A group of Robbinsville Girl Scouts have learned that making a difference in their community doesn’t require waiting until they’re grown up.
The 15 fourth-grade girls of Troop 74195 at Sharon School spent much of the past year collecting books for children, helping families in need, learning about leadership from women in government and nonprofit organizations, and taking on projects designed to improve their community.
Their efforts earned them the Brownie Summit Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn at the Brownie level, and recognition from the Robbinsville Board of Education at its Sept. 29 meeting.
But the award represents more than a collection of completed projects. For the girls, it marks the culmination of a journey that began four years ago, when they first came together as kindergarten students and members of a new Daisy Scout troop.
The troop was established in fall 2022 with 15 girls, who have since developed friendships while working together on community service projects, earning badges, selling cookies and participating in activities intended to build confidence and independence.
Under the guidance of troop co-leaders Loni Jakub, Lauren Norden and Amanda D’Angelo, the girls established three principal areas of focus for the 2025-26 Girl Scout year: literacy, philanthropy and women in leadership.
Their goal was to complete three Girl Scout Journeys, each requiring a Take Action project, to qualify for the Brownie Summit Award.
The girls presented their accomplishments to the school board, with Olivia Jakub, Jaladhi Srinivas, Aubrey Wee, Sofia Gould and Emily Norden speaking on behalf of the troop.
Their first journey, Brownie Quest, focused on leadership, teamwork and identifying ways to improve their community. The girls decided to encourage a love of reading among younger children, selecting a book to donate to every prekindergarten classroom in Robbinsville for the fall.
During National Education Week in November, they visited classrooms at Sharon School, where they read aloud to students and shared copies of “The Leaf Thief” by Alice Hemming.
The project was part of a larger effort to promote early literacy, a cause that became a centerpiece of the troop’s activities.
For their second journey, World of Girls, the Scouts explored how stories can inspire positive change and help young people understand the experiences of others. They interviewed women in leadership positions to learn about their experiences and what had inspired them, then turned their attention to helping children in need.
The girls organized a community book collection that brought in 500 new and gently used books. They sorted the donations by reading level and assembled summer reading bags for children served by HomeFront, the local nonprofit organization that helps families experiencing homelessness and poverty.
The troop also established a summer book club, reading “Lemonade War” and “Stella Diaz Has Something to Say.” As part of the program, the Scouts participated in an online question-and-answer session with “Lemonade War” author Jacqueline Davies.
They asked Davies about her path to becoming a writer, her writing process and her favorite Girl Scout cookie, Thin Mints.
Reading became a regular part of troop meetings as well. Together, the girls read 150 books, keeping track of their progress through monthly reading logs.
Their third journey took them outdoors, where the Scouts learned practical skills while continuing their commitment to community service.
During a camping experience at Mercer County Park, they pitched a tent, prepared a meal, went hiking and collected trash along a trail. They also learned first aid from members of the Robbinsville police and fire departments.
The troop’s philanthropic activities extended beyond the three journeys. The girls volunteered for a one-hour shift with One Project’s Hunger Project in 2025, collecting food and helping address hunger in the community.
They organized a food drive that collected 75 items for the Arm in Arm Food Bank and participated in the fall 2025 Unified Cup soccer tournament, where they made posters and cheered for athletes participating in inclusive sports.
The Scouts also raised funds and participated in the Winter Jingle All the Way 3K race to support Special Olympics New Jersey.
Another important part of their experience was meeting women who had pursued careers in education, nonprofit leadership and public service.
The Scouts toured the Special Olympics New Jersey headquarters and had lunch with CEO Heather Andersen, asking questions about her responsibilities and the challenges of running a nonprofit organization.
They also welcomed Sharon School Principal Dr. Bootier to a troop meeting, where they learned what had inspired her to become an educator and asked about her favorite childhood books.
In April, the girls visited the New Jersey State House, where they had an opportunity to meet Gov. Mikie Sherrill. They asked her, “How do you stay confident and believe in yourself?”
The following month, they toured Robbinsville’s municipal building with Township Council President Debbie Blakely and Mayor Mike Todd. The visit included a question-and-answer session about local government and what it takes to lead their hometown.
The experiences gave the girls opportunities to meet women working in different fields while seeing how leadership can take many forms, from running a school or nonprofit organization to serving in elected office.
For the troop leaders, the projects also provided opportunities for the girls to work together, organize activities, speak publicly and take responsibility for completing goals they had established themselves.
At the Sept. 29 school board meeting, the girls shared highlights from their three journeys and the lessons they planned to carry forward.
Those included confidence in telling stories and mentoring younger readers, empathy for people in need, curiosity about the experiences of leaders, and resilience when faced with new challenges.
The presentation concluded with a declaration that summed up four years of friendship and a year of community service: “Fifteen Girls. Three Journeys. One Strong Sisterhood.”
