“Pick up a ball, make a friend, maybe for life.”
That is the motto Chloe Mormon, Jeni Veitch, and Zoe Steinmetz came up with for their Foosball for Friendship Girl Scout Silver Award.
The trio from Marlton Girl Scout Troop 28515 came together last month at Camp Inawendiwin in Tabernacle to celebrate the completion of their project, which began three- and-a-half years ago.
The Scouts acknowledged frustration with the project during COVID, from back-and-forth emails to the increased costs for material.
“It was at a time when everybody was indoors (and activities became) solely individualized, and they were planning a group outdoor activity,” recalled troop leader Betsy Veitch. “It was really difficult for them. They faced a lot of challenges and really overcame them. Pushing through the question ‘Why are we even doing this?'”
On the group’s Cadette Journey, members learned about friendships and how they develop and grow into meaningful and lasting connections.
“We wanted to incorporate (friendships) in our Silver project,” Jeni Veitch said. “When we first came to Camp Inawendiwin (during the annual Girl Scout Camporee), we knew that it was going to be a place for lasting friendships. There were things like boating, archery, but (no activities to represent) a team effort besides volleyball and fire building.”
So the Scouts considered the game of soccer.
“We did a little of research and we found human foosball and decided that it would be a great addition to Camp Inawendiwin,” Veitch noted.
On the Girl Scouts’ Cadette journey, members learned about friendships and how they develop and grow into meaningful and lasting connections.
Steinmetz said the Scouts were inspired by human foosball after a trip to another camp.
Mormon has been playing soccer her whole life and the game has created lifelong friendships.
“Soccer is really all about teamwork, it’s not a single person sport,” she explained. “You have to work together to move the ball up the field and everything.”
Veitch is proud of her troop’s persistence: The Girl Scout Silver Award is a project that should take 50 hours.
“It took them well over 50 hours just with all the emails that went back and forth, trying to find a contractor and trying to sell more cookies,” she remembered.
In the end, the troop worked with contractor Robert Baugh. Veitch said the girls learned a lot during the process about how much work goes into things, especially after they had to provide Baugh with specifications and a location for the foosball.
Steinmetz said she and Jeni Veitch also managed volunteer hours for their Girl Scout Silver Torch Award.
At the Camp Inawendiwin celebration, the troop was presented with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of Evesham Township Mayor Jackie Veasy and members of the council. Attendees enjoyed Girl Scout peanut butter sandwich cookies.
