As stated on the GSUSA website - Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls-all girls-where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.
A little about our local group...
Welcome to the website of Girl Scouts of the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Girl Scouts were started in our area in 1918 by Maude Kneule. Please visit our history tab to learn all about our past.
The Upper Perkiomen Valley is located in the northern part of Montgomery County. Our service unit serves the girls that attend the Upper Perkiomen Schools, the St Phillip Neri School and the Perkiomen School. We live in the towns and rural areas of Pennsburg, Red Hill, East Greenville, Green Lane, Sumneytown, Perkiomenville, Hereford, Palm and surrounding areas.
Our Service Unit provides support and acts in an advisory role for girls and leaders. It also organizes activities throughout the year. We run an annual service program that teaches the girls to care for others and the community as a whole. We try to teach the girls that even a single girl can make a difference. We participate in many community events such as community day, parades and Martin Luther King Day. We also organize a "Secret Santa" through the Open Line, food drives, and many other service projects for others in need.
The Upper Perkiomen Service Unit is part of Girl Scouts of Eastern PA which in turn is part of Girl Scouts of the USA.
History of the Upper Perkiomen Girl Scouts
1918 - Maude Kneule started the Girls Scouts in the Upper Perkiomen Valley
1927 - Juliett Low - founder of GS dies
1945 - A small farm was purchased by Maude Kneule for $2,000.00.
The Upper Perkiomen Valley Girl Scout Council was chartered in December.
The first Intermediate troop was started in Palm at the Schwenkfelder Church by Margaret Butz
1946 - Maude helped incorporate the local Girl Scout Council.
Mr. Arthur Shisler was the first President of this Council
1947 - The deed to the small farm was given to the local Girl Scout Council in May
1948 - Maude was recognized for 30 years of service in The Upper Perkiomen Valley. The small farm was formally named, ACamp Rockwood@ on February 18th, 1948
1952 - In March all the cabins at Camp Rockwood were given Indian Names to honor the past area Native Americans:
. Unami
. Turtle
. Tehbha
. Horse
. Aihahwa
. Bear
. Mahio
. Deer
1957 - A box of Girl Scout Cookies sold for .40 cents a box. Each troop received .2 cents a box, but the highest selling troop got .3 cents a box.
Girl Scout Calendars were sold for only .35 cents a piece.
1960 - The years from October 31st, 1960 to October, 1963 are known as the Birthday years because our founder's 100th Birthday Anniversary and the organizations 49th and 50th Birthday Anniversaries are all celebrated within these years.
1961 - The theme for the Birthday years is "Honor The Past- Serve the Future" in connection with this theme, GS of the UPV will take "Heritage Hikes" through their communities as part of 1961 GS week. The first Heritage Hikes is scheduled for Saturday March 18th. During the Hike, GS will explore their communities background, its natural resources, national and international origins, civic and economic history, cultural, scientific and industrial development. This will include a trip to the historical museum of the Schwenkfelder Library.
1963 - Starting in September intermediates were replaced by the Names of Juniors and Cadettes.
1964 - There was an order sent out to the smaller councils that they be Absorbed by Bigger Councils close to their area. We had the choice of either Philadelphia or Great Valley, Allentown. So the Upper Perkiomen Valley Girl Scout Council joined the Greater Valley Girl Scout Council in Allentown, October 1st, 1964
Camp Rockwood had become the property of a new non-profit group called the Upper Perkiomen Valley Camping Association which was sold to them for $1.00.
1986 - Founder of GS in the UPV, Maude Kneule died February 5th, 1986
Daisy's started in the UPV by Catherine Hummel
1988 - Camp Rockwood closed
A Day Camp for the GS was started at the Boy Scout Camp Hart
1989 - Camp Rockwood was sold on June 27th, 1989 for $125,000.00 to a private owner.
1993 - Celebrations were held for the 75 years in GS for the UPV
1994 - Upper Perk Girl Scouts hold Service Unit Camp at Green Lane Park and work on the Latino American Badge.
1996- Fall Gathering is held at St Paul's Church with troops presenting plays on "Through the Decades"
1997- Upper Perk Service Unit Camporee held in Poconos at Camp Mosey Woods the theme was "Back to Basics" over 250 girls and adults attend.
1998 - Celebrations were held for the 80 years in GS for the UPV The UPV Girl Scouts and leaders marched in the Community Halloween Parade with the theme "80 years strong and sailing along".
1999 - UPGS went from Great Valley Council to Freedom Valley Council.
UP Twilight Camp started to replace Hart Day Camp
2000 - Upper Perk Service Unit registers 225 girls for Scouting.
2001 -.Kathy Richard steps down as Service Unit Manager and Karen Britton takes over.
UPV Girl Scout theme is Service.
Service Unit holds End of Year Camporee at Camp Tohikanee in Quakertown. All levels participated in TEAM games and a Bridging Ceremony was held.
