with unforgettable memories. Immerse yourself in the rich history, culture, and vibrant stories of these destinations, while connecting with fellow Girl Scouts. The 12-day adventure from the buzzing streets of London to the breathtaking cliffs of Ireland—think royal landmarks, West End shows, Titanic tales, magical landscapes, and memory-making moments at every turn!

22 Connections Girl Scout

For Girls Tour - Charting the Galápagos Islands | June 8 - June 16, 2027 Follow in Charles Darwin’s footsteps through the Galápagos Islands and mainland Ecuador, where the legendary naturalist made discoveries with giant tortoises and finches that shaped the theory of evolution—plus dive into vibrant culture in Quito, Otavalo, and beyond! about the nine-day journey to Ecuador and how you can be a part of it. This adventure will take you to the equator, where you can immerse yourself in vibrant local cultures, marvel at stunning mountain landscapes and waterfalls on the mainland and explore the extraordinary waters and unique wildlife of the Galápagos Islands.

Spring 2026

Around the Bend

T

he Faith-Based Award recognizes Girl Scouts who have demonstrated a deep commitment to their faith while integrating its values into their Girl Scouting journey.

Peru | May 30 – June 8, 2028 This Peru journey blends history, culture, community immersion, and adventure. Starting in Lima, you’ll tour colonial landmarks before flying to Cusco and exploring the Sacred Valley’s Chinchero and Moray. A full-day agricultural immersion in Mullaka Misminay offers handson work with local farmers and a visit to a community school. The trip continues by train for a guided visit to Machu Picchu, then returns to Cusco for Sacsayhuaman, local markets, and a final day of kayaking and a picnic.

Italy | May 30 – June 2, 2028 Fly overnight to Rome and jump straight into an unforgettable girls’ adventure—making new friends over a welcome dinner, wandering picture-perfect streets, and exploring Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Between tossing coins in the Trevi Fountain and snapping photos by the Pantheon, you’ll learn to make tiramisu, tour the Colosseum and Roman Forum, and even test your confidence in Gladiator Games. Next comes Umbria for river rafting and a meaningful stop in Assisi focused on leadership and compassion, then Florence and the Tuscan countryside for art, sunsets, and a cozy traditional dinner. You’ll cook farm-to-table on an organic farm, explore charming Lucca and foodie Bologna, and finish in dreamy Venice with gondola rides and a glass-blowing demo ending with a farewell dinner and memories (and life skills) you’ll bring home.

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

These awards encourage personal growth, leadership, and service by strengthening their spiritual foundation and fostering a sense of responsibility to their community.

Religious Recognitions Reflects awards received in the 2024-25 member year

Making Room Aniyah Williams Alayna Quinones Olivia Coffman April Brundage Anaya Leyba

Rayne Quinones Emelia England Chloe Tagle Claire Tagle Kelly Cate

Giselle Armenta Emerald Hernandez Yazmin Guerrero Abbie Sandau Amelia Cameron

My Promise, My Faith Zoey Germundson Isabella Berger Hailey Peterson Aria Guerra Emma Wilson Lily Ramos Leena Youssef Salma AbouMoustafa Habeba Saleh Inaya Khan Serena AbuHammad Amna Elsafi

Lujain Amdouni Aya Mchichou Sera Elsaady Rania Mustamandi Lojin Hussein Mariam Amdouni Ayesha Khan Mayar Alkhader Maleekah Mousa Aisha Ahmed Gamila Abouelezz Sophia AbuHammad

I Live My Faith

Jana Almuti Rodin Hussein Amelia Mustamandi Amana Zafar Safia Hashmi Mayar Elgousi Dana Youssef Laila Alkhateeb Yasmeen Osman Tasneem Shaltot Kyree Nelson Turner

God and Me

Charlotte Rich Jizzelle Aispuro Isabella Chelsea Madeline Gernak

Bridgett Harvey Sophia Bolanos Taylor Aldrich

Jesus and Me

Spirit Alive

Cornelia Chrismer Kennedy Golackey Zoey Germundson

Emily Kodicek Estella Vaca Sophia Harmon

Lucy Chrismer Kennedy Golackey

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Award Recognition

T June 1 – Dec. 31, 2025: There were 57 Silver Award Take Action project reports submitted for the following 104 Silver Award recipients.

he highest award a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6-8) can earn, the Silver Award helps girls become organized, determined, and dedicated to improving the community.

