Lake Villa Girl Scouts ‘Rock the Mall’ in D.C.

Submitted by Kevin M Hanrahan

Lake Villa Girl Scout Troop 40654 joined more than a 250,000 other Girl Scouts from across the United States and from around the world to “Rock the Mall” in Washington, D.C., on June 9.

They came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. The National Mall staged what has been dubbed the world’s largest singalong, “Girl Scouts Rock the Mall.”

The group of 25 Girl Scouts from Troop 40654 and their parents traveled together cross-country on Amtrak to join in the song fest. Over the past year, the troop earned the cost of their train tickets through a number of home, school and community service projects.

“Over the last 100 years, Girl Scouts have produced some of the most accomplished female leaders across all sectors of business, industry, science, and public service,” Troop 40654 co-leader Joyce McBriarty of Lake Villa said. “I am proud to say that the girls in Troop 40654 will be the next generation of women leaders. They are already budding leaders in Lake Villa.”

The troop made more than 5,000 SWAPS, which are handmade keepsakes that Girl Scouts exchange with each other as a way to meet each other and promote friendship. SWAPS have come to be known as “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.”

“Exchanging SWAPS with each other is a great way to make new friends,” Troop 40654 co-leader Stefanie Koenig of Lindenhurst said. “We just made more than 250,000 new friends on the National Mall.”

In addition to Lake Villa, Girl Scout Troop 40654 includes girls from Lindenhurst, Round Lake Beach and longtime members who now live in Virginia.

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