By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
In the middle of a March 3rd snowstorm, a handful of Girl Scouts bundled up and braved the weather to unload over 1,100 cases of Girl Scout Cookies. Of those girls, was Vessa Villarreal, an LCS senior who’s been a girl scout since she was a kindergartner.
Contributed photo
Vessa Verrille helps unload over 1,000 cases of cookies on March 3.
Villarreal is one of many Girl Scouts of the Diamond Area — Caribou, Stockholm, New Sweden, Woodland, Fort Fairfield, Connor, Caswell and Limestone — who’s been in scouts through her schooling. Wendy Burtchell, Girl Scout Membership Manager for Aroostook County, says that the Diamond Area has a wonderful retention rate for scouts, which she attributes to the wonderful retention rate of troop leaders.
There are currently 15 girls in Villarreal’s Troop 884 of Limestone, ranging in age from 7 to 18.
Villarreal says that she likes being in a troop that spans grade levels because of the perspective it’s offered her.
“When I was younger, I saw the older girls go out and do good things and go off college,” she explained. Now that she’s older, she gets to see the younger Scouts doing all the things she did at their age and, of course, Villarreal and the other Cadets are always willing to help when the younger Scouts need assistance.
Troop 884 Leader Laura St. Pierre says that as the girls work together, they learn leadership and independence.
“Everyone in my troop is really supportive of each other,” she explained. Though Girl Scouts may not be for everyone, Villarreal encourages youngsters to give it a try.
“You’re going to make life-long friends through scouting, you’ll learn communication and leadership, and it gives you an opportunity to help your community — it’s really fun.
Off to the University of Maine at Fort Kent next fall, Villarreal is currently working toward her Gold Award. Since joining in Kindergarten, she’s earned nearly 100 badges and a score of pins and charms.
Troop 884, under the leadership of St. Pierre and Co-Leaders Patricia Allen and Donna Pelletier, is always open to girls of all ages that want to be scouts.