After completing a Cadette Journey, girls find a way to create positive change. In a small team, they plan to “Take Action” on the root cause of the problem they discovered and researched.

They put their plan into motion, demonstrate an understanding of sustainable change, connect with others outside their immediate neighborhood, learn how others have solved similar problems, determine how others can help, and share what they learned.

Troop 04207 Amelia Foust Troop 03396 Savannah Scott Troop 03108 Teagan Holmes Troop 00080 Malak Abdel-Haleem Troop 7478 Amy Wilson Beretta Hale Alaina Hinz Hannah Finney Lila Brazdys Troop 7443 Miley Preston Troop 7442 Abigail Bonn Troop 7425 Meira Hart Troop 7369 Rachel Unverferth Claire Baldwin Troop 7287 Shelby Tanner Allison Flores Troop 7121 Zuria Kosaka Nicole Erickson Eleanor Day Troop 7073 Izadora Palma Troop 6513 Sabrina Budd

24 Connections Girl Scout

Troop 6223 Chloe Tagle Alaina Garcia Giselle Armenta Troop 4641 Emily Spicer Troop 4333 Solana Graham Lexi Hall Madeleine Lettieri Troop 4320 Molly Prince Lee Haberlin Penny Kuipers Reese Bergan Troop 4261 Mariah Strickland Charlotte Thurston Addy Kelly Amelia Bacon Marlee Lepetich Claire Schloemp Kendall Sandhaus Troop 4208 Vanessa Coombs Riley McClain Amelia Knipmeyer Elyse McGee Brooke Fulton Annabelle Bobko Madilyn Meyer Harper Gassmann Logan Figa Alyvia Scott Piper Angileri Troop 3816 Khloe Castillo Addison Weis

Zara Olmos Sophia Conchuratt Evalyn Rema Jasleen Garcia Sydney Perry Audrey Walsh Troop 3725 Anniston Miller Reese Hammer Rose Masiello Riley Lawrence Julia Nodsle Emily Slaten Troop 3587 Emme Castro Gail Robles Ramona Robles Troop 3503 Everlyn Murty Troop 3462 Liberty Smith Aria Saint Amour Troop 3407 Kenna Dolak Brynna Wafel Priscilla Kalec Troop 3296 Abigail Stewart Julia Wojtulewicz Melissa Ku Dana Flowers Troop 3282 Lilian Daway-Hixon Espinoza Maria Tabbilos Kyara Flores Itzy Flores

Troop 3095 Amanda Hinze Troop 2356 Ella Bianco Quinn Shaw Chloe Mitcheel Troop 2195 Paige Downin Troop 2182 Kaitlyn Beck Troop 2104 Aryana Reavis Troop 2019 Kelee Quintana Maliya Angcay Audrey Southworth Troop 558 Nyna Kingsley Troop 419 Avery Vo Bellamiee Bejune Laurel Bejune Alexa Carruth Troop 285 Megan Bergstrom Troop 203 Marcella Wolfe Troop 80 Dina Ghandour Hana Hag Aya Elkhalifa Aaisha Syed Leena Youssef IGM Mara Northey

Spring 2026

Award Recognition

T

he Girl Scout Bronze Award is a leadership adventure, and the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior (grades 4-5) can achieve. After completing a Journey program, girls work together to find and research a problem in their community.

They plan and complete a “Take Action Project” to address the root cause of the problem, learn how others have solved similar issues, develop more confidence, meet new people, and discover the rewards of working cooperatively to make a difference in their community.

June 1 – Dec. 31, 2025: There were 41 different Bronze Award Take Action project reports submitted for the following 157 Bronze Award Recipients.

Troop 80 Riley O’Callaghan Juliet Gray Sofia Laker Troop 203 Sonia Plaisier Brooklyn Yang Stella Fry Rowan Dominguez Leah Blumenthal Kennedy Lopez Emma Decker Emery Schmidt Avery Morse Ainsley Hartman Troop 841 Rylee Williams Ruby Malecki Anabel Hjelmstad Evalynn Flores Brikena Crowder Melody Duchesneau Troop 1044 Yuna Guenard Ruby Kinion Ashley Cohen Troop 1126 Adelaide “Addie” Bankhead Sheets Abrianna Pritt Bellarae Pritt Troop 1264 Rivya Sabharwal