2002 - Girl Scout's Celebrate the 90th Birthday. UPV Girl Scouts have a Large Birthday Party during Girl Scout week. The party started at the center of Pennsburg and girls walked singing songs and ended with cake at St Mark's Church. We also hung posters throughout the community wishing GS a Happy Birthday. Registrations of Girls jumped to 279 girls this year.
2003 - UPV Girl Scouts have 200 girls and adults participate in the Halloween Parade. The girls dressed up and formed an American Flag.
This year's theme "85 Years of Serving God and Our Country" was celebrated with a special Bridging Ceremony at Huff's Church Park
UPV Service Unit is presented the National Presidents Award and Council Program Excellence Award
2004 - The first Studio 2B troop was started in the UPV for girls 11-17 years of age.
UPV Girl Scouts performed the 12 days of Christmas in the Community Christmas Parade.
UPV Girl Scouts collect coins for the Capital Campaign of Freedom Valley Council.
This years theme for the UPV was "Traditions throughout the Years"
The World Thinking Day Celebration honored 4 silver and 6 gold awardees.
2005 - Girl Scout cookies are now to be sold for $3.50 a box. Girls earn up to 70 cents per box.
UPV Girl Scouts held a Service Unit wide bridging at Green Lane Park with Girls "bridging" to next level walking over the park bridge.
2006 - UPV Girl Scouts earn Presidents Award and Program Excellence Award from Council.
World Thinking Day featured the Older Girl Scouts teaching the younger Girls about the 4 World Centers
Service Unit Camporee took place at Green Lane park with over 300 girls and adults attending. The theme was "Camp African Survivor"
2007 - May 1st, 2007 Freedom Valley Girl Scout Council Merges with Southeastern Pennsylvania Girl Scout Council and Great Valley Girl Scout council. They will now be known as - GS of Eastern Pennsylvania..
UPV Girl Scouts join Girl Scouts nationally on March 31st for Girls Go Green. Girls volunteered at local parks to clean up and promote the environment.
Local UPV leaders go to Washington DC to participate in 95th Birthday Sing a Long.
2008 - UPV Girl Scouts are 90 years old!
2009 - UPV Girl Scouts receive a Certificate of Appreciation from The Open Line for outstanding effort in coordinating a food collection Drive for our Valley.
St. Marks Lutheran Church and Upper Perk Sr Center were awarded the Friend in Girl Scouting Award from Girl Scouts of Eastern PA for all their support they have given the Girl Scouts of the UPV through the years.
Girl Scout levels were changed by GSUSA. Our Daisy program is now K-1, Brownies are grades 2-3, Juniors are grades 4-5, Cadettes are grades 6-7-8, Seniors are grades 9-10, and Ambassadors are grades 11-12.
UPV Girl Scouts are lead by co-Service Unit Managers Karen Britton and Marilu Lingenfelter.
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Girl
Scouting Today
. Courage by exploring new adventures
. Confidence by discovering her abilities
. Character by shaping her values
. Connections by creating friendships with other girls
...and where a girl returns those gifts by making the world a better place!
Girl Scouting is a values-based organization, not a religious one. The Girl Scout Promise and Law are its guiding principles:
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Girl Scouting in the United States of America is part of WAGGGS (the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts).
You
Can Help!
Troops exist because of parents. Parents can be leaders, drivers, treasurers, field trip chaperones, arts and craft specialists, camping gurus, communications coordinators, keepers of the troop scrapbook, career experts, or anything you can imagine. Each one plays a vital role in making the Girl Scout experience exciting, fun, and educational for your daughters.
There are three steps for a parent:
- Volunteer to help your troop leader or become a leader yourself.
- Register as an Adult Girl Scout - yes, Dads can become Adult Girl Scouts too.
- Complete the Volunteer Application and a Background Check.
The untold secret is that Girl Scouts is fun for parents too. Your daughter will be excited when she finds out that you are willing to make time to participate with her. If you become a leader, you will be a hero to a whole gaggle of giggling girls. If you supply the enthusiasm, the Girl Scouts of the Upper Perkiomen Valley will supply the training to help you succeed in bringing the GS program to the girls.
Any adult who is likely to be alone with several of the girls (driving a field trip, cooking for a badge requirement, etc.) or handling troop money (manning a cookie sales site, etc.) needs to have a completed volunteer application and background check.
It is also to their benefit if parents register as it provides them with additional insurance while they are working with the girls (including coverage in case of a car accident). Leaders, co-leaders, and those who work with troop money are required to register every year. Registration forms can be obtained at registration, from your leader. This website also has permission slips, health forms, drivers' forms, etc. if you misplace them during the year.
Join the fun. Be a Girl Scout volunteer!
Become a Girl Scout!
Girls who would like to join the Girl Scouts can start by contacting a troop leader -- usually through their local school, church, or neighborhood -- or by attending one of the Registration Events. You may also contact our Troop Organizer, Dana at Upper Perk Girl Scouts.