Oh, the places cookies can take you!
For Jacey Schindler, a ninth grader from Troop 4046 in La Crosse, Girl Scouts is a passport to life-changing experiences, personal growth, and even global travel. Jacey, with the support of her mom, Jolene, used Badgerland Bucks earned by selling Girl Scout Cookies to fund trips across continents. These incredible journeys are a testament to what goal setting, and, yes, a whole lot of cookies, can do!
It started with a Girl Scout trip to London, where Jacey visited Pax Lodge, one of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Centers, where they had the chance to connect with Girl Scouts from around the globe. Jacey and Jolene met a mother-daughter duo from Arizona, also Girl Scouts, who quickly became close friends. “We were double bunking, so Jacey ended up in a room with Sophie, and I roomed with Sophie’s mom,” Jolene recalls. “Those 10 days we got along so well, it was only natural to do it again.” This special connection sparked even more adventure. Now Jacey's planning a trip to Switzerland in 2025 with the Arizona Girl Scout friends, where they’ll visit 'Our Chalet', a WAGGGS destination located in the Swiss Alps.
“Getting the chance to see other World Girl Scout Centers is awesome,” Jacey says. Once again, she’ll rely on Badgerland Bucks earned through cookie sales, to make it happen. The journey from selling cookies to standing beneath the iconic London Eye is a testament to Jacey’s determination and the power of Girl Scouts to open doors.
“If you set a goal and reach it, set a new goal. You can always go up,” Jacey says.
By putting every dollar of her Badgerland Bucks to work, Jacey has turned cookie sales into lifelong memories. “We didn’t have a way to fund these trips otherwise,” her mom Jolene explains.
These trips are about more than just travel—they’re about independence and growth. “It has taught me more about leadership and taking charge of situations,” Jacey says. The transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed. “She’s more willing to say, ‘Mom, I got this,’” Jolene shares proudly. Jacey’s story is a reminder of the power of Girl Scouts and the impact of every cookie sold. From Pax Lodge in London to Our Chalet in Switzerland, she’s proven that with ambitious goal setting, hard work, and a lot of determination, truly anything is possible when you're a Girl Scout with a bold dream.
“Girl Scouts made it possible for us to travel and connect with the world.” Jolene, Jacey's Mom
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