Holly Batstone grew up as a Girl Scout and volunteered to start troop 41338 in Bothell about six years ago as her oldest daughter began Kindergarten. “It started with just Daisies, the first level of Girl Scouts, and then every year it grew. Now we have girls at the Brownie and Junior levels, and have our first set of girls bridging into Cadets this year.” Holly saw great benefit to having girls at all different levels in one troop. “Girl Scouts is all about empowering girls and helping them become leaders,” she shared. With a multi-level troop, the older girls have the opportunity to mentor the younger girls, growing their leadership skills as well as passing them on.

In addition to the variety of levels, the troop also spans across Bothell, Snohomish, Mill Creek, and even more nearby cities! Elizabeth Pendzick’s daughter, Zoey, was the first to join Holly’s troop from the Mill Creek area. “We moved to Mill Creek right at the start of the pandemic, and Holly’s troop was the only one in the area that was accepting girls,” Elizabeth said. While the pandemic made in-person activities difficult, Holly did not let it stop her troop from coming together in safe, unique ways like virtual camping trips. “Everyone camped in their own backyards,” Holly explained, “and we planned out the meals we would make and the crafts we would do so everyone could follow along on Zoom.” Holly had her doubts about how effective the activity would be, but it ended up being one of the troop’s most memorable events.

Since the pandemic, the troop has been able to do much more in person and expand their backyard camping trips into bigger events on Holly’s Snohomish property. “We moved out there mid-COVID for more land, and started a hobby farm,” Holly shared. “It’s been great for practicing tent camping, and the girls get to learn how to take care of lots of different animals.”

“Zoey loves animals,” shared Elizabeth of her daughter, “and it has been so cool to see her start to break out as a leader for the Daisies during activities like these while the Juniors look out for her.” Zoey is already planning ahead for the next camping event at Holly’s!

The activities the girls participate in correlate with different badges they can earn, each symbolizing a new skill learned. “We’ve had guest speakers, including women firefighters, come in and do talks about women in STEAM, and we take an annual field trip to Olympia to earn our democracy badges,” shared Holly. Her daughter Ila loves the variety of different things she has learned to earn badges, and already has a full vest at the Junior level!  

Troop 41338 has not only given girls like Elizabeth and Holly’s daughters opportunities to create friendships spanning across cities and cultivate their leadership skills, but has also instilled in them the importance and joy of giving back to their communities. “One of Zoey’s favorite community service activities was making pet blankets and toys to donate to Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville,” Elizabeth said. “Our troop parents gathered materials for the girls to use, and the Brownies got to tour the shelter and give their toys to the animals.”

And, of course, you can’t forget about the cookies! “Cookie money funds a lot of the activities we do,” shared Holly. “Last year our troop sold over 20,000 cookies!” With the money they earn from cookie sales, the troop decides on something fun to celebrate their hard work. “The favorites have been the Snohomish Aquatic Center and Zoo Snooze events. Some of the older girls want to start traveling, so we are looking into fundraising opportunities for their goal of going to the San Diego Zoo,” added Holly. During cookie season, the troop also collects cookie donations for local nonprofits, food banks, and military troops. Through these donations, the girls have a chance to give back to organizations that are impactful to themselves, their families, and their community.

“We are so grateful for Holly and for her opening up her troop to us and so many other families,” shared Elizabeth. “My daughter and I have both learned so much from Girl Scouts, and it’s amazing watching these girls grow.”

“If there is one message I could pass on,” shared Holly, “it would be this: Volunteer! I get so much out of volunteering to run this troop. Watching the learning, friendships, and growth of these girls is incredible, and it’s an honor to be a part of their lives growing up.”