Troop 1569 girls are toy makers

Involved in a flurry of interior designing and furniture arranging, the ten members of Girl Scout Troop 1569 met Tuesday to work on their Toy maker badges.

Alyssa Garcia trims her dollhouse’s wall covering.

Each junior Girl Scout, ages 8 to 11, must complete six of ten requirements in order to earn the Toy maker badge. The troop is currently working on their third requirement, which is designing and furnishing a dollhouse.

They made stuffed bunnies to complete the first requirement. A second requirement involved utilizing recycled materials to construct a toy. The unique results included coffee can stilts, rag dolls, a train made from gallon milk cartons, a ball and cup game and a tissue box guitar.

This multi-level troop has only been in existence since October of last year. They meet at Maricopa Elementary School in room 21 on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 4 p.m. as part of the Maricopa Schools’ After School Program. Adult leaders are Lisa Lewis and Lisa Garcia.

Troop 1569’s adult leaders are Lisa Garcia (left) and Lisa Lewis.

Tori Lewis, one of the cadets (ages 11-17), has already earned her Bronze Award. She completed the requirements for several badges and, along with two other girls, created a safety wise musical for preschoolers in Nashville, Tennessee.

Now a Maricopa Girl Scout, Tori is going after her Silver Award. She is very involved in the Girl Scouts’ Studio 2B program that features hands-on information and practical resources. Its focus books include topics like environmental awareness, investing, writing or devising a running program for a healthier lifestyle.

Topics can be completed individually or in a group. When a girl completes a topic, she receives a charm. Tori explained, ” I like earning charms and doing things that really involve you as a person.”

Troop 1569 is looking forward to either a May overnight at the Phoenix Zoo or a two night troop camp at Whispering Pines in July. Either outing will enable them to complete additional badge requirements.

Cadet Scout Elyshia Reyesarmstead reviews troop camp plans.

At their March 8 meeting, the girls will receive their Pet Care badge and their Girl Scout membership pin. They will also be able to select pens, notebooks, candy, stickers and other items at the Troop Shop. By earning paper money in an incentive program, each girl funds her own shopping.

Look for the members of Troop 1569 on Friday, March 4, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. outside Bashas’. They will be selling Girl Scout cookies to help raise funds for their troop’s activities.

Courtney Lewis shows just how much she enjoys working on her Toy maker badge.

Any girls who are interested in Girl Scouts, and their many and varied activities, should contact Lisa Lewis at (520) 568-1572 or by email.