PILOT MOUNTAIN — Local teen Autumn Blakemore shared her experience in the Girl Scout Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont travel pathway with younger girls during a World Thinking Day celebration recently.
Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 146 countries celebrate World Thinking Day on Feb. 22 each year, recognizing their global connection through international education programs.
The council’s travel pathway provides girls the opportunity to go abroad, gaining independence, financial skills, leadership, confidence, and a broader world view. “Each year the council takes girls to a different World Center,” said Autumn, explaining that there are five Girl Scout World Centers around the globe. Her trip included time at Pax Lodge in London.
Autumn got involved in the travel pathway two years ago. “I had to apply for the trip a year and a half before we went,” she said, explaining that the program allows time for the girls to fund-raise and plan their travel experience.
The girls in the program got together monthly for the period leading up to the trip. They got to know each other during overnight experiences, planned their fundraisers, and budgeted activities for their time in England. “It was fun to look up different things to see, then hear about what the other girls were interested in doing,” said Autumn.
Using money earned from Girl Scout fundraisers including the cookie sale, a haunted trail event, and poinsettia sales, Autumn was able to raise over $1,000 toward her trip. “I also earned money from baby sitting and pet sitting,” Autumn said.
The 15 day trip took place last summer. Flying out of Raleigh, the girls learned to navigate public transportation as they transferred planes in New York, Philadelphia, and Amsterdam. Then the group took a train and the tube before arriving at Pax Lodge.
“We had several days to explore London,” said Autumn. Some of her favorite spots were the Globe Theater, the British Library, the London Eye, and the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio tour.
Next the group headed to Oxfordshire to attend a Girl Guide camp called Quest. “We got to meet Girl Guides from England and live with them at camp for a week,” said Autumn, noting that this portion of the trip allowed them to step away from being tourists and be immersed in the culture.
For the final leg of the trip, the group went to Oxford, staying in college dormitories and touring Queens College and Christ Church College of Oxford University. “I loved Oxford, it was so beautiful,” said Autumn.
For the Surry County Thinking Day event Autumn created a display with photos, maps, British currency, and souvenirs from her trip. “Girls who came to learn about the trip were given a patch I got in England,” she said.
“I made some great friends and I hope to go back again one day. I hope that my experience will encourage other girls to travel,” said Autumn, explaining that the opportunity is available for any girl that is interested.
For more information on Girl Scout programs visit: www.girlscoutsp2p.org.
Autumn Blakemore shares her travel experience with Surry County Girl Scouts during a World Thinking Day event.
http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_IMG_2561-001.jpg
Autumn Blakemore shares her travel experience with Surry County Girl Scouts during a World Thinking Day event.
Girl Scouts from the Carolina Peaks to Piedmont Council, Autumn Blakemore, Maris Bey, Taylor Drummond, and Mariam Arida, saw a show at St. Martin’s Theater in London, England as a part of their 15 day trip.
http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_mouse-trap.jpg
Girl Scouts from the Carolina Peaks to Piedmont Council, Autumn Blakemore, Maris Bey, Taylor Drummond, and Mariam Arida, saw a show at St. Martin’s Theater in London, England as a part of their 15 day trip.
Staff Reporter