When Diane McDaniel started Girl Scout Troop 4365 four years ago, she never imagined the young members would be meeting through Zoom video meetings today.
But that is exactly what has been happening as the North Central Phoenix troop, a mix of Girl Scout Daisies and Brownies, has been gathering online because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The girls, first through third-graders, sold more than 4,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and were getting ready for their spring encampment and a party to celebrate the end of a successful season when COVID-19 curtailed their activities.
McDaniel and Kat Kahn, who are co-leaders of the troop, have been meeting with the girls online and providing activities to do at home. Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council has created badges and activities Girl Scouts can do at home or outside including nature walks, the co-leaders said.
“It’s been nice because parents can easily lead these activities, safely at home,” McDaniel said.
Kahn said the girls were disappointed about not being able to participate in the in-person activities but the online meetings “have been so engaging.”
“They appreciate hearing from each other and understanding they are not alone in this,” she said.
Kahn said the girls have created a group chat and sent instructions on how to do different activities. They are “so resilient,” she said.