Troop 1267 Audra Monroe Miracle Tyler Aaliyah Madrid Hallee Holsinger Yesenia Haluska Julia Pinchera Troop 1653 Emily Delano Troop 1656 Gabrielle Eckerson Cindy Carpenter Lucille Avilez Loera Troop 2030 Melanie Paiken Kyraa Perguson Dasha Porter Scarlett Servis Taylor Pugmire Troop 2043 Lexi Smith Kyriele Sinclair Ariana Galto Troop 2182 Allison Brink Ava Washburn McKayla Polk Troop 2356 Mia Pinchera Harper Eckrote Gwendolyn Graziano Grace Waldo Lilly Tancke

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Troop 2561 Jacelyn Farrell Alexis Clark Madilynn Smith Elsie Dyer Soto Ruby Kumpf

Troop 3407 Juliet Gray Ella Haberlin Samantha Stajner Etta Drake Clarke Robison

Troop 2589 Mia Felix Jocelyn Garcia Anaya Leyba Ava Cruz Sieanna Porter Cecelia Moya Karaden Horn

Troop 3531 Brooke Halverson Lorelei Warmuth Yasmeen Osman Mona Elzouka Laila Alkhateeb Karmin Aparisi

Troop 2899 Evangeline “Eva” Dodson Addy McFarland Aspen Covich Taylor Timm Mazie Killin Charley Steinbroner Layla Golden Troop 3170 Aurora Forsmo Troop 3177 Emily Fechter Lily Richards Lilly Brown Calista Kardos Troop 3402 Willow Lee Harper Seeley Alessa Pascetti Naomi Nwagbara Imara Webb-Blakley Colbee Abts

Troop 3750 Hailey Klein Ariana Duran Makena Seitz Chloe Sandlin Ariana Duran Aleah Kennedy Kira Kennedy Troop 3937 Winry Greene Troop 4295 Alankritha Indrakanti Ananya Mantrala Adelina Johnson Elise Seaman Zoe Herrmann Avery Kritzstein Avery Groen Lydia Ortiz Troop 4456 Kai Griego Willow Lee Taylor Pugmire

Troop 4497 Kariel Castro Amelia “Milly” Bond Grace LeBlanc Brynn Sheldon Saoirse Viebahn- Miller Jaycee Lyons

Troop 6513 Kayla Narayan

Troop 4726 Maci Hovel Emily Davis

Troop 7425 Isabella Delfin-Lara Ashley Martin

Troop 4726 Maci Hovel Emily Davis Rayna Augustine Lyla Costephens Emma Bristow Olivia Franco

Troop 9651 Kyleigh Buzzard

Troop 5381 Sofia Leone Adalyde Richardson Natalia Fugiel Hannah Reed Khloe Beck

IGMs Kimber Edwards Isabella Bratt Fiona Cross Gwyn Beuthin Myla Hampton

Troop 6874 Violet Erickson Isabelle Seno Troop 7073 Lilly Parker

Troop 6520/3170 Trinity Perez Troop 6520/3249 Reese Peters

Troop 6091 Ryette Garcia Lilly Singleton Hailey Murphree Caroline Nabb Mabel Patton Eleanor Forbes Emily Meyrose Shyanne Scott-Soto Audrey Reitmajer Charlotte Hoskins Troop 6223 Mia Jones Tyler Sherrod Parker Mills

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119 E Coronado Road Phoenix, AZ 85004 602.452.7000 / 800.352.6133 girlscoutsaz.org @GSACPC

To see our Event Calendar, visit girlscoutsaz.org/calendar.

Key Dates Make sure to mark your calendars with these events!

5/31– 7/5

Girl Scouts Summer Camp

6/19

Juneteenth

7/3

Girl Scouts Night with the Arizona Diamondbacks

7/4

Independence Day

8/1

Celebrating Cookie Season with the Phoenix Mercury

9/4

Visit our Council Shop for a special Build-A-Bear experience!

1611 E Dobbins Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85042

Hours: Tues/Wed/Fri from 9am-5pm Saturdays from 9am-1pm

9/15 - 10/15 10/1

Labor Day Hispanic Heritage Month 2025-26 Membership Year Begins

10/1 - 10/30

2026 Fall Product Program

10/11

International Day of the Girl

11/7

Badge Bash

10/24

Adult Awards and Recognitions Ceremony